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˖᯽ ݁˖˚. 🪶 ˖᯽ ݁˖˚.
i. Girl, come on in from the cold
Eurydice trembled like a bird in the cold breeze, fluffing her feathers and keeping her wings close to herself for warmth. She always kept a candle in her backpack, she would often use it to warm herself and thaw her frozen, aching bones. But she didn’t have a match, she ran out a few weeks ago. And just her luck; she couldn’t find any at the market. She wrapped her coat closer around her, one hand; decorated with rings, reached up to fidget with the soft feather in her hair. She soon walked up to a local, cozy diner. Just as she turned around to sit down outside for a moment and grab something out of her bag, she heard light footsteps.
She whipped around, causing her grown out bangs to fall over her eyes. She locked eyes with a dark-skinned man, his eyes were grey, as was his suit. A silver collared shirt, matching pants, steel-grey suit jacket with a black and mercury patterned vest underneath. He smiled at her, shoving a piece of paper in his jacket pocket. He offered her his hand, and after she zipped up her bag, she took it gratefully. She dusted off her pants and coat, and cracked a smile.
“Girl, come on in from the cold.” He gestured towards the diner, resting his arm on her shoulder and leading her inside. She gladly followed him into the warmth of the diner. “What’s your name, dear?” He inquired. His demeanor implied he already knew. Like he had some innate knowledge about everything. Like he was an ancient being. She looked down at his shoes, noticing the feathers on his feet, and she realized what she had learned about one of the gods lined up almost perfectly with him. Especially the feathers and grey suit.
She took a breath. “Eurydice.”
“What a beautiful name.” He mused, she grinned. “I’m Hermes.” The man—Hermes—pulled out a chair for her, and she sat down, crossing one leg over the other. She had a feeling he wasn’t human. She pulled her candle out of her bag and set it on the table, then remembered she didn’t have any matches. So, she stood up and scanned the room. There were a couple people talking. A girl in a dusty blue dress and a black coat sat on a table opposite her. Hermes was sitting at the bar. A man with messy brown hair and a red neckerchief stood across from the aforementioned man, cleaning a wine glass. He raised his head to look at her. Eurydice thought he was cute, all awkward glances and nervous smiles. After taking it all in, she looked around the room one more time, preparing herself to talk, to ask for a match. And after gaining the courage, she began to speak, and walked up closer to the other patrons, hope lacing her features.
She shivered as a breeze ran through the crack in the door. She had forgotten to fully shut it. “Anybody got a match?”
Everyone she had her eyes on shook their heads. She cursed under her breath. But then, Hermes stood, reached into his pants pocket, and retrieved a box of matches. He pulled one out, holding it between his slender, slightly wrinkly fingers. She rushed up, as fast as her legs could move her. He smiled. “Gimme that!” She snatched it out of his hand and ran back to her table, striking the match against the table and lighting her candle. She covered the flame with her hands. Comfortable heat bathed her skin, her rings started to burn, but it felt good.
“Uh, hello, miss.” A gentle male voice broke her out of her trance. She looked up to see it was the young man from behind the counter. He was holding a broom in one hand. “Would you like something to eat?” He questioned, fidgeting with the red cloth in his free hand.
She blinked. “What kinds of sandwiches do you have?” She met his eyes. They were a beautiful shade of hazel, the moonlight coming in from the window made the flecks of green especially prominent. His face turned a cute shade of pink when he noticed her staring. Her face mirrored his when she realized she was staring. He stuttered, trying to find words, but all he could look at was her blushing face.
“U-um. We have chicken salad, minced ham and pickle, liverwurst, sardine, baked bean,” he paused, and she nodded at him, urging him to keep going. “A club sandwich with chicken or turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato. Chicken and cranberry, cucumber and radish.” He couldn’t think of any more. She chuckled at the expression on his face, and how his brows were so tightly knitted together in thought.
She rotated each one in her head for a moment, pursing her lips. “I’ll take liverwurst, and some stew, if you have that.” She decided. She tapped her black-painted nails on the table, she just now noticed some carvings in the aged wood. Initials put together and crude drawings.
“Comin’ right up.” He said, smiling.
But before he could leave she asked, “what’s your name?” He paused for a moment, turning back towards her.
“O-Orpheus, my name is Orpheus.” What a handsome name for a handsome guy, she thought. She wanted to pull him closer by his neckerchief, wanted to run her fingers through his mop of brunette hair. She wanted to ask him out—but she decided to go slow, so she started with giving him her name. That was easy enough.
Her cat-like grin widened. “I’m Eurydice.”
“Your name is like a melody.” He said. Repeating it a couple times. It seemed to leave his lips like a song. It sounded nice coming from him, she wanted him to say it over and over until he couldn’t anymore. She wanted him to whisper it in the dark of night, she wanted him to yell it out of concern, she wanted him to scold her with it. She wanted it to fall from his lips until it was nothing but ash and feathers on the wind.
She snorted. “A singer, is that what you are?” She teased, poking at his shoulder playfully.
“I also play the lyre.” He said, quite bashfully. He put the cloth away in the pocket of his apron and reached up to scratch his neck nervously.
Eurydice’s smile faded, just a bit. She was joking, obviously. “Oh, a liar and a player! I’ve met too many men like you.”
“Oh, no. I’m not like that.” He promised, hand to his heart. She looked up and saw Hermes nod to him. The man seemed to be close to Orpheus. Like a father figure or guardian or something more complicated, a puzzle Eurydice didn’t feel like figuring out right now.
He picked at his fingernails, his other hand still holding a broom. “I’m workin’ on a song,” he started, “it ain’t finished yet, but when it’s done, and when i sing it, spring will come again.” He said, his eyes full of hope and his throat full of the unfinished song he spoke of.
“Come again?” She put a hand behind her ear, did she hear him correctly? Spring? He just reiterated what he already said. “When? I haven’t seen a spring or fall since… I can’t recall.” She stated, longing in her gaze. With a hint of romantic yearning.
He smiled nervously, yet determinedly. Bottom lip quiver just barely noticeable. “That’s what I’m workin’ on.”
“Well, singer. You should be workin’ on getting my food.” She teased. It wasn’t his fault they got to talking, but she couldn’t resist playing with him at least little bit. He was fun to tease. It was cute how he got all nervous.
His pale face flushed with embarrassment. “Ah, yes ma’am.”
He left to grab her food. Ma’am? She could get used to that. She giggled under her breath, floaty and elated, and just thought about him for a while. Orpheus, Orpheus, Orpheus, Orpheus. The man who would bring back spring. Eurydice wrapped her hand around the candle, the other resting over the small fire again. She saw Hermes smile at her from across the room. She waved to him. She started to love this place. And when she fell, she fell in spite of herself. In love with Orpheus. And Hermes soon became her (adoptive?) father in law. He was always so kind, he would give her change, matches, and food for free. He reminded her of her late grandfather.
ii. Oh my heart it aches to stay, but the flesh will have its way
Eurydice shook like a nervous dog. The strong wind breezed past her, almost knocking her off her feet. Her bones rattled. The air had stolen her coat, her bag, and all of her hopes and dreams. She didn’t have much faith that Orpheus’ song would work anymore. She wanted to believe so bad that it would shelter them. Harbor her. Stop the wind and make the flowers bloom and grass grow. But she was slowly growing restless. She ran around for hours, trying to find food and temporary shelter, all while Orpheus was spellbound by his song. She could still hear his voice carried on the wind. A light, floaty falsetto still singing about the God of Death and the Goddess of Spring.
She loved to hear her songbird sing, and he loved to sing to her, but now only anxiety and dread creeped up her spine, not love, not pleasure. Pure, horrible dread. The kind that made her mouth dry, her chest hurt, and knocked the wind right out of her lungs. She screamed out for Orpheus, but he could not hear. She ran into a patch of grass, trying to hide herself between the tall weeds. But then she heard footsteps. Heavy footsteps, like expensive leather boots, like someone important, like rocks and stones. Like authority.
“Hey, little songbird.” A deep voice rang out. She flinched, turning around to look. Behind her was a tall man, with dark, greying hair, and a dark beard. He was wearing a very light grey dress shirt, a black, seemingly patterned tie, a black and grey striped vest, matching pants, and a matching suit jacket. Over his eyes were a pair of shades. Shades were also what spirits in the underworld were called, Eurydice thought. She knew this was Hades. She had seen him step off the train but two days ago, barely even that much. She was frozen.
A dank chill ran down her back, like ice. Her throat felt like it closed up, and her teeth chattered. “What can I do for you, King Hades?” She rasped, trying to be polite. She was wary of him, scared even. But she wanted to get on his good side.
“No, no. It’s what I can do for you, songbird.” He said, straightening his tie.
She blinked, sitting up properly. “What?”
“You’re starving, right, bird? And you’re cold. Nasty storm out here, ain’t it?” She nodded solemnly at all of that. “Back down in Hadestown I can provide you warmth, shelter. I can give you everything you want. Do you want that?”
She considered it. Orpheus gave her all of that, but right now, she was doubting him. She just wanted an escape. And to go down somewhere that’s always warm? It sounds too good to be true. As she stood up, Orpheus faded from her mind. “Yes. Yes I do.” She truly didn’t want to leave this world behind but she couldn’t do anything else, she—
A piercing pain shot through her leg. Worse than frostbite, worse than hunger, worse than any kind of pain she’s ever felt before. She screamed her voice away when she looked down to see a rattlesnake with its fangs attached to her leg. Hades seemed eerily calm. The snake slithered away from poisoning Eurydice’s blood to wrap around Hades’ shoulders willingly.
She got dizzy fast, blood leaked from her wound. But somehow, she managed to keep herself upright. Hades retrieve something from his pocket. A gold coin with an image of his face on it. “What is it?” She asked, breathless.
“Your ticket.” She walked up to the train station as Hades disappeared in a burst of smoke and ash. The station was dark and long, the tracks looked like they could go on forever. There was fog almost everywhere, and leading up to the train car. Standing next to the empty train was a familiar man in a silver suit. Hermes. She walked up to him and handed him the coin. He had a sad, weary look on his face.
He frowned, not yet putting her ticket in. “It ain’t your time, Eurydice.”
He didn’t seem to notice her snakebite and how pale she had become (even more than normal, somehow.)
“I know.” She pointed to the dried, yet still pouring blood, and the wound on her skin. “I’m already dying. Hermes. But even if I wasn’t, I need somewhere to rest. Please take care of Orpheus for me.” Her lip wobbled and her eyes filled with tears.
She was desperate.
Hermes pulled her close, patting the back of her head. “Oh, girl.” He whispered. “It’s gonna be aight, Someday.”
“Will ya ride with me?” She asked, and when she looked up at him with those big teary eyes, she looked just like Orpheus used to, and still sometimes did when he was upset, or when he really wanted something. Hermes couldn’t say no to that.
Eurydice entered the train. Hermes sat down before her, and she decided to lie down, her head resting in his lap. “It hurts, Hermes.” She whined. Hermes gently stroked her hair, like he used to do with Orpheus to calm him down from panic attacks, and nightmares.
“I know, Eury, I know.” Hermes muttered over and over as she complained. Soon she was asleep, and the pain went away. When she got off the train she hugged Hermes one more time. He kissed the top of her head and promised to visit her soon. Hadestown was hot and bright, unlike the Overworld which was cold and dark. It shocked her body, making her shiver once again. She ventured up to Hades office to sign some papers. Hermes visited before she forgot everything, just like he promised her. He wasn’t one to break a promise.
iii. I hear the rocks and stones, echoing our song
Eurydice shivered with excitement. Her contract had been terminated with Persephone’s help, and she could finally go back home. She could finally see her Orpheus again. She wasn’t fully alive, but her memories were slowly returning, and her eyes were able to see again. And her wound was almost fully healed, but she still had a scar from the bite, and her skin was slightly discolored there. She didn’t think of it much, but when she did, it made her quite insecure. A reminder of how she got manipulated, and then killed by a snake of all things.
A reminder that Eurydice, the survivor, couldn’t really survive after all. She had lived through starvation, through the blazing heat and the freezing cold, even through other snakebites and injuries of the like. She was part dryad for goodness sake. But this time, her blood and her parentage couldn’t save her. She could’ve rescued herself much, much earlier.
She thought about it too often. She could’ve hid out somewhere and waited out the storm; she remembered there was a storm bunker close to the town that she could’ve stayed in with Orpheus, and he could’ve finished his song there. But instead she just had to look for food and a different shelter. The bunker had completely slipped her mind. She was a fool.
The train was full this time, many souls coming to and from Hadestown. The Goddess of Spring sat with Eurydice, keeping her company on the ride. It was her time to go back up, after all. It was time for winter to end and for spring to return.
“How is he?” The girl asked, picking at the cracked, almost gone polish on her nails. She met Persephone’s kind green eyes with her own sad brown. She knew how despaired he had been when he was told to leave, told that he couldn’t bring her home. When Hades banished him, she felt like it was her fault. For dying. For everything.
The woman cleared her throat. “He’s.. hanging in there. He’s been singing less, drinkin’ quite a bit. But he still writes songs about you very often. He misses you somethin’ awful.” Persephone rested an arm around her. “When I told him you were gonna come back, he thought it was a trick. Deep down, the boy knows I wouldn’t fool him like that, but I think he still resents me a lil for not doin’ more.”
“I’m glad he’s okay.” She sighed in relief.
When the train finally got to its destination, Eurydice rushed outside to the station. It looked pretty much the same, save for some wear and tear, and some new benches they installed. She saw people being reunited with their loved ones. Her eyes inspected the place, before landing on a man with messy brown hair and a red neckerchief.
Her eyes glazed over. His mirrored hers. “Orpheus!”
“Eurydice!” She rushed over to him, letting him spin her around and pepper every inch of her face with kisses. She wiped the tears off of his face and returned his kisses with pecks to each of his eyelids. His hair had greyed a small bit from stress over the past years in the Overworld. She didn’t love him any less. He leaned in to kiss her on the lips. Soft and sweet, like she was breakable.
When they broke apart, she giggled. Her hand moved up from his chest to touch his grey hairs. “Ya aged early, lover.”
“I suppose I did,” Orpheus burst into laughter, face ruddy in embarrassment, “you still like my hair?”
Eurydice ruffled his hair. “I still love it. And I always will.” She promised; holding his hands in hers. She wasn’t used to being in love, she wasn’t used to being cared for, until she met Orpheus. Who would wash her hair, kiss her tenderly when she got home from finding food, and held her close when she shivered. Orpheus; who reminded her that love existed, and it was here for her.
“I’m glad, love.” He said with a chuckle. Grasping tightly at her hands to convince himself she was actually here. When he looked down, he caught a glimpse of the wound on her leg. A healed, discolored patch of skin, looking like an almost-gone bruise. Orpheus kneeled down and kissed around the scar, his hands still holding hers. “And you’re still as beautiful as the day I met you.”
She blushed, gesturing for him to stand up. “Oh, poet. Please rise.” She slipped one hand out of his, hiding her face behind it. He grabbed it, gently prying it away from her face. He pushed her hair behind her ear.
“Would you like to go to the diner?” She knew exactly what he meant—the diner they had met in. She nodded excitedly. As if on cue, her stomach started to grumble. He tugged her along with him, out of the train station and towards the town.
Hand in hand, they stumbled into the building. There were a couple patrons, but not many. Some people she didn’t quite remember came over and welcomed her back. She was weary of them, her fingers barely touching their backs. Once they left, she sat across from Orpheus, and reached out to hold his hand. His hand was warm against her forever-cold skin. She noticed he wore a wedding ring, a simple gold band.
When he noticed she was looking at it, he met her eyes and explained, “I didn’t want anyone to forget I was yours.” He grabbed something out of his pocket. A small red box. He handed it to her. When opened, it revealed a matching ring. It glittered in the light of the sun.
He took the ring and slid it onto her finger, pressing a kiss to the cold copper. “I know it ain’t a weddin’ but.. I wanted to give you this, Eurydice. My light, my love. So we get a proper engagement.” She almost teared up from how cute he was being.
“Hey, if we ever do get that wedding, maybe Mr. Hermes could officiate. He’s special to you, ain’t he?” Orpheus nodded happily.
She was startled by a hand on her shoulder. When she looked up, she saw Hermes standing behind her. “Aight, now that’s somethin’ I’d like to do.” He chuckled, deep and emanating from his chest. “Can I get y’all somethin’ to eat in the meantime?”
“I’ll take my usual.” Eurydice said, folding her hands in her lap. Hermes smirked, knowing exactly what she meant. A liverwurst sandwich and warm beef stew. It was what she always ordered. It was even what she order when they weren’t at this place.
Orpheus followed up with, “i’ll just take some iced tea, I ain’t hungry.”
“I’m glad that you’re back, Eurydice.” Hermes’ smirk faded to a small, genuine smile. “It’s always nice to have ya. You can stay anytime.”
Eurydice smiled, standing up to hug him. She almost knocked the poor old man over. She had learned to survive, but not how to live. She held out by the skin of her teeth. All she’s ever known is how to hold her own. But the night Hermes found her, and the night she met Orpheus, she thought she might want to be held and cared for too. So she let them. Hermes would bring her new coats and gloves when it was cold. And Orpheus would buy her any gift he could, or he’d make his own little gifts for her. Or he’d write her a song. They were both so special to her, and she really didn’t know just how much they loved her too. “I love ya, kiddo.”
˖᯽ ݁˖˚. 🪶 ˖᯽ ݁˖˚.