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The new soul was gold.
Not literal gold, exactly, more like he had a golden glow about him, or a golden aura. It was like nothing Landon had seen in his half a decade as the Ferryman, and he couldn’t help but lean closer to examine the golden man where he lay on the ground next to the dock.
The man’s eyes, icy blue and otherworldly, popped open and looked straight into Landon’s, making him yelp and scramble back.
“Sorry,” he said as he caught his balance, panting a little, “sorry, didn't expect that. Wasn't completely sure you were even going to wake up.”
“Where am I?” the man asked, sitting up and looking around. Then he sighed. “Ah. Limbo.”
“You’ve been here before?”
“The first several times I died, yes. I haven’t been here in millennia, however. It must be because the curse was removed.”
“Curse, huh? Is that why you’re glowing like that?
The man held up his hand to examine and let out a heavy breath. “No, that is something else. Good.”
He stood up and Landon took a step back. Now that he wasn’t focused on the whole gold thing, he couldn’t but notice this guy was huge. Landon might be the Ferryman now, but he had to admit, the other man was intimidatingly enormous. “So, um. Let’s talk about this in town at my bar. Drinks're on me.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I have to go. My boyfriend will be worried.”
Landon's brow furrowed. “I’m sorry, I thought you knew. You can’t go back. You’re dead.”
“That is not as much of a hindrance for me as you might expect,” the man said, one corner of his mouth curled up.
Then he took a running leap and dove with perfect form into the lake. Landon waited and waited, but he never came back up.
“Huh. That’s … new.”
He had research to do.
*
The golden man came back about a week later.
This time Landon sat with his back to a tree trunk and waited for the man to wake up. When he did, Landon cleared his throat and then gave the man a little wave. “Hey.”
The man sighed. “Damn.”
“So I did some reading about golden souls,” Landon said conversationally. “I found a couple sources that said that something about gods having glowing souls if they died.”
“Demigod, actually,” the man said, groaning as he stretched his back before pushing himself off the ground. “You must know something about that, a being from Limbo. I’ve never seen you on my earlier visits but you are clearly not just another lost soul.”
“I’m the new Ferryman.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Of course. You’re Landon.”
He tilted his head. “You know who I am?”
“The war I’m fighting is between the gods and your friends in Mystic Falls.”
“Again?!?” Landon asked, slightly hysterical. “I just got my ability to feel joy back, I don’t want to lose it again! And watching Lord of the Rings is a such a bummer when I can't feel nostalgia.”
“The spell they did to help you get your emotions back is working, good. They’ll be pleased to hear it.”
That more or less confirmed that he really knew Landon’s friends. Two years ago, they’d worked with a god named Jen to figure out how to counter god magic with their own. Apparently it wasn’t as easy as breaking the curse; Hope had described it like their magic was slowing chipping away at Ken’s, like water wearing away at stone one drop at a time. His emotions were almost completely recovered on this plane, but still somewhat muted on Earth. Jen said it would take years, maybe even decades, and Landon wasn't eager to reset the clock.
“It’s slow going, but yeah, so far, so good," he confirmed. "I take it this war is why they haven’t been checking in like usual?”
“Yes, but I am sure they will as soon as they’re able.”
“No, totally, I get it. Things must be going bad if you keep dying so much.”
“They could be going better,” he said with a wry grin. “And now I must be getting back. My boyfriend will be waiting for me, with a lecture about being more careful with white phosphorus no doubt. Until next time.”
He started towards the lake. Landon called after him, “Hey, can you at least tell me your name before you go?”
“It’s Ben,” the man called back. “Nice to officially meet you, Landon Kirby.”
Then he dove back into the lake.
*
It was only two days this time before Ben was back.
“I can’t help but notice that you’re the only one who’s showing up here,” Landon said as he helped Ben up. “Unless my friends are going straight to Peace. Wait, did they -“
“No, everyone is fine,” Ben said, twisting his neck to the side to crack it. “I am being … what was the word? A martyr. Or at least that’s what Lizzie calls it. I think it’s practical. I cannot die permanently unless it is to a god’s weapon and my uncle is yet to find his trident, so it's safer for me to face him and his army than any of your friends. Except Hope, of course, but she is better at not dying than I am.”
“It is one of her many skills,” Landon agreed. “Are you sure that’s a good idea, though? I can’t help but notice that your glow is getting a little … I don’t know, dimmer, I guess?”
Ben sighed, holding up his hand to examine. “I'm only a demigod. I don’t know if I’m meant to die this much, not without the curse. I do not think I would stay dead, but I might get stuck here for longer than I’d like while my body recovers. I suppose I must try to only get maimed for a while.”
“That’s the spirit, sorta,” Landon said. “Can I ask, why are you so willing to get massacred for my friends? I mean, I’m grateful, but how do you even know them? Is it just that you hate your uncle that much?”
“No, although I do hate him quite a lot. I found the Salvatore School after Malivore was destroyed -“
“You were in Malivore, too? My dad really got around, huh?”
“He really did. Your friends took me in for a time and defeated my father, something that I thought was impossible. I owe them a debt.” Ben gave Landon an assessing look. “I owe one to you as well.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“You were there for the man I love when I couldn’t be. I will never be able to repay you for what you gave me, but if you ever need something from me, anything at all, I will do everything I can to help you.”
“Oh,” Landon said, utterly confused by the turn in the conversation. “Uh. Thanks.”
“But now I must return to him. I’m not sure he’ll be very happy with me; he’s had to watch me die far too many times recently. Until we meet again.”
Ben nodded and then took off back to the lake.
“That is the most cryptic man I have ever met,” Landon muttered to himself, turning and walking back towards town, hearing a distant splash behind him.
Because who was this mysterious love that Ben kept mentioning? And what did Landon do for him? He had helped a lot of people, sure, but mostly to the Other Side. The only living people he'd helped were his friends back when he first became the Ferryman. Maybe one of them had done something for Ben's boyfriend, like a pay it forward situation. Well, maybe Ben would died again soon and Landon would get to ask him.
*
“You’re sure I’m not dead?”
“Dude, how many times are you gonna ask that?” Landon asked, laughing. “I wouldn’t have brought you if I wasn’t a hundred percent sure.”
Rafael held up his hands in defeat. “Okay, okay, I’m just checking. My parents would freak out if I didn’t come back by lunch tomorrow like I promised, that’s all.”
“Well, they have nothing to worry about. I’m the Ferryman, bringing souls to and from realms is one of the perks.”
“Wow, check you out, Land. God of the dead."
"Yeah, no, just the Ferryman."
"What's the difference?"
"Lot of the same powers, but I'm still base level human. Ah, and here is the lake to Peace and my boat."
Rafael raised an eyebrow. "That's the boat that you take souls in? People see you in that thing?"
"Shut up. Oh, hey, I think a soul is here,” Landon said, pointing out at the end of the dock, where a man was struggling to stand up. “Wanna see me do my thing? Just don’t go anywhere near the boat. Or the water. Just in case.”
“Got it.” Rafael frowned as they got closer. “What should I say? What do you usually say when you meet someone who’s, y’know -“
“Dead? There’s no easy way to break it, so just stand behind me and try to look respectful. Oh, and if they died in a traumatic or surprising or even dumb way, try not to overreact. They don’t really take it well.”
“Hey, does that guy look familiar to you?”
Landon’s stomach dropped to his feet; apparently his ability to feel dread had returned. “Oh, crap. Jed.”
The man spun around, brightening immediately at the sight of him and jogging over. “Hey, Landon! So cool to see you - and Raf!”
Rafael let out a loud oof as Jed grabbed him up in a big hug, thumping him heartily on the back before doing the same to Landon, lifting him off the ground in his enthusiasm.
“Good to see you too, man,” Landon said, tentatively patting Jed’s shoulder until Jed put him down and let him go. “But you know what this means, right?”
“Yeah, sure, I’m dead.”
“At least he’s taking it well?” Rafael muttered with a shrug.
“No, it’s fine, I took - oh, crap, Ben!”
Landon frowned. “Ben? Is that the Ben I met, the big guy with the golden soul and way too blue eyes?”
“Demigod, actually. He’s going to be freaking out, he was right there when his uncle stabbed me. I promised him I would be careful, that I wouldn’t get hurt, he’s gonna think this is Ash all over again.”
“Wait, I’m so lost,” Rafael said. “Who the hell is Ben, why did his uncle stab you, and did you say demigod?”
“Uh, yeah, he’s Prometheus, basically.”
Landon’s eyes bugged out. “Prometheus? I met Prometheus? That’s so cool, I had no idea!”
“So if he’s a demigod, his uncle is -“
“Poseidon, more or less, but he calls himself Aiden," Jed said. "And he’s mad we killed his brother plus he wants to rule the world, blah blah, the usual thing. Anyway, after how bad the fight with Ken went, Ben wanted me on the other side of the world but I told him I couldn’t leave with Aiden gunning for him and Hope and our friends; but I swore I would do everything I could to make sure I survived this whole thing.”
“Except you didn’t,” Landon concluded. “I can’t take you back again, Jed. Nature won't allow it.”
“It's cool, you don’t need to. I’ve been drinking vampire blood every morning the last few days - so gross, by the way, although I guess now I better get used to it. Lizzie suggested it when I told her Ben was worried. But Ben’s been so busy figuring out our battle strategy with Hope and Cleo lately that I never got the chance to tell him, and -“
“Holy crap, you’re his boyfriend.”
Rafael's entire face screwed up in confusion. “I’m sorry, what now?”
“Ben, he thanked me for saving the man he loved. I couldn't figure it out, but he was talking about you.” He shook his head at Jed in wonder. “Dude. You’re dating Prometheus.”
“Awesome, right?” Jed said with a smirk that quickly fell away again. “But right now he’s up against his uncle thinking I died, and there’s no telling what he’ll do. He isn’t super rational when bad stuff happens to me. So how do I go back?”
“If the vampire blood worked, all you should have to do is dive back into the lake.”
Jed looked over at the water, frowning. “Dive?”
“You don’t know how to dive?”
“My crappy abusive dad didn’t exactly take me to swimming lessons, and Dr. Saltzman just requires we all learn enough to not drown in the school lake.”
“Right, fair. I think just jumping in will work. Probably. Ask Ben to teach you when the war thing's over, he's really good at it.”
“He's good at everything," Jed said fondly. "Alright, then I better get going.”
“Good to see you, Jed,” Rafael said, and he even sounded like he meant it. “Good luck with .. all of that.”
“Thanks, Raf."
“You sure you want to go back? Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t,” Landon added quickly when Jed shot him a look, “just thought you might want think stop and think about it for a second. Being a vampire - or hybrid, I guess - that’s a big change. You might never die and Peace is right over there.”
“I get it, it’s your job to ferry the souls, but mine has to go back home. I have to help our friends and I can’t leave Ben. I’d do a lot more than become a hybrid to stay with him for as long as I can.”
“He loves you a lot,” Landon said. “I don’t think I’ve even spent five minutes total with him, but it’s really obvious how much you mean to him.”
“I know,” Jed said, ducking his head, his voice soft in a way Landon couldn’t ever remember it being before. “He means a lot to me, too."
"Then go back to him. And tell him not to come back too soon, okay? Actually, I'd rather not see any of you around here for a while."
"We'll do our best."
Then with a whoop, Jed ran back to the end of the dock and canon-balled into the lake
"Some things never change," Rafael said as water flew everywhere, splashing both of them in the face.
"And then again, some things do," Landon said. "Can't believe Jed's gonna be a vampire. Can you imagine Jed with heightened emotions?"
“Nope, but I also couldn't really imagine him in love before today. Like serious, epic love. What’s the guy like?”
“I dunno, I barely met him. Polite, unflappable, has a gift for the understatement. Determined as hell to get back to Jed."
Rafael looked wistful. "You ever miss it? Being able to watch everyone's lives instead of just hearing about it second hand?"
"Yeah, I do," Landon said honestly. "But here is good, too. I think it's time I show you my bar."
"Let's do it."
Landon didn't tell Rafael that he was working with Jen and Cleo, trying to figure out a way to bring Rafael back to life; it wasn't worth it until they knew they could really do it. And he had a feeling he'd see Ben and Jed again. They seemed to throw themselves into danger for each other a lot and they were both immortal now. He might be watching them jump in the lake for each other over and over for eternity.
And he couldn't wait to tell all the other souls that he'd met Prometheus. So. Cool.