Page 33 of Song of Memories

Eurydice cleared her throat. "Physically, I mean." Orpheus dropped her hand and let out a short, exasperated breath.

"I'm not an idiot, Eurydice, I know what you meant."

Eurydice fought the urge to shiver; her skin erupted with the sensation of being covered in bugs. All the warmth drained from her body as she watched in confused horror as Orpheus morphed back into the cold, inconsiderate person she'd become used to.

"I want to keep our evening going…" Eurydice struggled to find the right words. She didn't feel confused any longer; she was furious. That was the emotion that threatened to overtake her and was robbing her of her speech. After all of this, this back and forth with Orpheus, he was going to pretend to be genuine with her only for the opportunity to finally seduce her into his bed?

"Is that what this was all about?" Eurydice snapped, pointing to the remnants of their dinner, strewn out on the table, only a few dirty dishes left. "You just wanted to fuck me?"

Orpheus let out an exasperated groan, sounding annoyed like he couldn't find what he was looking for at the merchant's. He was still acting incredibly blasé, as if he was being inconvenienced.

"Well, excuse me," Orpheus grunted, "but I didn't think you'd take it well if I cheated on you either."

Eurydice stared at him without being able to say anything. Her mind rapidly flipped back and forth between being completely blank and overwhelmed with rage. Her blood started to boil, and thorns started popping out all down her arms and spine. Wild vines started growing out of her scalp, twisting around her hair and braiding it like she was about to go into battle. Even the breeze picked up around their ankles, all the elements of the wild reacting to the furious nymph in their midst.

"What in the name of the gods is fucking wrong with you, Orpheus?" Eurydice shrieked, jabbing her finger into his chest. "That is one of the most insane things... I mean... Honestly, all I can say is what the fuck!"

"Oh, please." Orpheus rolled his eyes. "I tried to seduce you. It's hardly a crime. You should be flattered."

"Flattered?!" Eurydice growled. "You intentionally were engaging and charming. You were kind to me all night not because you wanted to work on our relationship, but only because you were desperate to fuck me!"

Orpheus chuckled. It was a dark and self-satisfied sound that made Eurydice want to snap his neck. It sent chills down her spine. She didn't remember much of their time together, but she knew she had never heard Orpheus make that sound.

"You don't know much about men, Eurydice. I promise you, husbands are only ever trying to get a fuck out of their wives. Or they're cheating. I chose the former, so I really don't see the issue." Orpheus turned around and started walking away from Eurydice, down the empty hall towards his behemoth bedchambers.

"Are you seriously walking away from me right now?" Eurydice shrieked, some of the vines growing all the way down to her ankles and seeking out the floorboards. They chased down the hallway after Orpheus.

"I will talk to you tomorrow. I'm a little too buzzed for this. I'm either going to fuck or go to bed, and you've clearly indicated that the former is not an option."

Eurydice's breath was coming in uneven gasps. She was feeling naive and furious. The vines receded as quickly as they grew, disappearing from the hallway. Eurydice said nothing as she slowly watched Orpheus's retreating form, trying to determine if there was anything left for her to save.

Eurydice walked straight out into the garden, making it all the way to the fruit tree grove before she buried her head in her hands and screamed.

Who am I anymore? Who the fuck is Orpheus? What are we doing together?

Eurydice waited until her breathing had calmed down and sighed. She let her head fall back and looked up at the sky, looking for the moon out of habit. It was a full moon night, which meant the creatures of the forest were somewhere under the trees, enjoying Selene and Pan's attentions.

I wonder if Pan is celebrating in the Underworld? The thought popped into Eurydice's mind, and then she couldn't let it go. She didn't know who she was any more in Orpheus's house, but she always knew who she was in the forest.

Without a parting thought or a second glance, Eurydice slipped out the garden gate and took off as fast as her feet could carry her towards the trees.

17

Eurydice started running as fast as her legs could carry her; her feet practically flying over the ground as she sped off towards the forests. The trees were calling to her, ringing out in the clear night sky, beckoning for their daughter to return to them. As she ran, Eurydice ripped off the expensive brooch that was tied to her shoulder, pulling off the jewelry Orpheus had given her. It scattered on the ground like remnants of a lifetime she didn't remember and no longer cared to. Her only focus was on getting her feet away from the overly lined and paved streets from Orpheus's neighborhood and towards the wilderness of the Underworld.

As she got closer, the houses started becoming further and further apart. Selene's song grew longer, and the moon shined brighter above Eurydice. It was a long shot that Pan would be celebrating in the Underworld this full moon, but he regularly took time to visit the forests of Asphodel since Eurydice's death. There was a chance he was there. It was the only thing she needed. Eurydice was abandoning her marriage and the legacy of her relationship with Orpheus for the mere chance that Pan was somewhere in the Underworld.

Eurydice didn't know how long it had been since she started running, but she didn't care. It was like a heady aphrodisiac, being able to run as fast as she could, and it made her feel like a young maiden again. The wind whipped past her hair, and there was a pleasant burn in her legs from the sudden exertion; she reveled in it.

The ground seemed to move of its own accord under Eurydice's feet, pushing her further, getting her to the forest. She didn't question it when the Underworld's magic rose up to greet her, spinning the dirt beneath her feet to get her to her destination faster. She let her head fall back, her red hair shining in the light like a torch, and howled. It was an ancient sound, deep from within the core of her, her wildness calling back to her. That part of Eurydice had been abandoned these past few weeks, and it was furious at her for it. Eurydice was a creature of the open sky, the dirt, the leaves, the tallest trees. To pretend anything else would be a farce; she was no poet's wife. She was no muse. She was nature incarnate, and all of Gaia's ancient rage now simmered in her bones that she had been pushing back against her truest self all for the opinions of a man.

When the forest appeared on the horizon, Eurydice howled again before she started laughing freely. She didn't even think about how unhinged she might appear; she was only thinking about how good it felt to be unchained.

As she skipped past the trees and made her way towards one of her favorite clearings, she could hear the sounds of a full moon feast. It was a familiar scene but one that she never grew tired of. Every nymph, dryad, and creature of the forest was gathered around a long, low table made of a tree trunk. Some of the creatures were sitting at the table, dining on meats and fruits and drinking heavily from overflowing amphoras of wine.

Other party guests were in various stages of undress, touching, groping, fucking, and dancing under the shining light of the moon. In the very center of the clearing, there was a massive bonfire, stretching up to the skies. It was taller than a human man, and the smoke was heavily perfumed; cinnamon and myrrh were constantly being thrown into the flames to create a heavy incense that hung in the air long after the smoke cleared.

Decorations made from flowers hung from the trees, stretching out from branch to branch. Petals were strewn about on the fresh grass floor, adding to the incense burning away in the fire. The clearing was alive, and Eurydice could've sworn that even the gardens of Olympus themselves wouldn't look as beautiful. Although she was not alone in the sentiment that many elements of the Underworld were far superior to their Olympian counterparts.

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