Page 45 of Song of Memories

A huge black cauldron was sitting atop a blazing fire. The flames flickered between red, green, and purple, indicating their obvious magical nature. Eurydice's face broke into a genuine smile as her eyes landed on the long kitchen table with two black dogs sitting underneath it. They cocked their ears up as they viewed the visitors, paying practically no attention to Hermes. Both of the dogs stood up from where they'd been napping and trotted over to Eurydice, shoving their wet noses against her palms.

"They know a heavy heart when they see one." A beautiful, powerful woman stepped into the kitchen. It took Eurydice one look at the bright red hair to know who she was talking to.

"Oh my gods," Eurydice gasped, "You're Hecate!"

The goddess laughed and looked between Hermes and Eurydice. "Who did you bring me this time, you fiend?"

Hermes chuckled, obviously not remotely put off by the nickname, and hopped up on the kitchen counter. He pushed a mortar and pestle out of the way, and Hecate slapped his hand.

"Don't touch my things," she quipped. Hecate settled herself at the counter near Hermes and got back to work, assembling varying ingredients from other jars and combining them before putting them in separate containers again.

"This is Eurydice," Hermes said softly, his expression gentle as he looked between the two women. "I was hoping that she could stay here with you for a night or two."

Hecate dropped the small jar she was holding, her head snapping up to take another look at Eurydice.

"Eurydice," she repeated. There was an intense look on her face that Eurydice couldn't quite decipher. Eurydice blushed furiously and looked away, scratching the dogs’ ears while their tongues lolled in satisfaction.

"I can leave," Eurydice squeaked. "I didn't know where Hermes was bringing me. If it's a problem, you know. I don't want to leave. You have a lovely home." Eurydice started speaking faster; she was used to being around the gods often, but Hecate intimidated everyone. "I can leave if it's an issue, is what I mean."

Hecate smiled softly, walking briskly over to Eurydice. Before Eurydice could open her mouth to apologize for the intrusion again, Hecate opened up her arms and pulled Eurydice into a tight embrace. Eurydice only faltered for a brief moment before the overwhelming safety and warmth of Hecate's touch sent her into another bout of tears.

"There, there, sweet child," Hecate murmured. She whispered the words against Eurydice's hair, letting her cling to her bosom like a child to their mother. "There's always room for my heartbroken children here."

"I-I'm not," Eurydice hiccuped. "I'm not yours though. I'm not an acolyte."

Hecate made a soft tutting sound and pulled back slightly. She cupped Eurydice's face with her hands, her thumbs gently brushing away the tears on her cheeks.

"Every woman has the right to call themselves my child, Eurydice." Hecate was deadly serious. "Every woman needs a safe place amongst other women. Speaking of," Hecate turned around, "Hermes, get lost."

Hermes made an exaggerated gasp, licking some of the syrup off his finger where he'd been eating out of one of the jars on Hecate's countertop.

"I want to stick around for girl time." Hermes pouted. "You always kick me out."

"And why do you think that is?" Hecate countered, cocking her hip and putting her hand on her waist. She wrapped her other arm around Eurydice's shoulders and pulled her into her side. Eurydice couldn't help but feel warm all over at the receptiveness of Hecate's attitude and the warmth of her kitchen. Simply standing in such a comforting room with a genuine maternal goddess was doing wonders for her poor nerves.

"I don't know," Hermes whined again, playfully kicking his feet. "I like boys too! And I'd love to talk shit about Orpheus, personally."

"You want to hear me talk about how I slept with your son last night?" Eurydice cringed, pointing out the obvious, which Hermes seemed to be missing. He paled immediately, his face screwing up in an exaggerated expression of disgust.

"Nope, nope. I can go until the end of time itself without hearing those details." He hopped off the counter and sauntered towards them. He gave Hecate a loud kiss on the cheek and petted Eurydice on the head as though she were a small child. She didn't even mind. It was nice to feel small for a little while, to be surrounded by immortals who were older and more powerful than she was and who didn't care about the legacy of 'Orpheus and Eurydice.' She wasn't one half of a couple or Orpheus's missing piece standing in Hecate's kitchen; she was simply Eurydice.

She realized she didn't know how long it'd been since she felt like she was only Eurydice, simply and wonderfully herself. At that exact moment, admittedly, she was in knots about everything that had happened, but it felt good to be recognized as an individual after so long.

"Goodbye, Hermes." Hecate said farewell almost like a warning; Eurydice assumed that she was implying Hermes shouldn't try to worm his way back into her house.

"Goodbye, my virgin of vengeance," he grinned, waggling his eyebrows as he gave them both an exaggerated bow and departed on swift feet without a second word.

"Goodness, he never changes, does he?" Hecate smiled, her expression clearly indicating that she didn't hold any contempt or disdain for Hermes in the slightest. Eurydice didn't know if Hermes understood how warmly Hecate felt about him, but she surmised those two had a relationship that only made sense to the two of them.

"In the short time I've known him, he's been annoyingly consistent in his mischief." Eurydice nodded, and Hecate clapped her hands together.

"Yes! Annoyingly consistent," she chuckled to herself quietly. "That does explain it. Well," she raised her voice and looked at Eurydice, "take a seat, I'll get you something to drink."

She turned back to her work bench, and Eurydice got comfortable at the kitchen table, admiring the intricate carvings on the side of it. It was worn and shiny with use, and it told the story of a thousand long evenings spent with company around it. Hecate's dogs settled at Eurydice's feet, one of them plopping their head on the bench within reach of Eurydice's hand. It was clearly angling for pats, and Eurydice was in no position to ever deny them. She scratched the dog's ears absentmindedly, watching the flickering, color-changing flames of the hearth as Hecate busied herself in the kitchen.

Time didn't seem to affect Hecate's space. Eurydice was lost in her thoughts, not unpleasantly, simply enjoying the serenity. She didn't know how much time had passed before Hecate placed a steaming cup in front of her.

"Drink that, gentle one. It'll help." Hecate reached into a small satchel tied to her waist, getting a pinch of glittering powder and tossing it into the hearth. The flames popped and leaped up the chimney, licking the sides of the stone and bursting with bright pink sparks.

---