Page 23 of Song of Memories

“I’d be honored to attend tonight as your date, Orpheus.”

“Wonderful!” Orpheus clapped his hands together before nearly jogging out of the room. “Wear something pretty tonight, my darling!” he called back over his shoulder, and Eurydice felt nauseous.

12

Eurydice brushed her hands down the edge of her chiton, smoothing out some of the pleats in the fabric. It wasn't a common choice for a party, and typically it wasn't a woman's fashion either, but Eurydice loved how it made her feel when she wore it. The drape of the fabric made her feel more powerful, which was something she gravitated towards when thinking about attending a party with Orpheus. She wanted to be a little more optimistic about the event, but she didn't care much for the friends that Orpheus had made in the Underworld. He rubbed elbows with the rest of the Underworld's ‘elite’, including Perseus, who was loathed by the chthonic gods and deities alike.

The dinner they were headed to that evening was held at none other than Perseus's home, another massive monstrosity that made Eurydice wonder why Hades even allowed it in his lands.

She was lost in her thoughts and attempting to boost her own morale for the evening when there was a subtle knock at the bedroom door. Orpheus and Eurydice had been living in separate bedrooms since she moved into the property, even though Eurydice knew that Orpheus was pushing for her to join him in his bed.

“Coming,” Eurydice called out, cringing at the forced joy she heard in her tone. She crossed the bedroom and opened the door, finding Orpheus standing on the other side. He was dressed in an elaborate tunic with a brooch the size of a child's fist at his shoulder. It was a gilded lyre, studded with gemstones, and Eurydice couldn't help but mentally turn up her nose at it. She always preferred flowers or natural adornments to hard, cold jewels and metals.

“Is that what you're wearing?” Orpheus blurted out, his face morphing into a sneer as he studied Eurydice's outfit. Eurydice started grinding her teeth together.

“Yes, it is. Is that a problem for you? You can always go alone if you want to.”

“No, no,” Orpheus grunted. “Everyone is going to expect to see you by my side.” Eurydice sighed heavily, the hesitation in her veins growing as she toyed with the idea of staying home instead.

“Do you even want me to come with you? Or do you want to be seen with me because otherwise people will ask questions?”

“That's not fair…”

“What did we just talk about this afternoon, Orpheus? This is what I want to wear. Do you want to go with me, as your date, or do you just want the infamous muse of Orpheus on your arm?”

Orpheus held his hands up in surrender. “You look lovely, Eurydice. Please.” He offered her his arm. “I simply don't want anyone else to give you a hard time. You're not even dressed in a woman's garment.”

Eurydice took a step back, raising an eyebrow and leaving Orpheus with his arm extended towards her in the air awkwardly. She flipped some of her hair over her shoulder, knowing how the fabric draped over her curves—even for a man's garment. Eurydice tightened the fabric at her shoulder, adjusting the neckline so her cleavage deepened.

“Do you really think anyone will mistake me for a man?”

“N-no,” Orpheus stuttered. His eyes were transfixed on Eurydice's figure, and instead of feeling even more alluring or beautiful, Eurydice fought the temptation to roll her eyes at Orpheus's simplicity of character.

“Do you see what I'm talking about?” Eurydice deadpanned, adjusting the fabric and bringing up the neckline. “We can't even have a conversation without it turning into an argument.” Eurydice bit her lip, turning her gaze out the window. She could see the forests of Asphodel in the distance. The trees were calling to her. “Maybe it's not the best idea for me to come with you tonight.”

Orpheus looked frightened, stepping closer to Eurydice and inviting himself into the bedroom. “Please, come with me. I'm sorry. Really, I'm simply nervous. I don't know how to talk to you, it seems,” Orpheus grinned sheepishly.

Eurydice couldn't help but feel her heart warm at the sight. Orpheus was excellent at always saying the right thing. He found a way to make it sound endearing that he had such horrible communication skills with his own wife.

“I’m not going to change,” Eurydice challenged. She wasn't going to be dimmed by Orpheus's perception of her; that was a person that she had no desire to be. “If you want to be with me, if you want to try and make this work, you need to be with me. Not the version of me that you have created through song and stanza these past forty years.”

Orpheus blushed, ducking his head slightly in embarrassment.

“I understand, Eurydice.” He offered his arm to her one more time. “Would you do me the honor of coming to dinner with me this evening? My experience will always be better if I have you alongside me.”

Eurydice tilted her head and studied him, reminding herself of her commitment to try to make this marriage work. It's going to take some trial and error, isn't it?

“I would love to.” Eurydice slid her arm through Orpheus's and allowed him to escort her out of their home. The walk to dinner was a short one, several of the more grandiose mortal shades lived close to one another in the Underworld.

Eurydice could hear the party before she saw it, sounds of drunken revelry spilling out from the walled garden behind Perseus's massive estate. It was even grander than the home Eurydice was forced to live in, and the very sight of it made her want to scowl. The marble steps leading up to the front door were covered in drunken bodies, women and men alike, sipping from shared jugs and in various stages of undress. Orpheus didn't even react as he helped Eurydice navigate through the chaos, making Eurydice take note of his nonchalant reaction. I suppose that's rather telling of the life he's been used to living.

The scene inside Perseus's house was even worse. There were bodies crammed from wall to wall, and everything smelled like alcohol and sweat. Orpheus tugged on Eurydice's hand and dragged her to the dining hall, where the hallway opened up to a huge room that was open to the outdoors.

A long banquet table was set up, overflowing with an endless array of food and drink. There were no less than three suckling pigs over open fires and Eurydice counted a few nymphs there too.

Eurydice was no stranger to wild parties. She was a deity of the forest. Pan was her best friend, for the gods’ sake. No one threw a party like the creatures of the wild with Dionysus as their leader. The difference was palpable, however, and Eurydice knew this was the kind of party were everyone was ready to take advantage of one another, something that was vastly different from the dinners she was used to attending.

“Orpheus!” A loud voice called out over the cacophony of the hall. Eurydice turned her head and nearly spit in his face when she saw Perseus.

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