Page 46 of Orpheus
“But Orpheus, I still have so many questions. How did I end up here? What happened to me?”
“A venomous snake had bitten you in the forest at the Vale of Tempe when you went to scavenge food for us. I’m sorry I ever let you wander off alone, Eurydalos,” I explained. “When I heard you scream, I immediately went in search of you. But by the time I reached you, it was too late. You were slowly fading from the upper world and into this one.”
“I see. And so, you decided to risk your life and come to the Underworld to find me?” he asked almost skeptically.
“Yes. I had spent a full month alone without you. I became depressed and could no longer go on in life without you by my side. Apollo took pity on me and guided me here,” I answered.
He raised his brow at me with a confused expression written on his face. “You say I’ve been dead for over a month? But that can’t be true. I feel like it was only yesterday I last saw you.”
I shook my head. “It seems time has played a trick on you in this world. Perhaps it moves slowly here compared to the surface. But yes, Eurydalos. You have been here in the Underworld for over a month now.”
“It’s hard to believe, but I will take your word for it,” he acknowledged. “Nevermind that, though. I am so indebted to you, Orpheus. I cannot believe the sacrifices you were willing to make to come down here for me.”
“Of course I would, Eurydalos. I love you so much. In my mind, I had no other choice but to find you. You have to know that.”
A smile crept up on his face. “And I love you too.” He stepped forward to prove his statement by kissing me once more. “So, what now? Are we to stay here or are we free to go?”
“We can leave whenever we would like to, I suppose. But before we do that…” As I said this, I moved towards the guest chamber door, planting it firmly shut, before making my way back over to Eurydalos to finish my thought. “Let us take advantage of our first time together once again, in this lavish bedroom.”
Before I could even come forth with the finality of my suggestion, Eurydalos had reached for my hand and backed us up into the bed. He dragged me along with him. We fell into it, his back pressed against the satin sheets with me laid out on top of him.
As much as I could not believe this was actually about to happen, my senses tingled, preparing me to know that it really was. I would finally be able to make love to Eurydalos. Quite the contrary belief to what I thought for the past month, in which I presumed I would never get the opportunity to hold his body ever again.
Yet here we were, stripping each other’s tunics off and ravaging one another’s skin with our lips and teeth. I sank mine into his neck, nibbling on his soft skin. Eurydalos moaned with pleasure, feeling my bites against him. As I did this, I could feel his erection press firmly against my stomach. It sent a rush of excitement that instantly stiffened me, as well.
We both scooted back further into the bed, so that his head was against the pillow as I crawled on top of him once more. Our kisses became rough and passionate, his lips desperately wanting to remain attached to mine, never ceasing their touch from one another.
I soon became abrasive. I’m not sure what came over me. Perhaps it was the prolonged absence from having him. Unable to wait any longer to feel myself inside his gorgeous, willing body, I grabbed him by the ankles and lifted his feet into the air. Slowly, I started to press myself into Eurydalos. My tip began to penetrate him. He moaned the instant it slipped inside, stimulated by its immersion. I plunged further into him, whimpering with delight, remembering just how tight he truly was around me. Hearing my lover’s moans prompted me to pick up my rhythm, thrusting in and out of him, knowing how much he was enjoying this.
I could not help but still open my eyes to get a glimpse of his impressive body in action against mine, taking me whole. I scanned his face as he began to grit his teeth. “I can’t take it anymore!” he yelled.
“What!? Already?” I could barely get my statement out before he was already heaving and grunting heavily, splurging his hot milky liquid all across his chest. It instantly put me over the edge, causing me to release myself into him. I collapsed on top of Eurydalos when I had finished. All I could do was lay atop him, my eyes wide open the entire time.
I soon pulled out of him, and he let out a soft, incomprehensible noise, not anticipating how quickly I would remove myself from him. We both were completely worn out. Our energy drained from our passionate love-making. I knew even attempting to get out of bed now and roam through the Underworld to the surface would not be in our best interest. We would likely tire out and collapse, barely making it through our journey. So, I decided to turn over and lay beside Eurydalos, holding him from behind as we drifted off to sleep. We both needed to recover our strength fully for what would likely be a perilous escape to the upper world.
But as I dozed off, I was finally able to drift off into a slumber with a smile on my face. It was the first time in a month that I could rest peacefully, knowing that I had everything I wanted. With Eurydalos back in my life, I was a whole new and lively person once more. A confident, loving, and elated musician who could take on the world with my Earth dancer by my side again.
“Sing me a song,” Eurydalos requested as we both woke up several hours later. He laid in bed, with his head propped up by his bent arms. What a vision he was. I wanted my view of him in that moment to be engraved in my memory for the rest of my life. He was so beautiful, so captivating. So stunning and youthful.
I could not deny his request to hear my voice. My scintillating melodies. So, I retrieved my golden lyre and returned to lying in bed next to him. I held the instrument against my chest and began playing for him.
A lost soul I was, having to live a life without you.
Sadness lingered within me. A depression began to brew.
I had no hope. No cause to go on, losing all my will.
For having the most amazing love be taken away, left me ill.
I was trapped in my own head. My life completely undone.
Until I heard of a resolution made by the God of the sun.
Journey to the Underworld. Your music will be your salvation, he said.
And thus, I was quick to make my way to the land of the dead.
I soothed even the darkest of creatures with my tune and voice.
