Page 46 of Shadows and Vines

Again.

Crap.

Devon pushed up to sitting, the sand everywhere again, but this time there was not any blood or an ancient, faceless warrior killing him and stealing his soul.

Leaning forward, Devon put his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. His mind was exhausted. He dealt with enough questions, thoughts, new revelations during the day, he wanted a break at night.

Looking back up, he took in the surrounding sand.

So empty.

The nothingness was disorienting, and he felt a strong level of anxiety bubbling up inside him.

It was too open, too… dead.

Suddenly feeling like he needed to escape, he started running. There was nowhere to run to, but his body moved anyway. It wouldn’t stop. His mind told him it was fruitless, but his body moved of its own volition.

The sand kicked up behind him, his feet trying to push forward, his steps sinking in before he pulled them free again.

He closed his eyes and pushed harder, faster, more determined. He finally allowed his mind to clear and just run.

Suddenly, he wasn’t running on sand.

He opened his eyes to see he was running on packed dirt. His steps moved faster, stronger.

As he ran, trees and vegetation shot up from the ground, covering him and protecting him from the unnatural state he was escaping.

His relief was palpable as he looked back over his shoulder, the desert no more, lost to the forest.

His head whipped around right as he slammed into the ancient warrior, knocking himself back as everything went black.

Devon jolted up in bed, the dreams leaving him feeling unsettled. He looked out the window, wondering what that had meant.

Had he gone to his forest? Was it for comfort?

Exhausted, he fell back on his bed, as he prayed no more nightmares bothered him that night.

***

Tapping her nails on the throne, Persephone listened to a villager from one of the nearby towns populating the Underworld speak on some potential advancements. Things the mortal world had, but these souls did not remember them. It was interesting how human culture, human curiosity, was so ingrained in the souls.

“I approve and thank you for bringing this before me. Please, show kindness to your neighbors

and offer them the same opportunity.”

The villager thanked her profusely and bowed. She felt a tiny smile creep on her face at the happiness she saw before her.

That was before the doors opened and Thanatos walked in. He looked way too serious for anything good to be happening. She noticed her guards, who lined the wall and guarded the door, stiffen at his presence. He was one of her generals when the army was called to act, and they deferred to him.

She wondered if Devon would take that role in the future.

“Goddess,” Thanatos stopped before her throne, bowing.

Oh, this was not going to be good.

“I apologize for the interruption”

“Forgiven. Speak,” she ordered, sitting up straighter.

---