#a devilishly beautiful wedding

[ash3tral]

This is a commission for @rayaofhearts that I had the most pleasure of completing! If anyone’s interested, I do have commissions opened, thanks!

[kaelyndraws]

Chapter V Acquaintance

Aidamien slowly led Kayre to his estate’s storage area, where they kept many different things. As the distance was long, which was why he thought to go there alone, his curiosity about her didn’t stop growing.

‘What should I ask?’ he wondered pensively and worriedly. ‘I don’t want to mess this up more than it already has!’

“How come I’ve never seen you before? How were you born?”

‘I seriously have no manners,’ He nervously looked to Kayre, who noticed his eyes falling upon her.

“Oh, I don’t mind the question, my lord!” Her tone came reassuringly, even though she was caught off-guard by the suddenness. “I understand where you’re coming from based on what I’ve heard about Lord Loudovikos, Lady Herana, and you, by extension.

“I guess it’s safe to say I’m much younger than you. From when I first opened my eyes, all I’ve ever known and experienced was long-term peace. I can’t remember a moment of profound suffering or conflict at all. You fought for your independence, right, my lord? I think I woke up after that, and I woke up being this big.” She motioned to herself.

“At that moment, I saw for a second how the barren land turned lush and green instantly. I had the urge to cultivate it, and here I am.”

“Oh...” The King of the Underworld was rendered speechless, more than he already usually was. Added to the fact that he was immediately granted dominion over the Underworld following the Second Rebellion. He had both literally and figuratively lived under a rock.

“That man with six arms... He’s Lord Solal, the God of Magic and Crossroads, right? I’ve seen his likeness once...”

“Yep.” He felt a rare urge of pride out of the blue. “One of my main assistants at work and a mentor when I first lived here. He’s like my second dad.”

“Oh...” She nodded in understanding.

Meager chat made them forget the time, and they arrived at the storage room.

“Are your feet okay?” Aidamien asked in concern, his hands about to run over Kayre’s bandages.

“Yes,” she smiled. “The pain from the scars has been taken off my mind back there.”

‘That’s good...’ The King of the Underworld sighed in relief. He stood up to seat the Goddess of Verdure on a nearby stool and started searching for sandals, which was more difficult than anticipated.

“Sorry...” he said as he was still looking, taking out each pair and comparing them. “I don’t have many girls in the house to stock sandals your size...”

“It’s fine, my lord. Any size will do.”

After a while of struggle, he found the most suitable sandals, owned and barely used by his only feminine colleague, which were a little bigger than her feet by a tiny pinch.

“This is the smallest I could find...” The God of the Dead carefully fitted the Maiden’s feet into the sandals.

“They look rather new...” She observed while lightly swinging her legs as she got used to the footwear.

“I only have one female friend. She mostly goes barefoot, and she floats instead of walking.”

“Oh, Thanatos?”

“Yep, that’s her.”

Aidamien saw Kayre suddenly shivering.

“Are you cold?”

She nodded as she warmed her hands with her misty breath. “How come you’re used to the temperature when you’re not wearing heavily?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Guess I’m just used to it. I’ll lend you some clothes. Everyone’s clothes here are woolen, so they should keep you warm. You can also take a warm bath if you want.”

The goddess’ eyes widened. “My lord... You’re too kind...” Her words left her in an audible whisper.

‘It’s the least I can do...’ He nodded with equal softness, looking down into her eyes.

Kayre stood up and turned to leave.

“Can you guide me there? To the bathroom?” She paused and perked as if she remembered her manners. “Please, my lord?”

“Sure.” He secretly found it endearing, seeing how comfortable she was with him. Seeing her walk more comfortably on the hard floor relieved some of the burden on his heart.

“Thank you, my lord,” Kayre bowed.

Aidamien nodded back. “I’ll let you be. If you need anything, I’ll be at my office.”

She nodded back again. “I have some more questions if you don’t mind.”

“Go ahead.”

“Were you the one who summoned me here? If so or not, why?”

His eyebrows furrowed much as he couldn’t answer her immediately. ‘She deserves to know...’

The words that faltered out of his lips caused her to make an expression as complicated as his, he felt. After a moment, she nodded awkwardly.

“I’ll get you clothes...”

With that, he briskly left the bathroom in unfathomable guilt.

‘I messed up big time...’

[kaelyndraws]

Chapter IV

Polydegmon

Kayre looked at the person who pacified the fearsome guardian of the Underworld for a while, seeing that he was tall, pale, cold, and dark. The only trace of color on him was his ruby-red orbs glowing in the dark.

“Ah,” The Maiden snapped back to reality, realizing she hadn’t answered him immediately. “Yes, I’m okay.”

She turned to face him and winced in pain, feeling stings in her feet. She looked down and saw that her feet were bleeding ichor due to running on rough, earthy terrain, rougher than the smooth and soft fields she was used to. She always went barefoot when working in her fields and only wore sandals when she had to go elsewhere. Seeing her feet made Kayre promise herself to put on footwear outdoors.

Aidamien followed her line of sight, the concern hinted at in his eyes. “I’ll bring you back to my house,” His monotonous voice filled the silence beside the odd wind blowing. “You can’t go out like this.” 

He looked to Kayre. “Can you walk?”

“I think so...” She tried to take a step, yet she couldn’t ignore the stinging pain. “Running on adrenaline is different than walking consciously.” She mildly jested.

The man’s eyes changed subtly as if her words lightened his mood. “You’re not wrong...” He motioned his arms behind Kayre. “I should carry you. May I?”

The Maiden scanned his arms, noting how rather well-built they were. “If you insist, sir.” She replied in her usual lukewarmth. The man took her answer as a yes and lifted her in his arms in a bridal carry. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck for stability. Aidamien’s eyes widened at the action, yet he didn’t question it, assuming she was doing it for her safety. He dashed to his estate with her in his arms, swift as the wind, where a silver-haired, six-armed man seemed to have been waiting for him.

“My, my, Aidamien! I was wondering where you’ve gone!” His worry turned into amusement and relief, seeing the King of the Dead carrying the Maiden in his arms.

Kayre looked at the man who carried her the way here. ‘Where have I heard this name before?’ She wondered.

“I need a bowl, a washcloth, and bandages,” Aidamien ordered. “No need to call for others.”

The six-armed man’s eyes widened as if surprised for a second and then relaxed as he bowed. “As you wish,” He briskly went inside.

Aidamien brought the young woman into his bathroom, and he set her down on a dry stool. What he asked for was swiftly brought to him, and they were left alone. He set aside his sandals, cloak, and bracers elsewhere, revealing his crown of white poplar leaves, Kayre noted. There was nothing except the sound of running water filling the bowl and the splashes as the dark deity wetted the washcloth. He gently lifted one foot of the Maiden, staining his hand with ichor, and washed her sole carefully. The ambiance was remarkably peaceful, but Kayre had mysteries she wanted to solve foremost.

“Sir, are you the lord of this realm?” Her curious voice suddenly broke the silence. Aidamien stopped whatever he was doing to look up at her in the eyes, and she could sense surprise from them before he returned to cleaning.

“Yes,” he answered after much contemplation, subtly moved. “How did you know?”

Kayre hummed for a moment. “I may have heard a little once while on the mountain. Your true name, I mean. I heard some rumors from farmers away from my home.” 

A smile broke out on her lips. “Though, for them, it’d be scarce... Everyone on the mountain seemed fonder of you...”

‘As it usually is...’ Aidamien thought and sighed as he moved on to her other foot. 

Sensing his gloomy reaction, the Maiden looked on, seeing how he handled her feet delicately. “No wonder mortals call you ‘the Hospitable One’...” She murmured and sensed the washing halted, believing he had heard her. The surprise was now apparent on his face, with his pale skin looking slightly more colorful.

Since the day she appeared in the world, Kayre had been aware that mortals didn’t mention the King of the Underworld as often as other deities, let alone use his name. They would instead replace it with epithets out of fear. All who lived shall eventually become his subjects hereafter, and it wouldn’t do them any favor to have their ends arrive prematurely. Yet despite everything she heard about him, she didn’t think they matched the image she was witnessing before her eyes.

‘Did I say something off?’ Kayre grew uneasy over the prolonged inaction.

On Aidamien’s end, her tone earlier signaled genuine sincerity, as if she was complimenting him. But he decided to avoid such expectation of sentiment in nearly invisible shame, continuing to tend to her feet.

This time, Kayre wasn’t sure what to do. She was usually the one to receive the start of conversations, but now she had to start one with someone she presumed to be a lot like herself.

“I mean it,” she said slowly, after thinking things over as he wrapped her cleaned feet in bandages. “I don’t know what exactly you heard from others, but...” She took a deep breath. “You’re honestly not too bad yourself, my lord. Please know that.”

‘Would he be okay with me saying such serious things this early?’ The Maiden started to have second thoughts before seeing Aidamien’s gaze turn warmer as he finished bandaging.

“Your feet sustained mild scratches, so it should take at least a few hours for them to heal enough for you to walk painlessly,” he finally spoke. “I’ll get you sandals.” He stood up to put on his cloak and bracers again before exiting the bathroom.

“Um...!”

“Hm?” He turned back to see Kayre trying to stand up on her own.

“May I join you?” She limped slowly. “I believe I should since you’re looking for my size. Would be saving time instead of you going back and forth for my sake...”

“Sure,” Aidamien replied, seeing her determination.

[kaelyndraws]

Chapter II Stranger in a Strange Land

Kayre wasn’t sure how long she had lost consciousness from the moment she fell into what seemed to be perpetual darkness. The first thing she noticed when she woke up was a pitch-black night instead of the familiar warm and bright sun rising from the horizon. It wasn’t like her to take naps often back home, as she lived alone in her cottage in the mortal realm. 

‘This must be a nightmare.’ Kayre thought. She immediately slapped herself on the cheek, checking if all this was real. She quietly cursed the fact that she was completely awake now.

The second thing she noticed was the smell of the environment’s atmosphere, which was heavy and earthy instead of the fresh, cool, dewy grass. She could still breathe, yet the air was not as light as she was used to. Yet despite that, she also noticed a third thing: the domain’s chilliness. How strange and beyond it was for her. Cold, yet somber, as if the place was a sorrowful one.

As her eyes adjusted to the dark, the Maiden felt the surface she was lying on. It was comfortable, more comfortable than her bed back home. She certainly did not remember hitting any hard surfaces, either because she did not when she fell or she was too unconscious to notice it. She felt her own body, which was miraculously clean and unscathed.

When Kayre regained the strength to get up, she started exploring the place. As she got down from what she felt to be the most comfortable bed ever laid on, the goddess was surprised at how perfectly smooth and cool the ground was, no matter how wide she swept her feet. 

She walked out of the bedroom, and there was dim yet sufficient and warm light of torches in what looked to be a grand hallway. Dark pillars stood tall to hold the ceiling away from the floor like the vast separation between Ouranos and Gaia. She sauntered down, taking in every minute detail of the place. It was empty, with nobody guarding the halls as within the divine mountain, yet it felt surprisingly secure. Perhaps it was the air of the place, commanding respect and fear, and she certainly felt that.

Kayre walked on and kept feeling fascinated with her new surroundings. There was a massive lounge, the first she had ever seen, at least an indoor lounge. The one on the mountain had an impressive view of the mortal realm below it. 

There was also an even more gigantic room where she saw many apparitions handling paper. ‘An office.’ She noted.

...

Wait.

There was darkness, an earthy smell, a cold atmosphere, and apparitions.

Oh no.

The Maiden’s stroll turned into a panicked escape dash out of the expansive estate. Despite the dense floor not having a speck of the fertile earth she knew in the Mortal Realm, monkshood still managed to sprout and take root from where her feet were.

After a few run-ins to dead ends, the goddess managed to exit out of the property. It was still dark outside. The firmament lacked any bodies of light, not even Selene nor the stars. Yet she heard the rushing sound of water. A river! It sounded like a river! So it was as the mortals she eavesdropped upon believed.

She kept running, adrenaline blocking out her sense of pain on the rougher lands outdoors. She sprinted upstream, desperate to search for the way home, and the moment she thought to have found it, she heard a bark that almost burst her ears. Her figure stood frozen as the barking went on before turning into growling that shook every fiber in her.

Three dark, gigantic snouts aggressively bared their fangs up close to her. Six eyes and the flames that burned from their mouths were the only sources of light, and Kayre instantly understood that she was face-to-face with the guardian hellhound of Hades. She cowered in terror as her legs struggled to move backward. She couldn’t think of anything or feel anything as the heat slowly cooked her skin and clothes.

Suddenly, her ears picked up a voice that stopped the giant dog in its tracks. Seeing it turn silent and shrink as it whimpered calmed her enough to listen to what the voice was saying.

“Cerberus! Enough! You’re scaring her!” It was the voice of a man, commanding yet gentle. His fair hands reached to hold two of the canine’s snouts, and Kayre felt the air turn chilly again.

“That’s it. Good boy.” The voice became still as Cerberus calmed down under his touch. Kayre watched as the fearsome hellhound got reduced to a docile dog. She looked on for a few more moments before a hint of courage sparked in her heart, and she turned around to look upon her savior.

“Are you okay?”

[kaelyndraws]

Chapter I The Fall

Long ago, the three realms were more interconnected than today. The human race believed in the supernatural that ruled over them, with every aspect and phenomenon of nature being divine, and due to abundance, the mortals thanked the gods regularly for providing for their livelihood. 

One of these deities had dominion over all flora that grows, and mortals address her as the Maiden, Kayre. When Helios shone down on her, her skin was the ripe harvest of the fields. She had hair unlike any other as if the golden grain had shot out from the black earth, nourished by the clean water underneath. Her dark eyes were bright with the color of the meadows. She was a simple and practical goddess, as expressed by her clothes and way of life in the mortal realm, specifically in her quaint cottage. 

Kayre preferred to grow food for herself instead of decorating her home with blossoms that fed tiny flying creatures. She was a hardworking and stoic woman because of that. Thanks to many offerings in her name, she had never gone hungry and never needed to consume beasts. Sometimes, she owned so much that she gave back to the mortals. She often supplied ingredients for heavenly feasts for the divine mountain above, where the most powerful gods reside. Despite being part of the divine herself, she rarely socialized with them. She had always lived alone and was content with nature being her constant companion. Though life was rather monotonous, she never failed to find ways of entertainment.

It was one average day, nothing extraordinary as far as Kayre knew. She was tending to her crops, sowing seeds, and making sure everything was quenched of thirst when she saw a plant outside and looked at it with fascination. A plant she was sure she had never created before. She certainly felt her usual pragmatism. No decorative flowers could have sprouted around her.

‘I have never seen this one before…’ The Maiden thought. The plant’s flowers had white petals with a brown stripe in the middle of each petal, and they surrounded the stem that stood tall to the sun. She approached it carefully and discovered it to have a scent, unlike any other blossom in the mortal realm. It filled her with undeniable intrigue. ‘I must bring it home and investigate it!’

Her hand reached out to pick it off. The moment she uprooted the plant, the earth shook violently. Kayre panicked, wondering if the God of the Sea was in a fit of unforeseen wrath. From where the plant was, the ground was split open, and the goddess fell into the wide fissure. The earth closed up above her, and her screams echoed out into the pitch-black darkness. 

She was not sure how long she had been falling and unknowingly blacked out in fear.