Three Days Before the Styx

Seven years after my cursed exile, Ethan—the man who swore an oath to me on the River Styx—returned to his estate at the foot of Mount Olympus. And he brought his new girl. The Fates had finally given their verdict: the "Wither" curse on me was incurable. I had no choice but to return to the mortal realm and wait for my soul to fade. I only had three days left to live. When he saw me leaning weakly against the porch pillar, supported by my mother, his lips curled into a cold, ruthless smirk—a smirk that truly belonged to the Lord of the Underworld. "Well, Elara," his voice was low. "It seems living in the sunlight hasn't exactly made you glow." I calmly pulled my cashmere shawl tighter. I needed to hide the black, branch-like veins spreading across my arms from the curse. "It's nothing. Just caught a chill. My body isn't really listening to me." He let out a scornful scoff and wrapped his arm around his companion's waist. "In that case, why don't you be the witness for my mating ceremony with Sierra? Come and see what a real divine couple looks like." I kept my smile and shook my head. "No, thanks. I'm going somewhere far away soon. For an eternal date." With that, I gently patted my mother's arm, signaling her to help me leave. Chapter 1 Right after I got home, my mother helped me to a wicker chair in the garden. Then Cassandra pushed the door open. She stood there, her eyes flickering with unease. "Elara, we need to talk." I looked at her tense face. I knew why she was here. It was exactly like seven years ago. The day the Oracle of Delphi announced my curse, she had rushed into the Underworld Temple just like this. I was still terrified. Hopeless about the sudden curse. She just dropped to her knees right by my sickbed. "Let him go, Elara." Cassandra fell to her knees. "He will inherit the Underworld throne. Olympus will never accept a cursed priestess. You were the temple's most devoted priestess, and you loved him. Do not ruin him." "I've arranged it," she whispered. "Tell him you hate the stench of death in his blood. Tell him you crave the light. Frame yourself with Aiden, a son of Apollo. Break the oath." Because of those words, I gave up seeking the gods' protection. I chose cold-blooded betrayal. I pushed the man I loved far away. And now, she was back. "Elara, don't hate me," Cassandra said, her voice laced with guilt. "Ethan's new fiancée, Sierra, is from a powerful Nymph family. Her bloodline is noble. This union will completely change our family's status on Olympus." "You know Ethan. He loved you so much. If he finds out the truth about seven years ago..." "So please. Stay away from him. Your curse is in its final stage, right? You will turn to ash anyway. You won't even enter the Underworld. You kept the secret this long. Why ruin it now?" At the words "final stage," my mother angrily slammed the medicine bowl onto the stone table. I patted my mother's arm to calm her down. I looked at Cassandra. "Madam, I promise I won't tell him the secret. But I have to see him." I had to see him. For seven years of this agonizing curse, I missed him every single night. When the pain almost broke me, gripping the obsidian token from our oath was the only thing that kept me going. My soul almost shattered countless times. I passed out in the Healing Temple so many times. Every time I faded, my mother cried out in my ear. "Live, Elara! You promised! Find a cure. Go to the Divine Realm. Go back to him!" "You said you'd explain the misunderstanding! If you fade away, it's all over!" It was her calling his name that dragged me back from death over and over. But in the end, the curse won. Ethan has a new life now. A new lover. A sacred Bonding Rite. But in my last few days, I wanted a real goodbye. A goodbye to my painful lie. A goodbye to our ruined love. So when I heard Ethan was back on Olympus, I chose to return. Even though the Oracle warned me that leaving the sanctuary meant certain death. "Elara..." Cassandra pleaded. "I will see him one last time," I said. My voice was dead calm. My mother held my hand tightly, tears in her eyes. "Just to say goodbye. Just to put a period on our past." The sun was setting. The withered flowers in the garden blew away in the wind. Just like my fading life. But before I disappear, I need to bury the priestess who loved the Underworld heir. I need to hold a final funeral for that tragic lie and our shattered romance. Chapter 2 Not long after Cassandra left, I heard a familiar voice in the garden. Ethan's voice. My chest tightened. He hated my guts seven years ago. After he caught Aiden and me hugging at the altar, he grabbed my throat. He demanded to know why I betrayed him. When I shook and told him, "I hate the darkness in you," he punched a marble statue to pieces. Then he crushed the obsidian amulet he gave me right in front of my eyes. Now, he was actually here. Through the half-open door, I saw Ethan holding a woman's hand tight. That was Sierra. The Nymph. Her blonde hair fell like a waterfall. She looked like a literal goddess. "Madam Elena, are you still upset about seven years ago?" Ethan's voice was chillingly calm. "I stopped loving Elara a long time ago. I'm totally over it. I was hoping she could help my fiancée prep for our ceremony. As a friend." The word "friend" stabbed me like a knife. "After all, Elara was a priestess in the Underworld Temple. She knows the ritual details best," he continued. His tone was flat. Sierra giggled. "Madam Elena, Ethan told me everything. Elara cheated. But they were young. Mistakes happen." "Honestly, I should thank her." Her voice dripped with sweet venom. "If she hadn't made the smart choice back then, how would I have met an amazing god like Ethan?" "After all," Sierra paused, making her point clear. "She chased the sun. Now I get the king of the dark." I closed my eyes. I felt that familiar sting. I used that excuse to hurt him seven years ago. Now his fiancée was using the exact same words to humiliate me. What a sick joke by the Fates. "Enough!" My mother's voice shook. "You and your mother are both completely shameless!" My heart dropped at my mother's yell. I couldn't let her take this for me. I forced my weak body to stand. Every movement burned with the curse. "Mom, go inside," I called out softly. "Help me out. I'll talk to them myself." Mom rushed in to help me. Her eyes were full of anger and heartbreak. "Elara, you don't have to—" "It's fine." I patted her hand. "I need to face this." I walked slowly to the door. Ethan and Sierra were standing outside the garden. It had been seven years. He was just as handsome. Dark hair, deep eyes. But the eyes that used to burn for me were completely dead now. "Ethan," I said quietly. His gaze swept over my pale face. My wasted body. His fingers twitched at his sides, but he quickly hid it. "Elara. You look..." He stopped. "Terrible, right?" I gave a self-deprecating smile. "I'm a little sick. But I'll live." Sierra clung to Ethan's arm, marking her territory. "Elara, Ethan told me you two used to be so in love. But looking at you now, breaking up was for the best." "It was," I nodded calmly. "It was the right choice." "Good." Sierra smiled brighter. "So, will you help us plan the Bonding Rite? I heard you were the best priestess in the Underworld. You must know all about these sacred rituals." "Sure. I'd love to help." Ethan gave me a complicated look. "You really want to?" "Why not?" I looked him dead in the eye. "We're friends now, aren't we? Friends help each other out." When I said the word "friends," a flash of pain crossed his eyes. But he buried it under ice right away. The Underworld aura around him suddenly turned freezing cold. "Then it's settled." Sierra sounded triumphant. "We're picking the venue tomorrow. Elara, you're coming with us." "Okay." She turned to Ethan and pouted. "Babe, we should go back. We have so much to do tomorrow." Ethan nodded. He gave me one last, deep look before turning away. "Take care of yourself, Elara." "I will. Thanks." Watching them leave, I felt completely exhausted. "Elara!" Mom rushed over and hugged me. "Why did you agree to that?" "Because I want to see it." I leaned into her. "I want to see exactly how much he doesn't care about me anymore. I want to see how much he loves his bride." "Then I can finally let go." Night fell. The curse gnawed at my bones. I would face this humiliation. I would watch their happiness. Then, I would turn to ash. No more delusions. Chapter 3 The next morning, Mom did my makeup through her tears. She used white powder to hide my pale cheeks. Red pigment to give my lips some color. I looked in the mirror. I almost didn't look like a dying girl. "Are you really doing this?" Mom choked on her words. "I have to." I stroked her hand. "This is the path I chose." Ethan was already waiting by the porch. I could see the obvious irritation in his eyes. When he saw how frail I was, he frowned hard. "Where is your golden boy? Why isn't he taking care of you?" he said coldly. His voice sounded bitter and tight. "Letting a little sickness leave you looking half-dead." His words sliced right through me. Seven years ago, if I even caught a cold, he would go crazy with worry. He would brew medicine himself. He would stay up all night with me. Now, his eyes only held anger and mockery. "Ethan, don't be mean." Sierra smacked his arm playfully. "You're so cold to everyone but me." She smiled at me. "Don't mind him, Elara. That's just how he is." I pushed down the surging memories. I forced a calm smile. "It's fine. I'm used to it." Used to his coldness. Used to his disgust. Used to being a stranger to him. "Let's go," I whispered. Looking at venues was pure torture. I dragged my withered, cursed body behind them in silence. I watched Sierra pick out the most expensive white roses in the temple. I listened to her giggle and plan their grand union. Ethan didn't seem to care about the plans at all. But whenever the pain made me go completely pale and I almost tripped, he would suddenly snap. He yelled at the temple servants for doing a bad job. He ruined Sierra's mood with his dark face. He cut the trip short. I didn't get home until evening, completely drained. That night, the obsidian mirror by my bed glowed. It was an Underworld scrying glass. Only his bloodline could wake it. Ethan's face appeared in the glass. It was still the face that haunted my dreams. "Eight AM tomorrow. The Divine Realm entrance," he said flatly. But his eyes were locked on my pale lips. "We need to finalize the banquet menu. You took on this job. Don't even think about slacking off." It sounded like the perfect, strictly business excuse. Looking at his face in the mirror, I zoned out for a second. Those dark eyes. That sharp jawline. The lips that had kissed me a thousand times. It felt like stepping back in time. Back to seven years ago when we were so in love. He used to call me through the mirror back then, too. His eyes had been full of love and warmth. "Elara?" His voice snapped me back to reality. There was a tiny hint of panic in it. "Okay. I'll be there." Right then, Sierra's whiny voice echoed from his side. "Babe, who are you talking to? Come brush my hair..." "Coming," Ethan replied to her. He looked back at me. "That's it." "Wait—" Before I could say anything, the mirror went black. I stared at the dark glass. I let the tears fall. The mirror showed the past I had to sever with my own hands. The next morning, I waited at the entrance right on time. The sun kept rising. I waited from morning to noon. From noon to afternoon. The curse made me weaker by the minute. I forced myself to stay standing. Finally, at two PM, Ethan's black chariot sped into view. Sierra laughed brightly from the carriage. "Sorry! We're late. Ethan kept me up all night. I couldn't even get out of bed." I climbed in. She smirked at me, marking her territory. I stayed quiet. Ethan just said coldly, "You don't need to explain anything to her." The chariot took off at a crazy speed. It was the exact opposite of seven years ago. Back then, he always drove so carefully. He had been terrified of hitting a bump and hurting me. Suddenly, Ethan yanked the reins. I was too weak to brace myself. I slammed hard into the side of the chariot. Pain shot through my back. I let out a groan. Ethan laughed. It was cruel and empty. "You chose a mortal body. Know your place. Gods do not grant pity." I quietly wiped a tear from my eye. I said calmly, "You're right, Lord Ethan. The only one you should pity now is Sierra." "Well said!" Ethan laughed loudly. "At least you're self-aware." With that, he whipped the reins again. The chariot jerked forward. I slammed into the wall again. This time it hit harder. My back felt like it was tearing open. But a sad smile crept onto my lips. Good. Let your hate burn away the last bit of love I had left for you. Chapter 4 The chariot finally stopped at Olympus's fanciest venue: The Starlight Promenade. My legs gave out a little as I stepped down. Ethan reached out. He caught me by instinct. But the second we touched, he snatched his hand back. Like he'd been burned. He pulled a cloth soaked in laurel spring water from his pocket. He wiped his hand in pure disgust. Like I was something filthy. But he was just trying to hide how his hand was shaking. Sierra saw it and looked thrilled. "Let's go in." She hooked her arm through Ethan's, rubbing their closeness in my face. The Promenade was gorgeous, packed with divine elites. Ethan picked the most visible table. He pushed away the regular menu the waiter handed to Sierra. He ordered himself. "We'll take the golden fish boiled in Apollo's spring, the white venison blessed by Artemis, and the olives soaked in Athena's magic." Every dish was packed with divine power. They were so expensive a normal person couldn't even dream of them. But I used to be a priestess. I knew exactly what these were. They weren't wedding foods at all. They were the Divine Realm's top-tier Healing Meals. Meant specifically to nourish a dying mortal body. The wedding was a lie. He brought me here to heal me. I fought the sting in my eyes, too scared to look at him. "Elara, what do you want?" he asked, acting like he didn't care. But his eyes were glued to my sharp jawline. Swirling with a mess of anger and awkward heartache. I looked at the crazy prices on the menu. I knew I couldn't accept his kindness. I spoke softly to the waiter. "Just a glass of water for me." Ethan's face instantly went dark. "A glass of water?" He dropped his voice. The Underworld pressure radiating off him covered our silver cutlery in a layer of frost. "Are you still keeping up this pathetic holy act for your Sun God? What, Aiden's light can't afford to feed you? Or do you just think my food isn't good enough for your royal stomach?" His twisted way of caring made my chest ache. Even through his hate, he was still worrying about my health in his own messed-up way. I swallowed my tears. I chose the cruelest lie. "No. Aiden prefers light souls. I cannot taint myself with Underworld food. He wouldn't like it." The name hit his fatal nerve. His eyes filled with rage, hurt, and pure despair. His face turned livid. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. "You are so damn devoted to him!" he snarled. With that, he shot up from his chair. Like he was afraid he'd lose his mind if he stayed one second longer. He stormed off to the far balcony to cool off. Once he was out of sight, Sierra dropped her fake act. "Who are you showing off for?" She sneered at me. Her jealousy totally exposed. "Did you think bringing up the Sun God would hide how thirsty you looked when you stared at Ethan?" She didn't care who I talked about. She only cared that Ethan could still be triggered by me so easily. "You're just a piece of trash reeking of death!" Sierra pooled her Nymph magic in her palm. It turned into a blast of boiling spring water. It slammed right into my chest. The scalding magic knocked me back. The burn made me groan. My decaying body couldn't take it anymore. I crashed hard onto the floor. I fought through the pain and shoved her away. "Stop it, Sierra," I warned. Instead, she let herself fall backward onto the floor. She secretly scratched her own arm with her nails. She started screaming like a banshee. "Help! She's trying to kill Ethan's baby!" "What's going on?" Ethan heard the crying and sprinted back. "Ethan, she's crazy!" Sierra pointed at me, sobbing. "She said I didn't deserve you! She pushed me and tried to curse our baby with dark magic!" "I didn't—" I trembled, trying to explain. But blood spilled from my mouth first. "Stop lying!" Ethan's eyes blazed with fury. But when he saw the blood on my lips, a flash of pure, terrified panic crossed his eyes. "How could you be so vicious, Elara!" His massive emotions made his powers glitch. The Underworld pressure exploded through the promenade like a hurricane. "You're jealous of Sierra, so you wanted to hurt her?!" "No, listen to me—" "I don't want to hear it!" he roared. Wild, violent Underworld magic exploded out of him. The shockwave hit me directly. It sent me flying. I crashed violently into a marble statue in the corner. There was a sickening crack from the back of my head. Warm liquid trickled down my hair. Blood. Ethan jolted. He instinctively took a step toward me, the color draining from his face. But Sierra wrapped her arms tight around his leg. "Ethan, my stomach hurts so much... the baby... our baby..." That cry dragged him back to his senses. He stiffly pulled his eyes away from me, crouched down, and scooped Sierra up. "Are you okay?" His voice was shaking. I didn't know if it was for the girl in his arms, or for me, bleeding out on the floor. "I'm fine. She just scared me." Sierra leaned into him, a victorious gleam in her eyes. I lay on the floor. I watched him protect her in his arms. Once upon a time, that protection was mine. I smiled. I smiled until I cried. The commotion alerted the other gods. Olympus guards rushed in. "What happened here?" the captain asked. "That girl used dark magic on a pregnant woman," someone pointed at me. I could feel my life slipping away fast. Between the curse and the injury, I wasn't going to last much longer. Blood filled my throat. "Wait." I dipped a trembling finger into my own blood. I traced a fading rune on the marble. "Miss, you need healing magic..." "It's fine." My voice turned to mist. I looked past the crowd. I let my eyes rest quietly on Ethan's frozen back. "Tell my mother... Let this go. Tell her I saw him. The past is dead." I looked at Ethan one last time. He was holding her. That was okay. The lie was over. My eyes fell heavy. My mind went dark. For the first time in seven years, I felt peace. Goodbye, Ethan. Goodbye, my ruined love.