Fictitious Love

I figured that life, at one point, has some unearthly charm about it that can not only leave you content...it can also bankrupt your soul. Such is the case of this story of love--one tragic, yet satisfyingly perverse--and it ends as expected in a heart wrenching disaster.

There was once a woman who was most envied of all. This woman, oft discontented and lonely in every respect, had undergone nearly half a decade of the purest of all marriages, one not simply bound by love but one bound more importantly by faith. Her heart's desire was to follow Hercules into the rising sun and only leave his side when the sun faded and was put out in the sand of time...her wish was soon to be granted.

But Hercules was not the knight in pearly armour she had been told by so many that he was--oh no, deep down he was filthy. He marauded his way around town, damning the souls of those who did not simply agree with his powerful methods of faith and considering each one he damned as a lesser being. They had in fact failed to live up to his criterion of perfection. The deepest longing in her heart for what her imagined visage of this man was, in short, cut off from her and tossed into the sea. It was soon realised that her desire lay not with Hercules but somewhere else.

But she was unable to let go. Her powers were now in his entire control, her arms chained to her side as if the powers of heaven could not undo it. The townspeople and her family watched as the invisible chains tore her deeper into the ground, until all that remained was her face reaching to the air, clenching it as if it were the last breath she may take. Hercules, meanwhile, laughed in secret as his beloved suffocated in his imperfection.

Then came Poseidon, banishing Hercules once and for all, removing the physical barrier that stole his lass' freedom. She rose out of the earth triumphant, but still seeking her one-true love Hercules. Poseidon returned to the sea, clearly dismayed at the woman's fickle attitude towards his salvation he had offered. He did not surface for some time thereafter.

The woman looked for Hercules, but soon found he had trifled with the women of the neighboring city. He had dashed her purity against the ground and stomped it to pieces, raping her essence before the eyes of all.

And he was not ashamed.

He went on a spewing rant about her wickedness and how it has ruined his life. He thrust the spear of his tongue into the remains of her heart, shredding what was left to pieces so all she could do was lie on the ground, helpless to his devastating onslaught. It was at this time that Poseidon returned, banishing one more time the man called Hercules. Poseidon picked up the maiden and carried her to his city under the water. It was here she was fed and allowed recovery, and soon the veil of hypnosis Hercules placed around her eyes had vanished. She realised once and for all that she had been a fool.

Life continued for the maiden. She grew accustomed to the foreign ways of Poseidon and his people. Little by little she grew older and mature, realising for once in her life that she had control of her decisions. She gave up all knowledge of Hercules once and for all, and it seemed as if the happiness would last forever. She fell in love with Poseidon, and soon they were to be married.

Then the most unexpected thing happened--Hercules came to call for his beloved in Poseidon's city. He broke through the steely gates with power and indignation, but was stopped in his tracks by Poseidon himself. The raging monster tried to thrust a sword into the sea-god's chest, but the sword was swallowed up in the swirl of the ocean. Hercules was once and for all destroyed that day, the maiden never to bear his pain again.

She married Poseidon thereafter and lived for a year in blissful peace. When she awoke one morning she was greeted by a ghost...the ghost of Hercules. He did not seem menacing this time however. His gaze was soft and his face was tired. He seemed so worn down that it was a struggle for him to speak. He apologised for his actions he committed against her and asked that, although it was too late for his forgiveness, that she would grant him the peace of knowing that he could finally cross the river without regret. She bade him farewell and granted him his wish.

Poseidon sent him on his way with one single pearl, a token that would allow him to avoid Hades and reach paradise to live forever without turmoil. With a simple nod, Hercules turned and rose to the calling of the river-driver...the one who would take him to his final destination.