River Lethe Novels & Stories

THE CODEX ASHES POV: Ceres, Xavier, Child Witness (Unnamed) The River Lira—Where the Flame First Sang The sky wore grey like silk, looking a little foggy. A soft wind moved through the high trees, rustling leaf and root alike, as if nature itself were holding its breath. The waters of the River Lira, once the silent witness to bloodlines and broken pacts, flowed smooth and unhurried—carrying the weight of things too sacred to speak aloud.

Adrian said, "Let's go." Just as he was leaving with his unit, Lena suddenly said, "Wait!" Lena was sitting on the floor with her laptop turned on. Everyone had wireless signals on them, allowing her to connect with them so long as they were within range. She quickly typed something on her keyboard and said, "There's a river nearby that goes upstream. If we're fast enough, we might be able to meet up with Lucas and the others. "Are you sure?" Adrian asked. Lena nodded in all seriousness. "I'm sure. The stream nearby is an alligator habitat and is a restricted area in Serpent's Haven. Since we've got fewer numbers than our enemies, these alligators might be of great help to us if we come acro

And we still don’t know what’s ahead. Once we’re settled, Odysseus begins. “That fiery river in the distance is the Phlegethon,” he says. “One of the five rivers of the Underworld: Styx, Lethe, Cocytus, Acheron, and Phlegethon. Each is lethal. Each is miraculous. The Phlegethon is the last line of defense. While the gates keep outsiders out, the Phlegethon keeps the damned in.” “How do we cross it?” Arya asks. “I’m guessing there’s no boatman waiting for us.”

“The western Region lands is perfect for farming…and monsters hunting…not to mention that river route…that is more straight than what you have in your territory…that river connected to the Institute of Artemesia and Crystal Lake…and you know right now we are trying to utilized the rivers right?…”. “Wow…Elijah….the more things you unravel…the more it ignites my greed..”.(Queen Duchess Angela)

Except that the Underworld had a sky. "The water changed colors." I whispered in slight awe, stopping at the river beside me. I had clearly noticed how the river flowimg alongside us had been dark black. But now it had gone slightly bluish. I felt Hayden stopping as well. "Yes, they did." He replied. "It was River Styx behind us." For some reason, I felt so thirsty. "And now, it's River Lethe." I wanted to just touch it's calm gentle water. Was it cold just like the surroundings? What if it was warm? What if it was sweet? It looked so compelling–

My lungs feel like they’re exploding, longing for air. I know that if I just open my mouth, let the water in, that it will be over. But it turns out that the more human I become, the more difficult it is to intentionally drown myself. Through the mindlink, I hear Hermes say, Stop fighting it, polemistí mou (my warrior). Let the Lethe in and then we can let you up. It all sounds so simple, especially to a god. Just breathe in the healing waters of the Lethe, the famed river in the Underworld where all ills are cured. Where Hercules gained his near invulnerability. Where traumatized souls came to forget after their deaths.

“Yes!” Luna answered without hesitation. As long as she could save Andrius, she would give up her soul or her mortal body. “Good! I didn’t misjudge you.” Lethe smiled meaningfully. “Then, follow me.” With that, she walked ahead. The two arrived at a certain place by the River Styx, and Lethe dug out something from the ground. “This is the mnemonia.” Lethe handed it to Luna and said, “When you need to use it, just mix it with another water from Hell. Also, you’ve been delayed for a while. Time is running out.

But suddenly. “Mommy, Daddy.” A cry from a little girl echoes right in front of him and from the other end of the bridge. The night that is deep and quiet makes the crying echoes. The burning cars in front of them and the smell of intoxicating burns are raising. He stops crying, now pitying the little girl that just got his attention. He turns his gaze in front and saw the little one dressed in red, full of wounds, and crying hard. Her cheeks are red from crying and her nose seems to swell because of the same reason. The lights from the bridge made him see her clearly, or perhaps he is only seeing himself from her.

Richard dipped his gaze as the large moths dipped, following their silhouettes as they plumed out and then upward, up, and into the snowy night sky. Black water. Nothing could survive it. All that suffocating dirt and chunks of rubble. Crashing down like that. Nothing. The silt would get into their clothing, Richard knew, weigh them down, drag them under to where black rushing torrents would sweep them downriver, possibly for miles. No one could survive. Not in this cold, in these rapid-moving waters. “Glee . . . shit.”

Someone has to die for the baby to be born. That thought made me want to coddle Calypso and protect her. There were forces at work right now, trying to ensure she didn’t survive the upcoming months. At least we had a timeline to help determine how long this threat will loom over us. I pull up at our getaway place, and I feel a little stress melt away just staring at one of my favorite places in the world. Letha and I used to believe this is where the Lost River starts, popping up over our land, but its origins began here. She probably grew out of that way of thinking. However, I still have yet to though I might not admit that out loud.