24 August 2012
The black cave walls dripped icy water that splattered to the earth breaking the eerie silence Inky water slithered in through the winding rock passages Morbid images flittered across its toxic surface A glowing lamp swung idly at the front of the ancient boat as it glided through the murky River Styx A withered figure guided the silent boat to a hushed halt They were robed in a pitch black cloak that moved in a noiseless breeze Charon turned with unnatural grace and reached out a scarred bony hand He's hood fell back bearing his awful face Ashen skin was stretched tight over the gaunt skull His skin covered in thin white scars and his eyes were milky white The translucent soul passed over a twinkling golden drachma and stepped aboard They float through Acheron the river of sorrow, Cocytus the river of lamentation, Styx the river of hate and oaths of gods, Phlegethon The river of fire, and Lethe the river of forgetfulness
A tall gate with cursed bars guarded the underworld Three growling heads with snapping jaws and rows of deadly ragged teeth rested atop the creatures body Collided muscles tensed under the thick skin Sharp claws scraped the filthy floor Blood red eyes glared at the passing souls
Souls in The Asphodel Meadows wondered wistfully through their memories for eternity some brilliant some terrible The beautiful islands of Elysian heroes and legends feast in great joy Murders blood curdling screams fill the dense air as they live forever in pain and misery in tartarus
Souls wait judgement from Rhadamanthus, Minos, and Aeacus in the ghostly halls
The god of death perches on his high onyx black throne Decorated with bleached skulls and bones His cruel unsympathetic face a terrible sight Eyes that held vision of death and destruction Skin like cracked marble covered his evil face Charcoal and silver robes shone in the cool torch light The beautiful queen Persephone stood woefully in the black stone throne room An icy wind wove through the towering pillars freezing warm flesh A grey mist descended on the sad scene hiding it from living eyes
The Underworld And Hades • Opuss № I