Cynus

Thanks for the compliments! No, there definitely appears to be some conflict on the horizon, doesn't there? Thank you! Let's hope that trend continues. This is certainly a hard world, full of survivors. Dogo sees something of himself in Styx, and though he may appear as antagonist here, he remains human. One of the goals in this story was to present these people as real as possible, and though this is an older story of mine (did I mention that already? Not sure), it's something I've tried to do ever since writing it a few years ago. Thank you. There will certainly be surprises in store for a lot of people. Magical tattoos were the original concept around which this story was written. I read somewhere about how magic should remain consistent throughout the world, which is why I wanted to explain both Styx's flight and Maxthane's ability to control the demon both through the same medium of tattoo magic. Thank you everyone for reading and commenting!

They saved it for the end, like good little romantic heroes.

I'm reminded of a movie someone told me about, wherein someone plays a game of chess with Death. In chess, sometimes the surest path to victory involves willfully sacrificing one's own pieces. It is certainly worth pondering.

I think our boys' past actions speak for themselves on this matter.

At least suspects his suspicion.

What an intriguing thought... I'll have to ponder that awhile.

Well said.

His love is far fresher than theirs, and with much less stagnation.

I'm not sure Ethan was anything but depressed and angry, and what he believed was compartmentalized to the point that he might as well have believed in nothing.

There's a reason Jake is as screwed up as he is, and he knows the pitfalls better than anyone, for sure.

What indeed? I am soooooo excited for you to reach the ending and find out!

I think it was for her, too. But she also believes firmly in taking onus for her past actions. All the people in her life need her, and she has to balance them somehow.

Ah... you're certainly figuring things out. Well done.

Jake is a boy toy.

Most of that was research done a few days before starting the story. I had a major cram session and then just started writing. It was a lot of fun, really. I should use that strategy more often, heh.

Her two boys are more alike than either would probably admit.

I learned something when researching this story. I had no idea that Charon is sometimes the ferryman for two different rivers. But I made Charlie right at home all the same.

Thank you. I'll thank the muse, since there was very little planning which actually went into this, heh.

Thanks! Orpheus was easy to write. I just imagined myself as an expression of death and then gave him musical talent.

I sometimes think Liz has the hardest job in this story, because she has to deal with losing both of her best friends without ever having full answers to anything.

Mine too! You're in the right place!

Something tells me you're going to like this story all the way through. Of course, that's ALWAYS my hope.

And it also heralds the end of our introduction, for the story now truly begins to get interesting. You've arrived at the threshold of death. Welcome.

It is a complicated matter, best left to future chapters to explain, so I'll just be glad you're here and look forward to your future comments.

The odds do seem stacked against them, don't they?