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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Liz's love for Caleb and Ethan certainly shines through in her commitment here. She'd go through a lot to see either of them happy, no matter what it would take.
I hope you'll find it meets your expectations of a good mythological story. The myth associated with this story has always been my favorite, and I've wanted to write an associated piece for along time.
Liz and Caleb's relationship is incredibly precious to me for precisely this reason. She knew exactly what to do for him, despite her own feelings of grief.