A conductor becomes an assistant

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{Tartarus, Unknown Time}

Odysseus POV

I stared at the fallen body of Melinoe as shadowy threads began crawling over my wounds. They worked quickly, knitting the torn flesh of my shoulder and leg back together. The pain dulled, replaced by a strange, tingling sensation. I took a deep breath, the pressure in my chest slowly easing as the healing took hold.

A thought struck me as I watched the shadows work. Concentrating, I willed the shadows toward the stubs where my fingers used to be. They responded eagerly, pooling around the tips of my fingers before forming into dark, solid shapes. In seconds, I had shadowy fingers, each one mimicking the movement of the real ones I had lost.

I flexed them experimentally, clenching and stretching. "Well, that's handy," I muttered to myself, then winced at the unintentional pun.

But it quickly became clear that these shadow fingers required more concentration than I could afford to spare in a fight. The slightest distraction caused the shadowy appendages to waver, their form destabilizing. With a sigh of frustration, I dissipated them. If I couldn't focus on them, then the micromovements of my own fingers wouldn't be the same as the shadowy ones. So much for my career as a shadow puppeteer.

My attention returned to Melinoe. Her body lay still, her chest barely rising and falling. I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not with a being like her. She was a goddess, or at least it looked like she was.

My spear still in hand, I approached her cautiously, my shadow tendrils snaking out to bind her limbs securely. Even in her weakened state, I wasn't taking any chances. I'd learned the hard way that immortals had a nasty habit of bouncing back at the worst possible moment.

I placed the tip of my spear against her neck, the sharp edge pressing into her pale, black-and-white skin. The pulse of power from the purple sphere, whatever it had been, had subdued her for now, but I needed answers. I needed to know what would happen if I killed her. Would the train dissolve? Would I have to fight all other monsters on the train? It was too much of a hassle.

Plus, I wasn't sure how the whole "killing a goddess" thing would play out in Tartarus. Knowing my luck, it would probably summon something even nastier.

I leaned in closer, watching her face for any sign of consciousness. Her eyes were still closed, her expression serene despite the shadowy chains that held her down. I waited, the seconds stretching into what felt like hours, until finally, I heard it.

"Ugghh," she groaned, a strange, almost human sound coming from her. It was a weak, pitiful noise, completely at odds with the powerful goddess who had nearly torn my heart from my chest moments ago.

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, incredulous. She was awake, yet she hadn't seemed to notice she was tied up or that she was one wrong move away from being skewered. "Well, that was a weird sound," I muttered to myself, tightening my grip on the spear. "I was expecting something more along the lines of 'You fool! You cannot defeat me!' Not... whatever that was."

Melinoe's eyes fluttered open, and she blinked blearily at the surroundings, as if trying to remember where she was. "Gods dammit, my head is killing me," she muttered, one hand attempting to reach up and rub her temple, only to be stopped by the shadowy tendrils.

I kept the spear steady, the tip barely an inch from her throat. "You should be more concerned about your neck than your head," I said, my voice low and filled with warning.

Her gaze finally focused on me, then on the spear at her neck, and for a moment, there was silence. I expected anger, defiance, maybe even an attempt to free herself. What I didn't expect was the look of surprise that crossed her face, followed by... reverence?

She blinked again, her expression softening in a way that made my blood run cold. Then, without warning, she dropped to one knee, the shadows allowing her just enough freedom to move. Her head bowed low, and when she spoke, her voice was reverent, almost subservient.

"Master, I'm ready for your command."

I froze, my mind struggling to process what I'd just heard.

"What?" I demanded, incredulous. My spear remained at her neck, but I hesitated, unsure if this was some kind of trick. "Is this some kind of joke? Because if it is, I've got to tell you, your timing needs work."

Melinoe looked up at me, her black-and-white eyes filled with sincerity—or something that looked like it. "I am here to serve you," she said, her voice steady, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. "I exist to fulfill your will, to carry out your commands. Whatever you desire, I will do."

She etched her chained body as close to me as she could, not minding the fact that my spear was grazing her neck. A single drop of golden blood rolled down her neck, glowing faintly in the dim light of the train.

I stared at her, trying to decipher the truth in her words. My instincts screamed at me to be cautious, to strike before she had a chance to spring whatever trap she was setting. But something in her eyes, in the way she held herself, made me hesitate.

"If you're really here to serve me," I said slowly, testing her claim, "then take this train to Kronos."

Melinoe's eyes widened slightly at the name, but she didn't hesitate. "As you command," she said, rising to her feet with a fluid grace that made the shadows binding her seem like mere accessories. She walked over to the train's controls, her movements deliberate and precise, as if she had done this a thousand times before, which she probably had.

I watched her every step, ready to summon my shadows at the slightest hint of betrayal. But she made no sudden moves, no attempts to free herself from the shadowy bonds still wrapped around her. She reached the control panel and began manipulating the levers and dials, the train shuddering slightly as it adjusted course.

I didn't trust her—how could I? This was the same goddess who had tried to tear my heart from my chest not five minutes ago. Yet, as she worked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease that went beyond simple distrust. Something was off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it, well one of my remaining fingers that is.

With a thought, I unsummoned my spear, the weapon dissolving back into me. The Greek helmet tattoo on my right hand reappeared, the black ink stark against my skin

Melinoe finished her adjustments and turned to face me, her expression calm, almost expectant. "The train is on its way to Kronos," she announced. "We should arrive shortly."

I nodded, still wary. "And how long is 'shortly' in Tartarus time? A few minutes? A few centuries?"

She tilted her head, considering. "Time flows differently here, as you know. But I estimate it will be approximately... an hour in mortal time."

An hour. That gave me some time to figure out an actual plan. I glanced around the train car, taking in the eerie, pulsing walls and the strange, shifting landscapes visible through the windows. "Alright," I said, turning back to Melinoe. "While we're on our way, you're going to answer some questions for me."

She nodded eagerly. "Of course, Master. What would you like to know?"

I crossed my arms, fixing her with a stern gaze. "First off, what's with this 'Master' business? Last I checked, you were trying to rip my heart out, not serve me tea."

Melinoe's brow furrowed, as if she was trying to recall a distant memory. "I... I'm not sure," she admitted. "My memories are... hazy. But I know that I am bound to serve you now. It feels... right."

"Right," I echoed, skepticism dripping from my voice. "And I'm supposed to just believe that? For all I know, this could be some elaborate trick to get me to lower my guard."

She shook her head vigorously. "No trick, Master. I swear it on the River Styx."

Thunder rumbled in the distance, sealing her oath. I raised an eyebrow, impressed despite myself. Swearing on the Styx was no small matter, even for a goddess. Either she was telling the truth, or she was an incredibly good liar.

"Okay," I said slowly, "let's say I believe you. Why me? What made you suddenly change your mind?"

Melinoe's eyes flicked to my chest were the purple sphere had gone back in. "Your soul," she said softly. "It... changed something. I don't know what, all I know is that I have this compulsion to serve you."

I placed my right hand on my chest, wondering. She had tried to rip out my soul, was that her payment for a ticket in here, was that why all the monsters in the other carts couldn't escape their seats.

"Alright," I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Let's focus on something more immediate. You said we're heading to Kronos. What can I expect when we get there?"

Melinoe's expression darkened. "I don't know, I tend to stay out of the business of Titans and Giants for that matter, they aren't exactly the best customers."

"Then how do you know where to find Kronos?" I asked, wondering where she was directing the train, my suspicion rising even more.

"Let's say I have an acquaintance that probably knows."

"And who exactly is this acquaintance of yours?"

"Typhon, the King of Monsters."

I nodded, though my inside voice was screaming at me that this was probably gonna be a bad idea, you know on the fact that I had killed this dude's wife and most of his kids. Still I'd think of someway to get the information, that will just be a problem for future Ozzy.

"One last question," I said, fixing her with a stern gaze. "If I ordered you to, say, jump out of this train into whatever hellscape we're passing through... would you do it?"

Melinoe didn't hesitate. "If that is your will, Master, then yes. I would do it without question."

I stared at her for a long moment, searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, I sighed and shook my head. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that. For now, just... keep an eye on those controls. Let me know if anything changes."

She bowed her head. "As you wish, Master."