Demo released his arrow!
It struck, then fell blunted from Pluto's thick hide.
"I struck the animal only a light blow. I too had Cerberus, and
of all creatures only he loved me. The dog shall live. But not
you, earthling."
Pluto once more turned toward Demo, his deadly intention
evident.
"No, Pluto, no more! I can stand no more of you, no more of
your evil ways."
Persephone rushes by Demo, dodges by Pluto.
Frozen, Demo stands motionless. Still, there is one who acts.
With a desperate lunge Pluto tries to stop the maiden.
Too late!
She flings herself from the edge of the cliff!
Down she falls, down, finally to plummet into the cold depths
of the Tarn of Eternity.
Pluto turns, dives into those murky waters. Plummets downward
to rescue her from their frigid embrace!
As the waves touch him he screams.
The waters roil and tear at him as though the tarn were a
living creature, a beast of prey. Blood stains the roiled
surface.
Demo rushes down the tortured pathway, his lungs and throat
burning. A stone turns and he falls, slipping over the edge of
the escarpment. The roiling waters of the Tarn of Eternity licks
hungrily at the boulders below. They crash against the shore,
waiting for their next prey.
Slowly, painfully, he regains the path, continues his
precipitous journey. Finally arriving at the rock strewn shore,
he throws himself down as the air rushes through his burning
throat.
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