Caeneus is a mortal who has been dead for ten years, living an unchanging and unremarkable life in the Underworld until the day he's unexpectedly promoted and meets a stranger who will change the course of his existence.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Caeneus was born to an Amazonian mother and identified as a female upon birth; defying his mother's prophecy that she would have a son. He first shared his true identity as a man with his friend Leos. Upon the age of fifteen, after Leos is murdered, Caeneus' mother reveals that she is aware of his identity and tells him he must leave.
At the age of thirty, he is found by the Amazonians and murdered. His crime was that he lived longer with the tribe than any man is supposed to.
After death[]
Caeneus works a handler for the Underworld after being denied passageway to the Frame, as he wasn't buried or cremated with a coin. He is transferred to diving during a recruitment drive, but objects to the promotion because it means that he will no longer work alongside Fotis, a cerberus dog.
Learning the truth about the Frame[]
Caeneus crosses paths with Astyanax, who pleads for help. He believes he got put "there" because of how he vandalized the monument. Caeneus offers to help him through the Frame, but Nax reveals he's already been through. Caeneus leaves Nax's side to answer Charon's call, and when he looks back, Nax is gone. Charon informs him that Fotis pissed on the fax machine and commands Caeneus to get back to work.
Later, Caeneus crosses paths with his killer Hippolyta II. He turns away from her in fear, but she demands he look her, calling him a blasphemer, further evident by the fact that he's stuck and unable to Renew. He asks did they torture his mother, but Hippolyta reveals she gave Caenenus up freely.[1]
Caeneus and Riddy continue their search for Nax whilst being surrounded by the hollow shells of souls that they initially believed to have gone through the Frame and renewed. Nax calls out for help, but instead of Riddy and Caeneus, he is found by Hades, who manually drains Nax of his soul, which causes Riddy great pain, forcing her and Caeneus to return to the surface, where they are spotted by Medusa.[2]
While discussing what they encountered in the Nothing, Caeneus and Riddy discover that they share the same prophecy. Riddy recalls meeting Cassandra, who knew she was going to die on the day of her death. She believes her mom knew as well. Riddy now suspects that there is no Renewal and that everyone who goes through the Frame ends up in the Nothing.[3]
After Riddy leaves for earth with Orpheus, Caeneus rushes to the Frame to try and prevent anyone else from crossing over. There, he is reunited with his mother. Caeneus accuses Myrina of betraying him but she insists that she only led the Amazons to him in order to fulfill his prophecy. She's waited ten years, and now she's come to take him through the Frame, but Caeneus reveals the Gods lied to them and that no one goes back to Earth. She bypasses him towards the Frame despite his warning. Caeneus chases after her and begins to submerge in the water, despite not dying with his coin. He reaches his mom just in time for the two of them to get pulled through the Frame. Remarkably, down in the Nothing, Caeneus soul seems to restore on its own. He awakens next to his mother, who remains a shell of her former self until she suddenly restores as well, simply saying "Kaos."[4]
Appearances[]
Season 1[]
Behind the scenes[]
- Caeneus is portrayed by Misia Butler.
Gallery[]
