Standing she grabbed Kore to her and pulled her close. Apep eyed her hungrily. “Such a powerful little child. “Come to Apep.”
Evie gripped her tighter, “NO!”
He glared at her. “Put the child down.”
Evie breathed in deep, “Fine.”
Sitting Kore down, she bent down and spoke. “Honey, go play by the roses.” Happily, Kore ran and jumped into the beautiful flowers.
“Evie-” Apep felt a sharp blow to his nose as Evie’s fist collided with his face.
“FUCK!” He shouted, producing an orb but she was too fast. Lunging at him, she connected her legs around his waist and placed her hands to the side of his face. Feeling his life force drain from him, he stared at the horror at the darkness in her eyes.
“Now do you understand why I belonged to Reaper?” Evie enjoyed watching him die.
“I-if you kill me, you’ll never escape…I made sure of it.”
Her eyes darted to the protective barrier surrounding the house. She’d burned herself countless times trying to escape. Though she probably could suffer through, she knew Kore would never survive. Apep may no longer be strong enough to kill her anymore, but he certainly was smart. His death was his safety net, insurance no one got in or out. She glared at him again watching him age.
“I may not be able to kill you, but I can torture you over and over again. Pulling your life inches from death when you least expect it. You’ll never sleep, fear to breathe, not know where I’ll be. Do you understand what I’m saying to you sorcerer?” Apep nodded. Releasing him, she backed away and Apep fell to the ground. Coughing he struggled to get his bearings, as she walked away. “Stay away from my child.”
Apep fumed, “I should have killed you when I had the chance..” A dagger landed in the grass, inches from his face.
“Zeus!”
Evie smirked. “Ask around…you would have been dead before you had the chance.”
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“Mr. Tanteenose!”
“Well, hello there.” Thanatos smiled widely, bending down to hug Jack and Rose. Standing, he greeted Angelica and her husband Ben.
“So glad you were able to come.” He was hosting his family and his friends at his home for a special occasion. Dressed in matching outfits Romulus and Derrick joined them shortly. As soon as their son saw him, he immediately reached out his arms.
Romulus rolled his eyes, “I swear you’re his favorite person.”
Taking his nephew, he held him close, “What can I say? I'm great with children.”
Romulus could see the hint of sadness in his brother’s eyes as the words left his lips. Silently, he placed his hand on his shoulders and Thanatos gave him a small smile. The years had been unkind to him, his thought constantly on Evie and their child. How are they doing? Did they have a little boy or a little girl? His only solace was his family and friends, who’d been extremely supportive during his grief.
“Today is a special day for you little one…you’re officially getting your name.” His nephew cooed in his arms, and it instantly made him feel a little better. “We’re just waiting for mom.”
“Wait no longer.” Nyx walked to the tables carrying balloons. Flaunting her newly purchased dress, she handed Thanatos the balloons before taking her grandson. He jumped for joy and Thanatos cut his eyes.
“Traitor.”
“What can I say, I’m everyone’s favorite.”
He kissed his mother on the cheek. “You look beautiful mom."
She really did. Eyes no longer puffy, her smile once again infectious. Where the years had been unkind to him, they’d been a Godsend for her. With the help of the entire Magical Fall, she’d exiled Cybrus. Thanatos knew there were days she felt sadness, but he also knew she was truly happy. He hadn’t seen his mother smile so much in years. After setting everything up, Romulus and Derrick took their son. Hand in hand, they lit the candle and waited for the name to appear. From the smoke, rose the letters and Romulus held his breath.
“A-D-A-M -Adam! Oh, I love it!” Romulus jumped up and down.
Derrick kissed him on the cheek, before reaching for Adam, “My son Adam...it’s perfect.”
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Thanatos cleared the mess from the celebration feeling Derrick’s eyes on him. “Keep staring and Romulus might get jealous.” Derrick laughed nervously. Facing him, he folded his arms to his chest. “What the matter?”
Derrick rubbed the back of his neck, “I was just thinking maybe you thought about what I said?”
Thanatos body stilled and he returned to cleaning. “I’m not asking them for shit.” He felt his eyes blacken.
“But the Gods have range, they could see them…they could-”
“CONTINUE TO SIT ON THEIR ASS AND NOT DO A DAMN THING.” He inhaled harshly, “They’ve watched the entire thing play out and didn’t do shit." He inhaled once again feeling his anger rise, “Where were they when Apep tricked Evie and slaughtered all her kind? When he tricked me and stole my heart and convinced me to switch my powers? POWERS may I remind you that they gave us in the first place. They do nothing but watch us suffer, unless it benefits them to step in.”
“I get what you’re saying Thanatos, but maybe praying to them could help.”
“I’M NOT PRAYING TO ANYONE WHO DOESN’T HELP THOSE IN NEED!” Derrick silenced, and Thanatos tried his best to calm down. He patted Derrick on the shoulder. “Sorry.”
It wasn’t that Derrick didn’t have a point, it was more so that Thanatos hated the Gods. In his eyes, they were lazy, pretentious, and only about themselves. Perhaps the best thing they’d ever done was make Evie his Soul Tie.
*I miss you Poppet. *
The thought stung, and he quickly erased it from his thoughts. He was with his family and he would try his best to be present, no matter how much it killed him inside.
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“This is a late-night meeting, but I was told that you were an important case.” Thanatos looked through his file, reading up on his unexpected guest. “Seven murders, rape of four women, one of them twelve…wow you have been truly busy.” The man stared at him with widened eyes. Thanatos stood in front of him. “Do you know who I am?” The man nodded yes. “Then most certainly you’ve heard about what’s to happen here.” His phone rang and Thanatos rolled his eyes. “Excuse me, it’s my brother.”
Answering, he tried his best not to show his agitation, “Romulus, I’m working.”
“Put me on speakerphone.”
“I WILL NOT!”
“DO IT!”
Thanatos grumbled under his breath, before doing as his brother asked.
“Thanatos have you been working on your gratefuls?”
“I HARDLY THINK THIS IS THE-”
“Thanatos…”
He huffed, “Yes…”
“Well let me hear them…you know they’re important for your anger management.”
Turning to his victim, Thanatos spoke, “My brother has this thing about sharing what we’re grateful for. Kind of like an anger management thing. Since we’re on speakerphone, I feel like you should join.”
“I don’t wan-”
Thanatos eyes blackened, and immediately the man shut up. Taking off his leather jacket, Thanatos folded his arms to his chest. “For example, I’m grateful I got to spend time with my nephew today.” Silence, before he nudged the man forward.
“I-I’m grateful for I guess my mom.”
Thanatos nodded his head in appreciation. “I’m thankful for learning to manage my anger."
“I’m thank-” Thanatos claws struck the man across the face. Blood pooled from the wounds, and the man clutched at it in pain.
“I’m thankful for those who surround me!” Thanatos struck him hard again. “I’m grateful for everything I’ve been through.” At his words, Thanatos tore into the man’s chest. Falling to his knees, he begged the reaper, but his pleas fell on silent ears. “I’m grateful for my home-” He tore into his flesh again. “For my ability to travel the lands.” His claws shot straight through him. Thanatos eyes black as night stared at the man hanging on by a thread. His body covered in blood; he felt his rage finally take over. In a loud roar, Thanatos seared his claws straight through his victim, enjoying seeing them on the other side as he screamed, “IIIIII’M GRATEFUL THAT I AM THE GRIM REAPER!” The body collapsed to the floor. Breathing deeply, Thanatos stood over it. “Because had I been something else, I’d burn this Earth and enjoy the death of everything around.” He turned to his guard. “Clean this shit up.” Walking away, he stopped. “Please.”
Romulus shouted into the phone, “THAT’S NOT THE WAY YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT THANATOS!”
He laughed, “But I said please.”
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“Daddy, can you play with me?” Long black hair breezed in the wind, as a small hand grabbed onto Thanatos. Trailing all around the courtyard, they laughed and played endlessly.
“Little beauty, what are we going to play next?” His daughter’s infectious smile melted his missing heart. Tugging at him, she wrapped her hands around his neck, kissing his cheek.
“Come on….” He followed, seeing Evie sitting on a blanket. Reading a book, she looked extremely calm, and Thanatos couldn’t believe how he’d gotten so lucky.
“Poppet.” She smiled at him, before placing her lips onto his. The touch of her lips drove him wild, and he pulled her closer.
“Ewww!” his daughter grimaced, and he couldn’t help but laugh.
“I love you both.”
Their faces brightened, “We love you too.”
Before they slowly disappeared. Cold sweat on his body, Thanatos popped up, immediately looking around.
“Baby?” There was silence, and he placed his head into his hands. The same dreams for months tormenting him. Seeing what could have been tore him up inside and he looked up to the ceiling. “Please…stop…” He begged, “I pray…please stop.” As with every night, his prayers went unanswered, by the Gods who sat and did nothing.