“He does have a point.”
“Don’t start Hades.” Zeus said in irritation. Combing his long hair, he stood idolizing himself in the mirror. “You know they built a new statue of me?” Hades groaned under his breath and Zeus eyed him, “Something you want to say?”
“So, none of this situation bothers you?”
He huffed, “I didn’t say that, but the fact is we don’t interfere in the meddlesome business of those on Earth.”
Hades rolled his eyes, “No, we just grant some of them powers, select their soul ties…and visit the beds of a few of the women.”
Zeus eyed the door angrily, “Are you crazy! Do you want my wife to hear?!”
“Please…if you think she doesn’t know about all of your children, you’re even dumber than you look.” The two brothers constantly found themselves in a bitter struggle being the two most powerful out of everyone. Zeus revered, Hades disdained much like Romulus and Thanatos. Hades ran his hand through his shoulder length dark hair. “I just think that Apep has taken this thing too far. The nut is draining his damn powers to put up an idiotic protection barrier to basically kidnap the girl!”
Zeus smirked, “I wouldn’t go there if I was you.”
Hades pursed his lips in annoyance, “What’s this really about? Are you upset about your little pet project?” Cutting his eyes at his brother, Hades tried his hardest not to punch him in the face.
“It wasn’t just mine. You gave some of your powers too…you’re just as much in this as me. That fucking wizard interfered first, and we’re just sitting here taking it! ITS WEAK whether you want to admit it or not and sets the precedence for others to do the same.”
Zeus sighed adjusting his suit, hating that Hades had a point. “Look, the asinine sorcerer will drain all his power, die and that will be that. His brother bound himself from using his own, so we don’t have to worry there. Just let the piece of shit tire out and we can deal with his mess later if you still feel so inclined.”
“Not if he gets the child.”
He saw his brother flinch, “Don’t speak of that abomination. I told you not to pair those two.”
Ignoring his statement, Hades crossed his arm to his chest, “Look, we need to-”
“WE WILL NOT INTERFERE IN SUCH FUTIL THINGS. END OF DISCUSSION HADES!”
Hades eyed his brother in disbelief. “You may be king, but I suggest you never speak to me that way again.” His words were deadly, and Zeus knew he was one person not to piss off.
He sighed, “Hades just leave it alone. He’s a flea compared to us.”
Hades stood and walked to the door, “Maybe but it only takes one flea to start an infestation. I rather irradicate the problem before it starts.”
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Apep sat in his chair, trying his best to regain his strength. Between Evie’s attack and the barrier, his body was slowly giving out.
*This isn’t the way this was supposed to go. *
Apep realized he’d make a big mistake. He should have broken her spirit when she was young and taken her with him. Now, she was just too headstrong. Any physical and verbal abuse he bestowed on her; Evie took it all in stride. Never once crying or breaking down, her eyes all but dead. He hated to admit it, but as time went on, she’d really began to scare him. It was as if her own heart was also locked away with Thanatos’.
*At this rate, I’ll drain myself trying to keep her here. *
But he didn’t want to let her go. She got into his mind like her mother once did, maybe even more. He caught himself sometimes smelling her hair when she slept or using his powers to peer at her nude body in the shower. The way her curvy frame continued to tantalize him, made him fear he’d soon go insane.
*I just need to taste her lips. *
He wanted her so badly, it had become an obsession. He wanted to both claim and destroy her, the thought of it making his blood boil.
*"Now you understand why I belonged to Reaper?"*
He slammed his fist to the table, making its contents jump. She would be his, and he would get her daughter’s powers one way or another. An evil smile plastered itself on his face, his thoughts traveling to something he’d done years ago. Clasping his hand to his chest he muttered under his breath, “Perhaps it’s time we make a new deal.”
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Evie rose from a deep slumber, finding Apep eyes on her bare legs. He licked his lips, and she covered herself, before quickly jumping to her feet.
“What the hell do you want?”
“A kiss.” He smiled the smile that always made her want to vomit.
Retching her head back, Evie looked at him in disgust. “I’d rather have acid poured on me.”
Rage filled his eyes, but just as fast it disappeared. “You may feel a little different after you see my present.”
“…mommy…”
Apep hand locked tightly in Kore’s hair as he held her close to him. Evie lunged, but he put up his finger.
“Ah Ah Ah…I wouldn’t do that if I was you.” She could see the small orb surrounding her daughter’s neck. “I’ll decapitate her before you can make it to me.”
Evie’s lip quivered, “How-”
“It’s a wonder what you can do with fairy dust. A small amount on a pillowcase can make you sleep through anything.”
Evie’s eyes widened. After all this time, he managed to catch her off guard. “Please…don’t hurt her Apep.”
“I have to say, I quite enjoy hearing you beg. The way my name curls on your lips. I wonder what it would sound like in the throes of ecstasy."
Her entire body shook as she stared at Kore’s terrified eyes. Looking back at Apep she whispered, “Just a kiss?”
He smiled even wider, “For start. I’ve waited all this time, I can wait a little longer to get the full experience. What I want more than that my dear is something you refuse to give me.”
A lump formed in her throat knowing what he was about to say. She whispered lower than before, “…Marriage…”
“Oh, don’t say it like that *Poppet*, consider it me wanting to make an honest woman out of you.”
Evie’s eyes darkened, “That’s not your name to call me.”
“I’LL CALL YOU WHATEVER THE FUCK I WANT! You belong to me not that dead thing…I MADE YOU! YOU ARE MINE!” Apep tightened the orb around the Kore’s neck, and she began to sob.
“Okay…please just stop.” He loosened it some. “How would we even get married? Nobody can get in or out to officiate it!” At this point she swore she could see every tooth in his mouth.
“You let me worry about that.” Releasing Kore’s hair, he walked in front of Evie and placed his dirtied finger under her chin. “It would have been much easier to take your powers, but I find myself wanting to take you to bed instead.” She moved her face. “Don’t make me tighten it around her neck again.” She stilled. “I love deals, so I’ll make you a simple one. Submit to me, or I'll kill her.”
Apep planned to kill the child anyway, but in the meantime, he would use her for leverage. Evie swallowed her spit, and he could see a small spark in her dead eyes. Placing his fingers in her hair, he brought his mouth inches to her. The smell of his rotted breath made her want to pass out, but she kept her resolve.
“Do we have a deal?”
A small tear ran down Evie’s face, as she leaned in and kissed his lips.