*The Day Before the Wedding*
Zeus slung Hermes hard into the wall and placed his forearm to his throat. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t kill you, you fucking little snake.”
Hermes' eyes bulged, “I SWEAR I DIDN’ T KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN! I JUST WANTED MY MARK ON EARTH LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!”
Throwing him hard to the ground, Zeus stepped on his chest. “And now your mark is going to lead us all to our death…is that what you wanted?”
“First you…now Hades.” Hermes' eyes widened more.
“What do you mean Hades?” Zeus' face hardened.
“He’s betrayed me. He’s helping Thanatos. HE HELPS NO ONE BUT HIMSELF AND YET HE HELPS THE FATHER OF ONE OF OUR GREATEST ENEMIES.”
He couldn’t understand it, his brother never interfered in the business of the other Gods. He kept himself in Hell and remained out of other's affairs. Now he was helping the Grim Reaper. The thought of his betrayal angered him more than Hermes. They were brothers. Hermes scratched against the floor.
“I THINK I MAY KNOW WHY!” Hermes managed to say.
Zeus lifted his foot glared at him. “Don’t lie to me again.”
He shook his head feverishly, “I’m not I swear.” Reaching his hand into his pocket, he shakingly handed Zeus a slip of paper. As he read its contents, he looked to Hermes in disbelief.
“You did this?”
Hermes prepared for his wrath. Instead, he heard a chuckle, and then uncontrollable laughter. “Oh Hades, you have no idea what truly coming your way.”
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“GET OFF OF ME!” Evie screamed as Cybrus grabbed her arm, pulling her into Kore’s room.
He covered his lips with his finger and looked out to make sure Apep was still gone. “Please…just listen to me. I’ve been trying to find time to talk to you since I arrived. This is the first time Apep entrusted me here without him and I don’t have much time.”
“You’re a snake,” She seethed. “This is low even for you and you’ve done some low things.”
Looking outside again, Cybrus put up his hands. “Please…I’m trying to help you and Kore get back to Thanatos.”
Evie’s mouth dropped. “Wha-”
“That’s why I came to Apep after my exile. I managed to catch him before you all left, and we stayed in contact. I needed to gain his trust so that he would allow me to come here…so I could tell Thanatos where you were.” He looked down at Kore, who smiled up at him before returning to play. “She’s beautiful. She looks just like my son.” Evie could hear Cybrus inhale sharply wipe his eyes. “I’ve done a lot of wrong by him, but this…this I can fix.”
“Why should I trust you?”
He shook his head, “Don’t. Don’t trust anyone but yourself. That’s the only way you’ll survive. I have to go. I need to get to Thanatos in time. Just try to act normal in front of Apep, I will return tomorrow.” He looked down at Kore again and back at Evie. “He cried a cry that tore through the entire Magical Fall when he lost you two. Be kind to one another, please. Sometimes…you don’t realize how amazing a person is until you’ve lost them.”
Saying nothing else, Cybrus left the home and waited for Apep to release him from the protective sphere.
*Please wait Nyx…just a little longer…please. *
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The moon hung in the air as Nyx received her two sons to her bedside. She was tired, her body no longer the way it once was. She’d been working overtime to keep up appearances, but that only put more strain on her heart. Nyx knew she was dying, but she pressed on for her sons. “Come on in you two,” she beckoned them. As soon as they entered, Romulus and Thanatos, looked from one to the other. The smell of death was in the room, and Thanatos now knew, why she’d summoned them. She smiled small at them. “Hey now, no frowns…it’s just my time to go. I’m really tired.” She looked at the ceiling and repeated, “I-I’m really tired.”
Romulus reached out, “We understand, we can start your reincarnation right away.”
Nyx shook her head no. “I don’t want to be reincarnated.”
Romulus's lip dropped. “Bu-but mom royalty is always reincarnated…it’s just the way…”
She patted his hand. “I know…but I-I don’t want to forget.” She looked from one son to the other, and tears welled in her eyes, “In this life, I have two amazing sons…and two grandchildren.” She heard Thanatos breath hitch. She turned and faced him, “I was hoping you’d consider placing my soul near Angelicas? It would be nice to spend time with a friend.” Thanatos knew what she was asking, but it was impossible.
“I can’t place you there you know that. Humans…”
“You found a way for Jack and Rose.”
“Because they were Angelica’s assignment and not royal blood. What you’re asking has never been done before…we don’t know what will-”
She closed her eyes and nodded. “I know this is a big ask…but I want to rest. I don’t want to forget. Even if I end up somewhere else, or it doesn’t work, I still get to remember, and I can live with that.” Taking Thanatos hand in hers, she looked at him, “I ask this of you, not as your queen, but as your mother.”
Thanatos looked to Romulus, and then back to his mother, “I love you.”
Her face seemed to momentarily brighten. “I love you…the both of you. And Thanatos, if this works. You bring my grandchild to meet me okay?” Her sweet smile tore into his chest, and he nodded once again. She exhaled tiredly, “Can you help me? I’m Ready.”
Thanatos bent down and kissed his mother’s cheek. Holding on to her, her body shook, but her eyes never left his. “I release you.”
Thanatos closed his eyes, his body producing its black mist, and soon, he felt his mother go limp. Opening his eyes, he looked to Romulus, “…her soul…” It wasn’t there.
The castle door banged hard against the frame, and the brothers could hear the guards, “YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME HERE!”
In a shrill voice, they heard their father, “PLEASE! I NEED TO SEE THANATOS!” Exiting their mother's room, the two brothers made their way to the front. Thanatos' eyes cut into his father.
“What do you want?”
Breathless, Cybrus spoke, “I know where Evie and Kore are! We have to hurry, we don’t have much time!”
Thanatos eyes widened, “Take me there!”
Cybrus shook his head feverishly, but then his eyes scanned the halls. He grabbed his chest the feeling of dread sinking in. “W-where’s your mother?”
Neither son spoke. Seeing their eyes, he knew he’d been too late. He somehow knew, but he’d hoped he still had a fighting chance. Dropping to his knees, for the first time ever, Cybrus cried in front of his sons.