Kore walked throughout Hades’ home waiting for him to rejoin her. Running her hands over a few of the photographs, she stilled at the sight of one that stopped her heart. A beautiful woman with cropped blonde hair, snow-white skin, and big brown eyes. Her smile was infectious, and Kore could feel a lump formed in her throat.
“Persephone,” she whispered.
Hades joined her at her side. Arms folded to his chest, he inhaled deep, “Yes.” Kore had never felt insecure about herself before, but at that moment, Persephone made her feel horrible. And the fact that her insecurities cut through her sympathy, made her hardly able to look at him.
“S-She very beautiful.” She said finally.
He nodded. “Yes, she is.” She didn’t want to be uncomfortable, but the more she looked at the photo, the more she realized that she looked nothing like his past wife. “You two are very different.” She heard him say and this time she nodded and stayed silent. Taking her in his arms, he pulled her away from the picture. “Come sit with me please,” he murmured. The two sat and he pulled her legs to his.
“Do you want to talk about what your feeling?”
She shook her head no. “It’s stupid.”
He rubbed her legs. “Tell me anyway.”
“It’s just…I don’t know. A part of me just assumed that I reminded you of her which is why we-”
“Hit it off so swimmingly, post you slamming me into a wall?"
She scowled at him. “Don’t tease me.”
Pulling her to him, he kissed her temple, “I’m sorry. It was a hell of a way to make an entrance though.”
Kore sat in his arms quietly. “I mean, we even have the same name, how twisted is that?”
Raising her head, he looked at her. “I think I understand the problem here. You were hoping that you and she were exactly the same…that way, what’s happening between us could be blamed on residual feelings. Is that it?” Kore bit her bottom lip and looked away. “Well…I’m sorry to disappoint you but that’s just not the case.” Hades placed his hand over his lips.
“How much do you know about Persephone and I story?”
Kore rubbed the back of her neck. “That you kidnapped her from her mother, and eventually she fell in love with it here.”
Eyes glistening, he looked at her in amusement. “I sound so fucking creepy when you say it like that. I really want to deny that, but more or less that’s what happened. Though I do want to add, she was free to leave at any time and she did, but she always returned. That’s another thing that makes you both so different.”
“What do you mean?”
He smirked, “If I remember correctly, it was you who made it clear that I was yours, perhaps to at first poke at my expense-” He flicked a piece of hair from her face. “But you also gave me an out multiple times, and yet here I am completely enamored with you.” Hades kissed her fingers, “At the risk of asking you to trust someone with such a bad rap as me. I want you to understand that I see you for you Kore, not for anyone else. I see you, and I want you…to be mine.”
Hades knew he’d caught her by surprise, but the more he mulled over it, the more he knew that she needed to know. “I don’t want you to not know that, especially with everything to come-” Kore pulled him to her. Kissing him passionately, she allowed him to lay her down. Tearing at one another clothes, Hades ran his hand up her smooth thigh. “I’m addicted to you,” he whispered into her neck.
Kore arched her back and pulled him closer to her, feeling his erect manhood pulse against his briefs. Eyes darkened she looked at him, “I want you.” Hades unclasped her bra and kissed her bare flesh, her soft moans feeding into him.
“Well, Well, Well…I wasn’t expecting a show.” Zeus’s voice boomed, startling them. His hologram eyed Kore and he licked his lips. “I can certainly see why my brother is obsessed with you. I thought the face was gorgeous, but the body…”
Hades pulled Kore behind him. “Don’t speak to her again do you understand?”
Zeus threw up his hands. “Always the protective one. All I’m saying is that I get why you’re screwing her. She’s going to destroy all of Olympus and hell…I'd still screw her.”
Seeing Hades' eyes blacken, Zeus gave him a large grin. “Anyway, I’m calling because I wanted to do as you say *die with dignity*”
Hades arched his brow. “What are you talking about?”
Zeus sighed, “Well, twenty years is a long time to wait to perish, and honestly, after Aphrodite’s’ treason, I feel why wait anymore? I’m sure Kore and Adam are strong enough to do whatever it is they’re going to do. So why not get this show on the road! Dazzle us with all that they know.”
“What are you planning Zeus? You’re a coward. We both know you have something up your sleeve.”
Zeus laughed, “Well of course. I mean I should be able to defend myself, right? That still shouldn’t stop anything. Unless…those two aren’t as strong as they claim.” He pointed his hand. “I mean certainly someone with such supple skin, couldn’t truly be the epitome of evil, yet I find myself conflicted because she’s tied to you. And we both know how much of a sniveling piece of shit you are.”
Kore grinned at Zeus, and she could sense his nervousness. There was something always off-putting to him, about the way she and Adam smiled. Instead of responding to Zeus, she winked and disconnected the feed. Turning to Hades, she kissed his lips and whispered, "I love you."
She saw his eyes widen. "What?"
Kore stood and replaced her clothes, “Come on we need to get to my house. I have an idea I need to run by everyone.” Ignoring his hesitation, Kore left before he could say anything else.
---------------------------------------------------
“You aren’t ready.” Thanatos said with his hands on his hips. Pacing back and forth, he looked from his daughter to Adam.
“When will we be dad?” She sighed, “I hate it, but Zeus was right about one thing, I’m tired of waiting.”
“BUT YOU’RE WALKING RIGHT INTO A TRAP!” He felt Evie’s hand on his. Inhaling deeply, he gave Kore an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I just-I don’t want anything to happen.”
She nodded and she turned to Hades, “I need to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
“Is it possible to kill one God at a time?” He looked at her confused.
“I-I don’t understand.”
She pointed to Thanatos. “My father and Uncle Romulus killed Hermes. Is it possible to do something like that again?”
He shook his head. “Kore they’re fourteen Olympian Gods. Hermes is dead, Aphrodite and I are here…that still leaves eleven. How do you expect to kill them one by one without setting off your major powers? And why would you do that if you and Adam have the power to kill us all at the same time easily?"
“Because then we could be spared,” Aphrodite spoke while looking at Kore, “That’s the reason isn’t it?”
Kore looked down at her shoes. “I know this has to happen, but I can’t let you die Hades…I just can’t, and I know Adam feels the same about Aphrodite…I can feel it.”
Hades ran his fingers through his hair. “NO! Tell her this is insane Thanatos!” Thanatos folded his arms to his chest but remained quiet. “Evie! Romulus! Derrick?! Somebody tell them this is insane!”
Romulus shook his head. “We can’t. No matter what we think, it’s their decision and it would be hypocritical of us to try to get them to not try to save their ties.”
Thanatos exhaled sharply, “I can’t deny what’s happening between you and Kore- I DON’T LIKE IT! -but I can’t deny it.”
Hades looked at Aphrodite wildly. “Adam could die…do you not understand? Do you really think they can do this one by one? It’s all or nothing Dite you know that!”
She placed her head on Adam's shoulder. “I-I know but I want to try. If there’s a chance that I could be with him…I still want to try.”
Hades couldn’t look at Kore, because he knew that if he did, he would reveal he felt the exact same way that Aphrodite did, and he would break.
He felt her hand in his. “Please say you will fight with me, and I promise that at the first sign of trouble, Adam and I will do what we were made to do.”
He shook his head. “You two would have to keep your emotions under control and they will use everything to get into your head…including us…including your family.”
“Then you and Aphrodite will help us stay in control.” She turned to her mother, “Mom-”
“You already know the four of us are with you both until the very end.”
Hades inhaled deeply and then clasped her face. Kissing her in front of everyone, he murmured low, “I love you too. And I’ll fight alongside you until the very end.”
------------------------------------
“ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?!” Poseidon screamed at Zeus as the line disconnected.
Pouring himself a drink, Zeus laughed, “What? Don’t tell me you’ve lost your spine Poseidon? How else will you stand upright enough to fight?”
Poseidon snatched the drink from his hand, and tossed the glass, glaring at Zeus as it shattered against the wall. “You bait them after being the cause of all of this.”
“Oh…you must be truly afraid, if you’re speaking the truth now that the lie no longer brings you comfort.”
Poseidon looked at him in disbelief. “I went to bat for you. I convinced everyone that Hades was to blame…and you…you send us to slaughter FOR WHAT?”
“FOR FUN!” Zeus screamed, blowing steam from his nose. “FOR VENGEANCE, FOR A REMINDER THAT I. AM. THE. FUCKING. KING. AND NO ONE! NO ONE! WILL MAKE A MOCKERY OF ME!” He sneered. “You know what I’ve always loathed about you Poseidon? Your inability to accept how insignificant you really are. I mean Hades at least does detest with humor and flair, while you cling to any fucking person you think may give you the scraps from their plate.” He folded his arms against his chest. “You had your chance to choose your side, AND YOU DID YOU LITTLE MINION, SO NEVER QUESTION ME AGAIN!”
“You’re crazy…”
Zeus laughed, “That’s what the uninspired label the inspired. I’m REVOLUTIONARY, A PROBLEM SOLVER, I AM THE KING OF GODS. Do you really think I would invite them here if I didn’t have a plan?” He pursed his lips, “Here let me spell it out for you, L-O-V-E…LOVE!” He chuckled, “Kore and Hades have already fallen in love! That much is evident. And I bet the white-eyed monster and Aphrodite have done the same…which means…. ah yes, my plan.” He pointed up to the sky. “We have an opportunity to strike while double trouble is trying to save purple eyes and forever angry.”
Poseidon looked at him. “I-I don’t understand.”
Zeus scoffed, “THIS IS WHAT I MEAN! You lack vision dear brother, but then again, the runt of the litter always does.” He frowned, “Ohhh did I hurt your feelings?”
Zeus chuckled as he placed his hand on Poseidon forcing him to sit, “They’re not going to use their full potential, not unless they have to, knowing that Hades and Aphrodite will die as well. So…. that levels the playing field a bit wouldn’t you agree?”
“But-that Grim Reaper and his brother killed Hermes…. unless we attack them all at once, I don’t’ see how this can end in our favor.” Poseidon body convulsed, as a sharp pain shot through him and he looked up to see a blue mist pouring into Zeus.
He grinned, “It’s quite simple really. Process of elimination. Every one of you they kill, every one of your powers I can absorb. Until-” He saw Poseidon’s eyes flicker, “Until I’m strong enough to force them to use their powers and kill their soul ties, or die alongside them, and we both know how love goes don’t we? Though, I fully plan to watch them kill Hera and absorb her powers, so I probably should rephrase that.” He laughed.
“S-stop!” Poseidon cried out as his powers pulled from him.
“I’m honestly doing you a favor brother, they would have tortured you, at least I'm giving you a quick death.”
Seeing his brother's lifeless body hit the floor, Zeus adjusted his suit. His eyes tinged a variation of colors as his, Hermes, and now Poseidon’s powers coursed through him. Pulling out the map of Olympus, he grinned at the first obvious target. “Well Aphrodite, I guess you will finally be able to get your revenge on your husband.”