Hades
Chapter 1
Well this is just stupid. What could my idiot of a younger brother want this time.How is it that when God comes calling we all go marching? And why is that he can never send a smoke message. Why does he have to demand my presence? I have my own realm to run too. I never see him going after Posiden or demanding his presence. Then again, I don't really know the last time I saw Poseidon either. Leave it to my middle brother to take his realm and disappear from everyone’s radar.
My boots echo through the hallways of my brother’s grand palace. I'll admit I am not doing much to quiet them myself, but maybe if he added a little bit of furniture or a rug here and there it wouldn't echo as much.
Since when did the pillars and the floors have gold anyways? Last time I checked Olympus didn't really have the money to be finding this sort of thing.
“Hades! stop stamping your feet through my halls in those insufferable boots. Explain to me why you are not dressed appropriately while you’re in my kingdom.” Dressed appropriately? He has got to be kidding me. Since when was there a dress code in Olympus? If he is expecting me to wear traditional greek robes, he has another thing coming. I mean isn't the point of being in the New Age meant adapting to newer customs. Besides, there is something severely uncomfortable about wearing a large piece of fabric wrapped around my body haphazardly. I feel like everything is exposed.
I approach the throne room and let the door slam shut. Again with the heavy doors and over the top ornate bobbles. Who is it that he is trying to impress anyways? I know for a fact he would never let his people in his realm. The city of Olympus resides at the top of the district with his palace sitting front and center. Unlike some of our siblings, the Palace is only meant for the gods and the elite of the city. I think he would kill over if he knew that I let everyone walk in and out of my palace.
Zeus’s voice echoes through my head as I approach him. Why he feels the need to be in my head instead of just projecting his voice is beside me. But then again, I don’t really know of anything he does. Part of me doesn’t care, and part of me knows he takes joy in being secretive. Really, how does Hera deal with this foolishness?
“Any reason why you called me here? In the middle of my day?”
“Charming as always Hades… Shall we get started? I assume you already know why you’re here.”
“Actually I really don’t, but I am sure you are eager to tell me.” The rest of our family flash into existence, everyone sitting in their prospective throne. Hera is sitting on Zeus’ right like always. Her throne matches Zeus’s though more dainty and with floral accents. Next to her is Demeter, the goddess of Harvest. Why that witch of a woman hates me, I will never know but at least she doesn’t bother me on a personal level. Of course Athena, goddess of wisdom, sits next to her. Wisdom and Harvest, best of friends. You would think that a god who is worshiped, loved and praised by mortals, would stay clear of one who has no problem tormenting them.
On Zeus’s left sits Aphrodite, goddess of Love and Hephestus, god of Fire and Forge. Her chair is made up of pearls and shells, probably designed by Hephestus himself. I have to give credit to him, he’s crafty as fuck but I know he doesnt want to hear that from me. Apollo, god of Music and Artemis, god of the Hunt, sit next to him. Now those are two twins that are always getting in trouble.
Interesting to see Hermes missing. The god of Mischief never misses an opportunity for family gossip. I'll have to remember to call him later. He was supposed to deliver a message for me anyways.
“What no seat for me this time?” I know I am pushing buttons at this point but I’m in a mood and it seems like everyone but me happens to know what is going on. I conjure up my own seat of spikes and thorns. I make sure to add a skull or two for good measure, taking my time forming the seat to my butt. If Zeus is going to waste my time today, I might as well waste his. And If this is going to be a while I might as well sit.
“Hades, must you always fight your brother at these meetings?” Hera likes to play mediator to us brothers. She always believed that she was the golden one of us all and that by being blessed as Zeus’s wife gave her similar power. I don’t really know if I would be considered blessed when Zeus’s eyes lay upon me. I’ve seen the way he treats his lovers and I could definitely do without. Personally, I could just see that she was just as power hungry as he was. How that power dynamic works in the bedroom is beside me.
Now don't get me wrong, Hera is a lovely woman. There was even a time when we were more than friends. But now she is my sister in law and a cold hearted bitch (no doubt because of my brother and his cheating ways) and I just don’t have time to be up here dealing with politics. Politics that I am not even included in anyways.
“Now that we are all settled down,” Zenus stares at me before rolling his eyes, “let's begin. Hades, the reason that you are needed is because we have some concerns. Both about the underworld and the mortal realm.” Zeus doesn’t care about my realm, and he definitely does not care about the mortals. However, he can tell when he is not the most worshiped and likes to call upon everyone to ensure that their people are loving him and fueling his power. He also likes to pretend that he can feel changes to our father in Tartus but that's just not possible Zeus needs to let everyone know that he is the most powerful of the gods, the only way to calm his insecurities is to know that even in the afterlife people will love him. Times have changed though brother, and one day he’ll realize it.
The one good thing about being in the underworld is that no one else can enter, unless I invite them in. It's not that you can’t visit the underworld, I mean we are basically immortal beings. There are even certain spots where mortals can roam. But,no god wants to visit the underworld before their time is up. It just wouldn't make sense, some even consider a bad omen from the oracle to know death before it is your time. Delphi was well known through the Twelve Gods. Can’t say I know her personally, but then again when was I ever considered in Olympus.
“And what are your concerns exactly?” I’m honestly not sure why he has brought me into this conversation. I have nothing to do with how the people see us. I mean isn’t that why I was given the Underworld as my realm?
Zeus looks up at the hour glass on top of the dias. That thing has been a harbinger ever since the rebuild of Olympus. The Fates made it very clear that if we couldn’t restore Olympus after the titans that our time would be up and a new wave of gods would take our place.
Personally, I think it's the ugliest decoration in this palace and should be kept deep in a vault somewhere. I don’t even think it means anything. If the Fates wanted to wipe us out they would cut our thread. I’ve seen it first hand. Those gals are a fickle group if I’ve ever seen one. They were here long before us and they will be here long after us. The way that they control Destiny is something that no one should be messing with.
“I believe the hourglass is beginning to let sand loose which means we aren’t doing what the Fates want. Since you work closely with the Fates, I feel like you might know their intentions the best.”
“You are aware the world doesn’t work like that right? Besides, why don’t you speak to the Fates yourself?”
“You know I can’t, given where they reside in your realm. Not that I would want to enter Isle of the Fates. Besides, I was thinking more of you go down to the mortal realm and see what people are saying about the gods instead.” He had to be kidding right? I have my own realm to oversee.
I look around the room and see that half our family seems just as confused.
“And you just decided this on your own?” I have to keep my cool. The last time I blew up we rebuilt a corner of this palace and I was not about to have that weight on my shoulders... twice. See I have this slight issue that some would consider anger management. I’ve spoken to someone here and there about it, but at the end of the day they just pointed out what I already knew. My family is my biggest trigger. Not surprised, I think this family would be anyone’s trigger and blowing up the family home is a completely logical response.
“Of course I did, why would I need anyone else to tell me otherwise?”
“Maybe because this could affect a lot of people?” I look over to see Aphrodite worried and Hephestus comforting her. Strange. Ares is shouting thinking that if we had another world war it would solve our issues and Demeter has once again suggested another famine. Perhaps no one else in our family really is cut for this. I can see no one really expected the hour glass to move either. I mean don’t get me wrong, we’re doing better than the Titans but that's not really hard to do. We are definitely not meant to rule forever.
“Anyways, you owe me for this.”
“Owe you for what?” I could feel my skin beginning to itch as my ether slipped from my grasp. Control your temper Hades, Control your temper.
“For the stunt you pulled at last year's solstice.” He had to be kidding. I took a deep breath, this was not worth losing my ether over. I did not want to discuss last year’s solstice at all. It wasn't even my fault. That stupid nymph just couldn’t keep her hands to herself.
I take a deep breath and steady myself. Again, I have a temper, I have acknowledged that but I mean c’mon.
“Here we go again with the solstice. You’ll never let that go will you?”
“Let it go? You made a complete mockery of me and my people. Sorry if the dead don’t follow the same rules as the living.” I made a mockery of him? It’s not my fault he can't keep his hands to himself, and at the end of the night I was the one that left embarrassed while once again, his infidentility shows no consequences.
“I’d be careful about how you speak of the dead brother, you’ll be one with them some day.” It was one thing to disrespect me. I am used to it. But to disrespect the souls? The ones who have lived such full lives, at one point even worship this fool.
“You dare to threaten me and my peace in the afterlife?” I didn't think he could push my buttons as strongly as he does. But clearly I am wrong. At this moment I could feel my form shifting between one another. The smoke was beginning to gather around my ankles. I needed to stop myself from growing to full god height but it becoming too painful to fight it. I know I should leave, the last thing I needed to do was tear apart Olympus for the second time. I can admit that my temper gets the best of me.
But then again, something about starting a fight before being indefinitely sentenced to the mortal realm sounds like a great idea to me. A small smile crept across my face as I released the last hold I had on my ether.
“So brother, this is how you want it right? Make me look like the bad guy, destroy Olympus again, validate whatever this arbitrary punishment is and send me off?” I continued to grow and felt the chair beneath me begin to crack.
I stood up, “That's okay though, I am used to being the villain. I see the way your people look at me. I see the way our siblings react to my presence and I welcome it.” I mean after all, the world only knows of the twelve olympians right? Forget about the eldest brother, the one who oversees their cross over the Styx. I took a step forward knowing it would trigger Zeus’s transformation.
A flash of lightning struck his seat and when the smoke cleared he stood towering over our brothers. Zeus’s full body has always been a bit leaner and more muscular than Poseidon and I. Something about his physical body being more cut than his older brothers makes him look cooler.
“Enough of this Hades. You can be the villain on your own time. Right now you have a duty to your family.”
“I have a duty to my realm. My family has never done shit for me.”
“Your realm will be there when you return. If you’re so worried about it, I will watch over it in the meantime. Though, the fact that your realm can’t function without you is a tell of how poorly you rule.” The absolutely nerve.
I huffed out a cruel laugh, “Absolutely not! I will go on your stupid errand but I will not let you in my realm. I will speak with Hecate and leave no earlier than three days from now.” I turned on my heel and walked out the door before conjuring a portal and walking through it.
Persephone
Chapter 5
“No Daph, I am not really sure what the professor wanted from us this week,” I pull my phone away from my ear and check my notifications. Who keeps buzzing me anyways. Ignore, Ignore. I pull the phone up to my ear again.
“Well, it’s not my fault that you didn't go to class again.”
“No, I am not giving you my assignment either.”
“Ugh, I’ll just see you back in our apartment later.”
I hung up and swung open the door to the library. This was my peace and quiet. I had about three hours left of research I needed to do, and I didn’t have time for her whining. I mean don’t get me wrong, I love the girl. She is my best friend, but ever since she got scouted with that modeling agency, her head has been firmly in the clouds.
Daphne is about 5’5 which is typically small for a model but her looks make up for it. She has these long auburn curls that fall in perfect ringlets down her back and light freckles that dust her nose and cheeks. I can’t say the same for me as mine just fall haphazardly around my whole face. Her skin is milky but her eyes are bright blue and remind me of the Mediterranean Sea. Don’t even get me started on the girl’s figure either. She has curves for days and an ass I can only dream of owning. She tells me if I just go with her to the gym more I could get that, but I know for a fact it’s genetics. I’ll take my rectangular shaped body and a bag of chips over free weights anyday.
As I walk towards the turnstile for the library I can’t help but overhear shouting by the helpdesk. Who shouts in a library anyways? It’s not like no one can hear you. Walk away Persephone. You do not need to be involved in other people’s drama. At least that’s what I try to tell myself. But I can't help it, you know? I’m nosy.
I steer toward my right saying hi to Henny. Henny has been working at the coffee bar in this library since I started coming here. And I started this program three years ago. He’s another one with disturbingly great looks. Though I would classify him more nerdy cute rather than hot cute. He has these dirty blond curls that are super tight on the top of his head and then he chose to shave the sides close to his skull. He’s got these light hazel eyes that I am convinced change color in the sunlight, but I'll keep that to myself.
“What's all the yelling over there Hen?”
“Oh some big dude came in looking for some sort of book that we don’t have. Claims that his sources ensured it was here.”
“God I am always sick of people thinking they know more than the library system.”
“Normally, I would totally agree with you, but that dude was HOT.”
“Okay, but you think every dude is hot Hen.”
“Hey, not my fault you’re picky. Maybe if you lightened up you’d actually get some,” he smirks.
“Okay, rude,” I laugh. “Just tell me more about the burly man you speak of.”
“Well for starters he’s at least over 6 foot tall and has raven black hair that's tied up in half of a man bun.” Gods are man buns still even in anymore? Henny licks his lips before proceeding. “His shoulders are incredibly broad, and that tight henley shirt is doing wonders for his muscles.”
“It’s all about the physical with you isn’t it?”
“It’s all I have to go over, besides I didn’t get to see his face. He stormed in so quickly that by the time I looked up I could only stare at his back.” I rolled my eyes and grabbed my latte.
“I am telling you that this book is in this library. If you can't find it, then let me look for it myself.” The burly man’s voice was arrogant and to me it didn't matter how hot someone was. There was no reason to talk to the desk associate like that. I stomp over with determination to put that man in his place.
“Sir, this is a university library, without a valid student ID I cannot let you in there.” I watch as his shoulders move up and down as he took what appeared to be a deep breath. Hen was not wrong, this man was huge. I wonder what his face looks like. I can tell from the side he has to have a killer jawline to keep a beard like that so clean and trimmed to his face.
“You’re telling me that there is no guest pass, no one that can walk me through this useless library at all?” He is clearly counting his breaths as he speaks. If my psychology class taught me anything, its breathing exercises. I want to applaud the man for trying to be calm, but at the same time the tone of his voice tells me he thinks he’s some entitled prick.
“Earth to Persephone,” Henny waves his hands in front of my face. “I see you daydreaming over there. Why don’t you go over and relieve Mads.”
“I was not daydreaming. I was just thinking about how rude that man is.”
“Mmmhm, sure buttercup.”
“Ugh, I told you not to call me that. If I am any sort of flower, it's a narcissus.”
“Girl, you’re the only one that knows what that flower is. If I didn’t know any better, I thought you were trying to summon the God of the Underworld yourself. I roll my eyes before stomping over to the man and Maddison. Hopefully she doesn’t quit. I was supposed to get work done peacefully today and now I feel like I’ll be taking on a shift I didn’t ask for.
I tap the man’s shoulder forcefully. Or at least try to, he really is tall. And that’s saying something. I thought I was tall for a female.
“Excuse me, if you could lower your voice, or you know maybe not badger the staff of the library. This is a student center, there are people studying, and you are being rude.” Ha that’ll show him. Except he turns around and all the air is sucked out of my lungs.
Henn was incredibly wrong about this man. He is drop dead gorgeous. His jaw is perfectly chiseled and there is just enough beard that I could probably grab and force him to kiss me with. Mmmm the idea of that beard running down the inside of my thigh could send chills down anyone’s spine. And those eyes, they’re like a stormy gray, I assume from the anger. I bet when he’s in a better mood they’re much lighter but something tells me he is always angry. If you thought you could see his muscles from his back, you haven’t seen anything yet. I know what I said about man buns, but for some reason on him, I don’t care how outdated that trend is. My fingers are just itching to run through it.
He was absolutely stunning, his own specimen. If I thought they were real, I’d say he was a god all in his own. Too bad Mr. God man was also a raging asshole.
“I’m not sure if you heard me properly, but I said you’re being rude and to please shut up.” He just stares at me dumbstruck. I guess no one has ever spoken to him like that before.