Page 126 of Thanatos' Craving

Medusa hissed again, her nails raking across the floor.

Right, I guess she wouldn't find it amusing.

“Gods is she still doing that nonsense talking?” Medusa rolled her eyes. “She does it in her sleep, it’s quite ridiculous.”

Thanatos moved forward silently, his steps echoing through the space, leaving me rooted in place. He crouched down, a faint rustling sound accompanying his movement, as his bony fingers closed around Medusa’s neck. The touch sent a shiver down my spine, as I imagined the sensation of his skin, muscle, and tendons transforming into cold, lifeless bone.

“I suggest you talk before I make the last minutes of your life absolutely excruciating.”

“And what is the point? I’ll be suffering once I’m dead, anyway. Either way, I do not win in this,” she snapped. Medusa spat in Thanatos’ face, her saliva turning into a venomous stream. “You won’t break me,” she hissed, her scales glistening dangerously.

Lucifer stepped forward, a wicked grin on his face. “I agree. There’s no point in threatening her. We’ll just have to make her suffer in another way.”

With a flick of Lucifer’s wrist, he set forth a fiery whip, its tendrils wrapping around Medusa’s body. The flames licked at her skin, sizzling where they met the scales. The smell of burned scales filled the dungeon, and Medusa's screams echoed through the cells.

Thanatos glanced at me, concern etched across his features, before he returned his attention to Medusa. “You’re forgetting something, Medusa. You’re playing with forces far greater than you ever imagined. We have the power to bring you to your belly, and we will do so if necessary.”

Medusa’s screams grew louder, her body thrashing madly against the flames. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to fight back against the pain. But Lucifer’s whip was relentless, and it continued to burn her skin, leaving charred marks in its wake.

Thanatos’ eyes never left her, and an icy determination settled into his posture. Even with the cries and the stench of burning meat, there was no hesitation in his voice. “You’ve been playing on the edges of our realm for far too long, Medusa. Hera blessed you with immortality and your power, but that didn’t mean that you could use it to torture others. You’ve made your choice, Medusa, and now you will have to deal with the consequences.”

As I watched the scene unfold, I couldn’t help but think about the complexity of the world we lived in. The gods and the deities they created were not what I had imagined them to be - beings of pure light and unwavering benevolence. Instead, they were just like us - flawed, broken, and capable of wielding unimaginable power for their own gain.

Medusa’s screams continued to pierce my ears, but I knew that this was just the beginning. In this realm of gods and monsters,the weak were devoured, and the strong ruled. And as much as it pained me to see anyone suffering in such a state, I couldn’t help but remember all the poor women she stole from their homes, their families and suffered so much.

Ember pulled Uriel to her side, hiding her from the torment. Mariah and Ares came forth and shielded me against the sight, and instead, I smelled the charred scales, the painful screams, and cries for mercy.

After what felt like hours, Lucifer’s whip fell to his side. Uriel pulled onto his wing for him to fall back. I hadn’t realized I had covered my ears to dull the sounds and when I removed them, I could see that Thanatos was hovering over Medusa, with a near lifeless body on the floor.

Her eyes were open, staring up at death with his bright blue eyes. His hands a beautiful ivory that I remembered that carried me from the dark alley.

Medusa didn’t deserve to live. She hurt so many and I didn’t condone killing people. I could never do it myself, but what she has done to so many families--

Medusa took in a weak, gasp of breath and I watched as Thanatos closed his eyes. “He’s entering her mind,” Mariah whispered to me. “He’s going to find all the answers we need. She’s far too weak to hide them now.”

I swallowed and held onto Mariah. She was my lifeline right now and as the minutes ticked by, watching him be so close to Medusa, my body shook. I didn’t like him near her; I didn’t like him touching her.

“Thanatos,” I whispered, cutting through the silence.

Everyone turned to me, not to chastise me for interrupting or for pity, but it was for concern.

I let go of Mariah and stepped forward slowly. Thanatos tightly gripped Medusa's neck with his hands. I gripped onto his arm and felt nothing but cold, hard bone.

I missed his warmth. I missed his skin. I knew this form he had taken on didn’t change who he was. He was death but seeing him like this, working, making this woman suffer because of all the other women? Was it hurting him, too? Seeing everything she has seen?

Medusa gasped and her eyes flew open. I could hear Uriel whimper behind me and I gripped onto Thanatos tightly.

Then the last breath fell from Medusa’s lips, and she laid limp in Thanatos’ grip.

Thanatos opened his eyes, the blue hue falling on her scaled skin. His iron grip let go of her and I let out a breath of relief only to suck in another one at the deep growl reverberating in his chest.

Thanatos snapped his head to me, his eyes full of blue fire. His hood fell off his head, and the room gasped at his ivory skull engulfed in his shadows.

“T-Thanatos? What’s wrong?”

With blood on his hands, he pulled me close. If this was the first time meeting him, I would be terrified, but I knew him, I knew his soul; I knew I was supposed to be his other half. I damn felt it.

Thanatos snarled, shadows engulfing us both. “Stay close to me,” he snarled. “You will always remain in my presence.”

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