Page 20 of Thanatos' Craving

Hypnos leaned on his forearms, a smirk on his lips. “Go on.”

And so I told him about Ember and how I had meant to bring Juniper’s soul here to rest. Then the awakening inside me when I stared into her eyes changed all that. That her soul was far too special to share with anyone else and I intended to keep her. With me, forever.

Once I finished my story, Hypnos let out a shuttering breath. “That is some heavy, heavy information you have, Thanatos. You’ve felt nothing for thousands of years. Like, all the gods all thought you had the emotional IQ of a stick. And now you are telling me you are keeping this human, here. That’s called kidnapping.”

“She isn’t a child,” I replied.

“It’s just a term. You took a human, brought her down here against her will.”

I shook my head. “No, I gave her a choice. I asked if she wanted to live. She said yes, and I let her keep her soul in her body.” I paced the room. “On the condition she come live with me.”

“You play with words, Thanatos. She was under duress. She would have said anything to live.”

“Juniper had the will. Her soul called to me.”

Hypnos sank into the plush chair, its velvety texture embraced his tired body. He instinctively reached for the fold of his black robe, feeling the smooth fabric between his fingers. As he rubbed it gently, a faint scent of lavender wafted up, mingling with the smell of incense of my home. His brow furrowed, his face immersed in contemplation.

“Could she be—” he began and shut his mouth, a wry smile coming to his lips. “I’ll help you.” He twirled his finger around his long, white hair. “This will be interesting, though. This is almost as bad as when Hades took Persephone. It’s kinda cliche'.”

I stepped forward and gripped my brother by the throat. He choked, pulling on my wrist. “Hey,” he coughed. “I’m just messing around.”

“Don’t mess around with what is now mine. Protect her, watch her while I am gone. I will pay you for your services.”

I let go of him, dropping him into the chair. He rubbed his neck. “If that is the case, can you get me those cool Harry Potter magic wands that shoot out fire? I saw it on TikTok.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose once again.

He was a god, and he wanted a magic wand that shoots out fire?

“I’m not going to the earth realm, but if I see one, I will get it for you.”

Because I would do anything for my twin.

His eyes lit up and scooted his chair closer to Juniper. “And we will sit and watch. Won’t we Fluffy?” Fluffy sat on his backside and lifted a paw onto the sofa. He nudged his now returned form of a fluffy wallow maw against Juniper’s arm.

I nodded and turned back to them, then headed back to the entrance of the cave. Hypnos hummed a tune, one that would instantly put anyone to sleep who would come near the cave. I was immune to my brother’s powers and thus, when I left, I felt more at ease knowing my Juniper would be safe.

As the fiery sensation scorched through my chest, urgency consumed me, it compelled swift action. I yearned to remain by her side, reluctant to depart for long.

I used the portal close to the Underworld palace. I went unnoticed and undetected while everyone was consumed in their own lives. I could have whisked myself to the Celestial Kingdom without the portal, but the upper realm had rules—and no one there liked surprises.

Once I reached the other side, the brightness blinded me. I pulled on my hood and blocked the suns dancing in the sky swiftly and concealed myself. That was one power I was grateful for: invisibility. The only place I could not use it was in the Underworld, it was more so of a law given by Hades so he could always find me when he needed to call upon me, but since we were out of his kingdom, I would use it as I wished.

I ascended the golden steps towards the Celestial palace. I felt the cool touch of my shadows that enveloped me and my scythe. The suns overhead radiated an intense brilliance, growing brighter with each step. The palace itself, adorned with an excess of cherubs, fairies, and angels, overwhelmed my vision with its ostentatious embellishments. A hushed curse escaped my lips as I finally reached the towering double doors, their surfaces amesmerizing swirl of gold, diamonds, and other precious gems yet to be discovered by Earth and Bergarian alike.

Juniper’s light emanated with a purity that surpassed the entire realm. Unlike the harsh and blinding luminance of this world, her light was gentle, casting a soothing glow upon my weary eyes. It felt as if her soul’s radiance embraced me, providing comfort and solace, igniting a yearning within my own soul to return to the depths of the Underworld and be in her divine presence.

I hastened my pace and passed through the main hallway. Other hallways branched off the main hall I traveled. It led to the more popular gods, the ones often prayed to long ago. These branched into their own wings like Artemis, Vulcan, Hermes, Zeus, Hera, and Apollo to name a few. Not that any of them come to stay in their wings anymore—they have all gone to live elsewhere.

As I stood still, countless angels passed by, their ethereal presence sending shivers down their celestial forms. They gazed intently and searched for the elusive chill, their eyes scanning the surroundings. But as realization dawned upon them, they continued their journey, for the darkness they sought remained hidden, evading their very sight.

I eyed Asclepius’ door, the God of Medicine. He would be a fine god to go to in a pinch, but he and I did not get along. Sometimes my reapers appeared in hospitals to take a soul and such arguments occurred when he was helping a doctor’s hand healing a mortal.

Unfortunately, Asclepius cannot see a mortal’s soul and its willingness to continue. There are times the soul is ready to pass on, or Fate has other plans.

I tapped my scythe, I realized this had become a new nervous habit of mine.

Asclepius would not keep my secret. There was one other that would if I played my words right.

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