Kapitel 339: Cold in your arms

Poseidon rubbed his tired eyes as he closed the laptop in front of him and gave himself a deep stretch. "If that's all for today, I'll hang up now." He replied, his gaze moving to the phone he had set to speaker.

[Let us know what is decided after you speak with the girl.] Hades replied.

He let out a frustrated sigh. "It would be easier to reach a decision if you were able to get more information on your end of things."

Hades' cold silver eyes watched as Thanatos entered his office. He leaned back in his comfortable Italian leather chair as he drummed his fingers against his crossed legs. "I shall hope to have equally illuminating information for you upon our next conversation." He pointed to the seat opposite his desk as he hung up on the call. "Have a seat, please."

Thanatos quietly walked over and took the indicated chair, sitting stiffly as he waited for Hades' next words.

Hades studied the man opposite him for several long seconds. He could feel his eye begin to twitch as he watched the man grow obviously nervous. He sat forward resting his chin on the entwined fingers of his fisted hands. "Have there been any incidents recently? Is there anything you need to report?"

Thanatos shook his head. "No Sir. Everything ran smoothly in your absence."

Hades' eyes narrowed. "And the week prior?"

Thanatos' answer wasn't as forthcoming as he considered his words wisely. "Nothing especially noteworthy, I don't believe."

Hades arched a brow. "So, no unauthorized souls have entered... or left?"

Thanatos swallowed hard. "Well, there was one incident, but the soul was quickly returned." He gave a slight shrug. "You know how complicated immortal deaths can be."

"Ah yes... thus the verbiage, I suppose." Hades held the god of death's gaze for several long moments, his cold gaze calculative. "And the reason for that soul's prolonged stay. I believe the records indicate three days." He pressed a button on the computer in front of him and turned the screen to face Thanatos.

Thanatos could feel a light blush warm his cold skin as he took in the image on the screen. The petite, beautiful girl otherwise known as the Kraken was cradled in his arms as they descended through the underworld to the deepest depths of Tartarus. He ran his hand over the back of his neck as he glanced guiltily away from the screen. "It had been a long, difficult day for both myself and Keres thanks to the girl... and... I thought what a waste it would be to return her immediately. I asked and she agreed to accompany me for a short visit."

Hades nodded as he leaned back in his chair once again. "Understandable, I know better than anyone how lonely it can become here..." his gaze sharpened as his brow rose. "But why release her at all if you carried her into Tartarus as a companion?"

"Oh well, she wanted to return so I obliged her." He said with an innocent shrug.

Hades' lips thinned as a scowl curved his lips. "Her request to return to the surface didn't have anything to do with your other siblings did it?"

"Of course not, though I believe I speak for everyone when I say they can be a bit frightening. So it is likely, though not her sole reason for returning, it would stand to reason that they could have had some influence over the final decision." He stumbled over his words.

"Hum, yes... It would stand to reason..." He stroked the broad curve of his jaw with one hand. "Were you and Keres the only children of Nyx to attend the massacre that day?"

Thanatos swallowed against the sinking feeling that was beginning to fill his chest and abdomen. "I believe so, Sir. As I said before there was much work to be done that day, and I, nor Keres, could be one hundred percent sure of any other individuals' presences."

A muscle in Hades' jaw twitched. "How convenient." He let out a sigh as he pushed his seat back and stood. "How disappointing, and here I'd planned to not only go easy on you but reward your honesty. I suppose my preparations were in vain." When Thanatos began to argue his innocence yet again, Hades held up a finger to stop him. He bent slightly over the desk and hit a key that brought up another image. "You're dismissed. You may leave. Don't bother saying more than you have. You may inform your siblings of the investigation I will be conducting against them. If any of them would like to come forth willingly, I will be more than willing to hear them out and promise to show leniency regardless of the confession... Any of them except you of course. Your willingness to protect your siblings has been weighed against my patience for lies and decent." He arched a well-sculped brow. "And has come up short. You shall hear back from me on my judgment of this decent once I've completed my investigation, and don't think to drag your mother into this by her skirt tales as your twin has the knack for doing. Understood?"

Thanatos frowned as he stood up from the chair and gave a slight bow to the king of the underworld. "Understood, Sir. I meant no disrespect. As you said, I was only looking out for the best interest of my siblings."

Hades nodded. "Gather your thoughts and return to me. If your information proves viable enough I'll drop the investigation and any punishments against you." When Thanatos opened his mouth to respond, Hades held up his hand. "Not now. I have other more important matters to attend to." With that Hades glided from the room.

Hades let out a heavy sigh as he closed the doors to his private quarters. He kicked off his designer shoes and began to tug his tie loose.

"What is it dear? What has my darling husband so worked up this evening?" Persephone asked as she stood from the tiny table she'd been seated at. She wanted as he walked to her and bent to kiss her lips sweetly. She lifted her hands to the knot of the tie and pulled it free with little effort before lifting onto tiptoes to return his kiss. "You're late..." She whispered against his lips.

"Yes, I know love. I'm sorry. This mess with my brothers and Nyx's children kept me later than expected." His eyes shifted down to the half-melted tub of ice that held a bottle of champagne and the two covered dishes on opposite sides of the tiny table separated only by two wine glasses, a candle, and a vase with a mix of red roses, yellow crocuses, and violets. He stroked the soft petal of one of the roses. "And you went through so much work to prepare it..." He turned back to her and stroked her cheeks with the same gentle touch he'd used on the delicate petals. "Now I feel even worse for being so late."

She caught his hand and brought it to her lips. "You're here now. That is all that matters."

He sent her a tender smile. "Yes, my love, I am." He bend and kissed her deeply. Once he straightened, he stepped to the side and pulled her chair out farther for her. She smile at him as he guided it behind her as she sat, then made his way to his own chair. He uncovered his dish and his features brightened. "Fesenjan? You shouldn't have, Kore dear."

She smiled widely at him. "But it's your favorite! So when I saw that the fruit was fully ripe I simply had to!"

He lifted and bent over the table to give her another kiss. "Thank you, love." He grabbed the bottle as he sat back down and poured them each a glass.

They continued their date night meal in excited conversation as each told the other about their day.

Hades let out another heavy sigh as he sat back from his finished plate. "I will admit, I find no joy in any of this business... but I can see Poseidon's point."

Persephone nodded in agreement. "Yes, but who among the gods couldn't formulate a list of grievances against Zeus?"

Hades shook his head. "For the life of me, I can't understand why he must still act so childish at his age. This is ridiculous."

Persephone took a sip of her champagne. "How do you intend on ending their dispute?"

Hades rubbed his brows. "I'm not entirely sure I shall be able to if I'm being honest." His turbulent silver eyes lifted to his wife. "I do feel bad for our dear nieces and nephews though. They have all been thought so much and shall only be dragged through more before the end of this little squabble."

Persephone nodded. "As has our own children... Do not forget."

Hades let out a huff. "I myself shall never forgive him for what he did to you and our poor Zagreus. Zeus doesn't make it easy for anyone to want to find an amicable solution for any of his problems... I'm half tempted to encourage the two of them to duke it out."

Persephone sighed in response, not saying anything on the matter, instead, taking another longer sip of her drink.

***

Jos could feel her pulse beating against every pressure point of her body and hear its deafening drum reverberate inside her ears. Her hands trembled as the timer on her phone buzzed loudly. Her shaking fingers managed to turn the alarm off after a bit of fumbling. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as she reached blindly for the first of the tests. The sound of the bathroom door opening caused her eyes to pop open in surprised horror. She watched as if the pregnancy test fell from her hands in slow motion and slid almost purposefully to Arei's feet.

"Are you alright in here, kitten? I heard a noise-" He tilted his head in question as the object bounced against his shoe. "What is this?" He asked as he bent and lifted it from the floor. His eyes widened as he turned it in his hands causing Jos's breath to catch and her heart to pound even harder. She clutched the front of her shirt as she waited for his response with bated breath.

Arei let out a sigh of relief, a satisfied smile curving his lips as he handed it back to her. "Thank the gods. This is the best news I've gotten all week! The wait had me more anxious than I'd realized." He bent and placed a kiss on her head. "Father's wanting to speak with you when you're finished in here, Love." He gave her head another affectionate kiss before he stood up and lifted each of the other three tests lined up on the counter. "Perfect." He said with a pleased grin as he examined each one at a time. "I'll see you downstairs after your meeting with him, alright."

Jos could only nod as she stared down at the test he'd handed her. The tightness in her throat threatened to cut off her airway as she fought to hold back the sob that struggled for freedom against the deep recesses of her chest. She watched his feet as they turned toward her once again and she felt his gentle hand on the back of her head as his soft lips pressed a light kiss to her head for the third time. She lowered her head more as she felt tears begin to burn her eyes. She forced them wider open as she watched his shoes retreat from the bathroom, the door closing behind them. Droplets began to trickle onto the test still gripped tightly in her hands the second the door was shut, the flow increasing with each passing minute until she couldn't take it any longer. She clamped her eyes tightly shut as a sob escaped her lips. She dropped the test into the trash with trembling fingers. She stood on shaking legs and righted her clothes. Her blurred vision locked on the other tests still resting on the counter. With an angry, tearful wail she pushed them into the trash as well. She clasped the edges of the counter as she tried to push down her grief and anger.

'What did you expect?' She could hear the mocking voices echo through her head.

She glared at the wide Cheshire cat smile reflecting just over her shoulder in the mirror. She forced her emotions down, not wanting to feed the monsters in the mirror any more than she already had. Instead, she turned on the faucet and splashed several handfuls of cold water onto her face. She stared at her reflection, ignoring the others. "It's fine... I'm fine..." She took a deep inhale and slowly let it out, repeating the act several more times until her emotions were fully in check. She checked the mirror one last time before shutting off the bathroom light and pulling the door closed behind her, hoping to leave the sounds of taunting spirits inside the room.