strategy for tomorrow…”
Silence.
Thanatos pretended to doze, wondering how long the gods would play this game. The quiet
stretched and stretched until he thought they would never speak again. Of course they would never leave the room until he released them. So he hoped someone spoke soon since he had other business to attend to for Rhea.
“Zeusy dear, I think Thanatos wants to know how you plan to get out of your deal with
Hades?”
Thanatos turned his head to look at the blond, ditz of a woman. Aphrodite, goddess of love and whore to the gods. His opinion of her rose several degrees. She was smarter than she
appeared in that ridiculously provocative dress.
“I think we should put him back in Tartarus!” Poseidon glared at his brother. “You should’ve listened to me and kept him there!”
“I agree with Poseidon,” Hera said.
Her son Ares agreed with her, as did Artemis and Demeter.
“I disagree,” Hephaestus rumbled, looking mighty uncomfortable.
Thanatos thought it might have more to do with the presences of so many who disliked his
deformities than the topic of discussion. Whatever the reason, it was none of his concern.
Athena rose, giving Zeus and Poseidon a disapproving look. “You swore by the River Styx,
Father. You have no choice. He succeeded in his task. You must give him his own Kingdom.”
“I agree with Hephaestus and Athena for once. Why cause problems when granting Hades his
reward would solve everything?” Aphrodite smiled and glanced at Poseidon with those bedroom eyes. Thanatos wondered if she had slept with the god yet, or if he continued to spurn her advances. “Unless you fancy a kingdom of your own, Poseidon?”
Definitely more cunning than he’d given her credit for. Thanatos figured Zeus already knew his brother’s aspirations and Hephaestus only speculated. When Poseidon didn’t protest, they all knew truth. It was now five in favor of imprisonment and four in favor of giving Hades a
kingdom. Zeus had yet to cast his vote.
He waited patiently for the King of the Gods to decide, knowing that his vote could cast the precarious world into chaos or save it from chaos. Thanatos remembered the last time Hades had been swindled. The destruction had been devastating, and he didn’t want to see it again. He also didn’t want to see Hades imprisoned.
He was fond of the boy he remembered. The boy had followed him around like a lost puppy,
imitating everything Thanatos did. He also respected the man Hades had become. Despite Eris’
best efforts to twist the mind of her son, Hades was a daemon-god of honor and fairness.
He knew the moment Zeus decided upon a course of action. He leaned forward as if drawing
the others into his confidence. “I think imprisonment would serve all best-”
Thanatos laughed, and swung his legs to the floor and stood. All eyes focused on him. “How did you plan to capture him, Zeus? I don’t think the Titans trick would work a second time. And your combined strength couldn’t cast him from Mount Olympus. Using Leuce’s shade would
only anger him more.” It was time to propose another option. “Since there are only two
kingdoms to be claimed, then I see only one option.”
“And?” Zeus asked. “What would you suggest?”
“We all know you have claimed the Heavens and Poseidon fancies himself King of the Seas.
And since most of you seem willing enough to fight for his claim, I suggest you resurrect a kingdom and give it to him to rule.”
Poseidon grinned and Zeus reluctantly nodded.
Aphrodite laughed. “And you think he’ll be happy with some paltry kingdom?”
Definitely smarter than she was given credit for, he’d have to watch her. “If given the right incentive, he will.”
“And what kingdom shall I recreate?”
“The Underworld?”
The shock in the room was palpable. Hera was the first to recover. “What excuse would you suggest Zeus use to enforce that decision?” she snapped.
Thanatos narrowed his
Silence.
Thanatos pretended to doze, wondering how long the gods would play this game. The quiet
stretched and stretched until he thought they would never speak again. Of course they would never leave the room until he released them. So he hoped someone spoke soon since he had other business to attend to for Rhea.
“Zeusy dear, I think Thanatos wants to know how you plan to get out of your deal with
Hades?”
Thanatos turned his head to look at the blond, ditz of a woman. Aphrodite, goddess of love and whore to the gods. His opinion of her rose several degrees. She was smarter than she
appeared in that ridiculously provocative dress.
“I think we should put him back in Tartarus!” Poseidon glared at his brother. “You should’ve listened to me and kept him there!”
“I agree with Poseidon,” Hera said.
Her son Ares agreed with her, as did Artemis and Demeter.
“I disagree,” Hephaestus rumbled, looking mighty uncomfortable.
Thanatos thought it might have more to do with the presences of so many who disliked his
deformities than the topic of discussion. Whatever the reason, it was none of his concern.
Athena rose, giving Zeus and Poseidon a disapproving look. “You swore by the River Styx,
Father. You have no choice. He succeeded in his task. You must give him his own Kingdom.”
“I agree with Hephaestus and Athena for once. Why cause problems when granting Hades his
reward would solve everything?” Aphrodite smiled and glanced at Poseidon with those bedroom eyes. Thanatos wondered if she had slept with the god yet, or if he continued to spurn her advances. “Unless you fancy a kingdom of your own, Poseidon?”
Definitely more cunning than he’d given her credit for. Thanatos figured Zeus already knew his brother’s aspirations and Hephaestus only speculated. When Poseidon didn’t protest, they all knew truth. It was now five in favor of imprisonment and four in favor of giving Hades a
kingdom. Zeus had yet to cast his vote.
He waited patiently for the King of the Gods to decide, knowing that his vote could cast the precarious world into chaos or save it from chaos. Thanatos remembered the last time Hades had been swindled. The destruction had been devastating, and he didn’t want to see it again. He also didn’t want to see Hades imprisoned.
He was fond of the boy he remembered. The boy had followed him around like a lost puppy,
imitating everything Thanatos did. He also respected the man Hades had become. Despite Eris’
best efforts to twist the mind of her son, Hades was a daemon-god of honor and fairness.
He knew the moment Zeus decided upon a course of action. He leaned forward as if drawing
the others into his confidence. “I think imprisonment would serve all best-”
Thanatos laughed, and swung his legs to the floor and stood. All eyes focused on him. “How did you plan to capture him, Zeus? I don’t think the Titans trick would work a second time. And your combined strength couldn’t cast him from Mount Olympus. Using Leuce’s shade would
only anger him more.” It was time to propose another option. “Since there are only two
kingdoms to be claimed, then I see only one option.”
“And?” Zeus asked. “What would you suggest?”
“We all know you have claimed the Heavens and Poseidon fancies himself King of the Seas.
And since most of you seem willing enough to fight for his claim, I suggest you resurrect a kingdom and give it to him to rule.”
Poseidon grinned and Zeus reluctantly nodded.
Aphrodite laughed. “And you think he’ll be happy with some paltry kingdom?”
Definitely smarter than she was given credit for, he’d have to watch her. “If given the right incentive, he will.”
“And what kingdom shall I recreate?”
“The Underworld?”
The shock in the room was palpable. Hera was the first to recover. “What excuse would you suggest Zeus use to enforce that decision?” she snapped.
Thanatos narrowed his
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