[ graphic deviantart: @lighane]

a jar of secrets
10 | hermes the trickster

"Do you realise you were going over the speed limit back there sir and then continued to ignore the sirens and finally slam on your breaks very sudden that I could've crashed into you?"

I glare at Hermes in the mirror, yeah because that idiot scared me to death. 

"I'm terribly sorry officer something just spooked me."

The officer appears to be a middle aged man with dark hair and a tight lip frown - in other words he doesn't look friendly.

"License and registration kid."

His dark eyes look around the car as Hermes appears to be getting something out of his pocket and spots me behind, I give him a shaky wave but then his eyes land on Hades and they widen.

"Step out of the vehicle, right now!" He yells making a go to grab his weapon from his side and grabbing his walkie-talkie in the other. "Calling back up on-"

I think I'm about to faint again.

"Now now officer, he's just sleeping off a really bad hangover." Hermes tells him as if he was stating the colour of the sky or having a discussion about the weather.

The officer blinks as if confused by this and what he is doing with his gun out but then nods his head taking the card from Hermes and putting his gun away.

"This is a get out of jail free card from Monopoly?" The officer frowns glancing across at him.

Are you seriously kidding me right now Hermes? Is he trying to get us thrown into jail cells?

"That it is officer." Is all Hermes says and I groan throwing my good hand over my face.

We're done for now.

"It seems to check out but be careful next time won't you and tell your friend to lay off the drinks."

Wait what? I open my eyes shocked to see the officer smile my way.

"Sure thing officer, have a good afternoon."

I watch as the officer walk back towards his car and hop inside without a backwards glance.

"Well that was easy!" Hermes mumbles sounding a little disappointed but he smiles as he turns around to face me.

"Let me guess, magic?" I joke weakly, both my hands are shaking slightly from the shock but I don't think I'm going to pass out this time.

"Yep and now time to wake up sleeping beauty," he says more to himself than me as he puts his hand on Hades shoulder.

Although before he can even touch him, Hades sits up and grabs Hermes hand without even opening his eyes.

I blink.

Dude has some super reflexes!

"Where's Persephone?"

"I'm here Hades." I tell him reaching between the middle to touch his hand lightly.

Hades opens his eyes suddenly and looks over at me, his eyes softening ever so slightly before removing his hand from Hermes.

"Sorry Hermes, didn't know it was you," he mumbles tiredly.

"Yeah yeah and big guy kills anything to save his girl, I get ya!" He then turns to me. "So you are Persephone then?"

I glance over at Hades who is checking his wound before looking back over at Hermes.

They know each other?

"Yeah I guess that's me, although I prefer Seph..."

"So you finally found her, it's been what.. eleven years?" Hermes mumbles surprised as he turns to face Hades again.

"Shut it Hermes, don't make me shut it for you."

Wait eleven years, found her? What is he talking about?

"So you don't remember anything? Not your friends, your parents, how you're a-"

I frown as I watch Hermes closely, what the hell is he on about?

"Hermes that is enough!" Hades silences him with a growl and this time Hermes shuts up. "You may be my nephew and help me out but I do not want to hear another word out of you."

"Your nephew? How many nephews do you have exactly?" I remember April saying that Adrian is his nephew too.

"What?" Hades asks clearly confused as to why I'm asking this.

"April told me that Adrian is your nep-"

"Actually their real names are Aphrodite and Ares..." Hermes glances over at his uncle but he doesn't appear to be ready to yell at him again.

"When were you talking to Aphrodite and Ares?" he asks me curiously, ignoring his nephew if anything.

"Earlier this morning, Adr-Ares bandaged my hand. They said they saw you out in the hallway on your phone..." I trail off as Hades looks even more confused.

"Was Ares the one who hurt you?" I ask hoping it wasn't, they didn't seem that bad of people although Ares looked like he had just punched someone.

"No..." he looks over towards Hermes. "I was attacked by something else. Something?
"Why would they have come here to help her and not said anything to me - they never made their presence known."

"Uh I'm right here you ass!" I roll my eyes as both boys turn to look at me. "What?"

"You sure she lost her memory? She seems the exact way as before, if not more rebellious like someone else I know..." Hermes trails off laughing.

"Lost my memory?"

"We'll talk about this later. Did P tell you anything?" Hades talks to Hermes ignoring me in the back seat.

"What's with the first letter basics dude? She's going to be qu-"

"Hermes."

"Right shutting up now, and yeah he just said to follow Apo- the sun until you see a giant mass of water."

"Then what?"

Hermes smirks as he hands the car keys back over to Hades with a sly smile.

"Then you fly." And with that Hermes opens the door and simply gets out, closing it shut behind him .

❦

"You've got a lot of explaining to do mister."

We had stopped earlier for a quick food break before going back on the open road to god knows where, water apparently, if I remember Hermes saying.

"But the more you know the more dan-"

"Don't even finish that word, I want answers and you're going to tell me them right now."

"Bossy much?" he sighs but there's a small smile on his face and man can he smile.

"I learn from the best apparently," and the smile widens.

"Fine, what do you want to know then?"

"How about you start with you getting stabbed back there? I've always wanted to heal fast, that'd be a cool super power."

"You can."

"I know it's stupid but.. wait I can?" I look over at him to see his head nod. "Um how is that even possible?"

"It's because you're-" he glances over at me and sighs softly. "It's in your genes let's just say."

"Okay... you know that's not humanly possible, right?"

Have my legal guardians really left me with a crazy person?

"Anythings possible Persephone," Hades sighs again looking away from me. "You were the one to tell me that..." he adds under his breath.

I catch it though and frown.

What is that meant to mean? I've never even met this guy before, have I?

❦

"Yes we're making headway, should be there in the next couple of days brother."

I tiredly roll onto the other side of the seat, my legs resting up against the door.

"Yes she's doing well and yes Hermes got here.. what you haven't feed Cerberus yet? get someone to feed the poor guys."

I try to go back to sleep but it doesn't seem to be working and Hades must known this because he quickly ends his call with whoever is on the other line.

"I have to go, keep in contact and don't forget to feed my boys."

Now that woke me up.

"You have boys?"

Hades laughs at my question before apologising about waking me up.

"Yeah three of them actually."

Three boys?

"And they love you to death just like you love them," he adds before yawning.

"I.. do?"

"Of course, you love animals especially my dogs."

I'll admit the name kind of sounds familiar the more I thought about it.

"But I don't... know you?" I mumble picking at the bit of fluff on my top awkwardly.

Hades coughs before looking at something in his side-view mirror.

"No... I guess you don't." He says coldly before pulling up on the side of the road.

"What are we doing?" I ask sitting up straight and watching him wearily.

"Picking up-"

"Dude I refuse to feed your beasts from now on!"

I jump out of my skin at the sudden third voice in the car, Hades however just smiles as Hermes shuts the car down behind him.

"Oh come on Hermes, I'm sure they just wanted somebody to play with them," Hades says winking at me. I smile shyly.

"They chewed up my socks Hades!" Hermes sighs holding up an indeed chewed up looking sock for us to see.

"That's what dogs are supposed to do man," he says shrugging.

"But then they set fire to my favourite t-shirt!"

I laugh until I realise what he just said.

"They set fire to things?" I ask Hades with wide eyes. Dogs are meant to be cute fluffy things not fire breathing monsters.

"They're harmless Persephone, they just like to play around with Hermes here because they know he's scared of them," he explains chuckling.

Fire breathing dogs? Have they drugged me? They must have drugged me, either that or I'm hearing things completely wrong.

"Wow good to know that me nearly dying up in flames makes you so happy uncle," Hermes groans resting his hands on his knees.

"You're immortal idiot!"

"Oh yeah that's right, you kind of forget that when you're around your dogs though."

"So are you gracing us with your presence for a reason or just to complain about my boys?"

"Well I thought you have three empty seats back here and no ones using them..."

"Hermes." Hades warns glancing in the mirror to see him back there.

"Don't worry I didn't invite anyone else but myself, you've got my word."

"Well that's a once." Hades sighs before concentrating back on the road ahead of him.

"Ouch that wounded me Hades." Hermes mumbles appearing to be heartbroken but he laughs it off before turning to face me.

"So Persephone, what's been happening my little duckling?"

I laugh at the unusual nickname I've been given.

"Leave her alone Hermes, she needs her sleep." Hades interrupts him before I can even think of speaking.

"But-"

"But Hades!" I groan the same time Hermes says but, we share a knowing smile. "I'm not tired," but as soon as I say this a yawn happens and then another. "Much."

"Off to sleep little ducking, I'll be here when you wake up I solemnly swear on my immortal life," I glare at him which makes him laugh.

Immortal life my ass!

"Unless I boot his ass downstairs," Hades shares a look with Hermes which again shuts him up.

I take the blanket that is half on me and throw it around me properly like a cocoon, snuggling into it.

It smells like Hades which I find funny because I have never seen him with the blanket but I'm not gonna complain.

"Don't dream of evil fire breathing dogs chasing you," Hermes whispers in my ear and I give him the finger.

"I'll put those fire breathing dogs on you if you don't shut it Hermes."