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. . . If you ever need saving,
I'll be running to you. . .
Anywhere that you go to.
~C. B
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***

Seeking a legal permission from Zeus will take us more time, and that is something I don't have to spare. So, we go to the one god who care less about rules and more about breaking them, Hades.

Hades abode is one of the most beautiful houses on Olympus. From the large pool that is visible from the outside luring you deeper into his lair, to the waterfall at the centre of the area, the house was a masterpiece. The first of its kind on Olympus.

"I am presuming and I hope you know, that mother is going to decipher details of this little trip of ours," Anteros mutters, pulling me out of the dazzling clutches of Hades pool.

"She knew what she was playing at from the very beginning," I hiss returning to the large golden entrance.

I know mother and Hades were friends. But right now, I don't care. I need my wife and I will go to any length to get her back.

Holding the little locket still in my pocket, I take a deep breath and give a soft knock at the door. Hades is known to be the only god without servants- except Anubis.

I hope he doesn't send that particular creature to attend to us.

Five minutes later, the door opens revealing a pitch black reception. I turn a confuse eye to Anteros and he shrugs.

Hades is always full of surprises.

The sound of a deep baritone voice fills the dark space, asking us to proceed inside. As soon as we step in, the door closes softly behind us.

Colourful Light begins to awaken one after the other along the walls of the room, revealing an elegant setting. The walls appears black at first, but as the light continue illuminating the area, I find it to be red. Aside the dark leather seats scattered around, the eerie room is empty. No sign of it's lord. And in much relief, no sign of Anubis either.

Anteros makes to move and I hold him still, he gives me a bored look but stays put.

"Offsprings of Venus!" Hades' baritone voice fills the room once again, "to what do I owe this sudden visit?"

"Won't you at least show yourself?" Anteros asks, a smirk playing on his face.

"I beg your p-"

"Have you finally grown that despicable horn, Hades?" Anteros blurts, interrupting the god of the fucking underworld and giving me an heart attack in the process!

"Have you gone mad?" I mouth silently at him.

Hades is one of the oldest gods. Disrespect to him or his kind in any form is considered a very grievous offence.

"H-he most definitely didn't mean to say that," I say giving Anteros a disapproving look and praying to Persephone to calm her husband's nerves.

The laws might prevent him from harming us but we are in his territory and Hades isn't really known to keep the laws to the letter.

All I want is to find my wife, not start another war of the freaking gods!

A very silent moment follows and the sound of my heart becomes closely similar to the ticking sound of a time bomb.

Anteros maintains his bored expression and Hades-

A roar-no wait, laughing resonates through the red walls of the room and he appears out of nowhere, laughing his ribs out.

Anteros joins him and they both embrace each other still birthing the laugh.

I observe them quietly, wondering when my brother became friends with Hades and I make a mental note to ask him about it.

It is no hidden fact that my brother is friends with anyone with a flare for breaking rules. But it never occurred to me that he is friends with Hades.

"I see you haven' t dropped your attitude, Anteros. I love it!" Hades' voice booms, "did you boys miss me now? I don't remember a time in history that anyone missed me," he says.

"Of course we didn't miss you. Who misses the god of the underworld!" Anteros says and again, the two of them go into another laughing fit.

I do not join them because, there is nothing funny in what Anteros said and I really need to get to earth! Hence, I remain standing with a scowl on my face.

"Silly boy! Really, why are you here?" Hades demands when he calms himself.

"We only came by because my brother here, wants to go to earth," Anteros informs him, waving a hand in my direction.

"Why is that? Trouble with the wife?" He looks over at where I remain standing and raises his left brow questioningly.

Of course now will be the perfect time for the god of the underworld to mock me!

I pick that as my cue to speak and lead him to the reason we came, but he beats me to it-

"What is that I see in your eyes? Pain?" He mutters, laying extra emphasis on the word 'pain' and walking towards me.

He would have heard the news. There is absolutely no need for him to even ask me about it!

"Oh yes. My poor- poor brother, is heartbroken." Anteros joins him, stressing each word for a more dramatic effect.

"Anteros! This is no time for your mockery!" I hurl at him losing my patience. It's another thing for people to laugh at the fact that you are in love and another for them to laugh at your pain.

Like an inner joke that they both share, they resume their laughter, making my flare up in anger.

"This - this is good. Heartbroken god of love!" Hades manages to say amidst his laugh.

Since when did Hades laugh so much?

Seeing my angered eyes, Anteros recomposes himself faster than our host- Should I even refer to him as a host? He didn't even offer us a place to seat!

"I need something from you," Anteros says to him.

Hades wipes a fake tear from his eyes and tries to keep a straight face, "what do I get in return- a brokenheart?" He resumes laughing again and it takes all my mother's lesson not to jump at him and start that war I was worried Anteros will start.

"You will get anything you want! Just give us the coin of transport!" I say raising my voice.

"Anything you say?" He repeats in a sing-song voice.

"I give my word!" I spit.

"It's done! You may leave now! Tchu tchu!" He says, turning his back to us.

This man had the guts! How can he- a strong gush of wind pushes us out through the door, cutting my thoughts.

A satisfactory grin appears on my face as I feel the weight of the coin in my pocket.

Turning to Anteros, the grin dies as soon as I meet the anger radiating from him, "what have you done!" He demands, fisting his hands to control his anger.

"Done?" I ask surprised at his reaction, "I got us the Coin," I finish, confusion still lacing my features.

"You got us the coin- at what cost? You told Hades he could have anything he wanted! Do you even realise what you have done!" He screams, his olive face flaring with anger.

"I was just-"

"You were just nothing! Now give me the damned coin!" He says, opening his palms before my eyes.

I know making such a deal with Hades was very foolish on my part but in my defence, they both pushed me too hard.

Not wanting to anger Anteros even more, I dip my hands in my pocket and deliver the coin to him.

"Lagos, Nigeria," I mutter gently under my breathe as he folds the coin in his palm.

"I know where she is!" He answers sharply with a hint of anger and something else- I can't just put a finger on it.

We walk silently back to his place where our bags were patiently waiting on us.

After given his servants last orders on how to take care of the place while he is away, we move to his room with our bags to perform the displacement.

"Ready?" He says and I give a quick nod.

The ground gives a soft tremor like a wave had passed through it and then Anteros' room slowly begins to fade into an outdoor scenery.

Wait!

We are suppose to materialise in an hotel room. Why are we appearing outside?

Looking up at Anteros-I see now what I couldn't recognise earlier, mischief.

Anger and mischief, that is what he abhors in his eyes.

Looking back at our surrounding, I furrow my brow even deeper as my brain slowly registers our location.

Isn't that the Shaftesbury Memorial fountain?

"Brother, why are we in London?"

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I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

Thank you for reading!❤