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The fire crackled softly in the unlit bedroom, the head of the fire broke off to disappear into the air. The dark red flames illuminated the room with a near soft glow all across the shadows of the room. Leaving no space without light. No secrets could be hidden in the dark.

A olive-toned woman with a sat in front of the fireplace. Her hair as dark as the night with strands of pale Lavender Purple and Forest Green tied back into a messy ponytail. If you looked close enough you could see, the black tribal markings peaking through her Red buttoned down dress shirt.

The woman sat in a rocking chair with dark gray eyes as sharp as shards of broken glass and bottomless as the red sea. In her arms, she protectively held a small blonde haired baby boy who suckled against her breast hungrily. She hummed absentmindedly, her hand caressing her baby's hair while her gaze beamed to will the fire to grow to her satisfaction. She was just far enough away from the fireplace to be comfortable for her child.

The woman stared into the fire, her mind drifting off to a place far from the dark kingdom she resided in. She recalled her days on the battleground. The blood and stench of rotting flesh that hung in the air and stained the sky a crimson mist.

She remembered mercilessly slicing and tearing her way through armies of creatures and gods alike that wanted to harm her children out of pure hatred for Death. They sought to make her children pay the price that was not theirs to pay and did not succeed to tell the tale.

Oh, how it satisfied her to feel their pathetic body the life force leave their body hollow and empty. Her brutal strength crushed their bones and their organs like they were fruit for the picking. It left them to choke on their blood and nearly succumbing to their death as if she would ever grant them such a peaceful mercy. Their pitiful pleads to spare them but she did not even bat an eye toward their mindless words. None of what they uttered mattered when they became threats to her kin.

She inhaled a sharp breath and shifted in the cushioned seat of the wooden chair. The dense air filling the lungs of her humanoid form with ease. Her hearts pounding in her chest from the adrenaline in her veins, she could not afford to stop. She would not be stopped by enough of them. The lines had blurred when the bloodlust had taken over and all she desired was blood retribution.

"Thanatos." A pleasantly soothing deep voice rumbled with a tint of adoration etched to their tone. The voice came from behind and broke the delicate silence between the breastfeeding mother and her baby.

Without hurry, Thanatos tilted her head slightly in the direction of the voice to catch the sight her wife entering. Her long curly dark hair resting on her chest. Thanatos observed the two braids on both sides of her wife's head with that were carefully tied behind her head with the rest of her. She could see the strings of gold in the braids. It complimented the dark Purple and green dress that tightly fit her graceful figure along with her radiant Cardinal Red and Imperial Blue eyes. The sea was surely envious of her wife's eyes that could captivate you in a moment and drown you in the next.

Death hummed at the call of her name, her head turning back to the roaring fire. She could feel the other coming closer. "Hades." Thanatos greeted. Her voice was raspy and husky yet her voice remained ethereal. It was calming like a lullaby sung to young children before they slept. Thanatos smiled at the sensation of Hades pressing a tender kiss upon her cheek and forehead. Her wife laying her hand on Thanatos' head to play her hair as she remained towering over Death.

"My queen, what has your mind so occupied?" Hades remarked. Her head tilted to the side in curiosity as her lips twitched almost in a grin. The jagged scar over her lip and the side of left eye contributed to her sinister aura she carried so gracefully. Her unoccupied hand waved over the empty space behind her wife and a chair appeared. Little distance was left between Death and the Lady of The Underworld but just enough they were not bumping knees.

"What my mind inhabits is not your concern to pry yourself in, my dear. Don't worry yourself." Thanatos assured, leaning down to press a kiss against her son's forehead with fondness that made her expression lighten up joyfully.

Hades looked at Thanatos with narrowed eyes, irritation growing at the familiar vague words. Almost disappointed but not at all surprised. "Why must you make everything so difficult, My queen?" She exclaimed with a shake of her head. The goddess pushed herself to lean back against the chair. She crossed her arms over her head.

"I do not know what you mean," Thanatos spoke up, speaking slowly without glancing at Hades. Her eyes admiring the way Hades' alabaster skin glowed against the light of the flames. "In what way am I making things difficult dear wife of mine?" Her tone perked up only in slight interest. However the knowing glint in her eyes from the light of the fire betrayed her showing of ignorance. Thanatos knew well of her actions.

"You push aside questions when I am concerned for the well-being of my wife and you change the subject as you are doing now. It infuriates me, my love." The term of endearment very much contradicted the voice laced with irritation. It had been many moments of dodging these conversations. In any convenient way Thanatos could to not have to face what was directly in front of her and she knew Hades was fed up with it.

"Is it so wrong of me to want to know what troubles you and raise that burden off your shoulders? Will I always have beg for your heart, my cruel queen?" Hades expressed almost solemnly glancing at the deity of death. If Thanatos hadn't know better she would assume the other was pouting like a puppy with sad eyes only directed toward Death.

"There is much on my mind, my beloved, where would I even start to begin." She glanced at Hades with a grim expression, finally giving her full attention to her lover.

She released a small breath of air, idly rocking the small babe in her arms in a peaceful slumber. Her son detached from her breast and fell back to sleep. Thanatos tucked her breast back into her shirt and began to speak once more. "I apologize for pushing you aside I know you care and don't want me to be alone in my burdens. I truly adore you for that, darling." Thanatos spoke in a soft tone. It like there was more she wanted to say but something in her did not want to utter such words. Somethings felt better unsaid.

"Has Soul awakened from her nap? It is almost the fourth quarter." The Personification of Death questioned, gazing in the tinted windows to witness the skies darkening to near darkness. Only the stars in the sky were the only source of light throughout the underworld. Day and Night time did not flow consistently as it does in the mortal realm as it was cut into four separate periods of the day where the first period was where the sky was the lightest shade of gray and further down is when it grew to the appearance of the night.

A silence filled the space between the two godly beings. Thanatos could feel her wife's gaze and analyzing her form like it had all the answers within the universe. "Yes, my queen, our little girl has been awake for quite a bit and will be brought in a few minutes." Hades was aware Thanatos did not like her young children to be alone for long periods of time without supervision especially when Thanatos was around. It made her uneasy and restless.

Hades would do anything to ease that feeling as much as she can. "No need to fret, Majestic, she is well and safe. And she will be here soon with us." Hades soothed in reassurance with a smile.

The woman rolled her eyes at the nickname Hades refused to drop. Her wife had said it described her beauty without a stutter. A smile was tugging on Thanatos' express but her stubbornness would not let her show amusement. "I'm not fretting. I just worry when they are not in my sight. I don't like the idea of them crying or in distress and I'm not there to console them." Thanatos sighed leaning back in the rocking chair. Her job often did take much much of her time and she did what she could to divide her time to just be around for her children.

Hades glanced at their son. A rush of joy and protectiveness flooded her senses. Their children were everything to them. "You are their mother Thanatos. Of course, you want to be there as much as you can. That is how every parent feels when they are so young and that's okay." Hades grasped Thanatos' calloused hand and squeezed lightly, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. "You are doing great, don't doubt yourself."

Thanatos squeezed her wife's hand in return, a little smile forming upon her delicate features. "Thank you, my love. I appreciate your words of wisdom as always, my noble warrior." She teased lightly, her dimmed eyes twinkling in warmth. Her words remained serious and sincere as they always did.

Hades grinned adorably, the dimple on her right cheek appearing instantly when she smiled. She leaned forward carefully as to mot awaken the sleeping baby and tipped her head down to press a kiss against Thanatos' lips. The earthly scent of tulips and roses into override Thanatos' senses as if her wife had previously run through a field of them. They moved their lips against each other gently and unrushed like they had all the time in the world.

Thanatos had deepened their kiss, her heart began to softly thump in her chest and a rush through her veins when her wife tipped her chin and nipped at her bottom lip cheekily before pulling away to press a kiss against her cheeks and the tip of her nose. "You are a tease." Thanatos shook her head at Hades, a flicker of amusment reflecting in her glistening eyes.

"I do aim to please when I want to. Thought that was clear by now, Majestic." Hades resorted in an overly dramatic tone, sounding almost offended but the wink she gave made Thanatos have to stifle her laughter. "Besides, there is always later if you get lucky." Hades remarked playfully.

Thanatos rolled her eyes and hummed in acknowledgment. "I'm more than certain there will be a later, my dear." The deity of death responded without missing a beat of her mate's usual games.

Hades grinned at her words. She abruptly stood up from where the chair she was sitting in. "Here let me put Atlas down for you. You should get some rest while you can." The god lowered herself closer to her wife's and held her arms out in Thanatos' direction. Thanatos agreed and placed their sleeping son in her wife's awaiting arms.

Hades pressed a kiss against her son's head, shushing Atlas with a gentle rocking back to slumber. In steady steps, she walked toward the crib. It was carefully placed on the other side of the room close to the wall and far away enough from the fireplace.

Hades leaned over the crib and slowly lowered Atlas down on the soft blankets. She twisted her fingers and a cleaned pacifier appeared floating above her hand. "There you go, little one." The goddess cooed softly. Her eyes glowed as the pacifier placed itself against her son's mouth. Atlas instantly attached to the sucker and fell back into a peaceful slumber.

Thanatos had silently observed her wife with a smile, she never grew bored of watching Hades being a doting parent. It made her pleasantly happy to see their children would never be one of their mistakes.

A soft knocking rang against the open door. The goddess' attention snapped toward a woman holding a small baby in her arms. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I brought Soul from her nap. She was a bit fussy and grumpy. Weren't you sweetheart?" The woman smiled brightly at the baby girl, jiggling her in her arms slightly.

Soul giggled and scrunched up her nose. Her little tiny hands closed in a fist. She opened her hands repeating this motion as she glanced curiously around the darkened room.

Hades moved back to sit and intertwined their fingers together to lightly brush her fingers against Thanatos' knuckles lovingly. "You did not interrupt Maria, no need to apologize. Thank you for bringing Soul." Thanatos smiled at her, motioning for her to hand Soul to Hades. "She's always fussy when she wakes up. She loves her sleep." The goddess of death rolled her eyes. Her daughter not even wanting to be moved when she falls asleep somewhere.

"She is still young, she needs it and no one likes their sleep ruined after all." Maria added, her hands smoothening over the creases of her blood red dress.

"You get that from mommy don't you, little one? Yes you do." Hades kissed her daughter's chubby cheeks with a grin, smoothing her white and silver hair. She lifted her daughter in the air and lowered in a slow but fast enough motion. Soul's high pitched laughter echoed in the room.

Thanatos gave a side glance to Hades. Her body still facing the fire and pursed her lips in almost offense and disapproval. Hades did not glance in her direction but instead focused on their daughter and made faces at her that made her give a toothless smile and little giggles leaving her.

Maria had stifled her chuckle with a cough and cleared her voice. "I must be on my way now. Let me know if you need anything." She nodded at the both of them. She made her way to Thanatos' side and pecked Death's peck. "I'll see you around Hades." She sent a smile in the other goddess' direction before she made her way out of the room. Maria closed the heavy door behind her and made her way through the long endless hallway.

With the two goddess' left in the room with one child still awake and the other sound asleep, they were company once again in each other's presence. "Your mind went back to the war didn't it, Mors." Hades spoke sharply. Her statement not phased in the way of a question. Like in a way Hades knew without Thanatos having said anything.

Thanatos did not immediately answer the statement. Instead took a sharp inhale and breathed out softly to collect herself. "I don't want to talk about it." She said, her voice tired and quiet. She almost sounded like she was in pain of speaking of it and Hades couldn't truly blame her. "The war almost took too much from us. What else could I possibly say that will matter now."

Hades remained silent at her wife's words. It was a gruesome and long war. There were definite times neither they would make it out alive and others they thought they would never escape to safety. The war made them forced to live on the edge of life and death constantly. "I know, my dear." Hades exhaled quietly. The goddess securely placed soul on her lap and let her tug on her bracelets as she often did.

Her mind momentarily wandered back to the echoing screams of agony and the pouring of rain and thunder from the skies. The war had taken its toll on both of them. Both mentally and physically despite how much Thanatos refused to talk about the extent it had affected her. Hades knew in some way it had further worsened Thanatos' paranoia. "It will always matter no matter how much time has passed. You can always talk about it when you want to. I will not push you further if you do not want to." Hades worded carefully, her expression softening. Her eyes a keening to adoration and devotion whenever her eyes laid upon Thanatos.

She kissed their daughter's head, smiling when she cooed with a small tilt of her head and clapped her hands together.  Of course, Soul did not know what her parents were talking about but was content being in their presence nonetheless.

Thanatos glanced wordlessly at her and nodded almost robotically and emotionlessly. Without an ounce of emotion present in her. "I will try more is all I can promise." She warned. Conversing about her feelings wasn't something she was able or wanted to do often. It felt eerily similar to confessing something she held hidden and she didn't like that feeling one bit.

Hades gave a smile. "As long as you try I can appreciate that, my darling majestic." Thanatos snorted lightly with a roll of her eyes. "So I meant to ask where did you go when you left the Underworld?" Hades asked, curiosity peaking in. She knew her wife hadn't left their universe but it still made her wonder where Thanatos went exactly as she wasn't the type to leave without warning or without planning.

Death's lips almost lifted up into a smirk. That devious look in her eyes could paint a thousand portraits and still more of the known meaning would be hidden away. "I was summoned." She conveyed vaguely as if it was enough to answer life's greatest questions.

Hades tilted her in confusion, taking off one of her bracelets to give to Soul. Her little fists curled around it and she shook it to make it jiggle. Soul's little laugh of enjoyment made her drooling all over Hades worth it.  "You aren't one to answer summonings, wife. Why was this one different?" She further questioned.

Thanatos shrugged her shoulders. "The one who summoned me was one of the living descendants of the Bennett bloodline, Bonnie.." She explained briefly. The Bennett Bloodline was a familiar name even known in the celestial world. They are known to be an exceptional and powerful bloodline of first witches. "She made an arrangement with me for information to save her friend's life and I accepted as long as she followed the terms and conditions." Thanatos further illustrated without giving too much of minor details.

Hades pursued her lips with a thoughtful expression. "The Bennett bloodline are the ones who are your servants, yes?" Thanatos nodded, confirming Hades was on the right track. "The best of fortune to Bonnie Bennett then. A deal with you can surely conclude in a number of malicious fates I am sure a girl like her does not merit." Hades knew well unlike many others who were too blinded by his wife's beauty. What lays beneath the surface of Thanatos' unfazed persona was a twisted and sadistic side one would never want to see if they value their existence. None were aware of the evil in Thanatos until it was too late.

"Don't be dramatic, my dear." Thanatos scoffed in offense though there was no lie in Hades' words. They both knew. "As long as Bonnie serves me accordingly and follows through, she will stay alive." 'Otherwise, I would have no use for her.' The unsaid words Hades read clear of Thanatos' expression. The unfeeling callousness present made the air feel like ice for a mere suffocating moment before it vanished like it never occurred. Hades did truly pity the Bennett girl. If Bonnie wasn't careful, she would be eaten alive by something more vile than the wicked.

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"Jeremy!" Elena called out her brother's name loudly. She ran through the forest trying to catch up with her younger brother but she couldn't seem to match his fast pace enough.

"Leave me alone Elena! There's nothing more to say when I clearly don't have a say in my own life!" Jeremy had snapped back at her, seemingly to fastening his pace.

Not long, she had lost sight of him completely. She puffed out tired breaths with her hands placed on her knees as she bent over. Elena made a reminder to herself that she should run more often. It was ridiculous how out of breath she was just from a few minutes of running. "Jeremy, this is so childish! And so stupid! You can't keep running away like this just because I said something you didn't like!" The doe-eyed teen complained loudly, scoffing and rolling her eyes at the silence she received.

Jeremy had run out when she and their aunt had agreed that Jeremy shouldn't be involved in the summoning of death. He disagreed strongly with them that he would be helpful in gathering the many ingredients they needed and even help Bonnie with the reading. The biggest worry was this summoning could become dangerous and she didn't want him hurt because of it.

"Jeremy where are you?!" She yelled out once more, frustration seeping into her tone. After she finally recovered her breath, she initiated to wander further into the forest ever so often yelling her brother's name in hopes he would stop this mindless game and come home. Time seemed to pass the lookalike when the sky faded into darkness and it was no longer evening.

Elena paused abruptly in her pursuit, a feeling growing in the pit of her stomach that she could quite describe. It felt very close to fear. She hadn't even noticed it wasn't daytime any longer.

She skimmed around the forest and she found she could not recognize where she was anymore. Elena was no longer around the fading autumn trees she was used to. The trees seemed to be as high as the sky and deep dark green that matched the grass. She was somewhere completely different and it felt like there was magic in the air. There were times she was around Bonnie and could recognize. It was now surrounding all around her.

Before she could fully process this new realization, she heard a crunch of a tree branch behind her and she froze. Her feet were glued to the ground but she uttered meekly, "Who's there?" A part of her hoped it was Jeremy playing a prank on her but a bigger part of her felt there was danger very near and she needed to get away.

As expected, all that she obtained was silence. A few agonizing moments of silence was broken when she began to hear a set of heavy footsteps coming toward her way. They didn't sound like someone running on two feet as a person but four. The brown-haired girl clenched her fists. A shock of pain running through her at her nails that dug deep into the inside of her hand. Was this real? Why did this feel like a dream she couldn't wake up from?

Elena did not hesitate to turn around and run as fast as her tired legs could take her off in a sprint. She had no idea where she was heading but all she knew was she needed to get away. The heavy footsteps quickened and followed behind her closely yet without turning her head she could tell there was still distance between them. Rather that was on purpose from whatever was chasing her, that it wanted her to believe she could escape or she could did have a run to outrun it. Elena did not want to know.

"Shit!" She cursed through breaths. Her hair sticking to her sweaty forehead as she had almost tripped over a broken branch on the ground but barely managed to jump over it in time. She could feel her heart pounding loudly against her chest. As if it was trying to jump out, the sound of blood rushing through her ears was loud as adrenaline filled her veins to run faster. The noise nearly drowned the approaching loud growling growing closer and closer to her. "Help! Someone, please help!" She screamed. Her voice panicked and trembling. There seemed to be no end to this forest. She could feel the traces of tears slipping out of her eyes. Elena knew she couldn't run for much longer. She was growing more and more tired by the minute.

The wolf seemed done with playing this chasing games. Without warning, the wolf had lunged upon her from behind. A horrified scream tore through the air as the wolf began to tear its teeth into her neck savagely. Blood pouring from her wound and her screams of agony silencing her to become mute. All she could feel was pain and the crushing weight of the wolf on top of her. She couldn't struggle anymore.

Elena Gilbert woke from her sleep. Her eyes wet with tears and wide open without a dare of closing them. She feared if she blinked she would be back in that forest again. She unglazed a sharp breath before a scream echoed through her room.

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"I am telling you, Han, it was wild!" The young Gilbert teen exclaims with a bewildered expression. His phone pressed against his ear with his shoulder as he pours himself a bowl of cereal before grabbing the milk to add in. He mixed the dry cereal with the milk and walked to sit, passing his aunt Jenna with a good morning. "No one even saw the creatures coming and they just suddenly appeared and took us by surprise. Honestly, I couldn't even draw you what they looked like but they looked almost like shadowy crows." He further added in detail to his boyfriend. Jeremy could hear slight ruffling and could picture the other sifting around to get comfortable.

"It sounds like the summoning really took a turn for the worse for you guys. Really got chaotic there." Ruadhán said, trying not to smile at the odd image. The younger male took a bite of his granola bar. "Did you get hurt by the creatures, Jer?"

Jeremy ate a few spoonfuls of cereal, happy enough with the mild sweet taste of artificial strawberries. He glanced at the time on his watch to be sure wasn't late for school. "It's a bit blurry but one of them had cut me on my collarbone and throat that I thought I was going to bleed out. But I healed and I'm fine, Han." He tried to assure his boyfriend before hr worried more. Another lecture was sure to come Jeremy's way. He loved how his boyfriend worried for him but sometimes he was too protective.

"This is exactly why you should have listened to me. Getting involved is going to mean more danger. What if next time something like this happens and you actually bled out to death, Jeremy Gilbert? What the hell are you gonna do then?" Ruadhán expressed sharply with an edge to his tone. Jeremy pictured the other rubbing his forehead as he usually did when Jeremy wouldn't listen his warnings.

"He's right Jer," Jenna added quietly from where she sitting beside her nephew. From heating Jeremy's side, she anticipated what the other was saying. Jenna hoped Jeremy would listen this time instead of arguing to get involved.

"What would make you think there would be a next time?" Jeremy asked, trying not to cringe at his own dumb question. He turned his head to his aunt. "Jenna, I'm not a child anymore I can take care of myself you two worry too much okay?" He retorted. His words directed at his aunt and boyfriend's.

"Jer, you did not just ask me that question that you know the answer to. Really?" The other male sighed, probably looking more done with the conversation than Jeremy was. "You were way too stubborn to listen to me and you shouldn't put yourself in these dangerous situations if you can really help it."

Ruadhán made more than a good point no matter how much he would have liked to disagree. Jeremy wouldn't admit it though and he took into consideration of his words.

Before he could answer, his ears perked up at the scream coming from Elena's room. It sounded distressed. Jenna's attention was snapped to the scream as well and she made to his sister's room. "Ruadhán, I have to go. I'll text you. I love you." Jeremy was quick to raise to his feet and leave the kitchen. He went up the stairs as fast as he could and made his way to Elena's room. He came in time to see her trying to control her uncontrollable crying, too many tears for her falling down her cheeks.

"What happened?" He asked glancing around the room to try to get a sense of the situation. It had been a while since he had been in her room but everything else seemed to be in order.

Jenna handed Elena a box of tissues that was on the nightstand previously as she rubbed her back . "She said she had a nightmare Jeremy. We should to give her space to process." She filled in vaguely and without much details, worry etched onto her expression. "Elena I will get you a glass of water and something for breakfast sit tight." She squeezed the teenage girl's hand in comfort before she left to room leaving the two siblings.

"Elena, what kind of nightmare did you have? You haven't had a nightmare in months." The young Gilbert male asked in a careful tone so as to not startle his sister further than she already was. Jeremy had a suspension the dream wasn't a normal one in the sense of likely being involved in the supernatural world.

Elena inhaled through her mouth quietly, her crying reduced to sniffling every so often. She waited a very few minutes before she had spoke to gain some composure and collect herself. Elena didn't want to break down again. "It felt so real, Jer. I thought I was actually there." Elena formed. She blinked away the incoming tears. Her head flooding back to her own screams and unheard cries of help but no one was there to hear.

"A wolf hunted me down and it got me Jer. It felt way too real." His older sister voiced slowly, distress slowly making its way back into her tense form. A panic was clear in her doe eyes, her fingers slightly shaking in her lap. "I had no idea it was a dream until I woke up. I have never had a dream like that in my life." She added further. Elena couldn't bring herself to explain the gore and bloody details, it was too much for her already.

"We have to tell the others about it. There is no way this dream could be considered normal, Elena." Jeremy stated after he listened to Elena's words without interruption. Her dream sounded disturbing and he hated to think she was all alone. "The wolf must mean something important if you had seen it in a dream when you never have before."

Elena nodded to her brother's words numbly. "I will take the others but not now I just can't." She felt completely drained despite just waking up and she felt like crying all over again. Jeremy observed her for a minute before coming over to her and hugging her to his chest. He rubbed her back and tried to assure her the best way he could but even he felt at a loss. He was helpless to help and this was only the beginning.

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"Another Bourbon please." Stefan lifted his empty glass before placing it back on the counter, letting out a sigh as he rubbed his forehead. He felt a headache was coming along. It was still so early in the morning and he had much to do for the day.

A male bartender came over and poured him another glass. "You probably shouldn't be drinking this early you know." He commented and slid the drink in front of Stefan with a quick once-over glance at his form.

Stefan downed the drink immediately, swallowing the alcohol with a satisfied noise before choosing to speak once more. "Trust me, I need this. Things have not been great." he said his neck bending to the side until he heard a crack, pushing the glass to the bartender once more. "You might as well leave the bottle. I'll be here for a while anyways." The bartender seemed to be thinking over his words and shrugged leaving the bottle but of course would check on him every so often while attending other people.

As the brooding vampire continued to drink himself away, his mind came back to the summoning. Stefan's neck would tingle ever so often where he had been cut by the creature for no reason even though it was healed but he had decided to ignore that. He couldn't help but grind his teeth in irritation at his brother and friends for not listening to him of going through the ritual. The gods weren't beings to be trifled with.

He had witnessed firsthand the brutality that was Death when he had seen an entire coven of witches slaughtered after they had attempted to summon an audience with Death. They were fascinated to the point of an obsession with who the face of Death was and had plotted to capture Thanatos. It was all to make a deal to bring their loved ones back to life by force but it did not go according to their plans and they had all lost their lives in blood and screams of agony. None of them were spared in the massacre that it was essentially. Though Stefan was not certain that it was directly Death who had been involved in the killings, he had a strong feeling it was.

He remembered the words of a passing witch who had warned the coven of their foolish venture. She had been the only one smart enough to have fled before the killing had begun. "They call Death the merciless and the cruel. Mercy has no place in Death's heart but the darkness lives clear in those dark gray eyes. Be aware if you catch a glimpse of those eyes, it may be the last you see." He could never forget the haunting fear within her eyes and attached to her wrinkled face as she spoke before fleeing as she did.

Stefan's was brought out of his mind when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He groaned, putting his glass down and fishing his phone out of his pocket. How not surprising, it was his brother Damon calling him. He pressed the button to answer before putting it against his ear, "What is it now Damon? I'm busy." He grumbled in irritation, grabbing the bottle to pour himself another drink.

"Stefan, we both know you are just drinking. You're not busy." Damon deadpanned, making Stefan roll his eyes at his older brother. "You need to come back home. A vampire tried to break in and I captured them."

Stefan raised his brows in surprise. "Huh. That is just great. Have you found out why they were trying to break in?" He asked curiously. What annoying timing this was just as it was getting to the bottom of the bottle.

"No I haven't yet. I need your help he won't talk and I might kill him if you aren't here." Damon admitted. They both knew his lack of impulse control and temper weren't the best mix for interrogation.

Stefan sighed, "I will be there soon." He hung up the phone and took out some cash for the bill. He purposefully a bit more than needed as a tip before he walked out of the mystic grill. He licked his lips, torturing someone who broke into his house. What a way to start his day.

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Hades and Thanatos walked beside each other through the calming forest of the underworld. The sky was lit by all the gleaming stars scattered like cards in a deck. The two had no trouble with guiding themselves as if they had been there a million times before. It was like second nature to wonder through.

There was only a bit of distance between them to prevent them from crossing each other's path. Yet the two beings remained bumping into each other's shoulder every so often with teasing smiles etched on their faces. A clear adoration making their eyes glisten in something more intense than the word love could fit. "You have space Hades you can well walk without bumping into me." Thanatos remarked, his tone light as he felt amused.

The two gods were not fans of holding hands. It felt too foolish of an act to express their undying affections but they could not help but brush against the other. Rather the touch was small or not, it felt electrifying and a pleasant rumble in their bond that tied them to one another for eternity.

Thanatos rolled his eyes when Hades once more brushed against his shoulder and pressed a kiss against his cheek with that cheeky grin. A small laugh escaped Thanatos, his foreign annoyance forgotten. "Now what would be the fun in being in my space when I can be in yours?" Hades commented smartly, sticking his tongue out childish at Thanatos before walking a bit forward. Not too far to stray far from Thanatos . An invisible string was always present to attach the two to one another.

The God of Death scoffed, bumping his husband back with a bit more force but was still playful. "Hm you prefer my space, you minx. The least you could do is give me a proper kiss." Thanatos' voice turned impatient.

Hades titled his head, almost seeming to contemplate his next words. Hades moved himself closer to Thanatos until their lips were only a few spaces apart. They were both still, gazing at the other. "You want a kiss, my dear?" He teased, his voice husky and rough but his Cerulean Blue eyes shined in mischief.

His hand grasped his husband's chin and tilted his head up, leaning forward only to kiss the corner of Thanatos' mouth with eyes lingering. Grinning wildly like a fox when Thanatos followed him after he moved back. Hades licked his lips knowing well of his husband following the movement with his calculating eyes. "Come and get it then." He said in a seductively before he turned and ran deeper into the forest.

Death blinked a few times, registering the turn of events. He could not find himself taken back. Hades liked to keep him on his guard and guessing always.

Thanatos shook his head and ran after his husband. They both bursted out laughing as Thanatos chased Hades. He moved when a tree came in sight and jumped over broken branches until he had managed to come close enough to tackle his husband to the pile of leaves on the ground. Thanatos pressed a kiss against Hades' laughing mouth, eating up his amusement by biting his bottom lip and swallowing his husband's moan as he tugged on Hades' hair and deepened the kiss.

"I love you, Hades," Thanatos spoke softly, affection deep in his heart glowing so brightly you could see it through his dark clothing if you looked closely enough. He nuzzled his nose against Hades' cheek lovingly and pressed his lips against his forehead, his fingers playing with his husband's curly hair gently. "Nothing in this universe could change how my heart yearns for you like it needs nothing else in life. You are everything."

Hades' heart fluttered in his chest feeling moved by Thanatos' words. He hugged his husband, pulling him close. Neither could bare to ne apart. "Likewise I will always love you until the end. I can never abandon you, my love. Not even in death."

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