Title: I love the use of the color gold here, because I've always imagined Nectar to be golden and very difficult to resists for the gods. Also, gold is such a contradictory color to use in this chapter, seeing as this is a memory Thanatos wishes he could erase entirely from his mind.

Setting: Before Aurora's story takes place, about 20 years prior.

Idea: What did happen that faithful night that caused the twins to break apart for so long? And what were some of the characters like before our story was even in the works?

Golden Regret of the Gods

We were drinking.

It happened to be one of those nights where I would probably end up under the table with Poseidon and a nymph or two. The feeling in my body was nearly gone and my eyes too heavy to keep open.

Poseidon lifted his dark ale and toasted me again, his bright blue eyes twinkling with mischief. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was still very sober, if only it weren't for the fact that he wore a vase on his head as a hat.

"I'm telling you-" I slurred my words and brought him closer with my hand on his shoulder. He leaned in, all too eager to hear my next words, the vase nearly tipping over; "When you get married to Amphitrite, this shit isn't going to happen anymore!"

"Oh, come on!" Poseidon yelled, but he was smiling like a loon. "You've been trying to talk me out of the wedding for months now! Can't you see I'm happy with her?"

"Pfft..." I scoffed and took another deep gulp of my ale; "Happy? She's a control-freak? You'll never see me let any woman rule me like she does you..."

"You're just jealous!" Poseidon said, but his eyes landed on a young siren from across the bar and he winked. I chuckled, knowing Poseidon wasn't meant to settle down already.

"Jealous? Of what? Being under a woman's watch the whole time and doing what she wants non-stop? Good fuck, you are royally screwed."

"Amphitrite isn't like that the entire time..." Poseidon leaned in, the alcohol on his breath very evident; "Besides, she's an animal in bed." He winked and I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Cheers!" I clinked his glass with mine and we drank the rest up with one go.

"Paryn!" Poseidon called to the old barman. Paryn lifted his head from the gold coins in his hand and shouted back; "Two more?"

"Aye, my good man!" Poseidon laughed and threw his mug back over his shoulder, not caring where it landed. Paryn merely shook his head and muttered something under his breath, but quickly shooed a barmaid to our table with two new drinks.

The girl was pretty, nothing too special, but her lips were full and her brown eyes were bright. She giggled as Poseidon winked at her and quickly took hold of his beer, aiming it at his mouth. The vase fell from the crown of his head and dropped to the floor, shattering into pieces. Paryn sighed and signalled to another barmaid to get a broom. Poseidon didn't even hear or feel it fall.

The girl placed my drink in front of me on the table, but my eyes were locked onto hers.

"And your name is?" I said huskily.

She giggled nervously and blushed; "Detria..."

"Detria- what a luscious name." I grabbed her waist and pulled her onto my lap. Detria giggled louder and moved to cover her legs as her dress flew up. I pulled her closer, my eyes slanted with lust and ale. She wasn't the most beautiful woman I'd ever bed, but I was horny and she was the new girl.

All the other barmaids I knew fairly well by now; Solell giving me a particularly foul look as I traced my hand up Detria's thigh. Why did women always feel the need to get attached? These girls should know me by now...

I wasn't like Poseidon or my brother.

Commitment just never interested me and no woman has ever held my attention for longer than a few hours. I had a feeling this one wouldn't even last an hour.

Detria was nearly faint as my red eyes bore her down. She could never in a million years handle me. How boring. I leaned down to whisper something in her ear, Poseidon deep in conversation with someone else. "Meet me at the fountain, twenty minutes."

Detria nodded quickly, her big eyes wild with lust. She smiled from ear to ear and quickly darted off to probably tell all of her friends. I rolled my eyes; hopefully she was more durable than she looked.

"Already have a snack for later?" My eyes lifted from my mug to meet two new blue ones staring intently down at me.

I cursed into the ale. Dionysus was watching me with a small smile, his eyes stroking down my body. I was so engrossed in seducing the barmaid that I hadn't even picked up that Poseidon was busy speaking to the one god that could make me cringe and back away. Dionysus' advances always left me feeling irritated and polluted.

"Later just turned into 'now'." I stood up from the chair, the room moving and swishing around, but Poseidon grabbed me by the arm and pulled; "Whoa! No way am I letting you leave me now!"

"I'll be ten minutes."

"So long?" Dionysus asked with a lifted eyebrow and I knew what he meant. My face pulled up inadvertently and I tried to avoid his eyes; "Make that fifteen."

"My, my..." The wine god said and grabbed a glass from a passing barmaid- Neera, or Nevra; I couldn't quite remember her name that well, but I do remember she had a rather special skill with her tongue. She shot me a look of lust.

"I'll be off..." I winked at Nevra (or whatever her name was). Perhaps she'd join Detria and me outside for a bit. As I turned to leave Poseidon's hand found my wrist and he tugged.

"No way, Thanatos. We came here to discuss my wedding- you can't just leave now!"

"Yes, and when I just got here!" Dionysus said and he stroked his hand down the length of my arm. I shivered.

"But-"

Poseidon wasn't having it; "Hypnos can't be here because he has things to do for Zeus, but feeding your appetite isn't a good enough excuse. Sit down, brother."

I sighed and called to Paryn; "Old man! If I'm going to discuss the wedding of the greatest bachelor alive I'm going to need something stronger."

"That's my boy!" Poseidon yelled and chugged his ale.

Paryn nodded and eyed his liquor cabinet. A small devious smile formed on his lips. I should've known then that I was in for trouble.

"Coming right up, gentlemen..."

The men couldn't remember a thing after the Nectar tickled their tongues.

Within minutes, the bar was turned upside-down with loud howling, boots hitting the wooden floorboards and ear-splitting music. The band tried to play louder than the noise the gods were making, but it was a rather pointless effort.

Thanatos threw back another glass of Nectar, the light and crisp taste shrouding the devilish and dark contents. He was properly drunk- singing loudly with his angelic voice the most sinful songs and pulling a young bargirl closer, swinging her around and letting his hands drop down to her plump rear.

The girl yelped, but didn't mind. Attention from Lord Death was always welcome here. Detria stood off to the side, her mouth drawn up into a pout. Tonight was supposed to finally be the night where Thanatos paid her some attention. She wasn't the new girl- heck; she'd been here a good couple of months. Thanatos had just been too sober enough to really notice her before and finally, tonight she'd managed to wiggle herself into his view.

Solell, the head barmaid, strolled over to Detria and shifted her eyes to the charming and delirious god; "Don't bother again, little girl. He's mine."

Detria hated her job. Solell was a witch and treated the younger girls like dogs. Sure, she was beautiful and experienced, and has had the luck of catching Thanatos with a rather lust-filled hunger more than once, but she was a nasty piece of work.

"Fuck off, Solell." Detria whispered and grabbed her cloth, hurrying to the kitchen.

Solell shrugged and tried to wiggle herself into Thanatos arms, but the god was too preoccupied with a deep conversation to care. He pushed her away, his voice loud over the music; "Listen to me, brother!"

Thanatos grabbed Poseidon close, a bit too close. Poseidon didn't mind, he nodded as if understanding exactly what Thanatos was saying even if he hadn't even said it yet. "You cannot get married! I refuse... I refuuussseee....!"

Poseidon lifted a finger, as if readying himself to deliver a very logical, almost philosophical point- "But now listen to this. But..." The young god swayed a little and leaned in to whisper; "But I want to."

"You! And now Hypnos!" Thanatos made a disgusted noise and pulled his face; "I don't understand the appeal. You're so young! Do you want to be like Hades and have to listen to your wife talk your ear off all day long?"

"He seems happ-hic-y?"

"Happy?" Thanatos scoffed; "Happy?"

"Happy?" Poseidon nodded.

"Happy?"Thanatos asked.

The two gods stared at each other and then suddenly realised that they were a bit too close. They awkwardly leaned back out of each other's personal space and Thanatos cleared his throat; "What were we talking about again?"

"You said something about Hypnos?" Poseidon asked and furrowed his brows.

Nevra, the young barmaid, came up to the two men and gestured to a new jug of Nectar; "More, boys?"

"Hmm..."Thanatos tapped his leg and smirked at the girl; "Sit."

Nevra did so without hesitation. It wasn't everyday that Thanatos happened to be in such a good mood. It was time to take advantage of it. She batted her lashes and purred into his ear; "Do you like my new dress?"

"Neema, please..." Thanatos held up his hand and signalled to her to be silent. He turned his eyes back to Poseidon; "As I was saying- Hypnos. The whole 'love' thing?"

Nevra crossed her arms and shook her head, Solell laughing in the background. Poseidon nodded and shrugged up his shoulders in question; "What about 'love'?"

"Didn't I tell you about Hypnos? I'm sure I did?"

"What? That he's in love?" Poseidon's forehead creased up and he took a sip of his Nectar; "Again?"

"Again!" Thanatos yelled and leaned in, nearly causing Nevra to bounce right off his lap and onto the floor. "What do you mean again?"

Poseidon smiled sheepishly, knowing he'd let something spill that he shouldn't have "Uh... Well, you see the thing is..."

"Poseidon!" Thanatos moaned like a child and snarled at the god to speed up his speech.

"Look! Your brother doesn't like telling you this kind of thing because he knows how you feel about 'love'! He was in love a few years back. Some nymph. I can't remember her name, but they decided it was best to part ways."

"He didn't tell me...?" Thanatos blinked, his eyes dropped down to the table and he deflated like a balloon. Nevra had never seen the dark god so... docile. It was sexy as hell.

She curled a hand around his chin and lifted his head so she could peer into those killer eyes; "I can make you feel better, my dear."

"Why on earth are you on my lap?"

Nevra paused for a moment, not entirely sure if the young man was serious or just mocking her. He looked serious. She hesitated; "Um... You-"

"Get off." Thanatos snapped with a dry tone.

Nevra immediately shot up; when Thanatos was angry, he was quite the delicious sight, but certainly nothing to be messed with. She bowed and quickly scurried off and behind the bar. Paryn scoffed and threw a cloth towards the young girl; "You like playing with fire, go check if the furnace is hot enough."

"Yes, yes..." The girl left with a pout, finding Detria outside, sipping at a glass of heavy red wine and sulking.

Meanwhile, Thanatos was hot with rage; "I can't believe he'd hide this from me!"

"Can you blame him? Look how you're reacting to my wedding."

"Stop being a smart-ass!"

Poseidon laughed and threw his hands up in the air, spilling Nectar everywhere; "You're so cute when you're angry, Thany!"

"Shut up." Thanatos mumbled into his glass.

"Wait, so Hypnos is in love again? Who now?"

Thanatos shrugged and chugged his Nectar; "That sour witch that lives in my palace."

"Alexus?" Poseidon exclaimed loudly, clearly very surprised by the answer; "But she's always so... unpleasant."

"That's one way of putting it." Thanatos muttered and ran a hand through his hair.

"Let me guess; you freaked out the minute he told you?"

"Of course I did!" Thanatos practically screamed; "How dare he just... leave me? How dare he... you know... 'love'! Gods, what a strange world we live in."

"Yes..." Poseidon lifted his brow up at his dear friend; "Strange..."

"Strange?" The voice nearly caused the band to lose their rhythm. "Very strange seeing Poseidon here- again. You drunkard."

"Great." Poseidon's smile fell as he looked back and spotted his two nephews enter the bar. They may have been his brother's sons, but they were the same age as him and both just as entitled. "It's the god of golden shits and his henchman, bloodthirsty-toddler."

Ares growled at the young man, but Apollo merely laughed and signalled to the bar for drinks. "Paryn! What they're having."

"Can you handle it, Apollo?" Thanatos asked as he leaned back and eyed the blonde god over the rim of his cup.

"Ah, Thanatos..." The young prince said, his blue-green eyes slanted; "Don't you have an elderly mortal to strangle or something?"

"I'd rather be here, in case you decide to kick the bucket. Would hate to miss it..."

"Not likely, dear friend." Apollo said with an irritated grin and grabbed the glass from Solell's bronze tray. She smiled up at him with delight; "Hello, prince."

"Solell, good to see you again. How's the hip?"

She giggled and Thanatos rolled his eyes. He turned his attention back to Poseidon who looked equally annoyed by their good night being spoiled. Ares grumbled and sat down in the corner, away from the band and everyone else. Thanatos shot him a sneer and the dark prince responded with a glower.

"And who might you be?" Apollo asked Detria as she walked past, trying to get drinks to her table. The golden prince grabbed her waist and pulled her back. She giggled and with a blush replied; "Detria."

Thanatos and Hypnos were by far the most handsome in the kingdom, but Apollo was a close third. He was the golden prince; the one just as arrogant and manipulative as Thanatos, but with less fire. He was lazier and liked it when he got his way by lifting the least about of fingers.

"Back off, Apollo... She's mine for the night."

Detria wished Thanatos hadn't added the 'for the night' part, but how exciting nonetheless! She thought this night was a complete flop and now she had the two most powerful and sexy men fighting over her!

"Fine." Apollo let go of Detria and sipped down some Nectar. "If you want her she must be bad."

Detria's pout was back, but this time not even red wine and a quick pep-talk from Nevra could fix it. She huffed up and ran to the kitchen, Paryn rolling his eyes after her.

"Little to no conviction..." Thanatos muttered, but Apollo heard him loud and clear.

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused." Poseidon said harshly and gestured with a wave for Apollo to shoo. The young prince snarled and left, his shoulders drawn up and his ego bruised. Thanatos chuckled, but Ares couldn't leave it at that.

Oh, no. No one got the better of the Olympians, especially not an Underworlder.

"Already have to tag your girls when you enter a place, Thanatos? You can't just go to your little harem and have them? What's the matter?" Ares asked with a wicked grin; "Are they sick of you already?"

"You'd be surprised by the things women and men would do for a little attention from me..." Thanatos said as he casually sipped at his drink, not even glancing in Ares' direction. That irked the war god.

Ares growled, but Apollo was quick to put a hand on his shoulder to keep him seated. "I heard there's a young mage in your palace who hates your very being."

Thanatos' hand clenched around his drink. Alexus, of course. The girl couldn't understand why she had to stay with Thanatos- she was Hades' mage after all, so why couldn't she stay there with him and his new wife? Well, it was fairly obvious. Hades is the king of the Underworld and his palace he wanted only to himself and his wife. Alexus was Thanatos' problem to deal with, as Hades' right-hand-man.

Alexus and Thanatos never saw eye-to-eye; both having vastly different views and their personalities just too different to mix.

"And?" Thanatos asked, not giving in to the bite.

Ares chuckled; "So you have your harem and yet you can't have them all? How sad..."

Thanatos gritted his teeth; "I can have whomever I want."

"Careful..." Poseidon said softly, knowing where this could lead.

"Clearly not." Apollo said with a sing-song voice and gulped down his remaining Nectar.

Thanatos stood up from his chair and the band stopped playing. The whole bar fell into a tense silence and everyone's eyes drifted to the handsome and angry god of death. Solell backed up a bit and Paryn's eyes nervously shifted in between Thanatos and Apollo.

How many times have these two actually brawled in this pub? Paryn can't even remember, but all he knows is that it never ever ends well for his chairs and tables.

Ares stood up too, standing next to his half-brother. Poseidon saw the seriousness of the matter and quickly stood up, his glass to his mouth and a hand up, signalling to everyone to just wait a moment so he could finish his Nectar.

With a quickly gulp, he slammed the glass onto the table and roared; "Let's go, malakas!"

The next moment the bar was thrown into disarray!

Thanatos and Ares stormed at each other. Thanatos backhanded a chair out of his way and latched onto Ares like a viper. They threw each other onto the floor and a couple of punches flew across the small gap. Blood matted the floor and soon both men were covered with scratches and dark bruising.

Apollo dived for Poseidon, but the young sea god was agile on his feet and ducked out of the golden prince's way. Apollo fell against a chair and swiftly reached out to ensnare Poseidon in his grip and this time the young man wasn't fast enough to evade the attack. Apollo hooked Poseidon under his arm, but Poseidon quickly fell to the ground, taking Apollo with him. They tumbled around, trying to choke out the other, while Thanatos and Ares kept throwing punches.

"My hair!" Poseidon shouted as Apollo slammed him down. The sea prince smacked Apollo back with his palm and a river of blood started to flow from the prince's nose; "My nose, you fucking shit!"

"Those two are more concerned about how they look than the actually fight..." Paryn sighed and whispered to Detria while he cleaned a glass with his cloth. The young girl couldn't even move; her eyes were glued to Thanatos and Ares- those two clearly more concerned with winning than how they looked.

While Apollo and Poseidon trashed talked, Ares and Thanatos let their fists do the talking.

Thanatos swung at Ares, but the god caught his hand and smirked through blood-stained teeth. Thanatos growled and swiftly, without hesitating, head-butted Ares right on the nose.

The god of war groaned out in pain and reversed back into a table, giving Thanatos the opening he was looking for. He kicked out his leg and connected his knee with Ares' stomach. The god of war fell forward and with another hard hit to his back, Thanatos sent the blood-thirsty man down into a heap on the floor.

Thanatos was breathing hard, his eyes lamely eyeing the groaning god at his feet. Lazily, he picked up Ares' Nectar and downed the glass with a bloody hand.

Apollo had knocked Poseidon out with a punch to the head and the young sea god was lying open mouthed on the floor.

Paryn assessed the scene carefully and quickly indicated to the band to start up the music again. This fit luckily hadn't been that bad; "More Nectar?"

Thanatos and Apollo, both heaving for air, shook their heads and waved a clear no.

The band started up again, careful at first, but then swiftly they got back into the rhythm and the eyes all around slowly drifted from the bloody scene. Solell walked up to Thanatos and Apollo, a wet rag n each hand. Apollo quickly took his, but Thanatos waved it off and walked up to Paryn.

"Here." Thanatos slammed a few too many coins onto the counter; "Get him home when he wakes up." The young man indicated to his unconscious friend on the floor. This was a normal occurrence for Paryn and certainly not the first time Poseidon had passed out on his floor.

"Sure, sure..." The old man said and nodded. Thanatos turned around and his eye caught Apollo sipping on a new drink. He looked exhausted.

"Fila mou to kolo..." Apollo muttered and Thanatos rolled his eyes and turned to leave, replying; "Ái gamísou."

Thanatos left with nearly no energy, a deep-seething hatred and a dark goal.

One that could end up causing him to choose his ego over his own blood.

When Alexus opened the door, the last person she expected to see at two in the morning was Thanatos.

The young mage furrowed her brows, her dark hair falling into her face. It was getting long and she wanted to cut it soon or at least change the colour. She couldn't stare at her own reflection anymore.

"What do you want?" Alexus' eyes widened as she got a proper look at Thanatos' appearance as he stepped closer to the candlelight she held up.

He was covered with blood around his hands and some smudged under his chin and across his neck. He had scratches over his jaw and cheek and one running down his eye. Thanatos' lip was faintly bruised at the bottom and turning lightly blue, but no matter how hard Alexus tried to push the thought away; she couldn't help but think that Thanatos looked far too... sexy.

He looked like he'd just walked away from a murder- no, strolled!

His black shirt was sticking to his chiselled body and Alexus felt a fire in her grow as he stared her down with that typical seductive look she'd seen before. He tried once to seduce her, right in the very beginning, but they both quickly discovered just how incompatible they were.

So they kept their distance from one another, but years of not feeling a mere touch or someone else's hands on her body, drove Alexus to crave Thanatos' blood-stained hands to reach out and grab her.

He stepped closer. She backed into the room, letting him in and knowing precisely where it would lead. Of course she'd noticed Hypnos' interest in her the last few months, but Alexus had no intention to be with him, or Thanatos for that matter. Yes, they were godly and handsome and would probably make her see heaven and more, but she didn't want anything other than physical attention right now.

Hypnos would fall hard and fast and Alexus would break his heart. But she spotted a quick escape from that reality. Here, with Thanatos in her room, she could divert the blame to him.

She could smell the alcohol on his breath. Of course Thanatos would never ever in a million years want to hurt his twin- they were closer than anyone Alexus had ever known, but something in Thanatos snapped tonight.

Perhaps a combination of the Nectar, Thanatos' deep issue with losing Hypnos and being replaced or abandoned or perhaps his need to demonstrate how he was always right in everything- including love. Or rather, the falseness of it.

And how wrong would it be to give into the secret desire Alexus had to feel Thanatos move inside her? She knew he was good; all the other girls couldn't be lying? She wouldn't regret it now, but perhaps later in life?

Thanatos still hadn't answered her question and so she pressed again, "What are you doing here?"

"Proving something to my brother..." Thanatos said as he slowly closed the door, his eyes locked onto hers.

Alexus wanted to gulp; never had she been in his gaze for his long. It was like watching a tiger move. She backed up a bit more as he stepped closer, but she ran out of room and Thanatos' hand found her bare shoulder.

"He'll hate you for this."

"He'll see I did him a favour." Thanatos said and leaned in to Alexus' to whisper in her ear; "He'll see how no one can make him happy like I do."

Alexus knew it was the alcohol talking, but somewhere in his words, there was truth.

Alexus couldn't hold it any longer, so she leapt up and attacked Thanatos' mouth with her own, savouring the feel of his plump lips and finally being able to taste him. And he tasted like sin- so fucking delicious.

The rest of the night was a blur for Thanatos, not really even remembering coming into Alexus room and yet waking up in her bed, her hair dishevelled and her skin marked with his teeth.

She looked satisfied, but he felt sick to his stomach and not because of the Nectar. Thanatos quickly shot up, embarrassed to even look himself in the mirror and rushed to strap on his clothes. Just then a knock on the door echoed through the room and the door opened to reveal Hypnos, his nose pressed into a book.

"Good morning-"

The young god stopped in the middle of the room, his eyes wide and filled with shock, slowly turning into rage. His twins stood with one leg in his pants and his shirt in his hands. Alexus lay in bed, her hair a mess and her eyes wide with tension.

Thanatos could've said anything- 'I can explain' or even 'this isn't what it looks like', but the only thing that dropped from his mouth was; "I'm sorry..."

And it only caused Hypnos to yell out in anger. The book hit Thanatos' chest with a loud smack and the next thing Alexus saw was Hypnos tackling Thanatos to the ground.

Hypnos sat on top of his brother and with one swift swing, punched his twin's face hard. Thanatos laid there, taking it. Another punch and another. Finally, Thanatos tried to calm his twin, but all Alexus could make out was Hypnos shouting; "Why? Why! Why!"

It wasn't even about her anymore, she knew. It was about Thanatos and Hypnos. It was always about Thanatos and Hypnos.

The betrayal. That's what hurt.

Alexus knew when she'd sent Hypnos a mind-message to come up to her room a few minutes ago that this would happen. She knew Hypnos wouldn't just barge in, but she asked him to come and just because she wanted this. To see the twins fight.

Alexus knew it was wrong of her, but how much pain had Thanatos caused her before and how much did she want Hypnos to just leave her out of his thoughts. And with this- she could have both.

"I'm sorry!" Thanatos yelled at his brother but Hypnos jumped off of him and stormed out of the door, his book completely forgotten. "Hypnos! Hypnos!"

Thanatos ran after him, his eyes filled with pain and regret. So much regret. Alexus waited a few seconds, her room suddenly quiet. She heard them yell at each other a few stairs down, but she stood up and softly closed her door.

Her feet patted on the floor as she crept back into bed, her thighs pleasantly aching. She was right, Thanatos had been unbelievably good and this little show, well... It was a rather nice way for her to start the day.

Two birds with one stone.

Alexus smiled and closed her eyes. Perhaps she could catch up on some sleep now?

Ares woke up in the bar with a massive headache and a loud groan. "By the gods..."

"Need some Aspirin?" Paryn asked as he stocked the bar for the night and handed a broom to Nevra to clean the mess up from the previous night.

Ares shook his head and grumbled like a bear, his head pounding. He cursed under his breath and realised that Thanatos had knocked him out and that Apollo had left him here to rot.

What an asshole.

Just as Ares turned to leave, his mind focused solely on getting some sleep and then revenge, a hand reached out under a table and grabbed his ankle. The god yelped out in surprised and tried to kick off the hand.

Paryn whistled as Dionysus' head stuck out from under the table, his eyes droopy and his lips chapped. He looked like a mess.

The old barman shook his head and sighed; "I wondered where he'd ended up..."

Ares grimaced at the still drunk god. Dionysus lifted his head up from the ground, his blue eyes bloodshot with sleep and Nectar and his speech slurred; "Heh? Oh, oh... Where is-hic-T-Thanaamos? Here sexy, sexy! Come to papa!"

Greek Translations-

Malakas- wankers, fools...

Fila mou to kolo- kiss my ass

Ái gamísou- go fuck yourself