'Then I'll drag you back to hell...'

Hyacintho Daemonium

Sybaris left through a crack in the wall- slithering away, leaving her children to teach me a lesson in keeping my mouth shut.

Too bad it wasn't going to work.

I shot a whirling ball of air towards them and they were slammed back into the opposite wall. This gave me some time to check if I'd actually used the small, confusing device in the right way, but before I could try to turn it another way- a large black portal opened up.

My eyes widened as a blazing current of electricity shot out from within and hit one of the vampire's in its throat, ripping its head off and letting it drop to the floor. I watched it roll; the gore of the odd sight bubbling up a nerve-wrecked laugh to my lips, but it didn't spring forth.

My breath was knocked back as the black hole shot out two, devilishly handsome- and equally pissed- Greek gods.

I sighed in relief and wiped the sweat from my brow.

Sybaris' children shrieked in fear as Hypnos pulled one closer with a long, fiery whip and tore a hole through its heart with his dagger. Thanatos didn't waste any time either- he slashed out his big scythe and soon enough, another head rolled onto the floor. Blood everywhere, mixing with Pan's.

A few bats tried to race towards me, taking the ground route rather than opening their large wings and alerting the gods to their intentions. With the little remaining magic I had left that Sybaris had so kindly left me, I dodged sideways and threw down a blazing wave of fire. The bats shrieked and scurried off trying to avoid it, but unluckily for them they ran straight into Thanatos.

He ripped the one to shreds, tearing its wing from its back like it was made of paper. The other bolted away, but I smacked my foot onto the ground and the earth opened up and swallowed it.

The bat quickly spread it's wings, but didn't get far. Thanatos grabbed its neck as the bat flew up, ready to try again, and electrocuted the creature. The burnt smell of flesh and hair made me turn away and cringe.

Hypnos was too busy ripping limbs off to notice the stench. Painful and angry screeching filled the empty hall.

The last bat-like creature was diving directly down at me, its teeth sharp and gleaming. I had a little bit of magic left, enough to stun it.

I shot out a shock of illusionary magic- a mix of a high-pitched sound and a blinding light that concocted something you'd probably find at a really hard-core rave.

The vampire's aim was off and as it shrieked and flew in to realign itself I kicked- hard. It went tumbling down and crashed onto a pile of ruins.

Thanatos grabbed it with his fist and slammed it against the wall. The creature cried out in pain as Thanatos hissed and smashed his hand onto its throat. I looked away, having had enough carnage for the day as Thanatos continued to suffocate the creature.

Its shrill cries for help filled the hollow hall and echoed out into the abandoned field. Hypnos furrowed his brows and tried to wipe the blood from his hand. I ran over to Pan's body, my stomach ill at the sight of his mutilated corpse.

Hypnos' voice broke the cries; "Enough, Thanatos."

But his brother didn't listen; instead we heard bones crack. I closed my eyes knowing I was the reason behind his anger.

"Enough!" Hypnos bellowed and I heard a neck snap.

The cries stayed with me even as its limp body hit the ground.

I watched as Thanatos' shoulders heaved. He was breathing hard, trying to control himself.

I didn't want to think about just how angry he was with me. Did he want to strangle me like that? Not so long ago, he would've.

Hypnos turned to me with concern; "Are you alright?"

I nodded, afraid of what my voice would do to the god trembling at the opposite end of the room.

Hypnos nodded as well, but it was a decisive nod; "Who was that?"

I looked down; "Pan."

Thanatos growled and for a moment I thought a tiger had been set loose in the great hall. He swung around, his blazing eyes on mine. I gulped and opened my mouth to explain, but he wouldn't allow it; "GET UP!"

I did as he ordered, my knees weak. I looked down as he stormed towards me and grabbed my arm. I winched as his grip cut into my bone.

"Thanatos, calm down, she's unhurt."Hypnos said slowly as he tried to ease his brother.

Thanatos turned his head slowly to glare at him, his red eyes like a dragon's; "Shut. Up."

Hypnos, like me, knew when it was better to keep quiet around Thanatos.

Thanatos ripped open a portal with his blood-covered scythe and I nodded my head to Pan's body, hoping Hypnos would understand what I'd meant. I hadn't known him for much longer than a few minutes, but I wanted to at least give him a proper burial; instead of letting his body rot here, like this school.

He deserved as much...

Hypnos understood as he knelt down next to the corpse, but I could see he was more worried for my sake as Thanatos shot us through the portal.

We landed with a thud. Thanatos didn't bother to help me land, instead, as soon as his feet touched the floor of my room, he let go.

I felt guilt override my senses. "Thana-"

"DON'T." His voice was strained, like he was trying hard not to lose control.

He had his back to me; his long, black cape looked extremely menacing against the white of my room. I gulped; for the first time in a very long time I was actually afraid of him.

When was the last time I felt this?

I folded my hands over my chest and looked down, my head full of apologies, but I knew he had time for none. The room was deadly quiet for five minutes; his shoulders moving up and down the only audible noise.

Five turned to ten.

I felt like crying.

I knew lying to him wasn't going to go well, but it was a risk I had to take. Thanatos didn't deal with disappointment well. What had I expected really?

I tried again after another minute of silence; "Th-"

"YOU," He turned and I wanted to crawl into my cupboard. His eyes were too angry- too wild; "...promised me."

I bit my tongue. There wasn't much I could say, and whatever I did, would only make him angrier.

"I told you," He took a step closer, his hard voice terrifyingly soft and too in control; "to NEVER EVER do that to me again!"

I jumped back as his snarling face was a few inches from mine. And there it was- I'd forgotten again who I was dealing with. Death.

"I'm sorry, but I-"

"I don't want to hear it!" He snapped.

Glass pieces scattered across the floor as he smashed a lamp. I jumped back onto the bed and I felt a tear prick at the corner of my eye.

"Thanatos..." I pleaded.

The shock of the vase breaking instantly brought him back to reality. I looked up into his dead eyes and saw a little bit of life trickle back.

He was looking down at the mess, his head shaking a bit. He was just as astonished by his outburst as I was. He was so livid, but more than that- he was so scared.

"Aurora..." His voice sounded better, more in control, but shocked.

He lifted his eyes to mine and just as quickly as he'd slammed the lamp, he ducked down to the floor in front of me and grabbed my hands; "I'm so sorry, gods, I'm sorry!"

I cried. Not bothering to hold back anymore, the control in my bones snapping like his had.

I shot forward into his arms and felt him press me into him- tightly, like he was never going to let go again.

I sobbed, his cloak curling up around my upper arms, stroking me. Thanatos' hand caressed my head as I wept onto him and with his other hand he held me against him. I didn't notice when we dragged down, until we were both sitting on the floor. He rocked me back and forth, whispering soft words...

"You're safe... You're safe. Shh... Let it out."

I cried for long, until I felt my eyes burn and my tears run dry. I was gripping onto him like a lifeboat; my previous fear of him all but faded. I rested my head against his chest and listened, the familiar heartbeat soothing me to a point where I could breathe normally again.

"I'm so sorry, please believe me..." I begged, but his pecks on my head told me he did.

"I do, I do." He whispered, but it was pained. "I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that."

I bit my lip; "You were angry- I understand."

"I was more than angry. I am more than angry." The same tremor was back in his voice, but he kept it under wraps; "But that's no way to treat you."

I lifted my head to look into his eyes; "I only did it because I thought I could help. Help you, keep you safe-"

"I don't need to be kept 'safe'." His words were harsh again, but there was a new underlining of control; "For fuck's sake, Aurora! We're a team! You should've told me!"

"I'm sorry!" We were back to shouting.

"Stop saying that!"

"Then what do you want me to say?"

Thanatos lunged for my mouth.

His kiss was hot and heavy and the remaining breath I had, got sucked away. He snarled and held my face in his hands as he consumed me.

"Stop." He spoke in between his kisses, "Running. Off!"

He dipped his head up from mine and fixed me with the deadliest and intense eyes while he held my head and shook it slightly as he spoke; "How many times must I tell you- you are mine! You stay with ME!"

I felt slightly dizzy as he shook me; "Yes, I know! But I needed to-"

"All you NEED to do is ascend, nothing more. You leave this investigation to me!"

I couldn't believe my ears, "We're a team! You just said so!"

Thanatos shook his head; "Yes, we are, but I won't allow you to put yourself in danger ever again!"

"What does that mean?" I asked as he let go of my face and stood up with new conviction. I began to worry as I say the determined look on his face.

"Until that killer is caught, you are never ever leaving my sight. The holiday is done; pack up, we're going home."

I scoffed; "I am home."

Thanatos shot me a glare; "No, you're not."

My heart stopped; "No... I'm not leaving them here for her to pick off one by one!"

Thanatos growled down at me, his patience all but gone; "What are you talking about?"

"Sybaris!" I shot up; "She wants me to find the golden mirror for her masters, and quickly, or else she's going to kill my friends! And probably my parents too! I'm not leaving Thanatos. End of story."

I moved to turn, but he grabbed my arm and reared me back. His dark eyes bore into mine and his voice dropped dangerously low; "Then I'll drag you back to hell."

"Don't make me fight you on this."

Thanatos laughed, but it was far from friendly; "Aurora, you have yet to see a side of me you wouldn't want to." He tugged at my arm; "Come quietly, or I will sedate you and carry you back."

"If you do that-" I leaned into him; "You can kiss this team goodbye." I pointed to the space between us and his glare intensified.

We glowered at one another, the air thick with tension. I couldn't remember ever having such a heated argument with him.

"Zeus is dead. Murdered."

I blinked and all the anger faded from my face, replaced with shock; "What?"

"And the more we argue, the more they get away with it."

I looked down; "If you're lying to me to get me to come with you, Thanatos, I-"

"I'm not. Do you trust me?"

I nodded without thinking- I didn't have to.

"Funny," He said with dry anger; "I used to trust you."

I shook my head, my eyes to dry to produce more tears; "Don't try to hurt me with your words. I know I fucked up and I'm sorry. But grow up."

He bit his mouth shut, but before he could say something even harsher he sighed; "Aurora, I care about you. I need you to be safe. From here on out, we work together- not behind each other's backs, are we clear?"

I nodded, but felt the love for him eat at my heart; "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

"Let's continue this discussion later; right now we need to leave to Olympus."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

I grabbed his hand before he could open a portal; "Please, don't try to kidnap me again." I had a nervous smile on my face, but I was serious. I knew him well by now and he had a tendency to be very impulsive. He sighed and touched my face with his palm; "Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Then I won't. You know I would do anything for you. Anything in the world."

I wanted to cry again as he embraced me. I tucked myself into his arms; "Did you mean what you said? That you don't trust me anymore?"

Thanatos closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into my hair. He shook his head; "No, of course not. I let my anger cloud my words. I'm sorry if that hurt. I do trust you- more than anyone. I promise."

I nodded and wiped away the stray tears; "Thank you. I know I haven't given you any reason to trust me, but please, bear with me. I won't do anything like that ever again."

Thanatos didn't answer, but instead covered my lips with his and all the pain and all the heartache evaporated into the air.

I kissed him back with need and clung onto him as he clung onto me with just as much intensity. Our mouths did the talking for us; letting all our anger, our worry and our fear for the future roll off and leave us with only a primal desire for each other.

I moaned into his mouth and he responded with a loud groan filled with yearning. Our bodies shook- adrenaline still coursing through our veins.

If the king of the gods hadn't just died, I would want him on top of me, showing me just how much he feared losing me.

Thanatos moaned softly, releasing all his frustration and his frightened nerves, "I want to make love to you!"

I moaned at his words; the feel of his hands over my hips electrifying, and whispered into his mouth- "I wish we could just run away!"

Thanatos grunted in agreement as our hips rocked.

I stepped back and accidently stepped onto a piece of the shattered lamp. The sound brought us back to reality. Thanatos and I shared a look of lust and pain. There was so much we wanted, but there were so many things keeping us from it.

I tried to catch my breath; "Continue this later?"

Thanatos chuckled, but it didn't reach his eyes; "Definitely." He sounded assured, but he hesitated to let go of my arms. 

"Now let's go, I have a feeling the vultures have already descended on the throne."

Hyacintho Daemonium- Blue demon

NEXT UPDATE- 29th of July