'Some things you just never talk of again...'

Stepping on Eggshells

Nyx smiled broadly; "What a good day it is; my sons have returned!" 

Her looming eyes shifted to my face; "And they've brought me a gift..."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Thanatos' icy tone cut through the air; "She's not a gift." He looked severely annoyed as Nyx folded her hands in front of her and smiled with amusement; "She's-"

"I know who she is." Nyx turned her predatory smile towards me. I could see where Thanatos had gotten it from. "Aurora, the replacement. How... quaint."

I tried to control my temper. I bowed slightly; "My lady."

She ignored me and turned her smile back to her two sons; "Come in! You must be freezing."

She turned around and headed up the stairs, her long black dress gathering snow as she walked. Thanatos and Hypnos exchanged an irritated look. Hypnos walked up first as Thanatos moved to my side and whispered; "I apologise for-"

"Don't." I tenderly smiled up at him; "It's not your fault."

He nodded with a frown and led me up the stairs, his hand on the small of my back. Irma followed behind us, her pale face nervous from the awkward interaction that'd just taken place.

I felt it too. It was going to be a long night.

Nyx led us into the grand mansion- it was massive, but bitter cold and desolate. I couldn't imagine raising children here- there was no warmth. No love.

Thanatos' broad shoulders were covered with a black, fur shawl, his boots covered in snow and his black, leather armour icy cold. Hypnos was quieter than usual, his grey attire and fur covered with small specks of snow. I patted my coat and rubbed my furry gloved hands together; the cold was bone-biting. Thanatos noticed and quickly pulled me in towards his chest; the warmth of his body filling me with comfort.

Nyx stopped in the middle of a large room filled with books and old marble furniture. The twins looked around, the recognition clear on their faces. The fireplace crackled with heat and I itched to go sit next to it. My feet already felt like they were cramping up.

The goddess of the night turned around with a wide, crafty smile, but her words stopped dead on her tongue as she caught sight of Thanatos pressing me against his chest.

Hypnos looked back and forth between the two figures and decided it was best to stay out of it. He stepped back and went to go stand next to the warm fire. Nyx cocked her head, her smile dropping slightly and turning sour with confusion; "And what's this?"

I attempted to lean out of Thanatos' embrace, but he kept my back pressed against his chest; not giving in.

"What is what?" His voice was soft- challenging.

Nyx furrowed her brows, but kept her amused grin; "That." She indicated with her hand to our close proximity. I wanted to speak, but I had no idea what to say. Just like Hypnos, I felt like staying out of this conversation was for the best.

Thanatos glared; "Aurora is cold."

"Well, then she should've dressed better."

They were talking about me like I wasn't even there. I looked down and clenched my jaw.

Thanatos didn't appreciate his mother's insults; "We're not all as used to bitterness like you."

Ouch.

I bit my tongue to stop my smile. Nyx scoffed and laughed, but it wasn't cheerful; "And here I thought I could spend some lovely time with my two favourite children..." She shook her head in disapproval, just like a mother would; "Is there a reason for your visit? Other than to insult me?"

Thanatos was quiet; I could feel the anger radiate off him. Hypnos spoke up softly at first, but then with growing confidence; "We're here to discuss something. To ask something."

"A favour?" Nyx laughed; "I haven't seen you for decades and now you come here for a favour?"

I wanted to shake my head at her tone- it was hurtful. But so was theirs.

Thanatos rolled his eyes and dryly said; "Let's get this over with..."

Nyx eyed his hand on my waist; "Very well. Aurora dear, leave so we can speak."

My incredulous eyes widened and Thanatos growled; "She stays."

"This is a family matter." Nyx said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Hypnos scoffed; "She is family."

"Don't be ridiculous." Nyx looked bored as she waved her hand in our direction; "She's just another one of your brother's playthings. Soon he'll get bored with her-"

"Don't pretend like you know me." Thanatos' voice was menacingly low.

"You're my son- of course I know you, darling." Nyx turned her poisonous eyes to mine; "Don't get too attached now, dear. My boys have a tendency to cut even the closest people out of their lives."

Thanatos scoffed; the sound mocking- "Cutting you out was the best thing I've ever done..."

Nyx's playful eyes and turned dark. The atmosphere shifted almost immediately and I felt a chill run down my spine. "Choose your next words carefully, boy."

Thanatos glared at her, but kept his mouth shut. Hypnos did the same, his orange eyes filled with loathing. I licked my lips and raised my voice; "Nyx..."

The goddess turned her dehumanising gaze to me; her face shocked at my voice; "Can I speak with you- in private."

Thanatos and Hypnos' eyes shot up and in an instant they were both standing by my side. Thanatos shook his head; "No, I-"

"Leave."

I was momentarily stunned as Nyx lazily examined her long nails. She waited for her sons to leave the room, but they refused to budge. Thanatos glared daggers at her. He whispered down at me in anger; "What are you doing?"

"What needs to be done."

He snarled. Nyx rolled her eyes at the twins; "Leave, or would you prefer it if Aurora and I had our little chat outside, in the snow?"

Hypnos and Thanatos shared a wary look, their normally tanned skin pale in the firelight. Hypnos sighed and nodded; "Come on."

He moved towards the door and held it open for his brother, but Thanatos was still glaring at his mother. Some time passed until eventually Thanatos unclenched his jaw and stiffly placed a hard kiss against my temple. Nyx narrowed her eyes in aversion.

She didn't like that. Not at all.

I locked our eyes as Thanatos' lips left my head- she didn't like being replaced as the most important woman in his life. I felt a little giddy as he sneered at her and hoarsely whispered; "If you touch her..."

"Don't threaten your mother, Thanatos." She was quick to shut him up, her patience as thin as her son's.

He didn't answer, but instead backed away towards the door, his eyes still fixed on hers. The door closed with a click and then we were alone. I lifted my chin and started to speak, but Nyx was faster; "What did you offer him?"

I narrowed my eyes; "Excuse me?"

"Don't play dumb." Her playful mood was gone as she walked around me, examining my every move. I kept still and my head high; "What did you offer him? Other than your body, of course..."

I shook my head, a small disbelieving laugh escaping my from between my lips; "Love."

Nyx rolled her eyes; "Oh, please..."

"Did you ever offer love to them?"

I knew I'd overstepped a line when the fire in the hearth suddenly raged up and shot through the chimney; creating a horrible noise. The heat that exploded was frightening. I backed up.

"How dare you speak to me like that!" She was livid, her beauty turning into something sinister; "You'll show me respect, you feeble girl!"

My shoulders tensed, but I refused to show any fear. I swallowed; "I'm not here to discuss your relationship with your sons. I'm here for what Hecate sent you."

Nyx laughed; "Hecate? You really are an imbecile!"

I gritted my teeth while she smiled in distrust; "You're telling me you don't have it?"

"Before I tell you anything," She spat her words at me; "Answer my question, mortal. Why is Thanatos protecting you?"

I glared at her; "What does it matter? Shouldn't his happiness mean more to you than anything else?"

"Happiness? Is that what you give him?" She laughed mockingly; "Oh, you poor thing. You actually think my son might 'love' you. How pathetic."

My teeth scrapped against each other; "You might've tried to raise a monster, but it didn't work."

Nyx smiled with glee; "Oh, it did. Have you seen him kill? Have you ever seen him blink while he rips someone to shreds?"

I felt sick to my stomach. No, I've never seen him blink.

She took my silence as her victory; "Beautiful isn't it? He's the perfect killing machine- the perfect god. Hypnos is..." She sighed in amusement; "Well, he's clever too, but not as powerful. I suppose one of them had to be weak so the other could thrive."

I laughed, but it was out of pure anger; "The only monster I see is you."

"Gods aren't weak, Aurora."

I suppressed my anger; "Why does it matter if Thanatos has fallen for me? Aren't you happy he has someone?"

Nyx grimaced in disgust; "A mortal for my perfect son- how revolting."

"I'm going to be a goddess soon-"

"That doesn't matter. You're a mortal- always will be."

I didn't bother to argue- she wasn't worth my time or effort. I didn't need to impress her, but I could see why Thanatos felt the involuntary need to. She was powerful and influential. You wanted her to like you. To approve. But at what cost?

Your compassion?

I was above that. Petty gods weren't my scene.

"Enough of this torture." Nyx huffed and sat down on a plush, old armchair. She swung one leg over the other and watched me with hawk-like eyes; "Why are you here?"

"I told you; I came to fetch what Hecate delivered to you."

Nyx smiled cunningly; "I see..." She tapped her two index fingers together; "Very well then. I'll give it to you," A shudder ran down my spine as she smiled, bearing her sharp teeth; "...at a price..."

"I hate this!"

Hypnos sighed loudly and patted my shoulder; he was trying to reassure me, but it had no effect. Not while Aurora was in there- with her.

I shook my head and continued to pace; "We should never have come back..."

"You know we need that weapon before anyone else can snatch it up. Relax," Hypnos breathed in deeply and placed his hands on his hips; "It'll all be over soon."

"What's she saying to her?" I nearly rammed into the door. My hands flew up as I tried to listen in on their conversation, but if I knew my mother at all, she would've put up a sound-blocking spell as soon as we'd left the room.

I growled. "She shouldn't be here- she shouldn't be in there. With her."

"Let Aurora handle this. She's the one Hecate chose to do this; we need to accept that."

"It's a suicide mission- all of this!" I reared my fist back from the door, the need to slam it against the old oak too great; "Aurora isn't safe-"

"Aurora has us. And Conrad, and Alexus and Persephone. Thanatos," Hypnos eyed me with care; "...stop before you do something you'll regret."

I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against the door. Centuries of keeping my emotions under wrap and one mortal girl made me feel everything all at once- it was both a blessing and a curse.

Hypnos eyed the familiar hallway with guarded eyes. He tapped his foot; "Eerie... Being here again." I nodded, my head rubbing against the door.

The air hung in silence; making focusing on anything else but the closed door in front of me unbearable.

Finally, Hypnos' voice shook the trance; "I hate this room."

I turned my head slightly to peer over my shoulder. Hypnos was looking into the opposite room- the ballroom. 

My stomach turned as I eyed the old piano and harp. How many hours, days, did she make us practise them until our fingers bled?

'My sons will be perfect. My sons will be the envy of all... Feared and respected.'

Even now her firm voice made me feel sick to my stomach. Little soldiers- that's what we were; not sons. No, sons had love, free of charge. Nyx made you earn affection. It's a wonder Hypnos and I didn't battle each other for her warmth. I suppose from an early age we feared her more than we craved her attention...

"Hate isn't strong enough of a word."

Hypnos huffed in agreement; his eyes filled with distant memories. I tried to push them aside and leaned in to listen again- still nothing. I sighed shakily.

Hypnos tried again to distract me; "Irma looks good."

I smiled as the image of our old nanny filled my mind. "Aetes looks aged."

We chuckled, but it was anything but happy.

Some more silence and then again, like he could sense my anger rise, Hypnos interrupted it; "Do you think they still visit her?"

I turned around and rested my back against the door. If Aurora or Nyx had to open it now, I'd tumble right back into the room onto my rear. I prayed that wouldn't happen; not while I was trying so hard not to slip up around my mot- her.

Hypnos examined the portraits that hung on the high walls. It was one of Eris, our sister and the goddess of strife. Her sharp features were so similar to that of Nyx, but her eyes were like our father's; a deep black. Eris smiled wickedly in the picture; it left a strange taste in my mouth.

I remember reading bed-time stories to her; her child-like eyes still so innocent, and now all I saw was Nyx. Poisoned- like the rest of them. All the portraits of her children hung on the walls; sickly reminders of the family we pretended to be. Nyx was never a mother. She raised the two of us- her first born- and then she left the rest to nature. But they didn't see it as evil or insane.

Instead, our siblings all saw it as a blessing. Being brought up by darkness herself; teaching them the ways of survival in the best way possible- practise. They all looked up to her for advice. It sickened me.

All of them hypnotised.

Most of them lost.

We got out as soon as we could. Nyx was more than happy to let us be independent and work for the mighty king Zeus. She thought we'd return, like the rest of her brood.

Little did she notice that our visits became less frequent and less interactive as time dragged on, until it took decades before we'd set foot in her domain again. First ten years passed, then twenty and so forth. Until eighty came rocking around and we never looked back...

Well...

"Probably." I bit my tongue as I stared up at the little sister I once bathed and protected. She was so different now. So twisted.

So was I to her too, I suppose...

I wasn't a saint, but I really thought Eris, Dolos, Nemesis, Apate and Moros would be different- be saved, but her hold on them was too deep. Of course, there were children of Nyx who turned out alright. Siblings like Hemera, Momus and Eleos. But even they still crave Nyx's affection and approval.

Hypnos and I tried hard to take most of Nyx's expectations- to put the bulk of the burden onto our own shoulders. It came at a price, naturally...

I am the way I am because of that, and so is Hypnos. Cruel, detached, crazed, emotionless, cold, driven to succeed no matter the cost. We fucked ourselves over so some of our younger siblings could have a lighter load. That was the one good thing about Nyx- she wasn't too driven.

When she got what she wanted once, she ignored the rest.

We were the first, the best in her eyes, and so the rest were saved from her endless improvements. She became lazy and didn't bother to better her first projects. She knew she'd never be able to get a better result.

We were perfect.

I found Hypnos' guarded eyes. He looked just as ready to leave this sordid place.

"Do you still remember how to play?"

My lips twitched, but the memory of that old, black piano was nothing but painful; "I don't think I'll ever forget."

Hypnos nodded and leaned against the wall; "Harps still make me want to run screaming from parties."

I laughed; "Hmm..."

Hypnos was excellent at the harp. I, however, never had a knack for it. Irma always said my hands were too rough for something so delicate, but agile enough for the piano.

I remember us being so young, so full of mischief. And in so many ways, still so innocent.

Nyx quickly fixed that.

All those times we had to entertain her guests. Those endless nights where she'd drink and party until we thought she might forget about us. If only...

Aurora thought she knew all the things Nyx made us do- she didn't know half of it. Some day I'd tell her, but not anytime soon. Not while she could do something she'd regret.

Hypnos and I never really spoke about those parties. We just let them fade as best we could. Some things you just never talk of again.

We started drinking at a young age, as most Greeks do, that was nothing odd, but the things Nyx expected of us during those three-four-day festivals were something entirely different.

We'd entertain the guests- in any way they pleased. Played music, served the men wine and food, cleaned the messes... Pleasured the women.

Nyx had many goddesses as dear friends; many of whom always licked their lips when Nyx's perfect twin boys were present.

Hypnos sighed; "How long still?"

I clenched my jaw. I've had to endure many awful things in my life, but waiting to see if Aurora was alright was probably the most nerve-wrecking.

"I don't know..."

"Thanatos," Hypnos looked up at me with reassuring eyes. He whispered; "It's okay. We'll get through all of this- we always do."

I nodded.

I sometimes wondered how things would've been different if we didn't have each other.

I'd rather not think about it...

The door flew open.

I swiftly shot myself forward and turned my wide eyes to the emerging figure.

"Are you okay?" I grabbed Aurora by the waist and pulled her into me, savouring the familiar scent of home. Hypnos quickly pulled the door shut before Nyx could contemplate joining us in the hall.

"I'm fine, relax."Aurora's voice was hard.

I panicked to think what Nyx had told her.

Aurora grabbed our hands and started to walk towards the ballroom. I saw Hypnos instinctively hesitate at the threshold. I followed her eagerly.

"What happened?"

"What did you talk about?" Hypnos asked, just as curious as me.

"Close the doors."

We did as she ordered. Aurora crossed her arms and her frown was deep and full of anger. She looked pissed. I wanted to rip her away from this cold, desolate place where nothing grew.

She spoke with controlled strain; "She offered me a deal."

Hypnos and I shared a knowing look. It wasn't like Nyx to bargain.

"She'll give me the Aegis, but I have to do something for her."

I swallowed hard.

"She wants me to leave- leave the underworld and the ascension and she wants me to never talk to either of you again."

I felt like someone was chocking me. My throat closed shut; would Aurora ever contemplate leaving me? I don't think I'd ever let things come to that. No- I know I would never be able to spend a single day without her by my side.

I'd rather let Olympus burn.

Hypnos shook his head in anger; "That's ridiculous!"

"Oh, I know." Aurora's frown turned into a menacing smirk and I found myself enthralled; "That's why we're going to steal it."

Can you spot the similarities? Sharp teeth, intense gaze, intimating presence, likes to make unfair bargains? Sound familiar? Yup, they're definitely related...

Does it make more sense as to why Thanatos is the way he is? He was raised in quite the spoiled, yet affection-deprived home.

To quell any confusion, here is a basic family tree of the 'Old family' and how they are related to the Ruling family (Which stems from Gaia and Uranus- who are the grandparents of Zeus)

So technically literally everyone is related in some way or form... Yikes.

Also, there are many variations of these myths and how many children Nyx and Erebus had, so I've chosen the one I feel will suit the story the best.

In total, they have ten children. (See Picture)

A quick list-

Nyx- Goddess of the night
Erebus- God of deep darkness

Thanatos- God of death
Hypnos- God of sleep and dangerous addictions
Hemera- Goddess of the day
Nemesis- Goddess of retribution/vengence
Apate- Goddess of fraudulance
Momus- God of Satire and mockery
Moros- God of doom/fate
Dolos- God of deceit
Eris- Goddess of strife
Eleos- Goddess of pity, mercy, compassion