When I say sleep, I should have said "try to sleep" I can't sleep. I lay awake in my bed. I look up at the cracking celling. I feel weirdly guilty. I feel regret, and I'm not sure why. Do I regret killing my mother? I shouldn't. She deserved it. Yet... why am I so unsettled? I press my face against the pillow.

"Hi." I hear.

I jump. I take a dagger out and throw it at Hades. He grabs it.

"What the Hell are you doing here?" I ask.

"Just wanted to talk with my dear little brother. He forms a chair next to me. 

Oh crap... I take up my other dagger. I try to get up, but something grabs me. It yanks me back in the bed. A hand in my own shadow. A hand reaching out from the shadow made of blackness. I glare at him.

"No need to get up." Hades walks forward.

"What are you doing here? Are you the Tooth Fairy now?" I ask.

"Oh please, I devoured the Tooth Fairy long ago." Hades says.

He sits down in the chair next to me.

"You have made some impressive amount of... people in your recent years." Hades says.

"How would you define recent?" I ask.

"Ash, Meghan, Nyx, the cat." Hades says.

"Oh. Well Nyx yes, but Ash Meghan and Grimalkin are my friends." I say.

Hades actually lets out a laugh. I jump in surprise. That wasn't the reaction I was expecting in the least degree. The shadows around the room yell and how. I start hearing them laugh as well. Oh no, this is not good Puck. I grip my other dagger.

"Robin, you of all people should know that friends are for weakness." Hades says.

"Seems like somebody has spent far too long in the dark." I say.

"Sounds like someone has spent too much time in the blazing sun." Hades contradicts. 

"I don't know what you mean." I say.

"Of course you do. We both know they don't give a *** about you. She never loved you." Hades says.

"You think I don't know that?" I ask.

"Honestly, it sounds like you're still a child. The old you would have killed them on the spot." Hades says.

"I'm not that man anymore." I say.

He grabs my neck. He slams me into the bed head. I wince. I look up at him.

"That's your problem. The prophecy will be fulfilled. Little one with the blackest heart." He jabs my dagger into my chest a wase.

I almost scream, but I'm not giving him the satisfaction. I see blood filling up through my shirt. Oh, how dare you! How dare you stain my perfectly new shirt.  I feel anger coursing through my veins. The door swings open. Hades turns. I turn.

"Ice boy! Hi!" I yelp.

"Ice boy?" Hades looks at me.

Ash charges with his sword. He shoots forward. I look at Hades. Hades transforms into a flock of crows. Huh... so he was the old man. The flock of crows fly out the window. I take up my dagger. This is... awkward now.