Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
THANATOS
Home is no longer home without her.
Time was a false god that many people worshiped.
Yet time had no meaning for me . . . normally.
But now I spent an inordinate amount of time waiting, wanting, and hoping.
A sense of melancholy had settled over me, and there was only one solution to it .
. . Anastasia. The purest soul I’d ever met in my long existence.
We’d spent years as friends—conversing, reading, and speaking of the world.
She broke up my endless existence, and now there was nothing.
My feet touched down just outside my home, and I glared up at the empty mountain.
There would be nothing for me there. I trekked up the winding path that led to my cave-like home.
It was hidden among the expanse of the Underworld, yet I could hear the sweet sound of the music playing from Elysium, smell the constant burning from Tartarus, and feel cool air against my skin drifting from Asphodel.
A thin layer of fog hugged around the base of the mountain, hiding the path toward my home.
When I reached the anterior room to my home, I paused, staring up at the high, vaulted ceiling and then down toward the thick, rough walls.
It was still . . . too still. With a heavy sigh, I walked into the long hallway leading up to my front door.
Stalactites hung down from the ceiling like icicles, with drops of water falling off them like tears.
Even my home wept for the loss of her. I pressed my hand to the thick wooden door and shoved it open.
The sound of barking greeted me, and that was the only thing that brought happiness. I dropped down to my knee as Echo bounded into view. Her pointy ears and silky coat fluttered as she hopped up and down for me. I reached out and ran my fingers over her coat. “Hey, sweet girl.”
She gave me a little ooof and turned away to run down the path.
Small waterfalls trickled on either side of the path and fell into glowing blue pools.
They used to be empty. Now they were filled with different shells I’d collected for her.
She’d become fascinated with the sea in our time together, and now I knew why.
Visions of her in all her pirate glory filled my mind as I walked farther down the hall and into the dimly lit living area.
I paused at the dark figure sitting in my armchair. I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Brother,” I said by way of greeting.
He opened his arms. “Good to see you.”
I groaned and moved into the room, then dropped into the chair across from him.
With the snap of my finger, the fireplace bloomed to life, illuminating the room.
Hypnos smirked up at me. Though we were twins and looked the part, he took pains to make himself look different from me.
Where my hair was long and silvery, he cut his to his shoulders and bound half of it into a cue at the top of his head.
Where I continued to wear my traditional Greek robes, he opted for the binding coat with tails, white knee-length trousers, and polished black shoes.
“Indeed, Brother.” I didn’t know what to say to him or where to start when my thoughts were latched on to one thing.
He glanced over his shoulder. “It feels empty here.”
I’d taken pains to hide Anastasia from everyone else. But it was impossible to keep her hidden from my brother. We practically shared a mountain, and I trusted him. A heavy sigh escaped me. “Too much so.”
“She was . . . fun. I enjoyed her the way one would enjoy a little sister.” He sat back in the chair and steepled his fingers. “We have to get her back.”
“I intend to.” My hand curled into a fist.
He raised his eyebrows at me. “You’ve found her then?”
I gave him a stiff nod. “At Gallowsbay.”
“Why would she be there? Only the scourge of the sea linger there . . . and . . .” He wrinkled his nose as his words trailed off. “She’s not a . . . a lady of the night?”
“No.” I shook my head. “A pirate captain.”
A burst of laughter came from his chest. “You jest! She would not be so.”
“I’m telling you the truth.” A smile played on my lips. “You should’ve seen her. Beautiful, fiery, and in command of her men. They were loyal to a fault with her.”
“Ah, But brother, how will she earn her way into Elysium if she remains a pirate?”
I sat forward. “Time, perhaps. If she had more time, she would be able to tilt the scales in her favor.”
“Is her lifeline still gold then?”
I nodded and rose to my feet, moving over to the small shelf where I kept a dram of ambrosia.
I poured the golden liquid into two gold cups.
The liquid swished from side to side as I moved toward my brother and handed him a cup.
“For now, but she challenges its limits daily. They call her Ana the Deathless.”
He took a deep drink. “Fitting.”
I turned toward him. “How so?”
“She did die, but someone has come back.” He narrowed his eyes at me pointedly. “Therefore, she is deathless.”
“And she shall remain so.” I took a sip of the tempting liquid. “If I have anything to do with it.”
“You’re tempting the fates with that.” He pursed his lips. “I would not do so lightly, Brother.”
“I never do anything lightly.” I walked back over to my seat and Echo jumped up on my lap.
She curled into a ball and closed her eyes.
I ran my fingers through her soft fur. For ages she’d lain like this with Anastasia, and now I was the replacement owner.
How long would I satisfy as a secondhand replacement?
“Despite your caution, I remain concerned.” He took another sip and traces of the glittering gold liquid lingered in the corner of his lip. “You cannot keep her again if she doesn’t get into Elysium this time.”
Temper I’d never felt before stirred in my chest. “She will get in.”
My words were more forceful than I expected, and Hypnos raised his eyebrows at me. We didn’t speak for long moments until he cleared his throat. “It took some time for her to reincarnate.”
I was happy to have the change in subject. “Yes, I expected her much sooner than this. Fifty years sooner. But my knowledge is limited to only getting her into the lines of creation. I’m not sure how or why it took so long.”
Hypnos raised his glass to me. “To the things the Gods have no knowledge of.”
I smirked and clinked my glass against his. “Proves there’s still some mystery in the universe.”
“Indeed.” Hypnos downed the last remnants of his drink. “Let us hope we don’t need to know ever again.”
“I hope for success as well.” I didn’t want to acknowledge the warning tone he used or the way it made me feel like he feared for me and the decisions I’d be forced to make in the future.
He glanced up at me with those crystal eyes that were so much like my own. “And what of Hades?”
“What of him?”
“Yes, what of him?” Hades’ deep, smooth voice came from the doorway just outside of the sitting room.
I spun toward him. “Ah, Hades, will you not join us?”
Hypnos rose from his chair to stand next to me.
Hades moved into the room, his violet eyes darting around. “I haven’t been in your home in millennia.”
What a blessing that’d been. I never suspected Hades would walk right in, but here he was. I swallowed and motioned toward the chair I’d just been sitting in. “Welcome.”
Hades was only slightly taller than me but much more muscular.
His dark robes were draped over one shoulder, leaving most of his upper body exposed.
Gold threading was woven into the dark material, giving it a shimmering effect.
With each step he took, it reflected the firelight around him.
His face was set in a deep scowl, and strands of that dark, inky hair fell around his face.
With a grunt, he dropped down into my chair and held his hand out for a dram of ambrosia.
I moved to the table and poured him a generous portion.
“Being a pirate does not bode well for making it to Elysium.”
“I have all the faith . . . in her.”