Freedom

Hades nodded before drawing his knife stabbed him in his chest looking away as he did it hearing the others cry in shock and James’ hands fall slump from Hades’ arms and looking back when James muttered, “Thank you!” their eyes met and nodding Hades cried, “I would do anything for you son! The only one I would!” James fell to the floor where Hades closing his eyes placed his hands on his chest before standing up spoke with tears in his eyes, “I would never let him go through that! Never!” the doors slammed open again to reveal Zeus and Hera who walking in royally stopped and Hera screamed in horror, “No! Why?” “It was that or “Tranquil” as Athena calls it. He gave up on himself and us! I was never going to let him suffer like that!” Zeus nodded before seeing the others glare at him spoke, “Shame but sometimes that is the only option!” “It was your fault!” Hades snapped back, “All of yours and mine! My boy, needed us and we blanked him. I...I...” he drew his sword before plunging it through Athena’s chest yelled in pain, “You will be together! In death!” Zeus threatened him but falling to his knees Hades wept, “Leave us! All of you! You didn’t care but I did. He was the son I should have had not the ones I got!” Thánatos ushered the others away even the distraught Cersei who was being comforted by Hermes leaving only Persephone in the room with him, “You too Persephone!” she refused before falling to her knees next to him wrapped him in a hug crying next to him, “He didn’t deserve this and we. Will. Make. Them. Pay for this!” Hades nodded kissing the body’s head before whimpering, “We...need... to err, to bury him!”

He was laid to rest on the hill above Hades’ palace where Hades could look out and see it; in a way it brought comfort to the Isu who felt like he was still with him and Athena she was stripped naked and threw in next to him with only the small amount of care being given to her because they didn’t want to disturb James’ body. Over the next few months Hades grew less caring than before and no more people got any favours or “special deals” and when the creatures from Tartarus broke loose he either ignored the other gods pleas for help or refused to acknowledge it as “vital” Persephone’s Elysium wept alongside the queen whose flowers withered and animals fell into madness until Demeter took over in an attempt to save the inhabitants from starvation and death but larger problems began when only Charon did his work; 1000’s of people turned up on the Isu’s shores with no idea of where they were or what they were meant to do and some even wandered off into other realms causing mass hysteria and panic among them.

The sun shone through the opened windows and the three brothers, two with their wives sat around the table occupied with wine in silence for a time before Zeus spoke, “Thank you for coming Poseidon and of course Amphitrite, Hades is Persephone not coming?” Hades remained looking at his cup in silence distant in his thoughts before Poseidon nudging his brother repeated Zeus’ question, “Persephone not coming?” Hades shook his head before looking at Poseidon spoke, “She... she can’t bear to let anyone see her in her state; James’ death has hit her hard; well both of us. We virtually raised him until he was an man. If you need her she will be at his grave; we spend a lot of time there!” “Brother it has been six months!” “And there will be a lot more like this. You destroyed his life; so I don’t care anymore... no matter how much you offer: wine, money, fabrics or even your child to us it won’t make up for what happened!” Zeus fell silent before Hera spoke, “We have a new fruit basket with exotic fruit in it; Persephone likes Pineapples doesn’t she?” Hades looked at her before stating bluntly, “She doesn’t eat anymore. Hell Hekate literally forces food down her mouth and a fruit basket? You think that makes up for it?” “No and nothing we can give will make up for it but I hope it helps ease your pain and to release my servants who came to help your wife!” “They are dead! Much like your husband they began to brag about his death...” the room fell silent before getting up Hades spoke, “Are we done?” Hera got up with Zeus as he spoke, “But what about the prisoners and dead invading our realms?” Hades shrugged before looking at them spoke, “I don’t care anymore!” he turned to walk away before being engulfed in a hug by his sister heard, “I’m so sorry brother! If I knew I would have stopped it” “It’s worse for us. Us Underworld Gods aren’t many and are a lot closer so when one dies it hits the rest of us more than your endless belt of offsprings death. Remember that Hera the next time you make an decision!”