Visit

The boat docked at the bank where the two golden Isu members looked over to see the building tower up blocking part of the sun, “Is that Helheim?” Persephone queried looking at Charon who lighting a torch spoke, “Yes only the outside inside is a lot... well sound. I warn you; the horrors you will see; you want hell, this is hell and if James is here he won’t be the same.”

They walked through the corridors feels no anxious as they felt the corridors close in on them but it wasn’t just that, the corridors were endless and identical it felt like they were lost in an evil maze that began its torment on them both physically and mentally, they eventually found the throne room and on seeing the Queen of Hel immediately were taken back by her face, it was half rotten and visible you could start to pieces of cheekbone, “Welcome, Persephone, Hades! Tristhet will be with us shortly it’s better here than visiting his area of the prison, it’s a lot darker there and more heavier like an veil of sadness permanently; with that it’s better if he comes to you!” “No I will go to him!” before taking Hades’ hand rushed off down the next corridor, they continued down a bit further before seeing the lit torches queried why Tristhet decided on using light over his counterpart but it was soon clear why he chose to. He didn’t need this darkness to intimidate their foes instead he wanted them to see every single thing as they were forced to relive/rewatch their regrets and mistakes; they had to bare their souls to him and the images only grew more regular with every step closer to him; they also felt the blanket that Hela had talked about it smothered them in sadness that couldn’t be shook off, “Is this what James felt?” Persephone asked and nodding Charon commented, “Imagine you feeling this everyday and then you would understand his suffering! Fortunately I don’t feel any of this because I was created as such!” Hades looked around before looking down uncomfortably spoke, “I don’t like this, let’s hurry and find him!” they pushed further forward speeding up as it became more intense until opening a grand door saw an creature looking down at a child who stated, “This depression you have is killing you slowly; what happened to your parents isn’t your fault now forget about this and return to your sister!” he swiped his hand in front of the child’s face before sending him to sleep they watched as the black cloud traveled into the Isu’s body as the child disappeared leaving the man whose body was covered in a long sleeved jacket and a mask that covered most of his face leaving only traces of fiery red hair with the glowing red eyes visible he or it put his documents down knowing he had guests before looking back spoke, “Come on in, its more calmer in here!” they took an step in through the door to see the medieval styled throne room as the Isu watched them adjusting his gloves, “Better?” they nodded feeling the blanket be lifted for a short time at least as they stepped forward with more confidence even with James’ eyes not blinking or leaving them, “James... it has been so long!” Persephone cried before Hades corrected, “It’s Tristhet now. What does that mean?” “Sadness. I told you not to come here; you see why, I don’t try sending anyone here unless I have to...” “You live here?” Persephone asked and simply nodding he responded with, “More like roam. I spend most of my time tending to the lonely, depressed, suicidal and sad; I try to help them or comfort them in their final moments and company to the young who have lost their way. I am the last hope for many and mercy for other and I am considered the counterpart to Hela or the equilibrium to her. Alas what I am now is nothing more than a monster trying to do good!” “You were never a monster!” he chuckled slyly before commenting, “Under this mask lays a monster worse than Hela!” “Let us see!” Hades spoke but retreating a few paces Tristhet replied, “No!” Persephone walked slowly forward before stating, “Please, just to see you are alright!” he again refused but seeing Charon nodded before welcoming his former friend, “Charon, it’s good to see you!” Charon walked forward but stopped as Persephone who used the distraction as a chance to grab the mask tore it off falling back to see the pale face before feeling Tristhet’s hand push against her face forcing the painful memories of her past to return causing her to cry out as Hades tore Tristhet’s hand off, “Persephone love?!” “He... he made me relive the pain in my life!” she screeched causing Hades to growl but to stop shocked as Tristhet began to slap his hands against his head, “No. No. No. Bad Tristhet. Bad. Lonely, sorrow, scared, “Father help me”, uncle, please let me go, you monster! YOU MONSTER, I want Demeter back! Please let me see her!” he continued to slap his hands against his head before looking up spoke, “Solution, hug Persephone; let her know that her torment is over and she is safe!” she watched as he crouched down to hug her before cautiously lift his hand up to her face again searched for the memory and altered it before draining the black cloud from the Isu and absorbing it with his hand, “No more fear!” Persephone pushed out of his arms before rushing to Hades’ side growled, “What have you done?” “Removed your sorrow and pain. That constant fear of what he could do is gone!” “Is that what you do? Make them remember?! It’s wrong!”“I can remove it as well!” Hades nodded before stating, “We should leave; it was an bad idea coming here!” James sighed removing his hood to reveal the burning strands of hair and his gloves to reveal the charcoal coloured claws as he sat down on his throne as he took his shirt off to reveal the engraved black Isu lines on his body leaving only his trousers on as his head fell into his makeshift hands, “I told you not to. To see what I have become!” Persephone looked at the creature slumping before them which caused her to take a step closer once again and Hades seeing her movements did the same until they were close enough to crouch to his level as she said, “You aren’t a monster and will always be a son to us and me... a former lover. However, why you look like this is a question that needs to be answered!”

“Why is he like this?” Hades snapped causing Hela to pour them all a drink before stating, “The transition wasn’t straightforward it got complicated and we believe it went wrong and altered his appearance and his gifts are disjointed; the same happened to me. We are counterparts and fit perfectly together. He is mercy to my my anger and violent manners.” They looked at Tristhet who looking back at Hela saw his emotionless stare, “I don’t feel love anymore; just sadness!” they nodded as Hades said, “At least you are stable now, it’s better than the last time we saw you...” “I don’t remember what entirely happened. Something about Athena, Zeus being angry and trying to end it all. Zeus is bad though; definitely bad!” “Perhaps it’s better that he doesn’t remember?” Charon suggested before seeing the metal guards walk in with plates of food heard Tristhet state, “Your food is ready, forgive me for not partaking in the meal but that’s because I don’t need to eat anymore, I only drink ale because it is fashionable otherwise I wouldn’t do that either!” they nodded getting ready to take their seats whilst James lit the torches in the room up in one swipe across the air before pulling the seats out for his guests waited for them each to sit down before pushing them in as he took his own, “I have no clue what the food is like here but please eat as much as you want!”

“So what makes you decide those who should be spared suffering and who shouldn’t? With us it’s clear if you aren’t a hero, brave warrior you go to Hades’ realm and the really bad go to Tartarus” Persephone asked this caused Hela to snap, “Nothing. He isn’t meant to spare anyone. His job is to make people suffer from their symptoms of depression and in death take them here; not to spare people!” “My job is to monitor and control people’s emotions. I can inflict or chose to retract these emotions and heal, I offer comfort to those who need it and decide whether their grief is honest and truthful and not falsified or a matter of someone one passing the blame on to someone else. In death for those stricken with sadness and grief I am mercy or the light to guide the last souls of those who saw no other option here and those who deserve it no remorse. I help those who pray to me if they deserve it; this is what my job is nothing else; I am not you, I try to see the difference and circumstance in people not believing they are all guilty and just decide on the punishment!” there was silence as Hela glared at him with eyes filled with rage and Tristhet knew this, “So that boy earlier?” Hades asked which caused Hela to snap, “He was responsible for his parents deaths!” “NO HE WASN’T. His sister went to work and his parents were attacked by bandits; he felt guilty because he ran instead of grabbing a scythe to attack the bandits giving his parents time to find something to defend themselves. The boy is 7; it’s not his fault that the bandits were there and he shouldn’t feel depressed or sad for what happened; he did what any young child would do!” “What he did still stands!” “He’s right Hela... a child is a child; they get scared and it’s nothing wrong with that! What happened is unfortunate but the bandits should be punished not him!” Persephone justified causing Hela to throw her hand up in protest but struggling to understand shrugged before commenting, “This is why it’s good that he’s here; he makes sense out of the things I do not and he is the kinder of us two; he will show mercy where I do not. We don’t get on regularly but we respect each other!” Tristhet nodded before being civil began to ask, “So how are things?”

Hours later and finally giving Tristhet the lecture of what people were doing, most of it being about what Zeus was doing and how he was causing trouble which somewhat in a culture shock surprised Hela, “Wait so this Zeus... he can just sleep with anyone? No one cares?” “Not exactly, they have relationships which are long and established most political but there is times such as festivals where having sex with other people is permitted; this of course causes trouble as some sleep with the person they actually love or “fall in love” with someone else. I was never invited apart for one and that ended in the beginning of Tristhet. Turns out Athena and Artemis still have to retain their virginity” “Why does Hera allow this? Is she weak?” Persephone laughed before shaking her head commented, “Her anger is worse than Ares’ but no one sided with her because she used to punish the women in the situation because she couldn’t punish her husband so as payback everyone refuses to help. Also Zeus does rule over us... we can’t exactly side against him and not expect backlash!” Hela nodded before looking at Tristhet spoke, “You could. You can go back there anytime because of your linage and can’t be touched by Zeus unless he wanted to start an diplomatic incident” the room fell silent for a time before Tristhet breaking the silence stated, “It’s none of my concern!” “And Athena? She is going through what you did; early stages but you could be the only one to help her!” Persephone pleaded he grunted before getting up stated, “Keep me updated, if it gets worse and you have tried every other avenue then come and see me, got it?” Persephone nodded causing him to walk to his throne to grab a box as he slid it along the table stopping when Hades’ hand blocked its passage, “What’s this?” he queried as Persephone took the lid off to reveal the oval shaped mirror, “I wasn’t... going to do this, I thought: see them and tell them to never come back; I don’t need anyone or want to see anyone but as much as I think it’s the sensible thing to do I can’t, not to those I only ever considered parents...” he confessed before holding one piece up spoke, “It’s similar to what me and Hela use to communicate, it’s better then letters, you place is down and speak the persons name and location, it will connect to mine and project a 2D image of the other end, so I would see a projection of you and vice versa, I can’t guarantee to always be here but if you call; I’ll try and call back as soon as I am free!” they smiled getting up to hug him as Hela grumbled, “Say his name first otherwise you will be calling me; I hate that when it happens!” Persephone smirked before offering her spare arm pulled her in to join the other two, “Hela, if you are family to Tristhet, you are family to us! If you need anything or want anyone to talk to we will be here for you! We were there for Tristhet in his younger years, we will be there for you!” Tristhet nodded before throwing one over to Charon stated, “I wouldn’t forget you either. There is only five of them in this realm we have them all!” Charon nodded attaching his to his belt as they heard Tristhet state, “Tell mother and Hermes that I’m dead, she wouldn’t be able to handle what I have become!” Charon nodded before commenting, “Of course Tristhet, my friend!”