Descent into Desire (15 page)

* * * *

Hades stared down at Thanatos as he stood before the six of them. Zeus and Hera sat in the middle on their thrones with Demeter and Hestia seated by Zeus and himself and Poseidon next to Hera. Hypnos and Persephone sat off to the side. Ares and Hephaestus stood a few feet behind Thanatos, acting as his guards. The Fates sat on the opposite side of the room from Hypnos and Persephone. They were veiled heavily so no one could tell them apart, and one of them sat in front of the other two. This arrangement implied they already knew the outcome.

The door opened again, and the Furies entered. Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto positioned themselves in front of the door after it closed.

“I must be very important,” Thanatos said.

Zeus kept his face neutral. “You cannot use your powers, but you could escape. If you do, the Furies will pursue you until you are caught, no matter how long it takes.”

Thanatos looked back at them, brazenly eying the three women up and down. “I might let them catch me very quickly.”

Hera spoke. “Why do you speak so foolishly? This meeting will decide whether or not you still exist an hour from now.”

Thanatos met Hera’s gaze. “We shall see.”

Zeus stood and said, “You’re not being tried for kidnapping Persephone. We all know you’re guilty, and you will be punished for that regardless of the outcome of this meeting. You are being tried for your plans to try to overthrow Hades and conquer the Underworld a second time. You were warned before, but this time you will be held accountable for your actions.”

Thanatos bowed, acknowledging this. Then he looked at Hades. “I do not think I should be punished at all for kidnapping Persephone. Hades was not.”

“Persephone went with him of her own free will,” Zeus said.

“She didn’t know who he was.”

“But once she did, she didn’t say no. Her screaming for three people to help her implies she said no when you kidnapped her.”

Thanatos looked at each of them before speaking again. “If he hadn’t brought her down there, I would never have been tempted. Seeing that he was able to take a beautiful woman just because he wanted her reminded me how corrupt and disgusting all of you are.”

“He courted her,” Hestia said, “even if it was unconventional. He loves her and would never harm her. Hurting someone you love with your rash actions is not the same as maliciously seeking to cause them pain.”

Thanatos laughed. “More excuses.”

Hestia continued, “Sex is a beautiful thing, and it is enjoyed very freely by most of us here.”

He leered at her. “Not by you.”

She smiled. “No. Athena, Artemis and I each made the decision to remain a virgin long ago. It is a decision and condition that should be honored and respected. To rape a virgin is a double crime, both as a violence to the girl and an affront to love and the beauty of sex as well as a showing of disrespect for the state of innocence and the woman’s right to choose who receives such a beautiful gift from her. It is, to use your words, corrupt and disgusting.”

“You are so full of shit! Zeus has been forgiven. Or are all of you too afraid to remember he wasn’t exactly the first feminist?” He fixed his gaze on Hera. “But maybe some women do prefer men who treat them like that.”

Hades was having so much trouble controlling his temper he couldn’t believe Hera was not reacting more.

She sat forward and said, “Yes, he has been forgiven. Very often he was punished with no help from us. The children of some of the more questionable unions, whether heroes or otherwise, often brought a great deal of pain to us and to men.”

“So that makes it okay?”

Hera shook her head. “No, and it never could. Justifying someone and forgiving someone are two different things. Subtly, yes, but different. We will never forget no matter how much time has passed, and learning is what is important.”

“And one thing we have learned is that forgiveness should always be a possibility,” Zeus added.

“You’re going to forgive me?” Thanatos asked.

Poseidon asked, “Have you learned something?”

“I’m sure I can make up some bullshit to make all of you bleeding hearts happy enough.”

Demeter stood. “I should be demanding punishment for you, but I’m not. It is against my nature to destroy life.”

“And I exist only to do precisely that. Perhaps I should fuck you instead. The child might be interesting.”

Hades leapt to his feet. “You will not speak to her like that!” He looked to Persephone, who clung to Hypnos’ arm with both her hands. She was terrified by what was happening.

Zeus motioned for him and Demeter to sit down. “Demeter is right. None of us wish your death. We only want to protect those we love, as well as the natural order of things. You can attack me all you like. You can say all the lewd things you can think of. We are questioning your threat to the world of the gods.”

Thanatos looked over at the Fates. “Why debate this for show? You’ve already decided.”

Zeus shook his head. “The Fates already know what will happen. They are only here because this is an important event. It’s fitting they should be present.”

“This trial isn’t even real. It’s to make you look good.”

“Your punishment is going to fit your intentions this time. The time for warnings is over.” Zeus looked at everyone. “We are going to confer now. Please escort the prisoner out.”

Ares and Hephaestus took Thanatos from the room with little trouble, and the Furies guarded the door. They all, except Persephone and Hypnos, went into Zeus’ private chamber behind the thrones. Hades looked back as the doors closed. He saw the Fates come to guard the doors to the chamber and then he saw Persephone speaking rapidly to Hypnos. She seemed flustered and confused, but there was nothing he could do. He joined the others at the table, waiting to see what Zeus would propose to them.

* * * *

Persephone tried to stay calm, but she couldn’t. She didn’t want Thanatos to die, no matter what he’d done, but she also didn’t want him to be able to take his revenge on Hades.

“Persephone, do you realize what Zeus gave me earlier?” Hypnos asked.

Persephone thought, and she remembered Zeus handing him a small ball the night before. “Yes. A black marble? Something like that. What does it mean?”

“He gave me Thanatos’ powers. He could not harm any of us now.”

“That’s comforting, but only for the moment. Zeus will give him back his powers once his punishment is over, if not immediately. He’s guilty of plotting, but he didn’t do any harm.”

Hypnos gave her a long, hard look. “He kidnapped you. Even if he couldn’t hurt you, you were afraid. Hades was beside himself, and everyone was in an uproar. We all knew the danger because he tried before. He inflicted harm, Persephone.”

“I know. I’m still not sure how I feel though.” She shrugged. “People throughout history have died for treason. Do we have treason here?”

“Of course we do. The problem is, those who have committed treason have usually won, so punishing rebels is a bit new.”

Persephone wanted to go home. She wanted to walk in her mother’s garden, and then she wanted to go home with Hades. And tonight, she wasn’t going to let him deposit her in her own bed while he camped out on her couch. “Whatever they decide, we’ll all be safe?”

“Don’t you trust them?”

“Yes, but I’m still scared.”

“So you think he should die?”

She sighed. “No. It’s like what my mother said. Destroying life, to me, is the ultimate crime. It’s unforgivable.”

The doors opened before Hypnos could say anything else. They all took their places again, and the Fates drifted back across the room. They sat down in the same order. Persephone still couldn’t tell them apart through the veils, but the woman in the blue dress still sat in front of the ones in the green and yellow ones. She hadn’t expected them to change places, but it would have been interesting if they had.

Zeus clapped once, and the room shook a little. Thanatos was brought back in.

“Are you ready for your sentence?” Zeus asked.

“Sure,” Thanatos said. “It won’t matter.”

Zeus paused, but then he stood and said, “Your powers will stay in your brother’s keeping. You are no longer bound to the Underworld in anyway. In fact, you are now forbidden to go there, like everyone else.”

“You, Hermes and Iris go there,” Thanatos pointed out.

“I am the king of the gods, and Hermes and Iris are our messengers. It is needed, at times. You are being denied free access because it was the source of your temptation. You will still have all of our basic powers, but the special powers you were created with are now gone forever. They were what made you a threat. Otherwise, you are free to do as you like.”

Persephone finally let out the breath she’d been holding. It wasn’t perfect, but if he could no longer kill with his touch, he would be far less likely to start any trouble. In the Underworld, she and Hades would be safe from him.

Thanatos shook his head.

Hera said, “We’ve been more than generous. You have complete liberty. You’ll endure no pain or imprisonment. What more could you want?”

“Everything. And I can have it.” He turned to Ares. “Bring us weapons. I challenge the verdict and therefore Zeus. I will fight to keep my powers.”

“If you are sure,” Zeus said. “You will only have your strength and skills to rely on. All other abilities are bound in this room.”

“That’s fine. I don’t need them.”

Zeus held up his hand. “Before you absolutely decide, I need to warn you that you can die. These are weapons forged by Hephaestus, and Apollo will not be allowed to step in and heal either of us.”

Persephone held her breath. She had no idea if Thanatos would believe Zeus or not. She held Hypnos’ hand. No matter what he’d done, they were brothers, and that meant something to her. She knew she could never turn from her brother, no matter what.

Hypnos squeezed her hand.
It’s going to be okay
.

How can you know?

Simply believe that I do.

Thanatos turned to Ares again. “I won’t relent. Bring them.”

Ares looked to Zeus, who nodded, and then he walked to the back of the room. He brought back two swords wrapped individually in black velvet. He handed one to Zeus. “This sword will be new to most of you. It was made from the sword of Perseus, which was used to slay the gorgon Medusa, and the sickle which Cronus used to castrate and thus overthrow his father Uranus.”

Zeus uncovered the sword, the adamant shining darkly. The handle was dark copper, and a thunderbolt was engraved on it.

Thanatos laughed. “Well, you aren’t going to unman or overthrow me.” He turned to Ares. “Well? What do you have for me?”

Ares paused for a long moment, but then reluctantly handed the man preparing to fight his father the other sword. “This sword will be very familiar to everyone. It’s yours. The sword of Death. It can kill anyone simply by cutting a lock of their hair.”

Thanatos smiled as he hefted the dark gray sword in his hand.

Persephone stared from Ares to Zeus.

Ares said, “And I wish for it to be known that I am returning it to you against my will. Zeus commanded that these be the swords brought here today.”

Persephone turned to Hypnos. “What is it?” She could certainly understand why Ares looked so angry as well as why Hera watched Thanatos so closely, but she wasn’t sure of the greater significance.

“It was taken from him by Zeus when he rebelled before. It has been with Ares ever since then.”

“Why is Zeus doing this? He has nothing to prove.”

“Perhaps he wants everyone to know justice has been served.”

“By making it easier for him to die?”

Zeus and Thanatos had begun to circle each other. Zeus struck first, but Thanatos blocked him. He countered and Zeus did the same. Persephone turned her head away. She heard the swords clashing together, but she didn’t want to watch. Yet somehow only hearing it made the experience so much worse. When she looked back up, the Fates were standing.

The woman in the blue dress stepped forward slowly, raising her veil. Persephone had only seen the Fates once, but her mother had told her their story hundreds of times. In the story, the three women sat at a spinning wheel. Clotho spun the thread and gave life, Lachesis measured that life out, and then Atropos cut the thread to bring death. All three women were blonde, so when her veil was pushed back, Persephone still did not know which one of them was about to intervene. And who would she act on, Zeus or Thanatos? Was she going to save Thanatos or kill him? At the same time, she couldn’t stop thinking that the death of Zeus would logically be something the Fates would have a hand in.

“Who is it?” she whispered to Hypnos.

“Atropos. She has blue eyes.”

Persephone moved closer to him, but she turned back to the scene when she heard the gasps. Atropos held the sword of Death in her hand. She had plunged it through Thanatos’ heart. His hands grasped the sword, and his face very clearly reflected how shocked he was.

Atropos spoke softly, but her voice still echoed throughout the room. “You will destroy us all if we let you. We cannot let it be so.”

Thanatos fell backwards onto the ground, and his body dissolved into black smoke. Atropos stepped past Zeus and walked to Hypnos. Persephone held to him tighter as the woman approached. Atropos knelt and offered the sword to him. “You are now the god of death once more. Your once divided soul is now whole again, all its evil purged.”

He accepted the sword, and in that moment his hair changed. It darkened and turned deep silver. Atropos walked away.

Persephone looked at Hypnos, her hands still gripping his upper arm. “What does she mean?”

He looked down, and then met her gaze. “My brother and I were once close, very close. We were inseparable.”

She felt the truth deep her in soul and finally understood. “You were one man. Not twins. You were one man,” she whispered.

He looked away. “Yes. I was the god of both, but when I corrupted the dreams of men on purpose and tried to take power that was not mine, Zeus split me in two. With a thunderbolt.”

“Painful?” she asked softly.

“Yes.”

“And the ‘evil purged’?”

“What was corrupt in me became Thanatos. His desires were mostly satisfied by the use of his powers, but not always.” He touched her hand. “I knew all of his darkness, which is why I didn’t want you near him. I could easily imagine all he was capable of.”

Persephone felt fear rolling off him in waves, and he kept his gaze averted. “Hypnos?”

“Yes?”

“
You
are my friend. I’m not afraid of
you
. This all seems very strange, but I know you. There is no evil in you.”

“If I had told you, perhaps you’d have been safe. Death is part of me again though. How will it affect me?”

“You don’t have to worry about that, Hypnos,” Zeus said.

They both looked up at the king of the gods. Persephone asked, “You know this?”

Zeus nodded. “The Fates and I knew the split could not last forever. We simply did not know how it would end.”

Persephone couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Did everyone else know about this but me?”

“No. Only the Fates and I. Hypnos knew, but Thanatos had no idea. In the minds of the others, Hypnos and Thanatos had always been twins, two aspects of one concept. Only we knew they were in fact two sides of the same coin in a more literal way. Thanatos was the bad one, the rebel who tried to overthrow Hades. No one else remembered the days before Thanatos existed.”

Hades walked to Persephone quickly, and she gladly went into his arms.

“I would have told you, but I was sworn to secrecy, even from Hades,” Hypnos said. “I couldn’t take that risk.”

“So I didn’t have to be afraid of anyone dying because no one has died,” she said.

“Not really, no.” Hades held her close. “I learned the truth only moments ago. Thanatos had no conscience. Only fear kept him in line. He had no idea he and Hypnos were the same person. Once he began to believe he was so special he couldn’t die, he became hard to control.”

Lachesis walked up to the group, and Persephone looked at her. “You were meant for many things, my dear, and one of them is to love Hades. Another was to heal the Underworld. Hypnos learned much over the years as he watched Thanatos, and now that he is whole again, the light will always overcome the darkness within him. He is better and wiser for what has happened. Though unpleasant, your ordeal has brought redemption.”

She extended her hand, and Persephone took it. Lachesis kissed her on the forehead, and then vanished. The other Fates vanished as well.

Persephone looked up at Hades. “Take me to the garden. I want to walk in the sun for a while.”

“And then?”

“Take me home,” she whispered.

He kissed her gently, but she felt the fire beginning to blaze deep within him. He could object all he wanted. She had no intention of waiting for their wedding night.