Kevix

And on the fifth day, it was Odessa the one who woke Zarios up.

"We have to punish Tartarus," Odessa said to Zarios once he opened his eyes, her eyes were glowing fire. "After I spend these past years worshiping him with all my heart he did this to me! I know that I did cause you a lot of harm, but we have to set this aside for now. You may punish me as much as you want after we are done with Tartarus."

It was the first time he had seen her that enraged ever since he had properly known her, which was not more than a month. He was not sure what was going in Odessa's brain for the past four days, but her words now concluded that she is siding with him against Tartarus. This is good progress because it meant that he had a second brain that could help him to dispel the curse. Yes, Zarios did hate her for what she did to him, but he thought that for now the best move now is to use her to remove the curse.

"Fine, and what do you suggest? Do you want to break the curse? Or do you instead want to take vengeance from Tartarus right away?"

"Taking vengeance from Tartarus is my main goal. But first, we have to be immune to all his abilities and curses to beat up this bastard. A snap from finger twisted my whole body like a towel, you do not want to try it." She held her body tight remembering the pain. "And after that, we have to find a way to dispel the two curses and then find a way to beat him up."

Odessa suggested a three-stage plan. That is to become immune to all of Tartarus curses and other abilities first, then remove the curses on their bodies, and beat him up last.

"Sounds good on paper, but where will we find a way to do all of this?"

"I do not know, but I know an expert. He knows a lot more about Tartarus than me, my first husband."

===

Odessa's first husband lived in a large mansion about 15 minutes of a drive from the house of the duos, his name was Kevix. Odessa called Kevix in advance that she will be coming. Kevix asked what is with this sudden meeting, she replied that he will know soon.

So Odessa preferred living alone than living on a mansion with a mad husband, huh? Zarios thought. That gave him a better implication toward Odessa, but not that much still, she drank his blood after all.

Once the duo reached the outer gates of the mansion, the gates opened automatically and led the two into the huge outer garden first, then to the door for the mansion. It is good to be rich, Zarios thought. He preferred not to talk to Odessa much, for a simple reason that he shunned her and was wary of her from now on.

The two entered the mansion and were welcomed by a well-trimmed man holding a golden stick and a dark blue tuxedo.

"Welcome Odessa," said Kevix. "And...You did not tell me that another person was coming."

The marble, paintings, and the extra shiny vases and glasses that decorated the mansion made the place worthy for a king to live in. It was a completely different life compared to what Zarios had lived.

"He has to come with me whether I want it or not. So there was no point in telling you.

"You have become blunter," Kevix gave her a long stare. "Does he know about what we do?"

"Yes."

"Then come upstairs to my study room."

The study room was also luxurious but full of Tartarus statues, Zarios counted them as 24 status.

Quite the hardcore, Zarios thought. He was undoubtedly on a religious level higher than Odessa. Perhaps among the top people backing up the religion of worshiping Tartarus Zarios supposed.

After the two sat on heavily cushioned sofas, were given a fancy drink and the talk began.

"Now then, tell me Odessa, why would the person who divorced me, one of the richest and most capable people in the country, want to talk about? I thought at first that you wanted to be with me once again, but the thought evaporated from my brain once I saw that you have brought a fellow male with you."

"Hell no," said Odessa. "I would not marry a crazy man like you again. The person on my left may seem simple and unfashionable, but he is a much better person in every other way than you."

Zarios did not expect that she preferred him over Kevix.

Kevix dug his nails deep into the cushioned armrest of his chair, "Tell me quickly what you want."

"We have been cursed by Tartarus."

"Listen, if you want to joke around do it elsewhere I am a busy person, and you know it well."

"This is the usual response," Zarios interfered. "And likewise I will prove it to you the usual way."

Zarios removed his shirt and showed the man the curse marks on his arm and left finger ring and spent a few minutes explaining the way they operate.

"Alright I accept these two curses as a legit Tartarus curse," said Kevix after but he brought up all the sharp tools he had and gave the curse marks a good drill until he simply gave up. "The two curses are also in line with the way Tartarus cursed people long ago based on our old scriptures. If we could create a similar curse marks that make the skin immune to all kinds of damages, we would be rich."

You are already wealthy, Zarios thought. Or perhaps Kevix was still not rich in his dictionary.

"Now then, what do you want from me? I suppose you did not just want to show it to me for nothing and just leave?"

"We want you to remove it," Odessa replied.

Kevix laughed. "You seriously think, me the most obedient and graceful worshipper of Tartarus will work against his god? If he knew that I worked against him what will he do to me? All this wealth that I had accumulated over the years was thanks to him. The discussion on this is pointless, go away and do not come back here."

"Kevix," said Odessa. "How about you do it just for my sake? For the sake of the time we had spent together? "There is a good chance that will die and get many more curses than these two. If we make a single mistake and allow the curses to activate, we will die."

"You deserve it after what you have done to me. Perhaps Tartarus did it as retribution for all the pain that you have given me."

Me? I deserve it? I did not harm you in any way besides asking for the divorce. It was you who harmed me to this messed up religion in the first place."

"It was for your own good."

"It destroyed my life."

"You were not smart enough, it did not destroy mine as you can see," Kevix spread his arms pointing at his luxurious room.

"No, it was because I was not a thief like you."

"Do not you dare call me a thief," Kevix stood from his chair, his face turned red. "Leave this place at once."

She blew him up, Zarios thought. Perhaps there was a better way to convince him?

As the duo stood up and walked toward the door, Kevix recollected his mood and said, "Wait, I will not help you myself but I know a person who might. I can't guarantee you anything except that I will tell him about your issue. He will meet the two of you soon."

Odessa did not reply, she walked with Zarios outside the room and left the mansion.

===

A week has passed since Odessa and Zarios meet with Kevix.

"After all, what can we mere mortals do against a god?" Odessa complained as she leafed through vast stacks of books. "Perhaps the best way is to just live like this, I guess until we die."

"No," Zarios replied. He noticed that Odessa had quite the volatile mood, one day she is fired up and on the next day she had no energy even to lift a finger.

"You sure are stubborn, are not you?"

"It is too early to give up. There is still a lot that we can do."

"Like?"

"Leave the country and search for people more experienced in the matter. Who knows what we will find?"

"You want to leave everything, your college, this country, your friends, and even your father behind?"

"The curse has a priority."

"Yeah, I also forgot that you hate your father. But do not forget that Kevix said he will bring us a person to meet us, but so far nothing came up."

"Perhaps he lied to us."

"No, Kevix may be a mad person, who gave me some of his madness. But he is true and on his words."

"I do not believe the words of people of people who follow this crazy religion."

"So you also do not believe in my--"

"You two reek of the underworld," a sudden booming voice was heard.