Game of truth

"What the fuck, Jos!" Ry growled as he pulled Jos into the office and continued to peer out from a crack in the door not wanting to take his eyes off the children in the next room. "That is not Dad!" He pointed with irritation at the man sitting cross-legged on the sofa reading a newspaper.

Jos chewed her bottom lip, her arms crossed in front of her as she leaned past him to catch a glimpse of the Poseidon stand-in. "W-what makes you say that… looks just like him to me…"

Ry's eyes bugged. "How do I know? Besides the fact that it's my dad we're talking about here, allow me to recap the past thirty-five minutes for you!" He started counting off on his fingers as he spoke. "First off Dad would never be so handsy with you! Does Arei know that man is like that with you?" He threw his hands up. "Of fucking course, he doesn't, or he'd already have figured out a way to wage war with the man!" He held out a second finger. "Next, the kids fucking love Dad. These kids could give a shit less about this dude. If you want to make this seem anywhere close to being believable you're going to have to fix that shit right now." 

Jos blew out a sigh. "Is there more or should we start by addressing these two things first?"

Ry ran his hand through his disheveled hair. He lowered his voice to a near whisper. "Fuck… Just…" He caught her hands and pulled her closer. "Just tell me this… tell me I'm wrong in this. Tell me I've misjudged your intentions, that that is not a child of Nyx, and that you are not plotting to take down Zeus…"

Jos stared deep into his eyes. "I could tell you you're wrong if that is truly what you'd like to here at this moment… but you know it would be a lie…"

"Fuck…" Ry slumped over resting his forehead against the doorframe. "I figured as much, but it still sucks to hear it."

"I'm sorry… but I still have to ask you to stay quiet about this. Can you do that? For everyone's safety?"

Ry nodded. "Yeah… but how do you plan on passing this all off? You don't think Dad's own brother is going to notice?"

Jos shrugged. "Hypnos is a very convincing actor when he is truly trying, trust me. He's seen inside all our deepest thoughts, dreams, desires for as long as we've had a mind to dream… he can mimic any one of us to such perfection a mother wouldn't recognize her own child… a lover their own partner…" She blushed as she looked away. "I know this for a fact."

Ry's expression hardened. "I see. Well, that explains the odd sense of familiarity and… closeness…"

Jos blew out another sigh. "I'm sorry, Ry. I know this isn't what you expected when you came here today… but I'm truly grateful that you came anyway."

Ry shook his head. "No… you're wrong there… I've suspected for some time now…" He considered informing her of Arei's knowledge on the matter as well but decided to leave that to his brother's discretion. He glanced over at the clock on the wall. "You said Zeus would be here at one, right? Let's go work until then."

Jos nodded. "Ok… but let me handle him." She nodded toward the door and waited for Ry to move. Pausing by the nursery, she turned back to Ry. "Do you think it would be best to leave them in the nursery or bring them into the living room?"

"Bring them here." Hypnos answered as he lowered the paper he'd been reading. A wide smile spread across his lips as Jos jumped in response to his voice. "What? The two of you were so loud, surely you didn't expect me not to hear?"

Jos blew out a defeated sigh as she motioned for Ry to gather both children. "At least it saves the trouble of repeating the conversation, I suppose… The children need to feel more comfortable with you… like they do with their actual grandfather."

Hypnos shrugged. "Say no more." He stood and walked over to Ry extending out his hands to Shiori. "Come, tiny Kit." Sure enough, the child did.

Jos's mouth dropped open wide. "I don't understand. Usually, she's so weary of strangers."

His wide smile spread wider still as he bounced the child. "But I am not a stranger. I am Dream." He booped her tiny nose. "Today, my sweet little Kit, we are going to play a game. I am pretending to be Grandpa Poseidon. Do you see my costume?"

Shiori nodded.

"Another man much like Grandpa Poseidon will be here soon, but he will not be as trustworthy. We must protect our friend Cam. Understand?"

Shiori nodded again.

Ry narrowed his eyes. "If your goal is Zeus, and you'll have him here within your grasp today then what is the plan?"

Hypnos didn't take his attention away from Shiori. "Zeus is not the only target. He is only a thorn that shall be removed along with my target, and that is all that you shall know." He handed Shiori to Jos. "Keep her in your arms or mine." His eyes shifted to Cam, and he held his arms out to him next. "Let me see you next, little Gin." Cam furrowed his brows but held out his arms.

"Dad calls him champ."

Hypnos studied him. "He and your father are close then?"

"Very!"

Hypnos nodded. "Good. Then I shall keep him with me the entire time. At no time shall Zeus hold either child. They are both too powerful individually… together…" He shook his head. "I would hate to see how someone like Zeus would try to harvest their powers."

Ry furrowed his brows. "And we should trust you with them?"

Hypnos chuckled. "I don't seek power… He does."

Ry shrugged. "Fair point…"

Jos frowned. "He will still want a demonstration of their powers… but how much should we show him?"

Hypnos nestled Cam into the bend of his arm and centered himself on the sofa before patting the seat beside him. "We shall only show as much as we are forced to. For now, we shall make a show of putting the children down for a nap. They shall be resting peacefully during his visit. If he wishes to wake them to slate his own selfish curiosity then strike one. If he wishes to push them past a normal level of power for average children of their heritage, strike two."

"And strike three?" Ry asked.

Hypnos narrowed his eyes. "If he tries to find a way to covet the children for his own gain…"

Jos gasped. "Then what?"

Hypnos squeezed her knee. "Do not fret. I have my own goals in this, true, but I'll not ask you to sacrifice the lives of children to gain them. I'll take him down the second he acts. You have my word."

Jos nodded. "Ok." She scooted closer to him and held Shiori closer to her.

Ry couldn't help the look of disbelief that colored his expression, but he didn't have time to respond. The front doorbell sounded. He pushed up from the chair arm he'd been leaning against. "I'll get it. It's probably him." Sure enough, Zeus stood at the door as Ry pulled it open. "Come in I guess…"

Zeus seems surprised at first, but quickly covered his shock with his usual arrogant smile. "Not exactly the brother I'd expected." He glanced through the house past Ry. "Shall I take this to mean Areion has still not been informed of our arrangements?"

Jos cleared her throat as she moved to stand but Hypnos stopped her with a hand to her thigh. She cleared her throat again. "We have not made any agreements yet. I thought that was why we were meeting here today. As you can see, I have informed Ry and Poseidon."

Zeus narrowed his gaze. "I see… Odd that my brother did not see to invite our other brother, Hades."

Hypnos sent him a charming smile as he waved him over. He pressed a finger to his lips as he nodded down to Cam's sleeping face. Once Zeus had finally settled, he waved his hand and produced a glass of scotch. He held it out and replied. "I thought this to be a matter between the two of us." He nodded between the children. "Grandfather to grandfather as Jos puts it."

Ry's eyes widened. He had to give credit where it was due, Hypnos was doing a fine job so far. He snagged Shiori's favorite rabbit and settled on the arm directly beside Jos. "Come here cuddle butt, does Uncle get some love?" He waved the rabbit but Shiori shook her head and held her hands out for the rabbit instead. "Fine, I bet Rabbit will give me love." He hugged the rabbit tight.

"No! Mine! Play with Moose!" Shiori called out.

Ry shook his head. "I don't like Moose. Besides, who knows where Moose is."

"Mine! Get Moose!" She called again now bouncing on Jos's lap.

Jos smacked Ry. "Why are you teasing her. Give her Rabbit."

"I will for a hug." He sent her a wink.

Shiori lifted a finger. "One hug?"

Ry smiled wide. "One hug." He held out his arms and she quickly sprang upward toward him. He caught her, but no sooner did her arms touch him than she was snagging the rabbit. She quickly darted across Jos's lap and into Hypnos's lap. She and Rabbit curled up beside Cam sweetly before she stuck her tongue out at Ry causing everyone in the room to laugh.

"Well, isn't she a firecracker." Zeus commented.

Jos giggled. "She is. The longer she stays with us the more of a personality she develops. We can't wait to see how much she continues to grow."

His eyes moved to the other child. "And this little guy. He is also yours?"

Jos shook her head. "No… I suppose I should explain. I helped raise my best friend's werewolf children and now this is one of their children. He is part werewolf part Gin… though the werewolf genes seem to be recessive, I guess." She turned to Hypnos for reassurance in her words.

"Much so, My dear. It often occurs that way when creatures of different species successfully mate."

Zeus rubbed his chin. "And you said she's a Kitsume?"

Jos nodded. "She is."

"And she's used powers already? You've seen them?"

Jos laughed nervously. "We have. She and Cam turned the hospital room into an aquarium yesterday evening for the new babies."

He nodded. "Right, right… Say… you don't think you could wake them up now, and have them do it… do you."

Jos frowned, her gaze meeting Hypnos's. "Well, I mean you saw. They both just went down for their naps, Shiori just now and Cam no more than 10 minutes ago."

"Not long then. Surely, they could fall right back to sleep after."

Jos frowned. "They would be too exhausted. Perhaps we could talk about the wedding for a while and once they wake up-"

Zeus held up his hand. "Yes, the wedding, I'll make sure to have my end ready… not to worry." His eyes never left the children as he stood. "I just recalled though; I have an important meeting this evening. "Let us meet up next week. I'd like to see what these two can do, yes?" He waved quickly as he retrieved his phone from his pocket and hurried toward the door. "I'll call with plans. I do expect Areion to know about things by then." He said pointing to Jos as he rushed out the door.

Jos waited until she was sure he was gone before releasing her breath. "Was it just me or was that weird?"

Ry shook his head. "No, that was weird." His attention moved to Hypnos who was now back to looking like himself. "You will be here at all times to protect them, right?"

Hypnos nodded. "Jos and the children will never be alone… especially after that." Darkness seemed to fall over the home and laughter echoed all around as shadows moved across the mirrors and around the darkest corners of the home.

Ry shuddered. "I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or worse."

"We will not do them harm… he will." Hypnos insisted.

Ry ran his hand over his hair before grabbing Jos's hand. "Walk me out."

Jos nodded and followed. Outside she asked. "What is it?"

Ry frowned. "You know his plan?"

Jos nodded.

"It's a good one?"

Jos shrugged.

"You have a choice?"

She shook her head. "Not if I want to live…"

Ry's brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"

Jos walked over and sat on the top steps of the porch. "It means I died the day I tried to escape from the DeMarco mansion, but Hypnos and his siblings need something that only I can give them… or at least they think it's something only I can give them… If I turn back on the deal I made with them then I go back to being dead… and not just dead trapped in Tartarus for an eternity."

Ry's eyes widened as he collapsed onto the steps beside her. "Fuck, Jos…"

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "I can't die right now, Ry… I can't leave them. I've finally found something worth living for after all this time…"

Ry wrapped his arms around her, his own eyes burning with unshed tears. "Yeah, I know. Don't worry we'll figure out something. I promise."