Thread of fate

"What are your plans, my Lord?" The skeleton beside me asked, I look at the mortal still laying down and sleeping peacefully in my bed that is still not letting go of my clothes.

I don't know what to reply to nor what to say to the question that he asked me. I can't say that I want her to leave here, to find a way for her to leave this realm but I can't. Something is stopping me from telling them that 'she needs to leave'

I don't want her to leave.

What am I even saying?

I don't think what am I thinking is right, she needs to leave because if she stays here for too long her soul can be sucked out into her body. But I want to be with her, I can't explain how I feel. Even though I just saw her now, I feel so attached to her and I don't want her to leave.

The shock that I felt is tremendous when I found out that a mortal who is still alive had entered my realm. I couldn't believe it and I wanted to investigate and expel whoever it was because I didn't want anyone to enter my realm. It's because I'm in charge of it, this is where the souls of those who have died to go, this is where I lie.

The mere mortals and some of the gods think that this is only a place for the outcasts, the unwanted gods. That it is only the abode of the souls of the dead, and it was a dismal place. The prison of the titans who were overthrown by Zeus. I couldn't help but be angry because they think lowly of my territory.

Especially that Achilles.

When Odysseus journeyed the underworld to seek advice from the dead prophet Teiresias, he encountered the shade of Achilles. Who told him that he would rather be alive and the slave of a landless man thanking of all the dead in the underworld.

They were both feeling envy from each other when they met, here again, Odysseus envies Achilles' strength and glory that it won him; Achilles envies Odysseus for being alive.

Achilles is so pessimistic and hates his life here, it's so petty and I can't help but laugh. The shade of Achilles here is ill-tempered and discouraged and it isn't worth praising. He is discontent in the underworld and is longing for life on earth.

Well if he didn't die, he wouldn't be here in the first place so it's his fault.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I forgot that my servant was still in front of me who seemed to be waiting for my answer. I thought carefully, what would I answer to his question.

I look at the naïve sleeping lady on my side, I cannot let her stay here. She is not allowed here, I closed my eyes in annoyance. I really can't let her stay but why do I want her to stay here?

"She can't stay here, a living mortal will never be welcomed here," I spoke and he nodded. "We pampered her too much, I even let her in my bed." I look at her again.

I slowly put my hand on her hand that is clutching my dress, I was nervous while I was doing that.

I slowly touched his soft hand which sent electricity into my body and I slowly removed his hand that was holding my clothes. She grunted and the look of being annoyed plastered on her sleeping face. And when I successfully removed her hand there I breathed a sigh of relief.

"We should get rid of her before she wakes up," I said with full of authority and stood up which made the skeleton panic.

"I will my Lord!" He said in a hurry and hurriedly walked towards the lady who lies in my bed, but he stopped when I spoke.

I looked up at the skeleton standing in front of me. So many thoughts and words entered my mind. Thinking about how his bones will touch the skin of her makes me angry, I don't want him to touch her.

Why am I bothered so much about her? I sighed and tried to shake the feeling of mine, "Bring her back to her world, her skin must have no scratches, no wounds, nothing should happen to her and she will be safe." I said calmly which made the skeleton look shocked.

He probably thinks why do I care for this lady so much, I can't answer his questions if that is his questions. I don't even know why.

"You better do your job properly or you will be the bone that will Cerberus gnawed."

His jaw dropped because of what he said, he is a faceless skeleton but I can see fear and shock in his eyes. He looks like he is unconvinced and doesn't know what to do because of what I said.

"Do you understand?" I asked.

"Yes, my Lord!" He stammered.

This is my home, here are the ones I take care of. In this place, I feel safe and welcomed and I don't want a mere mortal to ruin it.

"Go to the exit that is made by Orpheus for him to get his wife," I said and turned away from them.

I walk towards the door of my chamber and put my hand on the doorknob and turn it and step outside. I feel like someone is stopping me from leaving her there and there is an urge deep inside me that is wanting me to not leave and just stay by her side.

I calmed my thoughts and my inner self then shook my head, I shouldn't be selfish. Maybe I feel it because this is the first time a living human steps into my realm. I've been alone in my kingdom, even though my servants are here, I still feel alone in this place. And maybe it is also because of the dreams that I keep on dreaming and because of that, I become like this.

I walked away from my chamber while stopping myself from looking back. As I was walking Thanatos appeared in front of me with a grin on his face.

"You look troubled," he whispered. "Is it because of the mere mortal?" he asked which made me glare at him.

I sighed, I ruled the underworld and is often associated with death and feared by men, but I'm not the devil itself- it's Thanatos the deity in front of me who is grinning and probably trying to read my mind.

"Is it because you don't want that mortal to leave?"

"Who said that I don't want her to leave?"

"It's written all over your face," he laughed.

"Why would I don't want her to leave?" I raised my brow.

"Maybe it's because someone is new here, it's a new experience for you since you never left in your palace and just tend the souls of the dead..." He answered I don't have anything to say to him because I don't even know. "...Or she reminds you of someone," I stopped and look back at him.

"No, What someone?" I denied and averted my eyes from him.

"Don't play with me Hades, I have been your adviser and one of your co-workers and companion here."

"I don't know what you're saying."

"Okay then," he laughed mockingly.

We continued walking towards the main hall, we had servants passing by while on our way to the main hall. The main hall is where I will receive the newly arriving dead.

When we arrived I saw with both of my eyes the three judges sitting on the throne of gold. Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus, this trio is the judges of the dead. They judged the deeds of the deceased and created the laws that governed the underworld.

They were once a mortal man and child of Zeus. Zeus chose them to be the judges here to replace the first one, the first one was when Cronus ruled over the cosmos. I could see the souls lining up and waiting for their turn to have their judgment.

I turned to Thanatos to see him having a mocking look at me. "You don't want that mortal leave right?"

"You should be with your brother right now or with Hermes, guiding the dead towards Charon. Not gossiping here with me." I muttered

"You're as mean as ever," he chuckled. "Just answer my questions," he pleads which made me sigh.

"As pushy as ever," I said while mocking his voice.

"She is not allowed here because she is still alive and she is a mortal. A living mortal cannot stay on a God's realm." I said calmly.

"You seem to have taken a liking to her even though you've only met once and you're the ruler of the underworld you can find a way to let her stay here."

"How can you say that I have taken a liking to a mortal who snuck in my realm?" I couldn't but say it with a mean tone.

"You're such a hot-headed as ever." he chuckled, "I'm only asking a question," he added.

"You're pushy as ever," I said to him again but with a sarcastic tone, and he laughs even more.

"She's not allowed here so why would I let her stay?" I raised my brow. I repeated what I told him just now because he still looks unconvinced.

We watched how my three ministers gave judgment to dead souls and while I watch I could see at my peripheral version that he is laughing.

"Stop laughing," I said with a hint of annoyance in my voice.

"What a peculiar event," he said with amused face and tone.

It's a strange event, "What if she comebacks? What will you do?" I froze because of what he said and my heart is beating faster but I put aside what I was feeling and looked him straight in the eye.

"She will be back and will always come back if her destiny to be hereafter when the fates who spin the threads of human destinies determine her fate. Once Clotho spins the thread of life and Lachesis measured its allotted length and Atropos cuts it off with her shears then we will know the answers to our questions." I said and walk away from him but the way I said my conviction it has anticipation in it and it made me be bothered by my actions more.