Ch.24

Paimon

"Athena! You could of compromise the whole thing! And for what? Vengeance? Retaliation? Revenge? What!" God was screaming in the next room over at Athena.

"You okay,mate?" I asked and put a reassuring hand on Ares.

"I'm fine. Just can't believe she'd do something like this. I thought we had fixed our relationship. Our family." Ares sadly shook his head.

I felt bad for the bastard. I never had a family. Just my camel and Hel.

Lucifer and my parents were hardly family. Just people I had the displeasure of sharing blood with.

"It'll be okay. If not we are you family." Ivy Took a seat next to Ares and gave him a small hug.

"Thank you guys." Ares smiled at us.

"That sister of yours is unreasonable!" God slammed a door and walked into the den where most of us were sitting.

"You're telling me. Got a blade through the chest 6 hours ago." Ares chuckled.

"How is that, homeskillet? Need a bandaid or two?" Thanatos spoke from across the room.

"Homeskillet?" We all asked in sync causing an uproar of laughs.

"Yeah, like home dawg or homie?" Thanatos didn't seem to understand he was trying to hard to be human.

"Oh I get it! Home dawg!" Ivy clapped her hands.

"Thank you DD." Thanatos winked.

DD?

Oh my god this man was such a nerd.

"Of course." Ivy gave him a sweet smile that made my heart jump.

She looked so beautiful when she smiled.

"Hey Zeus?" I nodded at the large scary man in front of me.

"Yes,Boy?" Zeus crossed his arm.

"Can you join me on a walk?" I braced myself for the impact of a beating.

"Sure. I need to stretch my old bones anyhow." Zeus gave me an odd smile and stood from his sofa.

"We'll be back." I gave Ivy a quick unnoticeable peck on the cheek.

I lead Zeus in the courtyard of Heaven aka God's backyard.

"What did you need?" Zeus crossed his arms and continued walking down the flower lined path.

"I have feelings for Ivy. I know she's big and important and other kind don't exactly mix. But I'd like it if you could not kick my ass." I slowed down to watch him.

"I'm not stupid, Paimon. You both obviously have mutual feelings for each other. But you need to understand she is a leader she cannot be distracted by relationships." Zeus turned to face me.

"Were you not once in love?" I would be beheaded for this.

"Of course." Zeus looked at me with confusion.

"Then you understand how hard it is." I crossed my arms.

Zeus sighed, "Fine but the minute you compromise her leadership skills, I will have to end the relationship- or you." Here goes the whole 'break my daughters heart and ill break you' speech.

"Yes sir," I nodded and turned towards the palace.

"Oh and Paimon?" Zeus called out,stopping me.

"Im proud of you." Zeus smiled and walked towards the white palace.

"Thank you sir." I coughed and followed him.

---

Ivy

"Ivy," Thanatos took a seat next to me.

"Hey, Than. Good work today." I smiled and took his bony hand in mine.

"You didn't do too bad yourself, newbie." He winked.

I chuckled and looked around the room.

Everyone was chatting or patching wounds from our small battle today. Everyone looked happy and carefree. Maybe because we were all in one room for once?

Maybe because we had a win today.

Whatever it was, I was thankful. I had only heard horror stories about the gods.

How they were destined to kill each other.

Clearly, whoever wrote those folk tales, wasn't in their right mind.

"My beautiful daughter. Im going to turn into bed." Zeus randomly appeared next to me and pulled me in a hug.

"Alright," I laughed, "Goodnight Zeus." I smiled up at him but he looked hurt.

"It'll take time I suppose. Goodnight all, good job today." Zeus gave a wave to the room of people and turned down the hall.

I sat back down on the warm sofa and went back to watching the gods.

"Hey, Persephone? We have a question if you dont mind? Artemis gave me a sheepish smile.

"Shoot." This would be good.

"Where have you been? Like you were born here but we haven't seen you since." Kratos cut in.

"Oh uh," I looked for an escape goat. If they found out I was below on Earth then they'd question me for hours.

"Ivy Im tired," Paimon whined. I looked over at him to see him wink.

Clever boy.

"Me too. You guys will be here tomorrow, right?" I stood from the couch and yawned. Maybe I really was tired.

"Yeah. Goodnight." Eros sent me a huge smile followed by a wink.

What?

"We are just going to sle-"

"Shush child, Dont make your man wait." Thanatos joined in and I shot him a glare.

I extended my hand down to Paimon who accepted with hesitation. He intertwined our fingers and pulled me into him.

"C'mon my queen." He chuckled and lead me down the hallway to a silver door.

"Whats that?" I cocked an eyebrow at him as he pulled a key out of his pocket.

"Our bedroom for the night." Paimon slid the key into the keyhole and turned the the left.

"Think you're using the key wr-" The door opened to reveal a gold rose themed bedroom.

The headboard has colorful pixie lights draped over the gold trimming. Soft pink pillows laid against it.

The walls were decorated with photos of Heaven, but in between them I noticed photos from my house.

I looked closer to see my Nana and Pa sitting with a little me on our old blue sofa. That thing was hideous but that was probably the best day of my life.

"Ivy, Sit your ass down." Pa laughed from the couch.

"But I wanna read!" I held up my Greek mythology textbook. I loved reading about Artemis and Apollo. Nana promised to read it to me after I picked up my clothes.

"I'll read to you after we take this photo." Nana chuckled and finished adjusting the camera.

"Come on, Sweetpea." Pa patted the sofa and I gave in, taking a seat in between him and Nana.

"Smile!" They both yelled and I gave the biggest frown possible.

"Ivy Lendel! You better turn that frown upside down right now." Nana tried to give me her serious parenting look but cracked and smiled.

She always did.

"You can't make me!" I taunted.

"Oh,really?" Grandpa asked.

"Oh no. Nana no." I laughed as she put her hands up and began tickling me.

"Stop!" I laughed.

"Will you smile?" She asked and stopped.

"Never!" I squealed and hopped off the sofa.

"Im gonna get you, Ivy!" Nana taunted.

"Do you like it?" Paimon asked and hugged me from behind.

"I love it." I turned around and put my arms around his neck, "How'd you get it though?"

"I had Zeus send a servant down. They got your stuff for you. Pictures, Clothes, and music, which you have a shit ton of." Paimon laughed.

"Music is what keeps me sane." I winked and yawned.

"C'mon beautiful lets get you to bed." Paimon smiled and lifted me by my waist. I wrapped my legs around his and laid my head in the crook of his neck.

I just want to stay like this forever.

But this feeling was shortly lived as the bed was only a few feet away. Paimon laid me down and pulled the covers over my body.

"Goodnight," He kissed my forehead and retreated to the door.

"Paimon?" I croaked, sleep already taking over.

Paimon turned from the door and nodded at me.

"Stay? Just for tonight?