Atticus [BL]

In complete darkness, a dark castle loomed eerily over the lifeless terrain, with no sign of life living in sight.

"Atticus! Atticus, open the door!"

An exasperated female voice rang out throughout the castle, along with the loud noise of incessant knocking.

"Atticus! Atticus! I f*ckin' swear to your father's name, I'm going to kill you!"

A man, floating in the air in a lying position with his legs crossed while reading a book, couldn't help but squeeze his eyes shut as he sighed deeply. The loud banging on his door disrupted his focus. He groaned in annoyance, and with a snap of his fingers, the door finally swung open.

A woman with long, wavy white hair stepped in. Her scarlet eyes instantly glared at the floating man. She was fuming with rage as she stomped her feet towards him.

Their sole son had skipped the underworld's annual gathering set up for marriages between high-ranking Chthon from Hades's domain and Demons from Hell's domain. AGAIN.

As the son of the ruler of Hades's domain and a demi-god, their son was not supposed to participate in that certain gathering as it was only meant for the noble class. To strengthen the bond and relationship between the Chthons and Demons, the official council of each domain had agreed on finally joining forces and becoming in harmony with each other through interracial union.

For a stronger friendship, the Demon King suggested an arranged marriage of their children. However, Atticus, their sole son, had ghosted the Demon King's daughter during their wedding day and didn't show up.

Such a scandal almost triggered another war between the two domains in the underworld. But the peace had been restored, thanks to the Demon King's daughter's effect on his father, she was able to pacify the Demon King's anger.

After such an incident, Atticus had been urged by his parents to get married, strictly forcing him to participate in the annual gathering for marriages, hoping somehow, he would find a wife. And of course, for a personal reason as well, they wanted grandchildren.

Atticus sighed as he flipped the book closed and glanced down at his mother through his reading glasses, "What is it, ma?"

"I'm so sick of your games! Why are you here? You're not going to find a wife if you keep locking up in your room! Didn't we tell you to go out and attend the annual gathering for marriages? You're not even trying!"

The woman grabbed him by the ear so firmly that her son groaned in pain. He slowly floated down, stepped onto the floor, and hunched slightly forward as his mother pinched and grabbed his ear.

"Ugh, ma! That hurts!"

"Shut up!"

Without a word, she dragged him out of his room and all the way to the throne room. It was quite an embarrassing sight—a hunk being dragged by a small woman. Their hurried footsteps echoed through the dark, eerie castle.

Upon arriving at the throne room, a man wearing a black tunic, who sat at the king's chair, quickly turned in their direction and watched their figures appear from the shadows. 

A laugh escaped his mouth at the sight. His heartily laugh caused the whole castle to rumble slightly, echoing throughout the dark, silent of the place.

"Hahahaha! Persephone, sweetie, stop dragging our son like that." He mused as he stood up from his throne and approached them, "Is this about him getting married?"

Persephone let go of his son and humphed, "Your son is already a hundred century years old, and he still hasn't given us a grandchild!"

Atticus rubbed his ear as he adjusted his reading glasses, "But ma—"

"Shut up! If you're not going to get married here in our realm, perhaps throwing you out to the human realm would help you find a wife."

"What...?"

Atticus' scarlet eyes widened in surprise. 

How long since his parents have been asking for a grandchild now? Was it before he failed his marriage to the Demon King's daughter? Or was it when he reached a thousand years old? But how old was he now? 

He couldn't remember the exact numbers, but he must be around a hundred century years old, as his mother said.

He was old, extremely old. So ancient, if you would say so. However, he had never, even once, gotten an interest in getting married, nor had he even once tried to go out to find a mate.

All he ever did was stay in his room and read. Their realm had been in complete peace for as long as he could remember. Wars had long gone and friendship among other domains was long-established. Their domain's council had even established a good partnership with their long-time enemy, the Hell domain.

He used to participate in war but unexpected peace had been developed. As a result, he had nothing to do. The only thing that interested him was reading and locking himself in his room.

This was the exact reason why his mother was fuming over him. He needed to find a wife so he could give them grandchildren.

It was back then when the Demons and Chthons conflict was still in blood-and-guts. Persephone became pregnant with her second child. However, she was gravely injured, putting both her life and the baby's at risk. With a heavy heart, her husband, Hades, chose to sacrifice their unborn child to save her. The injury left her unable to conceive again.

He sighed, already used to his mother's fuss over him getting married and having kids, "Mother, I'll find a wife eventually, there's no need to do that."

His mother had tried different threats but none of them ever come true, so he was confident that his mother would eventually calm down. He knew his mother wanted a kid as she could not conceive her own but, finding a wife he could choose of his own accord was a problem. 

His mother pressed her temple in frustration, "When was the last time you've said that?" she asked, her eyes glaring at him, "Find a wife eventually, your ass!"

Atticus swallowed in fright. His mother's rage was surely not going to be soothed by mere lies and promises this time.

"Now, sweetie, calm down." As her husband arrived at her side, he pulled her into a hug to calm her down. 

However, Persephone pushed him away and walked towards her throne. The clanking sounds of her sandals resounded through the whole room. She sighed loudly the moment she had slumped herself into her throne.

"I'm done with him, banish him from our realm, and don't get back here unless you have already chosen a bride and have kids."

Stupefied, Atticus went panicked, "H-hold on, ma...You're not serious, right?" 

But her mother only cast him a glare again. He shut his already-opened mouth and glanced at his father.

His father shrugged before he turned his back to him and strode back to his throne next to his wife.

Atticus followed behind him, his steps hurried as though he wanted to pull his father to face him.

"This is not right, you can't just cast me out—"

However, Hades raised his hand and clicked his fingers, and before Atticus could finish his sentence, a sharp shift of reality distorted his figure and almost immediately, a pure veil of darkness absorbed him whole before he completely disappeared.

Silence lingered for a while.

"Will he be alright though?"

Persephone leaned back on the back of her throne still in frustration over her son and turned to look at her husband, "Shut up, Hades, or I'll cast you out as well."

Silent quickly prevailed once again. Darkness loomed over the room as the couple sat on their throne. Nothing was heard, and the complete silence was almost deafening that it might drown them to insanity.

"I guess, we really do need grandchildren, huh."