29: calm before chaos

A slight moan escaped Hades' mouth as he stretched his arm while yawning. He around peered out where he was. The walls were normal white while the roof was made of a dark wood.

His purple eyes looked on his side. Covered by a thick white blanket with black markings, lied a woman. She had long blonde hair, a smooth tanned skin and ample curves. On her eyes and a bit beyond she has a cutting scar, that brought a bit of strength to her saintly features.

After a second of looking at her and trying to remember what happened last night, he stood up and with a wave of hand, his body was clean and his clothes came flying.

Hades then walked to the nearest window and looked at the sky with a strange lonely gaze.

"Good morning" a voice rang behind his ear, he didn't look behind and continued gazing at the scorching sun making its way in the sky.

"Good morning" he responded while opening the window and breathing the fresh air that came from outside.

The woman approached his ear and whispered seductively "Do you want to continue where we left out?"

"I can't, I have to meet Odin in a few minutes and I already have plans for the rest of the day" he replied unaffected by her otherworldly charms.

She sighed "This is unfortunate, I would have loved to do it more. Well, I hope you will like your journey in Asgard and may we meet again" she said dejectedly.

"Goodbye" Hades responded before disappearing and letting the woman alone in her big house.

…

"So, is he gone?" Aether asked with curiosity, leaning forward slightly.

Phanes nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Yes, I don't know for how long, but he has gone to Asgard."

"What does he want to do with them?" Aether inquired, his clear blue eyes bright with interest.

"I think he wants to test them," Phanes replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Oh, is he also preparing a war against them?" Aether asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Probably, or maybe he is preparing for if they ally with Zeus," Phanes said thoughtfully, his wings fluttering slightly.

"Interesting, but I wonder if that war will ever happen~" Aether mused, a note of skepticism in his voice.

"A war needs two sides," Phanes stated matter-of-factly.

"I can't believe he truly left while trusting us," Aether commented, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Yeah, well we have been good boys for the past centuries, and beside your mother, my crush, is his neighbor," Phanes said with a grin, waggling his eyebrows.

Aether scowled at the mention of his mother. "Ah, don't say that, still doesn't go well with me."

Phanes chuckled. "Haha, boy, when I get back the powers that I once had, as the king of our pantheon, she'll gladly become my wife."

Aether rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, now can we stop talking about you fucking my mother."

Phanes shrugged. "You are right. Let's talk about how we will soon kill her favorite son."

Aether's eyes widened slightly. "That bastard never knew why she liked him more than us."

Phanes smirked. "He won't be for long. When we finally kill him and deprive him of his power, she will finally be obligated to realize that he was too weak, and then the love that she had for him will fall to you."

Aether nodded slowly, a calculating look in his eyes. "And with his power, you will be able to partially awaken. But will that be enough?"

"Don't underestimate me," Phanes replied, his tone confident. "I once was the king of the Universe."

Aether looked slightly doubtful. "…if you say so. But what should we do after that?"

"Annihilate those pests that have become too arrogant," Phanes said, a fierce determination in his voice.

"Even Hestia, she is quite cute," Aether commented offhandedly, a faint smirk on his lips.

Phanes scowled. "Shut up, and beside, don't you already have a wife?"

"But I could make her a mistress," Aether said with a shrug, his expression indifferent.

Phanes raised an eyebrow. "And Hemera will accept this?"

"…She won't have a choice, and she doesn't have an ounce of idea of what we are planning," Aether replied, a hint of ruthlessness in his voice.

They both looked at each other with mischievous grins, raising their cups of mead. "To our success!" they declared in unison, before taking a long drink

....

Sometime after Hades left, the woman that slept with him was strolling on the streets. She held a pouch, with space extension runes making it able to hold many items and bought apples.

"It will be 100 AC" said a man handing her a box of apples.

She handed him one coin which was silver in color before putting the apples in her pouch and then resumed her walk.

As she strolled through the peaceful streets, she admired the vibrant flowers and the charming buildings. She had never felt more at ease in her life.

But as she turned into a narrow alley, a sharp pain pierced her body, and she stumbled forward, letting out a cry of pain. She looked up in shock to see a shadowy figure looming over her, holding a bloody sword, her eyes trembled and tears drizzled on her clothes as she reconized the figure before herself.

Her mind raced as she realized her life was coming to an abrupt end in this idyllic place. The sound of her screams echoed off the alley walls, but no one came to her aid. With a final gasp, her body went limp, and her eyes stared off into the distance, forever frozen in terror.