XX – The Gods Intervene       PROSERPINA:       Something crashed behind her.   At hearing the sudden commotion, Proserpina feels a curious Thanatos slowly stir into attention at the back of her mind.   “POPPPPYYYY!!!”   …only for the god of death to promptly cut himself off faster than she could even register the words, let alone blink.   So she’s on her own.   Lovely.   Proserpina exhales noisily.     There can’t possibly be any sound reason for the blindingly bright god of the sun–and harbinger of headaches as Artemis liked to claim–to come running out of the b

XXII–Calm before the Storm       ALASTOR NYX:       Not even ten minutes later, a freshly-showered Alastor half-skipped, half-walked down the stairs with a merry hop in his step, whistling an upbeat tune as he looked around.   He was too much in a good mood; he couldn’t even find it in him to fidget with his borrowed clothes–a dark gray hoodie matched with black joggers, probably the only comfy outfit of her brother that would have fitted his considerably larger frame and never mind the way William’s faint scent still clings… it kind of reminded him of his mate’s honeyed scent, though this one feels more subdued– Alastor was practically bouncing up and down in joy as he moved.   It’s fin

XXIV–Beginning of an End       He was known by many names.   Hades–God of the Underworld, King of Hell, Lord of the Dead; the adjudicator of souls, father of shadows and the wealthiest of the gods–had lived since the fall of the elder gods, the Titans, since the dawn of humanity and he does not take surprises lightly.   Not many may have known but the eldest Olympian God actually possessed the rare gift of foresight regarding the fates of those who are about to be brought forth to his realm, those who are already dying, how and when will they die.    And thus, there were few, precious things left in all existence which possessed any ghost of a chance to actually surprise him.   Hades took great pride in that fact… and even greater care to maintain this serviceable ability a s

    “Start by pulling him out of the fire andhoping that he will forget the smell. He was supposed to be an angel but they took himfrom that light and turned him into something hungry,something that forgets what his hands are for when theyaren’t shaking. He will lose so much, and you will watch it all happenbecause you had him first, and you would let the worldbreak its own neck if it means keeping him.Start by wiping the blood off of his chin andpretending to understand. Repeat to yourself– “I won’t leave you, I won’t leave you” …until you fall asleep and dream of the placewhere nothing is red.     . . .       The throne of the King of all Vampires is cold and rigid as a hum