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Thanatos watched the river Styx flow, its red tides carrying thousands of souls to their final destination. Even among the sunless, desperate depths of Tartarus he could still see the beauty in it. He appreciated the orderly nature of Hades, in spite of, or perhaps thanks to the fact though his mother Nyx, the Night Incarnate, his existence was rooted in Primordial Chaos itself. Soon enough he would assume his own responsibilities as the God of Death, yet another essential element of the Underworld.
He was still just a boy now, a youthful God who has yet to assume his full power. Still, Lord Hades said, it would be good for the young gods of the House to learn more about the kingdom they were born to serve. So, there they were now, learning, if you could call it that.
Thanatos’ twin brother, Hypnos, laid asleep on the ground, exhausted by the routine inspection of Tartarus. Thanatos knew that upon waking up he would claim that sleeping on the job was perfectly natural for the God of Sleep, expected even. How else, if not by dreaming, was he supposed to use his natural talents? Of course, Hypnos himself would likely not be able to say anything to their master, but Thanatos surely could help. Despite his aloof and distant disposition, Lord Hades has always treated him well. Oftentimes, better than his own true born son.
Speaking of, where was Zagreus? The prince of the Underworld and the only child of Lord Hades and the Goddess Nyx – or so they said.
Thanatos had his doubts. He had not met all his numerous siblings – of which there were thousands – so he could not vouch that all of them resembled himself and Hypnos. Even the Gods of Mount Olympus, according to Lord Hermes, despite being related, all looked like they were made of different cloth. He had no reason to doubt his mother, nor had he any intention to spite Zagreus himself – but there was something in his heart that stirred each time someone called them brothers.
Was he jealous? No. He did not wish to be a prince of the House, or to have Lord Hades as his father. His mother and sole parent was such a mighty goddess in her own way, that a part of Thanatos could not wait until he could assume his duties and be known as a God in his own right, and not an extension of the Night Incarnate. He used to think his brother would be the same, yet now he knew the God of Sleep would not want to stray too far from his parent. Zagreus, though? Thanatos had no clue as to what Zagreus would want to do.
Thanatos hissed as something burned his leg. He turned around, fast as a whip, ready to show whatever miserable wretch had dared to hurt him what the God of Death was like in anger. He schooled his expression into that of pure wrath, only to have it fall from his face the moment he turned around. There he was, Zagreus, standing right next to him, with a mischievous grin blooming on his lips and reflecting in his eyes, one red, one green.
“Sorry, Than,” he said without a hint of genuine guilt. “You looked so solemn I just had to do something about it.”
“So you decided to burn me?” Thanatos scoffed. “With your feet.”
Zagreus cast a look down at his flaming feet, same as his father’s, with a shy expression.
“Had to get your attention somehow,” the prince said.
Time passed strangely in Hades. It flowed, it lingered, it tied into impossible knots. There was no way to tell, even in the vaguest manner, for how long Thanatos had known Zag. First, he has only Hypnos by his side, then in a blink of an eye another boy appeared and took up all the vacant space. He was doing the same thing now, with his presence filling the air around Thanatos, making him aware of every miniscule movement of the other boy. Suddenly the stiff air of Tartarus got so hot as though all the magma of Asphodel had dripped down through the ceiling.
“I’m tired of his place,” Zagreus whined, “Are we done here? Can we go back yet?”
“What happened, Prince? Eager to get back to the comfort of your palace? Thought you were excited to explore your father’s domain.”
That earned him a poke into his ribs.
“I’d much rather explore Elysium, not this wretched dungeon. But father would never allow me to go that far.”
An understandable frustration, Thanatos thought. He could tease Zagreus with the fact that he would actually be allowed to go to Elysium very soon, and even much further than that – but he decided to bite his tongue instead. Being a prince, he thought, was not as glorious as one might think. Especially not for Zagreus, whose own godly portfolio remained unknown. Thanatos couldn’t tell whether or not that bothered his friend. Zagreus was not the kind to hide his surface thoughts, but his secrets and worries he would bury deep.
“We could go back, but you will be the one to wake up Hypnos.”
“No way!” Zagreus said, “Just look at him, Than. He is sleeping like a log. He is not going to be happy if we wake him up.”
“I am not carrying him all the way back.”
“You could shift with him, right?”
No, actually, he couldn’t. He could shift himself all over the Underworld at this point, thanks to his innate talent and some additional training from Mother Nyx. But taking someone like Hypnos with him back to the House of Hades? No, thanks. Just imagining the strain made Thanatos wince.
Zagreus saw that.
“Or I guess we could wait until he’s ready to go.” Zagreus said, defeated.
“A change of heart, Highness? How very precious of you.”
That earned him another poke in the side.
They settled down beside the sleeping Hypnos and made fire. Zagreus didn’t use his feet this time, thank Hades. He stared at the flame, clenching his jaw. Thanatos could let this go, ignore the expression, create more distance as he probably should have had a long time ago. Instead, he turned to Zagreus.
“Is something bothering you, Zag?”
The prince of Hades bit his lip. Something about the look in his eyes reminded Thanatos of Lord Hades himself, but he knew his friend would not appreciate the comparison at this moment.
“It’s nothing, Than,” he said. “I was just thinking, that’s all.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Thinking is a valuable skill, and I applaud you in your pursuit of it.”
“Oh, to Tartarus with you,” Zagreus couldn’t hold back a smile. Thanatos fought hard to bite down his own, but he failed. “If you must know, something is bothering me.”
The dungeons of Tartarus were never a pleasant place to be, yet something shifted in the air, making it just a tad more insufferable. Thanatos would be suffocating now, if such a thing was possible for a God.
He was never a master of reading into whims and emotions, and now this lack of skill came back to bite him in the side. He felt as though if he didn’t manage to understand his friend now, that something would be lost forever between them. Thanatos could not allow it.
“Father has hired a shade to train me in ways of fighting.” Zagreus said, “Achilles, his name is. A forgotten hero of the Mycenean age. Have you heard this name before? They say he might be the greatest warrior of all time.”
So, Hades has decided to make a real prince out of his son, Thanatos thought. Well then, it was supposed to happen sooner or later. Despite the nature of Zagreus’s Godhood yet evading understanding, he was still the Prince of the Underworld. He had duties to assume, much like Thanatos and Hypnos. Was that the nature of his distress? Was Zagreus so upset that his days of leisure were fading away?
“Achilles,” Thanatos repeated, “Yes, I might have heard this name before, though I have never met the man, alive or dead.”
“You’ll meet him soon enough; he’s also going to be a guard of the House. Father chose him personally to serve.”
“I trust the King’s judgement,” Thanatos said, “I’m sure this shade will have a lot to teach you, if he indeed is the greatest warrior.”
Zagreus crossed his arms, turning his gaze away from the flame and onto Thanatos. One eye red, one eye grin. And while there was an air of darkness about him, befitting a Chthonic God, there was also something else. Something Thanatos could not yet name, striking as it was to his senses.
“It’s not the training I’m worried about, Than. I’m excited about training. I always wanted to be strong, you know. Like you. Like father,” Zagreus winced. “And I’m not just upset because father wants me to do boring work in the administrative chambers with all those boring shades. I’m sad because once you and Hypnos are off to your duties, I’ll be stuck in the House all alone. And things will never be the same again. It will never be like this again.”
“I’m not sure Hypnos is going to stray far,” Thanatos smirked, “So you won’t have to miss him much.”
“So, what, when I miss you, should I ask Hypnos to wear your clothes and pretend to be all stern and powerful?”
“Please, Zag,” Thanatos said, “As if Hypnos would succeed.”
Hypnos, deep in his dreaming, let out a snore. Thanatos bit his lip not to laugh. From the corner of his eye, he saw Zagreus do the same. Still, the air was heavy around them, and the tension made his skin crawl.
“I’m still going to be present at the House,” Thanatos said softly. “You will likely be so busy with your princely duties you won’t even notice me gone.”
“I will,” Zagreus said sharply. “Besides, I’m not cut off for that. You’re much more princely than I am.” Thanatos raised an eyebrow. Zagreus poked him in the cheek. His hands did not possess the ability to scorch, but Thanatos still felt the burn from the touch. “You are! Just look at you, so strong and handsome. Like one of those heroes Orpheus sings about. Even my father respects you. He barely tolerates me.”
Thanatos didn’t know what to say to that. Lord Hades had been a formidable figure for as long as Thanatos had known him. There had been a time, eons ago, when the King of the Underworld would show his softer side more often. Back when his Queen was still by his side. Then she was gone, and Hades was forever hardened. Later, Nyx appeared with Zagreus in her arms, her newest child, as was officially announced. Hades paid little attention to the boy, while the Night Incarnate doted on him, making Hypnos jealous. And Thanatos? He greeted Zagreus with curiosity that quickly blossomed into affection. He wasn’t quick to call the boy his brother, though.
“Perhaps if Lord Hades sees you excel at your duties, he will give you the respect you crave.”
“I doubt it.” Zagreus sighed. “And I don’t crave the old man’s respect I just- I just wish things didn’t change so fast.”
“Zag, many mortal lifetimes have passed since the day we first met. All things end, even for us Gods. You should know, as the son of a Titanslayer.”
“Contempt for one’s parent must run in my blood then,” Zagreus said grimly. “Just promise me one thing, Than.”
Anything, Thanatos wanted to say. Instead, he uttered, feigning boredom:
“What is it?”
“Promise you’ll never leave me, not forever. Promise you will come back to the House as much as you can.”
Of course, he would. How could he not? What was Zagreus even saying, that Thanatos would prefer to be stuck in the depths of Tartarus or the fields of Elysium (as beautiful as they were)? Or better yet, the mortal realm itself, barely tolerable as it was. Though there were nice things there, of course, that he enjoyed to see. Like the seas and the fields, and the groves of pomegranates – his favorite trees. They were his favored colors, you see. Red and green.
If duty wouldn’t bring him back to Hades, then desire surely would. He didn’t say it, of course. He said: “I promise.”