Chapter 28: Chapter 28

T H A N A T O S

ten minutes earlier…

✠

“…HORKOS. GOD OF oaths!” Thanatos thundered. The sky rumbled and the ground trembled. “State your purpose for coming here uninvited. I have not violated my oath concerning the Reapers.”

Horkos glared at him and dropped his hammer to his side. “…I am not here for you, Thanatos, god of death.”

Thanatos frowned and his grip on his scythe loosened. “Then what in the gods’ names are you here for in such a threatening size?” he demanded. “This is my domain, fool!”

Horkos raised his free hand to tell Death to stop talking. “I am here for the child. Savannah Green; daughter of Hades, god of the Underworld.”

The god of death hesitated.

He was not sure about what response to give. Instinct was urging him to tell Horkos without a second thought. After all, capturing Savannah would ensure the safety of the organisation. But a strange tug was causing Death to consider not selling her out —and it almost felt like…guilt.

“Let us not waste time and go around in circles,” Horkos then continued. “Reveal the child’s location, or else.”

“Do not threaten me,” Thanatos said through his teeth, his grip on his scythe strengthened to iron. “I do not think that you are in any position to bargain with me on my grounds.”

“I do not think that you are in any position to bargain, either,” Horkos countered. “I have every right to uphold the conditions of the treaty by any means necessary. In addition, I am also aware that The Book of Treaties was in fact within your premises all of this time. It was stolen from me and hidden for quite some time. Regardless of how you managed to do it, I need it back. And seeing as it no longer seems to be here, I am under the assumption that it was taken. So, I will not bring harm to your operations if you tell me Savannah Green’s location immediately.”

The Book of Treaties had been in Thanatos’ possession? That sounded absurd. Granted, he had not been in the library for a long time.

How on Earth had it been hidden?

Then he realised; the god of death knew exactly who had taken the book —the first time, and the most recent.

“…You dare to accuse me of thievery?” Death demanded. “You have no proof. And what would I do with the Book of Treaties, in any case?”

“Do not take me for a fool, Thanatos,” Horkos warned him. “You have an extensive library, do not forget. And many gods wish to possess the book —you should be aware of that.”

“I think I would know if my library had your book, Horkos,” Thanatos said thickly. The god of oaths regarded him wearily before sighing angrily.

“Your defence is unimportant,” Horkos snapped. “Give me what I need, or I will not hesitate to destroy what stands in my way.”

“Destroy? As in, my headquarters? I think it unreasonable that you should punish my entire company because of one stupid employee,” Thanatos pointed out.

Horkos smirked, evidently resorting to scheming. “…Indeed. I do agree that it would be most unfortunate and undesirable. So why do you not cooperate and tell me where the child is?”

Admittedly, Thanatos knew precisely where the Reapers were. However, he could not tell Horkos that. Even with the knowledge, the god of oaths would destroy everything just to make a statement.

“…If I reveal her location, will you really leave this place and not harm anyone within the Reapers Organisation?” Thanatos asked, needing confirmation. He was hoping that Savannah and the rest of them in New York would be better equipped to negotiate with Horkos more effectively.

“I am bound by oath,” Horkos assured him, raising his free hand and placing it on his chest.

Oh yes! thought the god of death.

One of the best things —but the worst for Horkos —about being the god of oaths was the additional importance of making a promise. Even if he did not swear upon the River Styx, Horkos was essentially unable to break his word.

If he did, he would effective immediately lose all of his power for half of a millennium.

Thanatos smiled deviously. Savannah would simply have to deal with Horkos herself, assuming that he could find her with Thanatos’ incorrect directions. Unlikely, but not impossible.

“If you swear it, I will reveal the half god’s location,” Death told Horkos. “I will not endanger others on her behalf,” he added darkly.

“What an interesting sense of leadership,” Horkos remarked. “But very well. Be warned Thanatos, that if you do not honour your end of the deal that you will be punished accordingly.”

“I…am aware.”

“Then I swear upon the River Styx that I will not bring harm to anyone within the Reapers Organisation if you tell me where I can find the girl,” Horkos declared, eyes as bright as hellfire.

“And so, I swear it too,” Thanatos agreed.

He then thought about the perfect lie. Lest he wished for Horkos’ confrontation for something as ridiculous as New Zealand, he had to be as vague but as close to accurate as possible.

“The girl used a portal,” Death began with the truth. “The portals destinations are not specifically accurate, but I have an excellent idea of where you can find her.”

Horkos grumbled and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. But he bought it. “Very well. Now, what is the location?”

The god of death hesitated. “The North American state of Washington.”

“Washington?” Horkos repeated. “…Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Thanatos said in the firmest tone that he could muster. “Now seeing as you have what you require, please leave my domain. Your size is threatening to my workers.”

Horkos paused and seemed to stick his chin up stubbornly. “…I see. My presence reminds them of your previous war, am I right? The one where Kronos sought you out to apprehend some rather illegal employees. And the Olympians did not even bother to help —”

“Leave now,” Thanatos cut him off with a voice that shook mountains, and Horkos actually flinched. Then Thanatos reined in that power and gave him a hard look. “You are not welcome here.”

Horkos narrowed his eyes at Death and returned his gaze. Thanatos thought that he would lose his temper, but instead he relented. “…What a pity,” he said in a low voice, and reluctantly turned around.

Thanatos watched him storm off to a portal he had made and did not feel safe until he disappeared through it, and before it dissipated after him. Death then exhaled and turned around as well, to walk back to headquarters.

He shrunk in size, regained his human appearance and his suit as he walked back up the steps, dragging his scythe behind him.

Nina met him inside.

“What in the gods’ names are you still doing here?” he hissed at her. She gasped, before immediately running over, launching herself at him and then crushing him into an unexpected hug.

Death staggered and dropped his scythe. Nina sobbed as she clung to him, her hair falling out in strands. Thanatos did not know what to do. He felt conflicted between hugging her back and telling her to let go. But he hated seeing her upset. So, he let her maintain the embrace.

But he could not bring himself to return the gesture —physical affection was not something which he often displayed. He was then unsure of what to do with his arms, so he dithered with his fists clenched at his sides.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” Nina whispered, withdrawing slightly so she could face him. The whites of her eyes were reddish. “I tried to leave after everyone else had, but then I heard thunder. So, I figured you were only having an argument. I take it that it was a…misunderstanding?”

Thanatos grumbled before finally gripping her waist and setting her down onto the floor. “…I hate your intuition,” he sighed. “It’s a curse to me that you can just…get it.”

“Not a blessing?” Nina smiled, raising an eyebrow. “Someone has got to keep you out of trouble.”

He smiled in return. “What am I going to do without you,” he sighed, impulsively reaching upwards and tucking her hair behind her ear. She stiffened and then so did he, realising what he was doing. He jerked away and she took a step back, fixing her hair by herself.

Thanatos hesitated.

Had he done that out of habit? He had done it when she had been younger. She would often grow sad at the mention of parents, whether hers or anyone else’s, so Thanatos had done a lot of the comforting. She did not tie her hair back then, so it always fell into her face. He looked at Nina now as she wrapped her hair into a secure bun. Things were simply no longer the same. She was no longer a child, and certain things had now changed their meanings.

He needed to be careful.

“We need to get everyone back here,” Death finally said, sighing shakily. “Preferably as many Reapers as possible. Horkos plans on going to the mundane world, so everyone would be safer in the divine. He swore not to harm anyone who is here.”

Nina gave him a look. “You’re not planning to leave those other Reapers defenceless, are you?”

“It is a factor that I have already taken into consideration,” he said firmly.

“Thanatos, sir,” she subtly scolded him in a low, careful voice. “That is not very becoming of a leader.”

“Excuse me?” Thanatos raised an eyebrow. “I am being a leader. It will be better for the greater organisation.”

“And not them?” Nina countered. “No matter how you feel about them, they are a still part of this organisation, Thanatos. Maybe not the Detached, but the other two certainly are.”

“Well, then maybe I will fire them,” Death growled.

“What. Why?” she asked. “What is your problem with them? They are not bad souls, so why are you just going to abandon them?”

“Because then I wouldn’t have to worry about that stupid part of the family anymore!” Thanatos suddenly yelled, causing the room to shake.

Nina flinched at the power. Then she slowly narrowed her eyes at him. “…Family?” she repeated.

Thanatos took a deep breath and slumped his shoulders, realising that he had exposed himself. He thought about how he would talk his way out of it. But Nina was very observant, and she noticed little details. She would not believe him if he tried to twist the truth. Death did not keep much from Nina.

So, he decided that she could know.

“The girl, Savannah —she is…actually my half-sister,” he told her.

“What?”

“Eighteen years ago, my father had an affair with a mortal woman. He does not usually do that, so I suspect that she caught his attention because she is a Profítis —someone who can see things from the divine world that normal mortals don’t. They had a child; a half-blood god, and soon he had to leave them due to a certain treaty. It forbids half-bloods from existing. They are too dangerous and unpredictable. So, Savannah was monitored by me for most of her life through the necklaces our father gave to us. She showed no signs of power or supernatural abilities except for a few incidents that were written off and kept a secret. And then…then she died.”

Nina looked confused. “So…does she still technically pose a threat?”

Thanatos sighed and nodded. “Because she is a Grim Reaper, indeed she does. I mean, you saw what she did to get in here. She killed someone, and if she ever had a chance before to be spared, it will be gone now.”

Nina glanced down and thought for a moment. “…How many other cases like this have there been? Of a half-blood god who turned into a Reaper?”

Death paused. “Actually, you know…I do not think that I have ever come across another one,” he admitted. “I have only heard tales of half-blood gods anyway, but I would not know if we ever employed one. I don’t look too deeply into that department…” he mumbled.

“So, she is rare as well as hunted,” Nina remarked. Then she smiled softly and shook her head. “…If you fire her, then she really can be dead. Then the treaty will be ineffective, and she can reincarnate or remain in the afterlife. Right?” she suggested hopefully.

“Hm. That does not sound like a bad plan,” Thanatos murmured. “Firing her also ensures that we will not be held accountable for any other idiotic things she has done since she died.”

“But why did you even hire her in the first place?” Nina questioned. “Surely if you had thought about the implications of her being a half-blood, you would not have done so?”

“Yes, well —I do not actually hold job interviews or anything. She was obviously chosen because she fit the criteria.”

“And, is she worth it?” Nina asked, with an edge to her voice.

Death frowned and gave her a look. She just raised an eyebrow. “What is that supposed to mean?” he asked.

“It means,” she breathed wearily, “…is she worth keeping in the Reapers Organisation. Is she worth abandoning. Is she worth…losing?”

He blinked rapidly, surprised by her use of reverse psychology. He understood at that which she was getting —was Savannah worth losing in terms of her relation to him. And he thought about it.

Would he really care? It was not as though he had any attachment to her. All she had ever been was a burden, and he despised her almost as much as his mother Persephone did. Not because he did not wish for her to exist, but because his daily life would have been far simpler.

Every time that Thanatos looked upon the redhead, he saw Phoebe Green. The two mortals bore a striking resemblance. And he knew that the unease would be the same for the rest of his family. He knew that Savannah and her mother’s existence was something that Persephone especially would rather think of as a bad memory —or even a fabricated bad dream.

It did not hurt as much as Death had figured it would when he reached a conclusion. “…Yes, she is,” he finally answered Nina, before turning around and walking away from her.