Reaper of Hearts

Chapter Nine

Throbbing pain lanced through Cassidy as her eyes fluttered open. Her skin was too hot, stretched tight over her bones. This was absolutely the worst hangover she'd ever experienced. Nausea clawed at her stomach. She needed aspirin immediately.

"Oh, the sleeping beauty awakens!" Persephone's voice was too loud. Too cheerful. Too bright. Just too much. "Come on, up and at 'em baby Goddess. We have plans to make."

"Plans?" Cassidy groaned as she rolled over. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear them of grit. "What plans could we possibly be making? And what did I drink? I feel like death."

"I can assure you that you do not." The dark voice close to her ear made her jump. "You feel very much like life to me, doll."

Thanatos' gaze made her skin itch. Something shone in the depths of his eyes that she didn't have time to unpack. It was all a little too much too soon.

Until his lips were on hers. He kissed her like he was drowning and she was the only breath of air he could get. She groaned against his mouth, his teeth nipping at her lower lip. He deepened the kiss, angling his head and pressing her back into the soft, downy mattress she was on.

If this was going to be the new normal for her Afterlife, she was on board! She clutched at his shoulders, pulling him more firmly on top of her. She was on fire, every touch stoking her flames.

"Hey! I want in!" Thanatos was hauled off of her and suddenly Persephone was stretched out on her. "Will you kiss me too?" She waggled her eyebrows at Cassidy.

"As extremely arousing as this…whatever this is…would be, there is much we need to discuss." Hades icy voice doused her desire as quickly as it had begun. She threw a look at the corner he skulked in, all brooding shadows.

Persephone laughed, sitting up. "Spoilsport. You have no sense of adventure in the bedroom. If it isn't whips and chains, you don't indulge."

Cassidy sat up with a groan. Thanatos stood next to the bed, his chest heaving with emotion. He was covered in fading scars, pale pink against his paler skin.

It came back to her in a rush. His carved flesh, the ichor, the words she spoke…all of it. She didn't stop to think. Just flung herself into his arms.

He caught her easily, arms tightening around her. "Don't you ever do that again, Cass." His voice was muffled by her hair as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You almost f*****g faded away, for me. I would've healed. You can't risk yourself for me. I'm Death. I can't be killed easily."

Cassidy detached herself from him. "Yeah, well, excuse me for being concerned." She sniffed haughtily, settling back into the bed. "So, how did I get here?"

"We broke your bindings. But since you used the last of your essence to heal Thanatos, there are consequences." Hades opened the door, indicating that they should follow.

Persephone grinned at Cassidy as Thanatos crossed the room behind Hades. Hot. She mouthed, fanning her face dramatically.

For the first time in her Afterlife, Cassidy thought she may have found a friend. It was a nice feeling. They followed the men slowly down the hall and back out into Hades office.

"What kind of consequences are we talking here?" Cassidy threw herself into an armchair, her body protesting any movement.

Hades gave her a rundown of the shitshow on Olympus. She scrubbed her hand over her face as he concluded. "So Ereshkigal said I have to find my 'items of power'? What even are those?"

"I have an idea." Thanatos murmured. He had taken the chair next to her, almost like he was afraid to let her out of his sight. He still had on his worshipping eyes, and while it was nice, it was kind of creeping her out. She wasn't anything special.

"Enlighten us, Death."

"On our way home from Olympus, I utilized the web."

"As in the internet?" Cassidy blinked.

"No, as in the web, the tapestry the Fates weave."

"What?! The fates are real? Holy crap!"

"Of course the Fates are real." Hades rolled his eyes. "They have been weaving our destinies and paths since our inception."

"And they keep a running log on the web." Thanatos pulled a thin rectangle out of his pocket. "We gods access it from our viewing devices."

"Looks like a smartphone to me." Cassidy grumbled.

"In a way, it is." Persephone was back on Hades desk, waving a bottle of wine at Cassidy. "Just better. Humans have some seriously neat inventions. But Hermes always keeps his best products for us." She popped the cork with a practiced hand and took a swig. She had to be hellacious fun at parties.

"Anyway, I found Cassidy on the web. There's even a weird fan-page devoted to her." He turned the viewer where they could see her death mask on the screen.

Cassidy snatched the viewer out of Thanatos' hand. It looked like a social media feed. She read the latest comment, her cheeks coloring.

Was just reaped by this absolute hottie. 10/10 would recommend. She can scythe my soul any day! -- Dead-Bro-for-a-Death-Ho_69

She arched a brow as she scrolled through the feed. "What the hell is this?"

"Apparently you've jumped pantheons and the Fates are now weaving your destiny." Thanatos replied blandly.

"But how is that even possible?" Cassidy's eyes were huge as she turned them on Thanatos. He took his viewer back, turning it off and slipping it into her pocket.

She desperately needed one of those. That fan-page was out of control.

"We would like to know too. Looks like we will be paying the Fates a visit." Hades shuddered dramatically. "Those witches are handsy on their good days. Downright feral on their worst. I'm not entirely sure you're worth the trouble, Cassidy f*****g Archer."

"Same, Big Boss, same."