The Consort

Loves Arrow

The angry crowd grumbled as we neared but parted for us nonetheless. Hades escorted me to the hard, wooden throne at the back of the dais before turning, squaring his shoulders and coming to stand at the podium. A hand rested above my shoulder and I tensed as Thanatos’ long fingers stroked my shoulder blade. 

“Let us begin immediately. We will speak with the first.” Hades voice boomed throughout the hall, and an older woman, with greying hair and thin framed glasses rose, her race red and swollen. She dabbed at her eyes, her fingers nervously rubbing together.

“She wishes to return to the living, to visit her grandchildren before the winter.” Thanatos whispered, my eyes turned from him to the woman, appreciating her yet again. 

“My youngest grandchild is only three - she does not understand why I no longer bring her cookies, or pick her up from preschool on a Thursday. I formally request to visit her, to explain my absence.” 

Hades paused, turning thoughtful. He turned away from the crying women, his eyes meeting mine for a moment as he took a deep calming breath. I nodded to him, entrusting him to make the right choice. “Your heart is bright, and your intentions dear - if you accept the escort of my most trusted adviser then I will allow you an hour.” 

The woman smiled, clasping her hands together in excitement before sitting. A young man with long blonde hair rose. My husband turned his attention towards him, his brow furrowing slightly as he considered the extremely well dressed individual. 

“How may I help you Jeremy?” Hades asked, his voice clipped and harder than I had ever heard it before.

I expected Thanatos to advise me about the young man, but for once the vampyre beside me was silent until I turned my attention from the scene in front of me to him. “Who is that?” I tried to be quiet, unwilling to disturb my husband during his duties. 

“That is Jeremy, the eldest of Cronus’ children.” The God of Time’s name slithered through my bones causing a shiver down my spine. The memory of greeting the titan during my final trial surged through my memory frighteningly. The way his powers had caused time to still, and repeat. I wondered if he was making good on his promise to ensure my life was full of pain everlasting.

“My master demands a meeting with the King’s Consort. He says they have unfinished business regarding her future.” The man snuck closer like a snake preparing for attack. I stood, feeling the tension in the air rise. 

“That is impossible.” My husband stated firmly. The snake of a man smiled almost placatingly as he reached into his pocket withdrawing a long, golden cylindrical tool and stepping closer to where my husband stood. 

I made to move, but a firm grasp on my hand held me back. I sent a questioning look at Thanatos, who simply shook his head, his midnight eyes glued on the scene in front of him. Turning to look back at my husband and Jeremy I witnessed the moment where the young man pressed a singular button on the side of the tool revealing a sharp, green tinged arrowhead before pressing the weapon into my husbands palm. 

“No!” I screeched, pulling myself away from Thanatos’ grip and surging towards Hades, who was staring at the blood-red wound as if surprised to see it. He wobbled slightly, his knees weakening before collapsing completely, allowing him to fall heavily onto the cold marble floor. 

I dove towards him, tears streaming down my face. I looked up at the young man, hatred pounding through my veins. He smiled down at me, throwing and catching the cylindrical tool. 

“You have 36 hours.” 

 A strong grip pulled me away. A rough sigh sounded in my ears before pale arms encircled my waist and hoisted me upwards, leading me away from the spot where my husband lay bleeding on the floor.

Thanatos threw me on the bed, his gaze angry as he paced the length of the room. I stared at him uncomprehendingly, not understanding why he dragged me away from my husband when he needed me the most. His fingers laced their way into his hair before the man turned towards me. 

“I know you’re mad at me. I can feel it.” He pressed a fist to his heart and I blushed wildly, remembering that the connection we shared went both ways. “But if you had stayed, could you tell me that you wouldn’t have run down to Cronus to demand the antidote?” Thanatos demanded an answer of me, but I had none to give him. He was correct - I would have gone straight to the god of time, giving everything and anything to cure my husband of his affliction.

“You need time. We need time. To think and plan.” Thanatos sighed, carefully sitting beside me on the bed. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that the man beside me was after the same thing I was - a safe, and healthy King. But almost as importantly, he wouldn’t allow me to rush into something I wasn’t prepared for. 

“I’ll have to go to him eventually.” I said slowly, my mind wandering to the eight-foot tall titan in the bottom level basement of Mount Olympus. 

Thanatos smiled, as if amused by the direction of my thoughts. “If you truly believe that the man you met was the God of Time we have more issues than I had previously thought.” I turned a questioning glance at him, and Thanatos ruffled his hair, the movement distracting my eyes and turning my thoughts in an entirely different direction. 

“He was an illusion by the titan himself. Nothing but a hallucination, an image created and perfected over the centuries. The real Cronus resides in the deepest pit of Tartarus, held by chains forged by Hephaestus himself.” I breathed out hard, imagining how much more powerful the real man would be. I shook my head, unable to imagine myself anywhere near such a beast. 

Thanatos sighed deeply, laying back on the bed and covering his eyes with an arm as the other reached for my hand, his thumb moving over my knuckles soothingly. I knew that even he could not think of another course of action than or me to be delivered to the Titan as he had demanded. Carefully, as if not to frighten me, Thanatos brought my hand to his lips, kissing each knuckle. 

“Let’s give this a go.” He whispered carefully, pulling me a standing opposite him, his face hard but somehow alluring. “Daughter, I did not expect you so soon.” Thanatos’ voice deepened  becoming almost unfamiliar. 

“You know why I’m here.” I stated firmly, Thanatos stepped closer, peering at me down his nose as he smirked. 

“I did hear a rumour that your dear husband was….incapacitated.” He stated slowly, fingers running down my side. “Whatever could that have to do with me?” His breath was hot on my ear as his harsh fingers gripped either side of my dress pulling me into him hard. 

“I wish to know if you have the antidote.” I placed my hands atop his, pushing them off my skin carefully. Thanatos barely noticed the change, his hands gripping the edge of my dress and hiking it up just a little bit. 

“And what will I receive in return?” He questioned, grinding up and down against me suggestively. I bit my lip, turning my eyes away. 

“I will pay you any price you name.” I said slowly and Thanatos laughed - his voice low and throaty as his hands gripped under my leg, wrapping it around his waist before his hands continued working on removing my dress. 

In three seconds flat my dress was gone, and I was being pressed against the cool brick wall by an immovable force. Thanatos gripped both of my hands in one of his, pulling them above my head as his mouth made to claim my own. He thrusted upwards, and I almost melted, moaning into the kiss. He eased out slowly, until barely the tip remained before the length of him was rammed back inside to the hilt, causing my body to jolt upwards. Over and over he slammed into me, always lessening just as my body began to spasm. Thanatos groaned, his head dipping to rest upon my shoulder as his thrusts quickened. 

“Bite me.” I almost begged. Thanatos obliged, his hand wrapping in my hair and pulling my head to the side to allow easy access to my neck. His teeth scraped the surface as his length slowed and rocked allowing me to teeter just on the edge of release. 

“What do we say?” Thanatos licked his lips as the words washed over my skin, causing goosebumps. 

“Please.” The plea left my lips and a second late the full force of his fangs piercing my neck drew my over the edge as his length slammed into me, filling me with every inch he had. 

Moments passed before Thanatos could disentangle himself from me, his tongue lapping at the fresh wound. A light blush framed his features and made me giggle, the sound of my laughter made him smile too, and or a minute we just stood there, laughing at one another before my thoughts returned serious once more. As if reading my thoughts Thanatos smiled, drawing me into his arms. 

“Don’t worry Persephone, I know that you’ll do your best for him.”

 I was sure in that moment that Thanatos held my heart.