Chapter 10: The diplomat
1252 Words
Chapter 10: The diplomat
Genesis Mikaelis
I glared down at the chess pieces, obviously confused at my next move. I wasn't even sure how I got myself cornered like this but it wasn't that I couldn't play the game. It was that Hades was just damn good.
Hades watched my face with an amused expression. The bastard probably knows I was in a jam and had no means of wining.
"You know Genesis when you said you could play chess I actually thought you could play" Hades taunted with an amused baritone.
I bit down on my lower lip and balled my fist. "I can play! You're like what a bijillion years old?! Of course you can play better!" I defended myself and an eyebrow arched up at me.
"Raising our voice are we?" He said, and I squirmed back in my seat.
I knew better than to annoy him. He could be calm and maintained an stoic and aloof expression in a way that seemed nonchalant but I'd been here long enough to see pass the exterior and know that he was already getting annoyed.
I released my fist and let out a breath. "Sorry, I'm not, it's just not fair. Everything we do together you're always better, you're so old you are capable of probably every skill there is" I complained in a whiny voice.
Hades placed and entwined both hands on the table then rested his chin between his back hands. "First of all I'm not THAT old, and second since when does age matter in a game of chess?"
He lifted his chin from his entwined hands then lifted a finger to play with one of the chess pieces on the board tentatively. "See young Genesis I admire how quick you are to learn but the one thing constant about you is you act before you think, damn the consequences...." He trailed off seeming engrossed with playing with the horse piece of the chess.
"While in the heat of battle that is a good attribute, in a sea of vicious diplomats such trait will get you made a fool out of." He rose his incredible black eyes at me.
I bit harder into my lip before letting go to say, "I thought about all my moves before I made it but I still ended up cornered"
He shook his head at me. "No Genesis you didn't think you simply took a moment to visualize the brash decision you already sought to make" He replied coolly and I scrunched my nose.
"What's the difference?" I asked, confused as to where he was going.
"The difference is if you did you wouldn't be visualizing the decisions you already wanted to make. When you think you let all thoughts flow, when you think you allow every other ideas in and not just the evaluate that one plan" He explained and I was honestly still slightly confused the difference between them.
I shrugged as I said, "Well even after Prometheus thought his well thought out plan ended him on a rock with a giant eagle feeding on his innards day after day"
Hades bursted into one of his short chuckles. "So you'd rather be like Epimetheus?" He asked with his head c****d to the side.
I took a moment pretending to think it over when I already knew my answer. "Nah. I'd much rather be like the god of the underworld"
A smirk tugged on Hades lips as he shook his head at me. "Flattery. I see you're already learning the mind of a diplomat little Neutral"
I smiled at that.
•••
I stared at the big blue crystal. How something like this was of so much importance baffled me.
But what baffled me more was how much more of a mad man was Seg. He abandoned such responsibility on his said 'favorite daughter'.
It was a fact that gods always had a twisted way if showing their love for their family. I mean Hades married his niece, whilst Zeus married his sister.
Dispersing the other things greek gods did to their said family the facts of Zeus and Hades alone proved my point, but Seg must not have cared the slightest for Eurydice to have given her the crystal.
The power I felt was do raw, might, and familiar.
Shaking my minds of all unwanted thoughts and gently placed the crystal in a wood carved box.
"Cheilt" I muttered and at command the box disappeared from my sight.
I knew the worth of the crystal damned well. I sought to protect my kingdom more than anything but after so long in the underworld I felt a call of duty to protect the crystal and I hated it.
Zelos was a megalomaniac and a fool, Loki on the other hand was quite literally the god of trickery and deceits, and those two gods together irked me more than I let on.
There was so many possibilities as to why they wanted the crystal and I was internally unnerved by all of them.
I should've back out. Fore-thought it. Hades was quiet during the latent spiel, Olympus had probably not heard of any of it yet, and the Titans had no idea what the fall of Dauntless was about like many of the other gods.
Why should I be the one get involved? Then again I was never much of a diplomat.
I knock came from my door and before I could permit the person to enter they already let themselves in.
The door opening revealed Ethat. He blew a breath and it blew away the snow-white lock of hair that fell on his left eye.
Ethat made his way towards me. "Cerberus told me what happened" He said.
I pulled out one out of the abundant files on my work desk to open. "I didn't give him permission to. He has no right to tell anyone not even you"
What happened at Big city six show club had to remain a secret. I couldn't afford disclosure of me being responsible for the death of another respawned Titan. I already got away with killing one.
"Oscar has been discussing with Julius. Plotting to rile your council into persuading you into allowing Eurydice into bright summit" Ethat informed, dropping the former issue.
"I assume he believes he'll gain the love and alliance of my council and people by opening the gates to Eurydice" I said, browsing through the file with a pen in my hand.
"You know your brother. Always looking for different ways to undermine you"
Ethat was correct about that. If blood relations weren't of the slightest bit important I would've atleast made an example out of one the rotten whelps I have for siblings.
I take care of them and carry the kingdom on my back and all they can do is attempt to betray me the slightest chance they get. I pretend like I don't see them, a short percentage of the many traitors in my house but rest assured that if I caught any of them with a knife behind my back I'd break theirs without time for sentiments.
"Shut it down Ethat" I commanded and even though I didn't see him nod I knew he did.
He was about to walk out the door when I stopped him. "And Ethat...Do take care of Bao, I don't want any loose ends"
He didn't reply but I knew he got the message.
As he walked out I looked up at the white wings hung on the wall above my desk. I'd made sure blood was no longer visible but chunks of flesh clung to the wings.
I couldn't help but ponder starring at them, had I made a mistake accepting the deal?
- Writer
