Inexorably drawn

Chapter 3

     His senses tingle again. Another soul is close to departure. The god of death grips his menacing scythe tightly, teleporting right to that location. The mortal can't hear him arrive in his house while resting on their common sized bed. With the cold and beautiful world outside visible through the old man's windows, Thanatos slowly approaches him, seeking not to startle him and summons his ticking death trap that will put an end to the man's weakening body.

As he aches closer, a cold breeze blows inside the house, which is then followed by slow and steady steps that make their way to the room. The god makes haste to hide as another human comes in the room. The old woman smiles sweetly at her resting husband, handing him a piece of bread with freshly made cheese on top in a small bowl.

"Here you go my love. I got this for you."

"Thank you my little firefly. You keep making my days and nights brighter." The man says happily with a husky old voice.

She lays next to him, holding his left hand in hers. For days now he has been moving less and less, feeling tired for more than usual. This worries the woman, but she tries not to show her concern as there is nothing else to be done but enjoy her time with him.

She caresses his veiny hand with her thumb, humming an old song as she closes her eyes.

Thanatos sighs, watching the two live their last moments together before death does them apart. He used to have no problem with this type of work, but now that he has Zagreus, this makes him feel something he never felt before.

The clock is ticking for the old man. Thanatos extended his time for a little longer despite having more work waiting. He thought he should at least let him finish his last meal.

"Love?" The sleepy woman asks. "What do you want to eat tomorrow?"

The god feels a piercing pain in his heart similar to the one he felt when Zagreus asked him if he has time. He shifts uncomfortably, listening closely for the man's reply.

"A stew at best. You make them delicious." He grins, kissing her on the forehead before tucking himself in better.

She chuckles, squeezing his hand.

"Anything for you."

A stillness fills the room. One that only he can feel as the couple lies peacefully. They are unaware of what is going to happen next, which makes every moment special in their mortal lives.

The silver haired god steps a bit closer with glinting sadness in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." He whispers, the atmosphere weighing down on his words.

It's not long before the time given to the old man runs out, making his early nap turn into an eternal sleep.

He watches the soul leave the body and move towards the Underworld where Charon will guide him to the house of Hades.

"My job here is done." The god thought, but as he is about to leave and attempt to forget what he just witnessed, the woman sits up from the bed as if having sensed that something is wrong.

"Love?" She touches the man's forehead. "Are you okay?"

Right away her heart begins to race when the man does not respond. She touches his chest and pushes his shoulder lightly, begging him to wake up over and over again.

The merciless and cold god Thanatos stares in disbelieve. He feels like this is the first time he witnessed someone die like this. His eyes redden quick enough and he begins to feel weak having stayed on the human world for too long. This weakness only makes him feel more sensitive.

Sounds of mourning and crying pierce his ears with the same question ringing in his head.

"What if one day I lose him too?"

He knows this is impossible as they are both immortal, but he is more familiar with the word death than anyone else and it has never managed to terrify him as much as it terrifies him now when he thinks of Zagreus leaving him in such a way.

The woman turns towards the god, her eyes are blurred from the tears but still managing to recognise Thanatos.

"Why? Why did you take him from me death? Why?" She screams, dropping on her knees in front of him. "Please bring him back. Please I will do anything to see him again."

A single tear drops on the floor from the god. He turns away from her as if ashamed of his actions.

"Please..."

Her quiet voice squeaks without ever reaching the iron hearted god who left without a word.

  

        Far down bellow, Zagreus and Megaera stare down one another, planning their attacks.

"Go home." She warns him, rushing forward with her dangerous pink whip ready to hit.

With one quick draw, an arrow is sent flying towards the fury sister, grazing right past her shoulder. She grunts annoyed, her whip cracking in the air before it travels towards the prince, covering a large area around it as well. Zagreus manages to dodge her attack, landing another hit on her back when she had barely turned.

The punishing goddess flies through the air with her dark bat like wings, her extended whip meeting Zagreus' body, cutting through his flesh. Unlike her, the god of blood paints the floor red and stumbles back. She shows no hesitation as she lunges at him, hitting him again and again before he manages to draw another hit.

"Argh! Wait, lets talk about this."

The Prince's feeble attempts to negotiate prove obviously pointless. She flies back, crouching down with her piercing eyes pointed at him.

"Talk about this? Are you mad? Shut up and fight."

He bites his tongue and rolls away, shooting at her leg successfully. The arrow barely hits her golden armor that could have deflected it, getting Megaera more frustrated.

An ongrowing tension causes the two to clash more violently than before now as if they have something to say to each other that has been eating them away all day. In a risky attempt to outwit Megaera and hit her head, the Prince clumsily steps on a trap, badly wounding himself. She sees the opportunity and before he manages to stand up, her whip is tied around his neck.

"Ack! Blood and-" Zagreus is stopped by the growing need to breath.

The collar around his neck isn't helping much either. It only makes the process more painful. The Fury sister presses her left knee on his abdomen, holding the whip with both hands while her right leg kicks away the bow he was trying to reach for.

"Well Zag. It's time to say goodbye."

Her figures looks double as dizziness fills the Prince's head. As a last resort, he reaches down to his side, petting Mort's head.

"Th-Than." He calls out with every ounce of strength remaining.

Right before he fades, the god arrives to his rescue.

"What a mess." He huffs, pushing his silver hair aside.

"Seriously?!" Megaera cries out loud, knowing full well that her kill was sabotaged.

Thanatos raises up his deadly scythe and without second thought decapitates her. Her head doesn't manage to hit the ground however as she immediately falls in the bloody river that will take her back to the house. Zagreus loosens the whip and throws it away, gasping for air. He feels his messy hair being messed with even more. When he looks up, death looks him in the eyes with a rather rare reminiscent look.

"Keep fighting Zagreus."

The prince's extended hand meets nothing but thin air in which the other disappeared in. He touches his hair, feeling his cheeks grow red once again, but this time nobody was choking him to death.

"Than...I hope you appear again." He smiles, gently holding Mort in one hand.