The Daughter Of Hades

Chapter 4

"Good to see you too, Thanatos," Melinoë says, walking away from the God of death, over to the woman.

"Melinoë, I will not repeat myself" He spoke sternly not trying to get beside himself, as he didn't want conflict.

"Do not call me that. I go by Melaina now to fit in with these people"

"Why change your name?"

"These stupid mortals can't say my name"

"It's simple," He said confused but mostly trying to understand how they can't pronounce her name.

"Too hard for them. Melaina is not" she says ending that topic. "How are they doing?" She asked, referring to her siblings. "I can not see them how I wish, as you can. So, tell me what have they been doing?" Picking the woman up bridal style, she carried her towards the small hut.

Melaina had made the small hut for shelter, the day she realized Hades wasn't coming. Not much of a place to stay for very long since the sticks and vines will be coming undone soon.

Walking past Thanatos and the dead bodies, she walked inside the hut, placing the woman down in the bed. She would never admit it to herself that she saved the young lady and placed her in the nice warm comfortable bed, so she could rest peacefully out of the kindness of her heart.

"How have they been doing?" She asked returning to him. "Are they still the same way like I remember them last?" She then questioned, caressing both of her dog's heads.

"It has only been a month," He said picking up a body, piling it up on top of another.

"Don't give me that" Her voice didn't hold anger or sadness. Her tone of voice was still. "You, as well as the others, taught me that family is important to have. I understand that it is only a month, yet, this is the longest I have been without them. I have lost my family already at the hands of my father, literally" Referring to their father killing their mom.

"But, you still grew up with your family and people who look at you like you were already family"

"Infant or not growing up without the love and tenderness that only a mother can give their daughter is a lonely feeling. I care deeply about you, Hypnos, and Nyx, but the love she gave wasn't of my mother"

"At least it was real," Thanatos tells her. "They are doing well. It hurts them just like it hurts you, but they have accepted their place as the new King and Queen" Gathering up the bodies in his arms, he revealed his big strong wings. "I will not speak of this to them, but they are still extremely proud of you, and you can never let them down, even if you can't bring Hades back"

"How did-"

"It wasn't hard to put it together, especially after knowing that you and blade went missing the same day as their departure. Plus, it's right there on your hip" his eyes darting to the blade, as she chuckled. "We will not stop you on your quest to find him, but don't let this be your path to get to him. Love you"

Thanatos then flew upwards into the sky, flying over the area, before crashing down through the dirt, carrying the bodies to the underworld, vanishing, not leaving a trace in the ground.

"Stay on guard, you two" She ordered from her dogs, before retreating into the hut.

She looked towards the room, where she placed the young lady, contemplating what to do next with the woman. She huffed before walking towards the small kitchen.

A few moments later as she continued to prep a meal for herself, she began to wonder, where the God of the underworld, could be hiding out at. Granted, she didn't have much information on her father, like Zagreus might have considered since he was the only one who could remember their father and mother.

"Need any help?" the young lady said coming into the kitchen.

"I can handle it," Melaina said. She didn't mind turning her attention to the young lady.

"Oh ok. Well, I would like to say thank you" she said slowly making her way into the kitchen more, taking a seat. "For saving me back there with those sad excuses for men"

"I didn't save anyone. You are welcome, however" she says grabbing two plates. "What is your name?" she inquired, walking to the table placing both plates down in front of them.

The woman was feeling uneasy, to say the least at the lack of hospitality at the woman before her. She didn't quite understand why she was being so rude yet borderline nice. However, she is in her debt so who is she to question her.

"My name is Thalia, but my friends call me Talley, well they would if they stayed around longer than a day" She quipped. "And your name?" she asked her, before taking a bite of the food.

"Melaina" She darted her eyes to Thalia, who had her face scrunched up. "Not much of a cook"

"So I can taste" she joked to her, making Melaina smile.

"You're quite the comedian, but you can't stay here," Melaina told her, truthfully not bothering to be around the bush.

"Oh?"

"I have..rather important family matters to handle and you will only slow me down. It's time-sensitive, I'm afraid"

"I'm sure it can't be that bad" Thalia spoke, struggling to eat the food.

"My father is downright a pitiless of a man. He is unmoved by prayer or sacrifices whether it be death itself. Forbidding and aloof, he never quite emerges as nothing more than a distinct personality from the shadowy darkness of our home. Not even when it came to him meeting my mom"

"He sounds awful," Thalia told her honestly, grabbing both of their plates since they were both finished with it. "But so what are you doing exactly?" She then asked, putting them in the sink.

"My father is missing and so I'm taking matters into my hands, on finding him"

"But you're so young. Wait why is your father missing?"

"Look, the point is what I have going on is not something you need to consider yourself with," She told her, trying to end the conversation. "And I can't let you get yourself killed"

"If it's so dangerous then why are you doing it?"

"I am different than you"

"Oh? What are you like some all great powerful angel from heaven" Thalia laughed with a mocking tone in her voice.

"Something like that. The point here is that I am better at handling this on my own"

"You need a cook, right" Thalia then suggested. "Well, I'm an excellent cook. And even better friend to keep you company"

"Are you always like this?"

"Only when I have a feeling that I'm going to be fast friends with someone" She retorted with a smile and a wink, crossing her arms.

"Seeing as you don't have friends. What about your parents? Wouldn't they worry about you missing?"

"They're both dead. But they weren't much better even when being alive"

"I'm gonna regret this" Melaina huffed out. "We leave at dawn. If you slow me down, I'll leave you behind without a second thought"

"So friends? Oh, I mean partners?" Thalia smiled holding her hand out. Melaina looked at her hand then back to her smiling face. She didn't shake her hand or say anything as she walked off. "Okay. So I'm just curious who taught you how to cook?" She beamed, skipping after her.