The Prey of Truth

The Truth

"He's staying here," Dianthus said, holding Atticus' hand tightly as he addressed Hades and Persephone.

This time, they didn't go to the main meeting room. Instead, they were at what Dianthus referred to as the mansion. Atticus could see why. Though it looked like a giant haunted house from the outside, the inside was cosily furnished, imitating a modern-day mansion. Currently, they were in a room that served as a private study.

"I'm glad you made it home, Atticus," Hades smiled warmly, glancing briefly at their entwined hands, as he sat with his legs dangling over the arm of the throne.

Atticus nodded, as Hades called out for Persephone. The goddess appeared in a flowing white dress, and the first thing she noticed was how Hades was sitting.

"By the Gods, do you ever sit on that chair, or any chair, properly?" Persephone sighed, as Hades straightened up, muttering an apology.

"Now, Atticus," she said sweetly. "I'm glad you're back. And Dianthus, you look much more cheerful." Persephone added.

The pair smiled in response, before Hades clapped his hands once, getting everyone's attention.

"Alright, some things need clearing up," Hades said, just as Dianthus was about to say the same thing.

"We haven't been exactly... truthful about everything." Hades started, allowing Persephone to take his seat, as he explained.

"Atticus," the god motioned to him as if everyone in the room didn't already know who he was referring to, "There was an Underworld spirit that caused the accident, but it wasn't exactly an accident per se.".

Atticus' slight smile turned into a frown of confusion, "What?", he said.

"I'm saying it wasn't an accident." Hades clarified. "Dianthus didn't know about this either." He added as Atticus looked to his boyfriend for help.

"What do you mean it wasn't an accident?" Dianthus said, letting go of Atticus' hand and slightly moving forward towards Hades. "You said that-.".

"I know," Hades said. "For this to make sense, I'm going to have to explain a few things."

The god motioned with his index and middle finger towards the pair, and a crimson string appeared, bound to both of their chests. Atticus tugged on it curiously, and Dianthus grasped his hand softly.

"Don't do that," he muttered.

"Why not?" Atticus asked, curiously.

Dianthus replicated what he had done, but a lot softer, and Atticus felt a pain shoot through his chest.

"Sorry," Atticus whispered.

"The red string you see is fate," Hades explained as if leading a lecture at school. "Only a finite amount of people are bound together by fate. There are only around a few hundred people per generation. You both are one of them.".

Atticus suddenly felt proud, but Dianthus had a lot more questions, "But, why bring Atticus here?".

Hades sighed, "Well, truthfully, Persephone and I are thinking about retiring and heading up to Elysium.".

"But-"

Dianthus was silenced by Persephone. "Questions after, Dianthus." She smiled.

"Persephone and I are retiring, and we needed two new rulers. Originally, it was just going to be Dianthus, but when I found out he was bound to someone in the human world, the plan was for Atticus to be brought here." Hades said. "I spoke this over with my other assistants; however, there was a miscommunication with the date.".

"Atticus," the god addressed him personally, "you aren't meant to know this, but you were meant to die eight years from now.".

Atticus' brow furrowed, "I only had eight years left to live?". He was meant to die at 28?

"Yes," Hades confirmed.

"What- what was I meant to die from?" Atticus asked hesitantly.

Hades shook his head and smiled sadly, "Don't worry about that; it's a different timeline now.".

Atticus looked over to Persephone, who took a sudden interest in her shoes. Dianthus took ahold of Atticus' hand again, gripping it tightly.

"Oh," he said softly.

"The plan was, once you passed away, you would be taken here instead. We would tell you a similar story as we told you when you first arrived, and events would progress either how they progressed now or differently." Hades explained. "However, as I mentioned, there was a miscommunication, and one of the Underworld spirits caused your death 8 years too early.".

Atticus nodded a little vacantly. Dianthus squeezed his hand, drawing little circles on the back of his hand comfortingly.

"So essentially, everything has been sped up 8 years." Hades finished. "Do you have any questions?".

Atticus searched the background around Hades as if waiting to be shown a cue card on what to say next.

"I have a question." Dianthus raised his other hand. "Why me?".

"Why you?" Hades prompted, confused.

"Yes, I mean, why me- I mean, us as the next rulers?" Dianthus stuttered.

"Because you are more than qualified," Hades said, Persephone nodding to back him up. "Both of you.".

"Actually, I have a question." Atticus piped up. "How did you know I wouldn't lose my memories?".

"Well, we didn't," Persephone said simply. "We didn't think you would choose any option apart from the option to stay here. I guess you two were meant to be.".

Atticus looked up at Dianthus and saw him blushing profusely, which caused the younger male to smile.

"So, in terms of what will come next," Hades said. "You two will be the new rulers of the Underworld, though we'll give you a few days to mull it over.".

The two nodded, and Persephone yawned, "Honestly, you won't even do much. He just makes it look like hard work.".

"Don't phrase it like that!" Hades protested, exasperated.

The pair laughed, as Persephone stood up, escorting them out of the room. As they reached the door to the mansion, she said:

"It's really not a lot of work. But think about it." She reached out and rested her hand on both of their shoulders.

Bidding her farewell, the two started their walk back, not letting go of each other's hand until they reached the entrance of the apartment.