The Veiled Legacy | PJO - Book Two

sixteen

THANATOS IS HOT

The ghosts formed ranks and encircled the crossroads. There were about a hundred in all - not an entire legion, but more than a cohort.

Some carried the tattered lightning-bolt banners of the Twelfth Legion, Fifth Cohort - Michael Varus's doomed expedition from the 1980s.

Others carried standards and insignia Ariana didn't recognize, as if they'd died at different times, on different quests - maybe not even from Camp Jupiter or Camp HalfBlood.

Most were armed with Imperial gold weapons - more Imperial gold than the entire Twelfth Legion possessed.

Ariana felt the shadows encase the room. She wondered if she could use her powers in Alaska, she hadn't really tried yet.

"Thanatos!" Hazel turned to the robed figure. "We're here to rescue you. If you control these shades, tell them -" Her voice faltered.

"Bro be chill. Thanatos is such a chill man. I've met him before when I've visited my father."

The god's hood fell away and his robes dropped off as he spread his wings, leaving him in only a sleeveless black tunic belted at the waist. He was the most beautiful man Ariana had ever seen.

His skin was the colour of teakwood, dark and glistening. His eyes were as honey gold as  Hazel's.

He was lean and muscular, with a regal face and black hair flowing down his shoulders. His wings glimmered in shades of blue, black and purple.

If she wasn't in public, Ariana was positive she would've been kicking her legs giggling. The girl reminded herself to breathe.

Beautiful was the right word for Thanatos - not handsome, or hot, or anything like that. He was beautiful the way an angel is beautiful - timeless, perfect, remote.

She had forgotten how drop dead gorgeous he was.

"Oh." Hazel said in a small voice.

The god's wrists were shackled in icy manacles, with chains that ran straight into the glacier floor. His feet were bare, shackled round the ankles and also chained.

"It's Cupid." Frank said.

"A really buff Cupid." Percy agreed.

"You compliment me." Thanatos said. His voice was as gorgeous as he was - deep and melodious. "I am frequently mistaken for the god of love. Death has more in common with Love than you might imagine. But I am Death. I assure you. Hello again, Ariana Parker."

Ariana didn't doubt it. She felt as if she were made of ashes. Any second, she might crumble and be sucked into the vacuum.

She doubted Thanatos even needed to touch her to kill her. He could simply tell her to die. She would keel over on the spot, her soul obeying that beautiful voice and those kind eyes.

She remembered Aphrodite contemplating whether or not to make her fall in love with a God - like her mother had.

Ariana hoped, if she was going to fall in love with one it would be the one standing before her.

"Hey Death dude."

For some strange reason, the underworld gos never mind the nickname Ariana had given him when they first met.

"We're - we're here to save you." Hazel managed. "Where's Alcyoneus?"

"Save me ...?" Thanatos narrowed his eyes. "Do you understand what you are saying, Hazel Levesque? Do you understand what that will mean?"

Percy stepped forward. "We're wasting time."

He swung his sword at the god's chains. Celestial bronze rang against the ice, but Riptide stuck to the chain like glue. Frost began creeping up the blade.