The Five Demigods Who Saved Olympus | Book 1, 2, & 3

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"Heath, come my boy." Hades said, gesturing for Heath to come to him. Heath slowly walked over to where his father stood in front of a mirror.

"Fix your hair." Hades said, pointing up toward Heath's head. Hades quickly noticed how upset his son seemed to be.

"What's the matter? You should be joyous!" Hades exclaimed. Heath sighed, fixing his hair.

"Just tired, dad." Heath answered.

"Tired you say? You said that yesterday when I asked. And the day before that. And the day before that. In fact, I can't recall the last time I asked you how you were and you responded with anything but tired." Hades recalled, turning towards his son. Heath had no reaction to what his father said. He only stood there, staring at himself blankly in the mirror as he continued fixing his hair, which had only consisted of him running his fingers through his hair over and over.

"What's on your mind?" Hades finally asked. "I can no longer enter it and check for myself. You've solidified it. It's just like Poseidon's. Impossible to read." Hades continued.

"There's nothing on my mind." Heath responded. Heath didn't care that he had just lied to his father. There was one thing on his mind. The only thing that occupied his mind now, and the only thing that had occupied it since the moment the group parted two years ago.

Noelle

Heath thought to himself. He sighed and untied his robe and tossed it to the floor. Hades ran to pick it up.

"Heath, what have I told you?! This is the finest silk in all of Olympus, it does not belong on the floor!" Hades lectured before he sat it down on Heath's bed.

"My boy, you look dull, sick even." Hades said examining Heath's face. "Hecate! Fetch some bread for Heath!" Hades shouted.

"I'm fine. I don't need food. I'm just tired." Heath repeated, walking over to the edge of his bed and sitting down.

"Tired of what? Your duties?" Hades asked. Heath didn't respond, he just continued to run his fingers through his hair.

"You've only been at it for two years. You've already grown tired?" Hades asked.

"It feels like it's been a century." Heath breathed out, putting his face in the palms of his hands. Hades rested his hand on the back of Heath, patting it every now and then.

"I was alone for thousands of years. I didn't have anyone despite having others around me. And I had no hope that things would change. I was... how would you mortals say it? Depressive?" Hades asked, waiting for a reply from Heath, but one never came.

"It didn't feel like a thousand years though. It felt like an eternity. And I was certain things would never change. And it wasn't until I met Persephone. Perhaps it's time we found you a wife." Hades said, once again waiting for a reply from Heath, but one never came.

"Most of the men take a wife at the age of eighteen." Hades said. Heath lifted his head up from his hands and turned to his father.

"I do not want a wife." Heath said tiredly as he shook his head.

"I know this. I also know what you really desire." Hades said. Heath sighed, expecting Hades to say what he usually said. When he didn't, stared at him confused.

"This is the part where you remind me that I won't see her, not for a long time at least, and that I should focus on other things... like my duties." Heath said.

"Not today, Heath." Hades said. "After your ceremony, go and find her. Socialize for a few hours so Zeus doesn't suspect anything. Once he's drunk, you can sneak away." Hades finished. Heath rested his hand on Hades's shoulder and squeezed it lightly.