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

Book 3 - νεʹ

Thanatos, God of Death angrily entered his living quarters, slamming the door behind him. He yelled out in frustration as he trashed areas of his room. After a minute, he stood still to try to compose himself. He took slow breaths before letting out a heavy sigh.

"You done?" A voice called out in annoyance, making him turn towards the voice. He saw his twin brother, Hypnos, God of Sleep, sitting at the chair beside his desk. A bored expression was written across his face as he twirled a pen around his fingers. Thanatos sighed and turned away from his brother, running his hand through his hair. He was frustrated after the day that he had. He didn't enjoy being bossed around by Hades, but believed for the longest time there was nothing he could do about it. After Cronus returned to Olympus, it struck courage within a few other Gods and Goddesses to attempt to take down the Gods who ruled the Cosmos, figuring they'd have a better chance with more than one powerful being at their side. Those few included Aphrodite and her followers. Thanatos was admittedly hoping they'd succeed. When word spread that they didn't, he was disappointed and decided it was his time. Hypnos was on the same page, which was rare for the two brothers.

"You're late." Hypnos said, standing from his chair and slowly approaching his brother. Thanatos glared at him, feeling irritated with his brother already. Hypnos noticed this. He was amused by it. He smirked at him.

"Yes, and I won't be able to stay for long. Hades is giving me a brief moment to change into something more suitable to go visit his dreadful brothers." Thanatos replied. Hypnos scoffed as he stepped away, walking with his back to his brother.

"I'm starting to believe you're not as serious as I am about what we're trying to accomplish here, brother." Hypnos said lowly, leaning over the desk he formerly sat at. Thanatos threw his robe off, glaring at his brother in the process as he opened his wardrobe.

"You know very well I cannot step away from my duties at any moment of the day. Hades may not suspect something is up, but that demigod who follows his father around like a lost puppy is very observant. He will sense my defiance, Hypnos." Thanatos defended himself. Hypnos straightened himself, walking around the desk.

"Whatever you say, Thanatos." Hypnos said. Thanatos could tell Hypnos still was displeased. He sighed as he changed into fresher clothes.

"I have a moment, take us to her." Thanatos said, bringing a smirk to Hypnos' face. He waved his hand out, opening a portal to a realm of his own creation; the dream realm. They walked inside a small, dark room lined with wooden bookshelves filled with various books, a long desk, and a single-lit candle placed on top of it. The sound of a woman breathing heavily led them to the back of the room. They approached the woman, finding her as they left her; in a chair with a blindfold over her eyes. She trembled but couldn't sense anyone around. Thanatos leaned forward, gripping his hands around the arms of her chair. The creaking made her turn her head at the noise, trying to figure out where her captor was. Thanatos took one hand, bringing it forward, and caressed her cheek with the back of his finger. She shook, whimpers leaving her mouth as he ran her fingers along her cheek.

"My, my dear. You're shaking like a leaf. Can't put on your brave face for me today, hmm?" Thanatos teased, taking her blindfold off. Noelle breathed heavily as he continued to run his finger across her face.

"Oh, Phelia. We're your friends! There's no need to be afraid." Hypnos said as he knelt down beside her. She eyed him, watching him very carefully. If he were to try anything, she knew there was nothing she could do. Not only were her hands tied, but she couldn't control anything around her due to this being his realm. The two had been visiting her in her sleep ever since the demigods succeeded in defeating Aphrodite and her followers. They used torturous methods on her, trying to turn her subconscious against her to benefit themselves. Their plan to take down the others started with her. They knew she was the most powerful of demigods and would be vital to their team. With everybody believing that she was losing her sanity from eating the cursed pomegranate, nobody would question it being anything but her going mad when they used her to help take down the leaders of the Cosmos once and for all. Not only was she the most useful of the demigods because she was powerful, but she had the most connection with the ones they planned to harm. It was a golden plan with little to no flaws. And they were certain they'd succeed until they found out just how stubborn Noelle was.

"You are not my friends." Noelle breathed out. Hypnos sighed, standing up straight. He gripped her chin with one hand, making her look up at him. Her eyes went directly to him, waiting to see what he'd do. He took his hand off of her chin and brought his other hand around, striking her across the face. She cried out, spitting blood out of her mouth before leaning her head back.

"That's no way to treat your friends, Phelia. Is it now?" Thanatos cooed. Noelle mumbled something, making Thanatos bring her head down to face him.

"Use your words, darling." Thanatos said. Noelle let out a sob.

"Please just stop. Please stop all of it. I can't take it anymore." Noelle begged her voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you hear that, brother? She wants the torture to stop." Hypnos said.

"Darling, you know very well that I can't do that just yet. I need your mind completely devoted to me. Can you do that for me, my dear?" Thanatos asked. Noelle shook her head rapidly. Hypnos gripped her jaw once more, bringing her face close to his own.

"I have been working a tiresome amount of hours to try and get you to break and finally give in! What is it going to take?!" Hypnos roared, making Noelle whimper quietly as tears fled her eyes.

"We have time, Hypnos. We'll find a way to make her break.." Thanatos said as he stood up. He caressed her jaw lightly before exiting the realm from the way he came, Hypnos angrily following after.

"Perhaps the issue is you. One minute you're vicious, next, you're treating her with care, and lovingly I may add. Which is strange, Thanatos. If you were vicious we could use her fear against her!" Hypnos exclaimed, irritation lacing his voice. Thanatos was busy searching for something instead of listening to Hypnos. He searched through a book that sat on his desk, flipping through various pages as Hypnos complained.

"Are you even listening to me right now, brother?!" Hypnos shouted. Thanatos finally looked up at his brother, setting the book down and soon entering the realm once more. Out of thin air, a thin wire appeared in his hand. Noelle tiredly watched as Thanatos went behind her, wrapping it around her neck and pulling it back towards him. Noelle screamed out in pain, banging her foot on the floor as she did. Hypnos watched from a distance, a sadistic grin on his face as he watched his brother in action. After a moment, Thanatos let go of his hold. Noelle gasped out as blood dripped down her neck, tears dripping down her face. She wheezed, trying to catch her breath.

"You forget, I am the God of Death. If it is literal death that will make your mind utterly devoted to me, then so be it." Thanatos said.

"Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go pay a visit to the treacherous Gods residing in Olympus." Thanatos snarled as he began exiting the realm. Before leaving, he turned back to his brother, the same sadistic grin on his face as he said,

"Good luck, brother."