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

οαʹ

Thanatos quickly led Noelle away from Poseidon's palace like his whole life depended on it. Because, quite truthfully, it did. He knew what kind of punishments would be in order if Zeus found out what exactly they were planning. Thanatos made sure to discard his cloak and wrap Noelle in it as they headed towards the River Styx. Thanatos knew Noelle knew many Gods and Goddesses within the Underworld considering she spent a lot of time there with Heath. Thanatos didn't need anybody to recognize her. Especially Charon, observing and learning the two were very familiar with one another. Noelle stayed quiet until they neared Thanatos's part of the palace.

"Where is Hypnos?" Noelle asked curiously as well as quietly.

"He'll meet with us when he can. Last I saw of him was when we entered the palace in search of you, my dear." Thanatos said as he rid himself of his jacket.

"I must ask you something if you'll let me. I understand there are certain things I can't ask. I can't even try if I wanted to. But, there is something that you're not keeping me from asking that I've been wondering since we left Poseidon's palace." Noelle said, making Thanatos quirk a brow at her.

"You're tending to my subconscious. Why?" Noelle asked. Thanatos clicked his tongue, moving over to another area of his living quarters.

"I said I wouldn't make you fear me. Why? Do you not like it, Phelia?" Thanatos asked as he shuffled through his closet.

"I never said that. It's just that.. one minute you're ruthlessly torturing me. The next, you're treating me with kindness. And it's just you. Hypnos doesn't treat me with kindness. He's either indifferent or cruel. But you treat me with care. Why is that?" Noelle asked once more as she jumped onto his silk bed sheets, stretching herself along them. Thanatos turned back, examining her as she sat with her legs crossed on the bed, making herself comfortable.

"It seems to me that you already know what my intentions are." Thanatos said, his eyes remaining on her. Noelle hummed in response.

"Nobody will approve of this union. But, I don't think you care much." Noelle observed.

"That is correct. Your former allies won't be around much longer to have a say in anything we do." Thanatos said. Noelle wanted to ask what his plans with her friends were. The thought itched her mine. But, it was one of those questions that she couldn't as if she tried. One that she couldn't even sit and ponder over for too long. Thanatos soon reached down, cupping her soft cheek with his calloused hand. His light eyes pierced into her dark ones, making her feel small. The conscious Noelle tucked away in the back of her head screamed at her subconscious to back far away from him. But she sat there, immobile, letting Thanatos continue to look at her with loving eyes. A chuckle from across the room made them both turn their heads to find Hypnos standing at the door.

"And here I thought we were just taking over the Cosmos. This seems a little more permanent than we discussed, brother." Hypnos said as he reached the end of the bed, staring down at the two of them. Thanatos straightened back up before turning around and resuming as he was before. When Thanatos didn't answer, Hypnos laughed once more, this time more heartily.

"I take it this was your plan all along?" Hypnos asked as he watched Noelle sit on her knees and Thanatos stand up from his spot. Thanatos sighed as Hypnos stuffed his hand into his pocket, awaiting his brother's answer.

"We were never going to detach ourselves from her subconscious and let her be free, were we?" Hypnos asked. Noelle ever so slightly quirked a brow at him. For a moment, Noelle could feel her consciousness peeking through. Thanatos and Hypnos felt comfortable and in their element, their control over her was slipping away. She however made no change and decided to appear as she was before she felt her mind returning to her. She could listen in on this conversation being had in front of her and use it whenever her consciousness peeked once more. Thanatos sighed again.

"We never discussed her being let free. You know if her conscious returned and we decided to spare her, she would stop at nothing to get everybody else back." Thanatos spoke.

"We very much did, Thanatos! You said once we took care of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and the other demigods, we would then spare her. We would wipe her subconscious clean of our control and leave her on Earth to have a normal mortal life." Hypnos said.

"And we cannot do that! She is a Goddess and her consciousness could return to her!" Thanatos said, turning to face him. A vein popped from his forehead indicating this was no longer something he wanted to discuss. Hypnos however felt it necessary. He believed before today that they were on the same page with what to do with her. He now didn't know if his brother had other agendas or not. Noelle examined the two, noticing the tension between the brothers. She fully understood that despite the brothers not being on the same page, they were a still threat and that the Olympians were in danger. They always were. She knew somebody would always want to be at the top, to take control. It was the same old, same old.

"So, we just keep her around?! Make her fully a part of the plan to take over. And then what? Get married just because you've grown an attachment to her since she arrived in the Underworld three months ago?!" Hypnos revealed. Noelle's eyes drifted down to the white dress covering her knees. She wondered if it was true. If Thanatos really had grown attached to her since she began living in the Underworld months prior. She hardly remembers seeing him except for a few times. And even then, they didn't speak. If it were true, she was greatly disturbed.

"Have you ever thought about the fact that I'd have to work twice as hard to make sure her consciousness doesn't return? I'd be doing that until the end of time just so you could get off with somebody other than yourself!" Hypnos complained. After a moment of realization of what he said, he slowly looked down to Noelle who still sat on her knees on the bed. She remained silent as she had before. She figured if she spoke she'd blow her cover. After a moment, Hypnos quickly reached out and gripped her jaw, making her wince.

"See! It falls on me to make sure that her subconscious is present. It's hard enough as it is keeping it here!" Hypnos spoke, his grip on her jaw getting tighter. Thanatos glared at him, shoving him harshly before returning his attention to Noelle as she messaged the skin on her face lightly. She gave him a look of disgust, confirming her consciousness had returned.

"Phelia." Thanatos called out. Almost immediately, Noelle's fear of the two men was brought forth. She screamed like a banshee, making Thanatos sit behind her and clasp his hand over her mouth to suppress the noise. She struggled within his grasp, trying her hardest to get away as Thanatos shooshed her, caressing her hair as he did. She continued to scream until hot tears dripped down her face. Hypnos sighed as he realized his brother's attachment to the girl had grown strong.

"I suppose if we're going to keep her around, we need to work on her conscious as well." Hypnos said, making Thanatos look up at him.

"Are you certain?" Thanatos asked.

"It'd be an equal amount of work to control her consciousness, and it'll be tiresome. But, if we do it, she'll be entirely under our control without a conscious to disrupt our plans any longer." Hypnos explained. Noelle felt fear build up in the pit of her stomach. If her conscious was gone, it pretty much meant Noelle was gone too.

"But, if you are certain, we could give it a try." Hypnos said, wanting to make sure his brother really wanted this. Or more specifically, her. Thanatos looked down at the girl placed in his arms. She trembled with her eyes shut, not wanting to face any of them. Thanatos lightly caressed her cheek, making her flinch. Thanatos then looked up.

"I'm certain." Thanatos said. Hypnos sighed before nodding his head.

"While I work on her consciousness in the sleep realm, we can send her on her way to deal with our enemies." Hypnos spoke. Thanatos said as he lifted his hand from her mouth, her screams immediately stopping as Hypnos's control returned. She eventually stood silently and began heading to the door.

"Wait." Hypnos called out, making Noelle instantly stop, her eyes remaining on the door.

"The sleep realm and the mind realm can very easily cross over. Heath found me at the palace, and he was already growing suspicious. If any of them catch on and enter the mind realm, we could be caught. Is that a risk you're willing to take?" Hypnos asked. Thanatos looked over at the Goddess who stood with her back facing him. He pondered for a moment, wondering if he'd really risk their plan just so that he could have the Goddess he had been fawning over for quite some time. He then turned back to Hypnos and said,

"Yes."