Poseidon

Poseidon's POV

Disappeared from between my hands again. I turned off the water and stared at the water already in the tub. I could see my own body beneath the clear water.

Fuck this shit!

I got out of the tub, drained it and dried off, before I stalked back to my office. Was this Hades' problem?

No. But he was the only one I could talk to, who was close to people. They couldn't go to Olympus, even in death, so it was either here or in the Underworld.

Zeus teased us that we were 'too humane', but it came with the territory, though Hades interacted with more humans, day to day, than I did.

I globed him before I lost my nerve.

He loomed up on the globe, glaring at me. "This better be good," he warned.

"How can she disappear?" I asked.

Hades blinked. "Dude, it's your realm, what do I know? She's not dead, that much I do know." He smiled at his own sick joke.

I groaned and put my face in my hands. "She disappears, Hades. Like sand slipping through my fingers. Just like that."

"I haven't heard of it before," Hades offered. "I can't put a man on it, I need who I've got."

"I know," I said. "Maybe you knew, you know weird things."

He smiled a crooked smile. "I know how it works here, don't know about your realm." He paused, staring at me, though I knew he was staring into space.

Yes, I'd admitted I wanted to know more about her. He didn't go about using that to all sorts of things. He was a decent guy, and I treated him accordingly. Zeus was fine, he liked to boast, so better keep your cards close, until you were ready to laugh about it.

"I mean, here, if a person disappears, that's because they are awake on Earth after a coma or whatever." Hades said. "What if it's the same? She's been in your realm too long, somehow, and she has to go back, not to be trapped?"

"You can't get trapped here," I said. "There's always the option to go back, unless you're dead, but she isn't."

"Maybe someone helped her along? Sometimes interference from other deities fuck things up?"

I groaned. "I'm not even remotely ready to accuse Amphitrite for this."

Hades smiled. "She likes to mess with you," he said with a shrug. "It's like you're best buds instead of married."

"We haven't been married for a long time. She doesn't even live here anymore!" I said. He damn well knew it. But hey, my relationship was better than the one he had with Persephone. Amphitrite knew where she had me, and she knew I wasn't playing games with her. I respected her too much, though the romance was long since dead and gone. I couldn't always count on her, but she didn't pull the shit Persephone did with Hades.

Hades chuckled. "She likes to mess with you. Who's to say she hasn't noticed you like her?"

"The first time, Hades?" I asked.

"Fate?" Hades asked. "The Fates work in mysterious ways."

"They're your kids."

"They're their own deity," Hades reminded me. "I don't keep them under lock, and we have a respectful relationship. They speak more with Melinoë than me."

Melinoë was also weird. She liked to be alone, too much, and spoke with creatures I wouldn't mess with. And the Fates. Messing with them was like a death wish, and I had no death wish.

I didn't mind the castle, when Hades were there, but it creeped me out when alone.

"Great," I said. "I'll work something out."

"Of course," Hades said.

"Say hi to Stella for me," I muttered and globed off. I had pursued mortal girls before, but not like this. Not this... I wouldn't say desperate, but it was intense. And I was intrigued by her.

Athena.

Fucking hated her name, but she didn't pick it. Not to say... a lot of names picked themselves. I had a bad feeling with this, but I was in too deep now.

She smelled so good, and she felt so right in my arms.

It had probably been too long since I'd been with someone.