Scattered

41

Tainted

'Cut the shite, Keres. Both you and I know that you are not going to the underworld to "catch up" with the family.'

Keres had to chuckle at his brother's exasperation as he clicked his cloak into its place. He knew that Thànatos wouldn't be so keen to let him meet his estranged brother and the lord of Underworld at one go.

The twins didn't exactly have a model relationship with their namesake boss from hell, literally.

Hades' anti-social approach to anyone who graces his gothic palace overseeing Styx river was well known in the realm of Gods. He was the epitome of a brooding dark lord governing the land of dead that sometimes Keres had wondered if the whole lot-picking after Cronus' assassination was just a myth.

Since the children of Gaia was never so keen about the Dark Clan and Hades having to rule the domain where the Princes of Dark Clan was more feared and respected than himself didn't exactly present the most ideal relationship ground. But like the rest of his brothers, Hades had learned to tolerate the looming presence of the Dark Clan and rule in partnership over the many centuries.

But Keres knew that it wasn't easy on Hades' mind.

And that was why the most sedate and diplomatic Prince out of all of them, Hypnos, had to visit Hades once every century to revise the order of the Underworld.

The very venue where Keres, the most impulsive and destructive of them all, planned to visit that fine afternoon.

'I never said it was "catching up" with family, malaka.*' Keres chuckled huskily, 'I am going to meet Hypnos, which is all. Hades... well, Hades is an unwanted and rather unfortunate by-product.'

'Do answer, brother dearest, why?'

Keres paused for moment before heaving a sigh and reaching out for Mors. The enchanted Adamantine-blend metal glinted ominously in the dull lighting as Keres gripped it in his gloved fists.

'I need to speak with Hypnos.' Keres replied Thànatos' question evasively.

'That I had gathered.' Thànatos' quipped, his tone cold as Keres turned to meet his sable eyes. 'But what requires you to meet him in such an urgent fashion is what I want to know.'

Keres glared at his brother. He knew that Thànatos wouldn't be exactly on board with his idea to visit Hypnos but what he hadn't anticipated was for him to show up in his mansion on Earth. Thànatos was the most meddlesome in their family in which none cares for one another and for most part Keres enjoyed his brother's watchful eye but then was one of the few moments he did not.

'What I want to know is why you are here on Earth. Did Kokytus grow old you?'

Kokytus, one of the tributaries of the great Styx was where Thànatos erected his palace to watch over the dead. While Keres preferred his mansion on Earth, Thànatos would always return to the palace by Kokytus for reasons that were beyond him. And being the closest of the twelve siblings, Keres and Thànatos wouldn't mind sharing their mansions when one has any business to be done around.