Hades

leaving

Hades

Macaria went with me to work. She rode Alastor, I rode Nyctaeus. We were silent for a while, before Macaria broke the silence.

"I have been wondering," she said, glancing at me.

"About?" I asked.

"It's as if you, the twelve, all came into existence long before the Greeks started to write the story down as myths."

I nodded.

"How long before?"

I smiled. "I don't know. There was a time when we didn't write down time. We didn't care. One season went, took the previous and created a new one. Demeter too was long before, creating the seasons, though not as defined as now."

Macaria nodded.

"What has made you think of this?"

"I was thinking if maybe I would want to give birth. I want to experience the joy which I know motherhood can bring."

I looked at her. "As far as I know, you did give birth once on Earth?"

She nodded. "It was painful, yet glorious. But that child does not remember me. What is it like to be a father of children for so long?"

I smiled. "The child aspect is lost at a point. When no one ages after a certain age, the terms become a bit overused. It was yourself who didn't want to use the terms." I reminded her.

She bit her lip. "Hades, how are you going to cope after Stella returns to Earth?"

I looked at Nyctaeus' mane, the black hairs dancing in the breeze. "I have considered reincarnating. But that is no guarantee I will meet her. And she won't remember me."

"What about when she returns to the realm of the dead in many years?"

"Then what?" I asked.

Macaria sighed. "She's been here for a while. Usually you move them to the waiting area as soon as possible."

"She is special. I don't know how much, but once she leaves, I will find out."

Macaria smiled. "Please, warn me before you leave."

"I will," I promised.