Hearts of Greek Fire - A Hades/Meg Love Story

Chapter 5 - Dealing with a Death God

"What do you two do all day? Raid landfills and dance through back alleyways?" I asked with a grimace, plucking a half-eaten gyro from one of Pain's fat folds. The smell of curdled tzatziki sauce made me gag, and I threw the food across the room.

Panic sat in the tub water, picking his wide nostrils with a gnarled finger. "I do believe we are minions to the Lord of the Underworld. What haven't we done?"

"Star in a musical?" Pain asked, gathering the soap suds under his chin like a beard.

I leaned my elbow on the edge of the tub and propped my chin in my hand. "Well, you certainly haven't starred in one."

We all looked in the same direction and winked.

A flash of orange fire burst in the middle of the room.

"Why is it so difficult for mortals to realize they are born, they live, and they DIE?!" Hades screamed, flames shooting from his head and shoulders.

Pain and Panic yelped, splashing water from the tub as they scurried off, leaving a soaked trail on the stone floor.

I wiped the water from my face with a flick of the wrist. Standing up with my arms folded, I watched Hades clench his fists at his sides. His chest pumped up and down. He snarled at the floor as if it gave him the stank eye.

"Bad day at the office?" I asked, arching a brow.

His fists unclenched when his yellow eyes landed on me. His gaze turned to the tub, and he pointed. "Did you actually bathe them?"

I narrowed my eyes. "You ordered me to."

"I mean sure," he started, pausing to rub his chin. "I figured you'd, you know, refuse a couple of times, I'd remind you about the deal, you'd tell me you hated me and eventually do it."

"The night is still young," I spat, glaring at him.

He waved a hand at the tub, making it disappear. "Forget it."

I shifted my eyes. "Forget what, exactly? I did as you asked. Do you think it's easy for someone like me to take orders? No less from the person I stupidly sold my soul to for petty reasons?"

Hades floated back and forth before stopping to pinch the bridge of his nose with closed eyes. "I'm stressed. I can't think straight."

"Well, don't take it out on me. I'm just another one of your minions, remember?" I turned my back on him, flicking my hair. "And what do you have to be stressed about? This Kingdom not big enough for you?"

"Are you—" He appeared behind me, slowly leaning to the side so he could stare at my profile. "Are you saying you think my life down here is some sorta cakewalk?"

"No. But you have your escape from the other gods. Isn't that like some twisted kind of paradise for you?" I kept my face forward, eyeing him sidelong.

He rolled his eyes and trailed a hand through the blue fire on his head. "Say, I have an idea. You're so good with bathing, why not give me one while you're at it?" A devilish grin spread over his lips, and he snapped his fingers.

A black tub with clawed feet appeared between us. Steam wafted from the water already inside.

"You can't be serious," I huffed.

He moved his face directly in front of mine with narrowed eyes. "You keep questioning my commitment with my words. Let me make something very clear, sweetgums. You will never come across a god as serious as the guy who deals with dead people for a living. Understand?"