Waking up in my new bedchambers felt so good. Gods, the mattress was so well made by Arges—it felt like I was sleeping on cloud nine. The room itself was a masterpiece, carved from dark obsidian and adorned with intricate engravings that shimmered faintly with a golden glow. The ceiling depicted constellations, each star represented by a glowing gem, mimicking the night sky of the Underworld. Thick, velvet curtains in deep crimson framed tall windows, that looked down upon my realm. A massive fireplace on one side of the room crackled softly, its flames casting a comforting warmth in the room. Beside the bed, a polished ebony table held a goblet of ambrosia and a plate of fruit from my gardens.
I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Gods, I had spent so long building up the Underworld that I had almost forgotten about the war. The weight of it settled back on my shoulders as I thought about what lay ahead. I needed to consider who I could seek for help. From what I could assume, not a lot of gods were born yet, and those who were alive were not widely known among the others. I already planned to bring about a thousand or so skeleton soldiers, Brontes and his brothers, and Briareus. But who else could join us against Father?
As I dressed, it hit me. Thanatos. The god of peaceful death and one of the most efficient beings under my eventual rule. If I was right, then he was already alive during this time. The problem was that he was Nyx's son.
Nyx. The primordial goddess of night. Even Zeus, who feared nothing, feared her. The thought of standing before her sent a shiver down my spine. If I wanted to recruit Thanatos, I would have to convince her first. The idea of speaking to a Primordial was, frankly, terrifying.
I paced back and forth, running through scenarios in my mind. Hours passed without a solid plan forming. Eventually, I sighed and sat down in my office. That's when it hit me. I didn't have to overthink this. I could bring a gift and simply talk to her. Perhaps respect and sincerity would go further than strategy.
With renewed determination, I got to work quickly. I enlisted Brontes to help me create a beautiful amphora vase. The designs etched into its surface depicted the constellations visible only from the Underworld. Each star was filled with tiny glow stones, and the patterns connected to form scenes of life and death. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and I knew it would be a gift worthy of a Primordial.
From my gardens, I picked Moonflowers, their pale petals glowing softly in the dark, and other rare blossoms that would complement their beauty. As I walked through the garden, I selected fruits that I thought Nyx might enjoy. Being a god had its perks; I could grow any fruit, regardless of its natural climate or conditions. The basket began to overflow with vibrant colors and enticing aromas.
To complete the gift, I summoned gemstones and jewels from the depths of the earth. Emeralds, onyx, and sapphires, each polished to perfection, gleamed in my hands. Hours passed in meticulous crafting, but finally, it was complete. I stepped back to admire my work. The vase, filled with flowers, fruits, and adorned with jewels, was a masterpiece—a tribute to Nyx's grandeur.
Satisfied, I prepared to leave. With a thought, I shifted into my divine beast form. My body elongated, covered in scales of obsidian and gold. My wings spread wide, their edges glowing faintly like molten lava. In this form, I launched myself into the air and flew toward the entrance of Tartarus.
The journey through the pit was treacherous, even for me. Winds howled with the wails of the damned, and the darkness here was a living thing, clawing at my form. The oppressive chaos of Tartarus stretched endlessly, the terrain shifting with each passing moment. I flew for what felt like hours until the landscape began to change. The chaotic energy gave way to a cold, eerie calm. The air grew heavier, almost suffocating, and in the distance, I saw it: a black castle, towering above jagged mountains and shrouded in darkness.
The door creaked open after what felt like half an hour, revealing a young goddess. Her skin was pale, her black hair draped down her face like a curtain, and her black eyes peered through it with an emptiness that made my chest tighten. She looked so… drained, so utterly miserable. It clicked in my mind who this was.
Oizys, the goddess of misery, grief, anxiety, and depression.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice flat and devoid of energy, as though speaking to me was a chore she wished she could avoid.
"I come hoping to meet my new neighbors," I replied, keeping my tone respectful but firm as I held up the basket of goods. "I bring gifts."
Oizys stared at me for a long moment, her hollow gaze unnerving. Without a word, she slammed the door shut in my face.
I blinked, taken aback. Before I could react, the door creaked open again. Oizys stood there, still looking as though the weight of existence pressed heavily on her shoulders. "She will see you," she said flatly, stepping aside to let me in.
As I followed Oizys through the castle's dark halls, I couldn't help but let my eyes wander, taking in the unexpected beauty of my surroundings. The inside of the castle was a lot less dark and gloomy and felt a lot more like a home.
Oizys moved silently ahead of me, her form a stark contrast to the gentle beauty of the castle. Her lifeless demeanor almost felt out of place here, yet somehow fitting, like a shadow lingering at the edges of a starry sky.
Finally, we reached a set of towering doors that swung open effortlessly at her touch, revealing a grand chamber beyond. The room was breathtaking. Obsidian mirrors lined the walls, yet they reflected nothing—no light, no figures, only an endless void. Between the mirrors, silver-threaded tapestries depicted the cosmos in exquisite detail: galaxies spiraling, stars being born and dying, and nebulas that seemed to pulse faintly as if breathing.
In the center of the chamber stood a dais, and atop it were two thrones. My eyes were immediately drawn to the figures seated upon them.
The first was Nyx, and even though I had braced myself for her presence, this tall woman with long black hair and even blacker eyes that seemed to reflect the night sky in them. She was leaning on her throne bored as she watched us enter.
But it wasn't just her that caught my attention. Sitting beside her was a figure that sent a chill down my spine. At first glance, he seemed unimportant—a frail, silver-haired man with pale skin that almost seemed translucent. But then I looked closer. His aura was dark, almost suffocating, a stark contrast to the quiet beauty of the room. Though that didn't stop him from looking like some mafia boss as he sat on his throne.
What truly disturbed me, however, was the faint flicker of his life force. I could see it—barely. His essence was dim, fading, like a candle struggling to stay lit in a storm. This man wasn't just old—he was dying. Who was he?
My mind ran quickly as I pondered it as we walked forward toward them, that is when it hit me. Erebus the Primordial of Darkness.
I stopped at the base of the dais and inclined my head, presenting the basket with both hands. "A gift, Lady Nyx and Lord Erebus. I offer this as a gift from one neighbor to another. I do hope that we can build a good relationship between our homes."
Nyx's lips curved into a faint smile as she gestured for me to place the basket before her. "You've come prepared, Hades. I appreciate the effort. Now why did you really come to seek us out."
I looked down as whatever I said next had to convince her to help me. "As you know, my siblings and I are waging war against our father and the Titans. The main reason I came here was to seek help with the war. I also come in hopes of finding gods and goddesses or anyone at all that would be willing to come work for me and help make the Underworld run smoothly.
"The Underworld, is that not that little realm that was above Tartarus? You took it over?" Nyx asked amused.
"Yes, my name is Hades and I am the new god and ruler of the Underworld. I plan to make the realm into one of the greatest. If you ever decide to visit, I ask that you check out the gardens as they are the centerpiece of the Underworld." I said.
"If the time comes, then we shall check it out." Nyx said. "So tell me, are you hoping to hire my children?"
I nodded. "Yes. Your children have the skills that would be perfect. I plan to pay them and make sure that life is comfortable if they decide to stay in the Underworld."
"Tell me, how did you come to find out about our children? They have never left Tartarus before and nobody even knows that they exist yet." Erebus spoke up and I froze as I realized I messed up as I tried to think of anything that would help me out.
"I-I saw them in a vision." I blurted out as I lied.
"A god of divination.... I see." Nyx muttered, though she gave me this look that really chilled my bones. "And who, exactly, are you looking for?"
"Thanatos, Ker, and Moros," I replied firmly, meeting her sharp gaze. "I had originally wanted just Thanatos, but if those three work together then they will accomplish so much."
Nyx leaned back in her throne, resting her chin lightly on her hand as she studied me. "Why them?"
I drew a steadying breath, organizing my thoughts. I had expected skepticism from her, but I needed to ensure she understood the importance of this request. "Thanks to Prometheus, a new weaker race called humans have begun appearing in the mortal world—the problem is that when they die they wander on earth, get trapped on their way to the afterlife, and even sometimes return to their bodies and continue to live far past their time. As the god of the Underworld and Souls, it's my responsibility to ensure every soul reaches the Underworld and is properly sorted. But I can't shoulder this alone."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger but in calculation. "And you believe my children are the solution to this problem?"
I nodded. "Thanatos, Keres, and Moros are perfect for the task I have in mind. I want to appoint them as my Grim Reapers. Their jobs will be to seek out those about to die and make sure they die and bring them to the underworld, with their domains over the different aspects of death, they will be able to give the person the death they deserve."
She tapped a finger against the armrest of her throne, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I feared she might dismiss my request entirely. Then, after a long pause, she spoke again. "You come here asking for my children's aid. Yet, you offer no guarantees about how they'll be treated. If I were to agree to this, what assurances do I have that they will not be overworked, underappreciated, or disrespected?"
I met her gaze squarely. "I understand your concern, and I would never disrespect the contributions of your family. Thanatos, Keres, and Moros will not be servants—they will be my trusted allies. They will have autonomy in their duties and will be compensated fairly for their work. I plan to have homes built for them in Elysium and they will have freedom to come and go as they please."
Nyx tilted her head, her midnight-black hair cascading over one shoulder like a river of shadows. Her eyes seemed to pierce through me, weighing my sincerity. "And what do you seek in return for this partnership? Surely you're not here simply to take."
I inclined my head, acknowledging her point. "You're right. I am not here to take—I am here to forge an alliance. The Underworld and the House of Nyx share many overlapping interests. By working together, we could create a bond that benefits us both. Your children would be given the opportunity to expand their influence and serve in roles that align with their talents, while I gain their invaluable assistance in managing the growing demands of my domain."
A silence fell over the chamber as Nyx considered my words. Erebus, who had remained quiet until now, shifted slightly in his seat. His voice, deep and resonant, broke the stillness. "An alliance between the Underworld and the House of Nyx would indeed be advantageous. But such a bond must be cemented with something more substantial than words. There must be an exchange, something shared between our houses to solidify this partnership."
I turned to Erebus, his faint but formidable presence commanding respect. "What sort of exchange do you propose?"
Nyx spoke before he could answer, her tone calm but firm. "Marriage would be a means of sealing alliances. You could select from our many daughter's—"
"No." My voice cut through hers before she could finish. "I mean no offence but I am still a young god and there is much that I still have to do and can't really spare time to get married."
Nyx raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my directness. "I expected as much. But if marriage is off the table, then another means must be found."
Erebus leaned forward, his gaze locking onto mine. "If not through marriage, then through power. Hades, I will grant you dominion over darkness itself. You shall become a part of our family in a way."
I frowned slightly, my mind racing. "I am already the god of shadows. Would that change?"
Erebus stepped down from his throne with deliberate grace, his presence commanding the room despite his frail and aged form. There was an undeniable air of authority about him, a weight that seemed to bend the shadows toward him like moths to a flame. As he stopped in front of me, his dark eyes glimmered with an ancient power that made even a god such as myself feel young and inexperienced in comparison.
"You wonder if this change will cost you something," Erebus began, his voice deep and steady, resonating through the chamber. "But let me explain so there is no misunderstanding. Shadow is merely an aspect of darkness, a fragment of its vast power. By granting you dominion over darkness itself, you will transcend your current limitations. Shadows born from light are blocked by another source, but darkness is primordial—it exists as the pure absence of light. You will get the hang of it after some training, it is quite different than simply bending shadows."
I frowned slightly, considering his words. "So... will I lose my domain to shadows?"
Erebus smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Not at all. Shadows will remain part of your domain, but they will become more. They will answer to you as extensions of darkness itself, and with this power, your influence will grow tenfold. You will gain abilities you cannot yet fathom—true mastery over the darkness that exists around us."
I nodded, my decision solidified. "Then I accept."
Erebus inclined his head, his faint smile deepening ever so slightly. "Good. Then let us begin."
He raised his hand, and a dagger shimmered into existence in his grasp. It was crafted from pure darkness, its blade swirling as if alive. He grasped it with a practiced ease, then turned his palm upward and drew the blade across it. Ichor bubbled through the cut as he clenched his hand to stop it.
Summoning a goblet seemingly out of thin air, Erebus held his cut hand over it and opened it, letting a steady stream of ichor to drip into the vessel. The ichor filled up the goblet as it changed from gold to this black and silver liquid as Erebus muttered some kind of prayer or something.
Erebus extended the goblet to me. "Drink this, Hades. For it contains my inchor, a gift from the Primordial of Darkness to pass the torch down to one worthy. Be warned—the process is... painful."
I hesitated only briefly, taking the goblet in both hands. The liquid seemed to pulse with its own heartbeat, and the power emanating from it sent a shiver down my spine. Still, I was resolved. Without another word, I brought the goblet to my lips and drank.
The moment the liquid touched my tongue, it burned. It wasn't like mortal fire or even divine flame—it was a searing, otherworldly heat that spread through my body with each swallow. I finished the goblet in one motion, letting it clatter to the ground as I staggered backward, clutching my chest.
My heart throbbed violently, as if trying to break free from my ribcage. A searing pain coursed through me, radiating out from my core as if every part of me was being rewritten. My vision blurred, flickering between light and complete darkness. My legs gave out, and I dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
Erebus gripped my shoulder to steady me. His presence was strangely comforting, grounding me even as this new power inside me raged out of control. "Relax," he said, his voice calm but firm. "The process is painful, yes, but necessary. Your very essence is being reshaped to align more with the power of darkness. Breathe, Hades. Steady your breathing, it will help."