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A brief lull had descended upon the foyer of the House of Hades, but for once Hypnos was not exploiting it for sleep. He was gazing at his wife, Pasithea. She was kneeling beside the Pool of Styx and comforting a sobbing female shade.
She was so beautiful; soft brown skin draped in a peplos of silk coloured in the purples that tinted the evening sky. The Charities were known for their smiles, and there was scarcely a moment when Pasithea was not brightening the room with hers. And from that lovely mouth flowed a voice as sweet as nectar, capable of soothing even the most agitated visitor to the House. Not even the goddess Aphrodite could compare to her loveliness, although Hynos was wise enough not to let that heresy pass his lips. He was more than happy to save it for his dreams.
Soon after their marriage, Pasithea had been bestowed the duty of counsellor for the deceased, to be a balm for all their complaints, worries and unfinished business. Hypnos had worried that the sheer volume of grievance-filing dead would overwhelm the young maiden, but she had taken to the role beautifully. Still, Hypnos was mindful to keep regular check-ups on his wife as a top priority, tippity-top of his ever-growing list. Nobody had ever taught him the do’s and don'ts of being a good husband, but family life had more than impressed upon him the desire to be a present and attentive one.
‘Your wife is indeed a beauty,’ a familiar voice said, ‘but please do not forget your duties in her eyes, brother.’
Hypnos jumped and almost dropped his list before noticing Thanatos. The embodiment of death’s golden eyes gazed with with their usual severity, although the corners of his lips were twitching.
‘Thanatos!’ Hypnos cried, sitting up from his plush red chaise. ‘You’re back! I mean, I only saw you yesterday! I think this is a new record?’ He grabbed the fat diary next to him and began flipping through pages. ‘I’m sure it’s a record…’
‘I simply wished to check on you and your lady,’ Thanatos replied, noting the enormous piles of paperwork around the chaise, dangerously close to forming a cave around Hypnos's meet-and-greet station. ‘I trust you are both well?’
Hypnos looked up and beamed.
‘Oh, you didn’t have to take time off just for that!’ he said. ‘But since you have, yeah, we’re really well! Pasithea’s doing amazing work around here, nothing’s ever any trouble for her! She’s a favourite with all our visitors, even the Master himself, I think!’
‘That’s good to hear,’ said Thanatos, before frowning over his twin’s shoulder at the towering paper stacks. ‘Are those past lists?’
‘That they are!’ said Hypnos proudly. ‘Actually, they’re done past lists! I’m checking allll the lists that were in the “incomplete” tray! And when I say “tray”, I mean “cavern”! Seriously, some of these have been in there for centuries!’ He giggled. ‘I think Dusa kinda hates me now - the dust was in-cre-dible, you should have seen it, brother!’
Thanatos smiled. ‘I can imagine it. It’s good to see you so motivated. Mother Nyx and the Master will be pleased.’
This procured a cheery laugh from sleep incarnate. ‘I sure hope so!’
‘Well, this is a lovely surprise!’
Pasithea’s nectar-sweet voice caused both brothers to turn to its source; the smiling, radiant young woman stopping by where her husband lay. She brushed her lilac tresses over her shoulder and her large blue eyes filled with the image of her brother-in-law.
‘You were here just yesterday, Thanatos,’ she remarked. 'Is everything alright? Are you well?'
Just listening to his wife’s voice was enough to relax every muscle in Hypnos’s body and send him sinking back into his chair. Every care that had ever troubled his mind melted clean away.
‘I am quite well,’ Thanatos replied, a little embarrassed by the concern caused by his wilful visit. ‘The Master has praised your work. I wanted to see you in action.’
‘Isn’t she wonderful?’ Hypnos murmured, smiling dreamily at his wife.
Pasithea giggled. ‘Oh, don’t be silly, I’ve made plenty of mistakes!’
‘I admit,’ Thanatos began, carefully considering his words. ‘I was concerned that the work would burden you. Hypnos and I have fulfilled our duties for eons. We are used to the grind, as it were - but as a newcomer, one used to a more leisurely pace of life…’
Thanatos’s roundabout explanation was cut short by Pasithea’s tinkling laughter.
‘You underestimate me, brother-in-law!’ she said.
Thanatos smiled. ‘Indeed. I have underestimated my brother as well. It pleases me to see Hypnos is outdoing himself.’
He expected no reply - Hypnos only had eyes for his wife - but the sleepy, smitten god smiled a little wider.
‘Aw, shucks!’ he said. 'You're gonna make me cry here! It's all thanks to Pasi, really. I wanna do my bestest best for her! I mean, what kind of a husband would I be if I made her do my job on top of hers? A really, really bad one, that's what!'
'Oh, Hypnos!' Pasithea giggled. She reached for him and they took each others' hand. Hypnos returned a dimpled smile and he sat up to plant a kiss on her hand. For three quiet seconds, theirs was the image of perfect love.
Then a grumbling shade tapped Pasithea on the shoulder and barked: 'Excuse me! I thought we had a session booked today!'
The young Charity gasped, letting go of Hypnos and turning a face full of sympathy to the shade.
‘Oh, I am so sorry, sir! Please come with me. Whatever your concerns, we will find the answer together.’
The shade backed down, fumbling lamely. ‘Well, that's alright, I wasn't waiting very long, really…’
Pasithea took the shade's amorphous green hand.
‘Come.’
She smiled at her husband and brother-in-law as she glided away, client in tow.
The two brothers were quiet for a moment, half-dazed. The aftermath of any conversation with Pasithea was like this.
‘Well, brother, I'm glad you’re getting along so well,’ Thanatos said.
Hypnos giggled lightly. ‘I guess so!’
This caused a frown to crease the god of death's brow.
'You guess? It seems obvious to me. Has something happened?'
'No, nothing's happened. But... you know Pasi's abilities, right? I told you before, didn't I?'
Thanatos thought for a moment. 'You did.'
'She can make you see things. I've watched her do it - it's pretty incredible! The shade talks to people who aren't there, touches objects that aren't there… whatever they couldn't say to somebody, whatever they couldn't do in the living world, they can, because Pasi lets them think so. Isn't that awesome?'
'It is impressive,' said Thanatos uneasily. 'But I fail to see what you're -'
And then it hit him. Like Zagreus's fist to the jaw.
'Brother - you don't think that she's making you hallucinate a happy union, do you?'
Hypnos smiled, but the cheer did not reach his eyes. ‘I’ve thought about it. I mean, think about it. Pasi is a Charity, she’s sweet, she’s beautiful, she’s lived with her sisters on the surface all her life. And suddenly, a goddess - the scary queen goddess - tells her she’s to be married to a god in the underworld. A god she’s never met. And saying no to Hera is a really, really bad idea…’
‘Brother -’
‘Did she - really like what she saw?' Hypnos murmured. ‘Did she really look at me and this house and think “Yeah, I'll be happy here”? You gotta admit, Thanatos, the underworld isn't exactly the stuff a girl dreams of!’
'Hypnos!'
Thanatos had a hand on his brother's shoulder, shaking him like he would to stop the younger twin drifting to sleep. But Hypnos was very much awake, staring down at the eye mask between his fingers, rubbing it as if to remember the softness of Pasithea's hand.
'Brother, stop this.' His voice was soft but firm. 'First of all, you are sleep incarnate. You are the lord of all living beings - Pasithea included - it is you who decides what is real and what is not in a drowsy brain, god or otherwise. You are more powerful than she could ever be. If she was truly feeding you a false reality, you of all people would know, Hypnos.'
‘Maybe - I don't wanna know,’ said Hypnos quietly. ‘Maybe I’d… I’d rather be fooled by a weaker god.’
'Hypnos.' Thanatos was sitting on the chaise now, one arm around the smaller god's shoulders. 'Hypnos, why is it so difficult to believe she would like you?'
His younger twin plucked a poppy from his belt, holding it so that its petals caught the rugged glow of the nearby fire burning in the grate. It was something to look at other than his brother’s inquiring eyes.
‘I - I don’t know. This has never happened to me before.’ Hypnos’s voice was so soft even Thanatos, so close beside him, strained to hear it over the hubbub of the House. ‘You know, when I saw her for the first time, I thought “No way, she can't be my wife!” I was happy - but also... scared. I regretted ever giving Hera my help, and agreeing to have Pasi as my wife. But by then it was too late.’
‘Brother…’
Hypnos began plucking off the red petals, one by one. ‘How could I? How could I take a perfectly happy and beautiful girl away from everything she knows to live here with me? Can you really say for sure she doesn't resent me, just a little bit? I sure wouldn't blame her if she did.'
Thanatos sighed. He had underestimated his brother once again. Underestimated the depths of his turmoil.
‘Hypnos,’ he said. ‘However you came to know each other, you are not a bad person to know. You’re dedicated, considerate - overly-so, in my opinion - and kind. If Pasithea had anyone to genuinely resent, it would be Hera, for using her as a bargaining chip. She took her away from her family, not you.’
‘I guess, but…’
Thanatos ruffled Hynos’s grey curls. ‘Brother, you’re torturing yourself. You need to talk to her. You need to find out the truth.’
Hypnos’s eyes flashed with panic. ‘No, nononono - I can’t!’
‘It’ll be best for both of you. You won’t be troubled by uncertainty, and she can express her true feelings - whatever they are.’
Sleep incarnate gazed down at the naked poppy. He bit his lip.
‘What if she hates me?’
‘Brother,’ Thanatos chided lightly. ‘Please stop with that. There is not a bone in your body that she could possibly hate. There is so much sorrow and darkness in this place, but you…’ Personal confessions did not come easily to the god of death, and in a moment’s pause he fought against the instinct to clam up. ‘You’re one of the few things that give this house light, brother. Whatever happens, don’t ever forget that.’
Hypnos’s eyes filled with tears and his smiling lips quivered. ‘Oh - oh wow. That’s - that’s the nicest thing anyone - anyone has ever said to me. I… I don’t know what…’
Thanatos pulled his twin into a short, but strong, hug.
‘There, there, brother. Don’t let things build up like that. You’ve got enough to worry about as it is.’
Hypnos sniffed and pulled back, wiping his eyes with the fur lining of his cloak. ‘Oh - yeah - you bet!’
‘Talk to her, brother.’
‘OK.’
‘It doesn’t have to be now - just, soon. Alright?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘It’ll be alright, you know.’
Hypnos nodded, dangerously close to crying again.
‘Whoa, Hypnos!’
It was Zagreus. The two brothers had been so intent on each other that they hadn’t noticed the demigod emerge from the Pool of Styx and make his way over. Seeing Hypnos’s tears, Zagreus came close and touched his arm, his face full of concern. He had never seen Hypnos this upset.
‘What happened?’ he asked. ‘What's wrong?’
Hypnos gave a croaky little laugh. ‘Well, uh, it’s funny you should ask, but, um… I guess this is the sort of thing best friends are… for…’
His words faded like dreams in a waking mind as he caught sight of Pasithea approaching behind his brother. Fear tangled his guts and he wanted nothing more than to be asleep right now, and usually sleep was the solution to any problem, but not this one.
‘Sorry, Zagreus, but I gotta go.’
‘Huh? Where…?’
‘Here's a bit of best friend advice,' said the god of sleep, frantically fixing his hair, face and clothes, 'you might wanna both head out in the next five minutes.’
‘Uh, OK, why?’
There was a twinkle in Hypnos's eyes. ‘Because I'm gonna make everybody in this House go night-night. They deserve a little break, don't you think? Sure you do!'
'What the-?'
Zagreus's exclamation was cut short by Thanatos's hand on his shoulder. The god of death gave his brother an encouraging nod.
‘Good luck.’
Hypnos's grin was almost too big for his face. ‘You guys are just the best! See ya!’
Before Zagreus could say anything else, Hypnos vanished in a puff of cloud and reappeared in front of Pasithea, who cried out in surprise.
Thanatos noticed his friend's baffled stare.
‘He’ll tell you later, Zagreus. Let him be for now.' He stood, but lingered for a moment, like the shades he had guided. 'But don’t go far today. I won't either. He’ll need both of us.’
The seriousness of Thanatos’s tone told Zagreus all he needed to know, for now.
'Well, it's not my bedtime yet,' said the son of Hades. 'Do you think Mother would be angry if I played a bit longer outside?'
Thanatos smirked. 'Don't worry, I'll cover for you. Just this once.'
Across the hall, Hypnos was smiling at his wife, but anyone with eyes could see he’d been crying.
‘Husband!’ she said, reaching for his face. ‘What is the matter? What happened?’
Hypnos evaded her touch.
‘Pasi,’ he murmured. ‘Darling. Sweetheart. Could we - could we talk, for a minute?’
‘Of course. Of course, we can talk, but -’ Pasithea's eyes flitted to the stern giant that was Hades, working at his desk nearby. ‘What if the Master finds you missing from your post?’
Hypnos laughed. ‘Oh, don’t you worry that!'
'But...'
The god of sleep leaned in close with a wide, crafty grin. 'Pasi, did you seriously forget who you married?'
Pasithea's large eyes widened as realisation sunk in. 'You'd go that far...?'
'This is important,' Hypnos pressed. 'It’s something I’ve been thinking about, dreaming about… and I can’t sit on it any more.’
He begged for her honesty with his eyes. Even if her love was a lie, as long as she was honest, he could bear it just a little better.
‘We'll go to my chambers.’
‘Yes,’ his wife whispered. ‘Yes, alright.’
'Take my hand.'
Pasithea obeyed. Husband and wife gazed at each other's fearful faces. He grasped her hand tightly, and the world around them began to dim and blur in a smoky haze, as if reality itself were warping. Shades dropped left and right, Dusa and her duster rolled close to the House Contractor's desk, and even Hades himself succumbed to sleep's call as easily as a child, his great head slumping forward into his arms, knocking a vial of ink from the table onto the floor.
Sleep took everyone, if only for a little while.
As the room filled with snores, Hypnos let out a nervous giggle. 'Wait till you hear the Master. It's quite something! Shook some of the mirrors off the wall one time!'
Pasithea smiled faintly.
'You'll have to tell me about it later.'
Hypnos hoped with all his being - hoped that Thanatos was right.
'OK.'
Heart thudding in his ears, Hypnos led the way through the maze of dreaming sleepers.