Chapter Text
A chilly wind was blowing strongly through the meadows this October's morning. Autumn was just about to start, and yet made it clear that summer was well gone until next year.
The trees had shed and left pools of red, orange and yellow at their feet; the woods were a vast field of fiery puddles of leaves. A sight to behold, if it weren't for the mist that had fallen overnight, bathing the horizon in a thick and cold white veil and hiding the view beyond ten steps.
Nature was slowly going into a hibernation state while somewhere, in an ancient but fancy cottage, people were running all over the place. Cries could be heard; happy and overexcited.
"Did you read it? Did you read it? This is going to be the best party ever!"
"I can't wait to be there, there's going to be so many guests! Oh my god—and the boys! I can't wait to be there!"
"Seriously? They really restored this old mansion? They sure must be rich!"
"Children, please behave—Eris, Nemesis. I understand your enthusiasm, but do not forget your manners. Hypnos, this is an impolite remark, watch your words."
"Yes, Mother!"
Thanatos turned over and groaned in his sleep. Though he was well used to his siblings' uproars, the hour it was happening was uncommon. His hand blindly searched for his phone and when he found it, blinked an eye open to check the time. Eight in the morning.
He was going to make a triple murder.
Somewhere next to his bed, his older brother, Charon, grumbled as well, mumbling some words that it was best not to mention.
Soon after, the door of the room slammed open.
"Wakey Wakey Sleepy Belle!" a loud and cheery voice boasted before dashing out.
"... I'm going to kill him," Thanatos muttered.
"Me first," Charon hissed.
How their mother managed to raise and educate them all by herself remained a mystery to him. Their father had passed away soon after Eris' birth, leaving Nyx taking care of five children, each with their own temper.
Eris happened to be very much lively, while her older sister Nemesis took a liking to copying her little sister's tantrums—to everyone's dismay. Charon and Thanatos, on the contrary, were calm and collected, and both enjoyed quiet places. Hypnos was a strange in-between; he was a cheerful and mischievous young man, appreciated arts like music and singing, and appeared to have an unexpectedly sharp mind. And yet, he was more prone to follow his sisters' chaotic alignment than to listen and behave like his brothers.
After a screeching cry of joy that almost made the windows tremble, Thanatos admitted it was time to get up and make some mouths go shut. Charon did as well, groaning and scratching his messy blonde hair.
"Ah, finally!" Eris welcomed them when they entered the living room. "Than, Char, look at this, look at this!"
Their sister rushed to them before they could mutter a word, and almost shoved the piece of paper on their faces. They both took it with one hand each and frowned.
It was a letter. The paper was sky-blue colored and handwritten in a very elegant style with a quill, it seemed. It sure didn't come from any commoner. Thanatos flipped his long, silver locks out of his face, rubbed his still sticky-sleepy eyes and approached the missive closer—curses he forgot his glasses upstairs.
October, 13th, 20xx
To inaugurate the recent acquisition of Asphodel estate, you are kindly invited to join us for a dance party celebration at the very place. We would be very pleased to make further acquaintance with our new neighborhood and hopefully build friendly bonds with you.
The party will take place on October, 17th, starting 6:00pm.
Please announce yourselves with this invitation to be allowed to enter.
Sincerely,
Hermes and Aphrodite Olympia
Thanatos blinked for a few seconds. He squinted his eyes to check any misread. Charon did the same, a light incredulous huh escaping from his lips.
"Someone actually bought this old mansion?" he remarked.
"Looks like so! This is going to be the best night ever! I'm sure there will be so many guests and—Oh my god, what if I actually find someone there?" Eris chirped.
"Good luck to them, then," Thanatos muttered, handing back the letter to his sister. "Anyway, I'll pass."
"Thana-sullen is at it again!" Eris began to chant, soon followed by Nemesis. "Thana-sullen is scared of crowds!"
Thanatos ignored them and headed back to his bedroom.
What was wrong about not wanting to bathe in the middle of people? Constant noise and buzz from any direction, people boasting their lives of complaining about trivial stuff, then inevitably talking about politics; what was so thrilling about that?
Back in his room, Thanatos snatched his glasses from his nightstand. Now with an acceptable sight, he opened the windows to aerate the place, then picked fresh clothes and headed to the bathroom.
He splashed fresh water on his face and inspected his features in the mirror reflection, and frowned.
His hair needed a good trim; bed hair aside, it became visible that most of his locks were split at the ends. The curls there were dangling sadly, and felt dry and fragile at the touch. His natural hair color—an unusual, silky silver-white hue—was losing their brightness and softness as well. His tongue clicked in annoyance; if he ever accepted to attend this party—only two days from now, who was stupidly away from common sense enough to organize a party in such a short time—no way he would ever let anyone see his messy hair.
Thanatos sighed then undressed before stepping in the shower. He would also need to renew his hair-care stock as well, he noticed, someone was likely tapping generously in the bottle.
He couldn't wait for the day Eris would find someone and live far, far away. And Nemesis as well, if possible.
~
"Take your turn, Charon," Thanatos announced to his brother from the threshold of their room before going downstairs.
The living room was still lively when he arrived, his sisters chirping and discussing for the best outfit to wear. Hypnos was busy preparing his own breakfast, while their mother was cleaning the dishes.
"Ah, Sulthan-atos is out of the shower! Tired of ruling the Kingdom of Sullen?" Eris teased when she saw the towel wrapped around his damp hair.
"Yeah, sure," he brushed off while preparing his coffee.
"Eris, I believe I told you to behave," Nyx said. Her voice was quiet as ever, but the premise of a warning tone was rising. Eris merely shrugged it off and resumed her chatting.
Thanatos sat at the table and opened his sketchbook to review his latest essays.
It quickly appeared there was no way he could focus on anything with the constant buzzing of his sisters chatting on the sofa, chirping and excitedly screeching about the party. His brows pinched deeper and deeper, until they became one.
"Got any progress, Thanny?" Hypnos asked as he sat at Thanatos' side.
"Hm."
"Oh, looks like you improved your verses! Last time I checked you were stuck with that alexandrine poem."
"Hypnos. Are you spying on my work?"
"Not really," his twin mused, "just happened to stumble on your book while I was searching for my poppy hairpin."
"You must have stumbled very hard for having your hands falling in the drawer of my nightstand. Which was supposed to be locked, too." Thanatos remarked.
"I know, right? But lucky me, I happened to read some good work there!"
"What works are you talking about?" Nemesis suddenly asked, popping her head between them.
Thanatos closed his sketchbook with a swift move and tucked it under his arm. Now way in the world he would let his chaotic sisters snatch it.
"Not your business," Thanatos retorded as he got up and cleaned his empty mug.
" Thanatos'ullen, Thanatos'ullen!"
" Girls ," Nyx warned once again.
In the end, his room was the best place to work; though he and Charon shared it, his older brother was respectful of his privacy. It was still too early and chilly to go outside, but his desk was at the window: it was an excellent spot to admire the rising sun of the misty meadows in the horizon while enjoying the comfortable warmth of the house.
And yet, Thanatos couldn't happen to write anything today. His mind was buzzing with the earlier commotion; The Olympia family had a reputation, acquiring a property here was going to make the papers go wild. Journalists would surely come from all the corners of the country to gather their own share of information, too. All in all, the region was going to be lively for the next few weeks.
He assumed that their mother was going to accept the invitation, and any upcoming event at the Olympia's; Nyx wished for them to leave the nest, but didn't force her children's hand if they didn't want to; thus leading to the five of them still living under the same roof. Still, she wished the best for them, and thus, they would feel obliged to follow her to any fancy party if they were to be invited.
And as much Thanatos despised big gatherings… It would be great to find a special someone , though. He had thought about it a few times already, as of late. But Thanatos hardly had any friend, nor any acquaintance, and even in his own household he would get along with Charon only, and Hypnos to some degree. So for a complete foreigner to take a liking to him… What were the odds he would find anyone at this party anyway? Like any other party, Thanatos would end up searching for a quiet place and open his sketchbook.
Even if that party was taking place at Olympias', it hardly made a difference; actually it would mean there was likely going to be a lot of people— Asphodel was quite a large place.
"You will go?" Charon suddenly spoke.
Thanatos snapped out from his daydreaming and frowned. "I haven't decided yet."
Though in his mind, the word ' no' was pictured in caps. There was no apparent reason he would ever go to an extra-crowded party anyway, so—
"... I think I'll go."
Thanatos blinked and whirled his face around. "...What?"
"I'll go," Charon repeated.
Thanatos gaped. Much like him, Charon didn't like crowds, and he was even less talkative.
"Is it because it's from a famous family?" Thanatos asked. "You don't have to feel forced to go just for Mother's sake, you know."
Charon shrugged, his eyes fixated on his hands.
"Probably," he muttered. He then lifted his face, his purple iris shining with a strange glint. "But they will all go. Being alone here… isn't fun."
Fair point, Thanatos guessed. When they were kids, it was thrilling to run and hide all around the house, and use the library like a play field, thinking it was a gigantic labyrinth. But they were adults now. Though Nyx's books were selling well, the income was becoming less and less sufficient to sustain the family—even Charon and Thanatos' short income wasn't enough to help. If their mother showed herself in her best day, with her five children, she would maintain a good reputation, and would probably bring renewed interest in her works. And, with some chance, Eris or Nemesis could find a suitable partner there. Hopefully.
If even Charon was willing to accept the invitation because of some sense of duty, then—
"I'll join you," Thanatos eventually said. "Let's be two at getting bored at a party."
Charon lifted his head and stared at him, the shade of a smile on his face. "Alright."
After all, it would be yet another fancy party. What could ever happen there?