Chapter Text
Being out of the underworld was difficult enough as it is. The sickening air, the blinding sun, the mortals whining about their short lives. Thanatos could handle all that. What he couldn’t handle was interference. People getting in the way of his work. He would expect that sort of incompetence from Hypnos, maybe even Zagreus on a bad day.
But he would never expect such a thing from Charon. Charon hadn’t missed a day of work since the day he was created, and barely knew the meaning of the word “break.”
So as he stood by the mouth of the Temple of Styx, waiting to hand a new group of shades off to his brother, Thanatos felt a sort of unease. Something was off.
“Still no sign of him?”
Thanatos turned, looking towards the messenger fluttering above the ground before him. Hermes watched with curious eyes. A small wrinkle of worry between his eyebrows.
“No… wait. still? You mean he hasn’t been here at all recently?”
Hermes frowned, “I haven’t seen the old boatman since a few nights back. Handed off a few mortal souls and he went on his way.”
Thanatos groaned. Charon missing out on talking to his brother was one thing, but ignoring his little birdie was another. Pushing open the temple door, the deep snore of three sleeping beasts greeted them. The heads of a slumbering Cerberus rested upon his paws.
The two exchanged a look. A confused, worried look.
Thanatos gestured towards the group of shades with his scythe. “Keep an eye on them. I’m going to figure this out.”
“Can do, boss!” Hermes grinned, “and when you solve this mystery, you tell my associate I am very upset with him for keeping me waiting like this.”
With a nod, the world around him melted away, and carnage materialized before him.
He froze at the sight before him. Hades slumped over his desk. Shades floating silently, completely entranced. Parchment and red flowers scattered across the floor. Thanatos’ eyes darted wildly across the room, falling on Nyx laying motionless against the doorway.
The scythe hit the floor, and he raced to his mother. Her hair floating aimlessly around her unconscious body, stars twinkling in the darkness. Her lips parted, softly breathing.
“Mother-” Thanatos shook her, desperate for any signs that she was okay. Her head simply lolled to the side. “Blood and darkness…”
He had been gone for days. He wasn’t there to protect the house. Someone had to be there still. Someone had to be awake. Whipping around the halls, death searched for any sign of life. He needed something; anything to answer the questions racing through his mind.
Achilles fast asleep with his spear clutched at his side. Orpheus sat with his lyre clutched against his chest. The mortals were of no help here. The lounge was filled with shades resting against the cushioned chairs, the chef having fallen asleep preparing dinner.
Zagreus must be here, right? He’s always okay, he has to be okay now.
Thanatos raced to the courtyard. Nothing. Nothing but a pile of bones snoring.
The garden. Maybe he is in the garden…
The plants all drooped, seemingly resting the same as everyone else. Thanatos huffed. This isn’t right. At the end of the hall, he could see the door to the river Styx opened. He hurried along the leaf covered path, only to be met by his brother’s boat. Charon lay with his hat across his face, purple smoke billowing out of his mouth.
Defeated, Thanatos returned to the main hall. Kicking up the poppy petals accumulating on the floor, he contemplates his situation.
He’s been gone for days, maybe weeks. Everyone is asleep. No one will wake up.
He can’t focus here. It’s too quiet.
Complete and utter silence. Not a shade pleading to Hades, not Orpheus playing his lyre, not Zagreus being given ridiculous advice by…
Hypnos.