The celebration continues with "H" of hangover.

It was a sunny autumn day in Athens where the villas near the seashore enjoyed a wonderful soft cool breeze at noon. The olive trees gave a welcome shadow to the pedestrians while the scented air pampered them with the Mediterranean best charms. In the calendar, it was October 31.

In a dark room of the luxurious Solo villa, a brawny blond man was soundly sleeping. Suddenly, sunrays hit him and he moaned. His head was aching as he tried to move towards a shadowy spot. He couldn't recall how many years ago he had such binge drinking. Certainly he was a heavy alcohol drinker since he came to age, so he didn't care of taking more whiskey or wine if it was necessary to have more fun. In fact, he was able to finish some bottles without winking. But this was the first time he felt such a hangover. Slowly moving on his couch, he covered his head with the blanket and tried to hide from the incoming sunrays. However, the Wyvern was aware of muffled sounds, sounds which were getting louder like thunders near him.

- Bloody hell! Stop it! - He shouted as he hid again under the dark blanket.

But there wasn't a chance of silence now. In fact, the noise was getting louder, a sort of banging inside his head, too.

- Damned! Shut up! – The Kyoto screamed as he withdrew again. What a hangover!

More muffled sounds and thundering so he threw the pillow towards the source of those sounds.

- Ouch! - A male voice answered but it went quiet just for seconds to begin the banging again.

- I just wanna sleep, you bloody gorgon! – The blond man shouted and he swore.

Although the light hurt his golden eyes, he made an effort and hardly opened them to watch a strange image appearing before him. In fact, just in front of him, there was a dark bluish dwarf dancing in an odd way. His little limbs went up and down in a weird martial march as his head unnaturally shook. The Wyvern blinked as he pulled up the blanket, covering his aching head again.

Bloody dwarf! It must be a nightmare!

His analytical mind had an answer: if he tried to get rid of those stupid images, they would be gone. So he shut his eyes. But the images still haunted him.

- Don't move, bloody beast! – He screamed and swore again. – Just disappear! Now!

The muffled sounds continued with increasing chirps. Suddenly, something lighted up his conscience and he raised his head in confusion. The wee dwarf kept marching and performing his twisted dance in a weirder fashion. Watching him more carefully, he noticed that his movements were unusual and the muffled sounds were his whines.

- What the h….! – Rhadamanthys cried out as he realized who this dwarf was and what was happening to him.

The Wyvern got some focus and prepared his attack at once. After some seconds, a quick blow stopped the dancing little one as he fell on his chest while hundreds of silky silvery threads where cut off from the baby's limbs. There was a scream and a loud laughter was heard, too. So the room was crowded.

- Ouch! What are you doing? We were having fun until you arrived, spoilsport! – An angry male voice said aloud.

- You already know him! If the party is great, wait until the spoilsport Wyvern arrives and stops the fun! – Another male voice answered and chuckled.

- You narrow-minded bastards…! - An upset Rhadamanthys replied as he realized who were there.

- Come on, Rhada! We just came here to wish you a Happy Birthday! – Minos said and laughed. – Besides, this little one was having fun dancing like a mad worm!

The blond man protectively embraced the baby who was still whining and crawled on his chest, showing his little tooth to his guardian and a teary face. He stared at the child, checking that he was okay and then faced the two men standing at his bed as he felt an increasing fury.

- Cor blimey! Are you nuts? How you dare to put your damned threads on this kid, Minos?

The tall Norwegian guy just shrugged and smiled. – You know I cannot restrain myself! Whenever I find a victim… er… a subject suitable for my Cosmic Marionettion, I cannot refrain from performing with it! Besides, I love this marionette! It's really fun!

The Wyvern roared, ready to attack again but the other man held his arm before he could perform it.

- Come on, Rhada, he's a good damned puppeteer and this child was as funny as a dwarf! – Aiacos added and laughed aloud. – You're a sour spoilsport one!

The blond man closed his eyes but kept hugging the kid and retorted. – Don't you know who this baby is?

Minos just chuckled and grinned. – Who is he? Zeus' reincarnation? If so, I would have more fun with him!

The Wyvern groaned and said aloud. - He's Dorian von Heinstein-Solo!

Aiacos scratched his head while Minos rolled his eyes. It seemed that the truth took time to get into their twisted minds until they stopped and stared at the Wyvern.

- You're kidding, man! This cannot be Pandora's child! – Aiacos smugly replied while watching the little one more closely with inquisitive eyes.

Minos approached, looked at the baby and stated. – You might be right, Rhada. This little meat-ball looks like a baby Pandy!

The Wyvern roared. – Show more respect for him and his mother, Minos! She's Lady Pandora von Heinstein-Solo now!

With a twisted smile, Minos asked. – Who cares? Only you seem to care, Rhada! Still in love with the sexy sadistic harpist?

While the guardian groaned again, Aiacos took the baby from Rhadamanthys' arms and threw him upwards. – Hi, Dorian whatsoever Solo!

The baby joyfully screamed, stretching his little arms and smiling with a white little tooth to the Garuda. He was enjoying it.

- Stop, you bloody bloke! – The guardian shouted.

Minos threw the pillow back to the blond man while Aiacos grinned as he threw the baby upwards again. – Come on, old bitch! Well, he's having fun with us, don't you see?

- Put him down, irresponsible bollocks! You can harm him! – The Wyvern screamed, helplessly trying to stop the Garuda.

- Call down, Mother Hen! – Minos laughed, trying to catch the baby in the air throwing some silvery threads. – You sound like a real nanny!

- Yes, a damned baby-sitter! – Aiacos shouted and burst into laughter at the sight of Rhadamantys' worried face while the baby safely landed in the Griffon's silvery threads which formed a nest. – When did you become a sour fucking nanny? You're a Judge of the Underworld, man!

- You damned…! – The Wyvern began saying until a high-pitched scream was heard.

Aiacos turned to his fellow with wide opened eyes. – What the hell….?

While Minos screamed in pain, they noticed that his finger was bitten by Dorian, whose little tooth was hurting the Griffon's joint with unusual pressure. A slight dark purplish light surrounded the kid as he strongly grabbed the puppeteer's finger.

- Stop it now, you beast! – The Norwegian judge desperately shouted while the baby kept biting his finger with growing strength.

Rhadamanthys patted the kid's back. – Leave him!

The baby looked at the Wyvern as the adult nodded to him. Only after that, Minos was released. Then the guardian took Dorian in his arms and snorted. - Minos, you got what you deserved!

Minos looked back with a sadistic smile and put his damaged finger forward which was dramatically twisted. – It's not over, little monster! You'll be my living marionette for eternity! I'll teach you to respect a Judge of the Underworld!

Instead of showing any remorse or begging forgiveness, Dorian fixed his dark eyes on the Norwegian judge, knitted his little unibrow and showed a fierce smile which made his guardian proud of him. In fact, the wee one wasn't a coward or a sissy-boy, being capable to fight the Griffon.

However, not wanting more confrontations and having a terrible headache, the blond man put Dorian on the bed and crossed his arms on his chest. – Yes, Griffon, if you want to punish a baby, who is Lord Hades' nephew, you'll need to defeat me first!

Aiacos patted Minos' back while the baby crawled on the bed and giggled. – The spoilsport Wyvern has a point! Don't get mad at the meat-ball! We're here on a mission, not to waste our time! Don't be bothered by this small nuisance!

Rhadamanthys sat on the bed, taking his aching head in his hands. – Yes, a mission! Tell me why you are here and let me rest!

- First, we want to greet you for your birthday, sour spinster! – Aiacos said, hugging the blond man.

- You bloody….! – The Wyvern answered as he was crushed by his fellow judges and their embraces. – Get away!

With a hideous smile, Minos added. – Don't be so shy! We are just hugging you! Besides, we also brought some presents, pal!

The blond judge shut his eyes and shouted. – Okay, Griffon, leave them on the table! I just want to rest, damned hellish souls!

Putting a parcel on his bed, Aiacos happily said. – Come on, Rhada, take a look! We did our best for your birthday! This is a special year!

Noticing the parcel, the dragon looked at it with tired reddish eyes. The wrapping paper was bright and colourful so it hurt his sight. But he realized that he must comply if he wanted to be left alone.

- Here's mine! – Minos cheerfully said, putting another present on the bed. – Now, let's see what's inside!

Knowing he would not get rid of his fellow judges unless he did as they said, he took the first parcel. It was unwrapped with little effort.

- Blimey! A 30 years-old Glenlivet! Thank you, Aiacos! – The celebrated one exclaimed although the headache was taking its toll. There would be plenty of time to take a good sip of this whiskey.

- It was easy to know what you would like to drink… although it was a pretty expensive one! – Aiacos replied and winked. – You're such a predictable guy, Rhada!

- Now, it's my turn! – Minos gladly screamed. – Let's open mine!

- Okay, Minos! Just stop screaming you two! – The Wyvern retorted, his head still aching. - Don't tell me it's another whiskey bottle…!

- Come on! Do you think I'm a Garuda? I really looked for something special for you, Rhada! – Minos grinned and offered the parcel to the taller man.

With a snort, Rhadamanthys tore off the fancy wrapping paper and found a smaller box inside the first one. After he took out the second box, he found a third one inside.

- Damned! Don't tell me it's like a Matryoshka doll! [1]

Minos smiled back. – No, it isn't a Matryoshka doll neither a sex doll! So, don't get excited!

The Wyvern frowned but kept on taking out the boxes of decreasing size until he got the last, a black one. With curiosity he opened the carefully wrapped case and he took out a small black lace thing which the blond man watched without knowing what it was, which increased his headache and the laughs of his fellows.

- Er… well, thanks, Minos. Very kind of you…! – Rhadamanthys babbled almost shutting his eyes.

Minos grinned. – I bet you don't know what this is!

The Brit guy looked at him. – Well, I …

Aiacos laughed aloud. – You prudish guy! Minos just bought this for you to put on your Lady Pandora…

The Wyvern's furious look stopped him for a moment. Minos shook his head and looked very disappointed which the effect of his gift.

The Garuda retorted. – Isn't it a garter?

- Come on, guys! Do you think I would waste my money buying something for Pandora? No way! – Minos retorted with a dismissive move of his hand.

The guardian sighed. – Right, Minos. It's my present after all, Aiacos.

Minos approached his fellow judge and stretched twice the black lace thing in front of Rhadamanthys' eyes. – Don't you get it? You must be pretty drunk!

The Garuda amusedly crossed his arms on his chest. – I didn't get it, too. Minos, could you tell us what it is?

The Norwegian judge broadly smiled and said aloud. – Being an aristocrat, Lord Rhadamanthys, I bought finery for you! The very best! A lace thong!

Aiacos and the Brit guy numbly stared at Minos and repeated. – A thong?

Suddenly, the Garuda burst in laughter followed by a gleeful Griffon while the Wyvern looked at them with increasing fury.

- W-h-a-t's at-h-o-n-g? – The blond man menacingly asked.

Minos just shrugged and innocently answered as a matter-of-fact. – Underwear!

- Underwear? Bloody Hell, what the f…? – Rhadamanthys tried to figure out what Minos was talking about while he blankly looked at the thong. His head was wildly swirling now. Suddenly, a light came through.

While they continued laughing, the Wyvern's face became red, ready to burst and he put his hands around Minos' neck. – I will kill you….!

Being engaged in such happy rendezvous, they didn't notice that the door was opened and a bitter small woman dressed in black entered the room. She watched them with contempt and angrily decided to punish them. So, after listening to a high-pitched scream, the Griffon and the Wyvern felt an electric shock while Aiacos swiftly went backwards until he hid behind an armchair at the rear.

- STOP YOU, MONSTERS! – Benthesikyme shouted while she increased the electric shocks and the two judges moved like possessed beings in the air. With an embittered voice, she added. – How did you dare to act like that in Poseidon's house? What happened to Dorian? Where's the baby?

The judges rolled their eyes while they kept dancing. The taller Kyoto tried to search for the child. Then, some light came to the Wyvern's mind: he recalled that Dorian had been around, crawling on the bed while he was talking with his fellow judges. Although he felt the electricity surrounding his limbs, he tried to focus in the baby and he found him. The little one was still sitting on his bed and eagerly biting the sheets. But the noise had distracted him so he fixed his eyes on the dancing figures. He saw his nanny, giggled as he clapped. He was amused by the performance.

- Gorgon, the baby's there! – The blond man cried out, pointing the bed.

Benthesikyme stopped and they fell on the ground. Minos sat up, trying to get rid of the electricity around him with his cosmo and said. – What a welcome here! I prefer the Underworld's fashion!

Aiacos peeped out and added. – What's going on? Who are you, bitch?

The angry woman angrily looked at them. – I have some questions for you. You should tell me who you are and what you're doing here. This is a private estate which belongs to Poseidon. So, you must get prepared to get the punishment of goddess Benthesikyme, the Lady of the deep-swells, daughter of Poseidon.

While the Wyvern sighed, Minos and Aiacos babbled. – You? Poseidon's daughter?

Aiacos added. - You're not a mermaid! You look more like a gorgon!

As they exchanged fierce looks, Rhadamanthys crawled towards the bed and sat at Dorian's side. The baby saw him, stretched his little arms and carefully got installed on his guardian's chest. Afterwards, he licked his finger and giggled.

Listening to the giggles, the woman noticed the baby on the Wyvern's arms. Watching her half-brother safe and sound, Benthesikyme approached the bed and tried to take the child with her. But he strongly clung to his dad.

- Give me the child! It's lunchtime now and he needs to be fed, bloke! – The woman sourly said and put her hands on the baby's body while the kid tried to keep hold of his blond baby-sitter.

The Griffon stood up and pointed his finger on her shoulder. – Not too fast, gorgon whatsoever! No one dares to defy a Judge of the Underworld without a proper punishment!

She stared at him with angry eyes. – What are you saying, bob-tailed sheepdog?

Aiacos burst on laughter again but the Norwegian judge answered in rage. – I'm not Rhadamanthys to allow you to treat me like a dog! Now, you'll dance what I order you! – He added with a wicked sadistic smile as he put his hands into position to his deadly attack.

- STOP! – An angry scream was heard. It was Pandora who came in with a frown on her pretty face. – What's going on, bunch of miserable Specters?

Without hesitation, the Kyotos knelt in front of Hades' sister and the wife of the Lord of the Seas. Pandora looked at them with contempt. Meanwhile, Benthesikyme grinned as she tried to take the baby away from the Wyvern. But Dorian refused her and began to cry.

Pandora swiftly approached them and took her son, who happily hugged her. – My little darling, were these bad dogs making you cry?

Dorian shook his head but sparkling crystal tears came down his puffy cheeks.

- Oh, my dear! I would punish them!– Pandora shouted while casting an evil eye on the knelt Judges. Without hesitation, she put her arm forward towards them, ready to attack.

- He was crying because of this old hag! – Aiacos said aloud. – We were having fun together.

Minos added. – Yes, we came to greet Rhadamanthys and we found little Lord Dorian. So we were just enjoying ourselves here.

Pandora stared at them, frowned again and screamed. – I know so well the way you like to enjoy yourself, Minos. So you cannot cheat me!

Perhaps understanding what was happening, little Dorian seriously looked at his mom with knitting brows. Pandora was amazed to see a little fluffy dark unibrow forming on her son's forehead and blinked. In fact, there was a lot of Rhadamanthys in the wee one. She felt something melting deep inside her.

With a pout towards Benthesikyme, Dorian turned back to his guardian and he began happily screaming and stretching his arms. – DADAA, DADAAAA!

Aiacos and Minos looked at each other, puzzled with the baby's eagerness.

- SHUT UP! – The Wyvern screamed while touching his temples. His headache was killing him now.

The baby giggled, looked at him and sucked his finger because he was used to his baby-sitter's outbursts.

Pandora snarled but stopped at once. She lovingly watched at her kid and then she turned to the knelt Specters. Suddenly, a great idea grew in her twisted mind so she beamed.

The black-haired seductress pointed an enameled finger to the blond judge and seriously said. – You must learn to behave, Wyvern. You live in a respectful house and you have an important duty here. Instead of hanging around with these perverted judges, you should be focused in taking care of Dorian.

Rhadamanthys groaned while his head spun. He was tired of all the mess so he finally conceded. – Yes, Lady Pandora.

Pandora wrinkled her nose and cried. - My, what a stink! Miserable Specter, I hate when you smell of whiskey!

The dragon shrugged and he took his head with both hands. He would have given his monthly payment just to get rid of the screaming females around and his fellows.

Bloody Hell! What a damned headache and a choir of screaming women!

- Well, clean yourself and show at 4 o'clock at the terrace, Wyvern. – Pandora said while protectively taking the baby in her arms. Then, facing the judges, she added. – Griffon and Garuda, because you stealthily came in here, you should be with him, too, at the terrace. I have an important task for you. Come with me, Benthesikyme. Dorian must take his lunch now.

The two Kyotos glanced at each other while the Wyvern just shut his eyes. When they left, they stood up with a swift movement. They glanced at each other. Aiacos kept on laughing while Minos soothed his limbs and Rhadamanthys tried to get rid of that terrible headache. The blond man wandered in the bedroom trying to find some relief, looking for ice.

- Well, what's this witch looking for? – Minos asked with a sneer.

- Whatever it is, I bet there's something fishy there! – Aiacos said while reflecting on Pandora's attitude. – She's angry with you, lovey-dovey dragon! What happened between you two?

The Wyvern roared while sitting on the bed and taking his throbbing head in his hands. – I don't know what you're talking about. Let me rest!

While the judges laughed and patted him, Rhadamanthys only wanted to get rid of them. With slow movements, he got in his bed and took the sheets up to his chin. He looked like a funny clumsy mummy to his fellows who laughed aloud.

With menacing golden eyes, he shouted at them. – Get off, you bollocks! I mean it!

Minos grinned. – Ok, bloke! There's no need of violence! We'll go!

The other two men shrugged and walked towards the door. Before leaving, Minos nagged the Brit guy. – Ok, Sleeping Beauty! We'll go around while you rest. But remember that your boss wants you clean and ready at four!

Rhadamanthys grunted and covered his head because he just wanted to have some rest before facing an angry Pandora and his protégé.