Ok peeps, same deal third story (and it's a good one!) ok, fifth if you want to get technical about it I don't own Disney's Hercules (unfortunately) but Persephone, Thanatos and all the other original characters and places that pop-up belong to me

This story takes things from both the film and the series while it also contains some carrying themes from it's forerunners; Plight of Persephone & Daddy's Little Hellraiser (plus a few things from both short stories too) so read them first Also, because constantly being asked the same questions is starting to grate me: please don't rely on Greek Myths, this is Disney and they twisted a lot of myths around, I have done the same and explanations can be found in my Little Notes sections in relative chaps… having said that though, some knowledge will kind of give you a small glimpse into where this fic is heading..

Little hint: if you haven't read it's forerunners then you will get confused because some things that have happened in past fics are coming back in this fate-filled fic..

And a little reminder Disney twisted a lot of myths for their storylines so I have to do some minor tweaking of my own to make this work

enjoy x


Review Replies:

AngelOfDarkness1959: to be honest their one of my favourites too but Meg is acting under the influence of the two Resentment twins, their feeding her emotions with envy and jealousy which is causing her to act differently to how she would usually behave. Hercules not telling her everything is fanning the insecurities these imps have created. I think if she wasn't under the influence of them she'd have more faith in her husband and would easily see who Hercules really wanted Iole to marry. I can't tell you what is going to happen between them but things are going to get worse before they get better I'm afraid x

BlackDiamond07: Ummm, I'm afraid I can't tell you about that but I promise by the end of the fic she will be happy again x

DisneyPrincess: This will be the last review I write to you under this tag, quite a moment huh? I don't blame Paranoia either, I'd run away too. And Thanatos has the Fates wrapped around his little finger doesn't he? But at the end of the day he needs them as much as they need him, it's a co-dependency thing. And now that you have an account I can p.m answers you need that I can't write here x

Stella Limegood (My 250th reviewer): Welcome back hun, I'm starting to think you count my reviews, are you? But still glad your lovin' the story X

Nyx27Seth: I do to, I don't mind Hercules but think he's a little thick sometimes. Paranoia has got to be one of my favourite imps, he's really quite sweet and innocent even though his name would suggest otherwise. And everyone has one childhood toy they keep to remind themselves of their innocence. That's what Mr Skelton is to Than… it just has more meaning to the God of Death-in-training as his childhood was ripped away from him so early. X

Coldblue: Sorry for the insanely long wait, here's a new chapter! X

Wonderwomanbatmanfan: Yep, someone's in trouble and someone else is trouble… Lol x

MidnightNight157: I'm so glad you like the fics hun and apologies for taking so long to update, I will be finishing this no matter how long it takes (hopefully not forever though) x

Goldwolf: Soon is now, I'm sorry it's taken so long things have been crazy! And thank you, it's nice to know your sticking around for the finale! I can honestly say this fic is one of the hardest I've had to write but it will be finished I promise! X


The Importance of Thanatos


Health warning: If you thought two imps arguing was bad, four imps arguing can seriously give you a massive migraine… read on with caution…


Chapter Fifty-One:An Underworld Divided..

Things were quiet in the Underworld these days…

…a little too quiet for the blue-flamed Lord of the Dead's liking.

Yes it was spring and due to the surface getting all lovey-dovey the death-rate was low… mostly because seeing mortals get mushy made the resident God of Death-in-training seriously want to vomit, and he wasn't alone with this train of thought. However it was the very fact that Hades had not seen his foul-mouthed and seriously moody golden-flamed teenage son properly since the beginning of the season. These days when he did see his son Thanatos always seemed to be on edge and secretive about whatever it was he was up to. This unusual behaviour only fanned the blue-flamed God of the Dead's suspicions that his eldest child was plotting something. However when Hades had shared this theory with his wife, Persephone dismissed him with a giggle saying that his 'secretive' and 'brooding' behaviour was all part and parcel of being a teenager and she was not going to worry about her little Thanny growing up as he knew his parents were there for him if he needed them. Although he was a little miffed by his wife's lack of support concerning his son's scheming, clearly she thought that he was being paranoid. But paranoid or not Hades knew that something wasn't right… and he was determined to catch his son out.

So here he was… stood outside Thanatos' bedroom psyching himself up before he actually attempted to enter the death-trap that was his son's room. If anywhere was going to give him any clue as to what Thanatos was up to, the answer was behind this, possibly, booby-trapped door. For a god that apparently had very little lifelines to slice he'd been very busy scooting around the Underworld for the Fates only know what reason… especially since all his charges hung around the north side of the Styx in the Asphodel Fields, the undead only ever hung out in one place due to their lack of direction or interest in being anywhere at all.

Hades sighed heavily as his shoulders sagged with reluctance, he really didn't want to go rooting in his son's bedroom…

Oy vey I'm turnin' into my own mother.. His mind sounded wryly, thinking about when Nyx used to rummage his bedroom whenever she was suspicious of his behaviour as a little blue-flamed bundle of mischief… it used to really burn his flames when he caught her and since Thanatos was more like him than Persephone he knew it would ignite his son's flames if he found him.

It was highly likely that Thanatos had booby-trapped the door but Hades was confident he could handle anything his son could dish out… hey, he was the guy who thought up the most sadistic and depraved punishments known to man or god, even his own son didn't know just how brutal he could be.

'Ok, I can do this..' Hades muttered to himself stretching his hand towards the cool metal grip of the skull-shaped door-handle. '-he's justa pint-sized version of me, it's no biggie..' He flexed his long greyish-blue bony fingers once before they curled around the handle and with a sharp click he swung the door open. Before the door could even move to reveal inside Hades' whole being vanished into smoke as the god flattened himself against the wall between Thanatos' room and Macaria's bedroom next door just so he was out of the way of his son's doorway. Thanatos' door swung open with ghostly silence and Hades waited with bated breath for something to happen.

Nothing did.

Exhaling loudly with relief that the door itself had not been booby-trapped… this made invading his son's room a damn-sight easier.

'Pain!'

'Panic!'

The Lord of the Dead frowned in confusion when no little green and pink shimmers appeared at his ankles.

'What the-?' Hades sounded confused before sighing heavily as his flames turned yellow in exasperation… Where in the Underworld were those two little yutzes now? They never seemed to be around when he called anymore…


Pain frowned as his eyes landed on his younger brothers Jealousy and Envy who seemed to be following a rather timid-looking Paranoia around.

'Hey Panic..' He sounded catching the attention of his skinny green partner who's large yellow bug eyes swivelled around from the clipboard he'd been scanning casually. '-check it out.' Once the green imp caught what his non-identical twin had his eyes narrowed into a scowl.

'Oh no… you don't think they're teasing him again, do you?' Panic asked with concern and distaste, having once been as shy and nervous as his Paranoia in his younger years he sympathized with his skittish brother more than his other brothers.

'They better not be!' Pain snarled annoyed as Panic planted this in his head. Both older twins shared a brief scowl.

'C'mon..' Panic sounded in a slightly harassed tone, beckoning Pain to follow him as he dumped the clipboard on the side of the docks and the pair headed off downstream to see what the Resentment Twins were doing with the short royal-blue imp. '-we better go see what's going on.'

…Paranoia moved over to one of Queen Persephone's gloomy pink Asphodels and sniffed it lightly, finding it's soft floral scent calming on his shaky nerves.

'Ah, quit sniffin' flowers ya big pansy..' Envy said with clear disdain in his voice.

'Yeh, only our little sister sniffs flowers-' Jealousy sounded primly.

'And that's cause she's a weirdo-' Envy chipped in with a wide smirk.

'Are you a weirdo Paranoia?' Jealousy's smirk mirrored his brother.

'No..' Paranoia sounded in a small meek voice, letting go of the pale greyish-pink flower and it sprang back into an upright position. The Resentment Twins threw each other a smirk and raised the same brow at their brother in matching 'oh really?' expressions. Paranoia shrunk in size slightly, his nervous glance darting from one identical twin to the other as they towered over him.

'Hey!' The sharp voice of Pain called out and both Resentment Twins swivelled around to see the eldest two Miseries marching over with matching scowls directed at them. Paranoia too had looked around and his tight chest of anxiety instantly loosened at the sight of Pain and Panic, the only two brothers he had that didn't pick on him.

'What are you doing with him?' Panic snapped as the elder Miseries stopped in front of their juniors.

'That big bro, is on a need to know basis..' Envy started with a lazy smirk.

'And you guys, don't need to know..' Jealousy added causing both Resentment Twins to snicker in amusement at their own wit. Paranoia flashed his oldest brother's an unsure look but neither Pain nor Panic looked impressed, in fact they rolled their eyes and shared a knowing look with each other.

'Oh yeh?' Pain smirked widely at his younger siblings. 'How do you know that we don't know already?' Panic smirked at his brother's words while Jealousy and Envy scowled now.

'Because what we know might not be what you think you know..' Envy retorted back causing his twin to smirk.

'Then how do you know that what we know isn't what you think we know when what you know might actually be what we know?' Panic sounded impressively with a wide smirk.

'Because we know what we know might not be what you think you know, so by knowing what we know we can assume that what you know is only what you think you know and may not actually be what we know at all.' Jealousy scowled as he reeled off his answer in one long string, this caused Envy to give a low impressed whistle.

'Nicely said bro.'

'Thanks man.' Jealousy smirked widely. This time however Panic had them and smirked widely… so it was just as he thought. Both Pain and Paranoia on the other hand looked completely lost, as if they were still trying to work out the 'we know's from the 'you know's.

'You do realise that assuming what we know instead of actually knowing what we know doesn't prove you know what we know. So actually we know what we know and we also have outside information regarding what you know so we don't think what you know, we actually know what you know!' The skinny green imp folded his arms and threw his younger twin brothers a 'check and mate' look.

The look of shock on Envy and Jealousy's faces were priceless… both their jaws dropped to the floor at Panic's words.

'What?-!' Jealousy squawked out in disbelief.

'Who told you what we're up to?' Envy looked crestfallen now.

'Well, the truth is we were in on this whole scheme long before you guys were..' Panic added casually, checking for grime in his claw-like fingers. 'You guys were only drafted in so Hades wouldn't think we were scheming against him..' It was true, Thanatos knew if his father caught him plotting with Pain and Panic, his two most trusted imp-minions, the blue fiery god would immediately suspect a coop.. So Pain and Panic were both now in charge of making sure neither Hades or Persephone found out about Thanatos' scheme regarding Admetus' substitute. It was sneaky, underhanded and right up their alley..

'So, you guys both know about Than's plot regarding the 'substitute' then?' Paranoia sounded, smiling with a mix of relief and hope.

'Huh? Oh sure…' Pain sounded with a wide smile, finally catching up with the conversation. '-in fact we're the one's Thanatos' prophesized his death to.' The chubby pink imp smirked impressively towards his younger siblings.

'That's right..' Panic to smirked a smug toothy grin.

'Wow..' Paranoia sounded, his own bug eyes widening amazed.

'Oh big deal..' Jealousy waved him off dismissively. 'It's us that get a piece of the real action!'

'Yeh..' Envy agreed, smirking widely. '-you guys only get to watch from the side-lines..'

'So will you in the end..' Pain added with a wide smirk, his eyes narrowing in haughtily manner. 'The way we heard it, it's Paranoia here-' He gestured to their smallest brother. '-who will shatter Meg's resolve then Than takes care of the rest.'

'Urhh…' Paranoia moaned clutching his ears and yanking them down hard. 'Don't remind me..' He wailed pitifully causing Panic to throw him a concerned look.

'What's the matter little guy?' Panic asked kindly with a concerned look to one of his youngest brothers. Paranoia instantly let go of his ears, his pupils dilating with fear.

'I… I don't think I'll be v-very good at this gig..' Paranoia stuttered nervously, his palms grew sweaty every time he thought about what the fiery teen wanted from him. He twisted his tail anxiously as his body shook, ears drooping slightly.

'You'll be fine Paranoia..' Panic sounded reassuringly with a smile. Jealousy snorted with contempt but Pain scowled threateningly at the smirking Resentment Twins and their smiles vanished instantly.

The next second the authoritative disembodied voice of their ruler burst out.

'Pain!'

'Panic!'

Pain gripped Panic's arm intending on appearing straight to Hades to see what he wanted but the green imp pulled away.

'I can't leave him like this..' Panic sounded insistently and Pain recognised the glint of sincerity in his partner's yellow eyes. Panic used to be in Paranoia's place so he knew exactly how to help their little brother.

'Alright, alright but make it quick Panic, you know what the boss is like when he's antsy..' The chubby pink imp responded barely hiding his worry.

'Right.' Panic nodded resolutely before turning to his royal-blue brother. 'Look Paranoia, you shouldn't worry about what you gotta do, trust me. And don't worry, cause when the time's right, you'll know exactly what to do, ok?' The short royal-blue imp.

'Uh… ok..' Paranoia sounded before flashing a nervous toothy smile. 'Thanks Panic.'

'No problem little brother..' Panic sounded pulling Paranoia into a brotherly embrace.

At the same moment Pain turned to Jealousy and Envy with a frown.

'You guys better stop picking on him right now, ya hear?' The chubby imp glared at his identical twin brothers. 'He needs all the support he can get cause if he chokes I'll tell Thanatos exactly why his plan failed, capeesh?' Both Resentment Twins threw each other an uneasy glance as they realised their brother was serious… neither one of them wanted to feel the wrath of a pissed off God of Death.

'Capeesh..' Both Envy and Jealousy's shoulders sagged with defeat.

'Good. Now do what Than asked and just watch him!' Pain snarled crossly…


'Pain! Panic! Get your keasters in gear and get up here.. NOW!-!' Hades roared impatiently as his yellow flames towered with red hot skin. He despised it when minions didn't appear immediately after being summoned.. It was considered rude, even by Underworld standards, to keep a god waiting. Then finally there was shimmers of pink and green as the dense duo appeared fashionably late into the hallway to the god's private bedrooms.

'Your late.' Hades scowled deeply at the imps as he mustered as much venom into the words as physically possible. Instantly both imps dropped to their knees blubbering, knowing their only chance of leniency was to act so pathetic that Hades would be too repulsed by it to punish them.

'Oh mi gosh, we're soo sorry your intolerably flamefulness..' Pain whimpered fearfully.

'-we are nowt but toads..' Panic stuttered nervously sounding like his younger sibling Paranoia, then both non-identical twins morphed into the warty green amphibians. Hades let out a long low growl of irritation, the only thing more annoying than late minions was whiny minions. The fiery god slapped his face before his skin returned blue, if he didn't want to be found lurking outside his son's bedroom he would smote them right now.

'Forgive us sir, we were havin' trouble with some of our brothers.' Pain added timidly as both imps returned to normal form sensing their boss' initial displeasure dissipate slightly.

'Pfft..' Hades snorted unimpressed with this reason, his hair momentarily flaring yellow. '-like I care about your measly family issues, now let's get down to the real family issues, namely… Mine!'

'Your having family issues?' Panic kinked a brow at his master confused.

'Thanatos is schemin' and I'm gonna find out what!' Hades snapped at his minions scowling before his face pressed into his imps'. 'And your going to help me find out, gotit!-!'

'Thanatos? Scheming?' Panic sounded nervously tapping his fingers off each other, a tenseness building in his heart… Had Hades figured his son out already? 'Don't be silly boss..' He breathed heavily.

'If Than was scheming something we'd know about it.' Pain added resolutely.

'I doubt it.' Hades sneered at his minions dismissing their words instantly. 'You boys are too close to me… and your useless at keepin' secrets.' He added as an after thought.

Both Pain and Panic exchanged a breif look… Then again maybe not..

'Alright boys..' The fiery god smirked at his minions. '-as you've probably noticed Than's bedroom door is open, whatever my boy is schemin' we'll find the answer inside..' At this point Hades swung his right leg forward and with a single kick both Pain and Panic gave a sharp wince as they were booted forward. '-now get moving!' The fiery god flashed both imps a perverse leer.

'You want us to go in there?' Pain declared with shock halting on the very edge of the threshold.

'But-but… there's booby-traps in there!-!' Panic added fearfully, his eyes widening at the thought of what horrors we inside Thanatos' darkened bedroom.

'Well, duuhhhhh..' Hades sounded in mock stupidity, flashing both imps a sinister smirk as his hands turned to smoky tendrils and scooped them up by the tails. 'Why do ya think I'm sendin' you schlubs in first!' He then casually tossed both imps inside his thirteen year old son's bedroom where both imps skidded along the stone floor o their backsides, halting just before Thanatos' bed of nails.

Both Pain and Panic instantly braced themselves for something painful but after a few tense moments of clutching each other whimpering fearfully. When nothing happened both imps pulled away from each other, tentatively hoping that the rumours of booby-traps in the teenage pyrogod's room were false..

…However it was in this second that they let their guard down that smoky chains snaked out of the darkness and swiftly wrapped themselves around the imps. Both Pain and Panic instantly cried out in alarm as the pair were dragged off by some invisible force towards a shadow of pitch black at the far end of his dimly lit room. Before either imp could give out more than a yelping squeal of shock smoky gags covered their mouths and they were lost as something slammed shut with a loud bang.

Hades could only blink in shock as Thanatos' bedroom swallowed up his two most loyal minions.

'Whoa… impressive.' The blue fiery god sounded with faint admiration towards his son. 'I gotta start givin' the Li'l Flame Head more credit.' Hades then stroked his chin, still stood outside the door pondering his next move. Then instantly an idea sparked in his mind.

'Oh, girls! Can you c'mere a minute?' Hades crooned sweetly, his lips curling into a suave leer and seconds after the three Sirens appeared each wearing an identical girly smile.

'Here we are..' Tele trilled brightly.

'Ready to serve..' Raidne added just as animatedly.

'Just like always Master Hades..' Molpe finished and all three girls tittered lightly then curtsied politely. Hades refrained from sighing as the girls looked bright and eager to please, he envied his wife for having such competent minions.. But since Persephone had the afternoon off today and was down in the throne room with some of her girlfriends and Hermes holding a gossipy afternoon tea he was free to use her minions for his own purposes.

'Alright girls, I'm havin' a little trouble with Than and I need you to-' Hades was cut off at this point.

'Uh-oh, trouble with the son..' Raidne nudged Molpe and winked at Tele.

'No wonder he's skulking in the hallway with Thanatos' door wide open.' The eldest Siren quipped.

'And now he needs our help to snoop on his son..' Molpe added and all three soft minty-green nymph-girls rolled their violet eyes then tisked together shaking their identical ice-blonde ponytails.

'Yeh, yeh, yeh.. I'ma real jerk, now can we move on.' Hades sounded and all three girls nodded. 'Good. What I want ya to do is to dematerialize and reappear inside the room threshold.'

'Why can't we just walk through the door?' Tele asked pointed to the open door.

'Ehh, the imps tried that and one of Than's booby-traps..' Hades said casually before seeing the Siren's eyes widen in shock.

'W-what?' Tele sounded in surprise.

'Booby traps..' Raidne gasped out.

'Tele I'm scared..' Molpe added, clinging to her oldest sister with slight fear.

'Alright, alright, alright..' Hades sounded waving his hands in a 'quiet down' manner. 'I know what I'm askin' is a lot girls but I'd be really grateful if ya could just…' Hades paused twirling his wrist looking for the right expression to use. '-take one for the team..' He flashed them a persuasive grin.

Tele sighed heavily as she clutched Molpe who still looked scared about the idea of Thanatos' bedroom horrors.

'Ok Master Hades, we'll do it.' She added taking one of Molpe's hands while Tele held the other. 'Together.' She added to her sisters with an encouraging smile.

'Together.' The other two responded and this made Molpe smile as they vanished out in a faint green light.

'Awww, that's so nice..' Hades sounded with faint admiration before his smile dropped. 'Wish my sisters had been that supportive… lousy Fates.' He muttered as an afterthought and pouted moodily, those three twisted sisters always used him as a pawn for their little schemes then laughed at his expense.

The Sirens all had their eyes screwed tight shut when they reappeared in the centre of Thanatos' bedroom and after a few tense moments of waiting Tele winked an eye open then relaxed when nothing happened. Sensing their sister unwind both Raidne and Molpe opened their eyes too and peered into the murky darkness that was Thanatos' bedroom.

'Now what should we do Master Hades?' Tele called out towards their boss.

'Justa sec.' Hades called back before he appeared out of a curl of smoke beside the girls. 'Nice work ladies I believe I can take it from here..' The fiery god sounded before his attention was drawn to the dimly lit blue candles on the spiny candelabra above them. Snapping his fingers the flames instantly became brighter lighting the room further to reveal the sharp work-related implements and a clearer indication of where more booby-traps were hidden. Hades' golden eyes narrowed at a few carefully placed trip-wires and snap-traps… his son had gone to a lot of effort to secure his room. Clearly there was something he didn't want anybody to find in here… perhaps a scheme he was cooking? Recognising that they were being dismissed and looking relieved to be the three Sirens white feathery wings appeared out of nowhere and the three girls fluttered off out of the doorway with a polite wave to their boss.

Hades smirked to himself, getting inside Thanatos' bedroom had been slightly easier than expected but it had cost him both of his own minions just to get this far. The blue fiery god looked around the room wondering just what had swallowed up his imps but apart from Than's old black wooden toy-chest in the far corner of the room with his dark-stone wardrobe, there seemed to be nowhere else the imps could be. It didn't help that the room was eerily silent now, wherever Pain and Panic were they were bound tight and silenced accordingly as the room gave no hint of their whereabouts.

Deciding that he would figure out the location of his minions later the blue fiery god turned his attention towards his son's bed of nails which was raised off of the ground by four intricately designed black-metal feet. It had been a birthday gift from his Uncle Bacchus who'd been travelling around Asia Minor last summer but despite it's vicious look the bed was surprisingly comfortable. His attention was caught by the small collection of things poking out of the underside of Thanatos' bed. Amongst the dust were a few copies of Playgod and a How to Guide a Near-Death Experience scroll was a chessboard, it was this last item that perked his interest. Mindful of the fact that his son had rigged traps the blue-flamed god's arm twisted into a smoky tendril and carefully pulled out the chessboard… on the board was a selection of pieces but before Hades could properly assess the layout of the pieces a voice spoke from behind him.

'Whatta ya doin' in here dad?' Hades' golden eyes widened in shock and instantly the chessboard dematerialized from his hands and the Lord of the Dead turned to face his son with a smirk.

'Than..' He drawled cheerfully with a wide smirk to his teenage son as Thanatos kinked a curious brow. '-there ya are kiddo, I was just lookin' for ya..'

'Really..' The golden-flamed godling responded with a deadpan expression, not believing his father for a second.

'Sure..' Hades continued in a light and breezy voice. 'Your mother's downstairs gossipin' with her girlfriends so I thought you and I could do a li'l father-brat bondin', y'know torment the dammed, torture a few minions, stuff like that, whadda ya say, huh?' He smirked widely with his arms out beckoning his son to agree. For a long moment Thanatos threw he father a searching look, he knew the wily old god had been searching his room for proof of a plot but he had no concrete evidence to call him on it and this mush about wanting to spend some quality time with him was very convincing… and tempting since he was suggesting two of Thanatos' favourite activities.

'Well' The fiery teen drawled mulling over his father's words. 'Ok, why not?' He added with a smirk, if he kept his father occupied for a while the imps could use this distraction to their advantage. 'But just gimmie a sec, ok?' The teenage pyrogod added with an innocent smile, he didn't want his father to know he was onto him.

'Sure thing brat..' Hades responded with a wide smirk, thinking he may just have got away with snooping around without his son figuring it out. He then instantly dematerialized out in a guff of smoke and blue flames leaving Thanatos on his own.

Thanatos instantly strode over to the bed, bent down and checked underneath. The chessboard and all the pieces on it were in the exact same place he had left them. Thanatos breathed out a sigh of relief… His father had not figured out his plan.

'Thank the Fates..' He muttered before straightening then striding over to his wardrobe and yanking the right-hand door open. Instantly Pain and Panic fell out of it, their smoky binds and gag disappearing the instant they hit the ground.

'Whew…' Pain sighed out in relief. 'That was close..'

'Too close.' Panic added with a sigh of his own. 'He's getting really suspicious Thanatos..'

'I agree, he so very nearly had us figured out…' The golden-flamed god sounded irritated by this, sometimes his dad was just too damn smart for his own good. '-now go tell Envy and Jealousy to get up there pronto while I keep the old man distracted, we need Paranoia in place by the end of the week.'

'Aye, aye Junior boss.' Pain and Panic quipped together and vanished out in in shimmers of green and pink. Thanatos shook his head before he too vanished out into smoky darkness to his father's side..


'Mom?' Melinoe's voice made the small gathering of goddesses and Hermes who were sitting in the throne room with Persephone's good black-bone clay tea-set with a delicately painted white skull and blood-red rose on the side, a wedding gift from Nyx and Erebus.

'What's wrong Mel sweetie?' Persephone asked as her best friends Cyane, Hermes and Psyche looked around along with the Mother of the Miseries Lamia and a lilac-skinned goddess with deep purple hair tied back in.

Melinoe looked a little shy as she really didn't like discussing private things in front of a large crowd of people. However the pale bluish-grey goddess kept her focus on her mother who looked genuinely concerned.

'Do you know if dad has given my devine purpose any thought?' Melinoe's brilliant blue hair swished as she asked this question. Her father had not mentioned anything of this to her since he'd agreed to think about her purpose six months ago.

'Oh..' Persephone's bright green eyes widened in surprise then she placed a finger to her cherry lips in thought. 'I really don't know Melinoe, lately he's been kinda obsessed with the idea that your brother is scheming something behind his back and you know how your daddy gets when he's got an idea in his head.' She eventually responded with a smile.

'Oh man, he's like Cerberus with a bone..' Hermes drawled lazily as he picked up one of Persephone's home-made cakes and took a bite. '-he just won't let it go.'

'Why are you in such a hurry to receive your devine purpose anyway?' Pasithea added with a kind smile to her niece. 'You should be enjoying your freedom while you still have it my dear.' The Goddess of Hallucinations smiled sweetly.

'She's right.' Lamia chipped in with a sympathetic smile to Melinoe as she picked up her cup and saucer. 'These are the best decades of your life, no responsibilities..'

'No worries..' Cyane added.

'No stress..' Hermes added wistfully.

'No bossy gods on your case..' Psyche sounded winking at Melinoe.

'Complete and total freedom..' Persephone sounded with a hint of jealousy in her light tone. Her daughter had no idea just how good she had it right now. Demeter had never been as lenient with her as she and Hades were to Melinoe.

'But Thanatos has a job-' Melinoe began but was forestalled by Hermes.

'Only because the Big-Z was threatenin' to seal him away for eternity.' The short blue Messenger God sounded grimly.

'And it wasn't a choice your father and I made lightly sweetie..' Persephone added with a hint of sorrow in her tone. '-we basically had to force your brother to grow up and sacrifice his childhood early, he doesn't want to do the same to you..'

'Everything changes when you receive your purpose..' Pasithea sounded seriously. 'There are things expected of you that a god of your age just shouldn't have to deal with. And then there's the pressures of Olympus to deal with, and as you know they don't think too kindly of Underworld deities… present company excluded of course.' The Goddess of Hallucinations added with a smile to Psyche and Hermes who lived on the big cloud. Both Olympians smiled back not offended in the slightest.

'You shouldn't be in a rush to grow up, you should just enjoy being a child and worry about your purpose when you get it..' Lamia said lifting her tea cup to her lips but before she could take a sip her left eyeball slipped out of it's socket and landed in the cup with a small splash. 'Whoops, there's an eyeball in my tea, how embarrassing..' Her soft green skin flushed slightly as her eye floated in the murky green hemlock tea. She then fished it out, sucked the tea off and popped the eyeball back in her socket.

'Urgh..' Cyane shivered slightly. '-that always freaks me out when you do that..' The little pale blue nymph pulled a grimace.

'Well you have Hera to thank for it.' Lamia responded lightly. 'Not that I'm complaining, if she hadn't turned me into this form I'd have never met my husband..' Melinoe who was used to seeing the Mother of the Miseries eyes falling out didn't pay this any attention but turned to her mother when Persephone gripped her bony wrist gently.

'I'm sure your father hasn't forgotten you sweetie, it's just he has..' Persephone trailed off twirling her wrist trying to think. She didn't want to say that her husband was obsessed with the idea that Thanatos was plotting something so the Goddess of Life simply added, '-other things on his mind.' Melinoe rolled her green eyes t this.

'Ok, sure, whatever.' She quipped. 'But whenever dad can be bothered to mull it over let me know.' The bluish-grey goddess then turned and stalked off moodily down the corridor leaving her mother and her friends to their tea. The four women and Hermes all stared back in surprise at Melinoe's response.

'Oh my..' Persephone sounded with a sense of pity in her heart. '-maybe she truly is ready for her purpose.'

'Then you should talk to the flaming hubby..' Pasithea suggested as the others nodded eagerly.

'I will..' The Queen of the Underworld then paused before adding under her breath so the others didn't hear, '-as soon as he stops obsessing over Thanatos.'


Little Notes:

Hey Peeps! Ok, a serious apology to all my fans for my inexcusable absence for the last month and a half. My only excuse is that last month my dad got married to his third wife and all my focus was on that.. Even so, I am so sorry for my lengthy absence. To make it up to you guys I've made this chapter a little longer than normal and hopefully the next chapter won't take a month and a half to write!

Stay tuned for more soon!

~Ditzy x