Ch. 121: The Reckoning Of Betrayal
“Why?” she cried, her voice breaking with raw emotion. “Why would you betray him? Hermes, what did Hades ever do to deserve this from you? You were like a brother to him!”
Her fists shook violently, and I could feel the force of her anger vibrating through the room. The table collapsed under her weight, and with it, so did she. Her knees hit the ground with a thud, tears streaking down her cheeks as she glared at Hermes, her rage mixed with something far more painful. “Damn you, Hermes. Damn you!”
Hermes, visibly shaken, crumpled to the floor in a groveling heap. His once carefree demeanor had shattered like glass. His hands trembled as he wiped at the tears on his face, but they kept falling, streaking down his face like rain on stone. “I’m sorry,” he sobbed. “I’m so, so sorry. I never wanted this… but I had no choice. They threatened the children. They would have killed them if I didn’t—”
“Children? What are you talking about?” Hecate’s voice was a roar, filled with anguish and confusion. She took a step closer, towering over him, her eyes blazing with fury. “No excuse you give can ever make up for what you did. You tried to kill Hades, the lord of the Underworld, one of the three. I should kill you where you kneel. Give me one reason— one damn reason— why I shouldn’t.”
I watched closely from the corner, my muscles tensing. I knew Hecate’s loyalty was as sharp as her rage, but I wasn’t sure if even I could stop her in time if she truly wanted to execute Hermes. But I remained silent, hoping they could resolve this on their own. It would be better for the alliance, for their growth, if I didn’t intervene. But I was prepared, ready to step in at the first sign that things would go too far.
Hermes sniffled, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know I deserve death. Hades was like a father to me… you were my best friend. I betrayed you both, and I can never take that back. But I beg you… let me atone. With my life, with my death, with my service— however you see fit. I will serve Hades, even if it means my soul will never find peace.”
I could see the conflict raging in Hecate’s eyes. She was torn between her duty to me and her history with Hermes. Her hands clenched into tight fists, her nails digging into her palms as she walked toward him, slow and deliberate. I tensed, ready to intervene if necessary, but something in her demeanor gave me pause. Her anger wasn’t just for Hermes— it was for herself, for the pain of betrayal that cut deeper than any wound.
“Damn you, Hermes,” she said softly, her voice hoarse with emotion. “Why did you have to do this? Of all the mistakes you could have made, why did it have to be this one?”
Hermes lifted his tear-streaked face to meet hers. “I—I’m sorry,” he said again, his voice weak and hollow.
Hecate reached out, her hand trembling as she cupped his face. Her grip was firm, almost as if she was holding on to him to keep herself grounded. “Make no mistake, Hermes,” she whispered coldly. “If Hades wills it, I will kill you. The only reason you’re still breathing is because he doesn’t want that. But this isn’t over. Your death may still come… just not yet.”
She let go of him abruptly, turning away as if the sight of him caused her pain. I exhaled, releasing a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. For now, the worst was avoided, but the damage was done. Hermes would have to live with his guilt, and I knew it would haunt him.
“I need to cool my head,” Hecate muttered, walking past me. She paused only briefly to glance at me, her eyes filled with frustration and regret. “Sorry, boss.”
I nodded stiffly, unsure of what to say. I should have said something to comfort her, to reassure her, but words weren’t my strength. “Fine,” I managed.
She left the study, leaving me alone with Hermes. He looked more broken than I’d ever seen him, a shadow of the god he once was. I walked over to him, offering a hand. “You should rest. There’s no need to return to your duties right now. Take time to recover.”
Hermes hesitated, his eyes downcast, before slowly accepting my hand. His grip was weak, trembling, and I guided him toward the door, where Walter awaited. “Get some rest,” I told him quietly. “Heal at your own pace.”
He nodded, unable to speak, and allowed Walter to escort him away. I stood there, staring after them, feeling an odd sense of emptiness. I should have felt relief that this crisis was averted, but instead, I felt as though I was gradually losing control. I had barely kept the alliance from fracturing, but at what cost?
Back in my chambers, I collapsed onto my bed, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. I stared up at the ceiling, strands of my blue hair falling across my face. My heart, which should have been racing, was eerily calm. What was I doing? Hermes was a broken god now, unmasked and laid bare. His confidence shattered, his spirit in ruins. Hecate’s devotion, on the other hand, was becoming suffocating, almost toxic.
I hit the bed in frustration, but it barely gave beneath my fist. “What the hell am I thinking?” I muttered to myself. I had spent too much time overthinking everything, and it was starting to feel more like a curse than a habit.
Needing a distraction, I reached for my phone and dialed the one person who could keep me grounded. The phone rang, but there was no answer. As I was about to dial again, a message appeared.
“Don’t call, chat dummy.”— Midnight Bird (Now)
I sighed, staring at the message for a moment before responding.
“Talos?”— You (Now)
She responded almost instantly.
“Aphrodite? The alliance? What’s the progress?”— Midnight Bird (Now)
Of course, she was all business. If she’d asked about my well-being, it would have been awkward.
“Aphrodite’s in. I made Hermes confess to the murder of Hades. Hecate found out. It’ll take time to recover from this.”— (Sent)
“So the alliance is failing then.”— Midnight Bird (Now)
I clenched my jaw. Why didn’t she have more faith in me?
Thank You For Reading This Long.
If I revive a magic castle I will mass release 10 chapters
