Ch. 122: Bonus Chapter — Hecate’s Conviction
I rushed out of the elevator the moment it chimed open, my feet pounding against the marble floors of the hall. Skidding on the red carpet, I spotted Hermes in the distance, his back turned to me as he approached Hades.
“Damnit, is he going to confess to Hades here?” The thought raced through my mind, igniting a surge of panic. I pushed myself faster, determined to reach him before he did something irrevocable.
“Hermes, what did you do?” I heard Hades’ voice, low and stern. He extended his hand towards Hermes, but the messenger god flinched back, his entire body trembling as if the weight of his words was too much to bear.
“Hermes?” Hades’ voice softened, tinged with a rare note of concern.
Hermes had always been a constant presence in my life, whether I wanted him there or not. His closeness to Hades meant he was a wedge between us, a reminder of their bond— a bond that, despite my best efforts, I could never fully understand. But unlike others, Hermes never looked at me with disdain. He laughed with me, cared for me in a way no one else dared. And now, seeing him like this, broken and afraid, ignited something furious inside me.
“Hades, I did something bad—” Hermes’ voice wavered as he began to confess, but I reached him in time. Without thinking, I slapped him across the face with all the force I could muster. He stumbled, crashing to the ground.
My heart raced. I hadn’t thought about the consequences, hadn’t considered what Hades would think of this violent display. I had acted on impulse, and now I had to face whatever came next.
“What the hell is this, Hecate?” Hades’ voice boomed with an anger I rarely heard. His eyes bore into me, sharp and unforgiving. A chill ran down my spine. Hades had never directed such rage at me before, and it filled me with a deep sense of dread.
Hermes groaned as he staggered to his feet. “What a sorry state for the messenger god,” I spat, my voice harsher than I intended. Even under Hades’ glare, my anger flared uncontrollably. “You’re a mess.”
But why was I so angry?
Yes, I hated Hermes for what he had done to Hades— for betraying him in ways that Hades could never imagine. But there was something deeper, something more complicated. Looking at him now, his face pale, his eyes hollow, I felt a pang of pity. This wasn’t the Hermes I knew. His once vibrant spirit seemed crushed, and the sight of him like this enraged me. What had reduced him to this?
“Hecate,” Hades’ voice cut through my thoughts, forcing me to confront the reality of my actions. “What the hell is going on?”
I hadn’t stopped to think about what Hades would do to me. I had just struck one of the twelve Olympian gods in front of him. A messenger of the gods, humiliated, reduced to this state, and I was at the center of it all.
Hermes still wouldn’t look at me. His eyes, usually filled with mischief or warmth, were dull and distant. That only made me angrier. How dare he avoid my gaze, after everything?
Rubbing his cheek, Hermes looked at Hades with eyes so full of pain I almost recoiled. “I… need to talk to Hades,” he muttered, his voice broken.
“No! You’re drunk!” I shouted, desperation creeping into my tone. Hades was staring at me, his eyes narrowing, but I didn’t care. If Hermes told Hades the truth, it would destroy him. And I couldn’t let that happen— not while I still had the strength to stop it. “You are one of the twelve Olympians. You can’t be seen like this. What do you want people to think? What about the symbol you represent?”
Hermes clenched his fists. His entire body trembled, his soul seeming to stir like a storm inside him. “F**k the symbol!” he screamed. His voice was raw, filled with a rage and sorrow that seemed to shake the very foundations of the hall. “I’m tired of all of it! The lies, the manipulation! I miss when we were a family. Or was that a lie too? If Hades of all people can change, then why can’t I?”
His words hit harder than any slap I could deliver. Family. Had that ever been real? Or had we all been playing parts, clinging to something long dead?
Hades, visibly shaken by the outburst, cursed under his breath and turned back into his room, slamming the door behind him. He had more pressing matters to attend to, it seemed, than the crumbling of one of his closest companions.
Hermes and I stood in the aftermath, the air heavy with the weight of what had just happened. He still wouldn’t meet my eyes, his shoulders slumped in defeat. His clothes were disheveled, his hair a mess. Had he been drinking? How had he fallen so low?
“Talos, I…” Hermes’ voice faltered, and he froze.
I stepped closer, my voice cold and unrelenting. “I know what you’re planning. You want to kill Hades, don’t you? For good this time.”
Hermes’ head snapped up, his expression one of shock. “No… that’s not it. I just want to make amends.”
“Amends?” I scoffed, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. “You poisoned him. You shattered his soul. And now you think you can make amends? Don’t be ridiculous. You gods parade around with your pride while the underworld crumbles. You don’t see the chaos Hades deals with every day. The souls, the creatures, all of them fighting for survival while you Olympians live in luxury. And yet you still try to take his life.”
Hermes stood there, silent. He had no answer for me.
“You should leave,” I said, my voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. “Before he gets back. I won’t let you near him. This isn’t an idle threat, Hermes. If you come near him again, I’ll end you myself.”
His soul flickered in response, the storm inside him slowing, as if surrendering. He took a step towards me, his head bowed in defeat. He passed me without a word, disappearing down the hall, a shadow of the god he once was.
“You’re dead to me, Hermes,” I whispered, my voice shaking with the finality of it. “Figuratively… and soon, physically.”
Hades returned a moment later, his eyes scanning the hall. When he saw Hermes was gone, he glanced at me, his expression cold and unreadable. The anger simmering in his gaze made my heart sink.
“You just missed him, boss,” I said, forcing a casual tone. “He had to go sober up before the party. Who knew Hermes could be such a lightweight?”
Hades didn’t respond. His eyes remained locked on mine, full of suspicion and something darker. Before I could explain, he cut me off.
“Not another word,” he growled, turning on his heel and slamming the door behind him.
I stood there, my hand resting against the door, my mind reeling. “Don’t worry, Hades,” I whispered to the empty hall. “I did it for you. You’ll never know about Hermes’ betrayal. I’ll protect you from that pain.”
And with that, I turned and walked away, my heart hardened with a new conviction. “I am going to kill Hermes.”
Author’s Note: Thank you for constantly supporting my work. I really appreciate it.
About tis chapter, I should have done it much earlier but I felt the moment wasn’t right then. Now it fits the present narrative of the story, please continue to enjoy my work and support it.
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