Thanatos
Page 30
While the siblings said their goodbyes, Luther and Hades wheeled Thanatos to the edge of the platform. They both looked down over the edge and then back at the god of death.
“You could just tip him over the edge and wait for the next train to come,” Luther said. “You know, just for fun.”
They chuckled.
Hecate’s coat of feathers and fur hung off one of her shoulders and mud fell from her boots as she strolled over to Hades and Luther. “How long until it’s here?”
Luther glanced at her and then back down the track. “Two minutes and twenty seconds.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever be so glad to see home,” she said, tired and wistful.
Luther looked at her again. He reached over, took the collar of her coat, and pulled it up to cover her shoulder.
She stared at him but said nothing.
“That’s a start,” Luther said quietly and turned his gaze down the tracks.
Hades glanced behind them. Persephone embraced Artemis one last time. “Flames,” he mumbled. And then in a louder voice, he said, “Apollo. Artemis.” He turned to face them. They exchanged looks, and finally, Hades nodded, not knowing what to say other than their names. He tipped his hand to his forehead.
Persephone laughed and walked to him.
The twins turned away, but not before Artemis called out, “You’re welcome.”
Hades took out his cigarette, feeling strangely light, almost content. He’d never felt that way anywhere other than home. “I might be getting used to this place.” He gestured to the empty platform.
Persephone stood beside him, her arm around his waist. “I think the river Styx just froze over.”
They heard the whoosh of the train coming down the tracks. Energy seemed to build as it came closer and closer until it stopped in front of them. The doors dinged and then opened.
Hades tipped back the cart that held their prisoner.
“Let’s go home.”
While the subway to the Underworld sped through tunnels of rock and mineral, another being swam through marshy waters and crawled out from the shallows and onto dry land. The rock sizzled beneath its short muscular legs as it pulled its long body and tail from the water until at last, the god of nightmares tossed off his mask and lay on his back, his empty eyes shut. Hours later, he woke. The rock had warmed his leathery skin and eased the aches and pains caused by his fall.
His mind drifted through memory. The stink of the mighty beast’s breath, the fall, the mask of a bat, and then of a condor with a wingspan wider than that of his brother.
His brother.
“May you rot in the depths of Tartarus,” Phobetor mumbled.
The nightmare god had soared above the violent waters, out of reach of the beast from the water. He’d watched as the monstrous batlike creature had torn apart the elevator car and then, as his belongings washed up on shore, the beast tore into his bags. His journals and clothes were torn apart and scattered to drift in the wind, burn, or float once again down the river.
Thanatos knew of his betrayal. He’d planted a tracker, a beacon to the monsters who lived in these caves.
In some ways, Phobetor was relieved. His brother knew. There were no more secrets. Well, not many.
There, in the dim light of the caves and the warmth of the rock, Phobetor reached out with his nightmare thoughts. Wispy tendrils floated on the currents stirred by the river. They reached out and up and up some more until they emerged into the light of the Overworld.
A smile grew on his grotesque face. “You always did underestimate me, brother. My masks are endless. My nightmares know no borders.” His laugh came out as a phlegmy cough. “See you in your dreams,” he whispered, and chose his next mask.
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Thank you for reading Thanatos!
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EXTRAS
IF YOU’RE INTO THESE KINDS OF THINGS
DEAR READER
As some of you may have noticed, I took some liberties with the architecture, layout, and contents of Canada Place and its surroundings. Many of the streets of Vancouver, B.C. are accurately named and located, but again, as the story evolved, I made some changes in the current cityscape and landmarks to suit the story plot. Thank you for your indulgence as I fictionalized parts of the greater Vancouver area.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Writing a novel can be a lonely process—nothing but the clickety-clack of a keyboard echoing off the walls of my writing cave and character voices arguing over my music—but there are many people who helped to bring this story and this series to life.
I’d like to thank Deb, Emmi, Mary, and Danielle, my reader team who spent hours of their time to read and re-read this story. Your comments and encouragement are invaluable.
And to Michele V. who acts as my sounding board through this writing journey, thank you!
Crystal Watanabe, my editor extraordinaire. You continue to blow my mind (in a good way) with your suggestions and comments. I owe you many thanks for sticking with me and my stories.
And a big thanks to my boys at home who were the most patient of all! Your patience and encouragement made this all possible.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carmen Kern is a writer of all things fantastical based in Phoenix, AZ. But she keeps her roots buried deep within the Canadian soil where legendary beasts like the Ogopogo and the occasional Sasquatch lurk.
Her work is infused with mythological creatures, the immortal, and most things unexplainable.
When she isn’t writing, you can find her in alleyways and barren landscapes taking pictures and foraging for story ideas.
You can find out more about Carmen’s books including The Lucifer Chronicles and the Fall of the Gods series by visiting her website. Stay in touch by signing up for her monthly newsletter where you’ll receive news of upcoming releases and you can pick up your free prequel story to the Fall of the Gods series.
Carmenkern.com
Or you can find her on Instagram, her favorite online watercooler.
Just in case you were wondering what to serve the god of death if he shows up at your house around happy hour—let’s be honest, it never hurts to be prepared.
THANATOS'S
DARK AND BITTER
GIN COCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS – SERVES TWO
2 ounces Ophir gin
1.5 ounce Averna Amaro
5 stabs of Black Walnut bitters
DIRECTIONS
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake until mixed. Pour into an iced coup glass. Garnish with star anise.
Recipe created by Marcia J. Hamm. You can find her on instagram at i.am_joyofwine.
ALSO BY CARMEN KERN
FALL OF THE GODS
PERSEPHONE
HADES
THANATOS
THE LUCIFER CHRONICLES
SATAN’S HISTORIAN
THE WATCHER
THE FALLEN
MISCELLANEOUS
FIELD OF BONES – A SHORT STORY
POSTCARD STORIES – A VISUAL STORY BOOK
Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
&nb
sp; FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
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EXTRAS
DEAR READER
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
THANATOS'S DARK AND BITTER GIN COCKTAIL
ALSO BY CARMEN KERN