Chapter Twenty-Two: Goodbyes

Therese tried not to shiver from the cold as she followed Than to her favorite bat cave. The light from the Phlegethon was dim here, and she could barely see. She was also unused to not having her bow and quiver slung around her shoulder, but there was no need to carry them now.

“I’m going to miss this place,” she said.

“Hades promised to let you and the twins visit,” he reminded her.

“He and Persephone just want to see their grandbabies,” Therese said. “I doubt he’ll allow me to roam around for nostalgia’s sake.”

“He might.”

Therese smiled at the image of their twins running around in her bat cave and playing with the rats and mice. She imagined them throwing rocks into the Phlegethon, feeding cakes to Cerberus and Hydra, and rocking Charon’s boat. Oh, how fun it will be to bring them here, she thought. She only hoped Hades would allow it often.

She had a feeling he just might.

Allowing her and the twins to visit wasn’t the only promise Hades had made: he had also promised to restore Melinoe to an honorable position among the gods of the Underworld. Her job was to collect the souls who, for whatever reason, failed to call to Than, usually because they’d been distracted by a malevolent being. Although she didn’t have the power of disintegration, Melinoe did have the ability to collect multiple souls at a time, and she would then lead them all to Charon.

Hades had also promised that, as a reward for her sacrifice during the battle with Atlas, Melinoe would be given one night a year to go back to her old ways of frightening mortals with an entourage of ghosts. Whatever souls she collected on that one day would join her in her antics before being escorted to Charon and their judgment. Melinoe was allowed to choose the night, and she quickly settled on her favorite time of the year.

Halloween.

Along with those promises, it was decided in court while the Fates were present that all souls, no matter the crime, should have a chance at redemption. Therese hadn’t made this a condition of her trade with Hip, but she had asked for it on the heels of her offer, and all the gods were so grateful to her for taking Hip’s place, that they worked together to find a loophole in the ancient law. Therese had realized then that, although most of them had come to love her, they couldn’t help but love Hypnos more.

Despite all these promises, Hades hadn’t been able to help Than. Before they’d left the court, Than had asked if it was possible for Jen to remain the god of sleep and for Hip to take over as the god of death so that Than could become a mortal with Therese.

Hope had flared inside of Therese’s chest until the Fates said that immortality had to be traded, not renounced.

“You will go mad,” Clotho had said. “Even as a mortal.”

“You have to trade fates with another,” Atropos had explained.

“Everything has to be balanced,” Lachesis had added.

Persephone had laid a hand on Than’s shoulder and had said, “Don’t do this, please. You’ll break my heart.”

“It’s basically a death sentence,” Hades had said. “If you trade with someone, you won’t know that person’s fate. You could get hit by a bus and die that very day.”

“And what good would you be to Therese or your twins then?” Demeter had asked.

Than had said he couldn’t bestow the burden on someone else, anyway—not without that person’s consent.

“I would need to know the mortal is willing,” Than had said.

“No one wants to be Death,” Zeus had said. “So that settles the matter.”

Therese had understood, but she had also died a little more.

Than reached the cave and turned to face her. “You okay?”

She nodded, but she was breathing heavily. The hike was a lot harder without her godly strength and endurance.

He took her hands. “What did Clifford decide?”

“He has no choice. He’s coming with me.” Besides, he wanted to come with her. He could return to Than later, after Therese…she didn’t want to think about that.

“And Jewels?”

“Also with me, but I’m leaving Stormy here for Jen. A familiar face will comfort her.”

“Is there any place else we need to see before we go?”

She had already been to Tartarus to say goodbye to Pete, Tiresias, and the Furies. Pete had turned down his chance to move on to the Elysian Fields, because he wanted to be with Tizzie, but Tiresias wanted to go. When he was ready, she’d accompanied him, because she wanted to say goodbye to Vicki, even though Vicki no longer recognized her. After that, Therese had some time with Cubie and Galin. Hecate and Persephone had said their goodbyes to her on Mount Olympus along with the others.

It was difficult to say goodbye to all the gods on Mount Olympus, because unlike the gods of the Underworld, Therese would likely never see them again. They made promises to visit her, but she didn’t expect those promises to be kept. She knew they were all busy with their duties, and also that the passing of time for the gods was unlike that for mortals.

“Are you ready then?” Than asked.

He must be anxious to see the babies, she thought—as anxious as she was. “I guess so.”

She said goodbye to the bats, even though she could no longer hear their replies. Then she sent up a prayer of thanks to Hecate, who had taken over the duties of death so Than could drive her home. She followed Than through the cold winding tunnels from the bat cave to the stables, where Clifford and Jewels were already waiting for her in the chariot.

***

 

Than stole glances at Therese as they flew across the afternoon sky toward Colorado. Helios was in his cup at high noon, but Than doubted Therese could recognize him as anything but an orb of light. She waved at the sun god anyway, and this brought a smile to Than’s lips.

He parked the chariot in the woods behind the Holts’ place. Clifford jumped out, excited to be home. He headed directly for the stream, where he loved to chase the trout. Jewels climbed out, too, and followed, which surprised Therese and made her laugh.

Than loved to see her laugh.

Although it was not yet autumn, when his mother would return to the Underworld from Mount Olympus, it was late enough in September for the trail rides to have ended, so none of the Holts were outside or in the barn as Than and Therese hiked their way to the back door.

Hip opened the door before they knocked. Apparently, he’d been waiting for them. Jen was by his side.

“I can’t thank you enough,” he said to Therese.

“Me either!” Jen cried. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How are the twins?” she asked, yawning.

“Sound asleep,” Hip replied. “The whole house is asleep.”

“Now I know to call on you when I can’t get the babies down,” Therese said with a smile. Then she added, “It’s good to see you back to normal,” just before she collapsed into Than’s arms.

“I better go,” Hip said. “I’ll catch you later, bro’.” Hip turned to Jen. “You’re okay riding back with Than?”

Jen nodded. “See you soon.”

Hip leaned in for a kiss from Jen.

As soon as Hip had disappeared, Than was able to arouse Therese from her sleep. At the same time, the rest of the house began waking up, including the babies.

Than and Therese found them on pallets on the living room floor beside Mrs. Holt and Mr. Stern, who had fallen asleep on the rug beside them. Bobby was stretching and opening his eyes from where he lay on the couch.

Mr. Stern and Mrs. Holt sat up just as Than and Therese each picked up a twin.

“Well, hello there,” Mrs. Holt said with surprise.

Than forgot to reply. He was too mesmerized by Hestia and Hermes. Mr. Stern and Mrs. Holt must have realized this, for they left the room, calling for Bobby and Jen to follow.

“I need to feed them,” Therese said to Than, as she sat down on the couch. “Will you help me?”

“With pleasure.”

He moved beside her and cradled Hestia as Therese fed Hermes. He gazed at Hestia, trying to memorize the features of her face, even though he knew they would change daily. When Hermes had had enough of Therese’s milk, Than traded babies and burped Hermes. Then he gazed at his little face, too.

They sat together for a little more than an hour before they left the Holts’ and made their way over to Therese’s childhood home, hoping Carol and Richard would be willing to take her and the babies in.

***

 

“We’ll tell them we adopted,” Therese told Than as they walked up the dirt road to her old house, each with a baby. “It’s only been two months since they last saw me, and I did not look seven months pregnant then.”

“You sure you don’t want to tell them the truth?” Than asked. “I’ll sound like such a douche bag, having to stay away from my family because of my work.”

“That’s not exactly a lie,” Therese said.

“That I’m a douche bag?” he asked.

“No, silly!” She laughed. “That you have to stay away because of your work.”

“I’d like for them to understand that I don’t have a choice,” he said.

“Maybe I can tell them some day. I’m worried it will frighten them.”

“Mrs. Holt and Bobby seem to be handling it without any problems,” he argued.

“But Hip and Jen aren’t Death,” Therese said. “I’m worried they’ll be freaked out by the idea that I’m married to Death.”

“Oh.”

Now Therese felt like the douche bag. “Plus, I’m worried they’ll treat the babies differently.”

“I suppose you know them better than I do.”

When they reached the gravelly drive leading up to the house, Therese’s mom and dad flew over to greet them.

For the first time since making her offer to trade with Hip, Therese realized one more price she’d have to pay: she couldn’t communicate with her parents. Their songs sounded like those of any other cardinals.

Tears filled her eyes.

“I can’t understand them anymore,” she said to Than.

He put a comforting arm around her waist as the red birds came and landed on each of the blankets swaddling the twins.

“I’ll explain everything to them,” Than said.

“Do you think they can still understand me?” she asked.

“I know they can.”

She sighed with relief as she batted tears away with her one free hand.

“Hi, Mom and Dad,” she said to them.

They tweeted back.

“Therese!” Carol swung open the door of the screened-in front porch and called out to her and Than.

Therese’s parents flew back to their elm tree.

Lynn ran up and hugged Therese’s legs before she had made it through the door.

“Terry!” Lynn said in her sweet little voice. “You have babies?”

“Let’s go inside and sit down,” Therese said. “I need to talk to Mama and Daddy.”

“Mama and Daddy” were the names Lynn had given Carol and Richard, so Therese used them when she was talking to Lynn.

“Daddy’s not home. Can you talk to me?” Lynn asked with a hopeful smile.

“Of course!” Therese said.

Lynn reached up her arms to Than to be picked up, so Than used his free arm to scoop her up on his hip.

“What’s baby’s name?” Lynn asked, as they made their way to the living room couch.

“This is Hermes,” Than replied. “And that’s Hestia.”

“Are they your babies?” Lynn asked Than.

Therese’s heart melted as she watched Than’s face break into the sweetest smile. “Yes, they are. Mine and Terry’s.”

“So tell me what’s going on,” Carol said as she sat across from them in Richard’s recliner.

“These babies were in need of a home, so we decided to adopt,” Therese lied.

“Wow,” Carol said, apparently in shock. “So the adoption has already been finalized?”

Therese nodded. “I guess this makes you and Richard grandparents, sort of.”

“I guess it does.”

“Aren’t you happy for us?” Therese asked, feeling the blood rush to her face.

“Of course, but I can’t believe I am just now hearing about this. I would have asked if you were sure you were ready, but I guess now it’s too late.”

“I’m sorry.” Therese knew there was no way around a litany of apologies.

“And I would have thrown you a shower,” Carol added. “Maybe I still can.”

“Don’t go to any trouble,” Than said, though Therese arched a brow his way. She wanted a shower.

“Are Than’s parents able to help you?”

Therese cleared her throat. “Sort of, but…”

“That’s why we’re here,” Than broke in. “Therese and I think it would be better for the babies if they were raised up here…in Colorado.”

“You’re moving here?” Carol jumped from her chair and leaned over to hug each of them. “Can I hold one of them?”

Therese handed her Hestia.

“Oh my gosh, she has red hair!” Carol said. “And she actually looks a little like you. How lucky!”

Therese felt another blush coming on as she and Than exchanged smiles.

“This is really interesting,” Carol said, bouncing Hestia in her arms. “Because you won’t believe where Richard is right now.”

“Where?” Than and Therese asked simultaneously.

“He’s closing on the purchase of the Melner Cabin.”

“What? Why?” Therese asked.

“We were tired of all the strangers that come and go over there, especially now that Lynn is getting around more outdoors. So we made the Melners an offer, and after some going back and forth, they accepted.”

“What are you planning to do with it?” Than asked.

“We were planning on finding a long-term renter,” Carol said. “But I’m sure Richard would agree that you would make us the happiest grandparents in the world if you would move in!”

Therese frowned. “Well, the thing is…”

Than interrupted her. “It sounds like too good a deal to pass up.”

“Wonderful!” Carol said. “I’m calling Richard right now to tell him the good news!”

Carol went to the phone in the kitchen to make her call.

Therese turned to Than and muttered, “What are you doing? I don’t want to live alone with the twins in the Melner Cabin.”

“I’m not giving up,” he whispered. “Somehow, some way, I’ll make our dream happen.”

Therese studied his face and noticed he had the same expression he had worn four years ago, when she had failed to kill McAdams and he had promised to come back for her.

She filled with hope.

Carol hung up the phone and returned to the family room. “It’s all settled.”

“I just need to go home and take care of a few loose ends first,” Than said to Carol. “Can Therese and the twins stay with you until I return?”

“Of course!” Carol said. “I’d love that!”

***

 

Hypnos was having a hard time teaching Jen to fly.

“Why can’t you just trust me?” he asked her from the tip of Mount Ida, where he had introduced Jen to Asterion and Ariadne.

Dionysus was off dancing and drinking with the Maenads and Curetes at the bottom of the mountain and had no interest in night Frisbee.

“Just give her time,” Ariadne said. “It takes practice.”

“I’m scared to death,” Jen said. “It’s not natural to me. Put me on a horse, and I’m fine, but just free-floating in the wind? That’s creepy.”

Hip threw his hands in the air. “But it’s hard to play night Frisbee on Stormy’s back.”

“And harder still if she won’t fly,” Asterion pointed out.

“Can we please just god travel back and get Stormy?” Jen asked.

Hip took her hand. “Fine, but if you don’t practice, you’ll never master it, just like with the bow and arrow.”

“I don’t like the bow and arrow,” Jen said. “And I’m not the goddess of animal companions, okay?”

“Then what are you the goddess of?” Hip asked.

“I don’t know yet. But not that.”

Hip groaned. She’d better figure it out soon. If she didn’t within three months, she’d lose her immortality and Therese’s sacrifice will have been for nothing.

He’d never known anyone who could make him so angry and so happy all within five minutes.

Before they god traveled away, Than appeared.

“Hey, bro’!” Hip clapped a hand on Than’s shoulder. “God, am I glad to see you.”

“I need your help,” Than said solemnly.

“Anything. Name it,” Hip said, as the other three gathered around Than on the mountain top.

“Is there something we can do?” Asterion asked.

“Maybe.” Than glanced at each of them with a determined look on his face. “I need ideas. There has to be a way for me to live a mortal life with the rest of my family without renouncing my immortality and going mad, or choosing some random mortal to make a trade.”

“You want to die?” Ariadne asked. Then she murmured, “Death wants to die. How strange.”

“You don’t get it,” Than said. “I don’t want to die; I want to live. Before I met Therese four years ago, I wasn’t really living. I was going through the motions, but I wasn’t alive. My life began when I met her. Without her and the twins, my life is over. I’ll go back to feeling like a puppet, like Sisyphus and his rock.”

He looked at Hip and added, “This isn’t about choosing death. It’s about choosing life. Understand?”

Hip did understand.

“That’s freakin’ beautiful,” Jen said.

“All my life, I’ve accepted things without question,” Than said. “I’ve done my duty with few complaints.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Hip said.

“Well, I’ve changed. I want to shape my own destiny.”

“We’re here for you, Than,” Asterion said.

“Maybe we could ask Pete,” Jen said. “If we find a mortal willing to give him some blood…”

“Wait!” Hip snapped his fingers. “That’s it!”

“What are you talking about?” Asterion asked.

Hip took Jen by the shoulders and gave her a quick peck on the mouth. “You’re a genius!”

“Will you just spill the beans?” Ariadne demanded.

“Pete saw himself as the god of death,” Hip replied.

“That makes no sense,” Than said. “He has no corporeal body. He can’t become a god.”

“No sense,” Jen said. “That’s exactly what he muttered over and over again.”

“Maybe Apollo knows,” Hip said. “Someone must. If Pete saw it…”

“The visions of seers aren’t as reliable as those of the Fates,” Than reminded him.

Hip squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “Isn’t it worth checking out?”