The scent of old parchnt and dust lingered heavily in the air as Hades pushed open the doors of the palace library. The room stretched endlessly, its walls adorned with towering shelves brimming with books. Sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows.
Viktor walked beside him, the clicks of their boots echoing in the silence.
B
"Possession and demons," Viktor muttered, scanning the nearest shelf. "There should be sothing about that in here. I’m almost certain of it."
"There is," Hades replied with a hint of frustration, brushing his fingers along a row of tos. "But I’ve already scoured half this place. All the books talk about demons in vague, c ryptic language. No real answers."
He pulled a heavy, leather-bound volu from the shelf and flipped it open, leaning against a nearby table. Pages rustled as he turned them quickly, eyes scanning each one with focus. Viktor mirrored him at the opposite end of the table, setting up his own stack of potential leads.
For over an hour, the only sounds were the occasional mutter, the thump of a discarded book, the flip of pages, and the subtle creak of old wood underfoot. Candle flas danced silently in their sconces.
Viktor finally let out a tired sigh and shut the book in front of him with a dull thud. "This is hopeless."
Hades didn’t respond right away. His gaze lingered on a passage about demonic hierarchies before he too pushed the book away. "Nothing new. I already know everything these books have to say."
"Maybe Lucian would’ve known sothing." Viktor’s tone was casual, but he didn’t miss the way Hades’ jaw tensed ever so slightly.
There was a pause.
"Lucian and I had an argunt earlier," Hades muttered. "I doubt he’d be willing to help now."
Viktor raised an eyebrow. "How unusual. Let guess, because of your relationship with Lilith?"
Hades gave a humorless half-smile. "He isn’t too pleased about it." He paused, voice tightening. "He’s not pleased at all. In fact, he’s rather vexed."
"Vexed with her?"
"With everything. How close I’ve beco with her... how I feel about her. He thinks I’m making a selfish mistake. Just like my mother." His voice dipped lower, the words bitter. "That I’m being foolish."
Viktor leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "That’s... harsh. But I understand. The man’s worried about you. He’s a wise one, and he is aware of the level of cruelty the demon possess."y
Hades exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting toward the stained-glass window, where a bird perched on a tree branch outside. He watched in silence until it flew away. "Worry is one thing. But questioning my judgnt?" His eyes flashed with rembered frustration.
"He’s trying to protect you," Viktor said gently. "Maybe not in the best way, but you know Lucian. He believes in logic and legacy more than feelings." His voice softened. "But you’re the only family he has left. I don’t think he’s ever stopped seeing you as the child of soone... extraordinary."
Hades looked down at his hands. "He crossed a line when he disrespected Lilith. He wanted to send her away."
Viktor pressed his lips together. "I don’t think he truly ant that. He was frustrated, that’s all. He’s always had a soft spot for Lilith. Honestly, it’s hard not to like her," he added with a light chuckle.
Hades ran a hand through his hair. "I want to believe that."
"Well," Viktor said, rising from his seat and brushing off his sleeves, "you should."
A long silence stretched between them. Hades remained still.
Viktor turned toward the door, then glanced back over his shoulder. "I saw him heading toward the stables before I ca here. I know he’s not going for a ride, so he’s probably sitting under the blossom tree."
Hades followed Viktor’s gaze, then sighed again. "Very well. I’ll go to him," he said quietly.
"Thank you." Viktor gave him two gentle pats on the shoulder as Hades turned and walked out of the library. Viktor shook his head and smiled faintly as the doors closed behind him.
~~~ y
A gentle breeze rolled through the air, carrying the scent of flowers and rain-soaked earth. The cherry blossom tree stood tall in its glory, its petals dancing through the air. Beneath it sat Lucian, his form relaxed, one arm draped over the back of the bench, the other swirling a glass of dark red wine.
He didn’t need to look up to know Hades was approaching, but the faintest smile btugged at the corner of his mouth.
"You’re not supposed to be here today."
Hades stopped a few feet away. "It seems I’ve changed my routine." He paused. "Viktor said you’d be here."
Lucian took a long sip from his glass before setting it down on the bench’s arm. "Of course he did. That boy’s always had more tact than you."
A beat passed, then Hades lowered himself onto the other end of the bench.
Neither spoke for a mont. The wind rustled the branches overhead, the blossoms swaying gently in its wake.
"I let my emotions get the better of ," Hades said at last, his voice low.
Lucian glanced at him , an eyebrow lifting in surprise.
"I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way. As hard as it is to admit, you were... sowhat right. I should’ve known better than to let myself fall into such a situation." He turned to face his uncle. "I underestimated the power of affection."
Lucian studied him in silence, then gave a slow nod. "You’ve changed, Hades."
"I know."
"She’s softened you."
"I know," he said again, more quietly.
Lucian’s gaze drifted upward to the drifting petals. "You’re walking a dangerous line. Love like that... it’s as powerful as it is destructive. You’ll doom each other, Hades."
"I’m already dood to most," Hades replied, a bitter edge in his voice.
"Not as deeply as you will be if you keep down this path."
Silence fell between them.
Lucian reached for his glass again, swirled the wine, then took a long drink. "You know, Lilith reminds of soone."
Hades raised a brow. "Mother?"
"No," Lucian said, his eyes distant. "You."
That took Hades by surprise.
"She’s fierce and stubborn. Drawn to things she shouldn’t want. But she’s also loyal, even when afraid. That girl would fight gods for the people she loves." He paused. "Just like you."
They sat in companionable silence beneath the tree, the petals falling softly around them.
Lucian shook his head. "I must apologize, too. I was too harsh. I shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly about her. Lilith is a remarkable young woman. Her warmth is strong enough to lt your cold heart, just like your mother’s was, and your father’s, in his own way. Love... love is a beautiful and uncontrollable thing."
Hades didn’t know how to respond, so he simply looked at his uncle, searching his face.
Lucian smiled, then suddenly jumped to his feet. "Anyway, we have work to do if we’re going to stop that bastard from destroying the world." He downed the rest of his drink in one gulp. "Co on then, let’s go."
Hades rose from the bench, and together, they walked back toward the castle.
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