38. The Whole Problem

Hades and I passed the bottle back and forth my body leaned into his as he lead me the few blocks away from Nox. That is when I saw it, like he said the area around his club was fine but just streets away there was destruction. Some of the buildings had been destroyed. “Watch your step, darling” Hades said.  

The sidewalk I had used to walk on was no longer smooth. There were chucks of rock everywhere. I could see a nearby building was blown up. “When did this happen?” I asked my husband. “I was told it was five years ago. As you know I was only getting updates on the mortals, until I got you back as that was what consumed me. Not the problems of the mortals.” He said.  

I asked “So it was five years ago Zues did away with the mortals guns and stuff?” Hades took the champagne and sipped it before handing it back to me. “Yes, at first us Gods sent their own slew of problems for the mortals. Your mother caused famine and well my dear brother god of the seas had them go berserk drowning much of the coastlines. It should have been simple at that point.”  

My brows came together, not knowing what he was getting at. “In the past when us gods lash out for the mortals disobedience they back down and go back to their worship, but they didn’t. In fact all these acts the gods where inflicting on them had the opposite effect which has never happened. It divided the population on earth. Those who wanted to return to regular worship of us, and those who didn’t. Then they began fighting among themselves.” Hades said.  

“What about the demigods, I thought you and Zues were talking about them wanting to release your father from Tartarus.” I asked. After all I had heard something like that when they had been at my mothers house. That was the day I met Hades. “Yes there is that. I told him that would never happen. He had been hearing whispers about it, and flipped out as usual.”  

I had to ask “So are the demigods a small faction then really in the war?” He nodded “I believe so yes, though last time I talked to Zues he didn’t know. He never really cares, I constantly tell him to just leave them all alone and let them work it out, they can’t do anything to us. But he never does. As you know King Minos is his son and he said he meets with Zues so yes, they demigods have some stake in what is going on here.” 

Hades went on “If I had to guess they are truly on both sides of it. Both the with the mortals who want to worship and those who want our destruction. I believe they are playing both sides and whoever wins they will say they fought for them.” I shook my head and he looked surprised. I had talked to Thesus, and he was a creep.  
“No I think that doesn’t sound right. I think the Demigods are the ones who started this. I think they want to subjugate us or at the very least rule here with the mortals.” Hades asked me “Why do you think that?” It was true I never really knew much, mostly vacant trivial things. And the truth I did and got what I wanted. But I recognized the superiority that Thesus demonstrated with me.  

It reminded me of my mother and how she lorded over me and her estate. She had been so passionate about being a goddess and having power and that being divine simply made us better than everyone else. I knew that is where my entitlement came from but it wasn’t as severe as hers. True I knew I was above others but I didn’t need to brag about it, only say it when someone mis stepped. But Thesus had boasted about his status just like my mother had.  

“It was the way Thesus spoke to me. He had so much arrogance, he sounded like...” I stopped talking. “He sounded like what?” He asked. I took a breath. “He sounded like a god, like his word was law or divine or something. I think they have to be behind this,” I looked around at the destruction. Hades considered this, but didn’t say anything. “Well my brother got tired of the bombs as you know.”  

I did know that and nodded. “He likes to watch the mortals kill each other with swords and their fist right” Hades nodded. “Yes as sick as it is, and when he could just come down here and end all this chaos instead he is pouting and began watching the mortals kill each other. And Poseidon is joining in doing nothing, based on what King Minos said your mother is also partaking in the war by withholding crops. So I would assume it is several gods who just want them all to suffer.”  

I remember my mothers words. “Gods are vengeful” Was what I was seeing that vengeance she had talked about. That the great gods were throwing a tantrums because the humans well only some wanted them to butt out of their life.  “I don’t know if we should be part of this, it really has nothing to do with us, does it?” I asked my husband. He shook his head. “Not really they all come to us anyway in death.” He said.  

“But the influx is great in the underworld” I commented and he nodded. “Yes and everyday many have to be locked up because they insist on making older inhabitants of the underworld aggravated by still spewing their war thoughts. It is exhausting. Like your dead get over it, but they don’t. That is why Hecate wants me to intervene. Though I really could care less what the mortals do while living.”  

I was silent looking at all the destruction. “What are you thinking little goddess.” He asked. “I don’t know about helping decide the fate of the war, but this place looks horrible, I think.” I paused. “What is it, what do you think?” He asked. “I think we should help them rebuild at least around Nox, no place should look this run down. Even Tartarus has order and this place is anything but that.” Hades smiled at me. “You are too sweet, you know that.” I shrugged.