32 Meeting My Subjects and becoming a marriage counsellor...

Hades POV

As my anger began to boil over and I prepared to unleash my frustration upon Nyx, she suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but a flurry of dark shadows. The sound of her laughter lingered in the throne room, taunting me and adding insult to injury.

As I directed my gaze towards Eris, her laughter faded, and all eyes were on me. Cerberus lay at my feet, casting mournful looks my way. The other children of Nyx seemed hesitant and intimidated, their gazes filled with apprehension, except for Hypnos, who appeared to have slipped back into a deep slumber.

I cleared my throat, attempting to assert my authority over my subjects. However, I quickly realized that instilling fear in them would only cause unnecessary trouble during my reign. Instead, I spoke calmly and authoritatively, addressing the group before me. "It seems you have all come to me searching for a patron." My words were not a question but rather an observation of their intentions.

As I stood before the group of godly beings, I couldn't help but notice the way Thanatos stood out from his siblings. He exuded an air of bravery and confidence that seemed to set him apart. When he stepped forward, his eyes were filled with a strange mixture of admiration and reverence that made me slightly uncomfortable.

Despite my reservations, I listened intently as he spoke. His voice was deep and resonant, and his words were carefully chosen and eloquently delivered. "Your grace," he began, "my siblings and I humbly request to be allowed to enter your service." With that, he finished his words and swept into a deep kneel, his body language conveying his sincerity and respect.

If the eye rolls from his siblings were anything to go by, Thanatos was typically this dramatic. "Well, as pair the terms of my and your mother's agreement, In return for Nyx's neutrality towards the Underworld, I will accept your oaths of servitude, although let it be known, once your oaths are sworn, it is me you hold allegiance to not your mother." 

Nemesis stood before the throne, her head bowed in submission. In a flat, lifeless voice, she said, "Our power, domains, and will are yours to command, Your Grace." Her eyes were vacant, devoid of any emotion or spark of life as if she were a mere puppet controlled by external forces.

Charon's chilling voice echoed through the grandeur of the throne room, sending shivers down the spines of those present. Despite the unnerving tone, his words were laced with honesty and loyalty. "My sister speaks truly, Your Majesty. You may rest easy never doubting our service or loyalty."

A palpable tension hung in the air as Eris stood before the throne room. No one knew what to expect from the mischievous goddess; her silence only added to the unease. Suddenly, she raised her hand to her chin as if deep in thought and nodded her head with excitement. The sound of agreement that followed was like a wave rippling through the room, and even the three heads of Cerebus were nodding in unison. Bewildered.

My voice boomed across the vast expanse of creation as I stood before the children of the Night. "Speak your oaths," I commanded, "and forever bind yourselves to my will and that of the Underworld." The weight of my words hung heavy in the air as the immortals around me waited in silence, knowing that their allegiance would be sealed with their response.

As Nyx's children gathered, they paid their respects by bowing deeply. Even Eris, the goddess of strife, and the fearsome hellhound joined in the reverence. The children spoke over each other, releasing oaths of servitude.

With a deep breath, I opened myself up to the unfathomable force of the Underworld. The raw, unbridled power surged through me, channeling into the forms of those who had sworn their allegiance to me. At that moment, there was no doubt about who they served - my authority was absolute, and my subjects knew it.

The offspring of Nyx, already known for their immense power, were now emanating an otherworldly glow as if they had tapped into a new level of previously unattainable strength. Their aura was reminiscent of the eerie darkness that looms in the depths of the Underworld, and it was clear that they had ascended to a new level of power.

My presence commanded attention, and the gathered beings stood at attention. "As my subjects," I began, "it is only right that you have the power to carry out my will. However, please note that this power comes at a cost. By using it, you act in my name and must use it appropriately." I spoke with firmness, emphasizing the gravity of the responsibility I was entrusting to them. The beings before me nodded quickly in agreement, their expressions solemn.

I rose from my throne, my commanding voice echoing across the vast expanse of the Underworld. "Now go forth and explore your new domain," I instructed, my arms outstretched as I beckoned to the shadows. With a flicker of movement, my loyal subjects were transported to various corners of the dark realm. I watched them disappear, knowing the real work would begin when they returned.

With a simple gesture of my outstretched hand, I summoned my formidable bident to my side. Whispering the names of the five rivers of the Underworld, I called upon their power, "Styx, Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, and Phlegethon, I call thee to my court." As I spoke, my bident illuminated with a dazzling array of colors, each representing the unique essence of the rivers it symbolized.

As I waited in my throne room, the first arrivals made their presence known. Phlegethon, a man seemingly made of liquid fire, stood before me, emanating a searing heat that filled the air with smoke. Despite his striking appearance, his expression remained utterly devoid of any emotion.

In the wake of his arrival trailed Cocytus, whose figure was composed entirely of the inky blue waters of his realm. As he moved, the stench of smoke was supplanted by the noxious scent of sulfur emanating from the murky depths that seemed to follow him.

A few moments later, Lethe made her appearance. She was composed of the pure milky-white water she governed, and her mere presence seemed to cause a sharp pain in my mind as I gazed upon her.

In her wake came Acheron, a formidable figure whose essence was comprised of the crimson hues that ran deep within his river. His presence exuded a palpable sense of ill will and hostility.

As I gazed upon the last of the siblings, Styx, I couldn't help but feel awe-struck by her ethereal beauty. Her flowing locks, which were as black as the darkest Night, cascaded around her features that could easily rival any goddess. Her face was shrouded by the tranquil waters of her domain, which only added to her mystique. And when she looked at me with obsidian eyes, I felt as if she could see into the depths of my soul.

The convergence of all five rivers of the Underworld in my throne room had catastrophic consequences. The immense power of the five river deities caused the delicate fabrics to burst into flames. My throne room's once serene and grandiose atmosphere was now a scene of chaos and destruction.

As luck would have it, I held the title of the ruler of the Underworld, which granted me access to an immense pool of power. Drawing upon the full extent of my realm's grand might, I brought order to the chaotic throne room. My aura, strengthened by the unyielding force of my authority, overpowered their auras.

"My end of the agreement has been fulfilled. Your rivers can now freely pass through the Underworld, enabling you to wander beyond your boundaries as never before." Upon hearing this, the rivers nodded in apparent agreement. However, Styx opened her mouth to speak up. "Regarding your positions in my court, you will always have a place by my hearth, and you will be under the protection of the Underworld as long as you remain loyal to me."

After delivering my response, I paused momentarily to give them time to process my words. When the silence lingered long enough, I said, "As a gesture of your commitment to me, it is now time for you to declare your oaths publicly." The rivers bowed profoundly and swore their allegiance to me, vowing to serve me for eternity.

After pledging their loyalty, the rivers, except for Styx, quickly departed. With a confident and almost seductive tone, Styx spoke up, "Now that we've taken care of that, can we finally move on to the real matter at hand?"

Unlike the other rivers, Styx was far more sentient and powerful, so I had to add more incentive when making a deal with her. What does one offer the keeper of Oaths?...

It was none other than Styx's Titan husband. Although Styx joined us, Gods, after betraying him, she did so to protect her children from punishment and to rise further up in the world. However, this did not mean that she loved Pallas any less. Like most immortals, she desired power, but her love for her husband remained unchanged.

It wasn't difficult to hide the soul of Pallas from my brothers; despite being the Titan of Warcraft, he was neither well renowned nor a significant threat, so I had every bit of confidence in allowing him to roam my realm with his wife, especially as doing so would keep both Styx and Pallas in my debt.

"I am not the kind of person who breaks my promises so easily, Styx," I said with a dramatic gesture. However, I didn't want to keep Styx away from her husband any longer. So, I quickly removed an unremarkable amulet from around my neck, and the Titan Pallas fell to the ground in a bright flash of light in my throne room.

Pallas, the Titan of War, was a sight to behold. His towering figure was made up of bulging muscles that rippled as he moved. He had a long, flowing beard and hair that resembled the color of fresh blood. He was adorned in spartan armor that was both sturdy and intimidating, and he carried a spear of pure gold that gleamed in the sunlight. If you were to conjure up an image of a Titan of War in your mind, Pallas would be exactly as you imagined him.

After being defeated in our previous fight, I assumed Pallas would be hesitant to approach me again. However, he surprised me by quickly regaining his footing and displaying impressive agility. With his spear in hand, he charged towards me without any sign of fear or hesitation in his eyes. It was evident that his looks weren't just for show, as he was determined to put up a good fight this time.

As he charged forward with all the ferocity of a Titan, his path was abruptly halted by the unyielding waters of Styx. Despite his immense strength and power, Pallas found himself restrained and unable to move. However, as his eyes met those of his beloved wife, a sudden calm washed over him, and all his struggles ceased. He stood there, still and silent, as if nothing else mattered except the two of them.

The colossal hand of the Titan of War stretched out, its rough and weathered skin coming into contact with the divine flesh of the river Styx. As the two entities touched, a look of pure and unadulterated love filled the eyes of the couple, capturing a moment of intense emotion and connection.

Without warning, the two lovers locked lips and started an intense battle. As I stood there watching, it quickly became evident that Styx was dominating the exchange. Just as I was beginning to feel uncomfortable, the lip lock came to an abrupt end, leaving me feeling relieved yet somewhat disappointed.

As the watery shackles that held the mighty Titan vanished into thin air, I braced myself for combat. However, much to my surprise, the Titan's demeanor changed in an instant. Instead of launching himself at me, he dropped to his knees in a submissive posture, leaving me utterly bewildered and wondering what could have caused such a dramatic shift in his behavior.

Pallas spoke with an unwavering loyalty befitting a true warrior, his voice filled with reverence as he addressed me. "Your benevolence has touched my heart, and I shall forever be in your debt. I offer you not just my body and mind but my soul to serve you with unwavering devotion until the end of my days. Even in the face of death and dishonor, I shall remain steadfast in my loyalty to you. This I swear upon the river Styx."

The rumbling sound of thunder reverberated all around the vast expanse of Gaea. Amidst the deafening noise, the goddess Styx radiated an intense glow as a clear sign of her recognition and confirmation of the solemn oath taken.

Despite not being the most dominant force in the universe, Pallas, a Titan renowned for his skills in war, commanded a formidable strength. But his unflinching loyalty impressed me the most and made me accept his pledge. With utmost reverence, I spoke, "Rise, Pallas, Titan of Warcraft, and pledge your allegiance to the God Hades. You shall be the personification of my fury, and the war that rages in the Underworld shall be unleashed upon the earth through you."

As I looked at my new follower, I had to hold back a smile when I saw the disapproving look in Styx's eyes as she gazed at her husband, who was kneeling in front of me. I felt that Pallas would be in the dog house for the next few days...