A goddess?
“Good, you haven’t lost your ability to tell me what you are thinking,” he hummed.
I pulled the sheets of the bed lower to see the rest of my body, to check for differences.
Thanatos continued, "However, your soul doesn't mirror itself anymore. Your soul is radiating on the outside of your body now. You bare your soul for all.”
I touched my neck with my fingers then ran it between my breasts. A symbol laid imbedded in my skin.
“Ah, and this is your brand. Each mated pair has one. This is a poppy, my brother’s is a poppy as well.” Thanatos traced the poppy on my chest. “I’m guessing it is because we are twins. My poppy is slightly wilted, while his is more vibrant.
I reached out and pulled down the sheet covering his chest, too eager to see what his symbol holds that represented me. And on his chest were two clouds parted, hiding a moon, burned into his skin with gold.
“What goddess am I then?” I whispered, tracing the lines of his skin.
He groaned and grabbed my wrists. “Careful, treasure, not unless you are ready for round fifteen?”
Gods, we did not do it fifteen times.
I squeezed my thighs together, and he pulls me closer and leaves a lingering kiss on my forehead.
“I’ve believed, for a time now, that you are the light of the darkness. Not just metaphorically, but physically and also spiritually.”
I blinked up at him, bury my nose into his neck.
“My treasure, you brought the best in me forward. You have shown me love. You have brought light in Hypnos, made him laugh and find himself again. You have also given Hera truth, even when she was not looking for it. Hera was blinded but with your urge to no longer be the wallflower—” Thanatos eyed me, “you helped unveil the darkest of secrets from Medusa. It will result in a new friendship and understanding between Zeus and Hera. Most of all, Zeus might get the closure he needs.”
I frowned and held onto Thanatos tighter.
“And then, instead of judging Hera for ignoring the signs of Zeus being drugged, and ignoring his pleas, you comforted her. You gave her compassion. You are the light, the bringer of truth and dark secrets. It’s been there all along. Even when you were human, you never did like to keep your thoughts to yourself,” he chuckled.
I pursed my lips together. “I kept some things.”
Thanatos hummed into my hair. “Yes, I know you did. That is neither here nor there. I know those things now. Now that we are one, we share the same memories. If you dug deep enough, you could pull all of my memories and I can pull from yours, my treasure. Unless you tell me, I will not do so, but I know how you were captured.
That was what I wanted kept hidden the most. It was my darkest secret. I never received an invitation on Christmas day to spend time with either family almost four years ago. It was heart breaking, I remember looking at my phone and I promised myself I wouldn’t call to ask if it was a mistake.
Instead, I took four different buses to get to my mother’s home. I always felt closer to her, even if she never thought muchof me. It was a wintry mix of snow, ice, and rain. I bundled myself up the best I could, a few presents in a large bag I had with me.
I should have called, I should have warned them. Instead, I walked up the icy steps and knocked on the door on Christmas night, wanting to just be a part of the Christmas day tradition and partake in the evening meal.
My stepbrother and sister opened the door, shock written on their faces. They called for my mom and when she answered, she frowned.
It was then I knew I wasn’t welcome anymore. They really didn’t forget; they just didn’t want me. I left the bag of presents on the doorstep without exchanging any words, and then I turned and walked away.
Once I heard the door shut, I snuck to the window and watched them open the presents I’d given them. They didn’t mind keeping what was there for them, but my presence was too much of a reminder for my mom. The mistake she made from so long ago.
I cried outside that window, thinking what a waste of space I was. I remember asking the universe why I was even born, why did I have to suffer when no one wanted me. How pathetic I must have looked on that street in the cold, looking in at a family that was happy and warm.
Tears filled my eyes, and one escaped, rolling down my cheek.
“Shh now,” Thanatos cooed. “Never again will you deal with that dreadful family. She was but a vessel to bring your body into this world. You were always meant to be mine, the gods are your family. Your life givers will pay for leaving you in the cold.”
I shook my head. “You can’t kill off everyone that makes me upset. That isn’t right. People are allowed to make choices.” I brushed away my tears.
“Anyone who hurts my mate deserves to rot in the bowels of the beast, and they will pay when the Fates cut their threads, mark my words, Juniper.”
I giggled. “But not before then. We can’t get you in trouble.”
