Chapter 1

 I finally wake from my eight month sleep. I open my eyes, and take a deep breath. The sweet smell of mint fills my nostrils. I hear the dull crackle of burning wood, keeping the place of my slumber warm. I sit up, stretching my limbs. 

      “It’s about time Azalea. I’m exhausted.” A deep voice comments from next to the fireplace.  

      “Kari. Did winter fair well for you?” I ask. He nods. “What day is it?” 

      “March 15th.” He answers shortly. I glance over to see Juniper snoozing in one corner, her bright red hair matching the color of flames. Jasper lays next to her, snoring. Kari walks slowly to where I had been sleeping, and pulls the covers over his weary body. “Good luck my friend.” He smiles, before closing his eyes, and falling into a deep sleep. And there I was. Alone. Alone for another four months before I would sleep again. Alone with no one to talk to, no one to keep me company. This was my life. The life of an Overseer. 

      A gust of wind blows the door of my shared abode open. A young woman in a long, flowing gown walks through the doorway. She was beautiful, her lucious chesnut hair was pulled back in a single bubble braid that rested on her left shoulder. Her blue eyes sparkled, they were inhuman. That was just it. She wasn’t human. 

      “Persephone.” I grumble, trying to smooth the wrinkles in my dress. 

      “Azalea.” She greets begrudgingly. 

      “Where are the others?” I question, placing a crown of daises on my head to combat her rose one. 

      “They should be here soon.” She replies shortly, observing my humble home. “This place gets dustier every millennium.” She comments, wiping the dust off of a chair.

      “Well I’ll make sure to dust it when I get some freetime.” I snap, rolling my eyes. A young, red-haired woman in a stark-white nightgown walks through the door. Her hair was done in two braids, one resting on each shoulder, with a simple lavender crown adorning her head. Her dress was simple, not flowy like Persephones. 

      “Idunn. Welcome.” I say with a smile. She returns the smile saying,

      “It’s good to be back.” She was always my favorite of the three spring goddesses. She treated me as an equal. Another young women walks through the door, equally as beautiful as Persephone. Of course. Her Roman counterpart Proserpina. Instead of light chesnut locks like her Greek sister, she had dark and curly chocolate hair. She seemed happy, her cheeks rosy and smile brighter than I’d seen it in a hundred years. She wore a simple mauve gown, and a crown of baby’s breath flowers. 

      “Sister.” Persephone welcomes. 

      “Persephone. Idunn. Azalea. Good to see you all.” She smiles. 

      “Let’s get to business then shall we?” Persephone suggests.

      “Eager aren’t we? Did all those months in that death hole bore you?” I tease. 

      “At least I don’t sleep for eight months out of the year.” She retorts. 

      “I’m bound by the law and you know that,” I argue. Proserpina clears her throat loudly.

       “Sorry. So what brings you all here?” I ask. 

       “Hiems, Chione, and their greek counterparts, along with Skadi are starting an uprising. Apparently when the groundhog showed up this year it declared six more weeks of winter.” Proserpina informs us. Idunn giggles. 

      “That’s ridiculous. We’re going to bring spring on time as usual.” I tell them. 

     “How though? The winter gods are much more powerful than we are.” Proserpina reminds us. 

      “And there’s more of them too.” Idunn adds. 

      “We could always enlist the help of the other gods to make them back down.” I suggest. Or if Kari were awake he could help us negotiate. I think to myself.

      “They could care less about the change of the seasons Azalea. If it doesn’t effect them, it doesn’t matter.” Persephone divulges. 

      “By other gods I meant your husbands.” I tell her. 

      “Pluto would gladly assist us.” 

      “You sure about that Proserpina? Last I checked Pluto was pretty cold-blooded.” Idunn says. Proserpina nods knowingly. “Bragi would love to help, but he’s only a poetry god.” 

      “What about Hades?” I ask. 

     “Hades wouldn’t lift a bony finger to our cause.” Persephone states, crossing her arms. 

     “You mean that you won’t enlist his help.” I correct.

     “I don’t wish to bother him with such things.” She replies.

      “How would you like me to tell him that you still have Tithonos as a consort?” I assert. She turns scarlet. 

       “How dare you!” She scowls. A feeling of triumph wells up in my chest, and a smile threatens to tug at my lips. 

      “If you wish to keep that a secret, please enlist the help of your pallid husband.” I threaten with a smile. 

      “Fine,” She grumbles, dematerializing. 

      “Do you think Hades will agree to help us?” Idunn asks. 

      “If he’s anything like Pluto, he won’t.” Proserpina answers. We sit there in silence for what seemed like hours. I walk over to Kari and smile at his pleasant face. He seemed happy to finally be asleep, his lips formed in a small smile. A few of his dark brown curls hang over his eyes. I brush them out of his face gently, and feel a small tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Idunn grinning at me. I feel my cheeks get hot. 

      “Have you told him?” She asks eagerly. I shake my head no. “Why not? You’ve loved him for nearly two millennium now.” 

      “He was tired. He needed to rest.” I explain. 

      “That’s been your excuse since 1920.” She points out, rolling her eyes. 

      “There’s always next year.” I remind her. The candle nearest my bed goes out. I turn around to see all the candles in the room out. Only the fire remained. The fire flickers. Once. Twice. Three times before it extinguishes. It grows increasingly cold, almost as if the life was being drained out of my home. Hades. I think. “Always with the dramatic entrances brother.” I state. He chuckles lowly. 

      “You got me.” All the lights turn back on, revealing a pale man in the doorway. His platinum-blonde hair almost made him look sickly. He towered over the woman beside him, Persephone. “My lovely wife tells me you require my assistance. What this time sister?” He asks, with a theatrical tone to his voice. 

      “You know I wouldn’t ask for your help unless it was absolutely necessary Hades,” I seeth. “But this time it is necessary.” He tilts his head in slight confusion. “You see the winter gods are threatening an uprising if they don’t get to have a longer winter as promised by that god forsaken gopher.” I explain. 

       “Groundhog,” Idunn whispers.

       “Same difference.” I reply, turning my attention back to my brother. His black suit sort of smoked, giving off the illusion that he was an apparition. 

      “And how do you expect me to help?” He questions, walking closer to me. 

      “You have influence in Olympus. You need to convince them to back down,” I tell him. He ponders this for a moment. 

      “How exactly does this benefit me?” He asks, sitting down on a rickety wicker chair. 

      “It doesn’t.” I mutter. 

      “What was that?” He asks with a devilish smirk.       

      “It doesn’t benefit you.” I repeat. He looks at me with a blank expression, studying my every move. I hate that look. It’s like he’s staring into my soul. 

      “Then why should I help you?” He questions, fiddling with a small blue flame between his index finger and his thumb. 

      “You wouldn’t be just helping her, you’d be helping me as well my love,” Persephone persuades with a sickly, sweet smile. 

      “Helping you with what? Staying away from me for another six months?” He asks, snaking his arm around her waist. I feel the ambrosia that Kari fed me during my slumber creep up my throat from disgust. 

      “If you’re going to refuse to help I’ll just go see Poseidon then.” I threaten. He flinches barely, but enough for me to notice. My three brothers, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades have been at each other’s throats for millenia, vying for power. His jaw tightens in anger. 

      “There isn’t any need for that Anixi.” He states, trying to hide the resentment in his voice. I freeze. I ball up my fists, showing my rage. 

      “That’s not my name Hades. It hasn’t been my name for two and a half millenia.” I snap, glaring at him. He smirks in triumph. “So are you going to help us or not?” I ask. 

      “If you do me a favor.” He compromises, still fiddling with his little flame. He’s the immortal god of the dead and still struggles with ADHD. I supress a laugh. 

      “And what would that be?” I ask, crossing my arms. 

      “Finally marry your betrothed.” He says with a smile. My grin drops. There’s no way he would actually make me marry him. 

      “You know I can’t do that.” I refuse, glancing over at Kari. 

      “Ah. You love another.” He realizes. I nod slightly.  “Well then don’t expect me to help you.” He tells me. 

      “You can’t expect me to marry… him.” I huff, trying to hide my my nervousness. I crack my knuckles. 

      “Helios will make a good husband for you.” He reminds me. 

      “The only thing he has going for him is his looks.” I reply. He chuckles. 

      “You can come in now Helios.” My brother announces towards the door. My eyes widen in shock. A blond-haired man walks thorough the door dressed in gold velvet blazer and black pants. He was quite handsome, his eyes swirling with hues of green and blue and his hair styled in a messy middle part. 

      “M’lady,” He bows, giving me a radiant smile. I roll my eyes. I hold out my hand for him to shake and he takes it. But instead of shaking my hand, he brings my hand to his lips and kisses it softly. I rip my hand away and scowl. Hades stifles a laugh and I glare at him. 

      “Helios,” I acknowledge him.  

     “Azalea, I know you’re not particularly thrilled about our betrothal nor have you ever been, but I promise, I will try to the exent of my abilities to be a good husband to you.” He tells me with a smile. His tone sounded genuine and kind. To tell the truth, I had only met with him a few short times in the almost three millenia we’ve been around. I’d never truly gotten to know him, all I remembered of him was his radiant smile and suave demeanor. I return a slight smile before gesturing for him to sit down. He obliges, and sits opposite me. “So, how may I be of service?” He asks warmly. 

      “You’re willing to help?” I ask, confused. He nods.

      “Why wouldn’t I be willing? You are my future wife after all.” He reminds me. 

     “So essentially, the winter gods are threatening an uprising if they don’t get a longer winter.” I inform him. He thinks about this for a moment. 

      “A negotiation?” He guesses. I nod.  “Well your brother and I are stronger than all of them combined. So if they refuse to negotiate, we could use brute force.” He suggests. 

      “Negotiations would be best though.” I tell him. 

      “Of course,” he agrees. 

      “Should we set a negotiation date?” Hades asks.  

      “How about the spring equinox? It seems fitting,” Idunn suggests. 

      “Done,” Helios replies. 

      “Shall we go my flower?” Hades turns to Persephone. She shakes her head no. 

     “I promised mother I’d visit her.” She answers. He nods, walking out without another word.  And he wonders why I don’t want to marry. Persephone mutters a goodbye and leaves. 

      “See you soon Zalea.” Idunn says, motioning for Proserpina to come with her. Proserpina waves to us and they both disappear into the bright sunlight. 

      “Azalea?” Helios asks.

      “Yes?” I question, turning to him. 

      “I know you’ll probably say no, but would you care to spend a few days at my palace at the River Okeanos?” He asks, looking at me hopefully. 

      “I’ll think about it. In the mean time would you like some tea?” I ask, trying to be hospitable. 

      “I’d love some.” He beams, running a hand through his golden hair. “Do you mind if I take off my blazer?” 

     “I don’t mind. It is quite warm in here after all.” I say, turning to the fire to retrieve the tea kettle. He takes off his gold, velvet blazer, showing off a white, long-sleeved dress shirt. He rolls up the sleeves, revealing two thick, black band tattoos on each arm. He seems to notice me staring, but he just smiles to himself and unbuttons the top button of his blazer.     

      “Is green tea alright?” I question. 

      “It’s perfect,” he tells me, starting to study the cottage. I see his eyes flicker over to Kari. He knows. My heart jumps up in my throat.  It’s against the sacred law to kill an Overseer, but it doesn’t stop anyone from harming us. “Are you quite alright? You look rather pale sweetheart,” He comments. He seemed genuinely concerned, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he might try to hurt Kari. 

      “I’m fine,” I reply. “Here’s your tea.” I hand him a cup of the piping hot tea. 

      “It smells divine,” He smiles, gesturing for me to sit with him. I do so and take a sip of my tea. “So, it has been quite awhile since we last had a chat. What’s new with you? Any consorts or suitors I should be worried about?” He jokes. So painfully close to the truth. Kari wasn’t a consort or a suitor, but I loved him. That’s plenty for Helios to be worried about. I laugh a little, trying to hide the truth. 

      “None at all. Last time I had any interest in anyone was two millenia ago.” I lie. Well it’s partially a lie. I first caught interest in Kari two millenia ago. He sighs. 

      “Well that’s a relief.” I laugh. “Azalea, if you don’t mind me saying, I think you’re the most beautiful godess I’ve ever laid eyes on. And that’s saying something. I dated Aphrodite.” He jokes. 

      “Thank you Helios. You’re very kind.” I smile. 

      “So have you made up your mind?” He asks hopefully, finishing off his drink. I nod. “And?” 

      “I will  stay with you.” I reply. He grins like an idiot and does a cute little happy dance in his chair.

     “I can’t wait to show you my palace!” He says excitedly. I can’t help but laugh at his childlike excitement. He gets up and offers me his hand. “Shall we go m’lady?” I smile and take his hand. Helios is too charming for his own good.