Nyctophilia

Nyctophilia

In the shadows of the lower world known as Erebos lived two brothers of great importance, the gods of death and sleep: Thanatos and Hypnos. In the sleepy twilight world in which they lived, the gentle guardians of dreams and death watched the world of man from below. Thanatos and Hypnos were twins, born to Nyx, goddess of the night; though twins, they did not look very much alike. Hypnos was youthful with dark curls, while Thanatos looked to be an older man with ashy blond hair. Though they did share two traits, pale skin that bordered on a rather morose shade of grey and hazy violet eyes that could punctuate the veil of fog and dusk in the lower lands. Very few times did they leave their home, their grasps reached far past their world and could travel through many others. Most times were spent lying on satin black couches under the shadows of half-concealing dusk, either sleeping or reading to one another the poems of mortal men. When they did leave however, they flew off on ivory wings; attached to Thanatos’ shoulders and back, and crowning Hypnos’ head. They were content with their half-lucid existence, fated to dwell in Erebos until men no longer dreamed or withered in age. It wasn’t until one day, when death realized lives was worth so much more than their ends, and fell in love with a girl he could never touch. . .

Athanasia held very few things dear to her: the mountains and valleys outside her home, her humility, and her mind. She had always been considered a rather peculiar child, even with her quiet, kind nature, for she did not value those things that most noble girls should value, such as wealth, title, and beauty. Even though she was born with all three, her interest lied in simple plea...

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...dreams.”

Hades considered this as Thatanos stood and stared at Hypnos, a blank expression on his face.

Hades spoke up, “I will allow for this.” He stood up, walking in the direction of a side hall before pausing briefly to turn to Thatanos. “I understand what it is like to love someone you cannot hope to touch.”

~*~

Later in the day, Thatanos and Hypnos flew to Eprius and into Athanasia’s chambers where her body was being readied for burial. Hypnos supplied the water of the river Lethe and poured it over her body, slowly reviving it back to life until she looked to be merely asleep. Thatanos then carried her back to Erebos where he laid himself next to her on an ebony chaise and drifted off into her dreams where they met in the dusky twilight of a fertile valley, where they would spend their nights and days together exploring a realm of infinite possibilities.