Til death do us part.

 

A simple five word phrase that symbolized the ending of a couple’s vows and the beginning of their new life together.

 

However, mentioning the path that would lead to me in a temple meant I would hear it like a siren’s call anytime two people intertwined their lives into one.

 

Til death.

Til death.

Til death.

 

Until Hades gets their claws on us.

Until we exchange our rings for chains.

Until our end on this mortal realm.

 

Til death.

Til death.

Til death.

 

Until I got an idea.

 

You see, ruling the underworld means every soul that lingers here is under my dominion but the problem is the souls down here are rarely in good shape. Sure, there’s the classic heroes in the elysium fields, the unique reminder of life amongst the dead but the majority came the standard ways, age or disease.

 

Therefore, I didn’t have much power despite the numbers in my control. All their energy, all their power had been used in life. I had an army that would be destroyed by a good gust of wind. Any uprising done by me would be thwarted easily.

 

But til death screamed where I could get the power I needed. That marriage contract is to Hera what a death certificate is to Hades. Many get married in the prime of their lives, the strong fools get married younger before life has even truly begun.

 

I knew if I could get married to Zeus and earn the Hera title, I would not only have dominion over those who passed away but have power over most of the living. The only ones I’d have no power over are children and the single ones who haven’t found love or who lost it.

 

Either way, my army of the dead would be replaced by those who have the most to live for and the most to lose.

 

People have always been confused why Zeus and I stay together despite everything. I have to stay with him to keep my power. He knows not to start any divorce proceedings or I’ll destroy Arcadia and him with it before either of us sign anything.

 

You might be the first to figure it out outside of us Tombstone. That’s why you brought me back here, back to the underworld I fought to escape out of. You took my power and my army up there and brought me back to just Hades.

 

Yet, just Hades is everything here. You took away Hera and replaced her with the god who has every ability to destroy you. You’re risking your demise for one foolish attempt to finish my life. The problem with that is you’re not the only immortal down here. You destroy my mortal coil and I go back on my throne. If I destroy you, you’ll stay here for eternity not as the reaper but the failure of a man Tombstone replaced.

 

I gave you your power, I’ll gladly rip it away as you have mine.

 

Hold on to it as long as you can.

 

Til death.