Chapter 13

The night was still, and as I entered the darkened corridors of my palace, a sense of relief washed over me. The Christmas Eve was over, the sleigh had been delivered, and Christmas magic had been restored. But as I stood at the gates of my home, an unfamiliar tension gripped me. The air felt different—warmer, more alive, as though it had been touched by something beyond even my understanding. The Christmas spirit lingered in the hallways, and yet, there was something more I couldn't quite place.

I walked slowly through the familiar, sprawling halls, my mind whirling with the events of the night. I had done it—I'd delivered the presents, kept Christmas alive, but now there was something else weighing on me. Soon, my family would awaken. The morning would come, and I hadn't had the time to pick out a single gift for them. How could I have forgotten? I knew they would all expect something—Poseidon, Aeolus, Hera, Hestia, Demeter, Hermes, Ares, Hephaestus, Athena and Aphrodite... my entire family. They had all stayed over for Christmas.

I cursed under my breath, glancing around the grand hall with its towering stone columns and massive fireplaces. There was no time to find something worthy for each of them. There was no way I could possibly pull it off in time.

A loud clearing of the throat broke my chain of thoughts.

I froze, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Was it someone from the Underworld, here to remind me of my duties? No—when I turned, my breath caught in my throat.

Standing in the doorway were none other than Santa, Anne, Morros, and Dionysus. Behind them was a sleigh piled high with neatly wrapped gifts.

"Surprise!" Santa boomed, his voice booming with good cheer. "We thought we'd stop by before you woke up your family."

I blinked, still processing what was happening. "Santa... what are you doing here?" I asked, glancing between him and the others.

Santa grinned, his eyes twinkling as always. "I couldn't leave without personally thanking you for all you've done. You saved Christmas, Hades. Now, I'm here to make sure your family has a merry one too." He motioned behind him. "These are for you and your family. We thought you might need a little help with the gift-giving part."

I stood there, speechless. There they were—Anne, Morros, and Dionysus, standing beside the sleigh, all with smiles on their faces, looking like they had just come from some grand adventure. It was then that I realized they were staying behind at the North Pole to help Santa—such an act of kindness and thoughtfulness. And yet, here they were, helping me.

"How did you—?" I started, but Santa cut me off, his tone light and warm.

"We've been preparing this since you left. I knew it would be a busy night for you." His eyes twinkled with that familiar, knowing look, as if he had somehow anticipated everything. "You've given enough already, Hades. Now, it's time to let us return the favor."

I nodded, touched by their kindness. But my mind quickly shifted back to my family. They would be waking soon, expecting something. A small panic stirred in my chest.

Santa, reading my mind, clapped his hands together. "Why don't you gather them? We'll take care of the rest. It's Christmas morning, after all."

With a grateful smile, I nodded, stepping toward the grand staircase. "I'll wake them. You just... make sure they're ready."

I ascended the staircase, my footsteps echoing through the quiet halls as I approached the chambers where my family lay. The house was silent—no sign of life, save for the crackling of the hearth in the distance. My hand hovered over the door to Poseidon's chambers.

With a deep breath, I pushed it open.

"Poseidon," I said gently, "wake up. It's Christmas."

A soft groan came from the bed before Poseidon's voice rumbled, "It's too early, Hades. What time is it?"

"It's Christmas time, brother. Get up," I said, smiling despite myself.

Poseidon yawned, stretching his mighty arms. "Christmas, huh? Well, I suppose I'll give it a go." He sat up, rubbing his eyes.

Next, I moved to Aeolus' chambers. The wind god was always a light sleeper, so it didn't take much to stir him from his slumber.

"Aeolus," I called softly.

His eyes snapped open immediately, the air around him gently shifting. "Hades? Is it time?" His voice was full of excitement, already sensing what was happening.

"Yes. It's time for Christmas," I said, grinning. "Come downstairs. There's a surprise waiting."

Hera was next. As I opened the door, I found her already awake, sitting up in bed, looking over at me with a knowing smile.

"Hades," she said with a soft chuckle, "You didn't really think I'd miss Christmas, did you?"

"Guess not," I said, my lips curling into a smile. "Come join us."

One by one, I woke everyone up: Hestia, Demeter, Hermes, Ares, Hephaestus. They all gathered in the hallway, stretching and yawning, still caught between dreams and the waking world. Their faces lit up when I mentioned a surprise, and the moment I finished waking the last of them, I turned toward the grand hall.

"There's a surprise waiting for you," I said. "Follow me."

We descended the stairs together, the soft sounds of our footsteps reverberating off the marble floors, until we entered the great hall. And there, beneath the grandest tree I had ever seen, were piles and piles of gifts. The tree itself was adorned with sparkling lights and shimmering garlands that twinkled as if they, too, shared in the joy of the season.

The sight of it made everyone gasp. Ares was the first to step forward, his eyes wide with excitement. "Is this... for us?" he shouted, his voice far too loud for the quiet morning.

I chuckled, enjoying his enthusiasm. "Yes, Ares. For all of you. Merry Christmas."

Everyone surged forward to grab their gifts, their voices filled with joy. The air was thick with the excitement of Christmas morning as the gods and goddesses eagerly tore into their presents, their laughter echoing through the great hall. It was a scene of pure chaos and happiness, and for once, I couldn't help but join in their enthusiasm.

Even Poseidon, normally so composed and stoic, had a gleam in his eyes as he opened a beautifully wrapped box, revealing a golden trident-shaped bottle opener—a gift from Hestia, no doubt. He grinned, shaking his head. "Well, I suppose I'll put this to good use," he said with a chuckle, holding it up for all to see.

Next, Athena, sitting beside Hermes, opened her gift—a set of intricately designed scrolls, each inscribed with the secrets of lost knowledge. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she admired the contents. "These will help in my studies," she murmured, her voice filled with gratitude. She turned to the giver, Aeolus, and gave him a rare smile. "Thank you, Aeolus."

Aphrodite, meanwhile, had not even bothered to remove her gift from the wrapping paper. She was too busy admiring the sparkling jewels inside her new necklace—a gift from Hermes, who had a knack for such things. She sighed, eyes gleaming with admiration. "How did you know I'd love it?" she asked, leaning toward him with a playful smirk. Hermes just shrugged, clearly pleased with himself.

Zagreus, who had been sitting with his arms crossed, watching the festivities with a cool detachment, was finally swept up in the excitement when he opened his gift from Hecate—a dark, enchanted cloak that shimmered with an ethereal glow. "It's perfect," he said, his voice a mix of surprise and admiration. "You really know how to pick them, Mother."

Melinoe, his sister, was just as quick to join the excitement, her laughter ringing out as she tore open a small, delicate box containing a silver pendant with an image of a raven, its wings spread wide. "It's beautiful," she said, holding it up to the light. "Thank you, Hestia."

Artemis and Apolla, who had been sitting together, were both overjoyed by their gifts. Artemis received a set of arrows made from the finest materials, each one engraved with ancient symbols, while Apolla was given a golden bow—an heirloom from the royal family. "Perfect," Artemis said, giving her twin brother a sly smile as she admired the arrows. "You know I'm always in need of better equipment."

Apolla, on the other hand, didn't hide his excitement. "I can't wait to try it out!" he exclaimed, holding the bow with an almost childlike joy.

I watched them all, content to let their happiness wash over me. They were all so different, yet in that moment, they were all united by the spirit of Christmas. They had forgotten about their positions, their duties, and their ancient powers. In this moment, they were just family—laughing, sharing, and enjoying each other's company.

As the room continued to buzz with excitement, I turned to Hecate, who stood quietly beside me, her eyes soft with affection as she watched the scene unfold. Her hand found mine, and I squeezed it gently.

"I think this is the best Christmas I've ever had," I said quietly, my voice almost lost among the laughter.

Hecate smiled, a warmth in her eyes that I had never seen before. "It's not over yet," she replied softly, her lips curving into a smile.

Before I could ask what she meant, there was a loud HO HO HO, and the fire in the hearth flickered and went out and I coudn't help but smile as I knew that things were going to get really good.