Samhain sat on the floor of the living room, staring blankly at a board game as they sat across from someone else that was looking at the board. Eventually they finally moved a piece and handed the game over to the other player. Kids ran through the living room making noise and playing tag inside before an adult aimed them outside before apologizing to Sam. “It's really no big deal Miss Henderson, I'm used to living in a home with a lot of kids. Before coming here I lived with my mom and her sisters who each had several kids.”

  Miss Henderson sighed. “You're an adult Sam, you can call me Aida. Are you sure you don't have somewhere else to stay? This is a halfway home mostly intended as a shelter for abused women and their kids.” Sam shook their head. “None of my family understands my choice, my own mother wanted to fix me, and I can't afford my own place right now. I'm just glad that since I'm over eighteen she can't force me into one of those correction camps.” Aida nodded. “You wouldn't be the first to come here for those reasons.” The grey haired aged woman sighed and smiled. “In fact I came here at sixteen myself because I'm a lesbian and that wasn't exactly as well received back in my day.”

  Samhain chuckled. “When was that, back during the second world war?” Aida chuckled. “Vietnam war, actually. I'm not that old.” Samhain looked back at the board game and moved a piece again. “Don't worry, I'll be out of here as soon as I make other arrangements.” Aida waved dismissively. “Oh hunny, you stay as long as you need to. I'm not going to put anyone on the street.” Samhain moved another piece on the board as it came to his turn again. “Yeah, but your bosses might. I've heard the rumors.” Aida sighed. “Well, thankfully, them visiting is rare.”

  Samhain made one last move. “And that's game. Well played.” He shook the hand of his opponent. “Well I'm going to go for a walk now. I'll be back when it starts getting dark so I can get dinner.” They got up and walked, Aida and them waving at each other as they left. Samhain put their hood up, hands in their pocket, and kept their head down as they walked. Normally you'd see rain and maybe even snow or it would at least be cloudy and/or windy this time of year. However, even though it was a surprisingly sunny and clear day for it being mid April, especially by Wisconsin standards, Samhain felt like they were walking in a shadow. The shadow of New Haden, a city named for the holy city of the god they were partnered with.

  “This place is depressing. I'd be offended if I thought it was intentional.” Samhain shrugged. “Well it gets me away from my parents who continually insist I need to be fixed. New Haden may not be the most aesthetically pleasing place but it's got its benefits. Though… I do feel like there's a shadow looming over me for some reason.” Hades manifests at Samhain’s side. He's a tall, lanky, pale skinned man with dark circles and bags under his eyes with a tired expression. His black hair and dark eyes match the fancy looking back suit he's wearing that looks too big for him. On his head sat a black crown with spikes going up. It looked to be either a black metal or obsidian.

  “Look Sam, I know you don't exactly like being my chosen but you're probably the best fit I've had so far. Besides, I like being able to default to my normal gender because you don't have one. Spiritually speaking that is. Since the gender of the personification always matches the soul at the time of joining and your soul is neutral I get to be myself. Being the opposite gender always feels a bit off no matter how many times it happens. It takes getting used to every time.” Samhain nodded and continued walking. “That reminds me, you never told me what happened to your last host.”

  There was a long silence with Hades hovering back and forth before responding. “She… died.” Samhain wasn't surprised since there are natural risks to the life of an Armatus holder. “Was she killed by another Holder?” There was another awkward pause. “No.” He paused again leading to Samhain giving him a look with a raised eyebrow. Hades knew this meant Samhain wanted him to elaborate. “You remember the nine eleven terrorist attack? Well my previous host was there. She died alongside all the mundies. I spent a bit longer between hosts than normal. I considered letting myself fade away after losing her. She reminded me so much of my beloved.”

  Samhain was a bit shocked to find out that an Armatus holder was among the victims during that attack but decided not to press further about it. “You mean Persephone right? It must have been hard leaving your wife behind.” Hades’ hair starts having dark smoke come off it. “I didn't leave her behind. Hephaestus told me she was getting an Armatus. She was supposed to be here in the mortal world in the form of a weapon same as myself, Zeus, and Hera. Poseidon’s wife didn't have the power to survive the process but my Persephone did. Hephaestus gave me his word, but in the two hundred plus years since coming here I haven't found her and none of the other Armatus have seen her or lied about not seeing her.”

  Samhain thought for a moment. “Is it possible she ascended?” Hades' hair smoke stopped. “I… don't know. Maybe? I've yet to hear of anyone succeeding but honestly I don't know we would know if someone did.” Samhain hummed. “Well I guess there isn't much we can do that you haven't already tried. I suppose meeting her again is up to the fates. I wonder if there's a world beyond for gods. Mortals had an afterlife back in the days of magic. I wonder if those still operate without you and other afterlife gods.” Hades shrugged. “The fear of oblivion was what got us here to begin with.”

  Samhain sighed. “Right, 8 know you wouldn't know about what happens when you fade but I was hoping you know what happens when humans don't reincarnate now that you're not running the underworld. Like… what happened before you ran the underworld?” Hades blinked. “There weren't really humans till after I got my kingdom. It wasn't even an afterlife originally, it was a prison. There was an area outside that I was using for those not getting punished and Persephone expanded on that and helped me create Elysium to reward the good. It was a lot of work so eventually we assigned judges to ease up on how much I had to do.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Samhain tilted their head. “So the spirits of humans were just showing up in the fields of Asphodel?” Hades shrugged. “I'm not sure why, the place was empty when I got there. I think Zues arranged for souls to go there for me to give me something to do.” Samhain nodded. “So something else happened to the soul before that and you have no idea what.” Hades nodded again. “It has to go somewhere though. I mean souls operate under the same rules as all energy. So I'm guessing if you didn't reincarnate your soul got disassembled for reuse in the well of souls. You stop existing. Worst part is under normal circumstances you only reincarnate so many times. Three to five times you get to live before you're forced to move on unless someone messes with things.”

  Samhain thought in silence for a while, letting everything they were told sink in. Samhain stopped walking for a moment to look around. They didn't really have a destination in mind, they were just walking to kill time. “It's too bad I didn't get the full pay for that job MacGonagall gave me, but I don't blame him for not doing so. I did run from the fight after all. I'm not even sure why I agree to it to begin with. I don't like fighting.” Hades sighed. “I mean you'd be surprised what things people don't normally do that'll then do for money. Out of desperation mostly, sometimes it's about greed.”

  Samhain sighed and returned to walking. Eventually they turned a blind corner only to hit something solid and get knocked on their feet with a thud. “Oof” Samhain looked up to see a tall and broad shouldered man of dark skin in a leather jacket and army pants standing over them. “My bad, I didn't see you there.” They quickly apologized before feeling a familiar sensation. Kyle looked down on the smaller individual, almost with disdain. “You better be sorry small fry, you could have scuffed my fine leather. … Wait.” He moved his face closer to the person on the floor. “You're an Armatus holder, aren't you?”

  Samhain felt extremely nervous and looked around the area. There were a few people walking around but not many. They slid away a bit before getting up and dusting themselves off. “Yeah, I am. In fact I've got one of the stronger ones so don't let my size lead you to thinking I'm weak.” Kyle smiled. “There are so many of us in the three city area. I know we tend to gravitate to one another but still. … Listen, I'm getting myself ready for a big fight I feel is coming. This area is a keg looking to blow. How about you join me and be on the winning team? There's a war coming, and I intend to win it. So what do you say boy, partners?” Kyle reached out a hand.

  Hades looked at Samhain who was frowning slightly at being called a boy. Both because they were an adult and because they didn't even identify as male. “Sam, don't take his offer. I'm fairly sure this guy is paired with Ares. He's bad news. Him and his arm candy are nothing but trouble makers. I suggest avoiding Ares and Aphrodite as much as possible.” Samhain tilted his head. “I uhh… don't much like fighting. I will if I have to, but I'd rather stay neutral and keep to myself.” Kyle scowls and deepens his already deep and gravelly voice further. “Sounds like something Hades would say. Why don't you come out and show yourself, coward.”

  Samhain takes a few steps back and puts up their hands. “Look man, I don't want any trouble.” Kyle growled. “Well that's too bad, because if you're not with me, you're against me.” He then thrust out his hand as if punching the air. “All's fair in love and war. Sword of the war god, Ares!” Flames come from his hand and form a sword with some serrations near the guard that had the appearance of a ram head with horns. He gripped the sword hard and swung it at Samhain causing an arc of flames to come off the sword and go forward towards Samhain. “Bident of the Undergod, Hades!”

  As soon as the weapon was out, Samhain used earth and shadow energy at their feet to blast themselves to the side and avoid the attack. “Picked up that little trick from watching Poseidon's holder.” “(Shit, said that out loud.)” Kyle smiled as he got into a running position. “I already knew that two of the big three of Greek myth are already here. From what I heard the third was on his way shortly after I got here and should be here soon if not already. This was definitely a great place to come.”

  Samhain turned around and boosted into a run using their powers, not sure where they were going but moving on instinct. Kyle gave chase letting flames burst from his feet. People looked at the two and watched them pass but neither Holder cared as they knew the memory would be filtered. Kyle continued making attacks from a distance while chasing Samhain who only used their powers to run, dodge, and counter attacks. “Where are we going?” Hades asked, seeing that they weren't heading back home, especially with an enemy on their tail. “I'm not sure, I'm moving instinctually, something is telling me this is the right way to go. A gut feeling.”

  His running took him through the park where Kyle caught up enough to make an attempt at a melee attack, forcing Samhain to turn around and block with the shaft of their two bladed scythe. Still hit by flames licking off the blade they let out a grunt. “Just leaving me alone you psycho! Pyromaniac! You're going to hurt someone!” Kyle laughed. “Yeah, you. That's kinda the whole point little boy.” Samhain growled. “I'm twenty years old, you oversized meat statue, and I'm non-binary!” Kyle scoffed before taking an exaggeratedly sarcastic tone while pushing his sword against the scythe shaft. “Well excuse me princess~”

  Samhain grumbled before Kyle pulled back before gripping the sword with both hands and tightening his grip till his knuckles turned white before slashing down hard. “Dragon’s Flare!” The slash created a massive and extremely hot slash of fire that went at Samhain who lifted the ground under him to block the attack. “Are you @$#&ing insane?!?!” Kyle chuckled. “What's a war without a little collateral damage?” A bystander pointed at Kyle. “That man’s using explosives! It's a terrorist attack, someone call the army!” Kyle cursed under his breath. Samhain used the opening to bolt once again and attempt to escape.

  Kyle gave chase again seeing as staying was definitely a bad idea but Samhain had quite the lead. Kyle struggled to catch up this time as Samhain took multiple turns and cut through multiple thin alleyways. Eventually they spotted town hall and made a beeline for it. Kyle charged after Samhain but suddenly felt like he hit a solid force at the property line. “What in the hell?” He put his hand to the property line only for it to stop as if there was an invisible wall there. “How did you do that, you little worm?!”

  Samhain didn't question it but took the time to catch his breath. “I didn't do anything you psycho. I just ran here, I have no idea why you can't cross the property line.” Ares manifested at Kyle's side and put his own hand to the property line and was similarly unable to cross. “I sense old magic at work here. I'm not sure how or why but it feels like sacred ground. I can't step foot on the soil of a temple to another god. There was an agreement made after Poseidon… uhh… had intimate relations in a temple of Athena. Because you carry my power that restriction carries over.”

  Sirens start going off in the distance. “That must be the cops coming to get the terrorist.” Samhain remarked with a smile. Ares grumbled. “We should lay low for a bit, I suggest we make a tactical retreat.” Kyle kicked a rock at Samhain who smacked it down with the scythe before putting it away as Kyle ran off. Samhain waited for a bit before finally thinking about leaving the area. “Why couldn't he cross the property line?” Hades looked around. “Somehow this build counts as a temple to me, and gods can't enter the temple grounds of another god without permission.”

  Samhain nodded. “Good to know.” They then noticed a dark cloud in the distance in the clear sky. “That doesn't look good. Maybe we should check it out.” Hades rolled his eyes. “I thought you preferred to avoid conflicts?” Samhain shifted back and forth. “I don't know, it's just a feeling that I should go there, just like how a feeling took me here.”