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My underground kingdom... Paradoxically, bustling with life and populated like never before, although theoretically, Eros is still in first place in our rivalry that has been going on since the dawn of time. The effort I put into building this powerhouse finally paid off.

Besides, the world made it easier for me to gain new subjects. A weapon that could take more lives than anyone could have imagined. A rush into which people drove themselves, for money, fame or power. It's not that I have anything against ambitious individuals, but the fate that would lead them down this path almost put them in front of me.

Developing technology, thanks to which everyone could express themselves freely, and views were crucial. The media gained power and could judge you before the court did. A random person was expressing his opinion by tapping on the keys, not caring whether he would upset anyone. A hater could, but a weak one was the one who couldn't cope with criticism.

People were more and more willing to accept my invitation, as if they knew from the very beginning what kind of world they would live in. When another child was born, Eros and I gave him an "invitation", and this little man chose under whose rule he wanted to be for the rest of his life. It became problematic for me to constantly remind them that they eventually had to fulfil the promise they made when accepting my offer.

I was tired and irritated by this, more subjects, more responsibilities for the Lord of Death. I sighed heavily and fell onto one of my many thrones, this one was located on the balcony of the palace, from where I had a perfect view of the sprawling estates.

I think it was one of my favourites, it was comfortable, although made of oak wood with simple geometric carvings and some colourful inlays made of precious stones. However, I had quite comfortable pillows and that was enough for me. I preferred simplicity as opposed to the splendour that that idiot surrounded himself with, but he had an excuse, after all, he should set an example of how to live life to the fullest, which also meant enjoying all the riches of the world.

I looked to my right, I had been trying and failing to find a good enough helper for several hundred years. There were many candidates, but none of them worked in the long run. I was suffering from loneliness... I hosted many of my subjects for dinner, their company was pleasant, the conversations were fascinating, and the entertainment they offered was great, but I quickly got bored with them.

Hence, I needed someone with me who would have this potential and who would also be interesting enough for a very long time. There were even two people to whom I almost offered cooperation, but in the end, the feeling prevailed that this place was waiting for someone else. And so years then centuries passed, and my frustration and tiredness only grew.

Until she appeared... No one had ever rejected Eros with such determination as this innocent-looking, charming creature. She looked at him with such disgust, and when she turned to me, I saw adoration and a kind of challenge in her dark eyes.

I watched her the whole time and just made sure of her uniqueness and enormous potential that I had never seen in anyone before. She could not only be a helper, she could compare to me. So I couldn't wait beyond her sixteenth birthday.

When I appeared before her, she smiled with unconcealed joy, as if she had been waiting for me as long as I had been waiting for her. At the same time, her eyes were full of disappointment.

"You made me wait a long time, my lord."

At first, it surprised me, no one had ever accused me of that, but after a while, I regained my composure and laughed.

"I'm here, and you know perfectly well what brings me here. It's time to fulfil your promise, my kingdom is waiting for you."

"No," she replied decisively. "Not yet."

"Why? Did you change your decision even though you knew there was no turning back?"

"On the contrary." She looked at me pugnaciously. "I don't want to come to you empty-handed, I want to prove that I am worthy of your invitation and of you alone, my lord."

At first, I didn't understand what she meant, but I was interested, so I gave her time. I repeated the request for her to come with me from time to time, but she kept repeating the same thing, and our conversation stopped when the boy appeared next to her. He didn't accept my invitation, and he didn't see me, he didn't understand that I was calling her. She stubbornly let him save her, and I had the impression that feelings were developing between them.

This girl made me, the God of Death Thanatos, jealous. I reminded her even more often of the promise she made to me, because like never before, I experienced the fear that someone would take it away from me. Then she laughed teasingly and said: "soon," but it seemed like an eternity. I kept asking myself what exactly she wanted to achieve.

I only understood it when she stood in front of me with this boy on her arm. He stared at her with eyes full of love, terrified of where he found himself. After all, he still had several dozen years of good and righteous life ahead of him, after which he was supposed to have a great time in the kingdom of Eros.

My subjects also had nothing to complain about, I gave them everything they wanted, after all, they came to me themselves. They deserved a reward, not a punishment, and anyway, I didn't hear any complaints about my authority. Well, maybe, except that I could arrange for a little more light.

But she wasn't looking at him with the same affection as usual, she was challenging me. Her whole attitude mockingly said "I am here, what are you going to do about it?", she teased me by hugging the boy even more.

It finally dawned on me what she wanted. I laughed loudly and looked at the throne standing on my right. I set it next to mine as I made the final decision to find someone to help me. Furthermore, I realized that from the beginning this place had been waiting only for her and how well its golden glow would suit her and only emphasize her beauty and ambition.

This boy was a gift to me, a subject of Eros, whom she persuaded to take his own life, and at the same time proof that she herself could become me, the God of Death, for someone. How funny it was, I had nothing to worry about from the beginning. I even felt a little sorry for the innocent boy when she let go of him without hesitation when I held out my hand to her.

"Am I worthy enough of you, my lord?" she asked, boldly climbing the steps leading to the throne where I intended to seat her.

"Even more, you are worthy to be not only my queen but also the Goddess of Death."