Extra's Death: I Am the Son of Hades

"That?"

Jack's hands slid down, and he stared at the ceiling.

"The mental attack spell Nyx used on me. Layla somehow got her hands on it. She used it on me while my guard was down. I ended up confessing my honest feelings."

His jaw tightened as he spat the words.

"I swear, if I ever get my hands on the bastard who created that spell, I'll beat him until he's an inch away from death."

Neo's expression stiffened.

Inside, he was reeling.

That spell… it was him and Gaia who had created it.

Back then, they had done it thinking it would help Jack and Nyx get closer.

Because Jack had been such a stubborn idiot, pushing Nyx away despite clearly liking her.

'Wow.'

'I screwed Jack with it, and now it's coming back to bite me.'

Jack caught the change in his expression.

"You… you know who created that spell, don't you?"

"Huh? Of course not," Neo denied instantly, shaking his head.

Jack squinted, searching his face for answers.

After a moment, he sighed and let it drop.

"After that happened with Layla, I couldn't ignore her anymore. So we got together. And… for a while, were was happy. At least, until I found out what she was really doing."

"…?"

Jack laughed bitterly. "Where do you think Layla got that mental attack spell from?"

Before Neo could even think of a reply, Jack answered his own question. "She got it from Nyx. Nyx is a Grim Reaper disciple in the Underworld."

Neo froze.

Jack's voice carried a mixture of anger and grief. "Layla hid news about me from Nyx, and hid news about Nyx from me.

"Both of us were kept in the dark. And do you know why? Because she didn't want a 'bitch' between us."

A hollow laugh slipped out of him.

He tilted his head back, draining another mug.

"…"

Neo could feel his body go cold.

Jack wasn't finished.

"She acted like a friend in front of Nyx. Got information about me through her. And at the same time, she ordered all Grim Reapers to hide my existence from Nyx. \\

"She cut the truth in half and fed it to each of us.

"Nyx thought I wasn't there, and I thought Nyx had disappeared."

His voice cracked into a bitter laugh again.

"And all so she could get rid of a Nyx."

Neo sat back slowly, letting out a breath.

"When I found out, I confronted her. We had a big fight," Jack went on.

His hand tightened on the mug until his knuckles whitened.

"Do you know what happened in that fight?"

Neo shook his head.

"I told her we were done," Jack said quietly.

Then his hand clenched harder around the handle.

"She ordered the Grim Reapers to capture me. She said I'd understand everything in time.

"That I was only angry because it was sudden. That eventually, I'd realize everything she did was for us."

He lifted the mug, drained it in one gulp, and slammed it down.

"I refused. I fought the Grim Reapers and tried to escape. You know how impossible that is. No one escapes them. But I was close—so close—and then Layla got angry and ordered them to destroy my Core," Jack said.

"What…?"

Neo looked at Jack, wondering if he had heard it wrong.

"Destroy your Core?"

"Yes." Jack's voice was raw with the bitterness bleeding through. "I lost my rank. I lost everything. I would've been locked up properly, too, if Felix hadn't stepped in and helped me."

Neo's throat went dry.

He didn't know what to say.

For so long, he'd been angry at Jack, thinking he'd gotten into some relationship with Layla while ignoring everything else.

But now, hearing all of this, the anger drained out of him.

What remained was confusion, and the heavy weight of knowing he needed to have a serious talk with his sister.

Jack poured himself more alcohol.

"I started my life over on a new planet. That's where I met Illyana's reincarnation.

"Her family has this tradition, where heirs have to go through a trial.

"They start from nothing, without any support, and prove themselves.

"That's where I started building strength again," Jack explained.

Neo tried to lighten the mood. "Is that where you wooed Illyana?"

"That didn't happen." He downed another gulp. "I know Illyana likes me, but… I'm tired. I don't want another relationship anymore. I just…"

His shoulders sagged as he sighed.

"…I just don't."

Neo didn't push him further.

Jack filled his mug again and drank.

His face was dull, and sorrowful.

He looked lost.

"Back when we found out the Alliance was hunting our planet, Illyana offered us a deal. She became my fiancée in exchange for extending a helping hand to Earth. She promised her family's protection."

Neo stared at him.

Jack set the mug down slowly.

His eyes remained fixed on the table.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The bubble Jack had created still kept the rest of the pub's noise out.

Inside it, there was only silence and the quiet sound of alcohol being poured into a mug again.

Neo looked calm, but there was something heavy about the way his eyes lingered on Jack.

Finally, he spoke.

"I'm sorry for my sister's actions."

Jack's hand stilled on the handle of the mug.

He let out a low breath before answering.

"Why are you sorry? It's my fault for not placing proper boundaries with her before."

His tone was bitter, and sharper than he intended.

He quickly shook his head.

"Honestly, let's stop talking about this. Tell me what you've been doing. You promised."

Neo didn't answer right away.

He simply stared at Jack.

The silence stretched, but Jack didn't look away.

He had shared his honest feelings, because he trusted Neo.

And Neo was the same.

No matter how many worlds he'd crossed, how many faces he had worn, the one person he still called a friend was Jack.