TWELVE

She did not plan on going to his chambers. Fuck his rules. She'd been crying in her own room for many hours that she drifted to sleep at some point.

It was when someone opened the door of her chamber that she jolted awake and pulled the blanket to cover her almost naked body.

It was Henrietta and she was bringing some clothes for her. She didn't feel relieved to see the woman. Not when she clearly remembers how loyal she is to Hades.

Henrietta placed the set of clothes on the foot of her bed and then a tray of food before she looked at her.

"Clean yourself and wear this. Lord Hades expects you to be in his chamber in half an hour," she said and turned her back to leave her alone.

"I don't want to go," she said sternly. She was surprised to hear that her voice did not even crack. Henrietta slowly turned to watch her. Ger sharp features getting even sharper with the little source of light in her chamber.

The woman stalked forward until she was standing at the foot of her bed.

"You do not want to anger the Lord Hades, Guinevere. What he says is a command that shall never be disobeyed. I'm fairly certain you've seen a glimpse of what he can do. And he will not hesitate to do it to you."

She continued to glare at Henrietta. "Were you bargained by your parents too?" she asked and the woman's brows furrowed. "Were you taken forcefully because apparently your life is owned by a man you've never even met before?"

"What are you trying to say, Guinevere?"

"I am asking. Did you accept this fate because you figured you were powerless anyway? Did you give up fighting him?"

She could see how Henrietta's face changed a bit but then the emotion that crossed her face was gone as soon as it came. "I've been here longer than I can remember and I learned that the last thing you'd ever want to do is to anger the Lord Hades. If he wants you to come to his chambers, then you should go to his chambers."

"What if I don't want to?"

Henrietta's eyes narrowed in her direction. She was about to open her mouth to say something when suddenly, someone appeared inside the room that made her jump on the bed and let out a yelp.

It was a man. A man she has never seen before. And he was looking at her, smirking before his eyes wandered through her body that was uncovered by the blanket. She pulled the blanket tighter and he let out a scoff.

Who the hell is this man?

"I'll take it from here, Henrietta. You're needed somewhere else," said the man. Henrietta turned to the man and bowed her head.

"Yes, my lord," she said and then walked out of the room without looking back. She swallowed hard as she looked at the man. He walked closer to her bed and she did her best to scuttle as far away as possible. Then he stopped walking at the foot of the bed and stuffed his hands inside his pockets.

"Hades is waiting. Get up now and fix yourself. Or would you rather have me do that for you?"

"I don't know who you are and I don't want to go."

The man tilted his head to the side and clicked his tongue. "He did tell me you're a bit difficult but nothing is too difficult for me." He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The next thing she noticed was that the blanket was gone. And so is the remnants of her dress!

She was naked in front of a man she doesn't even know!

Letting a short scream, she tried her best to clench her legs and cover her body using her hands.

"Hades had been too kind to you. I am surprised you're still alive after all those times you talked back. What's something about you that he likes to keep around?"

"What are you doing to me?" she hissed but then she realized immediately it was not a good move. The next thing she knew, the man was already on the bed. He somehow managed to grab her hands and pin them on the headboard with just his one hand. Her breasts were basically exposed to him but his sharp glare remained fixed on her face. He sat on her lap, preventing her to move.

"Stop being stubborn. I am not as patient as Hades and I am not as kind. Do what you're ordered to do." He leaned in and she gasped at the warmth of his breath on her cheek. And she shuddered when she felt his tongue tracimg the length of her neck. "I wouldn't mind eating you alive but then Hades looks like he's fond of you. I'll just wait for the time when he's sick with you and then I can have you for myself."

Tears brimmed her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She will not give them the satisfaction. Never.

She closed her eyes and the moment she opened them, the man was already back to standing at the foot of the bed. He was smiling at her as though he did not just threaten her to eat her alive.

"My name is Cerberus and I will be escorting you to Hades' chambers. You have ten minutes to prepare. If you take longer than that, I will drag you out." He smiled before he disappeares like a mist of black smoke without even waiting for her response.

She was dumbfounded for a moment but then the man's threats found her and she was immediately cleaning herself. She wore the dress that Henrietta brought and she hated it. She hated the slit on both thighs and the sweeping v-line that exposed the sides of her breasts. It was a dress that leaves nothing for the imagination-especially that it was almost see through.

She would not have worn that dress but she can't fight naked. Walking to the table, she took the fork there and grabbed it tightly. If the man comes back, she will not hesitate to stab him. It's a long shot but it's still a shot. One she's willing to take.

Ten minutes passed quickly and the man indeed appeared inside her room. His eyes traveled from her face to the vulgar dress she was wearing and then he nodded in approval. She glared at him and he offered her a sweet smile. He took a step forward and offered her his hand. She took and he pulled her close.

She did not waste another minute. With the fork she was holding tightly, she stabbed him with it.

Her aim was his eye but then she ended up stabbing his palm instead. Before she could even realize her mistake, Cerberus took the fork from her hand and threw it to the wall where it pierced.

"Nice try," he said and then she felt his hand closing around her throat. The choke did not last long and he let her go. She was coughing and she sat on the bed. When she looked at his hand, there was no wound. The wound inflicted by her fork was gone and she felt even more frustrated and pathetic. She is nothing to these men. They could easily kill her and yet, here she is, becoming their playmate. It will only be a matter of time before they get sick of her and finally kill her.

She looked up at Cerberus. She couldn't read the emotion om his face but she knew he's furious.

"You shall receive the appropriate punishment," he said and the next thing she knew, she was not on her chamber anymore.

When she looked around, she saw a massive bed. On top of the bed was Hades and on top of Hades was a woman. Both of them were naked and it didn't take her a long time to realize what they were doing.

"Watch and learn, my sweet. You'll be doing that next," Cerberus whispered in her ear but she could barely hear the words as she froze, watching how the woman bounced up and down on top of Hades.