TWENTY

She didn't know what to expect for breakfast but after what happened last night and this morning, she couldn't stop herself from getting flustered. What in the gates of the underworld happened? She must have gone crazy. She couldn't get it out of her head no matter how hard she tries to shake it off. But she couldn't change what has already happened. All she could do is try her best not to get too flustered about it and not let Hades and Cerberus do it to her again.

Taking a deep breath, she started walking down the hall on her way to the dining area. When she arrived, she saw Hades and Cerberus already enjoying their meal. Noticing her presence, they both look in her direction and she almost wanted to run back to her chamber. Then again, why would she? What happened last night and this morning was because these men are assholes.

She lifted her chin and walked toward the table before she sat. She didn't say anything and she could still feel their gazes on her as though wondering what she was thinking about. Hades might be able to somehow read what's on her mind but it doesn't mean she got no control of it. She will not give him the satisfaction.

Like the first time she dined with them, the food taste marvelous. She wanted to know how it was made but resorted to believing that it was made from magic. She had been starving. From the moment she was brought into the underworld, she has never eaten properly. At that moment, she truly was enjoying her food.

"Did you have a nice sleep?" asked Hades.

She gave him a sideward glance and he wasn't busy slicing his food. Cerberus, on the other hand—she could feel him staring at her. Perhaps he's wondering how she would react. Perhaps he really does delight in seeing her uncomfortable. These men exist to torment. She refuses to be tormented.

So she gave Hades her most saccharine smile when he looked in her direction. She did not mistake the glint of shock that crossed his face when she did that.

"It was incredible," she answered and that was it. She continued eating the food and ignored their questioning looks.

"Did something happen particularly this morning?" Hades asked again and she knew instantly it was a trick question. She's aware Hades could feel her. This morning, she felt pleasure courtesy of Cerberus.

She gave Cerberus—who was in front of her—a quick glance before she went to take her chalice and sip on it.

"I'm fairly certain you don't need me to tell you what transpired this morning. Maybe Cerberus already told you or you might have felt it."

Cerberus cleared his throat and Hades narrowed his eyes in her direction. He's not used to it. He's so used to people submitting to him. She's not going to do the same. She will fight in a way she knows how.

And then she heard Hades let out a chuckle making her look at him questioningly. He was holding a napkin, wiping the sides of his mouth in a very gracious movement.

"Perhaps what happened last night has something to do with your current attitude," he said before he leaned back in his seat. "I like it."

She gave him a small smile. "You might as well love me, sire, so I could die in peace."

She saw how his expression darkened but it was quickly gone. She pushed the fear back and she knows Hades sensed it from her.

Hades opened his mouth and was about to say something when suddenly, his eyes became alert. Her brows furrowed as the atmosphere suddenly became heavy. She looked at Cerberus and she could also see how his eyes faintly glowed while looking in the direction where Hades was also looking.

"What's the matter—"

Someone covered her mouth and it took her a while to realize that she was transported from her seat to the farthest end of the hall.

"Go back to your chamber and don't come out," Hades said behind her.

"What? What's the matter?"

"Just do as he says, Guinevere," Cerberus hissed and she swallowed hard as she looked in the direction they were both looking. She doesn't have any idea what's going on but some part of her screams for her to run and not to find out what it is they're so tensed about.

Without any hesitation, she walked out of the dining. Just in time that she was walking back into the hallway, she felt the surroundings get hot. And she almost jumped on her feet when she heard the crack of thunder. She could have sworn it was so near as she felt the whole castle shake. 

She stopped walking and rested her back on the wall for support. That thunder she heard earlier was not a normal one. It's got to have something to do with what Hades and Cerberus were so tensed about. 

After calming herself, she was about to walk back to her chamber when she heard voices from down the hall. It wasn't a voice she was familiar with. The way he spoke was so at ease as if he wasn't talking to the god of the underworld and his right hand. This could only mean that whoever that newcomer is, he is also not someone ordinary. 

But then it hit her instantly. The thunder, the swagger, the confidence to walk in the underworld without the need to worry whether he'd go out alive or not. She had just heard stories but she knew who the man is. 

Zeus has paid them a visit. 

She has no idea what would happen--if a fight would happen or what. Both Hades and Cerberus had warned her to run back to her chamber. She should do what she was told but somehow, she couldn't move. Not because she was scared and her feet were glued to the floor but because she was curious. 

It was a stupid thing to be curious about--especially when it's about the god who could literally obliterate her once he finds out. But she remained standing there, keeping herself quiet. She's certain Hades could sense her still there but he wouldn't let Zeus know someone like her is in the underworld. Not when I am a potential to break Hades' curse. 

"Hello, my brother," said the voice, and as she heard it clearer this time, she could sense how easy the words flow out of his mouth. The air of confidence could be heard from the way he rolled his tongue to emphasize the word brother. 

"Last time I checked, you despise the underworld. What brings you here?" said Hades and like Zeus, his voice was calm and composed. She couldn't sense the tension she felt earlier. If anything, Hades sounded calmer. As though he has lost all his care of the world and is tired of dealing with Zeus’ constant taunting.

“Is it so wrong for me to visit my own brother?” Zeus said. He sounded like he was offended by what Hades said but she doubted it.

“We are doing well if that’s what you want to know,” said Cerberus and she heard thunder rumbling in the distance.

“I wasn’t talking to you, servant.” The way Zeus said the word servant sent shivers down her spine. “You have no part in this.”

“I don’t? As far as I can remember, you cursed me too. It’s quite pathetic, really. That you can’t beat Hades so you resort to using curse so your reputation of being the supreme god wouldn’t be threatened—“

Cerberus wasn’t able to continue what he was saying when suddenly a flash of lightning hit the dining followed by the sound of grunting.

“How dare a mere creature as you speak to me like that?”

Zeus’ voice wasn’t so calm now. Her heartbeat thundered as she envisioned what could be happening in the dining.

“A mere creature I may be but you were threatened by me too, isn’t that right?” And then Cerberus grunted once again. She doesn’t want to know what could be happening for Cerberus to be grunting in pain but she gathered herself and ever so slowly walked closer to the entrance where she would be able to see a clearer view.

“Whatever you came here for, be done with it, Zeus. Our meal’s getting cold,” Hades said.

She was nearing the entrance and she took a deep breath before she slowly peeked into the dining. She stifled a gasp as she saw what was happening in the dining. Cerberus was on the wall and on his shoulder was a piece of metal rod—no, it’s not a metal rod. It’s a glowing weapon shaped like a lightning. Blood was dripping from Cerberus’ wound down to the floor and she could see from his face that he was in huge pain.

Hades’ back was on her and Zeus was in front of Hades and she couldn’t even see his face well. It was stupid of her to be prying. Zeus is clearly asking for trouble and she won’t be able to save herself if she got involved somehow. So she did what a logical person would do. She turned on her back and started walking carefully down the hallway and back to her chamber.

“I just heard that you got another mortal down here,” Zeus said and she froze on the spot. They’re now talking about her because who else is the most recent mortal that Hades brought down here? She was the only one.

As much as she wanted to listen more, her logical side screams for her to run. So she continued walking but then Zeus said something more.

“And I also heard she’s the last chance you got.” Zeus chuckled. “All those centuries since you were cursed and you did not manage to get yourself a woman?”

“He managed to get yours if you have forgotten,” chimed Cerberus and she wanted to smack him for adding more fuel to the fire.

“You’re both lucky I couldn’t kill you while you’re both under the curse,” hissed Zeus but Hades only chuckled.

“Brother, let’s not fool ourselves. We both know and the other gods know too that even without the curse, you can’t kill me. If you came here to gloat, come again once I’m dead.”

Silence passed between the two and she might have stopped breathing too. She willed herself to walk but it felt like walking on thin ice.

“I didn’t come here to gloat,” Zeus said. His voice was calmer now. She swallowed hard and started walking slowly not until Zeus went on with his statement.

“I came here for that mortal woman you just brought back here. I believe she’s listening to us right now,” Zeus said.

Her first instinct was to run as fast as she could. But before she could even move her feet, someone grabbed her from behind and the only thing she could do was scream.