TWENTY-THREE

The next day, she didn't want to get out of her chamber. Not after what happened. Not after giving in to that forbidden pleasure.




After what happened, a surge of regret washed over her and she slapped herself several times for letting him do it. For telling to do it.




And what's worse, someone was there. Someone else was watching. She can't go out of her chamber now without getting embarrassed at what she did and what happened.




The door to her chamber opened and she nearly jumped on her bed. She was expecting it would either be Hades or Cerberus and she prayed it was not them. When she looked at the door, relief flooded her system as it was Henrietta.




She went walking straight to her table to place some dresses there. She has no idea where those dresses came from but she decided to stop wondering about everything in this...sinful place.




Guinevere remained seated on her bed as Henrietta organized the dresses in the closet.




"Were you once a potential to break the curse too?" she asked out of the blue and in her periphery, she saw Henrietta stilled. She went on, "I was just wondering. You said you were taken here too."




Henrietta finished arranging her stuff before she turned to her. "I was indeed taken her but it wasn't against my will."




She knew about it but she never really knew the whole story. And perhaps Henrietta read on her face that she wanted to hear it that she sighed and faced her fully.




"Back in the human world, I was a slave, Guinevere," she started. Guinevere's brows furrowed as she looked at Henrietta.




"And I mean literally. I came from a poor country, from a poor family. I was naive and I was desperate. Someone offered me money. A job, he said. And he told me I could feed my family. I had seven younger siblings. And all of us are too malnourished. My mother had died of sickness and my father just disappeared. Me and my brother took care of our siblings.




"Hearing the job offer, I took it. Not even considering the fact that it was too good to be true. It was desperation that pushed me. The biggest nightmare was when I realized I was being transported to another county illegally. And that I have to pleasure old men and please my masters in exchange for my life.




"I got separated from my siblings and I was tortured for entertainment. I was bound, stripped, and fucked by countless men until I passed out and woke the next day with a fever. I was in hell, Guinevere. They abused everyone who are like me and when we get too sick to be of use to them, they discard us and left us to die. To rot. Alone and miserable. Gods, miserable isn't even enough of a word to describe it."




"Henrietta..." she trailed off because she didn't really know what to say. What happened to Henrietta was the worst thing.




"And so I prayed. Back then, when my mother died and my dad is gone, I never stopped praying. Hoping that the gods would help me and grant me blessings. But that time, I was dying, I prayed to Hades. I begged him to kill everyone who made me miserable. It wasn't a good thought and I knew he would listen. He was the one who always listens. The wicked it is, the better. So I prayed and he showed up. Clad in a business suit that looked too similar to those people who tortured me."




"He...what did he do?"




"He granted my prayer. I told him I don't have much and he could get the rest of my dying life. In exchange, I wanted him to kill the people that did it to me. I remember he smiled and he said that he will take my eternity in exchange for my wish. He granted me two and I wished for my siblings to have a good life."




"He granted it?"




Henrietta nodded. "He granted it. And he took me to the underworld in exchange. This place is a literal hell, Guinevere. I could hear the screams of torment, suffering, and of dying dreams. I felt their despair and I almost fed on it. It was hell. This place is hell. But the fact that those people who did me wrong and the fact that my siblings are living a good life...I find this a worthy exchange."




She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. "How is this a worthy exchange?"




"Everywhere in the world is hell, Guinevere. We always have hell with us, big or small. I asked for an option and I was given another hell. I chose this place and that's why it's worth it. If I chose my life back there, my siblings would die with me and that's not something I would want. We have the power to choose our own despair. We have the power to choose our own hell. You chose this hell the moment you asked him to save you from those abusers at the prison."




She swallowed hard and wanted to say something but stopped herself because she knew Henrietta was right. During that time when she was about to be abused by those people, she had a choice. And she chose to have Hades' help to punish those people—kill them.




"Lunch is in twenty. They are expecting you," said Henrietta before she walked towards the door. But before Henrietta could go out, she called her. The woman stopped and turned to look at her.




"Do you think...I should stay here and not go back?"




It took Henrietta a while but then she said, "No one could answer that other than you. That's your choice, Guinevere and that is all you have. You cant have other people do that choice for you." And then she was gone.




She sat back on her bed and took a deep breath. What Henrietta told her was something too heavy. The world is a fucked up place full of rotten people.




She decided not to ponder more on it when she realized she should be going to the dining for lunch. If it's not a big deal, she wouldn't have to go. But if she won't go, either Hades or Cerberus would come and get her by force and she doesn't want that to happen.




So she got up and decided to wear the dress that Henrietta just brought. They were new ones and they would last her for several days, assuming it doesn't get ripped or magically vanish.




Her cheeks flushed at the thought. Why was she even thinking about it? The only time her dress was ripped and made vanished was when ...




She shook her head and shook it away. Hades has this skill of reading her mind even without her telling him. Perhaps she was just too transparent and that is why she couldn't be thinking about those things.




When she was satisfied with her look, she decided to go out. As she walked the wide hallway, she listened to her surroundings. Henrietta had told her she heard the despair and the agony of those who were sent to this place. But the more she listened, she couldn't hear any screams of pain and agony. Not even a faint bit. All she could hear was her slow footsteps as she neared the dining hall.




A silent curse rang in her head. After what happened last night, how is she supposed to face Hades? She can't be looking shy and uncomfortable. She wouldn't let it happen. It will satisfy Hades to see that reaction from her.




Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself. She'll just forget about it just for this moment. Besides, she's hungry.




So she marched to the dining and found Hades and Cerberus talking about something. She doesn't know what it was but from the looks on their faces, it seemed serious. They noticed her arrival and both men turned in her direction. It was hard to keep a straight face but she managed to do it anyway.




She lifted her chin up and walked gracefully towards the table. She eyed the two of them. Hades was looking at her while his hand was holding the base of the chalice. She ignored the way his fingers coiled and uncoiled and forced her gaze to his face. As usual, she couldn't read any emotion from him and he doesn't look like the man who just made her climax last night. Hades looked like he doesn't even remember what happened.




Cerberus, on the other hand, was drinking his wine but he was looking at her over the rim of his chalice. She fought the urge to turn and walk but she was already there. They may have not said it but it was a battle of sheer will. If they don't seem to be unbothered by what happened last night, she could do that too.




She flashed the most saccharine smile she could manage and pulled the chair for her to sit down. Cerberus was seated on the right side of Hades so she occupied the left. A chalice was magically filled with wine and she took it to take a sip. She was very well aware of the stares of the two men next to her.




"Don't stop on my account, please. Continue what you two were talking about and just pretend I'm not here. I'll enjoy eating," she said, still smiling and when she looked at Hades, she could see his brows furrowing slightly. He's confused and it made her extremely satisfied that the god of the underworld was confused. She could only wish she could use that kind of achievement to achieve great things in life.




Silence covered the three of them and it was only the sound of her cutleries that could be heard in the hall. Until Cerberus decided to open his mouth.




"How was your sleep, Guinevere? Best one, I hope?" he said and he took another sip of his wine when she lifted her head to look at him. There was no hint of malice on his face but she knew enough he was referring to what happened last night.




She smirked. "Had nightmares."




Cerberus raised his brow and she saw Hades still looking at her in wonder.




"I dreamt I was stuck here forever."




"That wasn't a nightmare, Gwen. That was reality. You are stuck here forever."




"I want to bargain, then," she said and now she saw both men's interest was piqued although she could see how the two of them were looking at her as though waiting for her to try and give her best shot.




What she learned from talking to Henrietta earlier is that she has a choice. And if Hades won't give it to her for some fucked up pact he made with her parents many years ago, she would try and negotiate.




"I will do the service," she said and she was surprised to hear her own voice not trembling. "I will be your slave and you use me whenever or wherever you want."




Hades' confused expression was gone and was replaced with amusement.




"Pray tell me what would you want in exchange."




Her fists were clenched under the table.




"If I happen to be not the woman you are looking for, I want you to give me my freedom. I want you to clean my name back there so I could live peacefully without having to run constantly. I want that in exchange for my service. And for the others, I still have to think about it.."




Hades rested his chin on his hand as he continued to look at her. And then he said, "Sounds like a good offer."