TWENTY-SIX

The next morning, she found herself back in her chamber. She doesn't remember how she ended up in her chamber but she remembers what happened before she became too exhausted to even walk.

She did it.

She finally did it.

As much as she wanted to convince herself that she did it to find a way out, she would be lying if she said she didn't like it. She liked it very much.

Did she finally give in to that desire just waiting to come out or called out?

Before her thoughts could even progress to the details of what happened last night, she forced herself to get up. Her body felt light and she had the most wonderful sleep she's had since she came here. If it was magic that was keeping her nerves calm today, she should thank them later.

The door burst open and Henrietta slid in, bringing another set of dresses. And just like she always do, her eyes scan the dresses to assess if they're wearable or not. Thankfully, the new batch that came was mostly quite decent.

She was tempted to ask where those dresses came from but then she realized it would be a stupid question. If Henrietta knew what she had done, she showed no signs of it. She did her usual thing: putting new dresses in her closet and then leaving. And she would also do her thing once Henrietta leaves. He goes to shower and wears one of the clothes Henrietta brought. Today, she's joining them for breakfast.

The moment she got out of the door was the moment she saw Cerberus standing outside her chamber. A grin was already plastered on his face but she wouldn't count that as an I'm-thrilled-to-see-you kind of grin.

"You know what, the first time I saw you, I wondered why someone like you is in here."

She rolled her eyes and walked ahead past him. "I'm wondering the same thing. I shouldn't be here in the first place."

She heard his footsteps behind her. "Now that I realize that you could break this damned curse then I am willing to live under the same roof with you. Or rather, I live in the underworld with you."

She stopped walking and faced him. He was still wearing that annoying grin on his face. "I am not going to live here forever."

Cerberis let out a feign surprise. "Right! Being the devil's slut is going to get you out."

Her brows furrowed at what he said and perhaps the confusion was very visible on her face.

"I don't mean he's not going to abide by his words. He's a man of his word."

"Then what are you trying to say, Cerberus?"

She blinked and in an instant, Cerberus was a breath away from her and before she could even step back, his fingers caught a few strands of her hair.

"What I'm trying to say is that you're not going to earn your freedom so easily. Especially not by playing as his slut. Making a bargain with the god of the underworld is one thing. Playing with him is another. He never loses, Guinevere. You're walking on very thin ice here."

"Listen, I don't care about the curse, okay? This place could be damned or be more damned than what it already is. What I care about is my freedom."

Cerberus laughed and she gave him a confused look. "Dear, naive girl. Don't you get it? Once you get yourself involved with Hades, there is no way out."

"I did not get myself involved with this. I was taken here without my consent--"

"You were given your freedom and you asked to be saved. And now you're making deals and playing with fire. You were given your freedom before. And yet here you are."

She clenched her fists. Hearing those things made her realize what she had done. It was because of Hades that she was put in that position in the first place. It was him and yet she took great satisfaction when he came and made those people suffer. It felt good that for once, she was able to exact her revenge on those people who mistreated her.

She called his name that time and he came. She was relieved and clearly remembered how she thought the underworld was better than being surrounded by perverted men who plans on assaulting her. She wished for this to happen.

A cool hand touched her face lightly and she flinched at that. Cerberus tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears but she remained alert. His fingers could travel down to her neck and take the breath out of her.

"Word of advice: Since this world is nearing its doom, I would suggest you have fun while it lasts. Maybe this place is not going to crumble during your lifetime. That would be great. But this place has been cursed for almost a century. It's a surprise Hades is still holding it enough although he's getting weaker. And there will come a day will this place will just disappear. So enjoy what this place has to offer, Guinevere."

She blinked and then in an instant, Cerberus was gone in front of her. Her body suddenly felt cold and the hairs on her body rose when she felt the chilly wind on her exposed skin.

What Cerberus said...she couldn't help but wonder if he believed this place could be cured of the curse. They have been trying for almost a century. A century! But there has been no improvement. She doesn't know how many girls were brought here and is thought of as having the potential to break the curse. Cerberus said she could be their last chance. Or she might not. What difference would she make? Will she actually break this curse or be just one of those women who failed?

And she would die. The curse only breaks if they end up loving each other. That alone is impossible to do. She can't fall in love with Hades and neither does Hades with her. And if Hades loves her, she'd die.

This place is doomed right after the curse was inflicted. There is no way out and she isn't planning on remaining here when this place crumbles.

She took a deep breath and composed herself. She may be playing with fire with Hades but she knows she's got a shot. Especially when she saw how he pleasured himself last night just by watching her.

With that strange fuel for her courage, she walked down the hall into the dining hall where she saw Hades already starting his breakfast. Cerberus is nowhere in sight.

His back was on hers but she knows Hades knows she was coming. She sat on the other end of the table in front of him and the moment she did, she met his eyes.

She swallowed hard at that little smirk he got on his lips as he picked up his chalice.

"I hope you had a nice sleep," he started.

"I didn't know it's part of this arrangement to make sure the other has well-rested. Tell me, sire, was what happened last night just to help me sleep better?"

His eyes narrowed at her and the smirk was still there. Then he shrugged. "That and many other things."

She was tempted to ask what many other things he was talking about but she stopped herself immediately.

Clearing her throat, she said, "I slept well, thanks for asking. I hope you did too."

She did not break eye contact as Hades looked at her over the rim of his glass. When he set it down, he rested his chin on his hands.

"Have you got nothing going on today?" he asked and she looked at him in wonder. Before she could ask why, Hades went on, "I'd like to show you more of the underworld."

The idea doesn't sound so appealing to her but the way Hades was looking tells her makes her want to say yes. Is he using something on her that always renders her unable to speak or refute?

She cleared her throat before she picked up her chalice and took a sip of juice. She had reminded herself this morning to never drink alcohol ever again. Not after what it did to her that night... She shook her head before her thoughts could even go further.

When she looked up, she saw Hades still looking at her. An amused grin on his face and she suddenly have an idea that he knows what she was thinking about. The grin on his face says it all.

"Care to share what you're thinking about?"

"Ways on how to get out of here?"

He let out a chuckle and leaned back on his seat, crossing his arms, and flexing those muscles beneath his glorious clothing she never paid attention to before.

"Oh, please. You gave up thinking of a way out, Guinevere."

She pursed her lips. "What do you mean? Isn't this why I am doing this arrangement with you? If you find that I am not the one who would break the curse, you agreed to tell me and let me go. And during that time that we try to find out, I will serve you."

His tongue played inside his mouth as he was looking at her with amusement. "The most important thing about making deals is that you should make it as specific as possible."

Her heart thundered inside her chest. She's not good at making deals. Did she mess it up?

"What if I found out that you are indeed not the one who could break the curse but I decided not to tell you so I could keep you to keep pleasing me?"

She was frozen in her seat and she couldn't think.

"Are you...Are you saying that you will cheat? However I say the deal, the thought is there! You can't do that--"

"Oh, but I can. This is the world of sin, Guinevere. I agreed to let you go but we didn't agree on specifically when. A week after I find out you're not the one? Or maybe a month? A year?" His grin got wider. "Or perhaps I should just keep you here forever."

"No--"

She wasn't able to continue her sentence when suddenly, Hades was not sitting in front of her anymore. The next thing she felt was his cold hands on her shoulders. He was now standing behind her.

She shuddered at the feel of his hands on her bare shoulders.

"You ready for our tour, love?"