SIX

She has done things against her will before. It's what comes with living with an abusive aunt. But now it's a different story because she's bound to live with the devil. An actual lord of the underworld. She had sworn to do everything if it means she'll be out of this place. And now he asked her to come to his chamber.
It wouldn't take a lot of thinking as to what he wants for her. She may have escaped what her aunt's boyfriend planned to do to her but now she thinks that she had just traded that for something much worse.

The room looked smaller now. She had lost count of the hours. The food that Henrieta brings every now and then tasted like ash. How could she have an appetite for everything that's been going on? Once upon a time, she was just a normal girl, living a normal life, dreaming of getting away from her aunt when she saves enough only to find herself in this world that seemed so impossible to believe existed.

No one--not even her friends talked about gods and other supernatural beings. Hell, her aunt never talked about it. As she recalled what had happened, Hades knew her aunt. Then again, knowing that he's someone powerful enough to rule the underworld, it would be easy for him too to know who her aunt is. But when he talked that time, he seemed like he and her aunt Melissa had come up with some sort of agreement.

*You hurt dear Guinivere when I clearly told you not to tamper with my belongings.*

It was enough proof that Hades and her aunt had known each other before.

Getting tired from pacing back and forth inside her chamber, she sat on the bed and sighed. She had considered killing herself but if Hades told her there is a way, she will seek it. Even if she had to drop her dignity.

The door opened and Henrieta came in. She quickly stood but one look from Henrieta made her stop in her tracks. She swallowed hard at her sharp glare.
Henrieta cleared her throat before she started talking. "You found a way," she said. She couldn't read her expression. She was expecting Henrieta would be ecstatic about it as she was clearly not very fond of her there. But as she looked at Henrieta now, she isn't showing any sliver of emotions.

"I did," she answered.

"What did he ask in return?"

She looked at her. There was a familiar hint in her voice that made her think for a moment. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the woman in front of her.
The more she looked, the more everything fell into place.

Henrieta's dress seemed so little, leaving almost nothing for the imagination. And the tone in her voice made her sound like she's...jealous. And then she couldn't believe what she figured out next.

Henrieta is not a mere servant.

"I...He wants me to go to his bedroom," she said.

The woman's brows raised but before Henrieta could say something, she beat her to it.
"How long have you been here?" she asked. Henrieta was clearly not expecting that question from her based on the surprised look on her face but it was gone in an instant.

"It is none of your business--"

"I was taken here against my will. I was a payment without my knowledge. I was taken to serve him." She stepped forward. "Tell me, what kind of service does he want, exactly?"

She saw how Henrieta's throat bobbed. But then she lifted her chin and met her in the eye.

"I was once like you. I was taken here out of my will for a different reason. I wanted to get out and he offered me a way out. I was offered the same condition that if I do what he asks, he will free me."

Hope sparked her heart. She wanted to jump in joy at that. Because there is still hope that she will make it out. Then she looked at Henrieta and there was nothing there but contempt.

"As soon as I was out, it was never the same." She stepped towards her. "He may offer you a way out, Guinevere. But that doesn't mean you're free. He will find you and when he does, you will have no choice but to come with him. You will never be free."

The hope that sparked inside her earlier was gone in an instant. And before she could even say something, Henrieta placed the box she was carrying on the table, turned her back, and left her there. She was too stunned to speak or even analyze what Henrieta just said.

It was when the door opened again and two other girls came scuttling forward.

"Lord Hades awaits," said one of them before she opened the box and took out a dress almost similar to what Henrieta was wearing.
She couldn't protest. She knew that is she do this now, Hades will offer her a way out. She will be free. She should be happy. But after what Henrieta said to her, she couldn't help but feel worried.

*What does she mean?*

The two servants had taken turns in cleaning her body. When they were done, they clothed her with the dress from the box. One did her hair and the other put colors on her face. And as she sat in front of the mirror, slowly seeing how the servants had done a great job. When they were finished, she couldn't help but gasp at the sight of her.

The girl in the mirror looked like her. It was her. Beautiful and strong. It was what she imagined what she would look like on her first date with Reid. But everything had taken a very unlikely turn and now she's here, wearing a dress that made her shiver from the cold, about to enter the chambers of the man that took her.
Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she stopped them and took a deep breath.

The servants guided her out of her chamber and walked her through the quiet halls. The only thing she could hear was the loud beating of her heart. She managed it by taking deep breaths and telling herself over and over again that it was all going to be over soon.

They stopped in front of a huge wooden door. The servants turned and walked away, leaving her alone. She was about to call them but stopped herself. It's all on her now.

She let out a deep breath before she raised her hand and knocked gently on the door. For a few seconds, there was just silence. And then she heard his voice telling her she may come in. She was about to push the door open when the door opened itself. Stepping inside, she roamed her eyes around the space. She couldn't see where Hades is.

The chamber smelled like flowers and it all opposed the nature of this place. Her heart thundered when Hades came stepping out from somewhere. Unlike what he wore the last time they talked, he was just wearing a thin shirt and pants. He almost looked like someone she would normally see on the street. Almost. Because when she looked closer, she almost yelped when she saw two protruding horns from his head.

They were just small--as though they had just been recently retracted from their full glory. Hades seemed to notice her looking at his horns that she heard him let out a chuckle.

"Apologies," he said. "I keep forgetting you're new and you didn't believe in any of this before, well, this." Then his horns were gone.

He walked towards the couch and sat there. He then motioned her to sit on the bed. Hesitating, she walked toward the bed. She's very aware of Hades watching her every move and her dress may have covered some parts of her but she felt like she was naked.

She sat on the soft mattress and covered herself as much as she could.

"This excites you," said Hades which made her look at him.

"What are you talking about?"

The man shrugged. "I can see you're trembling but deep down, you're anticipating how this is going to end."

She pursed her lips. "I am anticipating for this to be over and I will be returned to where I came from. And who are you to tell me how I feel?"

Hades grinned. "You see, I have this special talent for finding out people's deepest desires. Don't forget who I am, Guinevere."

The sound of her name on his lips sent bolts of electricity in her body. When she looked at Hades, he was grinning from ear to ear as though he knew exactly what she was feeling. But she refused to yield. She is not going to yield.

She took a deep breath before she said, "What do you want me to do?"

"What were you expecting?" asked Hades.

She was taken aback by his question but she doesn't have time to be thinking now. She needs to finish this and she will be able to go home.
So she stood and walked toward him. For a moment, there was a look of surprise on his face but then it was gone in an instant. She walked toward him and he was staring at her as though waiting for what she was going to do next.

She swallowed hard before she said, "You made me want to serve you in your bedroom, right?"

With a swift motion, she removed the clothes covering her torso. She shivered at the cold bite of the air against her exposed skin. The peak of her breasts was hardening at that. She clenched her jaw before she kneeled in front of him.

Hades tilted his head and the way his eyes traveled from her face downward made her want to shrink.

"Isn't this the reason why you made me wear this dress?" She braced her hand on her knees before her fingers shakily went to his pants' button. And when she finally held the help of his pants, she looked at him. She couldn't read the expression on his face but she knew he was testing her.

She focused her eyes on his pants and was about to open it when suddenly, she felt the soft mattress on her back. One moment she was kneeling on the floor in front of him, ready to satisfy him, and the next she was lying on the bed, with him on top of her. She tried to get away but Hades was a lot stronger. He pinned her arms on top of her head and pinned her legs with his knees. He then leaned in and the texture of his shirt touched the peak of her breasts. She shivered at the feeling of his warm breath on her neck.

"Bold of you to assume that," he whispered. Her brows furrowed.

"But yes, you were right. This was a test." His mouth traced her jaw as he spoke and she hated every fiber of her being reacting to his touch.
Then she felt him going to her neck and she found herself giving him access.

And when he went to the valley of her breasts, she hitched a breath as Hades gently touched his nose on her skin as though he was smelling her. She clamped her lips and closed her eyes but the feeling was gone.

"You're free to go," Hades said.

When she opened her eyes, Hades was not on top of her and she was not on the bed. She was still kneeling on the floor and Hades was grinning at her.

Then she realized what he did when he said, "I just showed you your deepest desires, Guinevere."