chapter 14

Hades p.o.v
I sucked in a deep breath as I watched her the first time, wandering through the forest. She was beautiful, yes
But that was not what struck me to desire her soul. I had seen far more beautiful women in this world than she, but there was something about her. She was…
Familiar.
I studied her for a while, supressing the thoughts to walk up to her and sniff her
I sure had gotten crazy’ I thought to myself as I shook my head, wanting to get rid of the stupid thoughts that plagued my mind
I sighed, remembering the first time I kissed her. Sure the intention was to take her soul at the time but with her lips touched mine….
“no” she said, defying my authority. It did not annoy me as much as I thought it would, which annoyed me more than I cared to admit.
She looked very confident, again, this particular situation seemed familiar, like she had defied me before and I let her.
I took in a deep breath, stilling the thoughts for a moment, although it did nothing to me
“you have grown bold” I smiled, already feeling my body lean in to capture her lips and unable to stop myself.
The kiss was sudden and unexpected. Her lips were soft but firm against mine, a surprising contrast
"Consider it... a fleeting indulgence," I said, his tone casual, as if I had just commented on the weather. “to prove that you are indeed mine and I can do whatever I want with you."

My mind raced, struggling to process what had just happened. The kiss had been brief, at least on my path. I searched her eyes for any sign of the emotions I felt. The raging storm inside of me that felt like I could burst at any point, but she jumped to the other side of the room, avoiding my gaze
"You... kissed me," she stammered, still trying to catch up.
I said nothing, shrugging my shoulders
I was trying to downplay it, but i could feel an underlying tension within. Her posture was a bit too rigid, her eyes darting away from mine for a fraction of a second longer than usual
“I don’t want Kharon even in the slightest bit near you, else he is going to the depths of hell” I said, every bit serious about what I had said.
I made my way out of the room, thanking the fates that she said nothing to oppose me, probably still dazed from me using my tongue on her.
I sighed, trying to stop my racing thoughts as I made my way to the billow area.
I could sense it before they landed, someone was trying to get into the underworld.
I sighed, knowing that it could be only one person that would dare to come down here, despite my aversion to people
Zeus.
I could feel him as he strode with purpose, his thunderous presence sending ripples through the stagnant air. The souls of the dead shifted uneasily, sensing a disturbance in the normal balance of things.
"Brother," Hades greeted, his voice echoing through the cavernous hall. "I would not like to believe you miss me already?"

Zeus met his brother's gaze, his expression unreadable
"I come with a request," Zeus stated simply, “I believe I may have acted a little out of proportion last night”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. It was not often that Zeus made requests or even admitted that he did something wrong “a little? " I asked, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of my lips, taunting him

Zeus took a breath, “don’t push it”
his eyes never leaving mine. "I need you to take Valerie back."
The words hung in the air, their weight palpable. I could feel as my expression darkened, the playfulness vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
“perhaps we should discourse matters that concern you?”
Zeus did not flinch under my scrutiny. He simply stood there, a silent force of nature, his expression unyielding. There was a brief, charged silence, the kind that precedes a storm. The air seemed to thicken with anticipation,
“look, it may look like I am trying to butt in matters that don’t concern me right now but…”
“but they do not in deed concern you” I said cutting him off. “if this is what you came here for, then I am sorry brother, you have to start going back. Your trip is a waste”
I said plainly, turning my back and retreating to get some rest
“WHY HER!!!! YOU COULD HAVE ANYONE BUT HER!!!!” he burst out, shocking me. I had never seen my brother loose his cool over such a trivial matter before
“is she perhaps one of your hetaira?” I asked as I stood in place, for some reason, my shoulders tensed up waiting for his reply