chapter 18- flowers

“I can’t let you do that brother” he said, looking ready to jump me if I came near the fountain.
I cocked my head to the side, studying his stance, I gave a smile. There was one thing my brother was good at, testing my patience. “I hope you know I would not have a problem taking you out?” I said, unable to hide the amusement in my voice.
“WHY CAN YOU NOT JUST LISTEN TO ME!!” he blew up, looking at me with rage and something else in his eyes.
“you would not speak to me that way!!” I said, getting equally agitated.
“I would speak to you any how I want! If it makes you get back to your senses, if it ensures that you are not broken again! If It ensures that I don’t see you broken again! Then I would!!” there was a blazing fire in his eyes, one that told me that he would indeed go to any length to make sure that it was indeed what was going to happen
Broken
That word struck me.
I searched my mind for when I was broken, but nothing came to mind
“brother, did you use …”
“yes” he said, cutting me from completing my words “yes I gave you the memory wine” he said with a devious smile
I took a step forward. My powers gaining temporary imbalance and shaking the whole room, but he did not even bait an eye
‘what could have made me that way that I would want to forget it?’
“unlock it” I asked, demanding to remove the effect of the wine.
“I would rather go to the deepest parts of hell than do that…
Valerie’s p.o.v
I made my way back to my room cursing myself over and over as I saw the way Hades looked at her. For some reason, it irked me.
“my Lady” I turned, smiling a bit and my anxiety for a moment fading away as I heard his voice. I turned to make sure that it was him this time around “Kharon!” I smiled rushing to hug him. In the midst of all this he was the only familiar being or maybe I had just gotten comfortable around him.
“I thought Hades said not to come near me?” I said making sure that he was not going to be in trouble.
“the lord has gone out for business and it is my free day, I choose to spend it with you” I smiled at him.
“careful, I might start feeling a bit special now” I teased.
“but you are my lady”
I paused at that, smiling not really thinking much about it.
“would you like to take a walk around”
“yes!” I jumped at the request, dreading to go back to that cursed room and staring at the ceiling till it was time for another meal, I was starting to feel more and more like a prisoner
He smiled “may i?” he asked, taking my hands in his as he led the way….
“you seem to have a lot on your mind” he said, staring at me intently. “the flowers,”
“the place would look a lot more lively if there were flowers around”
“indeed” he nodded, “life cannot grow here”
“hmm, I do miss them though. Do you miss them? It sure must have been long for you, hasn’t it?” he said nothing as we continued to walk around, there was nothing particularly fun, just some torture place and their definition of paradise. But I got away from my room for a while. For the first time in a while both on land and here, I got to enjoy myself a bit with someone I was at least comfortable with
“I would need to go back my lady” he said, leading me back to my room. “but…” I sealed my lips. It was greedy to ask for more. Who knew the type of trouble he’d put himself in just now?
“thank you Kharon” I smiled as the door opened by itself to let me in.
“don’t mention my lady”
He left my side as fast as though he was on flames, leaving me once again to my thoughts. I sighed ‘it sure was fun while it lasted’ I thought as I made myself comfortable for the night, or sleep
*
"Val- my lady" his voice tensed. I did not miss the way he almost called me by my name and more so, I was shocked as to why he was here, again, after he told me himself that he had to get back

"Yes, Kharon?" I replied, trying to mask the curiosity in my voice. I sat up, looking to the direction of his voice

He hesitated for a moment, then extended his hand, offering me the cloth-wrapped bundle. "These are for you," he said simply, as if the gesture required no further explanation. But there was something in his tone, a quiet intensity that hinted at a deeper significance.

I reached out, my fingers brushing against the coarse fabric. The bundle was surprisingly light, and as I unwrapped it, a sweet, earthy fragrance filled the air. my eyes widened in disbelief.
Flowers.
He had gotten me flowers
“you mentioned that you missed them” was all he said leaving me with the bunch as he disappeared from my sight and out of the room before I could say anything. I sat shell shocked on the bed, holding the flowers in the dimly lit room, with the words I wanted to say stuck in my throat