Poison

I felt his presence before he even said anything. “You did not come for lunch” he said, his voice void of any emotion.
“Well i did not feel like it.” I said looking away from him. Looking at the stone cold walls of the room. my stomach was knotting in hunger. “really? You also did not have breakfast or dinner yesterday. Or even breakfa-“
“I want to be alone, PLEASE!!” I snapped, shielding myself from his gaze with the bed cover

The memory of him pressing his lips against the Earl’s wife flashed in my mind. The kiss that stole her breath, her soul, leaving her body lifeless and cold.

I clenched my fists, trying to push the image away.

He appeared out of the shadows, a plate in hand. The rich scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, making my stomach twist even more. But I wasn’t about to give in to him.

“Valerie,” he said in that deep, smooth voice of his. “ don’t be stubborn” he looked slightly irritated

I shot him a glare. “I’m fine.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “I can hear your stomach from across the room.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to ignore the aroma wafting toward me. “I said, I’m fine.”

He stepped closer, holding the plate out to me and gripping my face roughly so that i had no other option than to look at him “i am this close to shoving this food down you, and i swear, i woulddo it without a second thought if you don’t get this food down your pretty little mouth.”

“Why do you care?” I snapped. “You’ve got other things to worry about, don’t you? Like kissing the Earl’s wife?” I wanted to slam my head against the wall for letting those words out of my mouth but it was too late. The words were already out there and now I sounded like some jealous fool.

His expression darkened, but he didn’t retreat. “That wasn’t—”

“Don’t.” I cut him off, my voice sharp. “Don’t bother to explain. I saw you. I guess you just kiss every breathing person you see. Don’t you? ”

He sighed, setting the plate down on a nearby table. “I specifically told you to stay back, Valerie.” He said pinching the bridge of his nose.

“oh, sorry i saw you and it ruined your fun” I shot back. “It looked like you enjoyed it. Taking her soul, leaving her body empty. You seemed so... pleased, or was it the lip locking that left you pleased.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if collecting himself. When he opened them again, they were softer, or maybe I was just being delusional. “you know “ he leaned in closer to me, whispering “you know you have no right to be angry, unless...” he licked the shell of my ear, causing me to shiver involuntarily .
“..:
“I would be back. By then, I hope the plate is cleaned, or I am shoving every bit down your throat” he Sounded so calm, that it made goober bulbs to appear on my skin, but the smile on his face told me otherwise.
‘creepy’

I stared down at the plate before me, its contents beautifully arranged—too beautifully. A part of me should have been suspicious, but in the dim light of the Underworld, everything seemed cloaked in a veil of mystery. The aroma was intoxicating, a rich blend of spices and sweetness that teased my senses, promising comfort, warmth, and safety. I could almost forget where I was, and who had offered me the meal.

Hades himself had handed it to me, his dark eyes unreadable as ever, but there was something else there too—was it concern? Or maybe it was a warning, hidden beneath the charm he always wore like armor. But at that moment, the growl in my stomach drowned out the voice in my head. I was ravenous, tired, and so utterly disoriented that I barely registered the strange taste as I took the first bite.

The food was exquisite, bursting with flavors I couldn’t name but instantly craved more of. Each bite seemed to melt on my tongue, warm and comforting, and yet… something felt off. It was as if the sweetness masked something else, something bitter.

I put down the fork, suddenly feeling a wave of nausea. At first, I thought it was just my nerves. But the more i chewed, the more my body felt strange, my vision started blurring as my body rebelled against the food I had so eagerly devoured.

“Hades,” I whispered, or at least I thought I did. The words barely made it past my lips, my voice a thin, trembling thread. I tried to rise from my bed but my legs gave out beneath me, sending me crashing to the cold, stone floor.

I looked up, searching for his face, for any sign of what was happening to me. But all I saw was darkness, the shadows of the walls closing in around me. I felt a sharp pain in my chest, as if a vice had clamped down on my heart, squeezing until I could barely breathe.

And then it hit me. Poison.
It tasted slightly the same as the one Natalie gave me.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, or maybe it was just a gasp, choked out by the pain coursing through me.

Why? Why had he done this? My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle as my body began to betray me. Was this a test? A punishment? He seemed so panicked the first time. Another laugh escaped my mouth
Did he just want to kill me himself?
no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t come up with an answer. All I could think of was the way he had looked at me, the cold look in his eyes when he told me to eat.

I wanted to hate him, to curse his name as my vision faded, but all I felt was despair. Despair and a growing fear of what was to come. My body was shutting down, the poison taking hold with every beat of my weakening heart. And Hades—where was he?