“Sorry, I talk to myself too much,” I apologized to him.
But then, there would come a day when he won’t need me anymore. I’d go back to earth and have to forget about all this. I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone because everyone would think I’m crazier than I already was.
I’d just go back to being a mortal that just exists.
I sighed and leaned back into the pillow.
Because after knowing what there is here now, nothing seems as awesome.
I tossed my head back and forth on the pillow.
I thought it’d been hours, maybe even days. There is no sun, no light.
No clock.
I couldn’t sleep.
Fluffy moved away from me hours ago. I couldn’t feel the warmth of his body since I’d been thrashing about, trying to get a better position. None of it worked, obviously because I was still laying here.
I let out a sigh, and let my eyes burst open. Instead of seeing the darkness and the few flickering candles I’m face to face with navy blue eyes and long white hair and a large white-winged body kneeling beside the bed.
I screamed, waving my hands in front of myself, and pushed myself to the other side of the pillows. Fluffy jumped into action,his maw showing rows and rows of large, massive teeth, the back of his hair stood on end. His claws seeped into the fabric of the mattress, ripping and tearing as he lunged forward and got into the intruder’s face.
Fluffy snarled, clashing his fangs at the dark-skinned male. The intruder smiled, white bright teeth with fangs touching his dark lips. “Hello, Juniper.” His voice came out soft and smooth but that didn’t make me let down my guard.
“Fluffy,” he chastised. “Here, do you want a treat?” He ruffled through his white robe that looked similar to Thanatos’ and pulled out a cookie and tossed into the air.
Fluffy would never, Fluffy would protect me.
Except he didn’t. Fluffy jumped off the bed and snapped the cookie out of midair.
I have been betrayed!
Fluffy licked his maw and jumped back on the bed, twirling around my warm spot on the bed, and let out a long huff before quickly going to sleep.
The long, white-haired, dark elf king now stared at me, and I shifted uncomfortably with a large pillow in front of me as my only protection.
“Uh, so who are you?” I asked.
He doesn’t look like any sort of god I’ve ever seen. Then again, Athena and Thanatos looked nothing like what I would have pictured either.
“The name is Hypnos.” He took a deep bow, his long white nails pushing back his hair.
I raised an eyebrow, still clutching the pillow tightly. “Hypnos?” I asked, my voice laced with skepticism.
He chuckled softly, a melodic sound that seemed to echo through the room. He hummed in disappointment. “Typical. I’m not one of the twelve popular gods. You wouldn’t know me, anyway. I govern over dreams and sleep. Maybe you have heardof the Sandman?” He straightened up and gracefully moved closer, his white feather wings folded neatly behind him.
Fluffy stirred beside me, sensing the tension in the room. His ears perked up, and he growled low, his protective instincts once again coming to the surface. I placed a hand on his back, not for his comfort, but mine.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, trying to mask my unease with a hint of bravery. “And how did you even get in?”
He stepped forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Oh, Juniper, there are many ways to enter this place.” Hypnos waved his hand casually towards the curtains, causing them to flutter and reveal a hidden doorway behind them. “As for why I am here, well, I couldn’t resist paying a visit to the mortal who has captured Thanatos’s attention.”
“How do you know my name? And how did you know Thanatos brought me here?”
Hypnos played with his long nails. “I was here when he brought you. I stilled your heart so you wouldn’t bleed out all over the floor. Thanatos was distraught that your body would cease working and your soul wouldn’t have a place to inhabit.”
My heart skipped a beat. Thanatos had been upset? A mix of excitement and apprehension flooded through me, but I shook my head. “He was just upset that he would lose information about the club I was at.”
