Surely, that goes against everything he stands for in this place.
I open my mouth, eager to have answers, but then I close it as he steps closer to me, his hands shaking with barely contained anger.
“Show me your wrist,” he growls, his eyes ablaze from within.
I hesitate, only just now realizing I’m still clutching it to my chest, and slowly hold it out to him. He takes it tenderly in the heat of his own hand, turning it over as his jawline hardens.
“Does it hurt?”
“Only a little.”
A low rumble rolls through him at this, and he releases my hand.
“Come, I must get you back to your room. Quickly.”
Silence stretches between us as we continue the journey back to my tower. I chew my lip in ever-growing bewilderment as we start up the stairs that lead to my room.
Unable to help myself, my eyes continue to slip to him, but he refuses to look back or even acknowledge my presence again. I’m starting to get the sense that he wishes he hadn’t interrupted Hades, and yet, I can’t say that I’m upset that he did.
Questions flood my mind, dancing at the tip of my tongue as they beg to be asked. But I hold them at bay. In his current mood, I doubt I’ll get any answers from him.
If he even has any answers to give.
We reach my room and I’m almost relieved to step over the threshold. At least here, I know the rules of the game, with no one but myself to entertain.
Cerberus’ eyes scan the room before he nods to himself and turns to leave. I watch as his massive form bends to slip beneath the frame, and I suddenly realize that I still need to thank him.
He did, after all, save me from whatever it is Hades had planned for tonight.
“Cerberus, wait,” I say, my voice coming out soft. He pauses halfway out the door, his form strangely still for a moment. “Thank you. Truly.”
I don’t expect him to say anything back, let alone make it clear that he heard me, but then he slowly turns to meet my eyes over his shoulder. The fire in them is still smoldering, casting strange shadows across his face as he gives me a nod.
“You are welcome, mortal.” Then, without another word, he closes the door and turns the key in the lock.
Alone again, I let out a sigh as I sink down onto the bed.
My entire body shudders as I draw in a breath and try to process everything that just happened between me and Hades. Though I’m not entirely sure what this shift in Hades actually means for me.
And then there’s the question of Cerberus’ loyalty.
Giving myself a moment to calm down, I stand and shake the confusion that’s begun to cloud my head. I move into the bathroom, suddenly eager to wash away whatever remains of the sensation of his touch on my skin.
The hot water does little to ease my racing mind and heart, though. Even as I clean my face and change back into a simple nightgown, my thoughts keep returning to the events of the evening.
Somehow, I seem to have captured Hades’ attention without even trying. Of course, it would be now that he took an interest in me. Now that I no longer want to step foot down that path.
I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
Staring at my reflection, I can’t help but wonder, why me?
What did I do to deserve this special place in hell?
All I wanted to do was to save my father’s life.
And yet, somehow, I’ve not only failed at doing so, but I’ve also managed to end up in the Underworld as Hades’ prisoner.
Too many questions bounce about my head. None of them with answers I can even pretend to grasp.
