I pulled away from the woman. “Don’t even try to set me off by running away. I would be back” I said to the Earl. turning away as fast as I came, blending into the night.
Something was wrong. I could feel it. Scylla never sent me a warning. Never and now she was not only sending me a warning but calling.
Apart from that, I could not shake off the feeling that something had gone horribly wrong.
I appeared at my chambers looking around.
Valerie.
If it was a dangerous soul escaping from the other side of the stynx river, I had to make sure that she was safe first.
I almost laughed at the thought. I was putting her before my duties. “the fates would be mortified if they heard that” I muttered to myself as I walked around, still looking for her.
I grew more and more restless the more
“Valerie!” My voice echoed through the halls, still no response.
I moved through the place with an increasing speed. Each empty room I entered, each corridor I passed through without seeing her, tightened the knot in my chest. I was a god, and yet in this moment, I felt powerless, consumed by the thought that something might have happened to her.
She wouldn’t have left the Underworld. She couldn’t, would she have escaped Cerb?’ I thought as I tried to think of places she could be.
The Garden.
As I approached the garden, a chill ran down my spine. The air here was different—colder, heavier, li could smell freshly squeezed orange and cinnamon.
I pushed open the double doored gate, my heart pounding in my chest.
“she was here” I muttered in relief, still not completely settled, but at least she was not hurt, or did not look it.
At first, I thought she was asleep, her body sprawled among the flowers she loved so much. But as I stepped closer....
She was still, too still. Her skin, usually warm and glowing with life, was now pale, almost translucent, like the petals of the flowers that surrounded her. Her eyes... they were closed, her long lashes resting against her cheeks. Her lips, slightly parted, and looked cold
I fell to my knees beside her, my hands trembling as I reached out to touch her. Her skin was cold under my fingertips, a lifeless cold that I knew too well. A cold that signified the end of life, the passage into my domain.
“No,” I whispered, the word tearing from my throat. “Valerie, no... i fucking told you, you could not die!!!!” I roared trying to bring her back.
It was useless. My powers, no matter how much I tried were useless on her.
I gathered her into my arms, cradling her against my chest, hoping—praying—that she would stir, that this was some cruel illusion. But her body remained limp, unresponsive, her breath forever stilled. The scent of wildflowers clung to her, mingling with the deathly chill that now surrounded her.
“My lord...” Cerberus came into the room, looking a bit panicked with his nose scrunched up in the air. “I smell poison” he said, saying something I already knew.
“go to the stynx, get her back. I don’t care what you do to bring her back.” I said, clutching the lifeless body to me.
“yes” he bowed, shoving down what he had to say back down his throat.
It felt like years when I saw her soul at the entrance, looking at me... she looked...
Happy?
Satisfied?
I laughed. If the other gods heard that I could not read a soul I would be the mockery of all of olympus.
**
I wanted to stay far away from her as possible but I could not. It felt as though invincible strings drew me closer to her each and everytime I wanted to leave
“my lord” Cerberus greeted, entering my room. “her lesser demon Natalie is no where to be found, and there has been no trace of her leaving through the gates.
I clenched my fists at the information it was pointless. “but I did fund Aphrodite’s essence in some places where she and Valerie were.” He said the last part, looking a bit skeptical about saying it.
“thank you cerb. Please keep a closer eye on her this time. I have am unfinished business with sister.” I could barely recognise my voice but I did not care. I had clearly told them all to stay out of the underworld.
I stood up, being as stealthy as I could went to go and see Valerie before leaving the underworld.
‘Please be safe’ I pleaded as I watched her back calmly. Rise and fall as she slept. ‘I would be back’
I made my way to leave but physically could not bring myself to do it.
“there is no way I could leave her again. And I knew it” I muttered. Angry at myself for being a little weak.
I closed my eyes, summoning her instead.
The air crackled with tension as I summoned her, the force of my will cutting through the veil between realms. It was not long before she appeared, her beauty stunning any man she wished but I was used to her, immune to it even. The only person that did faze me was.....
I cut myself short, forcing myself not to dare go down that thought process.
“Hades,” she greeted, her voice as smooth as honey. There was an edge to it, though, a wariness that she couldn’t quite mask. “What is the meaning of this summons? You know it is not wise to call upon me without reason.”
I stepped forward, the shadows shifting and twisting around me. My gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment.
“You have overstepped, Aphrodite,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “You have meddled in my affairs, and it ends now.”
She arched an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I meddle in many affairs, Hades. You’ll have to be more specific.”
“Valerie,” I growled, the name tearing from my throat with barely restrained fury.
Her smile faltered slightly, but she remained composed. “Valerie? She was never meant for you, Hades. And if i have to go through this part to clear this mistake of the fates then so be it.”
“A mistake?” I echoed, my anger rising. “You dare her mistake? She is mine. And you will not touch her again.”
“Stop being a fool and listen to me” she snapped, the playfulness fading.
“no, you listen. I have gotten my memories and I would not mind being stupid again and ending it all this time if you touch a single hair on her head. I suggest you think it through because if I die, your life force is still linked to mine, don’t test me” I said vanishing her in an instance, not even bothering to hear what she had to say.