How High

The cards in Dark's hand kept changing. Kings became queens, suits swapped, numbers disappeared altogether. She was having such a hard time keeping track of the game, much to Circe and Thia's amusement, that she was blindly swapping out her cards and hoping for the best.

"How hard is your head spinning right now?" Circe stifled a laugh as Dark closed her eyes and blinked three times to clear her head.

"Shut the hell up, please," Dark scowled as the cards changed again. She laid her cards down face up and cringed, "I'll have you know these drugs are bad, I can hardly see straight. And if one of you wins, I declare you cheated," she grinned.

Circe cursed as everyone laid their cards out and determined Dark had won the hand despite the odds, "You're lucky as hell. I bet you can't even tell the cards apart! The first thing to go is your sight."

"Drink, you shit-talking bitches!" Dark shoved a sloppy shot across the table to each of her friends. Losers needed to drink, as per their established rules and she was happy to give them both the finger for doubting her ability to win. Though she definitely had to admit she really hadn't been able to figure her hand out at all, "And what the hell do you mean sight goes first? What comes next? Why didn't anyone tell me what was going to happen when I took the pills?"

The room suddenly exploded in a burst of bright colored specks and lights that rocked through her like fireworks. Dark jumped back with a start, her momentum so hard her entire chair tipped before she could stop it. She slapped the floor with a shout.

Her brain was filled with light and joy and color, endless color, every color between the lines on a rainbow. It was breathtaking and insane. As quickly as it happened, it all slammed back together into the shape of the room. When her vision cleared, though she was sure her pupils were the size of craters, and the room looked like nothing had changed.

"What the fuck was that?!"

"Oh shit, they're really hitting her now," CeeCee howled, tossing back her shot, "We didn't tell you what to expect because it's always hilarious to watch someone's first trip. What'd you see?"

Gasping and giggling like a madwoman, Dark didn't even bother getting up, her body felt too good to move. She was suddenly boneless, "So many lights. It was like the world was made up of color and brightness!" Her words ended on a contented sigh, "It was the prettiest thing I've ever seen."

"Ohhhh just you wait for all the other senses," Thia laughed, "If some funny lights could make your hard ass sentimental, the other senses will knock your socks off! I'm literally eating the tastiest slice of double chocolate fudge on my tongue." Her groan was almost explicit.

"I'm definitely tasting something but it's not cake," Circe winked at Dark.

"Gross!" Thia and Dark grimaced at the same time but Circe shrugged, "No shame in my game. I might have to wait for Zeus when we're finished here." She definitely didn't have to wink but she did anyway and Dark actually gagged.

As if spoken into existence, a flash of lightning, a splash of water and a shroud of darkness deposited three surprised gods in front of the fireplace. Dark snickered and rolled her head towards them.

"Well speak of the fucking devils and they shall appear! Are they another hallucination?" she laughed at the three bewildered faces staring at her. For once, all three actually looked pretty casual in various cotton shirts and jeans. Dark didn't think she'd ever seen Zeus in something that didn't look like it cost a million dollars so she was pretty sure her imagination was running away with her. Hades and Poseidon both looked like something the cat dragged in. She wondered if they'd finally had it out over the wine cellar.

"Not bad brain..." Dark blatantly ogled the three men, "I'll take it, even the asshole. They sure are pretty to look at. Seems unfair somehow that they're all brothers am I right?"

"Fuck, no, they aren't a hallucination," CeeCee hissed, "Will you shut up?" But Dark wasn't paying attention to her, she'd moved on to watching Hades' jaw twitch. Gods that jaw could cut glass. Thia cursed, jumping out of her seat so fast she almost toppled the table, "H-highness," she bowed quickly.

Dark hadn't moved from the ground, blearily watching the two groups of gods stare at one another. Several seconds ticked by where no one said anything and she was starting to think these gods might have actually been real. Once again her body interrupted her brain, "It's fucking hot as Hades in here," Dark snorted, dissolving back into giggles, "You guys get it? 'Cause Hades is right there?" Thia shook her head and bit back a smile as Dark wiggled out of her jean jacket, leaving her in a thin, black spaghetti strap top that might have been a bit too small now that she really looked at it.

"Is she high?" Poseidon quirked a brow, subtly giving Dark a detached once over. Hades glared straight at Thia, who put her hands up as if they were a shield, "In my defense highness, we're all high? She's just a little *more* high than the rest of us... you know, because she's never taken it before?" Her voice came out squeaky and small.

"Why the hell do you sound like that?" Dark sat up off the floor, "Is my hearing going now? I didn't take you for a mouse Thiaaaaa. Oh my gosh, is this how I SOUND? Ew gods, no!" Dark tried to make her voice deeper, then lighter. She was so focused on changing the timber of her voice, she hardly noticed Hades moving quickly. He glided across the floor towards her and Dark felt her heart sputter. He really was a gorgeous god and if his facial expression told her anything, it was that she might have been the most important person to him.

She might not have minded being his entire world for once. Gods, being high was something else. All that emotion in her chest over a pretty face? She noted the small cracks that were healing as if he'd been in a fight and his normally cultivated hair was disheveled around his head, a few loose pieces framing his eyes. And those eyes, all that power and promise focused straight on her like a laser made her blood heat. He'd definitely fought Poseidon and she was sure two gods fighting over her was pretty hot. She thought back to him fighting Tantalus too and she licked her bottom lip.

"Come on, Dark" Hades whispered as he ignored her mouth completely, crouching in front of her to extend his open hand, "You need some fresh air. We'll take a walk and let the rest of them sort this out, hmm?"

Dark nodded, dumb smile and all, letting him pull her to her feet. Gods he felt amazing. It was like standing beside a campfire and if she hadn't already been sweltering, she might have molded closer to him. One arm wrapped around her back and cupped against her waist as Hades led her out of the room. His thin, long-sleeved thermal left nothing to the imagination as he held her. She could feel every flex of his muscles against her side.

"Thanks, I think I was a second away from melting... I might still be," she mumbled as they walked towards the garden entrance, "But you don't have to do this if it makes you uncomfortable..." She corrected quickly and felt him staring down at her, his eyes on her skin as intense as the rest of him.

"Why would being with you make me uncomfortable, Dark? Who told you that?" Even as hard as he was trying, Hades didn't manage to force all the anger out of his voice. Why did he act like someone was telling her lies? He tightened his hold on her.

"Because I know it's hard to look at me and see her. I get that. I'm not even mad about it," she shrugged, pulling away as he pushed open the heavy doors to the outside, "You love her so that makes sense and I'm... sorry? Gods, people really say that to each other? I don't like the way the word tastes in my mouth... but anyway I am *sorry* I let things get out of control the other night... it's an unnecessary complication. So don't worry about it happening again."

She sighed, feeling her mouth fill with her mother's hot chocolate. She could even taste the mini marshmallows. Gods Angel's memories of their mother flooded her mind. How could she miss a woman she'd never met? It didn't make sense but she did. Would she be proud of them? Or disappointed?

Stepping away from Hades, she walked along the garden path, enjoying the nostalgic taste on her tongue, the breeze on her hot skin, the twinkling beauty of a sky full of stars. It was so silent between them, she wasn't even sure he was still walking with her. Maybe he'd gone back inside with the others. Maybe it really was too difficult for him to be around her. Dark's foot stumbled and a strong hand held her stable before scooping her up.

"Come on, you should sit down before your senses run away from you," Hades carried her over to a bench and sat with her draped across his lap, her knees leaned against his chest. Hades looked over her face and sighed a laugh, "It's nice when you're wearing something other than a scowl on your face."

"Excuse me?! I do not walk around scowling! That's just-"

"You absolutely do. Trying to prove to everyone just how little you feel right? Don't worry I won't tell anyone you secretly have a heart," his subtle smirk made her blood roar and it wasn't from anger this time.

"I do not have a heart Hades!" she tried to yell but it was more like a breathless shout.

"You do, Dark, you definitely do. I can hear it when you say my name," his voice lowered an octave, "Say it again."

"You're all just so annoying it's hard not to be frustrated!" she rolled her eyes to avoid looking at him as much as she avoided his command, feeling his fingers tighten flat against her stomach.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that and maybe one day you'll believe it. But it's not today. I can hear your heartbeat racing. I see can see your pupils. I know what's underneath all that bite, Dark. I know it better than anybody."

Dark shifted so she could look back out at the garden, "You're seeing what you want to see."

"So are you."