Chapter 36

**CHAPTER 36**

**"That was one fine dinner,"** Allison muttered to herself as she drank her glass of water.

The next thing she'll do? Sleep, of course.

She made her way out of the kitchen and walked down the halls while remembering the directions she should take. She went past the drawing-room to find the staircase when something caught her attention.

She turned her head to look at the thing and assured herself that it was real. The whole place was already dark, but it was so vivid, it was scorching with extreme luster. It was the only thing that illuminated the whole area. She couldn't believe her eyes were seeing, and she hoped it was real because if it weren't, she'd be damned.

It was a golden piano.

Drawn by the beauty it holds, Allison couldn't control herself from walking towards the piano. She needed to get close to it. She needed to touch it. She needed to prove that it was real, that it was right there, and it wasn't a figment of her imagination. Every step she took was heavy and felt extremely surreal. 'Is this for real?' she asked herself.

When she was close, she inspected every inch and detail of the piano. It was shining gold. The trademark Steinway and Sons were carved with imperial black. She placed her hand painstakingly on a name carved on the piano below the brand name.

Ouranus Timothy Nikolo de Vries

Ouranos Timothy Nikolo de Vries? Who was he? Whoever he was, surely, he had blood ties with Hades. Slowly, she lifted the cover, revealing the piano's shiny keys. She couldn't help but brush her fingers past the keys. She thought that Ouranos de Vries must have been filthily rich to have a piano like this.

The piano bestowed her desire to play it, and she couldn't resist herself. Allison sat on the chair and placed her fingers on the keys. She applied a small force from her pinky finger, which gave the piano a sweet sound that added coal towards the fire. She then pressed her index finger and followed by her middle finger.

She began to play a familiar tune, a piece of music that she loved to play on the instrument. Swan Lake by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Allison closed her eyes, savoring every tune she heard, giving all of her grief and hatred by pressing her fingers gently against the keys, creating a sentimental, wonderful melody.

Her mind was in inexplicable serenity while she was playing. It was as if her problems were gone, and her worries were gone. Even her hatred for Hades was gone. How she wished she could play forever. Allison was in complete bliss. She felt heaven.

When she pressed the last key, a loud clap echoed around the walls of the drawing-room, surprising her. She opened her eyes in an instant, only to find Hades looking at her with deep admiration like she's an angel from heaven. She was flustered. She didn't expect him to see her play. He was busy in the gym, after all. The gym. The word made her remember all the scenarios she had seen. Hades' sexy back, toned chest, bulky arms, the abs...

Allison shook her head.

"Did you like my surprise?" she heard Hades' deep baritone voice ask as he drew close to her with extreme finesse.

That shocked her that rendered him to be answered with her silence. And silence meant yes. When he was close, he sat by her side. She felt the weird tingles when his skin touched hers and her stomach tied into a knot. 'What the heck is this?' she wondered.

"This piano belongs to my father," he stated as he placed a finger on one of the keys.

"For him, the sound of a piano is his stress reliever. It was his placate when he was frustrated or stuck between problems. When he's angry, a composition can make calm him down..." his fingers began to move and press some keys, playing a familiar tune. "...it can even make him sleep if he gets attacked by insomnia. Especially this one," he said while playing. The feeling of familiarity ignited Allison's veins. The song sounded so familiar. She was sure that she had played that song before. The title was already at the tip of her tongue.

"Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel," she stated when she recognized the whole melody.

"This is his favorite," he said with a smile, his fingers still pressing keys gracefully, playing the chorus. "Will you play with me?" he asked, looking at her with his eyes pleading.

She wanted to say no, but the melody, the lovely music, was coaxing her to say yes. How she wished she could resist such beautiful music, but she couldn't. The piano was her weakness, but it couldn't stop her from hating him deeply or even having a good impression of him. But she would forget the ugly deeds he has done, for now.

She looked into his eyes and nodded. She's just going to play with him, nothing more, nothing less. Allison placed her fingers on the keys and played the song that first came into her mind. She couldn't remember its title, but she remembered its dreamy melody.

Two lovely songs twisted together turned into a beautiful mash-up. She couldn't believe it. Such harmony between two songs was made, creating an immensely hypnotizing, stupendous melody. Time began to feel slow once again. Her hands moved and pressed the keys lightly with rhythm and refinement. She unconsciously closed her eyes as she listened to the sweet melody, taking pleasure in every single note that came to her ears, making her oddly giddy. The music was like a drug, and it was making her high. How she wished the music would keep on playing forever.

She finally opened her eyes and brushed her eyes at the man beside her who was playing alongside her, curious of him. There, she saw him. Like her, Hades was fully drunk with the music. His eyes were also closed, savoring every note he heard. And his fingers, oh, his fingers moved with excellence, as if he had mastered the song for a very long time. Both of them were in complete bliss.

Finally, the music ended. Their fingers were shaking, breathing hitched, and sweats dropping. The whole mash-up was relishing but tiring at the same time. Allison turned her head to look at Hades, who was looking at her with a burning passion. In an instant, her emotions burst out like a bomb, making her oblivious of every single moment that happened minutes ago. What just happened?

"I heard you were good, but I never knew you were that good," he said, his eyes still staring at her with the same passion and intensity.

"Thank you... you weren't bad yourself." That was all she could say.

From her face, his eyes moved past above her and said before standing up. "It's already 4 AM. We better get to bed now."

She stared at his tall frame before getting on her feet. The harmonious melody they played together began humming in her ears. She remembered every note played and every emotion poured while playing the song like an unbroken vinyl. Allison felt Hades' passion and longing, his constant love for his father, and his yearning to see the latter once again. She looked at the gold piano that was standing before them. Hades' surprise for her. She knew it ached him to see this piano again, but he pulled it out from the shadows and made it a gift for her. The gesture made her feel warm and special. She didn't know why she was given something special like this piano, but she's thankful. Extremely thankful.

"Hades," she called out.

"Hmm?" he asked, his attention given fully to her.

She mustered up the courage, went on her toes, slightly pulled him down by his shirt, and placed her lips on his cheek. "... Thank you. I love the piano, Hades."