by Lola James
“That Hades is something. He was so afraid of you staying with me that he got your place back for you.” He made his way around my tiny apartment.
“I guess, or he knew, that I would never be able to make a decision with you around.” I put the empty mug in the sink, satisfied with what little I had.
“On the contrary, I would never attempt to sway your decision.” Ben moved in front of me, so close our lips almost touched.
“So this date isn’t an attempt to make me see why I should choose you?” I stepped back as he stepped forward. I knew where this could lead. I just drank blood, Ben smelled delicious and he was in my face. I turned to go across the room, but he grabbed my hand before I could get away.
“No, I know that you will choose me; because we were meant to be.” His confident words shook me. His coolness was refreshing and tickled my heart. I made the decision, but I doubted myself the entire time. “We should go before it gets dark.” He motioned his head towards the door.
I nodded, grabbing the diary to bring with me. I read more last night and I had questions for him. I stuffed it in my bag and picked up my purse from the dresser, before making my way to the door.
I locked the door and we were in the elevator. We stood on opposite sides. I pulled the strap of my purse over my head letting it rest across my body.
“That blue really brings out your eyes.” I couldn’t help but smile. Ben always had a way of making me feel gorgeous.
I moved forward and closer to him.
“Thank you, Ben.” I felt myself losing control. The bloodlust was taking over.
He grabbed my hand as the elevator dinged on the first floor.
We walked off, hand and hand. He was the perfect gentleman, opening the door and helping me in.
“Where are we going?” I asked, getting control of the lust.
“Somewhere you’ll love” was all he said as we began to drive down my street. I didn’t say much during the car ride. I was too busy trying to keep my yearning under control. But when we entered the Grand View Park, I knew exactly where he was taking me.
I looked down at my feet and the flats that Dawn put me in were not the shoes for hiking. “I hate to break it to you, Ben, but I can’t hike in these.” I twirled my feet around and he just chuckled and shook his head.
We drove to the furthest part that we could get to by car. I had never driven this route on my bike. There were too many rocks and pebbles.
He stopped the truck and winked at me before hopping out of the car. He was at my door in an instant. “Do you trust me?” He asked and I side eyed him as he held out a blindfold. I nodded, not knowing what to think. He had brought me to my favorite place to relax, but he wanted to blindfold me. He helped me out of the truck and closed the door.
He leaned forward, putting the blindfold over my head covering my eyes.
I felt him scoop me up and into his arms. I felt the heavy bag dangling at my side when we began moving. I could only feel a breeze and I wasn’t sure if that was from our movement or the sea breeze.
We stopped and he put me down. He stood behind me and kissed my neck before he took the blindfold off.
The majestic colors of orange and pink lit up the light blue sky. The sun had begun descending into the water and the mirrored image reflected its brilliance.
It was perfect. I never thought a simple sunset would make me feel so much better. The heat from the sun beat down on my skin. My heart was heavy and I wanted to blurt out my decision, but I knew that we should talk and build up to it.
I felt Ben’s left arm cross my body as his right hand presented my camera. My old, 35mm Lomo camera was sitting in front of me with the perfect sunset to capture. I grabbed the camera and turned to look back at Ben.
“How did you know?” I asked searching his face for an answer. He smiled and nodded his head forward.
“You should get that shot,” He said. It was obvious he wasn’t giving me his source, but I knew that Dawn had something to do with it.
I turned and moved my body forward. I held the camera to my eye and focused through the viewfinder. I stood in awe before my finger began to snap the perfect shot. I turned the camera in various directions capturing the water swallowing the sun.
I spun around. “Why did you bring me here?” Ben tried his best to not make eye contact with me. I racked my brain trying to figure out if I had ever mentioned coming here, but I was pretty sure that I hadn’t.
“To get that shot,” He answered as I turned the camera on him. He was smiling, showing off his dimples and his messy black hair. He looked perfect. I cranked the camera and snapped pictures of him before he could object.
As perfect as this moment was, my mind was clouded with Hades and his thoughts on the letter I had sent. Ben removed the camera from my eye and tilted my head back, softly kissing my lips.
I closed my eyes and Hades face came into perfect view. My lids opened quickly and I pushed back from Ben.
“What’s wrong?” He asked with wide eyes. I had no words to explain that our kiss just reminded me of my other lover. I stood, speechless, and then saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. Someone walked up. I leaned to the side and looked past Ben to see who was walking up to us.
“Kevin,” I said as Ben’s mouth dropped open.
Ben swiftly turned around. I looked Kevin up and down, he seemed like he had been working out, wearing his tracksuit pants and a T-shirt.
Sweat beads streamed down the side of his face. The erratic beat of his heart was what had me. He had either been working out or on the run of his life. The perfect beat lured me in and I moved closer to him.
“What are you doing here?” He asked as if he hadn’t just shown up on my date. But he was a momentary distraction, which was working to my bloodlust advantage.
“On a date.” Ben’s voice was a little more edgy than it needed to be.
“We were taking pictures of the sunset. “I tried to explain it without bringing up my decision. I’d already broken Kevin’s heart, once. No need to do it again.
“Nice, bring your new boyfriend to our first date spot in San Francisco.” Kevin’s jaws tightened and his fist flinched. “And with the camera that I bought you, nonetheless.”
“She had no idea we were coming here.” Ben walked up behind me wrapping his arm around my waist. It was hard to pay attention to everything with the thumping in my ears.
“Well, I call it convenient.” Kevin’s smugness was the same as the day he met Ben. The pissing match between them was getting old.
“Well, continue your workout or whatever it is that you are doing here. We have a sunset to watch.” Ben was firm with his words.
Kevin smirked and said, “I am not leaving, yet. I came here for a purpose.”
I looked over my shoulder and up at Ben.
“Very well, I guess you can also watch the sunset.” Ben shrugged and took my hand pulling me away from where I stood. Kevin grabbed my free hand.
“You see, that’s where you are wrong, vampire.” His words stopped Ben in his tracks.
I looked over at Kevin, whose green eyes looked on fire. Suddenly, the piercing green and orange smoldered to where it hurt to look at him. “I’ve come to do what should have been done before.” Kevin moved so close I could feel the heat of his breath on me.
I closed my eyes as flashes of my life with Kevin came back to me. Happy childhood memories of us hiding where no one could find us, talking about our future lives—although I didn’t know that he wanted his future with me. Another flash of our lifetime of marriages and our travels across the world, while I had no memory of who I really was. I grabbed my dress at my chest as my body crumpled over onto him. My heart was breaking for him in that moment. Those thoughts played rapidly through his mind and holding his hand transferred them to me.
I opened my eyes to find a grimace on Kevin’s face.
“Just know that I love you and I’d rather not see you with either of them.” His face softene
d as he pulled the stake out of his pocket drawing it back.
It felt like everything was moving in slow motion. Kevin had the stake in his hands with tight lips pressed together in a slight grimace. I should have used my vampire speed to get out of the way but I couldn’t. I was frozen in time and space. My body wouldn’t move, like it had succumbed to dying. Maybe this is what was needed—for me to die. Hades could live without me, Ben would go on and find another love, and Kevin… there had to be someone in this world or the next that would love him more than he ever loved me. I closed my eyes and a tear rolled down the side of my face.
Everything sounded warped. Ben called my name as I fell to the ground. My eyes met Ben’s.
“I love you, always” were his last words before he exploded into dust.
The wind swept some of the dust, but most fell to the ground.
I shook my head, realizing what had just happened. The dust had begun to settle as a high-pitched sound came from my voice and tears streamed down my face. Ben had sacrificed his life for mine. I sprung to my feet and kicked off my shoes. My focus was on Kevin. I didn’t know if I should kill or torture him.
“You killed Ben.” My fangs elongated. I didn’t know exactly how I was going to do this but it was about to happen. I let my natural vampire instinct take over. My strength returned and any pity I had felt for Kevin dissipated.
“You foolish mortal. You killed the wrong vampire.” Her voice was distinct and one I would have known, anywhere. It belonged to Persephone. The malicious look and frown, coupled with her folded arms and pointed look, showed her anger toward Kevin.
I glanced between the two of them. One was the puppet and the other the puppeteer. My stomach wrenched and I clutched it on reflex. Bile formed in my throat at the thought of them working together to kill me.
“Why?” was all that my shaky voice would say in a hushed tone.
“You,” Persephone said, turning to face me. “I want you dead and I can’t harm you; but your friend here, he can.” She cackled and I directed my eyes to Kevin’s. I dropped my hands to my side and balled them into fists. I was torn between the breaking of my heart for Ben and the loathe I had for both Kevin and Persephone. I moved forward so quickly that Kevin could not react. I grabbed him by his neck. His face turned many shades of red as I cut off his circulation.
“This is for Ben.” I tore into the side of his neck, puncturing his jugular. Blood ran down his neck and I gulped it, extinguishing my thirst as his pulse stopped with the beating of his heart.
I threw his limp body to the ground. I wiped the blood that dripped from my mouth with the back of my hand.
In a blink, I was in front of Persephone. Her smile disappeared and was replaced with a scowl. As I grabbed her wrists, her eyes widened.
“I will find a way to kill you.” My voice was even and low. I had a desire for vengeance. “My words will haunt you until you go mad and that’s the day you will die.” I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but I was.
Her eyes narrowed and her perfect brows rose. I could tell my words shook her. The confidence she came with diluted to nothing.
“We’ll see about that.” Her telltale gray smoke sucked her in and she vanished before my eyes.
I dropped to my knees, ignoring Kevin’s body and crawling over to the pile of ash. My body fell forward and collapsed as I cried.
I mentally began playing the past few moments in my head. Ben saying that he loved me and pushing me out of the way to die in my place, so foolishly romantic.
I rolled on my back to gaze at the darkened sky fisting a handful of Ben. The light fog rolled in slowly as I lay there with tears falling down my face. He was gone forever.
***
“Antonia?” I sat up thinking that I was imagining the voice of Hades. How would he know where I was? Did he know what had happened?
I saw him move forward through the cloud of gray smoke.
“My sweet.” I saw his hand extend to me.
“Hades.”.
“What has happened here? And why are you crying?” He quickly surveyed the area and saw Kevin dead and the pile of ash I was laying beside.
I couldn’t speak. I shook my head and buried it into his chest as he wrapped me in his arms. I felt protected and safe in that moment, but unable to express anything.
“Don’t cry, I will fix this for you, my love. I can always give you what your heart desires the most.” His words were soft and sweet. He rubbed my back. “What happened to the one you called Kevin?”
I pulled my teary eyes back. “I—I drained him; but he…” I muttered, wiping my tears away. “He killed Ben instead of me and Persephone….” I began hyperventilating and I knew my words didn’t make any sense.
“What has Persephone done now?” His lips pulled back baring his teeth and his body tensed. He cupped my face into his hands. “Tell me, Antonia.” I will fix this at once.
I could only shake my head. There was no way he could bring a pile of ash back to life. I swallowed the knot in my throat and took in a deep breath.
“She tried to have Kevin kill me; and Ben pushed me out of the way and died in my place. And in a blind mad rage, I drained Kevin until he—died.” My thoughts were shattered. I didn’t know what I else I could do. Hades’ warm eyes comforted me without a single word. He pulled me into his arms, cradling me like a child.
“She will pay.” He tried to soothe me as we stood there. “Did he lure you here?” he asked.
I shook my head, “No, I was here on a date with Ben.” I didn’t think as the words escaped my mouth.
“I see,” was his only response.
“I am so glad you found me.” I hugged him tighter. I would have stayed here unable to think of my next move. I couldn’t leave Ben or hell, even Kevin’s body.
“I will always be here for you, Antonia.” He pulled me back to stare into my eyes. “But I don’t want to be your second choice just because the vampire has died.”
I gave him a blank stare as my mind raced with what he meant.
“What?” I rubbed the side of my face, confused.
“I can only assume that you came here with him to tell him of your choice.” A sad smile touched his lips.
“I did but--”
“Shhhh.” He pressed his warm finger to my lip. “I understand.”
“Have you not seen Hermes?” I questioned.
“Yes, at Council; that is why I came to you. I had good news, but sadly my news would not be warranted.”
My brows furrowed, “What news? I could stand to hear anything good right now.” My head flinched back waiting to hear.
“I am no longer married to Persephone.” Hades words sounded like a dream. I couldn’t quite comprehend through the fog. Somehow, his words stood out. He’d convinced Zeus to free him from that bitch. He just didn’t know she was on my death list.
“But, how? Why?” I wanted to flood him with questions but I couldn’t wrap my mind around any of it. My chest was heavy and mind clouded.
“I spoke before the other gods and asked them to free me from my venomous marriage.” He smiled at me, kissing my lips softly.
“But Hermes has a letter for you,” I said. I shook my head. “Call him,” I demanded. Hades nodded and called the name of the god that Dawn was supposed to give the letter to.
Within seconds, Hermes arrived, winged shoes still flapping, and Dawn’s pink lipstick smeared on his neck. Dawn was the only person I knew that wore that shade and if it wasn’t hers, he’d have some explaining to do.
“Hermes, do you have a letter for me?” Hades asked pointedly of the younger god.
“Yes, I do.” He pulled my yellow envelope out handed it to him. “I was a bit detained, my regrets.” Hermes took a step back, did and semi-bow and disappeared into thin air. Damn, those gods can make an entrance and exit.
Hades placed the letter to his chest.
“I shall read this at a more appropriate time. For now, I must help you with your hurt
and the loss of the mortal and the vampire.”
I took a step placing my hand on his. “Please read it now.” My puffy eyes softened and a quick nod assured him that I would be fine as he read the letter.
Eleven
Antonia
Hades ripped open the envelope and began reading the letter.
To my Love Hades,
I have never written you a letter, but this needed to be said in a way that you could keep for an eternity. I love you. Just that simply. I know that I want to be with you, forever. I know that a love like we have only comes once in a lifetime and although I may love Ben, I am in love with you. I have loved you since the day I laid eyes on you, back in Larissa. I know that our love is forbidden because you have a wife, and you are a god and I am not; but I will wait every second of every day until you and I can be the happiest that we can be.
I will meet you in Greece, soon. I want to tell Ben that I chose you, in person. I have my flight arrangements leaving soon after I tell him. I can’t wait to be in your arms.
Love eternally,
Antonia
Hades held the letter to his chest and tears formed in his eyes.
“You chose me,” He said breathlessly.
I nodded and he pulled me close to him, protecting me in his arms.
“It was always you. I never had a doubt,” I said. I knew he owned my heart and a no matter how much I cared about anyone else; he was the one that I wanted in my life, always.
We basked in the moment, holding each other. The radiance of love took over and we began to kiss. Our love was deeper and more real than anything I had ever felt. When we were together, we were one.
“What the hell happened and where is Ben?”
Dawn’s voice broke our moment, but not our bond. We pulled apart with our eyes still locked.
I turned to find Dawn and Hermes standing close to Ben’s remains.
