by S. E. Babin
I pointed to the kitchen. Hermes stalked off like a cheetah searching for prey.
Untangling myself from the comfortable nest I’d made on the couch, I grabbed the lights from a few feet away and sat back down, content with wrestling with them for awhile. If we had no lights, we had no tree. Hades stunned that Hera took away his toy, nudged me over and grabbed a large portion of the lights. Artie started messing with her phone until the sounds of Dean Martin filled the air.
I smiled at her, a wobbly one, albeit, but it was a smile.
Her violet gaze narrowed as she saw my reaction but she let it go. For now.
Clotho had chosen to stay upstairs and away from the festivities. I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t feeling so festive myself.
Hermes came back into the room armed with an enormous mug of cocoa, topped with an even more enormous amount of whipped cream. “I like this,” he said. “I would like to bring this to Olympus.”
My hands stilled in their untangling. “I’ll give you the recipe,” I said.
Hermes nodded and murmured a thank you. Whatever we were, it seemed like we were okay. For now.
Hades, for all his talents, seemed to have a special knack for untangling things. Whether this would be a running theme for later, I wasn’t sure, but less than thirty minutes later, we had several hundred feet of lights perfectly straight and laid out for decorating.
Artie grunted in acknowledgment of Hades’ mad untangling skills, but she was still annoyed about the star.
“Are we ready to put these on the tree?” I set my mug down, stood up and grabbed a string of lights. I stood on one side of the massive tree. Hades stood at the back and Hermes stood at the front so we made an assembly line and wrapped the tree with little effort.
Once that was finished, Hera handed over her popcorn mental health exercise and everyone strung that as well. Garland filled with pine cones and berries came next. Along with ornaments and icicles. Then it was time for the star.
I handed the star to Hades because I knew he was a good person and would make the right decision. I suffered from a glare heated enough to give me a first-degree burn, but seconds after he mimed putting the star on the tree, Hades handed it over to Artemis.
“My lady,” he said and bowed slightly. “The pleasure is all yours.”
She blinked at him owlishly before taking it in her long fingers. “Thank you,” she said in surprise.
Hades backed away and winked at me. Magic filled the room as Artie used her power to gently lift herself to the top of the tree. I’d said no magic before, but I’d forgive her this one. Plus I didn’t know where my stepladder was.
Moments later, the star was on the tree and plugged into the lights. She floated down to the floor and we all stood around the tree staring. It was gorgeous.
I glanced around at our motley crew and had to shake my head. Who would have thought we’d all be here right now? It was total insanity.
Yet...we weren’t actively trying to kill each other.
This was a very good thing.
I cleared my throat. “I just wanted to thank everyone for being here. I know this isn’t the most...normal of holidays for us, but still. I take my normal where I can get it.”
Hera leaned over and slung an arm over my shoulder and I tensed wondering if she was going to try to choke me. But she didn’t. She awkwardly patted me and let go. This was Hera’s way of saying she was cool with it, I guess?
I stretched and yawned. “I have an early morning, so I’m going to head upstairs. Please make yourselves at home. There should be more cocoa in the kitchen if Hermes hasn’t drunk it all. I’ll see everyone in the morning.” Something occurred to me. I hadn’t planned on it, but if Clotho’s prediction was true, this could be the last time I saw all of these people together in the same place. “Please dress for a late lunch tomorrow.”
Wide-eyed stares followed me up as I headed to my bedroom. It was a strange request since we weren’t in Olympus and no one had to listen to me, but I hoped everyone complied.
When I was back in my bedroom, I collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Sometimes I wondered about dying, but I had to admit I’d grown very comfortable with my immortality. I liked living in the mortal world. I liked the people and the comforts, and I especially liked the food, but I wondered if I could make it fully human.
The spell Zeus gave me was still resting in one of my drawers. If I used it I would become human. Would it save me from an immortal death if I used it? I didn’t want to waste it. Heck, I wasn’t even sure I would ever use it, but one thing I did know is that I wanted to stay alive. Mortal or immortal.
Immortal was more fun some days, sure, but dead was just dead.
I got up and hurriedly changed into my old hideous pink pajama pants and a tank top. I scrubbed my face free of the day’s kitchen work and tied my hair up in an old handkerchief. I’d wash it in the morning. As soon as I sat back on the edge of my bed to reach over and flip the nightstand lamp off, a soft knock sounded on my door.
I stiffened. There was a human saying. Nothing good happened after midnight. I could see how that would pertain to us, too. I debated whether or not to get up and answer it, but immortals were blessed with good hearing. Whoever was outside knew I was in here awake and rustling around. With a muted grumble, I stood up and flung the door open.
And immediately wished I’d put on a robe because Hades stood there and his eyes dropped immediately to my ample bosom barely covered up by my tank top.
“Hi,” he said, his eyes still on my chest.
“Hi,” I breathed.
Good to know even immortals were rendered speechless by boobs.
“Ummm.”
I snorted and stepped away from the door to motion him in so we could at least have some semblance of privacy. He was here for a reason.
“Thank you,” he mumbled and stepped in, being careful this time to keep his gaze above my collar bone. “You look quite fetching.”
I couldn’t help the eyebrow that rose in disbelief.
He laughed and spread his hands out. “Tis, true. Immortals are already beautiful, but I have never seen a flower content to bask in its own glory instead of reaching up and out for the sunlight to brighten its petals.”
I blinked. Freaking poetic Hades. Darn him and his dark, handsome pirate looks.
Instead of thinking about his words too hard, I decided to mess with him. “So you like my petals, huh?”
I grinned at his discomfort and watched as he tried to come up with something. Instead, he settled for a dark glare. “You confuse me on purpose.”
“You’re fun to confuse.”
I plopped down on my bed. “Did you need something?”
He eyed the bed but made the wise decision to sit in the reading chair next to the bed. He slipped his shoes off and rested his long legs close to my thighs. How could dark socks be sexy?
“Something grave is on your mind.”
I blinked and tried to decide whether or not to lie to him.
A barely there wind alerted us to his presence seconds before Zeus appeared in my room. “It’s because her death had been predicted and sealed by the Fates.”
“Zeus!” I exclaimed, outraged.
He shrugged, looking none the worse for the wear after his grievous injury.
“Abby?” Hades asked, concern evident in every line of his body.
“She came to me thinking I wouldn’t be able to hear or understand and poured her little heart out to me.”
“Zeus,” Hades admonished.
He grinned. “It was almost sweet. Vulnerable. Abby here has quite the hero complex.”
“I should have let you die,” I muttered.
“Yes, darling. You probably should have.” Zeus ignored me and eyed Hades. “Abby and I may have parted ways but I do not wish her ill.” He looked up at the ceiling and shrugged. “Well...much ill. I still owe her a few things, but I do not wish her dead.”
“Why are you telli
ng me this?” Hades asked.
Zeus gave me a long look. “Her death is due to you. Or Persephone. Perhaps both.”
Hades’ shocked intake of breath told me he hadn’t known or foreseen this. That was some comfort. His gaze came back to me. “How?”
I shrugged. “No idea. I’m just the girl to die.”
He looked stricken and stood from the chair in a single fluid motion. “I must go.”
“No!” I said. “We had a deal.”
Open-mouthed, he stared at me. “You are about to die and you want me to stay involved in this arrangement? Your visits won’t matter if you’re a soul floating around bemoaning your own death!”
I blinked, taken aback. “I don’t plan to die.”
Hades waved his arms around like a crazy person and leaned down to stick his face in mine. “It is prophesied,” he said in a low, deadly tone.
I stuck my face closer. “The definition of a prophecy is a prediction, but the lines of Fate are long and tenuous. There is no one path, Hades. Only the path I follow.”
Zeus studied us with interest. “And did our pretty Fate see a way out for you?”
I wanted to punch Zeus in his stupid face. My silence told Hades everything. He sat back down in the chair and sighed heavily. “There is no way out. The Fate sees no other option for you.”
His wide silvery gaze met mine. “You will not pursue my wife.”
Zeus clucked his tongue. “It’s a prophecy, Hades. It is foretold.”
Hades turned to Zeus. “Aphrodite will not die. I forbid it.”
Zeus mimicked Hades as he faced me. “Oh, he forbids it.”
I sighed. “Please stop. This isn’t helping.”
Zeus immediately sobered. “Of course being flippant isn’t helping, Abby. So get your crap together and figure this out. Instead of -”
I choked a laugh out. “Being flippant. Right. I got it.”
“Good.” Zeus straightened to his full height. “I must go see my wife now.”
“Please don’t get a face full of magic this time.”
Zeus grinned and winked an emerald eye. “It was a love tap.” He blinked from the room leaving me with one annoyed Dark God.
“When were you planning on telling me?”
I shrugged. I wasn’t.
One eyebrow arched in disbelief. “You’d just go willy nilly off in pursuit of something that was going to get you killed?”
“We had a deal.”
Hades thrust a hand through his dark, shaggy hair. “A deal is not a deal if it ends in death! It’s finality. You -” his fists clenched, “frustrate me in a way I’ve never experienced before.”
“It’s part of my charm.” I swung my legs onto the bed and burrowed underneath my blankets. “Can we talk about this later?”
He gaped at me in disbelief.
“I’m serious. Christmas dinner won’t make itself, and I’m very tired.”
“I am not leaving your side,” Hades said in a clipped tone.
I sighed heavily. “There’s a blanket in the trunk at the foot of the bed. Turn off the lamp when you get settled in.” My eyes began to blink closed as I listened to the rustling sounds of Hades walking around my room.
Moments later, I was out like a light.
The sunrise alarm woke me out of an incredible sleep and cast the room in a gentle orange glow. I wiggled a little bit only to freeze. A warm, large and very tanned hand lay on my waist.
I swallowed hard as my thoughts swam frantically back to last night. There was no ambrosia involved. I’d kept my promise to myself.
The last thing I remembered -
Hades. I sighed softly and did a mental clothing check. Pants on. Yes. Shirt on. Yes.
Underwear? I wiggled a little bit. Yep.
Thank the gods. That was all I needed. I tried to finagle myself out from underneath his arm, but he resisted and gathered me against his chest.
Good gods, he was warm. And snuggly.
And very, very happy to see me.
I stilled.
“I wondered when you’d be smart enough to stop all of that wiggling.” His warm breath tickled the back of my neck.
“This is inappropriate,” I said.
“Mmm. But it’s nice.”
“I know how I’m going to die. It’s going to be from a very jealous Persephone if she ever finds out her husband snuggled with me on Christmas morning.”
Hades stiffened but surprisingly chuckled after a second. “Maybe it would be worth it.”
I huffed an annoyed breath. He was right. This was nice. Way nicer than it had any right to be. He was different from Hermes. Softer yet...harder. More emotionally there, I guess. I shook my head. I could not be thinking about this right now. Not with impending death and an enormous Christmas dinner to get on the table in a few hours.
I tried again in vain to get away.
He snagged me tighter to him and I gave up for a moment and just rested there, my back curled against his body. We fit together too well.
“I will not let anything happen to you,” he said in the quiet.
“I’m not sure you’ll have a choice.”
“There is always a choice.”
“Mmm,” I said and fell silent.
“If you give me a few minutes I will get up and help you with your human dinner.”
I laughed quietly. “We aren’t eating humans.”
“I know that. Your innuendo is offensive.”
I giggled. “Maybe say Christmas dinner?”
He blew out a breath. “Whatever. It has been a long time since I enjoyed the company of a morning snuggle. Please shut up for a moment. You are ruining this experience for me.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing again and relaxed into his arms, deciding that maybe just this once I could stop worrying about right or wrong and take comfort where it’s given.
Chapter 10
I awoke to bright sunlight filtering through my room.
I blinked and sat up, Hades’ hand falling away. “Oh. Oh crap!” I shot out of bed like a bolt of lightning and tossed on an old cotton robe. Shoving my feet into a pair of slippers, I opened the door and scrambled downstairs only to see everyone up and at my kitchen table.
My disheveled appearance caused quite the commotion at the table especially considering there was one person who wasn’t present, and I’d overslept by a glorious amount of time.
Hermes’ lips were pressed together in a white line. Artie was staring at me wide-eyed and Zeus wore a wide grin of amusement. Clotho sipped her coffee straight-faced but tilted her head in acknowledgment.
“Good morning,” I croaked.
“Afternoon, don’t you mean?” Zeus said in good humor, knowing exactly who was in my room last night.
I wanted to scream it wasn’t like that, but it would only make it worse. I lowered my head and went straight for the coffee. That was the only thing that could make this situation better.
The silence in the kitchen was deafening. Not sure if everyone wanted me to make an announcement or what, but I kept mum and decided to focus on the only thing that mattered to me right now.
Food.
“I’ll get started on dinner as soon as I drink this and get dressed.”
Clotho started first. A small snort. Then a hand clap over her mouth to stifle it.
Artie’s lips twitched, but she lost it. Her shoulders shook with laughter.
Hermes, on the other hand, was not amused. He was the only one.
I groaned. “I am guilty of nothing but oversleeping.”
“If I were you,” said Artie, “I’d go right back to oversleeping, especially with the big hunk of dark god you have in your bed right now.”
I sighed and hunched over my coffee as if it would protect me.
The sound of footsteps stopped the conversation. Hermes’ fork clattered to his plate, and he stared at Hades, angrier than I’d ever seen him. It was far too late for that reaction, especially with what he’d b
een getting up to lately.
Part of me wished I’d had a crazy night with Hades. Then I’d actually feel guilty about having done something. Now I stood here in the walk of shame having absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. It always seemed to happen like this with me.
“Good morning,” Hades said and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I just bet it is,” Artie murmured and waggled her eyebrows at him.
White teeth flashed against his five o’clock shadow as he brushed past me on his way to the coffee pot.
“How’s Persephone?” Hermes asked because apparently during the day or so he’d been here he’d turned into a giant ass hat.
But his words didn’t faze Hades and I appreciated that. “I’m sure she’s just fine,” he said, his voice even and his posture relaxed.
Hermes grunted but wasn’t content to let it go. “Perhaps we should invite her to dinner,” he mused.
Hades finished stirring his coffee and turned to Hermes. He was still relaxed but there was a deadly grace in his form that made me drool a little bit.
He is a strong man. A comfortable man. A man who knows who he is and what he wants.
Holy crap. My thoughts skittered and bounced and came to a crashing stop like a wave smacking against a jetty wall.
I swallowed hard.
“Perhaps you should,” Hades said. “Perhaps we should call Dike or any number of the women you’ve dallied with since you let Aphrodite go.”
“Boom,” Clotho whispered, a small smile playing on the side of her mouth as she stared at Hades in admiration.
The tension skyrocketed in the kitchen. Hermes glared at Hades as if he wanted to do nothing more than tear him apart, but Hades still wore a look of sly amusement. He wasn’t worried about Hermes. Whatsoever.
A man that powerful rarely had to worry.
I had no idea of Hermes’ dalliances and while it should have pissed me off that he’d so readily moved on, it didn’t. And it made me wonder if the reason why stood right in front of me with mussed up hair and an I don’t give a crap expression.
Clotho’s words came back to me and my hands trembled in realization. Hades was a King and I, as foretold in prophecy, was destined to be a Queen.
