Aphrodite strode forward and the queen herself tipped her head before moving on.
I searched for Alec and found him off to the side. With my eyes, I thanked him. He’d given me a place in his world in the only small way that he could.
The night beat through me like a drum. Steady and true it filled my limbs with energy and excitement. I’d finished my dance and had floated through the room until I made an escape away from their greedy, golden eyes and the nymphs reaching claws, just barely. They’d loathed me before, and now they wanted me. All because another god wanted me first. A powerful god.
What must I have if he kept me so close?
Alec had whispered into my ear one word, “Go.” Pushing me towards the door, and so I went.
I’d gone to my rooms to wait up for Cenia, where I paced the buzzing feeling away.
I needed her to arrive so that we might mend the evenings harsh words. I had so much to say, but mostly, I just wanted my sister back. Had she watched me dance? Would she scold me for being labeled a mistress? Would she still tell them that she disowned me?
She would not know it had been merely a ruse, and could I trust my sister with the truth? Would she not run to Apollo with the news and ruin what Alec tried to fix?
“Glad to find you alone.”
I spun around gasping at the deep voice.
The door to my room was wide, and there stood Hades in all his dark glory waiting for entry.
“Please, come in.” I bowed low as he entered but frowned as he pressed the door closed behind him. He held out a pale hand. “Rise, small one.”
Indeed, compared to Hades, I was not so very tall. He made me feel quite small with his presence.
Alec and he were a head above many of the immortals. They were very similar in ways and it was hard not to notice.
I did rise, waiting to see what he’d say.
His face held a small smile. “You think I would show my wrath here and now? Out of the sight of Alec and the others? I am no coward, Freya. I would not judge you here alone and in your sanctuary.”
I swallowed. “But you will judge me...? For what I saw.” I almost said “my king” but he was not. “I meant no disrespect.”
“Did you not?” His dark brows furrowed, and my innards quaked. He sighed. “Leave it for now. I come to make peace with you.”
My mouth had dropped open.
Hades walked across my room and stopped at the shelves. He read the spines before he turned to face me, his gaze narrowed but that softened when he saw my fear freshen. I could not hold it within me. I longed to be free of the politics, but would I be brave in the face of punishment in the underworld? I knew I could not.
Hades held his arms out, his robes draped from them to the floor. His voice was darkness poured from a broad, pensive mouth. “My mercy is great, Freya. It is as wide and deep as Tartarus. But…”
I swallowed willing him to continue, entranced. Wanting this chance to appease him with every part of me, a naïve hope filled my chest as much as air.
“It comes with a price,” he finished.
“Name it.”
Hades watched me as if weighing my commitment to make things right between our two worlds. Perhaps Cenia would not have to marry a human if I could make this happen. I would not lose her over Apollo’s advice. And perhaps Alec would not need to pretend to bed me. Even Alec might have to release his attempt at revenge if Hades wished it, and I could find a life for myself and my sister out of the twisted dealings of immortals altogether if but one brother would accept me.
He began to tell me the price of my freedom. “Persephone grows tired of the underworld. She longs to return to her home, to spring. As you now know, it was never her choice to be my wife and I have decided that should I find another…one who could endure such an undertaking, that I would allow her to go.”
The earth shifted beneath me at his words. He couldn’t mean…
“Yes, Freya,” Hades confirmed, revealing a small amount of emotion behind my name. “I have seen your power, raw, and untamed. You would do well to rule by my side. I can’t promise it wouldn’t be fraught with peril. It is a dangerous position for anyone in it. They would use you as they have tried to use her to get to me. But I would protect you as well as I could and I would offer you a life of freedom, as much as one could have beneath. But Zeus could not harm you.”
I couldn’t believe my ears, especially when the traitor inside of me asked, “And my sister...?”
“Could marry any she chose. She would rule her own kingdom, a gift from me. And you…little dark one,” his gaze became intensely focused, “you would have half of my kingdom as well. I would give it to you.”
My hand was cold as I pressed it to my brow. “I don’t understand. How could we marry as you have a wife?” My body was numb beyond this point.
“I would push Persephone aside, her choice. I would take you as my bride immediately, before Zeus found out. There would be no saying goodbye to anyone. It would be sudden. We would be gone from here as I know Alec would no doubt disagree with this joining.”
It was an afterthought that Alec should disagree with the King of the Underworld. A small inconvenience. He would rush me away on his chariot as he had Persephone and I would be bound to him for forever.
“Decide now, or…..” He pulled a piece of parchment from his robes.
He set it on the table.
Though my limbs were certainly bloodless, I moved somehow to the table to read.
It was a letter from Zeus. The signature glowed with what could only be his writing. “Brother, word comes to me of this ‘Freya the Fallen’ and I am trusting you to judge her accordingly. If her powers are concerning, she must join the rest. Do not delay.”
“Join the rest,” I said in a whisper, my throat closing. “He means the titans in Tartarus?” Hades nodded. “Can you not stay this? Can you not say I have no power?”
Hades shook his head and the black, shimmering hair shifted, surrounding his face. “I have felt it. You are too powerful to be free, Freya. And this is my only offer and resolution.”
“If I say yes…”
I jumped when his cold hands touched my shoulders. He was behind me and had moved in a blink. His powers were already easing my suffering, pressing down on me so that I could not think clearly, but I only knew that I no longer felt afraid or sad or worried. What I had feared flitted away like smoke in the wind.
He pressed my dress aside and revealed the tops of my breast with a flick of his wrists, but I clasped a hand over the gown to keep it from going further.
His dark robes slid to the floor behind me and I felt as trapped as a bird in a cage by his nakedness.
“If I say no,” I whispered
But Hades pulled me by the hand to rise, his chest bare, and I dared not look down as he stepped near. He was beautiful. Entrancingly so. His sharp features were ancient, and the underworld’s glow was neither evil nor ugly. Though my father had once told me he’d met Hades and his “sinister” airs were gaudy and full of pomp, I saw none of that now. He had a full and softly sensual mouth and eyes that spoke of age and wisdom. His hands were like ice, but the power within them eased me into warmth and all of that cajoled my acceptance.
“Titan-blood,” he said softly, a lilt to his voice now that spoke of youthful need. “I have not fallen for a maiden in such a way for so long. Come with me to my kingdom, rule by my side. You have only to ask and half of everything that is mine will be yours. I will make you the most powerful immortal in all of Olympus and you will have no need to fear any ever again.”
That part was tempting me. The idea that I would have power. Do not dangle the steps out of the depths to the desperate. Being so low, I craved it with a suddenness that startled me into awareness.
His lips crushed into mine as I was only realizing my folly and waking to myself. He bent my head to fit us neatly together, the sweep of his tongue breaking the seal of my mouth, pressing through the barrier of my
teeth. Hades shuddered and groaned as if he was intoxicated by the taste of me.
I had never been kissed before. My reluctance was squashed by heated curiosity. I touched my tongue to his, running it along his lips. He didn’t taste of darkness like I had thought perhaps he might. I didn’t swallow a sin by kissing the king of the underworld. He tasted of nectar, of fruit.
The sweet surprise doused my flame, and I turned my head away, shame filling me to the core.
“I’m sorry,” I said, pressing backwards. “This can’t be the only way.”
The image of myself on the throne of darkness with a crown upon my head, the many enemies of now having to scrape and bow before me, dissipated.
I moved away from him when I saw he would follow, and his eyes narrowed. “Please,” I pleaded. “Put your robes on. If someone should see us.”
It was a relief that he at least still had a wrap covering his loins. Powerful thighs sprouted from the white, and I turned away from his body and its scars.
I was distracted by a sound of wings flapping from the balcony. I glimpsed the owl there before it flew away as if it also knew not to interrupt the King of the Underworld.
As Hades stalked forward, I lifted my hand, using my power gently, hoping not to be turned to ash on the spot for my refusal.
That infuriated him and he grabbed onto the offending hand, bending it until I was at my knees. I cried out in terror, cowering. More shame flowed through me that I would not fight back. Why was I not rising to defend myself? How had these Olympians brought me so low!
Fury clouded my vision, and I pressed once more. With a shout, Hades released me.
Before I could react, the door to my room exploded and Alec was there like a dark tornado. He pulled Hades away from me, and together they entangled in a fight that moved too fast for me to properly track their blows.
Locked together in battle, they were on my balcony moments before crashing into the ledge, and over it.
I screamed then, and Cenia flew into the room with Apollo directly behind. “What is it!?”
But I was running for the balcony. The two still fought on the shoreline, and Alec was getting the upper hand. I clawed at my face in terror. Even if Alec won in a moment of Hades’ distraction, surely, he’d pay a thousand debts for my honor.
Hades finally ceased the fight, laying back on the sand, holding a hand up in surrender
“Who are you!?” Alec shouted, and I frowned as Hades writhed on the ground.
“I am Hades, king of the underworld,” he bellowed.
I knew it before the blood came from his mouth. Alec held him the same as he’d held me in the forest. Hades, or whoever he was, was lying. And Alec would gut them for it.
“Come,” Cenia said grabbing my hand.
With Apollo racing behind us, we ran for the front of the castle and out through the gates.
When we arrived at the beach, more had come from the party, and a crowd had gathered to see the battle between the two. Blood drenched the sand so that I knew more lies had been told. Alec’s expression was so enraged that I feared he’d kill someone and then pay what should be my own fate.
“Speak,” he demanded, and again I remembered that first night.
The one on the ground began to laugh and I recognized it finally. I touched my lips. The fruit.
“Hermes,” I said, fury beating where my heart had been.
Alec’s gaze shifted to me and back again.
By his throat, Alec lifted the messenger from the ground and held him up. “Fight me all you want, dog,” Alec said. “You have no power here. You are here by my whim and mercy, and my punishment will be swift.”
Hades appeared on the shoreline, Persephone with him. Even though Hermes transformed himself back into his own appearance, and I knew the trick had been played and I had not been kissing Hades himself, shamed filled me at what had occurred.
What Hermes would share about my desperation, brought tears to my eyes.
“Your retriever pretended to be you,” Alec said with barely contained rage. He was speaking to Hades. “He tricked Freya and attacked her.”
Hermes laughed again, shoving away from Alec after Hades motioned for Alec to release him. Alec let him go.
Hermes strode over to Hades. He bowed onto one knee. “Only a bit of fun, my liege. Here. A letter from your brother.”
Alec noticed my panicked expression. The rest had been a ruse, but the letter was real. Hades was to judge me because of Zeus’ order.
Hades glanced at the letter and then it disappeared from his hand. “I will decide by the end of the celebration what Freya’s judgement will be.” Many more had come to the beach and they stood to listen. “Hermes,” he said with anger.
“Yes, sire,” he answered giving me a sly smile.
“You’ll take her place until I decide. Her prison will be yours.”
Thanatos strode forward, and his twin with him. Hermes stood, backing away, his face filled with dread. “You can’t be serious? For a titan! She is nothing to us!”
Thanatos transformed into death itself and I held my breath as he became a cloaked figure, his scythe in his hand. He had chains that he pulled from his waist. “Come willingly or come dead.”
Hermes accepted his fate, but with a hateful glare in my direction. Then he smiled at Alec. “I shall dream of how she tasted, begging me to take her away from you. When you lay with her, remember she wanted me first.”
They all disappeared to the underworld, including Hades and Persephone but not before she’d glanced in my direction with sadness and regret.
Alec stood in his rooms, his back to me. I had wept on the shore and begged them all to leave me be, but he would not. Apollo had helped by pulling my sister from me as quickly as he could. I was further shamed. I could not be more in disgrace.
When I refused to leave the shoreline even as dawn approached, Alec had lifted me into his arms, and I had let him carry me to his rooms. “Sleep,” he said, putting the blue flower I’d seen Charon crush in his hands into the flames. “Let this help you rest, Freya.”
I turned my back to him as he pulled his metal clasp from my hair. The dark waves, not quite black, but darker than brown, tumbled down heavily to scatter upon most of his bed, covering all but where I sat. “That feels better,” I sighed.
His hands lingered on the tresses, and he massaged the painful spot at the back of my head until I sensed a growing distance.
I turned to face him, a hard blush still radiating from me, but the flower was doing its work.
His gaze was so powerfully concerned. “You don’t mean to stay?” I asked, and he shook his head confirming what I already knew.
Alec would not force me to act as his mistress. A ruse, indeed.
He said, “I must figure out how to get us allies before Hades decides what he will.”
“Is that even possible? There are only nine days left.”
“And a war could start and end within such a time. Entire kingdoms have fallen and risen in a day.”
The blue flower was making me sleepy, and Alec held a hand over where he had plucked the petals from to make it grow back to its glorious form. I watched in fascination.
“How do you do that?”
He sighed.
“And the other, the lies?” I asked.
“My mother was life. My father, pain. I was gifted both in equal parts.”
“And what did you mean that Hermes had no power here?”
Alec gazed at me with an unfathomable expression. “That is a much longer story. Rest now, Freya.” He lingered a while longer, and I felt that he wanted to say something more but offered instead, “None will bother you here.” And then he was gone, and his plants were growing around me, curling toward the bed, and up the walls, protecting me. But they had barbs on them, sharp points and thorns. Life and pain.
Chapter 9
What I’d first considered protection, I soon realized were nothing but bars to a prison. I had spent an h
our tearing down some of the vines from the door, and my hands were bloody from the large thorns piercing and scratching them. I had made little progress, and my wounds had begun to stop healing.
If I kept on, would Alec’s plants be my end?
He had been tender but that must have had a purpose too.
I was unable to leave the room. I was certain it was shrinking even. The plants regrew from my assault larger and more foreboding.
I paced near the door, willing myself to use my power in such a way that the vines would answer me. I crooned to them hoping they would obey. They would not. They were impenetrable to everything I tried. It was apparent that they had but one master and who knew when he would return. I rid the room of smoke to clear my head and I had one thing on my mind. Cenia. I had a bad feeling for my sister. I’d been so caught up about my own errors that I’d forgotten to watch out for her. Even while she’d hurt me at the party the night before, she was younger and much more naïve. While I was away, perhaps they’d take advantage of her the way Hermes had tried with me.
Panic gripped me when I gave my thoughts to the terrible things that could befall Cenia. Images of Apollo holding my sister down and having his way had me tearing at the plants all the more.
“Alec!” I bellowed at noontime, panicked.
I heard movement by the door. “Kanani?” Surely, she would have to come check on me at some point.
“Yes,” she answered, hesitating.
“Please find the king for me. I need to be free! Now!”
My voice was reedy with fear. I wanted to make sure Cenia was all right. Being locked away put me in such a state that when Alec did return, and the vines removed themselves from my path, I barreled through them, pressing him with my power.
It blasted out of me and slapped him in the face like a giant, invisible hand. Alec braced himself, his lips white, and he grabbed my arms in a bruising grip, shaking me hard, his own power yielding only for a moment to redouble on my frame in fullness, forcing me to stop unleashing my fury. “What has come over you?”
Beware the Fallen: Young Adult Mythology (Banished Divinity Book 1) Page 9
