Chapter 25 – Cerberus
CERBERUS
I’d been lying in my hiding place when I heard their voices.
When I learned that if I didn’t return to the Underworld, Kage would have to go in my place.
My heart had started to race. My throat had gone dry.
And I realized that I finally knew one thing that was worse than being dragged back to those dark, lonely tunnels.
And it was thinking of Kage in that place.
No matter how I tried, I couldn’t imagine the strong gargoyle there. I thought of his smile in the animal hospital. The way it transformed the strong lines of his face to give him such an unexpected gentleness.
A man like that was used to being in charge. To being a warrior.
If he became one of Hades’ slaves, it’d break him.
And that would break me.
Rising to my feet, I willed myself not to feel my pain. I crawled out of the darkness, dusted myself off, and accepted something. Whether the gargoyles betrayed me on purpose or not, it didn’t matter. Who they were didn’t matter.
Because the person I am… is a person who can’t watch anyone suffer. Not people with good hearts. And I might be a fool, but I thought that Kage was a good person.
Just not to a monster.
So I’d walked around the tree. I’d come upon the scene. And I’d known that I could leave a semi-free woman, but I wouldn’t. I’d already accepted my fate.
What I didn’t expect? The gargoyles to be fighting so hard to protect me.
I didn’t understand them. They knew who and what I was, right? They understood I was their enemy?
Looking my father in the eye, I say, “They’re the reason I’m here, so they’ve fulfilled their end of the deal.”
My legs tremble as I walk toward him. And in seconds, his clammy hand seals around my wrist.
“You’re right, hound.”
He lifts his hand and a red glow moves from him to Kage.
After a minute, the gargoyle shudders and collapses to his knees.
“The pieces of your soul have been returned,” Hades says, a smile in his voice. “And Aphrodite will arrive within the hour to help you create your perfect mate. Our deal is done.”
“No!” Kage shouts. “You said we could have any mate of our choosing.”
Hades smile falters. “I did…”
“Well,” Kage takes a deep breath, “we choose Cerberus as our mate.”
Silence falls between us. I turn and look at Kage. Is this a joke?
And then Hades laughs. “No, this is not your perfect mate. She is a beastly monster with no value.”
Somehow even though I know his words are true, they hurt.
But Kage answers without hesitation. “Then you don’t mind us keeping her.”
My heart races. Is this really happening? Do they feel so guilty about what’s taken place here that they’d give up a mate for me? Or is this another part of the monster hunters’ plan?
The red in Hades’s eyes deepen, and I know he’s enraged. “Do you really wish to anger a god?”
“Will you suffer the consequences of reneging on a deal?”
And I know now, the gargoyles have won. If a god breaks his deal, he must face the council of the gods. And they will hand down a punishment, usually far worse than anything that fits the crime, because they glory in embarrassing each other.
Hades would never let that happen.
“If a monster is what you wish for a mate,” Hades shoves me towards them, “then that’s what you’ll have!”
And suddenly, Hades is gone.
Really gone.
And I’m free. He can never hunt me again. He can never force me back into the Underworld. I can finally have a real life.
If I can get away from the monster hunters…
Turning, I start to run.
A second later, a shadow flashes above me and Draven lands in my path.
“No!” I shout.
Turning, I try to go the other way, but Soren and Kage are there.
I shake my head, trying to find a way to escape them.
“Cerce…” Kage begins.
“I won’t submit to you!” I shout, my voice trembling. “I won’t ever let you hurt me again… break me again! So leave me alone”
I expect them to launch themselves at me. To attack. To do anything to keep their prize.
Instead, Soren collapses to his knees. “You don’t have to. We’re yours to command. Yours to break. Do with us what you will.”
The other two gargoyles fall to their knees too.
Draven meets my gaze. “We know you can never forgive us. We can never forgive ourselves. But we’re willing to spend our lifetimes trying.”
“Just give us another chance,” Kage begs.
I look from them to my escape. Why am I hesitating?
“You said you’d never hurt me. You said you cared about me.”
“We’re so sorry,” Soren says.
I inch toward my escape. “Why did you tell Hades you chose me as your mate? Why did you lie?”
“We didn’t lie. We realized that you were the mate we always wanted.” Kage pleads with his eyes.
“No.” I shake my head. “All of it was a lie.”
“We never lied to you.” Draven’s voice holds conviction. “We just betrayed you by accident, and we’re so so sorry. No words can say how much.”
My heart aches. “I’m going to go now.” I turn and speak over my shoulder. “But I might come back.”
As I hurry away from them, tears roll down my cheeks. My body aches from where they hurt me, but my heart bleeds. I care for them. They betrayed me.
And yet, do they deserve another chance? Do they deserve my forgiveness?
I think of all the many things I’ve done in my life. Some things that haunt me. Some things that have made me into the harsh creature that I am now. If they can love me like this, perhaps I can forgive their betrayal.
I just need time.