Hades
Seventy-Six
Iwasn’t one to go around shooting, but I would empty my gun into the person trying to hurt my woman no question, and then I would ask Rory for forgiveness later.
My house was secured, so unless they had superhuman strength or a damn tank, they wouldn’t be able to get in.
But I wouldn’t risk my girl’s life in the process.
When I arrived home, I could see the various attempts to break in, but I didn’t see anyone.
My door had scratch marks on it, but the wood didn’t budge.
I unlocked the door and found Rory in the kitchen clutching a kitchen knife, but she wasn’t here with me.
She was staring off, her pupils dilated and her breathing erratic.
Fuck, she was having a panic attack. She was okay when she first called me, and I stayed on the line with her.
“Rory, baby.” She didn’t move. “Rory, I’m sittin’ next to you, okay?” I went slow and sat down next to her. Placing my hand on her upper arm, I coaxed, “Come back to me, gorgeous.”
“He said again…” Rory mumbled under her breath.
“Who?”
“He was here. I dunno his name. He…he said he missed my taste. I can’t remember!”
The knife clattered to the ground and Rory clawed at her skin. “Hey, my valkyrie, listen to me, darlin’. I’m gonna grab your hands okay?” She nodded, her eyes still glassed over. I grabbed her hands, intertwining our fingers together. “Do you wanna shower?”
“Clean,” she muttered. “Gross. I need to get clean.” Her hands flexed against mine.
I helped her to my bathroom, kicking my bedroom door open and guiding her to the bathroom. Rory was still lost in her mind, and I didn’t want to scare her. I knew what I needed to do and how I needed to treat her. She would kick my ass later, but right now, Rory needed to be handled with care.
As the bathtub filled up, I looked at Rory.
“Hey, my valkyrie. Can I take your clothes off?” Her eyes glanced down at her teddy and nodded.
I removed the straps, tugging the material down her body until it pooled at her feet.
I grabbed a hair tie from my vanity. “I’m going to get your hair off your neck okay? ” Again, she nodded.
When her hair was in a messy bun on the top of her head, I grabbed her hands again. “Do you want me here with you?” I didn’t know what she needed or wanted at this moment. She might want to be alone, for all I knew.
“Stay. Clothes off,” Rory said in a low tone. I helped her into the bath as I quickly removed my own clothes and stepped in behind her.
“Can I touch you?” She nodded again as I peppered kisses on her shoulder blade. I used my Dove bar soap and rubbed it along her skin. I knew she didn’t like the feeling of my washrags on her skin, and the ones I bought specifically for her were in the laundry. It was a bad day to skip wash day.
When I washed Rory’s arms, she leaned back against me, her breathing calmer.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what happened.
I was fine one moment, and then he said that and I was trapped, but I couldn’t remember anything.
Or maybe I did?” She closed her eyes. “I want to know what he did to me.” The last sentence was a broken whisper against my neck.
I traced circles on her hip. “We’ll piece together your memories, my valkyrie. I’m locked in. You and me? Ain’t no pryin’ us apart, and no one will take you from me.”
She pulled back and looked at me. “Are you sure you can deal with me and my…issues?”
I smiled, kissing her cheek. “Pretty girl, do I look like I’m lookin’ for perfect? I ain’t scared of a little storm.”
“My life is a hurricane, Hades.”
“Babe, we live in the South. I can handle hurricanes, tornadoes, and even the occasional snowstorm. I’m locked in, and you ain’t scarin’ me.”
Her lip trembled as she looked up at me before pressing her lips to mine in a chaste kiss. “Thank you for being amazing.”
“Don’t thank me just yet, because when we get out of this bath, I’m gonna check your vitals to make sure you are okay.”
“I’m fine. I don’t need you to be Dr. Morningstar. I just need Hades,” she grumbled.
I laughed, kissing her forehead. “Well, I didn’t do years of college for my health, but I am serious.
This doesn’t define you, and reactions like this are normal.
You are findin’ out things that were done to you.
No one’s gonna to blame you if you fall apart.
You might be my valkyrie, but even warriors need to take a break. ”
When we were out of the bath and in my bedroom getting dressed, my doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting visitors or a package to my knowledge. Rory stayed in my bedroom while I walked out towards my living room. Peeking out my widow, there was no one outside, but I saw a box on my porch.
I reached into the desk by my front door and grabbed the knife I had in there.
I would prefer a gun, but I didn’t want to scare Rory if she stepped out here.
I opened the door, sticking my head out to scout the area to find the same old neighborhood.
I inspected the box, checking for faulty wires or anything suspicious.
A bomb would be insane to think, but he was a fucking psycho, so I wouldn’t expect anything less.
When the box didn’t explode, I grabbed it and opened it.
There were pictures and a bloodied shirt on the inside.
The pictures were of Cinder, tormented and kissing death.
Just from looking at the pictures, I could see swelling and redness, plus drainage from her wounds.
She had multiple bruises and lacerations scattered on her skin.
When I did my residency, my resident physician said there was a look on patients’ faces when they were close to death, and Cinder looked like she was barely holding on.
I didn’t know if this was before or after the phone call though.
I grabbed my phone and called Vesper. She picked up immediately. “He dropped off pictures and a bloody shirt at my house.”
“What were the pictures?” Vesper asked.
“Cinder. She doesn’t look good.”
“When are you bringin’ Rory home?”
I sighed. I had more plans with her, but it seemed we needed to get her home sooner. “I’ll bring her home Friday night. I’ll show her the pictures and give her a couple of days.”
“It’s Wednesday, so I’ll tell Melisa to expect evidence on Friday. When you said she didn’t look good is that from Hades’s perspective or Dr. Morningstar’s?”
“I think you know the answer to that. I’ll let you know how Rory is and we’ll be back in Briarwood soon.”
Rory was brushing out her hair when I stepped back into my bedroom. She glanced at the box, her back straightening. “What’s in the box, Hades?”
I knew I couldn’t keep it hidden from her, and she deserved to see it. Whatever she needed, I would be her strength. “I…It’s…Just look for yourself. It’s bad.”
It broke my heart watching her open the box and seeing the pictures of her sister.
Her hands were shaking as she went through the pictures before a broken sob escaped her lips.
She pulled out the shirt and clutched it to her chest. It was the only thing she had of Cinder currently.
I set the box to the side and crawled into the bed with her, wrapping my arms around her.
“I want her back!” Rory screamed.
I brushed her hair out of her face, doing my best to comfort her. “I know, baby. We’ll get her back.”
I held Rory until she finally fell asleep, the shirt still clutched to her chest. Rory would get her closure. I would make sure of it. This was something I never wanted to see again.