Chapter 7 #3
I hesitated and covered my face with my hands.
‘First, I gave him a roasting for kidnapping me. I mean, why bother asking a girl out on a date when you can simply abduct her? Plus, he’s an arrogant twatwaffle.
’ I peeked between my fingers and had a feeling Tee was sucking in her cheeks, trying not to smile. ‘Second, I tried to kill him.’
‘What in the gods’ names, Sephy?’ Tee squealed a laugh.
‘And third, I chickened out of kissing him.’ My cheeks were so hot with embarrassment, I kept my hands over my face. ‘His grilled cheese sandwiches were good, though, I suppose,’ I mumbled.
‘Well, nothing’s changed there. You’ve always loved grilled cheese and your relationship has always been passionate.’
I peeled my fingers away from my eyes and wrinkled my nose. ‘He wouldn’t talk to me, Tee; about the war, about the other Persephone. I lost my shit.’ I groaned and covered my face again.
‘He will, Sephy. When the time is right, I promise. He’s a good guy. Besides, the “other” Persephone is you, and you know it, right?’ I flopped my hands onto the bed and scowled at her, but I had a feeling she might be speaking the truth. How? How was I the Persephone?
I was silent for a beat. ‘He’s the king of the Underworld. He embodies shadows and death. I love nature. I love flowers and plants, and I need the sun, Tee.’ I sighed animatedly.
‘He’s not tied here all the time now. He has a life up top, too; you know that, Sephy.’
I wrinkled my forehead, still fighting with my conflicting emotions. ‘He’s also a freaking god. I hate the gods,’ I growl-whispered.
‘You don’t hate me.’ Tee gave me a slight shrug and a mischievous smile.
‘You’re a Titan.’
She chuckled with amusement and shook her head.
I sat up and stared down at my hands. ‘I’m drawn to him, Tee.
I’ve never experienced anything like it, and I can’t explain it.
It’s so intense; it’s scaring me. I’m like a freaking walking hormone in his presence.
But I’m a witch; he’s a god; we’re enemies…
It’s not right.’ I lifted my chin as my gaze caught hers, and she took my hand.
She hesitated as though she wanted to say something, then replied, ‘Love is mysterious, Sephy. You can’t fight it, no matter how hard you try.
’ I shook my head and scowled at her. ‘There are eight different types of love. You and Hades had Philia: a deep friendship; Ludus: a playful love; and Pragma: a lasting love.’
‘A playful love with that grouchy git? Seriously? This is ridiculous!’ I exclaimed, wringing my hands together and dropping my gaze.
‘And, of course, the love, Eros.’
‘Eros?’ My head snapped up.
Tee’s eyes sparkled. ‘Sexual passion, Sephy.’ A tingling sensation crept down my spine, making my insides quiver at the thought of having sex with Hades.
I huffed. ‘I do not love the king of the freaking dead, Tee! I don’t even know him! Maybe it is just physical attraction?’
Tee cocked a brow and completely ignored me.
‘You complete and balance each other. Together, you’re whole.
You’re physically and emotionally drawn to one another, Sephy.
What you’re feeling is the soul bond you two share.
We are ancient beings, Sephy, older than you can imagine.
We don’t often love, but once we do, you’re fucked, because it’s forever. He loves you; you love him.’
I licked my too-dry lips as nervous energy danced in my core. Did Hades love me?
‘I do not love him,’ I gritted out, prompting Tee to roll her eyes.
‘It’s not as if I’m a guest here, is it?
I’m a prisoner until Lord Grumpy and Deadly decides to release me.
’ I lifted my chin as nausea gripped me.
‘How can I love someone who kidnaps people?’ Tee puffed out a breath but remained silent, and I needed to change the subject.
‘Anyway, what did you want to discuss with me?’
‘It can wait until tomorrow… Don’t worry. What do you want to do now?’
‘I want to fetch my books… from home,’ I said, giving her puppy dog eyes.
‘Next best thing. Hang on to your panties,’ she replied as she grasped my arm.
She flashed me out of the room again, and as I opened my eyes, I was mere seconds away from punching her until I saw where we were.
I found myself in the middle of an immense library.
I squealed as I looked around, wide-eyed—a circular room with thirty-foot-tall walls lined with books.
A mezzanine level held even more books and was accessed by a wide staircase.
When my eyes caught sight of the rolling ladders, I jumped up and down, gasping with excitement.
I was in heaven. The high glass ceiling glowed with the light of a bright, sun-filled day, while plenty of sofas, tables, and chairs were arranged in cosy groupings.
‘I’ll be back for you in an hour. We have a dinner tonight, and you can’t wear your combat garb.’
I barely heard her. I was itching to explore.
‘Okay,’ I grunted as I moved towards the shelves, hearing her flash of aether as she vanished.
As I strolled along, I trailed my fingers over the spines of books, sighing happily.
The deliciously sweet smell of old books wafted through the air; a balmy, comforting aroma of knowledge, adventures, unrealistic romances, and faraway places—it was a calming setting of endless possibilities.
I climbed a ladder and rolled it down a bookcase, much like Beauty does in Beauty and the Beast, letting out a little whoop.
‘Don’t break my ladders,’ a voice shouted, and I nearly tumbled off them.
‘Holy crap, don’t scare me like that!’ I glowered down at the floor and almost tumbled off the ladder again.
I hurried down and jumped the last few rungs, landing with a thud.
I stared at the half-goat, half-man creature.
He stood about four feet tall. His lower half was black and furry, with goat hind legs and a small tail.
The fur reached his waist, and downy black hair covered his human torso.
Small, pointed horns poked through his dark, curly hair, and my gaze settled on his cheeky-looking face.
‘You’re a Satyr?’
‘No shit, Sherlock,’ he said, quirking a brow at me. I ignored his rude comment.
‘I’m Sephy. Pleased to meet you.’ I held out a hand, and he hesitated before taking it—a quick grasp and release as if to say, You’re on my turf, bitch.
‘I’m the librarian,’ he said as he turned to walk away.
‘What’s your name?’
‘Simos. So you’re the one everyone’s buzzing about, are you?’ He eyed me up and down. ‘Can’t see what all the fuss is about.’ The cheeky little shit! ‘Though you’ve got a smoking hot body. I like a woman in leather.’
‘Ugh,’ I huffed, squinting at him. ‘Nice to meet you, too.’
He paused for a beat. ‘How old are you?’
‘I’m twenty-two.’ I snapped, still glaring at him.
He turned and began to walk away, muttering something about babysitting brats and not being a fucking child-care worker.
I bristled, clenching my fists. Dropping him with a roundhouse kick seemed extreme, so I inhaled a calming breath. ‘How old are you?’
He stopped and turned to face me. ‘Five hundred and sixty.’
I felt my eyes widen and croaked, ‘Oh.’
He narrowed his eyes as if in thought, then locked eyes on me again. ‘So, you like reading?’
I nodded, still wanting to punch him in his cute face. ‘I do.’
‘Come on, then. Let’s find you some books,’ he said, trotting off. ‘But don’t go breaking my ladders.’ He offered a small smile over his shoulder, and I followed him into the sanctuary of a million books.
Returning to my room with Tee, I carried a stack of books on the gods and Greek mythology and placed them on my desk.
‘Simos wasn’t too friendly when I first met him,’ I muttered.
‘Ah, he’s loyal to Hades, Sephy. Everybody is worried about him. All of his people are his friends and love him.’
I creased my brow. Were the king of the Underworld’s subjects his friends, who loved and cared for him?
‘Worried? Why?’
‘Well, your disappearance broke his heart, and the fallout was unbearable, especially at first. Mr Grumpy became Mr Insufferably Grumpy in your absence. They’re worried you might break his heart again,’ Tee said as she fetched two glasses and a bottle of wine.
I said nothing. Would I break his heart? How could I? I didn’t even know him—not really. Crap; I was awash with confusion. ‘Pour me a wine. A large one,’ I said as I held out my hand.
She poured the red wine and handed me one. It smelled like sun-ripened cherries, and as I took a sizeable mouthful, it burst with notes of ripe and juicy fruits—cherries, berries, and plums. The flavour was refreshing and delightful. ‘Mm,’ I uttered.
‘I’ll come back for you in an hour. Get dressed; pick one of the dresses from your closet. Do your makeup as I taught you… Make an effort,’ Tee instructed as she handed me the bottle. ‘And don’t get shitfaced.’
I sat for a while, my thoughts bouncing around like a butterfly in a whirlwind.
I may have had this weird connection to Hades, but I couldn’t spend most of my life here.
My life is in my world. If I were her—the Persephone—which I questioned, I wasn’t that person any longer.
I was a different Persephone. I had to ignore the insane infatuation I had with the god of the Underworld.
I took a sip of my second glass of wine and sighed. I needed to prepare for dinner. I was dreading seeing Hades again. Tendrils of unease clawed at my stomach at the mere idea of looking into those captivating blue-gold eyes.
‘I can do this,’ I whispered as I stood, and made my way to the closet.