“I thought you were enjoying yourself?” he asks as a confused expression stretches over his face.

“I was enjoying myself. Now I want to go back,” I answer him with force. Then I storm past him, marching to the boat. There’s a part of me that wants to run back to him. A part of me that wants to crash into his arms and tell him everything I’m feeling. But I don’t because I’m nervous and frightened and I can’t help but feel like I’m swimming in uncharted waters.

Ever since we fled Greece I’d always felt like I’d lead a loveless life. I couldn’t date the mortals and no Olympians appealed to me. Adonis is only the tenth boy I’ve ever had a crush on in all my years of living. I have no idea what to do, say, or how to act when it comes to a relationship. To me, love is as terrifying and mysterious as the murky waters of the Styx.

Also, I’ve never been around a couple who is actually in love. My parents had never been together, so I’ve never seen them show affection toward each other. I have absolutely nothing to go off of. I am running blind.

I once heard someone say that love comes naturally. Well if it comes so naturally, why is Hades making it so damn difficult? Perhaps he hasn’t been in love either. I laugh out loud at my ridiculous assumption. Of course he has been in love what am I thinking? He has to have been. He’s a God; he can have any woman he wants. I imagine that through the centuries he’s had many lovers or relationships. After thinking about that I go back to the same question I’ve asked myself at least a dozen times. Why does he want me, then? I know he wants me to be his companion, ruling the realm of the dead alongside him. But for some odd reason I don’t think he’d chase me for all this time if that was his only purpose. Hades doesn’t strike me as the type of God who has an unintended purpose for doing something.

After going over my theories I know the only way I’m going to get any real answers is if I ask him directly. So I stop and turn around only to discover that he’s not behind me. He’s vanished again. It shouldn’t shock me that he’s evaporated into thin air for what feels like the millionth time. But it does. It seems to me that he always chooses the worst times to disappear.

During that second, I find myself feeling empty. My eyes sweep over the abandoned field as tears spill onto my cheeks. Why is he doing this to me? That’s the only thing going through my mind. I think about throwing myself onto the ground and letting every tear that I ever cried pour out of me. But as I suck back my tears and turn on my heel, I see him, standing directly in front of me, blocking my path. I quickly wipe my tears away before he can notice, but I’m too late.

He gazes at me, a flicker of concern in his eyes. “Is something wrong?”

He’s always asking me that; is something wrong? Yes! You! You’re what’s wrong!

Rage replaces the hurt and pain and I feel like a wild stallion. I am unglued—unhinged—and nothing or no one can keep me from breaking free. And I feel crazy too. The rage inside of me is making me crazy. “What’s wrong with you?” I snap. “Why do you keep doing that?” I walk toward him and ram my finger into his chest. “Why are you playing games with me? I told you, I hate games!”

A look of complete shock spreads across Hades calm, collected face. But he doesn’t move.

“Doing what? What is wrong with you? I am not playing games.”

“You’re always appearing and reappearing! Always hot and cold! And you’re moody, too!”

He raises an eyebrow. “Moody?” He looks around me, staring at the ferry. “You make it sound like I’m a woman.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing if you are one.”

I slant my eyes, folding my arms across my chest. I’m fed up with his antics and the only thing I can think about is getting away from him. I brush past him and bump into his shoulder, making my way back to the ferry. Part of me is tempted to say one last thing, but when I turn and open my mouth my chest sinks. He’s gone.

Charon helps me onto the ferry and I take the same seat in the back that I took on the way to the Elysian Fields. Exhaling, I glance out into the murky waters as the plunking from the wooden oars slapping against the water infiltrates me ears. The sound soothes me and smothers the anger inside of me. I stare at Charon’s back. “Where did he go?”

“Master had duties to attend to,” he replies with a raspy drawl.

Figures. His duties come first. That’s how it will always be and I don’t know if I can handle that. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play second fiddle to his realm. I know it sounds selfish, but I want someone who has the time to spend with me. Someone who will lie with me underneath the stars and talk with me about anything and everything. I want us to be able to spend eternity devoted to each other.

And that’s something Hades and I will never be able to do.

A tear trickles down my cheek and I feel part of my love for Hades slide down my cheek with the tear. Then I begin sobbing, sobbing so hard an ache ripples through my ribcage and I have to stop and catch my breath. If loving someone else makes you feel like this all the time I’m not sure if it’s something I want. I’ve never felt more confused or hopeless in my entire life. Is this what my future has in store for me? Am I destined to spend eternity with a cold God who covets me, but doesn’t love me back? My sobbing escalates and I’m crying so hard I have to lean over the side of the ferry. There’s nothing in my stomach, but I throw up anyway, yellow bile and a clear liquid that tastes like sulfur.

“Are you okay, miss?” Charon shouts.

My voice trembles and I swallow the acidy after-taste. “Fine.”

Right now, the only person I want or need is my mom. She’d know exactly what to say to make feel better. But she’s not here and who knows where she is.

Demeter

Demeter strolled along a sandy beach, kicking up sand and reminiscing about the summers she’d take Persephone to this very spot as a child. The memory of Persephone as a cherub-cheeked toddler, waddling through crystal blue waves panged her heart and she had to clutch her chest to keep the pain at bay.

“Come back!”

Demeter perked up at the sound of a female voice and glanced down as a child hobbled toward her, legs chubby, steps wobbly.

The mother ran after the child who was heading toward the ocean and Demeter intervened, sweeping the child up in her arms before he could make it to the water. “And where did you think you were going?” Demeter cooed as the child let out an infantile giggle.

Tags: Lauren Hammond Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net