Page 51 of Guided by the Stars
I walk over to the sink and run the water. I rinse my face and notice that my bag is on the counter and I smile as I catch Nora’s stuff in there as well. I knew Jax had packed it in a rush and just threw random stuff in. At this point I won’t bitch, my purple toothbrush and my hairbrush are in here, and that was a win in my eyes. I brush my teeth and comb my hair while looking at myself in the mirror, making sure all emotions are wiped from my face. I pull out shorts and grab socks which are not my own, but fuck it, beggars can’t be choosers, and gods know I have quite enough experience in that department.
I left Kai’s shirt on and tied it in a knot at my back after rolling it up so it showed off my stomach. I am a fit person, I had to be, especially with the way I grew up. There wasn’tenough food ever and as an adult I had to work two jobs most of the time just to keep the bills paid.
I throw my hair up in a messy bun and dread having to walk out that door, but I am tired of being here.
Get a straw and suck it up, life isn’t fair.
My boots are in Kai’s room by his bed where I had left them. I take a couple breaths in and out.
Remember Adriane, you do not care about this playboy or play-god.I only wanted to sleep with him so it doesn’t matter that he has other conquests!
Wait, is that what I am? Maybe I’m his first mortal woman, is that what gods are all about?
I fling the bathroom door open and it hits the wall loudly. “I see you found your bag, put your shoes on so we can go, we have a walk ahead of us.” Kai is standing there dressed in a black button up shirt with matching slacks. He makes my mouth water looking at how closely the shirt clings to his biceps and his rolled up sleeves display his tattoos. His black hair is slicked back, and he looks like he is going to a semi-casual business meeting, he even has on dress shoes. All that black makes his ice-blue eyes pop, the light blue and stark gray. I have never seen eyes like his before and I know I will never get his eyes out of my head.
I pull on my black ankle boots, the ones I had on when I was taken, and I’m damn grateful that I had worn boots. The Underworld didn’t look dirty, but the ground is barely visible through the mist, and I wasn’t sure what precisely I was walking on here.
I stand up and Kai is staring me down. His eyes have changed so much from the day I was taken to now. They seem lighter, not as hard, but not soft. I must have made him angrywith the man-whore comment and honestly, I wasn’t even one to judge, especially after all the things he has done to me. I knew he wasn’t a virgin, I just didn’t like his past slapping me in the face, and with such a splendid creature.
“Come on, we’ve wasted most of the day already.” Looking up at him as he walks to the door, I wonder how the hell he knew half the day was gone?
I clear my throat as I go to follow him. “How do you tell time here?” I ask, cause if there was a way to know, I’d love to figure it out.
“You don’t,” he says, looking at me. “We’re in my domain and if you live here, you’d understand how it works.” He opens the door and I see Jax standing out there with a bag slung over his shoulder. Jax throws a wink at me and Kai stiffens. I mean, I don’t get why he even cares, it’s not like we’re together, and after what just happened with his Flower Power girlfriend, why did he care? “Jay-man, are you going with us?” I ask.
He looks at Kai and is fighting a smirk on his face, but I can see in his eyes that whatever he can read on Kai’s face is amusing. “No, you two can handle this one, Beautiful, but if you’re still bored later, I can take you on a tour of the palace and show you around.”
“Oh yes, I’d love that,” I say and walk over to Jax and put my hand on his bicep. It’s hard and huge and I bite my lip at him, winking. His clothes are nice too, not as dressy, but he has a regular black t-shirt on, his arms look amazing in the shirt. I can see a tattoo peeking out on one arm, a huge raven with a rose in its mouth. Kai growls and I know I am getting to him, but at this point he can kiss my ass. My eyes travel downwards, he is in black jeans and boots, heat floods me down in my core and I press my thighs together. Dang, do these two guys scream sex.
Maybe in this moment I would love to have been Rose or her friend, from the sound of it these two liked to share, but I wasn’t ok with sharing Kai. Iwasup for being the meat in this sandwich. I looked over at Kai and I know my body is giving me away, the flush in my cheeks and the heat building between my legs, so I move away from Jax because the look in Kai’s eyes makes me think he is on the verge of murder.
He snatches the bag from Jax, who winks at me, takes my hand, and pulls me away. I can’t help but smile because I know that Kai is jealous, it made me glad to show him how I felt. Maybe I should have just told him, because that was the right thing to do, but when have I ever done the right thing? Plus, I wasn’t even sure of what I was feeling. How did I get so used to him? He took me and sure, he said he’d find a way out of this for me, but I wasn’t buying that. He was the reason I was here in the first place. I might have been catching feelings for him, but that didn’t mean I was stupid.
***
We stand in front of a wonderful island that’s surrounded by the bluest water I have ever seen. I look over at Kai and he smiles at me. His mood has improved since we got away from the palace. I know mine has lifted as well, that place is so doom and gloom all the time. He waves his hand and the shadows create a path for us to cross. I have seen nothing like that before and I’m sure that I will fall into the water the moment I step foot on the shadows, but as I put my weight down on them, they are soft and bouncy, like a trampoline. The shadows are moving though and I swiftly cross, never letting go of Kai’s hand.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting after meeting Aegaeon and all the cryptic information he gave us. Kai and I spent last night lying in bed and talking about my powers, but no one knows fully what I can do or what I could possibly do. I still think it’s bizarre that I’m some kind of Greek descendant from Delphin.
Once I cross, I’m in utter shock looking at the island. The sun hits me forcefully in the face and I want to run into it, but I stand still and look around me, basking in the warmth.
I’d never traveled, not as much as Nora. I haven’t been to too many places, but I swear no one can ever say they have seen a more peaceful, perfect place. The sun is shining bright, but it’s not overly hot. It’s perfect, and the trees are so green, there are flowers of every kind in full bloom, and everywhere birds are flying around. Souls are wandering, but they aren’t like all the other souls, here they look more alive. I’d never suspect they were dead, except these souls have a golden hue to them.
“This is delightful,” I say faintly, because this place is magical. Especially in the endless darkness of the Underworld. I even see houses and temples.
“Yes,” he says softly, “charming, magnificent, perfection.” I’ve never heard him speak with such softness. I look over at Kai, but he isn’t looking out at the island, he is staring at me with soft eyes. I know in my heart of hearts he wasn’t talking about the island, he’s talking about me. I bite my bottom lip and he clears his throat. “Elysian Fields is paradise for the souls who have earned their way here or those favored by the gods. Only the most worthy souls enter here.” He kisses my knuckles. Never once does he take his eyes off me. He pulls me off towards a grove of trees and I hear water flowing nearby, trickling softly.
There is a small alcove of trees leading to a grand weeping willow. Kai pulls me under it and it’s so pretty. He lets my hand go and pulls out a red blanket. I’m so glad that we get to see other colors again. Even the sky is blue here, with big puffy white clouds. It’s so bright, brighter than Earth, but I don’t care. I’m grateful for the heat that seeps into my skin and warms me. To feel the rays of the sun on my face is blissful.
“Why did you bring me here? I mean I…I…thank you,” I say because I wasn’t being ungrateful. I was grateful to see this after all the walking I had done to get to the palace. I had practically seen it all except for the inside of Tartarus and I had no plan to see that. Just standing outside the walls, the stench of burning flesh and the horrendous screams were enough that I never wanted to see the inside. I had also seen the portraits hanging in the palace. I was noping out of that one.
“This is your surprise, it’s my favorite place here in the Underworld. Persephone forced Hades to make it for her before I came into the picture,” Kai says, lowering himself onto the blanket and patting it softly so I would sit as he pulls out fruits, meats and cheese from the bag.
I sit and bite the inside of my cheek because this guy is amazing, but I’m so afraid. I never felt a pull to anyone before, but at the same time, I can’t afford to let him in. “Why didn’t she stop Hades from doing what he did to you?” I ask, looking away because he has no reason to answer. I’m not even fully sure why I am asking.
Kai pulls out two glasses and a wine bottle from his bag. It’s pink moscato, my favorite. I wasn’t a big wine drinker, but I love pink moscato. “If you expect me to spill my family secrets, I expect the same from you.” He pours my drink. I take the glass and stay quiet. “So I’ll answer your question and tell the truth, then I’ll ask you a question and you tell thetruth.” Kai holds his glass out, waiting for me to clink mine against his and accept the terms to his arrangement.
I look into his eyes and see the sincerity there, so I take a deep breath. I guess there is a first time for everything. I’m going to open myself up to someone other than Nora. “Deal,” I say, clinking glasses with him and we both take a drink.
