Page 52 of Guided by the Stars
“Persephone isn’t my mother. My mother had a fling with Hades and then left him for Zeus. She came and left me here. I guess no one wanted the son of Hades around, ruining their lives. So she dumped me in this cesspool and left me to rot without even looking back. Persephone,” he says with such disdain in his voice, “enjoys punishing me. She creates little cocktails and oils for me and it makes the punishments that much worse.”
He picks up a chunk of pineapple and brings it to my lips. “Were you jealous this morning?”
I wrap my lips around the pineapple, making sure I take my time to lick his fingers. I see the need enter his eyes and then he glares at me, making me smile as I pull back, chewing calmly. “Really? That is what you want to know?” He nods, and I promised the truth. I have always been loyal to my word. It’s something I never give easily and when I do, I follow through. “I felt something I never felt before, I suppose you could call it that,” I say calmly, because it’s the truth. “So my turn, who was she?” I ask and amusement dances in his eyes.
“She’s a nymph of no importance. We live long lives, we get bored and pass the time. Kelsey and Rose are not related to me in any way, so she has warmed my bed. But I feared for you when she came in. She has powers and could have hurt you today.” He runs his fingers through my hair. I didn’t even notice that I had locked up. It wasn’t the nicest thing to hear that some other woman had been in his bed,but as he said, we both have a past. I relax my body as I wait for his next question. “Adriane.” My name on his lips is so beautiful. “Do you hate me?” His body stills as he waits for my answer.
Do I hate him?
I know this answer is one he needs. I also know this one answer will change things, the same way my last question for him will. I pull up and look deep into his eyes because I need him to know, and he can see for himself the truth behind my words. “Kai, I should hate you,” I say. He still hasn’t moved. He opens his mouth to speak, but I shake my head and he closes it. “But, this whole journey we have been on is a crazy one, sure. Destiny is a funny thing, I’m noticing. I think it was why I fought you so hard, because you’re dangerous, like the devil.” I smirk and he tries to hide his smile. “The honest truth is that no, I don’t hate you, I don’t think I ever could. You make me angry, you push me. You also make me feel alive, and honestly that’s something no one has ever brought out in me.” He pulls me back into his arms and I snuggle into them, my heart racing. I take a deep breath, giving myself a moment. I can tell this conversation will be over soon. “Why did you take me?” I ask.
I sit up quickly and make myself busy. Picking up a piece of cut up apricot, I bring it to his mouth while I keep an eye on his lips. He smirks and licks his lips as he takes the fruit from my fingers, making sure to nibble the tips of my fingers. Once he pulls back, I take a drink and he finishes chewing. I watch as he lays back, looking up at the green weeping willow. “You know why, because of your blood. Alexius got to your friend first, but honestly, Hades promised me my freedom and for the punishments to stop. As you saw, it happens often.” My eyes move to the tattoo on his neck and he catches melooking. “Some of my tattoos were punishments, like this one,” he says, touching the one on his neck. “To remind me that I belong to Hades, it’s the mark he puts on all of us. The ones he owns. He doesn’t see us as people, but as his property.” I reach out and touch his face tenderly. Then he grabs me and pulls me into him. I lay beside him. “But I didn’t expect to have these feelings. At first I just wanted my freedom, I tried to keep my distance,” he says faintly as he runs his hand up my arm. “Why are you so broken, Skoteino?”
I knew he’d ask. He said he saw my dark soul once, and I knew he wanted to know what made me so dark.
“My past broke me, but it also strengthened me. Without a family, I bounced around from one place to another. Foster homes, that’s a place where kids who have nowhere to go end up. Most, if not all, were despicable. I guess some punishments I got were like yours. I have scars too, but I just don’t let people close enough to ask.” He brings my hand to his mouth, kissing my fingers one by one. He stays quiet so I can continue. “I was flagged as a problem child after one family beat this one little boy in front of me. I stepped in and took the punishment. When they took the boy to the hospital, they told them it was me. So after that I wasn’t able to be placed with anyone for fear that I would hurt someone else.” He growls and it sends shivers through my body.
“It’s not all bad, I met Nora, and she helped me see that everything isn’t so dark. Then the moment I hit eighteen I got an apartment and haven’t looked back. My past showed me this world or well, Earth, is cruel and if you’re too nice, it will eat you up and spit you out. I decided I would not be one of those people.”
I close my eyes because I feel like I want to cry. I’m able to stop it before I let those tears fall. I was told that cryingis a weakness. Weakness was an emotion I couldn’t afford to show. Instead, I muster up the courage to finally ask my question. This is the question I have been waiting to ask, afraid of the answer. It’s one that I need to hear though, because at this point I can still shut my feelings off.I hope.So before I can change my mind, I spit the question out. “Tell me, Kai, are you still willing to give me and Nora up for your freedom?”
I sit up and so does he, we stare into each other’s eyes. I see emotions crossing his face so rapidly that I can’t read them. This answer right here is what I need to know. It’s going to be my deciding factor in giving him what I have left of myself. Because I have little to offer anyone, I am so broken. It’s why I never wanted to get close to anyone. I’m like a beautiful house on the outside, but inside I know I’m rotting. What I have left, I keep guarded because I don’t know if I could survive one more devastation. So I need this answer from him to know if he is worthy or not.
He touches my face so tenderly and brings my mouth to his as he kisses me, but I don’t return the kiss, not yet, not till he tells me what I need to know.
“No,” he breathes out and I fall into him, devouring the kisses he offers me because I want him, and I want every part of him for however long I can have him. I already know this won’t end well, but I want it and I’m tired of saying no. So if this is it, I will gladly be brought to ruin by this devil in disguise. His kiss is so consuming that I feel like I’m burning in the most delicious fire. The shadows are around us, their tingly cold kisses against my skin make me shiver with pleasure. After hearing him say no, I would gladly burn in the hottest fire of Tartarus if it meant I could kiss him and never let him go.
Nora
When the Prince Emerges
“What happened?” Daemyn’s voice echoes over the piercing cries. Alexius is clutching his arm as more blood continues to ooze out. His pale face has tears glossing his eyes and his pain is visible, tensing the muscles along his body.
“Alexius, what the fuck did they do?” Daemyn’s plea for answers increases. His expression reflects the agony of the man he loves in front of him. “Say something!”
Mid-scream, Alexius stops all sound and sits straight up, composing himself. Unfazed by the pain he had moments ago, he stares into Daemyn’s eyes with purpose. “You’re back,” he croaks out, letting a threatening smile line his mouth, frightening me down to my bones. “And just in time.” His laugh is dark and in complete contrast to the man I know. “Your life is mine.” Alexius leaps up, wrapping his hand around Daemyn’s torso and charges full force against the wall.
As they crash, Daemyn pushes with strength against Alexius and escapes out of his grasp. Hands, fists, and armsare flying in every direction as both boys attempt to dodge the powerful energy of one another. And I’m stuck in my place, frozen in time, watching helplessly.
With ferocity, Daemyn strikes Alexius’ side, sending him flying across the room. “Get out now!” Daemyn’s yell is directed at me, but both our eyes remain steady on Alexius as he gets up with ease, without a trace of pain.
“Now you’ve pissed me off, you son of a bitch.” My stomach drops hearing the alarming threat coming from his lips. With a menacing laugh, Alexius storms forward, attacking Daemyn’s throat in one swift motion.
Daemyn’s body jerks as Alexius’ straddles him, keeping his death grip around his neck. “You don’t want to do this,” Daemyn’s voice strains through the chokehold Alexius has on him, but his gaze is sharp and growing in anger. “You…can…control this.”
Alexius parts his mouth, and that damn tongue I love coats the dreadful smile on his lips. Venomously he spits out, “You are nothing but my guard. It’s time to remind you of that.” He puts his face in line with Daemyn’s, squeezing his hands tighter. “See, nothing but a petty slave.” A clenched howl leaves Daemyn as his body jerks in violent shakes.
Despite shaking with the panic rising in my gut, I race towards them, needing to help, no matter what the cost.
I’m halfway to them when suddenly Alexius releases his grip on Daemyn and stands straight up. The smell of burning hair reaches me right as Alexius turns around, our eyes connecting. With a pale and unreadable face, he staggers towards me before crashing face first into the floor. Both of his hands lay on either side of his head, clenched as the screams start again.
“Nora. leave, now. Go upstairs, anywhere,” Daemyn’s instructions reach my ears. Not bothering to look at him, Ishake my head, bending and inching closer to Alexius. There is no way I can bring myself to leave him. I’m not locking myself away, I’m staying right here by his side.
Daemyn yanks my outstretched hand. “Do not touch him!”
“What the fuck, Daemyn?” my cry is laced with the fear of this night. He’s hurt and in pain and despite whatever he just did, we need to help him.
“Just until we are sure the power of his electricity isn’t coursing through him.” Daemyn squeezes my hand in reassurance as he crouches next to me.
