Page 67 of Guided by the Stars
Her face darkens, her eyes turning to slits as she kicks me off of her to get up and storm straight past me, muttering under her breath. The whistle Daemyn gives her doesn’t help, only increasing both of our anger.
“Shut up, Daemyn,” I yell as she slams the door. “We got issues. Get serious! She heard somebody and her power was exposed” I grunt, making my way to my dresser and grab some clothes. There is no use wasting time.
“She’s right, calm down. When you started the rain I came, figuring you might need me to shield if it went further.” He shrugs, following me around the house as I make my way down the stairs. “I didn’t feel a thing. Not from her or anyone. Neither did you. You know I’m right, you two were the only ones out there.”
I grunt, frustrated that he’s right. The only thing I sensed was a small spark of Nora’s energy, but that’s not good enough. I put her in danger by taking her out there. “I’m going. I’ll check in on the Feast Hall and make sure no one sensed her and besides, Aphrodite expects me soon anyway.”
He pulls me back by my shoulder as I try to walk out the door. “No, you’re not. Stop running from what you are feeling. We’ve got more important shit to deal with. Like the message I got today while you two were out.” I stop, his words grabbing my full attention. “It’s Adriane. Hades demanded her presence. Nora is going to want you around when we tell her.”
“Fuck! I’m going to need you to take care of it. She responds better to you anyway.” I slam the door in his face, ending the discussion, and run towards the Halls. I’m leaving her pissed at me yet again, but I can’t ignore that I let my guard slip while entranced by her kiss. I was too wrapped up and could have easily put her in danger.
Kai
When at the Helm
I can’t believe that piece of shit kicked me out. Maybe I should have fought to stay, stood my ground. The anger emanating from him was thick, pulsing through the shadows. How could I leave her like that? But she told me she’d be fine and I just listened like the piece of shit I am.Fuck, maybe I should turn back.
My stomach knots and I halt in my tracks to lean on the wall, weighing my options. If I go back, it’s a goddamn guarantee I’ll take a beating. That alone would be worth it to protect her from Hades. But I know him. He’ll take my defiance out on Adriane. If I don’t go back, it’s possible that she’ll be fine. Whatever he wants with her, all the options Aegaeon mentioned, none of those make sense if she’s hurt. I just hope that’s enough and all he wants her alone for is to bond. A shudder runs through me at the thought. He can’t have her. Not after everything we’ve been through, everything I’ve learned about her. I don’t know when it happened butshe’s mine, and I’m not willing to give her up to anyone for any cause.
I’ll give it a bit of time before I start to worry. She’s strong. She’s put up with enough shit from Jax and I and hasn’t crumbled yet, so I need to have faith in her. She can handle him.
When I reach the door to my room, I’m reminded of Jax. I expected him to be in the hallway, waiting to escort us, but he’s nowhere to be found. My stomach drops as I enter my room and realize it’s empty.
One more fucking thing to worry about. With a sigh, I sit on my bed and rest my head in my hands, only allowing myself one minute of self-pity before I take action. In that short time though, images of Adriane caged and alone flash through my head.
My stomach tightens. This is the reason I don’t get close to people. If I let them in, even a little, it becomes a weakness I can’t afford. They’re a liability, something to use against me. It’s happened before, and I swore to myself that I won’t ever put someone in that position again. I won’t put myself through the guilt, either.
In a rush, I exit my room and head back down the hall toward the dining room. I’ll just look, make sure she’s okay. Hades doesn’t hurt Persephone, and I need to believe he wouldn’t hurt Adriane either.
I’m halfway there when Jax rounds the corner, taking long strides, his face set in a mask of worry.
“Where the hell have you been?” I roar the question, panic consuming me with the knowledge that he’s alone. He’s trying to cover his anxiety with a smile, but it falls flat.
“I had to see Kelsey. Let’s go back to your room, we need to talk.”
He doesn’t wait for me to answer, just grabs my arm and pulls me back to my room. As we approach the door, I pull out of his grip and continue inside. He closes the door, locks it, and I can’t hold back any longer. “What in the ever loving fuck was that all about? Adriane is alone with that psycho, I have to check on her. What’s going on?”
Something must be wrong because he’s pacing and hasn’t answered my question. I don’t have time to sit here and wait for him to find words. I won’t let her leave that dinner alone, she has to know that I’ll protect her.
In a huff, I reach for the door, intending to leave, but his faint voice stops me.
“Kai…” he says, shaking his head.
He looks at me and I see something I missed earlier, fear. It’s etched across his face. I haven’t seen him look like this since Hades caught me visiting Jax when he first came here centuries ago.
He’s breathing rapidly, dragging his fingers down his face. “I heard what happened at dinner, I watched you leave. After you left…” he says, nostrils flaring as he avoids making eye contact.
“Spit it out, Jax,” I say through gritted teeth, my body frozen, unable to draw breath until he tells me what’s happening.
“Hades wanted her to bow to him. He expected her to cower without you there, but she didn’t. And you of all people know how he gets when someone doesn’t do what he wants.”
I stare in disbelief, not sure I understand what he’s saying. When I don’t follow orders I get punished, scarred. But that means… “No!” I shout to the room. “She won’t fucking survive a whipping with that chain, Jax.”
“It’s so much worse, Kai,” he chokes out. “He expected someone frail, weak minded, and we both know she’s neitherof those. After she dismissed him so bluntly, he took her to Tartarus.”
His words don’t sink in at first. Tartarus is the place of punishment and torment, yes. But it’s where the worst souls go to suffer for the rest of their afterlife.
As the pieces click together in my mind, emotions build inside me and the shadows respond. For a moment I’m surrounded by nothing but darkness, the cold wisps caress my skin and bring a sliver of comfort.
