Page 31 of Tempted By Hades

“What? Oh no, it’s no trouble at all.” Her lips pursed. “I mean, I don’t have to leave yet.”

“Ah, then I can ask one of my servants to show you to a sitting room. Maybe you can have some tea while I wait?”

“Nuh-uh.” She shook her head. “You’re not leaving me by myself. I want to go with you and watch you work.”

“Watch me work?” he echoed. “Why?”

“I’m just curious about what you do as the god of the Underworld.” Her grip tightened around his forearm. “May I please come to your meeting?”

He contemplated her request. It wasn’t as if his duties with souls and his realm involved any underhanded dealings. He did his duty to the best of his abilities and followed the rules. “I suppose you could.”

“Yes!” She pumped a fist in the air.

“But, I reserve the right to ask you to leave, especially if we are dealing with sensitive matters that pertain to my realm.”

“Of course,” she said. “Now, lead the way. The sooner you finish your business, the sooner we can continue the tour. I did pay for it already.”

The subtle reminder of their first kiss sent a jolt of surprise and heat through him. Apparently, it had also shocked her, because her face turned scarlet and she averted her gaze, suddenly finding the sconces interesting.

The corner of his lips tugged up. “I shall transport us to my office first.” And in a split second, they arrived inside his office. Nodding to the plush chair in the corner, he said, “Please have a seat.”

“Thank you.” Releasing his arm, she took her place.

Hades walked over to sit behind his desk. “Come in,” he called.

The heavy door swung open, revealing the shadowy figure behind it. Charon, the ferryman of the Underworld, walked inside with an air of quiet solemnity. Clad in a flowing cloak that seemed to blend with the shadows, he exuded an ancient aura. Tall and lean, his features were obscured by the hood of his cloak, casting a veil of mystery over his face, except for his eyes, visible beneath the hood, which held a gentle glow reflective of the subdued light that bathed the Underworld.

He held a staff with a boat-shaped attachment at its end—an instrument meant for traversing the mythical waters of the River Styx. The staff itself seemed weathered, a testament to the countless journeys it had undertaken.

The ferryman, however, was not alone. Another figure stumbled behind him, trailing along as if he was tethered to Charon. Hades couldn’t see who it was, but he could sense something strange about him—he was a mortal, and he was alive.

Hades met Charon’s glowing gaze. “Explain.”

“My lord,” came the gravelly voice from the hooded figure. “I found this one wandering about the Underworld.”

“And he is…?”

“Says his name is Orpheus and wants to speak to you.” Charon pushed the mortal forward with a gentle yet firm nudge. Orpheus stumbled and fell to his knees before Hades. His haunted eyes betrayed the weight of the journey he had undertaken.

“What are you doing here, mortal?” Hades asked. “Do you not know this is a place reserved for the dead? You still have many, many years before your time on your world is done.”

Those anguished eyes bore right into him. “I seek someone who has crossed the River Styx.”

“And who might that be?”

“My wife…no.” He shook his head. “She was my bride. We had barely been married a day when she was bitten by a snake and passed onto your realm. We were meant to be together. There must have been a mistake! Please, Lord Hades, I beg you. I’ll do anything to see my beloved Eurydice just one more time. I can’t bear the eternal separation. Please, have mercy.”

Hades, unmoved by emotion, observed Orpheus with a stoic expression. “The laws of the Underworld are unwavering. Once a soul has departed, they cannot return. Your pleas cannot alter the fundamental order of existence.”

Orpheus, undeterred, continued his emotional plea. “I’ll accept any consequences, endure any punishment. Just grant me this one chance, and I’ll accept whatever fate awaits me.”

“Your fate is to go back to your world,” Hades countered. “I know the death of a loved one is a difficult concept to accept, but she is gone. Go and live your life.”

“She. Is. Not. Gone!” Orpheus shot to his feet, fingers curled into fists at his side. “She’s not. She’s here! And she was taken from me much too soon. It’s not fair.” His voice broke. “Please, Lord Hades. Help me.”

“Isn’t there anything you can do?”

Three pairs of eyes swung to the corner of the room. Hades held his emotions in check. What was she doing?

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