Page 37 of Underworld

Silas comes up next to me. He grunts and then says, “Nothing will happen to you while on our watch.”

I hum. “It’s not me that I’m worried about.”

Jax bumps my shoulder again. “You are the one who they are going to come after. You are Hades’ weakness.”

Nodding, I say, “I suppose you’re right.” My new shadows follow me into the room for our meeting. They are right. I am the weak point for all of the males in this room. If the enemy got to me, I’m sure the guys would do anything and everything to get me back. Even if I didn’t want them to.

I groan as I leave the meeting room. Jace wanted to have a meeting after talking to and giving away favors to the people of our territory. Stupid meetings. With a wave to Silas, I make my way down the hallway toward the bedroom area of the cave. I know he will follow behind soon to guard my door. I am sure Jax will be there soon too. I would rather be heading to the house, but the guys don’t want me there without them and security. So I’m stuck here until they are done. As much as it irritates me, I can understand it. With my father now sending people out to find and capture me, plus the enemies of the Underworld hot on our asses, I can understand them wanting me close.

That didn’t stop me from arguing with Jace for an hour, though. I grin, thinking about his face. He was made to be Hades. Fire lit in his eyes every time we fought. Huffing out a breath, I close my bedroom door behind me. Silas and Jax won’t come in, but that will not stop my guys. I also lock the bathroom door behind me, not wanting the guys to sneak in while I’m showering. They love to do that. I grin, looking at myself in the mirror. I touch the delicate-looking feathers in my hair. The barrette looks like a hair accessory but holds three knives within its sheath. Howe smiles every time he sees it. I never leave the house or compound without it.

I leave it in, not planning on washing my hair, and jump in the shower. Scrubbing quickly, I wash my body and jump out. I wrap myself in a towel and make my way over to the mirror. Wiping away the fog, I notice something odd in the reflection over my shoulder. But before I can look behind me, I feel a hand around my mouth and a sharp pain in my abdomen.

Looking back up and into the mirror, I find a masked man standing behind me and a knife protruding from my lower abdomen. How the fuck did this guy get past Silas and Jax?! Fuck! Shit! Okay, think Jane. I need to get away from him. Ah fuck, this is going to hurt like a bitch! Taking as deep a breath as I can with my mouth and nose covered, I stomp down on his foot as hard as possible. He lets out a grunt, and his grip loosens on my face so that I can pull myself forward enough to ram my head back into his face. Finally, he releases my face, and that’s when I pull one of the knives out of my hair. Turning as quickly as I can, I slash it across his throat. I grin at the triumph I feel, realizing I just killed this mother fucker. But I also realize that he pulled the knife out of my abdomen as I twisted.

Looking down, I see that most of my towel is red, and I’m dripping blood all over the floor. “Well, fuck!” I watch as the guy tries his damndest to staunch the bleeding from his neck, but it won’t work. My knives are sharp and could slice through an abdomen like butter. I watch him brace himself against the bathroom door and slide down to the floor, leaving a red trail behind him like a slug. When I realize he is blocking the door, I groan. Fuck! FUCK! I look around the room, trying to remember where I put my phone. Fucking shit! I left it out in the bedroom. Feeling myself getting dizzy, I slide to the floor in front of the sink. I reach up to grab another towel and shove it against the wound, hoping to slow the blood flow long enough for someone to find me.

With all the energy I have left, I scream as loud as I can, “FUCK! HELP!”

Then I collapse into darkness.

Jace

I watch Jane leave the room in a huff. I swear that woman frustrates me and causes fights just to rile me up.

“You realize she only fights with you to get a reaction, right, brother?”

I roll my eyes. It’s like he can read my mind. “Yes, Thanatos. I realize our Persephone loves to do it just to frustrate me.” I hear the others laugh. When we finish the plans to get our entire territory under control and find out how our enemies are getting inside information, we are going hunting. I know Jane wants her freedom, but the town isn’t safe with her father looking for her and our enemies finding ways to get to us. The sound of hurried boots across the floor has me looking up. Silas enters the room out of breath. Quickly, I rise from my chair. “What is it, Alpha?”

He pants and explains, “I heard screaming from Persephone’s room, Hades. I ran all the way here due to her being in her bathroom. The bathroom door is locked, and Beta is trying to get a response so he can enter. I have Hounds guarding the area, but I knew you would want to be there.” I wanted to scream at him and ask why he didn’t just call. But I know that the reception is shit down here. We need to get better radios.

I nod, trying to contain my rage. “Let’s go then.” I take off, running toward her room as my brothers follow behind. I approach the Hounds guarding her room and nod when they bow slightly in greeting. “When did you hear the scream?”

One of the Hounds looks at his watch. “About five minutes ago, Hades. We rushed to find you as soon as we could.”

I nod, understanding that it isn’t his fault we have unreliable equipment. That is going to change. Rushing into the room, I see Beta banging on the door with panic as he screams, “Seph, answer the fucking door!”

I slide up beside him and bang on the door before calling out, “I’m coming in, Seph.” There’s no response. I was hoping to get a response like I always do. I bang on the door again. “Seph! You need to talk to me, Princess.” I know calling her that pisses her off. I wait for her answer. Nothing. “Persephone, answer the fucking door, or I’m kicking it down!” I was so close to calling her name but thought better of it. We never use our names at the compound unless it is in a whisper or in a secure room. With good reason. Only our Underworld names. “Fuck it. I’m coming in, Seph!” I kick the door and hit a bit of resistance. Turning to Howe, I point at the door. “Destroy, Cerberus!” He grins, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, and he nods, backing up a bit. Then, going full force, he runs right through the door, splitting it in half. I watch as he trips over a body.

“Fuck!” he yells as he falls into a pool of blood. A fuck ton of blood.

I rush through the door and see the person he tripped over is a mask-covered man. I ignore him knowing my brothers will figure out who he is soon enough. Searching the room for Jane, I find her slumped against the sink with a towel pressed against her abdomen. She’s pale as fuck. I rush over to her and check for a pulse. I huff out a breath in relief. It’s faint, but a pulse is a pulse. Looking over my shoulder, I shout, “Alpha!” I see Beta helping the others with the unidentified man but watch as his eyes drift over to Jane. They are filled with panic at the amount of blood surrounding us.

Alpha rushes into the room and gasps when he sees Jane. His eyes meet mine, and there’s true panic. Seems our Jane has captured the loyalty of my Hellhounds. Not only as Persephone but as Jane too. He shakes himself, and determination blazes in his eyes as he asks, “What do you need, Hades?”

“Search the compound for anything that looks out of the ordinary. Have Beta call the doctor to come immediately!” Glancing back down at my girl, I say, “Also, have him bring blood and an assistant.” I look back over my shoulder to make sure my orders are obeyed. He nods and runs off. I run my fingers over her pale face and pull the towel away to assess the damage. The towel wrapped around her is stained dark red with blood, so I push the towel in my hand harder against the fresh blood. She lets out a grunt.

“Hey, Princess. It’s okay. We are here now. You hold on for me, okay?” I watch as her eyes flutter open. Her once bright gray-blue eyes look dull. Hands cover mine, and I lift my head to find Zane. He nods at me, and I release the towel. Without realizing it, I place the bloodied hand I had against her wound on her cheek. “Keep your eyes on me, okay?”

“I’ll be fine. Just tired,” she whispers. I watch as her eyes slowly dull even more. No! Fuck, no! I won’t survive losing her again.

“Seph! You need to keep your eyes open,” I beg as I press my forehead to hers. “You need to hold on,” I whisper, “Please don’t leave us.” I pull away, hoping her eyes will be on me. But I’m greeted with nothing except her shallow breaths. I hear rustling and shouting behind me before Beta comes back into the room.

He’s panting as he says, “He’s here! The doctor is already in the operating room. I have the path guarded and cleared for you, sir.”

Can't really call it an operating room; it’s more like a makeshift hospital for any of our men who get shot or sliced open. It wasn’t meant for major surgery, but we can’t chance a hospital right now. My eyes meet Beta’s, and I see the worry in his eyes. Fuck, I can’t thank these two men enough. I knew the moment I saw them all those years ago that they would never betray us. They are part of the family. I nod and lift Jane as carefully as I can. I settle her against me so that the towel pushes against her abdomen with my own. Then I run. I run as fast as I can. I will not lose this woman. I can’t.

All I can do is watch as the assistant and the doctor rush her away on the silver gurney I placed her on. Looking down at myself, I realize I am soaked in red. Drenched in her blood. My brothers come up beside me, and I have a déjà vu moment. It’s like a flashback to when we were young and couldn’t do anything but watch as she was taken away from us. The only difference is we may not get her back this time. For the first time in all the years I have been Hades, I pray to a God I don’t believe in. I pray to anyone who will hear my plea. “Please don’t take her from us.”

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