Page 62 of Hades

“So, Lainie said that you are the four horsemen, when are you bringing the apocalypse?” Seph jokes.

“It’s not time yet,” I reply with a solemn face.

“Oh, well, which horseman are you?”

“Does it matter?” I ask.

“You must be famine or pestilence,” Seph states. “No one really knows their names, so I can see why you are bitter.”

“I’m not ashamed of which horseman I am. My powers are gory and painful like my brothers. I’ve had people fear me and beg for their life as they writhe in agony when I kill them from the inside out. Just because I’m lesser-known, doesn’t make me less powerful. Would you care to see?” I smirk, raising my hands towards him.

Fear washes over his face as I take a step towards him. Before I reach him, he raises an arm to pointbehind me. “Oh, the ladies are back so soon, too bad, we were just getting to know each other.”

Drevi and I chuckle.

My brother pushes past me and holds out a hand to Hades. “Are we ready, my love? Frank is probably shitting bricks waiting for our return.”

“Shitting bricks? How can he do that?” She adjusts her hold on the chains that have the souls bound.

Laughing, Drevi replies, “Not literally, but he likes it all to be perfect before the guests arrive.

“What is that monstrous thing Lainie is carrying?” I pipe in to ask.

“If you insult it again, you’ll be wearing it,” Hades scolds me. “It was a gift from my brothers; Halloween seems the perfect time to wear it. Here, handle these, and we will be on our way.”

She hands the chains over but doesn’t let loose until I have a firm grip on them. Drevi takes the dress out of Lainie’s hands and nods to Hades.

Winking at Lainie, Hades reminds her, “Don’t forget to start the task I have left you.” Without warning, she snaps and we are back in the courtyard.

“Pyro, tie the souls around the fence posts. None too close together but keep them from the food and drink areas,” Hades commands me.

“Whatever my pretty lady wants, but why away from the food?” I ask.

“It has been many centuries since they have seen food or drink. Without a body, they can’t consume it, but they can make one hell of a mess.”

“Oh, makes sense,” I reply, removing one of the chains from my wrist and tying it around the post.

“Drevi and I are going to head up to the loft and get ready for tonight. Unless you need more instructions?” she asks.

“Nope, just four more to tie up, and I’ll be up there.”

“I could’ve sworn there were six souls, I’ll text Lainie on the way up to the apartment,” Hades mumbles.

I watch as they walk off hand-in-hand, Drevi overshadowed by the dress he is carrying in the other.

The souls just simply mill around, that is, until I get to the last one. It’s a female, maybe in her twenties, and she is fighting for all she’s worth to break out of her chains. She is screaming something at me, but no sound comes from her ruby-red lips.

“What is your problem? You aren’t staying here, it’s just for the night. Once the party is over, I’ll personally see that Hades gets you back to the Underworld,” I tell her, hoping that my promise may calm her.

But it does just the opposite of that and she thrashes harder.

“Gonna have to tell Hades about you,” I tell her. Her green eyes widen with fear, and she stops pulling on the chains.

“Interesting. I’ll see you all tonight at the party,” I say with a little wave and head back inside.

Passing by the pool, some of the female guests call out to me to join them. I give them a little smile and wave but keep on walking. Not that long ago, I would have shrugged out of my shirt and jumped in without a second thought. But Hades changed all of that when she walked into our lives.

When I open the door to the casino floor, the cool air hits my face, and for the first time, I realize how sweaty I am.I wonder if I can talk Hades into joining me in the shower?A smirk pulls at my lips at that thought.

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