Page 55 of Touch of Death
“Even you should know how terrible that advice is when even Hades flinches at the thought of my touch.”
“Yes, of course, but—”
“There is no but,” Death cuts him off with a sharp look. “I will not test the limits of my power. Not on Hazel. Not when it means I could lose her forever.”
25
Hazel
Death falls quiet, and the rest of the picnic continues in awkward silence. Even Eros seems to be lost in thought; his only other order is to instruct me to eat my fill.
When I can finally eat no more, Eros rises and helps me to my feet.
“Let us try a different approach,” he says, stepping away from me as Death eyes him warily. “Pretend I am Cerberus and try to seduce me.”
I glance from him to Death, unsure how to proceed.
“What should I do?”
“Whatever comes to mind,” Eros says. “Let me see what I am truly working with. Approach me as if you want nothing more than to invite me into the warmth of your bed.”
Death lets out a low rumble of disgust but otherwise remains silent.
Taking a deep breath, I steel myself for courage before lifting my head and stepping toward Eros.
“Wrong. Go back and try again.”
I blink, taken aback by the abruptness of his correction. Feeling more than a little unsettled, I take several steps back and try again. I barely make it half a step before Eros is shaking his head and waving me back.
This happens several more times before I finally let out a cry of frustration.
“Are you going to teach me anything useful, or do you simply enjoy watching me humiliate myself?”
“Humiliate yourself,” Eros says, the tone of his voice sending a chill racing down my spine as he pushes away from the tree. “No, I am breaking you.”
“Breaking me?” I ask, Death tensing out of the corner of my eye as Eros steps closer.
“Yes, of everything you think will work on Cerberus. Stop thinking and justbe. You will attract the same energy you feel within yourself. Win me over by firstwantingto win me over. Make me feel it in every look, every word, every movement. Now, take a breath, and try again.”
I close my eyes and allow myself a moment to reset. Slowly, I open them again to look up at Eros, and for a split second, Ifeelit. Feel the energy I’m meant to be harnessing.
“There it is, good mortal,” Eros says with a purr of satisfaction.
No sooner than he says this, and I realize I’m trying to connect this feeling with Eros, the energy disappears, leaving me feeling flushed and more disheartened than ever.
“Again.”
No matter how hard I try, I’m unable to replicate that split second of understanding again. Eros is unrelenting in his tutelage, but still, I find myself unable to draw on that energy again.
It’s not working, and I can’t help but look to Death as Eros’ lessons only seem to become more and more useless to me. I’m starting to fear that he won’t actually be able to teach me in time.
Even Eros’ patience seems to be drawing thin as he runs a hand through his white hair. He turns in a small circle before facing me again, this time tearing off his shirt to toss it aside.
“Look at me,” he says, gesturing toward himself. “Is this not enough to inspire you? How am I supposed to—”
“Eros, enough,” Death says. “You cannot expect her to learn everything in a single afternoon.”
“She has learned nothing!”
