Page 49 of Until Death
“Eros, what are you thinking?” Death asks warily as the pale god turns to walk away.
“I need to ask her about her brother.”
“Her brother? What are you talking about?”
Eros pauses, slowly turning to face us, his expression stricken.
“There was a soul at the gate,” he says as Death’s gaze fixes on him. “He said he was her brother.”
“What?! And you did not think to say something to me? Damn you, Eros!”
Death lunges at him, but before can get close enough to grab him, Eros shifts into a tiny white bird and takes to the air. I watch as he flits about the garden, dodging Death’s shadows as they trail after him, before finally disappearing in the direction of Hades’ palace.
Slowly, I turn to look back at Death, his chest heaving in rage and frustration. As his gaze meets mine, I shoot a grin his way.
“Did you know about this?”
“No, but I can certainly use it to our advantage.”
Death’s eyes narrow on me. “What are you planning?”
“Well, I suggest you go find out more about this supposed brother,” I answer, my grin widening. “As for me, I am about to be instated as the mortal’s personal guard.”
18
Hazel
Itoss and turn as sleep evades me. Guilt makes for a heavy weight as I struggle to find solace in sleep.
Of course, I don’t want to bed Hades … I don’t even want to pretend that I do anymore. Yet, I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do if I cannot find a way to speak to Persephone. To tell her the truth of everything.
Maybe, just maybe, she can find it in her heart to forgive me and help find a way out of this mess before it’s too late.
Before I have no choice but to actually take Hades to bed.
No, I can’t allow myself to even think that will happen. I have to believe that Eros, perhaps even Death, will come for me before then.
With this small blossom of hope growing in my chest, I finally manage to fall into a fitful sleep.
I wake sometime later to the feeling that I am being watched. Sitting up, I rub the sleep from my eyes as I peer about the room.
Early morning light casts an eerie glow on everything, leaving me more than a little unsettled as the shadows morph with my imagination … but there’s no one here.
Just as I’m about to discount the feeling and try to fall back asleep, I hear the sound of light tapping on the glass. Turning to look toward the window, I spot a tiny white bird perched just outside.
Slowly getting out of bed, I make my way to the window, watching the bird closely as I try not to frighten it. It's small enough to fit in the palm of my hand, with feathers as white as snow.
As I move closer, it flutters its wings and hops several times on the windowsill, tilting its head to each side as if it’s trying to tell me something. Unlatching the window, I gently push it open and reach out my hand.
To my surprise, the bird immediately hops onto my finger, its small talons barely grazing my skin as it begins to chirp softly at me. I push the window open further, carefully drawing my hand back inside the room.
Suddenly, the chirping becomes more urgent and the bird leaps off my finger to instantly be replaced by the much more familiar form of Eros. He barely has time to straighten before I’ve thrown my arms around him.
His body tenses before he wraps me in the safety of his own arms, holding me tightly. Tears spill out onto my cheeks as emotions choke the back of my throat, keeping all my questions from tumbling out of me.
I cling to him, hardly daring to believe he’s really here. That against every odd he’s found a way to get to me … and afraid that if I let go, it’ll all be but a dream.
He pulls back slightly, reaching to tilt my face toward his as he searches me with his pale eyes. Instantly, I feel energy pulled from me as his skin meets mine.
