Page 23 of Until Death
“In exchange for what you want, we would like to propose something,” Clotho says.
“An offer of our own, if you will,” Lachesis adds.
“A deal with Death,” they all chuckle darkly.
8
Hazel
Finally dragging myself out of the bath, I quickly wrap a towel around myself and make my way over to the dress I laid out on the bed earlier.
Holding up the long lengths of silk, I frown as I turn it over in my hands. I do not know what to make of it, and try as I might to remember how Florence dressed me, I cannot figure out how to put it on properly.
Tossing it aside in exasperation, I turn back to the wardrobe and search through the other dresses. I’m just about to give up when my eye catches on a pile of fabric crumpled in the back corner.
Pulling it out, I smile as I hold it up before me.
Though it’s the same deep midnight color as the other dresses, this one is made of a fabric so opaque it almost seems to absorb the light around it. Not to mention I can actually figure out how to wear it.
Quickly slipping it on, I return to the bathroom. The fabric is soft against my skin, sending shivers racing down my spine with each step I take.
Stopping before the mirror, I frown as I catch sight of myself in it.
The dress is far too loose, making me look more like a shapeless creature than a woman to be desired. This will not do.
Hurrying back to the bedroom, I snatch the lengths of silk from the bed and set about modifying the dress as best I can.
It’s not long before the simple dress has been turned into something much more alluring … and, having taken Eros’ lessons into consideration, slightly less modest.
With the silk wrapped around my waist to cinch the fabric in, the sleeves have slipped off my shoulders, leaving my neckline more than a little exposed. But at least now I appear to have curves, and, thankfully, no matter how much I wriggle, the dress seems to be securely in place.
Pinning the long lengths of my hair away from my face, I watch as they spill down my back in unruly waves. Somehow, it seems to enhance the strange, almost beautiful chaos of my current ensemble.
As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I can't help but feel a sense of power surging through me. I no longer look like the helpless, dirty girl from before; now, I look like a woman who knows what she wants … and who will do whatever it takes to get it.
I just hope it will be enough.
With newfound confidence coursing through my veins, I make my way back to the bed to wait.
Settling onto it, I realize I need to come up with a more solid plan before Hades calls on me. I can't rely on just my appearance and charm to win him over, the other women have more than enough of both to drown me out a thousand times over.
I need to have a plan of action.
A way to truly convince him of who I am.
It seems strange that I must prove that I am who I say I am … and the more I think about it, the less certain I become.
How does one prove themselves to someone who does not know them in the first place?
Of course, you cannot. Besides, I do not need to prove who I am, I only need to prove that I am the woman he wants.
I let out a small snort of disgust at this.
My fingers move over the dress and the simple modifications I’ve made. I hate how exposed I feel. This is not who I am or who I want to be.
It’s one thing to pretend to seduce Hades, but another thing entirely to commit to doing just that.
I simply cannot allow things to go too far. Though even I know it would be impossible to stop him if it were to come to that, and I shudder just thinking about it.
