Page 68 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 33

Ember

Standing in front of the mirror, I wiped my dress down again for any signs of wrinkles. It was a black, floor-length dress with lace across the chest that laid perfectly around my shoulders. My shoulders were bare, just for the small number of love bites that Hades had left earlier. While I was in the bathroom, trying to cover them up, he swatted my hand away and carefully wiped the barely-there makeup.

"I want everyone to know you're mine," he growled in my ear as he tickled my waistline with his fingers.

My hair was slightly curled at the bottom, black heels to match, not an inch of color. My strawberry blonde hair was a sharp contrast as I compared the two. "I have one last thing," Hades announced as he walked up behind me. Through the window, I could see his crisp black three-piece suit. A small gold chain dipped on his right pelt, meant for a pocket watch. Did gods really need to tell time?

The smell of his musky cologne danced around me as he held my hair back and draped a red ruby necklace around my neck. I gasped at how beautiful it looked. It sparkled even in the window on a tiny silver chain. Shaped like a crescent, I stared in awe.

"In honor of Selene for bringing us together. I had to do red, not her signature blue color. I have to show who you really belong to." Turning around to scold him that he was mine too, he held up his cuff links. "And to show I am yours; I need your help to put these on." Smiling, I helped him put on his red cuff links, and he pulled me to the door. "You look ravishing." Hades dipped down to capture my nude pink lips as he tried to close the door.Blaze hopped into the air and set out his wings to glide and sit on my shoulder before the bedroom door shut behind us.

Walking outside, six-midnight black horses were hitched up to a large black carriage with hints of gold trimming around it. The footman as well as the driver were both cloaked in dark robes and had their faces hidden. The door was opened, and as we stepped inside, the blood-red velvet seats came into view, and I sat on the opposite side of the open door.

Hades didn't waste time and sat right beside me as he put his arm around me. Black and reds, that's what all I was seeing. Everything was dark and dreary. As much as I loved Hades, the color scheme was going to get old and fast. "Hades? Have you ever thought about switching up your color pallet?" Hades held a deep chuckle in his throat as he adjusted his tie.

"I'll change anything for you, Ember. Do you want a white horse and carriage?" I looked at him dumbly as he nodded to the window. Sure enough, the horses and the carriage had turned white. The inside red velvet cushions were now a light tan with gold and silver trimmings. I laughed out loud as my fingers traced on the soft, plush seating.

"No, silly, we don't need it all white. I'm just asking for a healthy medium." Hades squeezed my hip, and the now white carriage turned brown while the horses remained black.

"Better," I mused as I nuzzled into his chest. "Do you feel like you have to maintain a reputation? Is that why everything is black?"Letting out a sigh, Hades sat up straight and unbuttoned his jacket.

"Somewhat." He adjusted his rings on each of his fingers. "I am supposed to represent death. Why not have everything black and red? I never minded the colors before because they matched what I felt. Now, I'm not so sure." Hades winked at me while I giggled. "I'll change whatever colors you want as long as you are by my side." His kiss lingered on my forehead as I heard the driver slap the reigns.

The carriage ascended into the sky. No jerks or uncomfortable bumps or jostles rattled the carriage as we reached higher into the Underworld's red-tinted clouds. Blaze curled up and sat on the opposite side of the carriage. My hand went to Hades' thigh as we climbed higher and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Is that why you always stay in your darker form and not with how you really look?" Hades put his hand on mine, rubbing it gently with his thumb.

"Yes," he trailed off as he looked out the window. The sky became dark, and we were no longer in the land of the Underworld. The air grew cold; Hades' arm came around me again as he felt my shiver. My black dress was beautiful, but not so for the vast darkness outside the carriage. It was bone-chilling. Little candle lights flickered on, and my body was now perched on Hades' lap.

"I have a reputation to maintain. I was once told I wasn't scary or intimidating once, so I changed my look. It was hard to keep it like this for extended periods, but now my body has grown used to it. I now have to concentrate on what I truly look like. I almost forget until I lose control and look at myself in a mirror."

My heart broke. "Hades, that is terrible! You shouldn't have to change how you look because of that stupid comment! You look handsome and intimidating in both forms! Didn't you see those Incubus guys shaking when you rescued me? They were paralyzed in fear!" Hades let out a loud growl and held me tighter while I squeaked.

"What I'm trying to say, Hades, why don't you try and be in your regular, normal form?" I tilted my head and gave my famous pout. Yes, I have now named it my secret weapon, even though it doesn't work all the time.

"Maybe," Hades mused. "Just when we are alone for right now, how about that?”Kissing his lips, I whispered, "Perfect. In fact, when we become bonded, will you be your true self?" Hades leaned back to take in my entire face. I could feel the internal struggle he was having. Why does he feel so insecure about this?

"You really want that?" I nodded my head again excitedly.

Hades' lips capture mine. His tongue seeped in as I groaned into his mouth. Fingers entangled into my hair, and his hand cupped my breasts. Giving them a gentle squeeze, he nipped my lip playfully. "These are fantastic. I just want to bury my face in them." His face immediately went to my chest while I started laughing. He could play with them all day long if he wanted; he knew how to make them feel really, really nice!

As we traveled in darkness for a few more minutes, I became antsy. Where was this place? You couldn't see up nor down, and you certainly couldn't see anything in front of you. "This is between worlds or realms," Hades answered my internal question. "The journey to the Celestial Kingdom is a long one from the Underworld. First, you have the Underworld, then Earth who is also parallel to a land called, Bergarian. To continue onward and upward, you have the Celestial Kingdom. No one from Earth or Bergarian is allowed to travel between the Underworld and the Upper Kingdom; that is why it seems far. While we travel through this darkness, it seems long, but in reality, when we arrive, it only takes seconds.

"I don't even want to know how this stuff works." Hades laughed as the darkness started to turn to light. The candles flickered off as the wheels of the carriage took a light tap to the ground.

So, we know the Celestial Kingdom is solid, so far so good. The door was opened, and a bright light filtered in as Hades stepped out. The lone hand that was left waiting for me to take was hovering mid-air as I took a deep breath. My heart was racing, my fingers were tingling, and my nerves were through the roof. Hades did nothing to rush me as I bent down so my head wouldn't hit the top of the carriage. The bright light blinded my eyes as I put my hand up to shade them. Looking back in the carriage, Blaze continued to sleep.

"Let him sleep," Hades whispered as I put my foot down on the solid ground.

Light murmurs were heard far from me. Hades pulled me to his side. Once my eyes adjusted, the whole world was ten times brighter than that of the Underworld. Light green grass, lightly cemented walkways with gems embedded within blinded me as the sun hit.

Hades and I were standing in front of gold-colored gates with large stone columns; instantly, they were opened for us as our heels clicked on the stones. Clouds that you would typically see in the sky were floating closer to the ground and all around us. They weren't just puffs of precipitation clouds that you could swipe your hand through but had a more material touch to them. Several glowing figures were sitting on them, I'm guessing minor deities because they weren't the most beautiful, especially comparing them to Hades.

Their eyes lingered on us as we walked by; their bare chests reflected the sun with either sweat or oil covering their bodies. One male hopped off the cloud structure and was strutting around naked. Grabbing Hades' arm, I tugged on it and had my eyes making a wiggling motion to look behind us. Hades rolled his eyes and pulled me along.

I thought it was the end of it, but the crowd behind us began to grow. Some had togas, robes, and some sort of linen trousers, but many people, which were just men, were naked. "They are naked, Hades! Why didn't you warn me?" I whispered. The men behind us started laughing and elbowing each other.

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