Page 12 of Seeking Hades' Ember

“Then Teddy Johnson came up to the cage and yelled at his men asking where I had come from. They didn’t know and started yelling some more. He banged on the cage and asked me who brought me in. The man in the helmet was standing right beside him, so I pointed to him and screamed he was right beside him.”

Ares appeared shocked as I continued my story. I dared not look at the others, feeling the heat of their stares.

“The gladiator stood there, arms crossed, and then walked away and into Teddy Johnson’s office. Teddy started throwing his hands in the air and stomped off and went to his office as well. A long time had passed, and he was grinning like he won the lottery. He came up to my cage and banged on it with his cane and said, ‘We are going to make tons of money and it all starts with you, Jillian’.” I sobbed.

Loukas came over and gave me a hug while Vulcan kept his mouth covered with one of his hands. Tears welled up in his eyes. Hades’ eyes were red, not just figuratively. They burned like a lake of everlasting fire.

“Fuck!” Hades got up and pushed the couch backward, causing Vulcan to fall with a crash. Loukas got up to help restrain Hades and talk him down, but Hades was having none of it. He stormed the kitchen, throwing things, banging on the table like a mad man. Each time a loud noise would drop to the floor, I would flinch, thinking it was heading toward me.

Somehow, he caught some of the appliances on fire and I closed my eyes and covered my ears. It was too much noise, and I had nowhere to run. He was screaming and yelling in another language, possibly Greek or Italian. Ares, Loukas, Hermes, and Vulcan backed up and let Hades have his way with the penthouse. Tables overturned, chairs broken, and fine China spilled to the floor. A few tears escaped my eyes seeing the rage he had.

What had this man been through to cause him so much pain? His inner demons were suffocating him, and he had no way to control them. The men stood and looked on in pity as he continued the rampage. They knew not to mess with him but the aching in my heart couldn’t let him continue.

With shaky legs, I stood up. If he hadn’t hit me by now, then I don’t think he would hit me in the future. He pushed his men away harshly, but I couldn’t see him doing that to a woman. The urge to touch him was strong and I couldn’t help but take those steps toward him. I could hear Loukas whispering for me to come back, afraid to have his voice above a whisper. Hermes just told him to stop and see what I could do.

Hades was staring out the window, a half-torn desk chair in his hand. His shoulders showed his ragged breathing rising and falling. I walked on the balls of my feet, closer still trying not to disturb what memories or demons were plaguing his mind. My small hand searched for his large one that was balled into a fist.

My small hand touched his knuckles as I finally whispered out, “Hades?” His eyes bolted to mine so fast it made me jump. His breathing slowed down, and his fist began to unfold. “Hades, are you all right?” My voice was small compared to this giant man and he took it in gladly. His eyes closed and I slipped my hand into his and he held it tightly. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Giving him a small smile and a gentle squeeze, I said, “It’s all right. We all have our bad days.”

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