Page 15 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 8

Jillian

He was so angry I almost saw steam come off his body. His friends went from a fighting stance to the defensive as he took the stairs two, three, and four at a time. His strides were long, and his team almost shuddered in fear. One hand was on his towel, so it didn’t fall, and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Did you tell her to make this?” He slung his hand at the table, veins protruding from his neck. They all shook their heads but Hades advanced, getting ready to grab Hermes by his neck.

“Stop!” I screamed. “I-I made it. I’m sorry.” I kept my arms up so no one would hit me in the head. I’ve seen Teddy angry, and when he got angry, he would hurt me or someone else.

Hades’ fury was halted as his eyes softened. The veins in his neck retracted and his muscles were no longer bulging out of his body. “Jillian,” he whispered. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean.” His fists balled up again and he turned around to storm up the stairs while holding his towel and slammed the door.

My body was still shaking on the floor until Loukas ran into the room, hair wet and clad only in a bathrobe. “What happened?” Loukas frantically looked around the room and saw me on the floor. Running to me, he grabbed me and pulled me up. My eyes were threatening to let the tears fall but once Loukas sat me in the chair, I felt much calmer since Hades’ glare was no longer on me.

“Hades blew a gasket.” Hermes came to the table to sit down. “Don’t worry Jillian, he would never hurt you. He’s just angry you made breakfast.”

“But why? I was trying to be nice,” I muttered.

“Doesn’t matter. He doesn’t want you working.” Ares poured himself some juice. “You have worked all your life and he wants you resting, not trying to tend to us fools even though your breakfast looks fucking amazing. The hell? Is that French toast?” Ares grabs a few and piles them on his plate. I smile genuinely for the first time in ages and Loukas catches it.

“You all right there, Princess?” I wiped my mouth from the orange juice.

“Yeah, I’ve just never seen someone so excited over French toast.” I chuckle.

“Shit, I hardly ever eat carbs, not good for the bod.” Ares starts to rub his abs and begins to flex while chewing with his mouth open. He was the most muscular out of the group, but far too much for my taste. I could see him working out all hours of the day to maintain his bulk.

“Do you think I could go outside today, Loukas?” Loukas rubs his chin and thinks.

“I’ll need to ask boss man, but I’m sure he would love to take you out, but I think he was wanting to make the trip home today.”

Home, that means he was leaving. My heart hurt to hear that. Hades had saved me from the worst place and now he had to go back to his own life. He seems so successful especially if his clothes said anything about him. A high-class job, family, maybe even a wife, a dog or two to go back home. If anything, I should be grateful. I was selfish to think that he would let me stay as long as he did.

I don’t know why I was attached to him. He comforted me last night; that was the first comfort I have ever felt in a long time. In fact, I don’t remember anyone ever comforting me before. The adrenaline of my nightmare, the fear that is still within me fueled my need to be held by him and his warm embrace. It was nothing more, nothing more than someone there that allowed me to latch on to have one night of peace.

“Oh, well I am most appreciative of what he has done for me. I’m really indebted to all of you. I hope to pay you all back someday once I get a job.”

“There will be no job, Jillian.” Hades was in his full suit, walking down the stairs. His brows were still bunched up in anger, but the permanent frown was now just a thin line. “You are coming back with me, to my home.”

“Oh?”

“Wow, Hades, way to ease her into that statement,” Hermes joked.

“What I mean, Jillian is that I want to take care of you.” Hades kneeled on the floor next to my chair. He looked up at me with his dark eyes, pleading. “We still think there are more people like Teddy Johnson out there and they may be looking for you. I think it would be safer if you came with me.”

My heart was beating erratically. I couldn’t go back to that place, not now that I just got out. A wave of pain engulfed my body, and I was struggling to breathe. “Jillian, breathe,” Loukas muttered from the other side of the table.

In one swift motion, Hades lifted me up in his arms and cradled me to his chest like a child. He held me tightly until I started to breathe again. “Follow how I’m breathing, concentrate,” he cooed in my ear. “In and out, that’s it.” My breathing became normal, but a few stray tears fell across my cheeks and onto my lap. How embarrassing was that?

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. Not even sure that he heard me.

He tightened his grip and ran his fingers through my hair. “I’m the one that is sorry,” he spoke lowly.

With his steady breathing and his heavy heart beating in my ear, my eyes drifted slowly closed. I’ve never felt so safe in a person’s embrace but here is where I hope to stay, at least for a little while.

***

The next time I woke up, I was in an even larger bed than what I woke from previously. The whole room didn't even look familiar. This was something I had never seen before. Dark red carpets with dark wood accents adorned the dressers and nightstands. Several low-lighted lamps were scattered across the room. I blush thinking if he left those on for me, knowing I’m scared of the dark.

The bed’s comforter is silky black along with dark color sheets that warm my body just right. I no longer felt cold like I did back in the other bedrooms. A small fire also glowed in the far corner of the room next to a door that leads to the bathroom.

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