Page 44 of Hades

“Bingo,” I say with a smile, one not shared by Aradia.

“You can’t be serious,” she says as she steps backward, hiding her hands behind her back.

“Only until we get where we’re going, then I’ll take them off… Unless—” I don’t get the rest of the sentence out before her hand slaps me across the face.

“In your dreams,” she snarls. “Any good thoughts I had about you died the moment you jumped out that window.”

“And any thought I had about doing this the easy way died the moment you kicked me,” I inform her. The rational side of my brain knows that everything she’s spouting is from whatever lies her mother planted in her head, but the irrational part says they must be feelings she’s kept hidden deep.

Taking a long step toward her, she backs up until her back hits the door. “Last chance. Easy way or the hard way?”

“Asshole.”

“Hard way, it is,” I say as I grip her by the waist and move her away from the door. In one swift move, I capture her wrists behind her and slap on the shackles. She prepares to scream, but I cover her mouth with my hand. “I gave you a choice. I’m not going to make that mistake again.” I feel her tongue against my palm as she tries to bite me. “That’s only turning me on,” I whisper in her ear.

“Or a assel,” she mumbles under my hand.

“So, you’ve said,” I tease as I grab a clean rag from the shelf. “I just need you to remember that I gave you a choice,” I add as I quickly remove my hand and replace it with the material, tying it tightly behind her head.

The glare in her emerald eyes and the tone of the mumbles coming from her tell me she is not happy with me or the situation.

Gently, I brush a few strands of hair out of her face and tuck them behind her ear. “Everything you’re thinking about me is a lie and was placed there by your mother,” I say as I bend and kiss her on the forehead. “I love you, and as soon as we’re out of here, I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

My profession of love is met by a series of mumbles that in no way sound as if she reciprocates my feelings.

“Time to go,” I say as I lift her again.

The gates to the Heavens are just past the arena and are seldom guarded. While not exactly complacent, Aradia has calmed her struggling, making it easier and quicker for me to dart for the gates. I only hope that by stepping through them, my powers will return, allowing me to get us quickly to the Underworld and the eventual safety of Treachery.

I quicken my pace as the gates come into view only to stop dead in my tracks as I see the contingency of guards flanking each side.

“Shit,” I grumble, knowing they’re waiting there for us. “What do you think? Head back or make a run for it?” I ask Aradia.

“Fug av,” is her response.

“Make a run for it, that’s my girl,” I praise as I gently tap her ass, earning another series of muffled curses.

There isn’t any way that the guards don’t see us coming. Hiding places are few and far between, most likely for a reason. Heaven’s domain ends at the gates. I slow my pace as we approach, doing a quick count of the guards and a few calculations regarding how quick I need to be. I’m banking on the fact that they will likely not try to shoot, stab or otherwise impale me as long as I have Aradia. Harming her would incite the wrath of her mother, and I’m positive none of them want that.

I curse the fact that Themis has essentially made me use Aradia as a shield to escape. Hopefully, she still values her daughter’s life, If she doesn’t, this isn’t going to work out in our favor.

“Hang on, my love,” I say before sprinting at top speed. The guards quickly change their formation blocking the gate, their shields interlocked to make an impenetrable barrier.

Thankfully, I’m no stranger to battle tactics and can quickly find the weakest link. Changing my route slightly, I veer to the left and head for the young guard who is visibly shaking. His stance is weak, and as my booted foot makes contact with his shield, he’s thrown backward. And it’s too late for the rest, because the moment my foot touches down outside the gate, I feel the surge of power within me return. Before my second foot can hit the ground, we’ve landed in Treachery.

ARADIA

I’m not exactly surewhat just happened, but the beautiful, sweet smell of the garden that I’ve gotten used to is suddenly replaced with the stench of sulfur and soot. And the blue sky is now dark and ominous with clouds that look to be ringed in fire.

Hades takes a moment to steady himself before he places my feet on the ground. My hands are still bound behind me, and he still has the gag covering my mouth. Unfortunately, my sight works fine, and I don’t like what I see.

As promised, the cuffs around my wrist fall to the ground with a clank, allowing me to untie the strip of material covering my mouth. Tossing it to the ground, I take a moment to gather my thoughts as Hades stands staring at me.

I take deep breath in, hoping to calm my anger. But I immediately regret it, the unpleasant stench causing me to cough and wretch. Hades makes no move to calm or comfort me, and once I’ve gained my composure, I try again, without a deep inhale this time.

“Where are we?” I ask as nicely as I can, yet it comes out almost as a growl as I glare at the man who hasn’t moved since putting me down. “Hello, earth to Hades,” I add, snapping my fingers to get his attention.

“Treachery Prison,” he answers without explanation.

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