Page 34 of Hades

I give her a nod because what else can I do? I’m pretty sure she’s crazy, or I’m dead, or quite possibly both. Either way, I’m here, and I’ll need to make the best of it until I can figure out a way to get back to… fuck, I don’t even know.

Themis whisks around the room, opening shutters and letting the natural light from outside pour into the opulent bedroom. When she gets to a massive wardrobethat quite possibly leads to Narnia, she throws open the doors, revealing the most beautiful gowns I have ever seen.

My mouth hangs open in awe at the bejeweled creations hanging inside. “If you don’t see anything you like here, my darling, I’ll have the seamstress come up and design something to your specifications. You remember how you loved to have Olga design things for you. She’s beside herself with excitement that you’re home. Everyone is,” she chatters on, hardly paying me any mind.

“Umm, no. This should be fine,” I mutter as I look down at my cut-off sweatpants that I made into shorts and the tank top I got for free for signing up at the local gym.

She gives me another pleased smile before opening the next smaller wardrobe. “Your more casual clothing is in here.”

I don’t see anything casual about what’s hanging there. Not a pair of jeans or even a short summer dress, just more gowns with less sparkle. “Thank you,” I say again as I begin to walk around the room, which I suddenly realize is more of an apartment with several rooms.

“I’ll give you a few hours to rest, it’s been a trying day. Then I’ll send up one of the servants to do your hair and makeup for the gala,” she adds, grabbing a strand of my hair. “Because this just won’t do,” she berates me as she drops the strand of my hair as if it were somehow repulsive to her.

I don’t dare utter a single word. Instead, I wait for her to leave before I even breathe. “What the fuck,” I whisper aloud to myself before walking over to one of the massive windows. Oddly, there is no glass or anything keeping the outside from coming in, yet there seems to be no problem with bugs, birds, or anything else looking to make a home here.

Leaning out the window as far as I can, I try and see anything familiar. But there is nothing but blue skies and greenery as far as I can see. To my left, there seems to be an arena of some sort, but what I don’t see are any people. Themis alluded to servants and a seamstress, but there is no one outside what appears to be a stark white marble castle.

“Curiouser and curiouser,” I mutter as I make my way over to the formal wardrobe. I brush my fingers along the tops of the gowns. They’re made of the softest fabric I have ever felt, and when I lean in to get a better look at the fantastic beadwork, I’m floored. Row after row of what can only be real sapphires, rubies, and emeralds adorn each dress.

“I have got to be dead,” I say as I pull one of the gowns and hold it up against myself. It’s a magnificent ruby color, Grecian in style, with hundreds if not thousands of twinkling rubies and diamonds adorning the bodice. “I guess if I have to attend a gala, I could do worse,” I say, spinning with the dress held to me.

For a moment, I wonder if I was in an accident, not eaten by coyotes, and this is some coma-induced hallucination. It’s the only rational explanation for anything that’s going on. Laying the gown on the chaise, I crawl into the giant bed, pull the soft bedding around my chin, and close my eyes tight. If I’m lucky, I’ll wake up and be back at the sketchy motel with the handsome Hades next door.

If I’m not lucky, I’ll attend a gala with a crazy goddess who thinks I’m her daughter. What could possibly go wrong?

My exhaustion from the past few hours crashes into me, and the last thing I think of before letting sleep consume me is Hades. I imagine his strong arms protectively wrapped around me as I drift to sleep.

“Miss Aradia.” I hear a far-off voice pulling me out of my slumber. “Miss Aradia, I need you to wake up.”

“Mmm, Hades,” I mumble as I stretch my arms over my head and then feel around for his warm body.

“Miss Aradia, your mother said to come up here and help you prepare for the gala,” the soft, feminine voice implores as I’m nudged awake.

As I rub the sleep from my eyes, I look around at the same opulent room as when I crawled into bed. “Fuck,” I breathe out. “I had hoped this was a dream.”

“No, Miss Aradia, this is not a dream, and your mother is very… well… you know,” the slight whisp of a woman says as she abruptly pulls back the covers from the bed. “We don’t have very long to get you ready. Guests are already starting to arrive,” she continues as she grabs my arm, forcing me to sit up.

When she’s satisfied that I won’t fall back asleep, she goes over to the chaise that the ruby dress is lying over. “Oh, this is a beautiful choice. Red has always been your color. Your mother will be so happy with this one,” she rambles on as she grabs a pair of jewel-encrusted shoes to match.

“Do you know me?” I ask with more panic in my voice than I anticipated. The waif of a woman stops what she’s doing and stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

“What do you mean, do I know you? Of course, I do. I’ve known you since you were a baby. Terrible what happened to you. Your poor parents were beside themselves with worry.” The woman is like a tiny tornado as she grabs things from around the room. “Well, come on, you’ve got to get showered and ready,” she instructs as she pushes open a door leading to the bathroom.

With a loud groan, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and follow her into the en-suite. Like the rest of the bedroom, it is also fit for royalty. The stone shower is massive, with jets pouring water in every direction, but the enormous tub catches my eye. I stand motionless, transfixed by it, not because of its size or design, but because of the memory that crashes into my head like a freight train.

I stand motionless as the memory plays out in my head. At least, I think it’s in my head. It’s so vivid that it seems as if I’m watching it unfold before me.

“Hades!” I call out to him from the warmth of the bath. “Are you coming in the water with me?” I ask, although I know his answer will always be yes.

The bubbles overflow the tub as I lean on the stone edge and wait for him, my head leaning on my crossed arms.

Regardless of how often I’ve seen him naked, he still takes my breath away when he practically struts into the room. His body looks like it’s been sculpted by the gods just for me, but they would never be so generous.

We’ve spent the day in bed, yet my body, despite being sore, craves his. “Hey, beautiful,” he says as he kisses me. “Is there room in this gigantic thing for me?”

“I don’t know. Can you swim?” I tease as he steps over the edge and into the hot water.

I straddle his lap when he slides down into the water. “How is it possible that I can want you again? You’ve created a monster,” I whisper into his ear as I slide my hand between us to grasp his cock.

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