Page 68 of Hades

He gives me a raised eyebrow. “Well, at least you can read.”

I tossed the invitation back at him. “I can’t go to your daughter’s birthday party.” I’m about to start listing off the plethora of reasons why I can’t go when Reaver bursts in. “Fucking hell, is there a sign on my door saying everyone welcome? If there is, it’s a fucking lie!” I shout.

“We have a problem,” Reaver says as he looks around my disheveled office. “What the fuck did you do to my office?”

“I took it back, and I don’t care what the fucking problem is. Thanks for visiting. You can go now,” I snap.

“Cain said there’s a problem in Boston. Thought you might want to know. But fuck you too, so see ya,” Reaver says as he walks out the door and back into The Inferno.

I’m out the door and grabbing him by the shirt before he gets very far. “What do you mean, there’s a problem in Boston? Is Aradia all right?” I shake him, hoping to jog the answer out of him.

Reaver growls and pushes me back. “I thought you didn’t give a fuck about what the problem was,” he barks. “Cain asked that you and I meet at the Vegas club as soon as possible. Something about a lunch date.”

“A lunch date? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” My mind immediately goes to Aradia having a lunch date with some guy and me having to kill him for merely existing. Although, in my mood, I’d probably torture him a bit first just to take the edge off, then kill him.

“I don’t know, that’s all he said. Should I have asked him?”

I don’t bother listening to the rest of Reaver’s babbling before I walk into the main bar area of The Black door Vegas. Fuck their gate system, I don’t need it.

“Cain!” I bellow, and my voice echoes through the place.

“Can’t you ever just calmly announce your arrival?” Cain says as he walks into the bar area with his wife, Kat.

“What’s the point? You’re here, aren’t you? So what’s the problem in Boston?”

Cain glances at his wife. “Aradia called Kat, and we think she’s going to have lunch with Pestilence. By the description of the woman anyway, it would seem.”

“Fuck,” I breathe out, not expecting to hear Aradia and Pestilence’s names in the same sentence. “How? Never mind, it doesn’t fucking matter. Where are they supposed to meet?” I say as I look at my watch. Eleven-fifty Boston time, since I’m always on Boston time. “Shit, what time is she meeting her?

“She’s supposed to meet her at The Federal at noon. But they said they wouldn’t go until I called them back,” Kat, informs me.

I let out a laugh. “Have you ever known Aradia to do what she’s told?” I shake my head. “Let me rephrase that: she never does what she’s told, it’s just not in her.”

There isn’t a decision to be made. All I needed after the confirmation that Aradia was in trouble was the where and when. I don’t think Pestilence is stupid enough to do anything to harm Aradia, but she makes Themis’ vindictive side look tolerable. If Pestilence thinks for a moment that she can leverage herself and whatever game she’s playing by using Aradia, she will.

“You can call her and tell her to go, but I’m sure she’s already there. And don’t mention I’m coming.” I add just before I disappear and arrive at the entrance of The Federal, Boston. Several patrons must notice my sudden appearance as I emerge out of thin air, not that I care. I’m not the one who’s going to sound crazy when I try to explain myself to people.

I expect to be able to feel Aradia’s pull as I always have, but there is nothing, and I wouldn’t say I like it. I often thought of it as a curse, something I had to deal with. But now that it’s gone, I miss it.

Taking the stone steps two at a time, I sprint to the restaurant entrance. I’m about to burst through the door when two elderly women approach.

Holding the door for them I step aside. “Ladies, after you.” I smile and give one a wink.

“Aren’t you the sweetest. Thank you, young man,” one says, and I have to laugh because if she even knew how old I was, well, young wouldn’t be what she’d be saying.

I bypass the hostess with a wink and a smile. “I see my party, thank you,” I say as I pass, making a beeline for Aradia’s table, which is nestled in the back by a large window.

It’s been six months since I have seen her in the flesh. The murky water of the basin doesn’t capture her natural beauty the way the sun does as it bathes her in its light. I take a moment to admire her beauty. My heart clenches in my chest just at the sight of her. Missing her doesn’t even start to measure what I feel.

“I’ve been so stupid,” I whisper.

Pestilence has her back to me, and thankfully, Aradia is so preoccupied with what Pestilence is saying, she doesn’t notice as I approach. Not until I’m standing at their table, looking down at her with a smile I can’t contain.

She looks up, most likely expecting a waiter, and it takes her a split second to realize it’s me.

“Hello, ladies. I thought I would join you for lunch,” I say, taking one of the empty seats at their table set for four. Aradia’s mouth is still agape at the shock of seeing me. Grabbing her hand, I bring it to my lips and gently kiss her fingers. “I’m sorry I’m late, darling.”

The smile she gives me has my heart soaring to the heavens. Reluctantly, I turn my attention to Pestilence, who seems to be as shocked to see me as Aradia, perhaps more so. “What are we talking about?” I ask as I grab a piece of bread and lean back in my chair. Pestilence narrows her eyes and glares at me. “I hear you’ve been partying with Themis. What has she been up to since I nearly destroyed her pantheon? Redecorating, I presume.” I ask, eager to hear her answer.

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