Until Death: A Dark Gods and Monsters Fantasy Romance (Tempting the Fates Book 3), page 10
“I never said you should trust me,” he answers, sneering as he cocks his head to one side. “Besides you of all beings should know why that is. Still, if it helps, I swear on that very loyalty that I will do as I have said and return to you with whatever it is I find out.”
“Why?”
“Curiosity,” Cerberus says with a shrug. “I want to know for myself what kind of mortal is capable of bringing Death to his knees for her.”
“And after you find out whatever it is you wish to learn, what then?”
“I shall make my own decision when the time comes.”
“No.”
“Death,” Eros presses, “this may be the only way of rescuing her without casualty.”
“I do not care.”
“I am speaking in regard to her life. Her soul. The moment you go after her, Hades will wield her like a weapon.”
“He is already doing so by keeping her from me.”
“Yes, but if Cerberus can find out why and where she is being kept, we may stand a chance of rescuing her without bloodshed.”
I narrow my eyes at him, weighing my options. It is true that I cannot simply storm into the palace without a plan, but I did have a plan, albeit a bloodthirsty one … as Eros seems to have surmised.
“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth, “but you have one night before I slaughter the entirety of this kingdom to get to her, and if I so much as hear that she has been harmed … nothing will stop me from exacting my revenge upon this realm and your master.”
"One night is all I need," he says after a moment of tense silence. Then, without another word, he bounds off toward Hades’ palace.
I watch him disappear around a corner before turning back to Eros.
“I suppose this is the part where I invite you back to my place,” he says with a cocky grin that elicits an annoyed growl from me.
I wave him on, hoping that we can come up with a plan to rescue Hazel before I am forced to make good on my threat.
A threat that, with Hades’ deal with the Fates still intact, would most likely bring ruin to us all.
15
Hazel
Unsurprisingly, I’m yet again left completely alone in my room for the rest of the day.
No one comes to bring food or water or to escort me to the dining room. I don’t even hear so much as a footstep in the halls outside the locked door.
It’s only when it starts to feel as though I’ve been forgotten, lost to the nothingness of the palace that I suddenly remember the package. Racing into the bathroom, I’m relieved to find the bundle of fabric where I left it.
Dropping to my knees, I quickly pull the bundle from within. As I peel back the brown parchment, the small book Cyprian gave me falls into my lap. I hardly dare to believe it’s really here as I stare down at it for a long moment.
Carefully, I pick it up and flip it open, only to see that the page with the small illustration has been torn out. Sighing, my shoulders sag as I trace the jagged edge of the paper with one finger.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. This heartache, this overwhelming pain that accompanies the sight of the torn page. As I stare at it, Lilia’s words from the night before come to mind.
Frowning, I can’t help but wonder if I made a terrible mistake with Death over such a small thing. Perhaps I was too quick to judge his intentions… but then I shake the thought from my mind.
As much as I want to believe that, I saw my father here in the Underworld with my very own eyes. The book is one thing, but my father’s life?
No.
If Death cannot prove he kept our deal, then it does not matter how much I love him. I cannot be with someone like that.
Grabbing the parchment paper, I rise and return to the bedroom. Re-wrapping the book, I tuck it under the mattress, unwilling to be caught with it out and have it taken away. I still need ink to write a note, but at least I’m one step closer.
Lying down, I stare up at the dark ceiling as I allow myself to get lost in thought.
Despite my best efforts, my mind keeps returning to Death. My heart aches as I try but fail to keep myself from imagining a future with him. As much as I want to save my father, my own life means nothing without Death.
Perhaps, in some ways, this is easier. I care little for my mortal life now, not when all that I love is no more.
Sitting up, I chide myself.
Life with Death was never a possibility. It has only ever been a dream. Even if we succeeded here, and I was returned to my body, I am mortal. We wouldn’t grow old, let alone share a life together.
Even if we could somehow share my life, it would be him watching me age, and eventually die. My body no longer capable of housing my soul.
In the end, it would always be death.
I shouldn’t even pretend to allow myself to daydream about a different life. My mind spinning, I get up to pace the room as I try to refocus on the task at hand. I’m supposed to be finding a way to save my father, not bemoaning my poor life choices.
I glance at the window, suddenly realizing it’s grown dark.
I pause in my pacing and wander over to the window, peering out at the starless sky. The darkness outside seems to mirror the hopelessness I feel in my heart.
My stomach growls softly, informing me of its displeasure at being ignored. Pressing a hand to it, I give it a firm shush. I can still remember the times that I went to bed starving, I can last longer than this if that’s the game Hades plans on playing.
Still, my stomach lets out another growl of hunger.
“Hush,” I whisper. “I will not be undone by you.”
Just then, another growl seems to fill the room … only this one doesn’t come from my stomach.
I freeze at the sound, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. Slowly, I turn to face the door. From just outside my room comes another low growl, followed by the sound of low sniffing, as if some large creature is prowling just outside it.
Immediately, my heart swells as I recall Eros’ ability to shift. He’s found me. By some miracle, he’s managed to make his way into Hades’ palace and find me.
Hope floods through me as I take an excited step toward the door, just as a key is inserted and turned in the lock. A smile is already forming on my lips as the door opens to reveal not a creature nor Eros … but a man I have never seen before.
He is as beautiful as he is terrifying as he fills the entirety of the doorframe. Messy dark hair is pushed back from a powerful face, complete with thick brows and full lips. Broad-shouldered, he is strong but lean, cut to athletic perfection, as he leans into the room, his sharp eyes searching the space before finally landing on me.
I stop in my tracks, my smile faltering and my heart skipping a nervous beat in my chest.
“Who are you?”
He doesn’t answer, his head cocking to one side as he continues to stare at me with eyes that almost seem to ignite and burn from within. I take a step back, watching as his brow furrows.
Without a word, he ducks to step into the room.
“Who are you?” I repeat, my voice slightly louder this time.
He still doesn't answer, but instead takes another step towards me. I can already feel the heat radiating off of him, and it sends a cold shiver racing down my spine even as a thin layer of sweat beads across my skin.
“I demand you tell me who you are.”
He pauses at this, his eyebrow lifting.
“I should be the one asking who you are,” he finally replies, his deep voice filling the room.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“How is it that you, a mere mortal, have managed to beguile Death himself, not to mention Eros and the very king of the Underworld.”
I swallow hard as I take in the stranger's words. How does he know about my connection to Death and the others? Is he an ally or an enemy? My mind races with questions as I try to assess the situation.
“You must be mistaken,” I say, “I have beguiled no one, at least, it was never my intention to do so … I am simply trying to save my father’s life.”
His eyes narrow on me, and I find myself unable to look away. Something about him seems familiar, but I am certain I’ve never seen this man before.
“Curious,” he mutters, his voice so low that I’m not sure I was meant to hear it.
Taking another step toward me, he cocks his head to the other side, the sudden motion causing his dark hair to flop playfully across his forehead. In a split second, he’s gone from a terrifying monster to looking more like a puppy with ears too big for its head.
“What could you know about Death and Eros’ feelings?” I ask, taking a small step back. “Why are you here? What business do you have with me?”
He snorts at this.
“Business with you? None. But your connection to Death and the others is of great interest to me,” he says, taking yet another step closer to me. His eyes roam over my body, and I feel exposed under his intense scrutiny. “There is something about you that draws them in, something that makes them see you as more than just a mere mortal. I want to know what that is.”
“But how do you know this?”
“How could I not know when you are all they talk about? Besides, your scent was all over them, they could only ever mean you.”
“You were with them?” I ask, my cheeks flushing and my heart skipping another beat in my chest as I realize what Eros must have done. Then I take another step back as he moves further into the room. I’m nearly pressed against the wall at this point, unable to place more distance between us.
“Unfortunately. Now, tell me, tiny human, how do you do it?”
Again, he cocks his head to the other side, the motion unnerving in its sharpness … but then the dim light glints off something in his ear.
A sapphire earring.
Why does he seem so familiar?
Blinking, I begin to piece together who this man may be.
We have met before, but not in this form.
“Cerberus,” I breathe.
“So, you have figured it out,” he says with a rakish grin that reveals sharp canines, taking another step toward me.
“Cerberus. Cerberus, stay!” I order as the distance between us becomes uncomfortably close.
I don’t know what comes over me to think I have any authority to order him about, but it does not stop me from trying. Straightening, I point toward his feet and repeat my words, this time more firmly.
Immediately, his steps falter.
His eyes widen slightly as if he’s just as surprised by this as I am. Cerberus looks down at his feet and then back up at me, something in them sparking a fire deep within me …
And apparently, within him as well.
16
Hazel
Cerberus lets out a low growl, his eyes now fixed intently on mine. The fire that lights them is warm, glowing through him as his lips pull into a rakish grin. For a second, I am sure that I must be imagining what I’m seeing, but as he tilts his head, I realize this man has actual fire burning within the very depths of his being.
And it’s growing hotter with each passing second.
The air around us crackles with an electrifying tension, and I can feel my heartbeat quickening.
“Say that again,” he demands, his voice low and reverberating through me as he takes another step toward me.
I try to swallow past the lump that’s taken root in my throat. Goosebumps prickle my skin as I try to find some thread of courage to give him another command. But it’s almost impossible to focus on anything other than the fire burning in his eyes.
My mouth opens, but not a single word manages to find its way past my lips.
Cerberus takes another step forward, his grin growing more devilish by the moment. He’s far too close now, the heat of his body nearly unbearable in its intensity. Just as he moves to close the distance between us, I find my voice again.
“Stay,” I command, the word coming out shaky. “Stay, Cerberus.”
Cerberus lets out a low growl, but to my surprise, he stops in his tracks. He's so close now that I can smell him as waves of heat crash over me. His scent is a heady mix of musk, smoke, and something else I can't quite place.
I half expect to find displeasure in his face as our eyes meet again, but all I find is a strange sense of delight working its way over his features as he stares down at me from his great height.
A shiver works its way across his shoulders and down his spine just before his fingertips burst into fire, golden flames licking their way up his arms. His hair and eyes spark, becoming edged in flames as a soft sound of pleasure escapes Cerberus’ lips.
He leans forward, one massive hand flattening against the stone just beside my head. I hardly know what to do as I press myself flatter against the wall, pinned here by a man literally on fire as scorching heat radiates from him.
I blink up at Cerberus, his smoky scent filling my nose as my heart begins to race.
Neither of us says a word, and slowly the flames that cover him begin to retreat, leaving streaks of black soot across his skin in their wake. Cerberus bows his head as he reaches out to tilt my chin up, his fingertips nearly scorching me with lingering heat.
He pauses, his lips a hair’s breadth from mine. So close I can nearly taste him, but then he pulls back. His brow furrowing for a moment as he straightens, the hunger that was in his eyes a moment before now replaced with something I can’t quite figure out.
A soft smile, almost at odds with the devilish one from before, overtakes his face.
“Thank you,” he says in a husky voice.
Surprised at this, I can’t help but ask, “Thank you? For what?”
But, of course, he doesn’t answer.
Instead, he takes a step back, looking me over with a disconcerting thoroughness before turning to exit the room without a word. I stare after him in shock. As the door closes behind him, the sound of the lock turning fills the room, finally startling me from my stupor.
What was that?
Tentatively, I move toward the door and press my ear to it, but there is nothing to hear. Cerberus is gone, and I am none the wiser as to why he was here in the first place, let alone who may have sent him.
If he hadn’t mentioned Death and Eros, I would have certainly thought this was another one of Hades’ games … but now, I’m not so certain.
I turn from the door with a deep sigh. I could spend hours trying to piece together what just happened, and still be no closer to an answer.
Not that it matters anyway.
I am still no closer to escaping this place or saving my father than I was this morning.
But at least now, I have hope.
A weighty silence falls over the room as I lie in bed, unable to find sleep. I can’t help but stare into the shadows, wishing that Death’s form would take shape and step from them.
It must be close to midnight by the time I finally hear footsteps outside my door again. Sitting up, I am not surprised when the two guards from the night before step into my room.
Their faces are impassive as if they are here on a routine visit, but I know better. I can sense the underlying tension, the unspoken threat that hangs in the air between us.
One of the guards nods to me, indicating that I should get up and follow them. Again, not a word is spoken as I'm led through the palace back to the strange jungle room.
The other women are already gathered within the room by the time I arrive, but the mood is much more somber. It’s hard to ignore as we wait to see what will be taught and expected of us tonight.
“Welcome back,” Persephone says, her tone far from pleasant, as she once again appears in the pool of light that gathers in the center of the room.
Her eyes are hard, her smile too forced as she glances about the room. I’m still unsettled by this version of her as she begins to move about the room. Persephone stops in front of me and I can sense her eyes scouring my body. I try to meet her gaze but find myself looking away, intimidated by her unspoken power.
“You are all here again tonight for a very important lesson,” she says, her voice low and dangerous. “One that may determine your fate in this realm. Tonight, you will learn about the power of submission.”
I flinch as those around me lean in, eager to soak in every word she says.
“Hazel, come here,” Persephone orders, once again singling me out.
I do my best to keep my emotions in check, though my heart thunders in my chest as I approach her. I can feel the other women’s gazes boring into my back, watching my every move.
Persephone’s hand snakes out, catching me by the chin and tilting my head up. Her eyes search mine, and I can feel a sense of triumph emanating from her.
“Submission is not weakness,” she says, her voice low and silky. “It is power. The power to control and be controlled. The power to give yourself over completely to another and allow them to find pleasure in their perceived control.”
Her hand falls away as she turns to face the other women.
“Your king, my husband, desires a queen who understands the value of submission. One who can willingly give herself over to him without him realizing power was exchanged. A woman to please him and satisfy his every desire. And tonight, I will teach you how to become that queen.”
Persephone moves about the room, instructing us on different positions and techniques to please Hades and satisfy his desires. I feel sick to my stomach as I listen to her words. If she would just give me a moment of her time, then perhaps all these lessons would no longer be necessary … but I know that, for now, I have no choice but to learn if I want a chance of surviving long enough to save my father.
Yet again, Persephone orders the others to practice on each other as she finishes demonstrating how to pleasure a man in ways I never even imagined. And, yet again, I am left standing awkwardly in the center of the room, watching on.
“That will be all for tonight,” the queen announces. “It is time to choose tonight’s seductress. Once more you will go to my husband to attempt to seduce him. But tonight, you are not wake him except by means of the pleasure I have just taught you.”
