Do we have guests?” Then she’s there. The object of my hatred. My fascination. My anger. Of all my swirling emotions. Her eyes widen as they land on me. “Why, hello, handsome. How are you?”
I’m shocked at how vibrant she looks. Her hair is lustrous and flowing. It has a silky sheen. Her coloring is better. Her skin looks like porcelain. She’s filled out as well, with more curves than she had before. She’s glowing. Absolutely glowing. She sends me a smile that’s pure lust. “Being married to Hades has been good for me.” She clutches his arm.
Hades growls at me. His eyes glow a bright red. “Stop that, baby,” she gives him a light slap on the arm, “it’s not very polite. Death, dear, how are you?”
Death smiles. “Good thanks, Twelve. You’re looking in good spirits.”
“Any day with this hunk of deliciousness is a day well spent.” She looks up at Hades with love in her eyes.
“You ready to go?” I ask Death.
“That’s it!” he says. “We’re done?”
“We’re done.” I’m grinning like a madman. “It was good to see you, Gabby…Twelve…whatever your name is.”
“You too, handsome.” She winks at me, and Hades growls again.
“We’ll be out of your hair, then.” Death seems nervous all of a sudden. “Good to see you both.”
“Um…no. You can leave, Death,” Hades says to his son before turning to me, “but you’re staying indefinitely,” Hades adds, leveling his eyes on me. “You’re mortal and in my realm. Tartarus could do with another soul.”
I see it swirling in the depths of his eyes. Hades is jealous…of me. I see something else in their depths. A madness that I recognize only too well. This is fucked up. I have my answer, but I may never see Ash again. I rack my brain to try and find a way out of this.
33
Ashley
I’m sitting on the edge of the seat. Just sitting, staring. I’ve already bitten my nails to the quick, so there’s nothing else to do but sit and stare. Oh, and to panic internally. There’s plenty of that. The rain has stopped. The sky is covered in thick, black clouds that threaten to spill over again. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. The weather, that is. Does it mean that Bolt is feeling better? Does it mean he’s gone for good? I bite back a sob.
“Are you sure I can’t get you some dinner?” Shannon asks me for the third time.
“Thanks, but my stomach is… It’s clenched too tight to even think about eating. I can’t believe he did something so stupid,” I say for the hundredth time.
“I tried to talk him out of it,” Night says.
“Not hard enough.” Shannon bites her thumbnail.
“Babe, it was—”
“Don’t you ‘babe’ me.” She wags a finger at him. “Bolt could be gone for good. Your father is evil. He’s—”
Night puts his arms around his wife. “Bolt is strong. He’s a shrewd negotiator. Death knows my father through and through. They’ll figure something out.”
“I’m worried,” Shannon says. I like her; she’s such a sweet lady. She cares so much for Bolt, and she’s been so kind to me. She was the one who insisted that Night call me to tell me what was going on.
“I’m worried too,” I say. “I know you said that time works differently for mortals in the Underworld, but this is taking really long.” I wipe a tear off my cheek.
“It won’t be much longer. If there’s a problem, my brother, Death will come and let us know. No news is good news.”
His brother…Death?
I don’t ask.
“I—” Shannon starts saying.
Night jumps up. He sniffs the air. “Ozone,” he says. Then they appear…out of nowhere. Bolt and a dark-haired guy who looks very much like Night. Bolt falls onto the floor. He groans but just lies there.
I run over to him. I’m saying his name. He doesn’t look hurt. I hope he isn’t hurt.
“Ash,” he whispers as his eyes open. It still takes about half a minute before he manages to get to his feet.
“What were you thinking?” I shout at him. I give him a light slap on the arm. I want to punch him in the face and kick him in the shin…not really, I was just that worried. “Are you crazy?” I want to smack him again, but I refrain. Only just!
“I think this is our cue to leave,” Night says. I notice he’s grinning. He’s probably relieved.
My chest is heaving. I only have eyes for him. For Bolt. “You