SWNOVELS Chapter B I T T E N O N C E
The man chuckled deeply, and it struck her insides in a way that she didn’t like.
“Oh, no. Nope. Nope. Run. Run away, Guadalupe.”
“You certainly don’t smell like one, dragostea mea. My next meal, however, is exactly what you smell like.” He had advanced on her so quickly, that between one blink and the next, he was towering over her, his eyes tinged red and filled with a primal hunger that she had seen in the eyes of the wolves that attacked her and Nox not too many nights ago.
He flashed his fangs again, and her knees buckled. Her fingers dug into the bark of the tree behind her. After two shaky breaths, she let her eyes run over him, or rather, what she could see of him.
“Seeing as you’re not a gigantic mass of fur,” Guadalupe exhaled shortly, not believing she was about to let the next words come out of her mouth, “you must be a vampire.”
The man grinned, his menacing fangs nearly grazing her hair. “Adorably sexy and smart? My, oh my, what a lucky man I am.”
His words made her blink slowly.
“Are you not going to kill me?” Guadalupe found herself asking, and the man chuckled again, striking her insides again in that way she didn’t like; because she was beginning to associate it with Nox.
“I like to play with my food before I eat it.”
Guadalupe glowered, a little bubble of anger popping inside of her. “Well I’m not in the mood for games, vampie, so get on with your blood-sucking and leave me to die!”
She huffed, turning her head to look at her bags, “Someone would find me eventually.”
She heard him sigh softly before his velvety voice spoke again. “You’re misinterpreting my words, dragostea mea. I am going to eat you; devour you. Just not in the way that you’re thinking."
Guadalupe huffed in exasperation. “What other way is there to eat a person?” she asked, and she could almost feel him raise his eyebrow at her; mocking her.
His fangs flashed again as he grinned.
“Think, Draga mea, think very carefully.” He leaned closer to her, no gust of air blowing on her face. Guadalupe’s heart lurched.
‘He really is a vampire; dead and not breathing. What an interesting 30 hours it has been.’
“Listen vampie. The only other eating I could think of is-” heat flooded her face as his grin widened.
“Is?” he asked mockingly, his smile tilting as he cocked his head.
Guadalupe licked her teeth, upset and mostly confused. “Just so you know, I don’t let random vampires I bump into in the woods take a lick... at my... lady bit.” She struggled with the words, realizing how ridiculous it sounded.
‘This is what my life is now. One big fucking joke.’
Guadalupe broke into a laugh, and he joined her.
He took a few steps back, moving to stand next to her. A comfortable silence fell over them when they regained their composure.
“Why are you in the woods by yourself, dragostea mea? Someone with horrible intentions could have found you instead of me.” Guadalupe glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
“And your intentions are...?”
“To treat you like a queen.”
Guadalupe snorted. “All men say that.”
“I am not one of your human men, though.”
Guadalupe shrugged. “Fair.”
“... am I really speaking to a vampire? Are we really conversing like we have a future together? Like I’m not scared out of my mind? ”
Guadalupe inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, ignoring her own question. Just as she was about to ask him a question, he spoke.
“You never answered my question, Draga mea. What are you doing here by yourself?” Guadalupe felt him shift; felt his hands on either side of her head. “Are you running from the man who put his hands around your throat?”
Swallowing at the menacing tone of his voice, Guadalupe nodded weakly. He snarled.
“I will not invade your mind, but ask: who was it?” Guadalupe scoffed, shaking her head.
“Why do you even care? We’re strangers.” Cool, strong fingers gripped her chin and tilted her head upwards. His touch tingled and made her skin feel warm.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Hades-”
“As in, Greek God of the Underworld-Hades?” Guadalupe interrupted, and his cool thumb brushed against her cheek, spreading warmth and those fun little tingles she was growing to like.
“I was named after him, yes. And I have come for you, my Persephone. Any mortal who has harmed you will face a wrath to rival the Gods.”
“Oh.” Guadalupe whispered, and she felt his nose brush against her cheek as his thumb ran across her bottom lip, eliciting a soft hum.
“So tell me, dragostea mea, who has hurt you?” Guadalupe’s throat closed up.
“Don’t hurt him.” She thought to herself, and he replied out loud: “He will pay for his crime against you. If you don’t want me to lay a hand against him, I will not. There are worse ways for me to execute justice.”
“Hades,” Guadalupe said quietly.
“Draga mea.” He replied firmly. His forehead pressed against hers and she could finally see his eyes. They were ocean blue, but had streaks of red in it. ‘Like after a shark gets a kill.’
They stared at each other for only a few seconds before Guadalupe relented. “It was my father.” She whispered in her head, and Hades’ eyes hardened in an instant.
“That’s even worse.”
Guadalupe swallowed and sighed. “Let’s not dwell on it any more, okay?” Hades’ eyes disappeared, then reappeared seconds later. “As you wish.”
His hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer to him. Guadalupe accepted his embrace; accepted the comfort he was giving her.
“My life is officially a Twilight rip-off.”
Hades began to shake with laughter, and Guadalupe smacked his shoulder. “Hey, get out of my head.”
He hummed, tightening his embrace. “I don’t think I will. It’s quite nice in there.” Guadalupe snorted.
For a split second, she thought she felt him stiffen.
He nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck, scraping his teeth against her flesh. Guadalupe’s breath hitched, her fingers curling into his shirt. Hades growled lowly, repeating the action and getting the same response.
“What are you doing?” Guadalupe asked breathlessly, slowly uncurling her fingers, only for them to lock up again when he scraped his fangs against her vein.
“Giving you a parting gift. The wolves are descending.”
Hades ignored her weak protests as he slipped his hands under her sweater and gently caressed her skin. Guadalupe shuddered; she wasn’t sure if it was because of the coolness of his fingers, the shock of the tingles or because of the sudden desire that flooded her veins.
“So many awful thoughts are running through my mind.” Hades said lowly, gently squeezing her flesh. His hands traveled upwards, cupping her sports bra that she had found among Jamie’s things.
“Awful, awful, awful things.” He squeezed, and Guadalupe moaned softly (to her absolute horror).
Hades descended, sticking his head under the sweater and going straight to his destination. He pulled the bottom of the bra upwards, letting her breasts free; immediately popping a nub in his mouth and sucked.
Guadalupe squeaked and groaned and protested, but it meant nothing. Hades released her with a quiet pop, then dragged his teeth down and under.
He paused for a split second, then sunk his fangs in, gripping her waist tightly as she squirmed and cried out.
Seconds later, he was five feet away from her, panting heavily.
“My parting gift to you, dragostea mea. We will meet again; very soon."
The sound of rushing wind and leaves was the only indication that he had departed from her.
Guadalupe sunk to a crouch, her legs too weak to hold her upright. "I thought you said you wouldn't bite." She lamented.
She didn't even have time to adjust herself before a familiar voice called out her name.
"Jamie?" She called back, and a blinding light was shone on her. Blinking rapidly to adjust to the change, she finally made out the figures standing before her.
Jamie, Violetta, Keon, and Nox.
(Romanian):
dragostea mea - my love
Draga mea - darling
~So... what do you think of Hades?~