Hades (Contemporary Mythos Book 1)

We spent most of the next day on the beach, killing time until the masquerade ball. I waded far enough into the water to let it crash against my hips, welcoming the sun warming my cheeks. Thoughts of the murder case returned and try as I might, I couldn’t make it go away. There was only so much distraction that could fool my brain.

“Stephanie, what the hell is wrong with you?” Sara asked.

I didn’t look at her. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been uncharacteristically quiet since breakfast this morning.” She counted on her fingers. “I’ve caught you staring into space several times. Plus, we passed Hades on our way over here, and you didn’t look at him.”

“Just enjoying myself, Sara. And as far as Hades goes…some people can’t be helped. He made it abundantly clear.”

She gave me a light shove. “Uh, huh. So, it’s Hades. What did he say to you? Do I need to strong-arm him?”

“Woah there, hellion.” I chuckled. “No need for violence. He just told me in a not so pleasant way to stop trying to help him. And so, I will.”

“Well, forget him. We’re going to have the time of our lives at the ball tonight.”

“Did you purposely, sort of quote Dirty Dancing?” I grinned.

She looked at me, sidelong. “Maybe? Did it cheer you up?”

“Yes.”

“Then, yes, I did.”

I laughed and splashed her.

She grabbed her head. “What did I tell you about getting my hair wet!”

“Remind me?” I splashed her again.

She yelped and backed away, pointing at me. “Costas, I will handcuff you.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” I chuckled and pretended to splash her.

“I’m glad you’re back to your old self. I was worried Hades was rubbing off on you with that perpetual pout.”

I wrapped an arm around her waist. “Did you want me to teach you how to dance before we go to this thing?”

Her jaw dropped. “I know how to dance!”

“Are you serious?” I wanted to laugh, but when she didn’t crack a smile, I held back. “Sara, come on. You didn’t even know how to do the chicken dance at Olson’s wedding.”

She rolled her eyes. “What are you going to teach me? The waltz?”

“Amongst others.”

“Fine. But only because I don’t want to make an ass of myself.”

As we made our way back to our room, Hades sat at the same bar, and a woman sat next to him. She smiled, leaning her face near his. He didn’t move and shook his head. Something he said made the woman frown and storm off.

Well, at least he’s consistent.

He caught my gaze, and my feet glued to the concrete. His stare gripped my spine like a vise. He looked—defeated. The pastel colorings of his aura were fading away.

Sara snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Hey. None of that. Come on.”

I blinked myself back to reality.

We spent the better part of an hour going over the most basic moves for couples dancing. I sat on a couch in our room, staring off in the distance while Sara practiced.

“You know what?” Sara blew out a breath. “All I need to do is sway during the slow songs and shake my tailfeathers during the faster ones. I’m done.”

“Mmhmm,” I responded.

She dipped her face in mine. “Let me guess. Hades?”

After blowing my bangs away from my eyes, I said, “You should know I’m incapable of leaving well enough alone.”

“I know, sweetie.” She grabbed the curling iron and sat behind me, running her fingers through my hair. “You did all you could do.”

A small part of me hoped he’d inexplicably show up at the ball. The crowd would part, and he’d be standing there, beckoning me to dance with him.

Life isn’t a romance novel, Stephanie.

“All done. You ready to do this?” She held up a can of hairspray. “Close your eyes.” The air filled with mist and vapor, making me cough.

We slipped into our dresses. Thankfully mine was long enough; I could wear flats instead of heels. Function over beauty. Besides, I could barely walk three feet in a pair of heels without spraining my ankle. The atrium had been transformed into Mount Olympus itself. Tapestries and curtains in shades of white and gold were draped over tables and hung from ceilings. Several layers of fog skirted the floor, making the walkway a hovering cloud. An array of masks lay on a front table. I selected a lacey black one with several rows of beads that hung down over my cheeks.

“This looks like heaven,” Sara stammered, grabbing a white mask with points on the top like horns. She snatched two flutes of champagne from a passing tray.

“Tell me about it. The resort pulled out all the stops.”

There were several tables littered with finger foods, including a gelatin looking dish labeled as ambrosia. I was busy stuffing my mouth with cheese cubes when Guy walked up.

“What is this? Only one half of the dynamic duo?” Sarah asked.

Guy wore a grey suit with a dark blue necktie. “Keith got food poisoning. Been coming out of both ends since last night.”

Even though I knew it was highly unlikely he’d been poisoned from cheese, I spit it out in my napkin.

“That’s awful,” Sara said. “What a way to ruin a vacation.”

Guy nodded before giving an electric grin. “I still showed up. Specifically, to dance with you.”

“That’s sweet of you, but I can’t leave Steph by herself.”

I sputtered my champagne and shook my head. “By all means, go dance. Have fun. I’ve got this to keep me entertained.” I held up my glass.

“You sure?” She asked, her eyes brightening.

After finishing the contents of my glass, I plopped it on a passing tray and grabbed a full one. “Absolutely. Go.”

Guy took Sara’s hand, and they moved to the dance floor. I shuffled my way to a table in the corner, dragging my fingertips over the burnout velvet that made up the design on my bodice. It was the perfect dress. I flopped onto a chair, sipping my champagne, and kicking my feet to make the tulle of my skirt bounce.

Sara tripped too many times to count. He didn’t seem to mind, and they both kept laughing. It was a treasure to see her so carefree. Too many days, she spent physically chasing down bad guys and stepping around dead bodies. Seeing her spinning around in her purple gown, you’d have no clue she was a rough and gruff cop.

The song False Kings by Poets of the Fall blared over the loudspeakers. I closed my eyes, swaying to the rhythm and humming the melody. A chill washed over me, compelling me to open my eyes. A shadowed figure stood across the room, dressed in all black, dark blonde hair falling past his chin, face hidden by a simple black mask. Hades. Did I imagine it? I sniffed my champagne.

He appeared in front of me, his hand outstretched, the other draped over his back. “No one puts Stephanie in a corner.”

My jaw dropped. Did he quote one of my favorite movies? Sure, it was “nobody” not “no one,” but close enough. Furthermore, did he know it was my favorite?

“Are you going to sit there with your mouth open, or are you going to dance with me?” He still didn’t crack a smile, but his dark eyes peered down at me through the holes of his mask, almost twinkling.

I gulped and set the champagne on the table before slipping my hand into his. He led me to the dancefloor, capturing me with his stare. Once we reached the center, he tugged me to his chest, slipping an arm around my waist. A whoosh fluttered in my stomach.

“I didn’t think you’d show up. Especially after yesterday,” I said, unable to tear my eyes away from him.

He moved us around the dancefloor as if he’d practiced for a hundred years. “I’m sorry for being so brash with you.” His jaw tightened, and he lowered his voice. “It’s not one of my more admirable qualities.”

The anguish in his voice pulled at my heart. “Apology accepted.”

We continued to float across the floor, weaving through other couples.

“You’ve done this before,” I said, smiling.

“I reckon I’ve been to a few balls in my time, yes. They’re normally not so—” He paused, looking around with a grimace. “Bright.”

“How else would you see your dance partner?”

He kept my gaze. “You’d be surprised what can be accomplished by candlelight.”

Stomach Whoosh.

He pushed on my hip, spinning me outward, keeping his grip on my hand. “You really don’t believe I’m who I say I am, do you?” He twirled me back in, and I tripped on my dress, falling against him.

“Can you blame me? It’s a pretty outrageous claim.” I trailed my gaze from his chest up to his face, eyeing the light beard over his chin.

“Just remember when you reach that epiphany,” he dipped his face closer to mine. “I told you the truth from the very beginning.”

My eyes fluttered, lashes hitting the mask. He was serious, deadly serious.

He tightened his grip around my waist, my chest pressing into his ribs, and glided across the floor again. “That dress suits you.”

“Think so? Sara said cranberry is my color.”

“Funny. I would call that color more—” He dipped me, our eyes locking from behind the shields of our masks. “Pomegranate.”

My heart thumped against my chest. His face was so close to mine; I could feel his breath against my lips. He yanked me back to standing.

“I quite like pomegranates.” I gulped.

“Do you?” A fire roared in his eyes. “I’ll have to remember that.”

My lips parted, and I sucked in a breath through my nose. Persephone.

He dropped his mouth to my ear, whispering. “Don’t worry. If I ever chose to pursue you, I’d do it the old-fashioned way, darlin’.”

I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening, my heartbeat feeling like a jackhammer inside my chest. When he leaned back, his eyes bore into mine. A swirl of black fog started to float around us.

“They must’ve really pumped up those machines,” I said.

The fog wrapped itself around my legs, cascading over my body. No one else on the dance floor batted an eyelash. How much champagne did I drink?

“What color fog do these machines normally produce?” He asked.

I furrowed my brow. “Gray-ish?”

“Hm.” He dipped me.

Hm? Hm, what?

He searched my face, his eyes brightening. “You’re not afraid of me.”

My brow creased. “Afraid of you? No. Why?”

The fog cascaded back down, gradually disappearing.

He stood me upright. “Everyone fears me.”

“Do they have a reason to?” I concentrated on what I could of his face from behind his mask.

His gaze dropped to the floor, not answering. He took my hands and draped them on his shoulders. His arms wrapped around my waist, and we swayed.

“You say we choose our paths toward good and evil. What do you see when you look at me, Stephanie?”

I gazed up at him, watching those beautiful pastel shreds of light trying to squeeze past the shadows. “Hurt. You’ve been hurt deeply, but yearn to feel free again.”

He pulled me closer, my chest pressing against him. His cheek rested against the side of my head. “You’re quite perceptive. But I can’t be free. Not in the way I want.”

I peeled away to look at him. “Why?”

“If I were to explain, it’d be wasted on deaf ears.” His eyes glinted behind his mask. “For whatever reason, I want nothing more than for you to believe, and it frustrates me.” His lips thinned.

My heart fluttered. Was he telling the truth? No. It wasn’t possible.

The song faded to a close, and we stepped away from each other, but he didn’t let go of my hand. After bowing, he placed a kiss against my knuckles. I blinked, and he was gone. The crowd danced and twirled around me, smiling and laughing. The urge to find him coursed through my veins. I pushed myself into the sea of people, forgetting I was claustrophobic. I needed to see him. Mirages of his face would appear, but once I thought I’d reached him, he’d fade away. I backed myself into a corner, wondering if I’d officially gone insane, chasing after nothing. The feeling of the mysterious smoke fog coiling around me like a caress burnt itself into my skin.

“Was that Hades you were dancing with?” Sara asked.

Hades. God of the Underworld. How could I believe it? I couldn’t. Gods didn’t exist, let alone show up at a resort on vacation and dance at a masquerade ball. He even knew lines from Dirty Dancing.

“Yes,” I clipped, absently dragging a finger across the exposed skin of my collar bone.

Her eyes dropped to my hand, practically groping myself, and I dropped it to my side.

“That good, huh?” She asked.

Guy walked up with two drinks in hand, looking between us.

She narrowed her eyes at me, staring into space. “Guy, I’m going to dance with Steph for a few minutes.”

“And I will gladly watch,” Guy said.

Sara pursed her lips together. “Real mature.”

She tugged my arm, but it took several tries before I let her pull me to the center of the floor. She gripped my shoulders, shaking me.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Steph.”

I nodded, swaying back and forth with her, offbeat with the music. The first encounters with Hades kept replaying in my head. Wife of a thousand years? A divider of souls?

I locked eyes with her. “Earlier, did you see this swirly black smoke on the dancefloor?”

“No?” The skin between her eyes creased.

“I think Hades did it.”

“I’ll tell you what’s happening,” she said, poking my shoulder. “He’s dragging you into his delusions. And you’re diving right in because you want to help him. What good is it going to do if you’re both stranded with no life jacket? Someone needs to stay in the boat.”

I snorted. Hades would most certainly be the one in the boat. “Quite the analogy.”

“Did you like that?”

“I do want to help him. But I’m just not sure how.”

“I’m going to have to talk with this guy. I’ve interrogated plenty of people who tried to manipulate me. If he’s trying that on you—I’ll break one of his ribs.”

“I don’t think he’s trying to manipulate me. Why would he have tried to push me away?”

A man with dark hair, a dark beard, and a metallic gold mask stepped up to Sara, tapping her on the shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?”

Sara folded her arms. “I do, actually. We’re in the middle of an important conversation.”

“Oh, are you? My mistake.” The man pushed a fingertip against her forehead.

Her arms fell slack at her sides, and she shrugged. “On second thought, be my guest.”

My hands went numb, watching Sara walk off like a zombie. I moved to follow her, but his arm slipped around my waist, pinning me against him.

“I’ll scream,” I said, trying to pull away, but his grip tightened, holding me captive.

His pearly grin spread wide, eyes beaming with mischief even behind the guise of his mask.

He dipped his lips to my ear, and I grimaced. “My brother has taken quite the liking to you.”

Jesus. I knew I recognized that slimy grin.

“How would you know? Judging from the last time I saw you two together, he doesn’t seem to like you very much.”

He chuckled, the whiskers from his beard scraping against my cheek. “I don’t need him to like me.”

“Is there a point to all of this?”

“I need you to make sure he’s happy.”

“I don’t need to do anything.”

He smiled against my chin. “You’ve no idea the forces you’ve become intertwined with, Stephanie.”

I forced my head back, peering up at him. “Are you threatening me?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

He backed away, letting the dozens of dancing bodies swallow him like quicksand until he disappeared. The hair on my arms stood at attention like after an electric shock. I wrapped my arms around myself, looking for Hades one last time amongst the slew of guests. The room was far from empty, but strangely, without him there, it felt hollow.