Her Forever

Hades POV

“Alright, men, let’s get down to business,” I spoke as I poured myself a glass of scotch. The dinner went well, and Gwen wasn’t as terrified of me as she was the past few days. I felt relaxed and was able to enjoy the company of others rather than wallow in self-loathing.

“Right,” Niko spoke, rubbing his brow. He had been staying away from Gwen as requested; hell, demand is more like it; but I still didn’t trust the little bastard. She saw him as a friend, and I had to respect that eventually. Once she was officially mine and bonded to me, then she could have him as a friend. Maybe. “As far as I could tell from the torture demons, John Oliver never used the Helm. After some research, I realized no human could wear the Helm without becoming completely dark and eventually dying by suicide due to the magical qualities of the metal. He just kept it in his desk at all times, per request of the man who used it.”

I rubbed my chin while Hermes jumped his leg up and down on the chair. “What about Novus?” His eyes went to the window. “Novus is an angel. Why the Tartarus was he doing there at the strip club trying to buy Gwen? That isn’t his jurisdiction.” Hermes shook his head.

“Maybe he was trying to rescue her, saw us as a threat. You know Angels don’t trust demons and, sorry, no offense, the God of the Underworld,” Vulcan added.

“Then why didn’t he save any of the other girls?” Ares flexed his muscles as he played with his dagger. “It doesn’t make sense; he was going after Gwen for a reason.”

“We should check into Novus then first,” I quipped. “He is our prime suspect, the Helm and Gwen are linked, and I want to know why.” Niko nodded his head as he wrote a few notes on the paper. “I’ll get on that, my Lord. I will have to go back to Earth and get permission to question a few angels.”

“Do what you must, Niko. Be discrete, and I don’t want people knowing what we are doing right now. She’s still in danger being here.” Niko nodded and left the room.

Hermes, Ares, and Vulcan fell into casual conversation, speaking of any demons they took to a liking as they have officially returned to the Underworld since my unbearable attitude has changed. We had all be great friends before Persephone, and during the time, I tried to court her, but once she was gone, my life was meaningless. I worked out in a gym that Ares frequented to fill the void, but he became too scared of me to even work out with me. The calmer of us, Vulcan moved to Earth along with Hermes to deal with our interactions with demi-gods that get out of line.

“Master,” I heard through the link that Cerberus and I share.

“Is Gwen alright?” I panicked.

“Oh, she is great alright,” Cerberus chuckled. “She just came out of the shower in a damn towel, holy shit.”

“Cerberus,” I growled. “You do not look at her.”

“She’s gonna drop it, holy Kronos. She’s changing in front of me. Those milky legs that round a*s, Zeus all mighty,” he sang.

“CEREBRUS!” I couldn’t take it anymore. I willed myself into Cerberus’ body to find that Gwen was asleep with her arm around him.

“Master, that was too easy.” I let out a heavy sigh.

“If she didn’t like you so much, I’d make you stand at the gates of the Underworld again.”

“But you won’t because she loves me,” Cerberus snickered. “That’s not all she said, though.” I nudged him while he paused, and he chuckled at me. “She thinks you are devilishly handsome and has warm feelings toward you even though she thinks she shouldn’t.” My smile widened; she thought I was handsome. Thank Kronos because I was getting worried. Women would bow at my feet, but she never did.

“What else did she say?” I mused. I need to feed my pride right now.

“That she’s scared. She doesn’t understand her purpose here. I think she is worried about what everyone’s intentions are.” I sighed heavily. I knew she would think that. More time, more time that I don’t have.

“Thank you, Cerberus. I’m quite jealous of you right now.” Gwen held onto Cerberus tighter, and he purred into her touch. “You’ll have your time; I’m sure of it, Master.”

Cerberus would be the perfect companion for her until we had the thief who stole the Helm. It makes me wonder if he or she knew all along that Gwen was my mate and made sure that I would never find her. Mates make you stronger; once intertwined during a bonding, you are considered one. I may be a selfish bastard and didn’t want a mate at first, but after seeing her, I realized I was a fool.

Fool to believe I didn’t need her, and now the guilt of almost rejecting her has put her life through hell. She doesn’t know her own birth parents; this horrible life was all that she knew. I was going to have to ask Hecate for her help finding out if she has an enchantment put on her. Writing down a note on my desk to send to my assistant in the morning, I carried myself to my room and left my friends to bicker and drink.

My friends would be staying here permanently, and it only made me smile that they would willingly come back after all these years. However, I don’t think it was just for me they were staying; they had taken a little interest in my mate. Not in a romantic way but a protective way. She was a light that this darkness needed, and I would continue to make sure her soul continued to shine.

Gwen’s POV

My head was resting on a beautiful silk pillow. My arm held a large stuffed calico cat, and I nuzzled into it deeper as I tried to sleep. The thunder outside rolled through the room as I shuffled under the sheets more. I was going to be a big girl and not get my parents, I told them just today how big I’ve grown, and I wasn’t scared of anything. What a bad impression it would be if I ran to them now?

The window blew open with force, the rain started to pour in as I rushed to the large windows, and I shut it tight, being sure to set the latch so it wouldn’t happen again. Several of my drawings were scattered across the floor. The paint was now smudged and ruined. I was going to give it to mama for her birthday tomorrow. I sighed and tried to flatten out the crumpled wet paper. Maybe I could fix it later.

I jumped back into bed; my daddy’s shirt hung all the way to my ankles. He said he liked giving his shirts to mama and me; he said it makes us smell more like him. He has a nice forest smell to him. I wonder what I smell like to him when he Eskimo k****s me. It’s his favorite thing to do with his favorite girls, he says.

Sitting back into bed, taking my stuffy, Macaroni back with me, I curled up but felt uncomfortable. Someone was watching me. Sitting up, I glanced around the room to see no one. I was big and strong so that I would check every space. Under the bed, the closet, even in the toy box, there was nothing there. With a huff, I get back into bed.

“Are you finished looking for me?” The voice called to me. I stilled, not wanting to look behind me. The voice was coming to my bedroom door, the only escape I had.

“W-who are you?” My voice shook as I began to hold back tears. It couldn’t possibly be the boogieman, and daddy said they aren’t real.

“I’m not the boogie man if that is what you are thinking.” I gasped loudly as I turned around. It was a man, not overly muscular, but enough to show his strength. He wore a large helmet on his head while wearing all black clothing. His hands were also covered in black gloves with a white handkerchief in his hand.

How did he get here? I need Daddy and Grandpa! They will save me when I’m in trouble. Before I let out a large scream, he lunged at me while I tried to get away. Kicking and screaming, I pulled down lamps, toys, and pictures across the room. My voice continued to run out of my throat until he finally caught up with me. His arms pulled my weak body down on the floor and shoved the handkerchief to my face. I tried to stay awake, I did.” Please let me go,” Mommy will be so upset if I’m not at her party. “Please let me go!”

“Please let me go!” I screamed out loud. “Please, don’t take me away from them!” I cried out into the dark. It was so dark in this room as I started sobbing. “Please don’t take me back there, please!” My voice was already scratched and hoarse when I suddenly felt a pair of large arms come around my body.

My body began to be still as I heard encouraging words whispering in my ear. “My little angel, you are alright; it was just a dream.” My ugly sobs became more of a whimper, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. The soothing touch caused me to relax almost instantly. Who else would have those strong arms to protect me, the one who saved me from those predators? Hades.

The voice was soothing and strong as he spoke with a grumble in his chest. I must have woken the whole mansion. The warmth of his body relaxed my muscles, and I molded into him. I felt safe; for once, I felt like this is where I belonged, but the thought of all of it being false hope made me tense.

“Shh, Gwen, it is alright,” he cooed as he petted my hair. My face was now in his bare chest as he continued to stoke my messy strands. “I’m here, and nothing will ever happen to you,” the husky voice had me hypnotized as my hiccups began to subside. I took a large sigh, and I gripped his waist tighter as I recalled the horrible dream. It felt so real like I was there.

“Are you alright,” he whispered in the shell of my ear. The heat of his breath sent chills down my body. Was I alright? No, I wasn’t, and I gave him an honest answer because I couldn’t lie to my rescuer.

“No,” I whispered. “It was so real,” my voice shook. Hades kissed the top of my head.

“Would you like to talk about it?” I gripped him tighter and shook my head no while closing my eyes. Somehow it didn’t seem so dark with him in the room.

“How about we try and get some sleep. Do you want me to stay?” My mind replays all the dirty men I’ve ever met. They use women, abuse, rape, and hurt them, but I could never see Hades doing that to me. He makes me feel safe; he gives me a reassuring feeling.

“Please,” I whispered to him. I felt the smile grace his perfect lips while they sat on the top of my head from his reassuring pecks. Hades slid down and fluffed the pillow, and laid back without letting me go. The small amount of hair tickled my face on his perfectly toned chest. If I wasn’t so scared, I would have taken the time to admire it because what can I say? He was attractive.

“Get some sleep my little angel,” he gave a reassuring squeeze and rubbed circles on my shoulders until I finally did drift off to sleep.