Her Forever

Hades POV

Fury.

Rage.

B***d.

Cerebrus showed me his sight as he was grinding on the bones of a demoness that had breached the fence line. She was no longer in human form, now donned in her red skin and onyx hair. Cerebrus was not known for violence, he may show his dominance and stature, but he almost flat out refuses to spill b***d. I created him in a time where darkness did not loom in my heart.

Ares felt my aura leak into the office outside the door; on alert, he waited for me to motion him to follow. I could no longer feel her on the palace grounds; as I mentally searched the area, she was gone. A large growl ripped through me as Ares followed as we transported to the backyard. B***d and parts of the demoness were strung to the grounds and nearby statues. Her torso laid on the cement, dripping into the now tainted pool water. Cerebrus continues to growl, showing his complete form as well as his height.

The demoness is gurgling, coughing up the b***d that had drenched her lungs. Pulling her up by her neck, I held her over the water. “What happened?!” I yelled, Cerebrus tried to speak to me, but I shut him out. I wanted to hear from this demoness before me. She wouldn’t talk, so I stuck my thumb into her forehead with my free hand, pushing hard enough to penetrate her skull. The shrills didn’t keep me out as I watched from start to finish their plans for Gwen.

I lost my form as I felt my ink-black hair dissolve and my skin brighten. I have had many names throughout history, Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Dark One, but the human favorite was the Fallen Angel. Fallen from the grace of God, the God humans referred to was actually Zeus. There was no such fall; it was me who took shelter into the Earth to make sure our own father didn’t return to attempt to kill us all again.

Gritting my teeth as my hair waved in front of my face, mocking me that I can’t keep control, I throw her remains aside, scattering to dust. She won’t regenerate; I won’t allow it. She has forfeited her right as a demon touching and even thinking about hurting my mate. Ares puffs up his chest and asks for direction.

Cerberus is already on the trail, and we head to the village not far from here. The demoness is taking her to the worst place for a human. It is a place of nightmares for those who sleep. Incubus’ are only used when summoned to curse a human or supernatural. They are hard to control, and only the best witches and sorcerers can tame them. There have been several times throughout history I have unleashed them, such as the dark ages in the human world. Many political leaders, royals, and bluebloods tried to drain their people of money, leaving them in poverty while they suffered.

The church that was established by humans claiming I was the Fallen Angel, Morning Star, and now devil declared that one must pay for their sins through money. The only way for humans to pull a family member’s soul from the holes of hell was through payment. Not one dime was received, and I would never agree to such a tragedy. If they were in hell, they deserved it. If they lived a good life, they would spend their time Asphodel Fields.

Gwen would be thrown into the Incubus lair; none have been released in many years and will be hungry, thirsty to drain an aura and eventually a soul. They don’t care if the soul is evil or good. However, a virgin soul will suck dry in a matter of seconds.

With a snap of my fingers as we continued to run, I folded the Underworld, so now our feet hit the cobblestone path of the village. If it weren’t for the red-skinned demons, this village could house many humans. Many stop to stare and fall to the ground for mercy. I never graced the village unless I came to destroy those who did an unworthy job. The smaller demon children k**s the ground and dare not look on my bare face.

“Where is she!?!” I roared as I stomped to the building. The ground shook as several more demons realized who I was and fell to the ground from afar. “Get that demon,” I whispered to Cerebrus, I flashed a picture in his mind, and he smirked as he ran off. Ares had already reached the incubus house, and with one push, he knocked down the door. Ares stood to the side, arms crossed, daring for anyone to pass. No one would, but you could never be too sure. Everyone seemed to be an i***t today.

Gwen was in the middle of the room, hands clutching her chest, pleading for them not to touch her. Several hands were grabbing her upper arms while I could see the hint of someone whispering in her ear.

Doubt. They were spreading doubt through her mind that no one would come for her, to give up and relent her soul. I could hear Gwen whispering to herself, “He will come for me, he will, he will come for me.” If I weren’t so damn furious, I’d swell with pride.

The incubus’ heads all darted to the door. The light was trailing behind me, and the front of my body was darkened. They didn’t need to see; they knew who I was. Taking slow, calculating steps and reeking my dominating presence, they all slowly backed away. “My Lord,” one bowed to k**s my feet. I pushed him back with one foot as he fell to the ground.

These incubi may look intense to a human, even dashing and attractive but they were nothing but a pebble in my shoe. A worthless demon that only comes in handy once a thousand years. The worst part, these demons were the worst of them all. They were locked away for sucking the life of too many beings at once.

They will all pay.

Dearly.

Gwen opens her eyes, and even with my blonde hair, she realizes who I am. Running to me, she latches on to my torso and buries her face into my robes. I hold her tight, checking for bruises until I see the long claw marks down her leg. I growl escapes me, but she continues to hold onto me. Flicking my head up, I see the faces of five incubi with horrified looks.

“You came, you came,” Gwen sobbed as I wrapped her in my robes. Waving my hand, I had every single demon chained from the ceiling of the house. I gave a glare at them as another chain ripped around their heads, choking them so they couldn’t speak while another chain with a heavy metal ball hung from the appendage between their legs. Their g****s filled the room as I kept Gwen’s face buried into my robes.

Walking out with Gwen in my arms, Ares does a once-over to see b***d from her leg. His face reddens as he tries to go into the room. Holding him back, I shook my head. We would deal with them later. There would be no traces of the incubus house.

Cerberus comes back, dragging the demoness from one of the apartments; many demons have gathered in the square to witness the punishment. I put one arm under Gwen’s legs and another behind her back as her thick lashes look up at me. She knows what I am now, and even under terrible circumstances, she isn’t afraid. Clutching my cloak, she lays her head in the crook of my neck.

“My Angel, I’m going to put you to sleep and take the pain away. When you wake, we will be home, alright?” Not saying a word, she nodded her head in confirmation as her body finally slumped into my grasp. Leaving a gentle k**s on her forehead, I handed her to Ares, who took her gladly. He wrapped her up in his arms and stood as the war general he was.

“Listen here!” I yelled as the buildings trembled. The whispers quieted as all the demons stood in distress. “You all stood by and watched as your future Queen was handled poorly and thrown into the damn incubus house. The f**k is wrong with you?!” There were cries from the crowd, knowing my fury was building. Smoke had begun to flow beneath my robes and cover the path. Several demons started screaming as they felt the smoke hit their feet as the acid ate away at their skin.

“You left her there to die; you let an innocent human there to die. You all can sense an innocent! I CREATED YOU! I can DESTROY YOU!” The whites of my eyes turned b***d red; I felt the pressure as I did the day I lost someone I thought I loved, Persephone. Now I almost lost the one, and only that truly mattered, my Gwen, my mate.

There were screams as the smoke began to cover the ground in its entirety, but their feet remained planted to the ground. I wanted them to feel the burn in their walk as they worked the bowels of hell. They will feel the pain for weeks if not months for betraying their Queen, an innocent.

The strangled screams became quiet as they tried to listen to my quiet words. “If I find anyone dares hurt the future queen of the Underworld or did not try to help fight for her safety, so help me Rhea, I will drown you in an everlasting fire and listen to your screams as I fall asleep at night throughout eternity.”

Several demons cried out in pain as I let the smoke retract from them, their feet bloody, sore, and raw from ripping their skin. The incubus house was next; they would suffer something entirely worse.

Staying on the outside of the home, I snapped my fingers and let the weights grow heavier until they dropped to the floor. Their members were now ripped from their bodies. Screams of agony and pain filtered through the broken doorway. It was music to my ears.

They will hang there until I decide what to do with them. My glare to the demons surrounding us know they cannot help or face my wrath even further.

Cerberus held the one that scratched my mate’s leg, and an evil glint came to my eye. She will not survive this day; her soul will be ripped from the demon’s soul pool, never to regenerate and never to have a chance to find her own mate. Ares looks at me, pleading. He dances on the balls of his feet, he wants in on the fun, and I had taken most of it.

“Ares, is there something you would like to ask?” I joked mockingly.

“Can I have her? I’ve got new stuff to try,” the fact his itty bitty brain had come up with something new to torture people gave me a chuckle.

“Sure, why not?” It was sometimes fun to share with Ares; he appreciated my l**t for b***d and pain for those that deserved it. Taking Gwen back into my arms, he started rubbing the palms of his hands together, chuckling darkly to himself.

“Come, Cerebrus, this involves you too,” Cebrus huffs and continues to drag the demoness who is clawing the ground to getaway.

Gwen did not stir in my arms; she layed almost lifeless as I cuddled her to my chest. She was small, delicate like the flowers she loved to smell in our garden. More demon warriors will be brought to the palace; now that Gwen knows what I am and who we all are, this will help in the transition for her to become my mate.

Knowing the truth of just of who I am is just the beginning. I have many more secrets to spill, and Gwen still has to find herself. Granting my lips to touch hers, I g***n into her mouth. The sparks fly as her eyelashes flutter gently while her face continues to nuzzle into me smell. My heart instantly calms as we begin our walk back to the palace. Her leg needs tending to, and I need to be with her until she wakes.

I will not let her have another nightmare.

Gwen saw me in my correct form and did not seem bothered by it. The adrenaline and the bond rushing through her may have had something to do with it. I was too late to tell her on my own; I needed to be forward with her on other things in the future.

But she is healing. Her mind is still healing.

I shook my head. She is stronger than she appears. I’m foolish, but I can’t help but worry.

The servants will now be in their proper form and no longer hiding. Many are excited for her to know who we are; others are wary. They think my mate may not be strong enough but little did they know she was a fighter. She had fought her way into my heart like I never thought anyone could. I just hope she will accept her surroundings once I show her what the palace really looks like.

If she hates it, I’ll change it. I’ll keep the bubble around the palace, so she never has to see the reddened sky. I’ll do what it takes to keep her because she is supposed to be mine.