Her Forever

Parisa’s POV

“If you had accepted Parisa when you knew she was your mate as a baby, she wouldn’t have been kidnapped and dragged to that club in the first place! YOU could have protected her!” Zeus snapped.

The sharp pain felt in my heart came suddenly as I gripped my chest. My other hand held tightly to the white cushion. If my nails were any longer, then I was sure to pierce the skin. Hades stood frozen, and his eyes softened as he looked back at me sitting on the couch.

“Truth,” the voice began to whisper over and over. The voice in my head was unreasonable. Hades could never do such a thing, to reject the idea that his mate could be found as just a baby.

“Hades?” I whispered quietly, daring not to let go of the couch. My body might have floated away and mixed with the horrible sound of Zeus’ words if I had. Hades’ silence only confirmed that Zeus had spoken the truth and the voice in my head was indeed correct. A fire burned my eyes as Hades rushed to my side.

“Parisa, let me explain…” he started, but I just moved my knees away from his kneeling form. Hades had the chance to know who I was when I was born, and he rejected the idea.

“Then explain,” I dared not look at him. I would lose all my composure if I had. I’d run back into his arms and tell him it was alright and forgive him on the spot. I gave him so many times to come clean and told him his sins were okay. That I would forgive him. Not once did he bring this up; the guilt still lingered on his heart from just earlier today; he could have spilled onto me, and I would have still given him my heart.

This, I had to learn that THIS was the last bit of the guilt that sat on him. The burden I would have overlooked if he had just told me himself. But no, he hid this from me. Now he is slowly leaking all his regrets and sorrows. Time after time, I forgave him. Time after time, I showed that I was understanding.

I would rather live in the club for another five years than deal with the pain I felt inside me. The b***d that flowed through my arteries around my heart even hurt; could that be such a thing? Each passing platelet felt tight, flowing through my body.

Many feel physical pain is the worst kind of pain, but that is far from the truth. This emotional pain of rejection felt far worse. The fact that he hid this instead of telling me was far, far worse than anything I felt at the club. I could live with the bruises on my skin; however, the bruises that now lay on my heart were another matter.

“Selene came to me, the day you were born,” Hades’ throat bobbed as he pulled at his tie. “She gave me an option to see you, but I rejected her.” Hades’ breath was heaving, but I remained still, not going to comfort the soulmate that I was to love unconditionally.

“I said I didn’t need a mate and that I didn’t want her help. I made her leave, and I never saw you. I swear, if I looked at you, I would have jumped at the chance…”

“But you didn’t,” I interrupted. “You didn’t even give me a chance. But that isn’t what I’m so mad about, Hades. I mean, you wouldn’t tell me. When did you ever think I would reject you after all the things you have confessed to me?” I held in a sob. “Sure, this was a big deal, hell it should be a reason I should walk out those palace doors if I was anyone else, but I’m not.” Hades took a step towards me, but I got up and stepped back. Defeated was the only word I could describe him. His shoulders were slumped over, and his eyes glassy.

“I’ve been really understanding; it’s an insult and downright hurtful for you to think I wouldn’t forgive you.” My heart ached as I heard howling in my head. The waterworks could no longer be held as the once burning eyes filled to the brim with a gushing waterfall. I wanted to scratch my chest and my head at the same time until it bled.

The pain came in waves as my knees fell to the floor. There were hushed and hurried whispers around me, but the scream in my head was far louder. A gentle hand that was not of Hades pulled me to their side and rushed me out the door.

My legs pulled me along as the arm around me held me tightly, whispering encouraging words of, “we are almost there, keep walking. We will fix you right up.” A warm tapping on my shoulder was felt on the opposite side of me, nuzzling my cheek. Looking past the tears, Blaze chittered, and his voice became clear.

“It will be alright, Parisa. It will be alright; the pain will subside.”

Not only do I feel my own despair, hurt, and disappointment but the guilt, depression, and sadness from Hades weighed on me as well. Doubling these intense emotions pushed me further and further to the ground until I collapsed.

“Michael, pick her up, bring her here.” A set of muscular arms lifted me into the air and placed me gently on something I could only, in short, be described as a cloud.

“Pasithea, can you help?” My eyes still closed, I felt a wave of calm work its way from my toes up to my neck. “I can only help so much; she has a strong empath ability.” The lulling deep feminine voice soothed my raging headache as I felt Blaze nuzzle into my ear on the pillow under me.

“An animal,” he whispered. “There is a spirit animal attached to you. I just don’t know what.” Blaze continued to chitter something in my ear as his voice faded away. The overwhelming emotions lifted as I barely felt my own.

“There she is,” the first voice that had taken me out of the living space spoke as I slowly opened my eyes. Her face became familiar, and realization struck me. Hera.

“You gave quite a scare back there. You held your own in front of two gods and gave one a personal beating; you did well,” Hera chuckled as she petted my forehead with a white cloth. The other woman on the opposite side of the bed must have been Pasithea. She continued to wave her hands over my body and mostly my heart.

“Did you know you were an empath, Parisa?” I shook my head no as she smiled. “I’m the goddess of relaxation, calmness, and meditation. I hope it is alright. I put your body in a meditative state. I left your mind be because it is too strong for me. Which I find odd,” Pasithea pondered as her hand left my chest. “As I was trying to calm you, I felt many emotions in your body and mind that were not your own. There were two others you were feeling inside of you, causing me not to calm you as well. One I assume to be Hades, and the other, I’m not sure. You are an empath though, very rare to be a true empath for a human.”

Hera’s eyes narrowed as she heard Pasithea speak. “What do you mean? You said you felt two in her body?”

“Yes,” Pasithea confirmed. Her body radiated sadness, and other emotions did not line up with her body. There was guilt, depression, and regret, along with another entity inside her. Rage and vulnerability. She was, in a sense holding three entities emotions in her body. Something that no human or even god should want or be able to handle.”

Blaze started chittering at me again and nodded his head. “Just a few moments ago,” I pointed to Blaze. “He told me there was an animal inside me.” Hera looked at Blaze while thinking.

“A phantomtail. They help the animal spirits cross over.” Hera let out a sigh and dampened another cloth on my head. “Who are your parents? Do you know?” I shook my head, only for a few tears to fall.

“Someone cast a spell on me, and I don’t remember anything before I was sent to a terrible place.” I sniffed while Pasithea gave me a tissue. “I just found out my real name not long ago, and memories are slowly coming back, but it is a process. Hectate said she couldn’t take any spells off because they were intertwined so much it would hurt me in the long run.”

“This is becoming more complicated, and Hades has certainly made a mess of it,” Hera grunted as she sat back in her chair.

Taking in the room, it was much more of a homelier room than that of the palace. It had beautiful tan walls, with paintings of men or women doing various activities like reading or swimming. The bookshelves were lined with ancient books, couches, and seating areas littered the room for a lot of company.

As much as I wanted to think about what was wrong with me, my mind and heart drifted to Hades. My emotions may be in check for a moment, but my heart still wanted him. My mind not so much. I should be exceedingly angry and upset. I spent most of my life locked away, and he could have prevented it all. However, I was angrier he didn’t tell me. In a way, the hardships I had gone through shaped me into who I was today after the little time I have spent away from the club.

I’ve proven myself strong. I had proven myself to be a fighter even in the lowest points of my life. I would turn it to make it for the better. Hades’ holding information from me hurt the most. Feeling my fists tighten, I let out a growl.

Why would he think I would leave? Why hold it from me? I accepted he was a god; there were demons, we were mates without question. More than accommodating I have been!

Folding my arms while I argued with myself, Hera laughed. “Relationship trouble, huh? It’s alright to be mad and upset. He deserves it. I’m surprised you aren’t throwing something.” A frustrated tear fell again as both Hera and Pasithea laughed.

“He should have told me,” I rubbed my nose. He’s done more than makeup for it. He saved me, has tried to write the wrongs, but he wouldn’t even entertain the idea of telling me.” Blaze growled at me, sensing that I should be even angrier than I was. I was hurt; that’s all there was to it. You can’t change the past, but he could have built our relationship stronger by telling me rather than having people pity me as I walk into the Celestial Kingdom.

Embarrassment flooded my cheeks as I put my hands to my face. “Does everyone else know?” Hera rushed to my side. “Oh no, dear, no. Zeus and I knew only because we rule together. Selene told us just a few weeks ago before she disappeared. I thought back to Gabriel; he looked like he knew, though.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” a large man walked into the room with giant white wings. He was shirtless but had on a long white skirt and held a tray full of food. His hair was as gold as wheat and touched just the tip of his ears. “I’m Michael, Hera’s bodyguard, and slave. Nice to meet you,” he smiled while Hera slapped his arm.

“You are not a slave, you big oaf,” Hera giggled.

“Well, in bed maybe,” he winked as he set the tray down beside the bed. My eyes widened as everyone in the room started laughing.

“Unlike Hades, the rest of the original twelve gods haven’t been given a mate yet. We have very open relationships,” Hera traced her finger down Michaels’ torso, and his feathered wings shivered.

“You have guests. I’ll visit with you later,” Michael took her hand and kissed each finger as he left. Hera’s eyes lingered as he shut the door.

“I do hope he is my mate. If not, he will make a woman very happy.” The sadness in her eyes spilled into me as she longed after him. There has to be a way to turn off this empath thing. If I feel everyone’s emotions now, it is going to get overwhelming.

“Do you think Athena could help her, Hera?” Pasithea continued to hover her hand over my heart. “Dear Parisa, your mind wanders and sucks in every emotion you can find. Hades did a number on you to make you feel this overwhelmed.”

“An excellent idea; I’ll have one of the servants bring her.” Several fairy creatures came in with a wave of Hera’s hand. My spark of interest helped me to sit up as I saw them up close. “These are a type of fairy, Parisa.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare,” I lowered my head while the fairies laughed. Their voices reminded me of those musical bells you could hear at Christmas times on the streets. Sometimes if I had listened really hard, I could make out the song, “Jingle Bells.”

“It’s alright; we don’t get to see many mortals either. We both can be intrigued.” With a brief order from Hera, the Celestial Fairies left in a hurry while both of the beautiful goddesses helped me up.

My body felt weak as I put my feet on the floor. “Even though you were only feeling their emotions for a short time, your body wasn’t used to it. You will feel weak, and on top of your condition of years of malnourishment, it will feel double. Don’t worry, you will heal.” Pasithea stroked my hair that was sure a mess, and waved a few men in white robes in.

“Hades has sent us to check on you. You were given a strict medication through IV that we are supposed to administer; however, Asklepios has made you something in pill form that will help you much more substantially.” Hera held her hand to hold the pill and grabbed a glass of water from the tray.

“Asklepios is a friend of mine; he is the god of medicine and healing. If anyone can help you with your ailment of fatigue and nourishment, it would be him. Plus no more pokes and prods,” she laughed. Taking the pill and not thinking twice, I took it on one large gulp. I was tired of thinking, tired of feeling.

“Hades would wish to speak with you,” one of the robed men spoke up from the doorway. “He’s very concerned about your well-being.” The man shook as he spoke; Hades must be throwing a tantrum.

Hera stroked my hair one more time, “you can do as you wish. We will take care of Hades for you.”

“I’d like to be alone,” I whispered. “Just somewhere where I can gather my thoughts.”

Hera took my hand and helped guide me to a room with a canopied bed. She had me lay down and pulled a giant plush, white-down comforter over me. “Just rest, try not to think. Things will work out. I know it. Hades does care for you. He’s just not used to even friendships, let alone having a mate.” I nodded as she walked out of the now darkened room with a single low-dim lamp.

Rolling to my side, I let the tears flow. I let out my frustration and Hades’ complex emotions that were brewing just down the hall. The tears flowed, my hand banged the pillow, and I pulled at my hair just so I could feel something physical instead of feeling it internally.