Her Forever

Hades’ POV

“f**k,” I fell back into the couch. My fists again in their tightened grip, a debilitating headache was coming on and it was all due to my insolence.

I had just come back from talking to Gwen, she had just woken up from her slumber. I was hoping she would be more accepting of me but of course, the fates were not on my side. Gwen was petrified. Once I left the room and had Niko explain what was going on, she wasn’t as scared of me. Her heart was at a steadier pace. Her innocent eyes looked up at me in question and wonder as I kept my handheld out to her.

She didn’t want to touch me, and I didn’t blame her.

My face has had a permanent scowl fix on it since Persephone left me, but now she was starting to become a fleeting memory. My heart didn’t ache for her, it ached for Gwen. Damn Selene, what have you done?

Gwen reached out her tiny hand to shake mine and the warmth radiating from such a small person gave me something I had longed for, feeling. Deep in soul, I felt her. The end of my lips began to tilt upward, causing Niko to smile like a damn fool. Even though he was a demon, he certainly had his own personality that was brighter than the rest of them. Some days I wonder if I accidentally created an angel half-breed.

Small sparks were felt on my fingertips, I wonder if she felt it too. Her hand was still cupped in mine as she continued to stare at our hands. Maybe she did feel it.

“Gwen? Do you feel up to a shower? Get cleaned up?” Niko interrupted our moment. I gave him a glare in which he rolled his lips into his mouth realizing his mistake. Gwen looked between me and Niko, unsure of what to say. “I-is that alright?” she finally looked at me.

“Of course, it is. I clasped my other hand on top of hers. “Whatever you need, say the word. I’ll personally see to it,” my voice was still low and gruff, but she gave a small smile. We certainly had a long way to go but since we have eternity, that didn’t seem to be a problem.

Gwen’s POV

After much deliberation, if I needed a maid to assist me in showering, it was decided I could do it on my own. After I mentioned I had never taken a shower by myself without people watching, Hades stormed off while Niko showed me how to work the controls. Usually, it was just a spicket of cold water that would rush down our bodies, it was all I really knew. The warm water was refreshing, and I never wanted to leave.

Drying off, I came out of the shower and wrapped a large fluffy towel around me. It was so large it wrapped around almost three times. The floor rugs were equally squishy and soft, it brought a smile to my lips. Even if I could sleep on this fluffy rug, I would be forever grateful.

Niko continued to talk about how they rescued me, how the strip club was burned down and that even Master- I mean John Oliver died of a heart attack during the raid. I was happy that the girls were all free, but where did that leave me? Why did they take me and leave the rest?

Given the run around for the past 15 minutes why they picked me to stay with them, Niko had me come out to meet the rest of the men that helped shut down the club. All I was wearing was one of Hades’ large black shirts that I easily could swim in. The shirt touched my knees while his boxers continued to fall. Luckily my hairband was still tied to my wrist, and I was able to tie them tight.

The penthouse we were staying in was massive. We were on the top floor overlooking the brightly lit city. It was far from the strip club, on the upper east side of town. This was where the high rollers lived as the girls would say.

The main living room was bright, the floors were a light marble and sparsely furnished. The open concept kitchen had black granite tops and a stainless-steel appliance. My mouth must have dropped at looking at it all because I heard Hermes laughing. “There’s the angel! It’s good to see you standing there, the doctor said you wouldn’t be walking for a few days due to lack of food in your system.” Hermes patted my shoulder, and I gave him a small smile. Little did everyone know; I could go for days and days without food. My body had just grown accustomed to it.

“Don’t make her stand there, offer her seat,” Ares pointed to the couch, and I quickly sat on my knees to keep my legs covered. Niko grabbed the blanket off the couch and quickly wrapped me up. I’m so used to moving around and when I stay still, I ended up getting cold.

“Where’s Hades?” I asked curiously. They all looked back and forth at each other. “Why do you feel a pull towards him?” Hermes asked and Ares slapped his head. Not understanding what he meant I tilted my head to the side and looked at Niko, who in turn shrugged his shoulders.

“You all are here, I was just wondering,” I mumbled. Hades was a different kind of man. Brooding, mysterious and powerful. I could feel the power in his stare or when he enters a room. I wasn’t sure how I felt about him, I knew I was curious about him, and he intrigued me. He and his friends were different than any other men I’ve met.

“So why do you some of you have Greek mythology names? Are you all of Greek descent?” Ares scoffed and Hermes laughed. “Something like that.” Their answers were vague, and I was getting tired of making conversation. My body was still tired and would probably be the rest of my life. I laid my head on the arm of the couch and let out a sigh.

Hades walked into the room, his fists clenched and jaw ticking. Infuriated was the only word that came to mind when his face scowled like that. Everyone flinched but after holding his hand that one time I didn’t feel scared around him. There was something cloaking me, warming me when I was in his presence. Hades was the bad guy of the group, the one in charge, the one that protects everyone else.

Before I touched him, I didn’t know any of that, I feared him. Thoughts of him betting two million dollars on me and then falling to the floor in fear crossed my mind. My heart clenched remember the god-awful memory. He hasn’t touched me; he’s only helped me.

Hades sits down while Hermes pulls out a notepad filled with scribbles. “Gwen, I would like to ask you a few questions about how you came to the club. It would really help us out on our investigation, maybe help other girls like you to see how they were targets.” I wasn’t too keen on the idea of reliving old memories but helping other girls might let my mind rest a bit.

“Alright,” I murmured.

“Can you tell us when you came to the club and how you got there?” Hermes as well as the rest looked at concerned. Wrapping the blanket, a bit tighter, I recalled my memory that even the men at the club couldn’t believe, they thought I had become mentally deranged from being kidnapped.

“I don’t remember anything about my past before I got to the cage, they put me in. The first thing I remember was being put in the cage, with a new shirt on me that bared the strip club’s logo. There was a man in a gladiator-type helmet that stared at me for the longest time.” Hades stiffened and Niko leaned closer. “I asked him where I was, what was I doing there. I wanted to get out, but I didn’t know where I would go. There were no memories,” I sniffed.

“Then John Oliver came up to the cage and yelled at his men asking where I had come from. They didn’t know and started yelling some more. He banged on the cage and asked me who brought me in. The man in the helmet was standing right beside him, so I pointed to him and screamed he was right beside him.”

Ares looked on in shock as I continued my story. I dared not look at the others, feeling the heat of their stares.

“The gladiator stood there, arms crossed, and then walked away and into John Oliver’s office. John started throwing his hands in the air and stomped off and went to his office as well. A long time had passed, and he was grinning like he won the lottery. He came up to my cage and banged on it with his cane and said, “we are going to make tons of money and it all starts with you, Gwen,” I sobbed. “I later find out I was 9 years old when this happened.”

Niko came over and gave me a hug while Vulcan kept his mouth covered with one of his hands. Tears welling up in his eyes. Hades’ eyes were red, not just figuratively. They burned like a lake of everlasting fire.

“f**k!” Hades got up and pushed the couch backward, causing Vulcan to fall with a crash. Niko got up to help restrain Hades and talk him down, but Hades was having none of it. He stormed the kitchen, throwing things, banging on the table like a mad man. Each time a loud noise would drop to the floor I would flinch, thinking it was heading towards me.

Somehow, he caught some of the appliances on fire and I closed my eyes and covered my ears. It was too much noise, and I had nowhere to run. He was screaming and yelling in another language, possibly Greek or Italian. Ares, Niko, Hermes, and Vulcan finally backed up and let Hades have his way with the penthouse. Tables overturned, chairs broken, and fine China spilled to the floor. A few tears escaped my eyes seeing the rage he had.

What had this man been through to cause him so much pain? His inner demons were suffocating him, and he had no way to control it. The men stood and looked on in pity as he continued the rampage. They knew not to mess with him but the aching in my heart couldn’t let him continue.

With shaky legs, I stood up. If he hadn’t hit me by now, then I don’t think he would hit me in the future. He pushed his men away harshly, but I couldn’t see him doing that to a woman. The urge to touch him was strong and I couldn’t help but take those steps towards him. I could hear Niko whispering for me to come back, afraid to have his voice above a whisper. Hermes just told him to stop and see what I could do.

Hades was staring out the window, a half-torn desk chair in his hand. His shoulders showed the ragged breathing rising and falling. I walked on the balls of my feet, closer still trying not to disturb what memories or demons were plaguing his mind. My small hand searched for his large one that was balled into a fist.

My small hand touched his knuckles as I finally whispered out, “Hades?” His eyes bolted to mine so fast it made me jump. His breathing slowed down, and his fist began to unfold. “Hades, are you alright?” My voice was small compared to this giant man and he took it in gladly. His eyes closed and I slipped my hand into his and he held it tightly. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Giving him a small smile and a gentle squeeze, I said, “it’s alright we all have our bad days.”