Her Forever

Hades’ POV

Gwen’s big emerald eyes looked into my fire and instantly melted it away. Only steam remained as breathed in her scent. She smells of cinnamon and a warm fire, it comforted me to no end. Her angelic voice, her first real sentence to me had my rage extinguished to just a mere smolder.

Her hand in mine squeezed me gently it was barely noticeable. My hand could easily crush her and yet she continued to bring me reassurance that everyone had bad days. She was becoming the light of my darkness and she doesn’t know the effect she has on me.

Gwen’s small smile starts to fade and the small grip she had on my hand begins to fall. “I’m..” she spoke but doesn’t have time to finish because her eyes instantly close and began to fall. I quickly grab her and pull her into my arms as we sit on the floor by the massive window. The sounds of clacking Italian shoes enter the room along with heavy breathing.

“The f**k did you do?” Ares yelled. I didn’t look at him as I held her. Stroking her hair as her heartbeat continued at a steady pace.

“She passed out, her body is weak,” I growled. I didn’t want to acknowledge it but in my cold heart I knew all of this, all her suffering was my fault. If I had only listened to Selene, I would have protected her, saved her from the life she has been living but my blackened heart failed to see reason. At the time I thought I didn’t need her, but now I do.

Picking her up gently, cradling her head into my chest, her arm was dangling at her side, I walked through the crowded doorway. “Where are you taking her, Hades?” Niko spoke harshly. Stopping me in my tracks, I turned my head over my shoulder and glared at him.

Niko was my demon; he may be one of the best demons I’ve ever created but he was crossing a line. He has had explicit instructions to never use my name in front of others. “The f**k you call me?” Black smoke started to fizzle around my body. Niko step back and got on his knees and fell to the floor.

“I’m sorry, my Lord, please forgive me. I’m only thinking of Gwen.” I growled so loudly the windows began to shake along with the broken china on the floor.

“If you have any value in your life, you will stop your obsession with her,” I grasped onto her tightly. “She is my mate and your future Queen, do you understand me, demon?” Niko continued to shake in fear. I’ve gotten rid of his best friend only a few hundred years ago for calling out my name in public.

“Yes, yes I’m sorry. Thank you for your mercy,” he begs. I continued to walk up the stairs and into the master bedroom. I didn’t want to let her out of my sight right now. She calms me and I’m sure our bond will only grow stronger when we stay close. However, duty calls and a plan to take her back with me needs to be in place.

Laying her on the bed, I put the covers over her to make sure she was comfortable before I headed back down the stairs. Niko was sitting on the couch with his hands on his head while Ares, Hermes and Vulcan were talking in hushed tones.

“Meeting, now,” I demanded as we headed to the dining room. The dining room doubled as a conference room since I never had guests to dine with anyway. “Sit,” I commanded as they entered.

I leaned back in my chair; feet propped up on the table looking over the lighted city before me. Rubbing the stubble on my chin I let out a large sigh while feeling the heated gaze of my, ‘friends.’

“We leave back for the underworld tomorrow; I’m taking Gwen with me.” Hermes stands to protest but I throw up my hand, “She will be safer with me than on Earth.”

“You’re right,” Hermes says, and I raise a brow. Is he f*****g with me? “There has been a disturbance in the Celestial realm.” Ares bangs the table.

“’ Bout time! I’ve been itchin’ for a war!” Ares stands up and strips himself of his human form, now daunting his pelt and armor. His sword was at his side as he unsheathed it and banged his chest like a damn baboon.

“Down boy!” Hermes laughs. “There’s no war yet, I don’t even know what the disturbance is about, but I’m hell-bent on finding out.” Hermes was a messenger god, but he was also a spy. He never took sides unless completely necessary and even then, he tries to stay neutral.

“If you hear anything let us know,” Vulcan speaks up. “Especially since the Helm has been gone for years, who knows how long someone has been planning for a power struggle.” Hermes nodded to Vulcan.

“What of Gwen? She is your mate, isn’t she?” Ares sat down, throwing his sword on the table. I began to stew, they may have known that Selene had told me about my mate being born but they didn’t know that I had the chance to see her birth, to know who she was, and follow her to protect her.

The guilt was eating me away, one day I’ll have to tell her, and I pray that day doesn’t come too quicky.

“She is,” I willed a glass of whisky in my hand.

“And human,” Vulcan added. “Has that been done before for the gods?”

“For demi-gods but not of the original twelve to be mated with a human,” Hermes spoke. “Selene has been hunting souls for the perfect matches for the big 12 and usually they are paired with other gods.”

There was a loud s****m coming from upstairs and before it stopped, I was transported to the middle of the room. My fists were ready to fight off whatever was on Gwen only to find her in the middle of the bed, back to the headboard shaking. “What’s wrong!?” I run to her, forgetting I could be the one she could be afraid of.

“H-how’d you get in here?!” she sobbed with a hand over her mouth. “I was, sleeping, on the floor,” I lied, my voice as was as calm as I could make it. “What’s wrong?” The room was dark as night with no moon, but my vision was perfect. Her eyes were glassy, fingers shaking as she kept her hand over her mouth like she was going to s****m again.

“I’m sorry,” she hiccupped. “It was dark, I had a nightmare and I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t mean to I swear…” her voice trailed off and I rushed to her side. Her body flinched at my sudden burst of movement and my aching heart broke. She was so damaged, and I did this to her. I stopped right in front of her and held out my hand, she took a moment but put her hand in mine. Progress

I sat next to her, my eyes begging to ask if it was alright and she nodded slowly. Taking another step, I wrap my arms around her shoulders, they were stiff but relaxed promptly. “I won’t let anything ever happen to you again Gwen, I promise.” Her green eyes again melted into mine. “Sleep, I’ll keep your nightmares away,” I whispered.

“Can I have the light on?” she whispered to me. I snapped my fingers and a low glow of a lamp illuminated the room. She was able to see everything if she wanted. Taking a deep breath, Gwen not realizing I didn’t have a sound activating for lamps, her head fell on my chest, both of us still sitting up on the headboard. As soon as she was asleep, I could tuck her in, but I don’t know if I would ever be able to let go.

…

Gwen’s POV

The room was still lit lightly, just as I fell asleep from the night before. Hades was kind enough to see me through a horrible panic attack. I should be afraid of him, to run away and cower in fear. Of all the men I’ve met in my life, he looks the most dangerous, yet he has been nothing but gentle with me.

The nightmares have been with me all my life, or at least my first night in a cell back with John. The haunting of that man in the helmet, my fingers always working to the bone cleaning and cooking for John’s men. Slaps, punches, and even those degrading hits to my thigh were common before he could no long mar my skin since I was in public.

The man knew how to cover his tracks, that was for sure. I’m guessing that is why it took Niko so long to gain some evidence, any sort of evidence of human trafficking, and whatever else he was looking for.

As I contemplate my pathetic use of a life, I realize I’m not alone. There is soft breathing and my body is molded into the perfect position for me to relax. I wasn’t laying on a broken cot, freezing in the night, but I was rather warm, and a blanket of safety was wrapped around me. I let out a large sigh and snuggled into the blankets more, relishing in the warmth.

My eyes popped open, there is someone else breathing beside me. Looking through my eyelashes I see Hades’ sleeping. The scowl that is permanently on his face was now soft, his eyebrows weren’t angry, and his lips were gently parted. For once in a long, while he looked relaxed. Not wanting to wake him, I closed my eyes and laid in the arms of a man I knew nothing about.

All logic had flown out the window but the feeling in my gut had overpowered my mind. For once I felt safe, and I was going to lay here and relish it.

…

There was movement on the bed and the warm blanket that covered me was no longer there. Hades had stood up and was unbuttoning his shirt. Without turning around Hades let out his gruff voice, “Gwen, are you hungry?”

Hungry, I know that word.

“Yes, a bit.” Honestly, I could go until dinner, but I didn’t want to upset him.

“Good, would you like to eat here or in the dining room?” Not wanting to be a burden I told him the dining room would be fine. He nods and walks to the bathroom and shuts the door.

This isn’t my room, so I get out of bed and immediately go to the kitchen and let Hades have time to get ready for the day. The clothes I was wearing were still clean, I could wear them for a few more days. Which reminds me, I’m not sure where I will go. I’ve got no money to my name but these people helped me so much I can’t ask for more. I’ll have to see if I can find a homeless shelter and see if I can start from scratch there. I’ve always been good at cleaning and cooking, I’m sure someone would want a maid.

Humming my way through the kitchen, I pull out a few pots and pans ready to make breakfast for everyone. The kitchen only had a few places where burn marks were left on the cabinets and was overall clean after Hades being upset.

The fridge was fully stocked, filled with eggs, fruits, bacon, sausage, and my mouth began to water at being able to finally eat a breakfast that I have made. Deciding with French toast, eggs, and sausage, I got to work. The smells from the kitchen were filling the air and my mind had wandered into maybe feeling the grass beneath my feet one day. I don’t even remember touching the grass, but my heart beating light and free gives me excitement. Maybe they would let me go out today if they liked their breakfast.

I had stacked the last pieces of French toast on the table. The fruits were cut, glasses were out, and the table was set. Everything was to perfection, just like Mast- I mean John liked it. For a crusty old man, he liked the finer things. I remember him smacking my fingers with rulers to set tables correctly at the club’s restaurant before opening time. Only to be thrown into the kitchen to then cook for those I had made placemats for.

“Where is she!?” A manic roar came from upstairs. There were thundering footsteps coming from upstairs as well as the main floor. Hermes, Ares, and Vulcan were practically nude wearing just boxers or boxer briefs, their ripped bodies were looking around the area until their eyes glanced over to me. The look in their eyes held rage as their muscles flexed.

Out of instinct, my body started shaking, my hands came up to shield me from them trying to hurt me as I backed up into the wall. “The f**k is she?!” I heard the roar again; Hades was standing on the balcony looking down at all of us. I leaned back into the wall, falling slowly and wrapping my arms around my legs. My eyes shot up to him, his lower body was wrapped in a towel and if I wasn’t so scared, I would think he was the most handsome angel I had ever seen.

But I was scared because the look in his eyes was nothing but rage.