┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

Hide

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Chapter 14: Hide (Hades' POV)

I stood by the door, watching her pack her things all over again, knowing well that I could snap my fingers and they'd all be packed. 

"Can you help, please?" She sat on the edge of the bed, pouting at me. 

"Why? It's your stuff," I smirked, folding my arms across my chest and leaning against the doorframe. 

She glared at me and stood up, continuing to pack her clothes. "I'm not the one who unpacked it though. It's not even organized. What did Adonis even do? Just 'abracadabra' and throw my clothes in there?" 

I chuckled softly, watching as she began organizing her clothes before packing them. "What do I get in return if I help you?" I walked over to her, standing in front of her. 

"What do you want?" She narrowed her eyes on me. 

"A 'thank you' with a kiss," I smiled, leaning down. 

"Haha," she deadpanned. 

"I'm serious," I frowned. 

"No," she chuckled, shaking her head and folding her t-shirts. 

"Then have fun packing." 

"You have fun waiting for me. Don't worry, I'll make sure to take my time." 

I sighed, watching her silently for a minute. Boy, does she know how to have things her way. She grinned, knowing that I was going to give in and pack for her. I waved my hand once and all her clothes that were littered into one big, confusing, messed up pile were not organized. "There. I organized it for you. Shall I pack it too?" 

She nodded. 

"You owe me a kiss." 

"No, I—" The sound of the suitcase zipping up made her stop. She sighed and looked at the bed which was now clear of clothes and her suitcase was all closed and zipped up. 

I grabbed the suitcase and set it on the floor. "Too late," I smirked. 

"Are we leaving now?" She grabbed her phone, tucking it into her pocket, and looked at me expectantly. 

I nodded. 

She bit her bottom lip in thought and then opened her mouth to undoubtedly ask me something but she sighed instead. So, of course, I read her thoughts. 

What about Anastasia? 

"You don't have to worry," I said. "Adonis is staying back, he'll keep an eye on her, get her what she needs." 

She sighed in relief and nodded in understanding, rubbing her hands on her thighs. "Okay, let's go." 

I grabbed her suitcase handle. "Can I ask why you're always so worried about her?" I asked as we walked to the door. 

"Anastasia has helped me out a lot. But she needs my help sometimes too. She doesn't have any family left. She lost her parents in a plane crash and she never had siblings. Her grandparents passed away too and she's not close with any cousins or uncles and aunts. I'm all she's got." 

"That must be hard for her." 

She nodded again. "But she's strong. She'll be fine. Let's just go." 

I grabbed her hand, lacing our fingers together, and then walked through the door and landed at the palace's main gates. 

"Sir!" Dashiell grinned, walking over quickly while Cerberus ran over. 

"Dashiell," I smiled, squatting down to scratch Cerberus. 

"Are you back for good?" Dashiell asked, taking the suitcase from me. 

"We're back for a while... yes," I nodded, standing back up. "Persephone," I turned to her. "Welcome home." 

Dashiell stared at us wide-eyed. "The Persephone?" 

"Sure am," she mumbled, staring at the castle. The sun was setting and the sky was purple and blue instead of orange and pink. Sunsets here aren't usually orange and pink. They're mostly purple, blue, and... cold. Maybe just because this is the underworld, nothing I can do. "The sunset is awfully gloomy here," she pointed out. "Is it always like that?" 

"Most of the time," I confirmed. 

She pouted. "Pity." 

Dashiell bowed once and then headed inside to put her suitcase in the room. Not in my room though. For the time being, she has her own room right across from mine. I don't want her feeling pressured or nervous and I should always be respecting her privacy. 

"Shall we?" I asked. 

She nodded and I started walking, knowing well that our hands were still locked together. I just don't think she realizes that. "Where am I staying?" she questioned. 

"Your room is right across from mine. Do you want to take a look around first?" 

"Sure," she chuckled, watching as Cerberus walked right beside me, matching my pace. 

I gave her a quick tour, showing her each wing and telling her which rooms were where. The castle is three stories high. The ground floor has the throne room, dining room, and foyer, leading out to the backyard. The first floor has all the bedrooms. The west wing has her new bedroom and mine as well. It also has my childhood room. 

I grew up in this castle, not living with my parents. I grew up right here with a housekeeper. In every lifetime, I've spent all my time here. Alone. 

The east wing has guest bedrooms. The third floor has a storage room, the library, and the balcony. The staff's quarters, which is where all the staff and even Dashiell stay, is a little far out within the estate, near the backyard. 

"So," I sighed, both of us landing back in the foyer. "Do you think you can remember all that?" 

She nodded confidently. 

"Oh?" I smirked. "Confident, aren't you?" 

"I have a good memory." 

"Right," I said slowly, barely convinced. "Because that's why you had no idea how and why you were in my apartment the night I saved your life." 

She scoffed, giving me a light push. "I was drunk that night." 

"Let's test you then," I smirked, tucking my hands into my pockets. 

"Okay," she said slowly. "What do you want to do?" 

"The best thing that will tell us how much of the palace you really remember." 

"Which is...?" 

"Play hide and seek." 

She stared at me for a while, her lips twitching up into a smile. She chuckled softly, looking away from me. "Hide and seek? Are you serious? Really?" 

"Really, I'm dead serious." 

"Fine," she nodded mischievously. "And what do I get if I win?" 

"Whatever you want. I'll grant you a wish. But be practical." 

"Hmm, fair enough," she agreed. 

"That also means I get a wish if I win. If I find you because you were too lost to hide, that means I win. And you must grant me a wish." 

"All right. I'm down. You seek, I hide?" 

I nodded, turning around so I couldn't see which direction she left in. "I'll wait five minutes for you, Persephone. Five minutes is all you get." 

"Fine!" 

I heard her rushed footsteps as she ran out while I started keeping track of time. When five minutes, maybe even a little more, had gone by, I left the foyer, heading upstairs. There's barely any place to hide down here. The foyer is wide open, the dining room only has a table and chairs, and the backyard wouldn't be her choice at this time of night. It's nearly eight and it's dark out. 

She probably wouldn't go there. 

So, I headed upstairs. I started with the west wing, peeking into each room. I could just use my powers but then it wouldn't be fair. And I'm a lot of things, sometimes a dick too, but I play fair. Unless she plays unfair first. When I found the entire floor empty, I moved to the last floor. I crept into the storage room. There are plenty of things to hide under and behind her. I lifted the covers off the old dresser, coughing and waving the dust away. Nothing. I eyed the mirror. I walked over and pulled it down from where it was leaning against the wall, standing on the floor but she wasn't hiding under that either. I moved to the library. 

Of course, she picks the library. 

I opened the door as quietly as possible but I pushed it shut loudly. I heard a small, soft gasp before pin-drop silence. I smiled to myself. "I think I won, Persephone," I sang, walking through each aisle. 

Each shelf was from floor to ceiling, so it was difficult to look through but there were some gaps from missing books. I made one round to the very back before it became obvious she was moving around within the library. I stopped and listened more intently. I spun back around, barely seeing her run around the shelf. 

"Ah, I see," I announced. "You were following me around. Smart, Persephone. Clever. Really clever," I smirked, walking to the other side of the shelf, catching her. 

She gasped, getting startled and her hand went flying to her chest. 

"But not clever enough," I smirked, leaning against the shelf. 

She huffed, glaring at me. "You scared me." 

"Yes, well. Now you lost." 

"I'm aware of that. But I was too scared to leave the library once you were in here. You would hear the door and..." 

"And?" I stepped closer, standing in front of her now. 

She stepped back, her back hitting the shelf. "And I forgot my way down." 

I smiled. "I definitely won then, didn't I?" 

"Don't rub it in, Hades," she laughed. "What do you want?" She tucked her hands behind her, looking up at me. 

"What do I want?" I mumbled. 

"What's your wish?" she whispered hesitantly. 

"You," I sighed. 

She blinked in confusion. "But... you already have me." 

That's good to hear. In fact, it might be one of the best things I've heard anybody ever say. Especially her. "Then... I wish you would kiss me," I replied. 

She swallowed, staring at me. Her cheeks showed hues of pink as she blushed, looking anywhere but at me. "Does that have to be it?" she murmured, looking around at the library. 

I'm sure she had enough time to do that while hiding in here. I tilted my head sideways, blocking her line of vision until she looked at me again. "Hmm, it does," I nodded. "Kiss me, Persephone." 

She swallowed, her breathing getting heavier. "No," she whispered. 

"Then let me go." I glanced down at where she was clutching onto my shirt. 

"I can't," she mumbled. 

"Why not?" 

She contemplated telling me. I could see the debate in her eyes. 

"I'll read your thoughts if you don't tell me," I smiled softly. 

She rolled her eyes but she was grinning. She looked back at me, hitting my chest lightly. "Because you make me feel safe," she finally admitted. 

I nodded softly. "I'm glad. I would hope I make you feel that way." 

She sighed, looking away again but she was in thought right now. "Hades." 

"Yes, my love?" 

She rolled her eyes and bit back a smile at the nickname before turning to look at me. "Do you really think you could love me? Without knowing me? You have an idea in your head of how I'm supposed to be and I'm scared I won't meet those expectations. Same goes for you." 

"I didn't know you had expectations for me, but I promise to try my hardest to reach them." 

"And if we don't? Reach each other's expectations?" 

I shook my head, frowning. "Does that really matter? I don't think it does. I think we'd exceed our expectations of each other. Don't you?"

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 14

It's pouring out here damn. But I low-key love the rain it hits different when you're falling asleep to a storm.

next chapter: mine