Chapter Thirteen

 The pain was unbelievable.

I'd never felt anything so awful before and instantly understood why Theo had screamed so loud. It was something that even the harshest masochist could not comprehend, let alone enjoy.

Every part of me was in pain. I felt as if all my bones were breaking, shattering. I felt like my head was going to explode, like my skin was melting away, my blood boiling like the stomach acids of Ammut. I couldn't even scream. My mouth opened, but no sound escaped. My eyes opened wide and I felt the tears burning my eyes before evaporating.

I screwed my eyes shut after a moment, gritting my teeth and then it hit me, my eyes flying open.

My teeth. I could feel them clenching, the muscles in my body tensed in pain. I felt the weight of Epimetheus' soul slowly be sucked away from on top of me. I almost cried out in joy. I barely paid any attention to the throbbing pain of the beatings that Hades had dealt to my physical form.

I blinked once and looked at Hades, watching him step back as he gripped something blindingly bright in the palm of his hand. He narrowed his eyes at the thing, clenching his fist. Epimetheus' soul screamed in pain and crackled like fire before sizzling. Hades glanced up at me, eyes hardly pleased. I shuddered as I settled my soul back into place.

My body still ached and throbbed, but I could move my fingers and flex my muscles on my own accord. I almost sighed in relief, when I remembered that Hades was glaring at me. I stiffened, staring at him as he watched me. He gripped Epimetheus' soul so tight that it sizzled again, as if preparing to shatter.

"I had you chosen because you knew how dire it was to make sure that my sons remain alive and well," Hades told me icily, lifting his head higher than mine so he could look down at me as if I were a dog that severely displeased him, "You have made one mistake so far. This had better be your last. You are to protect Theo with your very life. If that means you have to tell him no once in a while, then do so. Because if Theo dies due to your negligence, I assure you that I will have no more mercy where you're concerned."

"Yes, my lord." I replied, grimacing at the pain in my nose. I reached up to touch it, but Hades wasn't finished scolding me, so I instantly dropped my hand to my side, clearing my throat as Hades continued.

"Now stop wasting my time. I have a soul to shackle. Go inside and take care of my son. Immediately." Hades ordered, then vanished in a sharp blast of smoke, making me grimace as it burned my eyes. I reached up to wipe them before I struggled to walk across the clearing to the gaping hole in the side of the palace that led to Theo's room.

Inside, his brothers seemed to be recovering slowly-- at least enough to stand. Adrian and Abel had reppeared in the room, both of them helping Malachi out into the room. Noe stuck close to Zelios, watching him with a pitifully worried look on his face as Zelios reassured him that he was all right. Hannibal looked like he was ready to reach out and catch Cain, who stumbled every so often, but fought hard to walk on his own. Kyros was helping Charon, supporting him on one side. They looked up and saw me, stiffening for a moment before I managed to find my voice.

"Where is Lord Theo?" I asked. Adrian visibly relaxed at my tone of voice and pointed to the doorway of the bathroom where Cerberus was walking out, struggling, with Theo in his arms. Theo was still pale as a sheet, but he seemed mostly conscious now as he muttered for Cerberus to put him down, earning a dirty look from Leon, who dutifully walked by Cerberus' side.

"Shut up, shortstuff," Cerberus grunted, rolling his tongue around in his mouth for a moment before spitting a glob of blood to the side before looking back down at Theo, who glared at him in disgust, "Besides, I won't be hauling your ass for long. Your lap dog's back and he's practically wagging his tail to see you." Theo blinked and tilted his head to look at me, surprised as I approached slowly, carefully. He looked at me suspiciously.

"And how... do I know you're Sept?" He asked me. I glanced at Cerberus, who shrugged and tilted his head to look at Leon, giving us some privacy as I looked back at Theo, who frowned at me.

"Now. Come here, Sept. Remember the rules. This is not making love. There is no love in this. There is only pain... and pleasure, for me anyway. So don't think for a second that it's anything else." I recited the words Theo had told me the first day he'd called me into his chambers. Theo's eyes widened for a split second before he looked away, relaxing. I looked up at Cerberus, who cleared his throat, looking a bit embarrassed.

"I will be taking my lord now, Lord Cerberus." I spoke. He nodded and gently laid Theo into my arms. Though Theo wasn't naturally fragile and delicate, he suddenly felt smaller in my arms. I remembered holding him, his soul, in my arms back in my dream. I held him close as Cerberus nodded to me, then ruffled Theo's hair, making him groan in disgust, trying to smack his hand away weakly.

"Good luck, squirt. And next time we visit Tartarus, you're not allowed to touch anything," Cerberus added dryly, "We'll start putting up signs. Do not touch." Theo glared at him, but Cerberus was already walking away with Leon, Zelios, and Noe. I watched them leave, then looked down at Theo, who tilted his head back against my arm before turning it in toward my chest, his eyes closed.

"My palace is destroyed. It's coming out of your pay check." He muttered.

"Yes, my lord."

"And my room is virtually gone. I'm sleeping in your room tonight."

"Yes, my lord."

"And you're also getting a pay dock for having sex with my body."

"Yes, my lord." I responded, grimacing slightly at the thought of having done so. I had easily allowed myself to be conned. I was so desperate to be with Theo that I fell into a trap. However, the sex I had before wasn't with Theo. It was with Epimetheus-- something that I really did not want to think about and planned to forget. I didn't say anything more to Theo, though, as I carried him out of his destroyed room and down the next few hallways to my room.

I walked in silence. Theo merely rested. He still seemed weak and shaky from Recharge. He'd need plenty of rest and care before he could be at his full strength again.

And I was going to remain beside him through it all.

"Sept, stop." Theo muttered. I pulled up short in the middle of the hallway, frowning in confusion as I looked down at him. He peeked an eye open, peering up at me past his sweaty red hair.

"Not walking. I meant stop doing that to yourself. I can practically hear you killing yourself."

"My apologizes, my lord."

"Ugh." Theo shut his eye again and buried his face closer against me. I held my breath for a moment, watching the way Theo rubbed his cheek against my chest. I felt goose bumps threatening to rise on my skin, but I fought them away as I continued walking. I took the moment to savor everything that was pure Theo.

His scent, his hot breath against my skin, his skin touching mine. The way he felt in my arms. He fit perfectly in them, like my arms had been made specifically for this job. I blinked hard as I approached the doors to my room, watching them slide open to allow me inside. I walked to the bed, gently placing Theo down against the black and red sheets. I started to pull the blankets over him, then stopped as I stared down at him.

His eyes were closed for a moment longer before he wrinkled his nose, sensing my gaze. He opened his eyes to stare up at me. I felt my heart beating against my chest vigorously, as if trying to rip out of my chest and land in Theo's palms.

"I'm sorry, Theo." I stated, making him look at me in confusion before I leaned over hm, placing my lips against his. I watched his eyes widen, bright red rubies staring at me in disbelief. I leaned closer to him, slowly lowering myself onto the bed. I reached one hand up to stroke the hair back from his face, watching his expression twist in confusion and surprise. I sank my tongue between his lips, closing my eyes and savoring the delicious reality of Theo's mouth. I tongued the place under his tongue before I pulled back to breath. Theo blinked rapidly for a few seconds, looking anywhere, but at me before he locked eyes with me.

"I told you--"

"I know," I answered quietly, "And I apologize for breaking your rules. I apologize for not being able to help you when you were in danger. I apologize for not noticing it sooner. I apologize for not doing my job correctly... But... I do not apologize for being in love with you, Theo." Theo blinked a few more times, as if he were having difficulties accepting that.

"B-But I told you--"

"I know," I replied, then paused to reach up, brushing Theo's hair back from his face, watching him bite his lip, eyes searching me as if trying to find some lie in my words, but he would find none, "I love you, Theo. You told me not to, but I couldn't help it. The first few times you called me into your chambers, I did it robotically. It was my duty. The next few times, I began to wonder why. Why did you want me there? Why did you want me to hurt you when my job was to protect you? Why did you get so much pleasure from being in pain?" I hesitated again, watching Theo frown at me now.

He didn't speak, but he was listening intently. It was like he was trying to figure out if I was up to something. He didn't believe me when I told him I loved him, and I didn't blame him. His mother, if even once, probably said it, then turned around and abused him. I settled on the bed beside Theo, not letting my eyes leave his once as I lifted one of his hands in mine. I lowered my eyes to study his long, pale fingers and his once neatly manicured nails were not stubs, having been chewed and torn, probably from Epimetheus' rough treatment.

I felt a bolt of rage at that. I smoothed my fingers against his nails gently before I continued speaking.

"And even now, I am still not sure what makes you want the pain. Whether you're trying to overlap some other pain with physical pain or maybe you feel some kind of love when someone harms you, or any other numerous reasons. I won't make you tell me. You're entitled to your secrets. I've already been sneaking in your mind enough. I don't need to know anything else..." I stopped again, lifting Theo's hand in front of me, spreading his fingers out before I kissed the tip of them, one by one. I could feel his pulse jump in his wrist, each time my lips came in contact with his skin.

I looked into Theo's face to see him staring at me.

"I am not romantic. I told myself I do not love anyone. I didn't even love myself. I would be a perfect soldier. My only duty in life would be to protect you... But then I thought, why is that? I began to wonder why I felt so desperate to protect you. It wasn't just my duty, Theo. I wanted to protect you because I loved you. I hated hurting you. I hated seeing others hurt you. I hated to see you in pain. I wanted to give you pleasure. Pure, gentle pleasure. And while I'm positive you will not allow me to do so, I ask that you please allow me to continue serving you. I love you, Theo, and this is what will keep you safe. I promise." I lowered his hand back to the bed, watching his red eyes flicker.

"And this has nothing to do with the fact that we had sex." Theo said quietly. I shook my head, frowning.

"That wasn't sex to me, my lord. You were ordering me to hurt you. That is not what sex is to me. It is something sacred, something you do with the whole of yourself. I am now complete. To know that I love you and not afraid to say it, that is what it means to be whole. I can say it now. To myself, and most importantly, to you. You know that I love you. With every fiber of my being. I swear to you that I am hopelessly in love with you, Theo, seventh son of Hades." I explained calmly. Theo breathed in gently, holding his breath, his eyelids fluttering as if he was suddenly feeling something that I couldn't before he breathed out.

"I don't know what to say." He managed at last. I felt the corners of my lips lift slightly as I leaned over, pressing my lips against Theo's forehead before I rose to my feet, pulling the sheets and blankets over him.

"You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know," I told him, then stood up straight and looked down at him, giving him a low bow, "I will fetch you some soup and a heating pad, my lord. You feel chilly." I stood back up, watching Theo look at me in confusion as I went to leave the room.

"Don't you want me to say it back?" Theo asked me once I reached the door. I paused, staring at the door for the longest time before I smiled to myself, turning to face Theo.

"My lord, you do not have to love me back. While it would be the greatest thing in the world to hear, I will not hurt you and I will not hate you for not loving me. I can only continue to love you. Simply being by your side is enough."

"Is it?" Theo asked. I said nothing this time. I had lied. It wasn't enough, but it would have to be. Theo didn't love me. Part of me wondered if he could even find it in himself to love me. He didn't love anyone, and the only person he had loved had tormented him. To him, love was a weakness.

To me, love was strength.

It's what kept me going. It kept me motivated.

It kept me hoping.

"I will return shortly, my lord." I responded, then turned and left the room, heading into the throne room where many of the servants were gathered. They all jumped at once when I entered, making me frown and pull up short as they whirled to face me with alarm etched onto their faces.

"Sept! Is Lord Theo okay?"

"Is he alive?"

"Is he okay?"

"Please say nothing happened to him!"

"Does he need help?"

One would think that these servants would have gathered to help, just so they'd get paid extra, but even the most greedy of servants would not have remained in a palace under attack. They wouldn't be asking if their lord was safe. I smiled in relief at this.

I wasn't the only one who loved Theo.

"He's safe," I told them, watching everyone sigh in relief, "But he is ill. He's in Recharge and needs soup and a heating pad and anything else that you think may help. He is currently resting in my chambers." The servants nodded. The cooks rushed off to make special soups while several servants ran off to find more blankets. A few even went into town to grab some medication. One approached me with a heating pad and I nodded, then paused to frown as I stopped them from leaving.

"Excuse me, but have you seen Rara around?" I asked. Epimetheus may have vanished, but Rara was still out there. In fact, so was Prometheus. That alarmed me even further as the servant frowned, looking annoyed by the mention of Rara's name.

"Nay, she fled the palace, Mr. Sept. Do you wish for me to send guards after her?"

"Yes. Send as many as you can into town. Check all the hotels. She may be with Prometheus. And send word to Hades of this as well."

"Yes, Mr. Sept." The servant bowed quickly, then rushed off before I turned and went back to my chambers where Theo was still resting, but he wasn't sleeping as he should've been. He was staring across the room through hooded eyes, as if he were fighting sleep. I cleared my throat and he looked up as I crossed the room to the other side of the bed. I started to plug the heating pad in, but Theo pushed it away when I tried to place it beside him. I frowned as he glanced up at me.

"I like natural heating." He stated. I frowned, confused.

"Natural, my lord?" I asked. He nodded, then shoved the blankets back. I stared at him, surprised, but he wouldn't look at me.

"My lord--"

"Just get in the goddamn bed, Sept." Theo ordered. I should've just refused and left, but it was an order and I was a servant. My job was to follow his orders. So I nodded and sat on the bed, taking my boots off before lying down in the bed beside Theo, who scooted over to give me room. I laid back on the bed, pulling the sheets and blankets over us, then completely froze as Theo rolled onto his side, resting his head against my chest.

I'm positive he could hear my heart beating violently within my chest. He slipped his arm around my torso and I felt my stomach clench and quiver. Butterflies, I decided, still holding my breath. Theo sighed, closing his eyes as he rested his cheek against my bare chest. While he felt cool at first, I could slowly feel him warming up.

"You're much warmer than a heating pad, Sept." Theo murmured sleepily, tightening his arm around me.

"Thank you, my lord." I said quietly, pulling the blankets up to cover his cold, pale shoulders. Theo rolled his eyes before slowly closing them.

"I like it better when you call me Theo."

"My lord--"

"Theo. I order you to call me Theo."

"... Yes, Theo."

"Not so hard now, is it, eh? Sept?" Theo sighed again. I remained silent, watching and listening as he slowly fell asleep, not once moving or shifting away from me. He remained thrown against me on his side, one arm drawn up against his chest and the other tossed over my torso to hold me close, as if he were afraid I would leave. After a moment, I felt his leg slide over mine, pulling me closer. I hesitated, glancing over at the door.

While most of my powers were sapped from both Epimetheus and my father, I had enough to click the lock in place and conjure a sign to hang on the door for the servants to leave their gifts outside the door.

I risked rolling onto my side to face Theo, who muttered something under his breath in his sleep. I put my arms around him, pulling him up against my chest. He drew his arms against himself, between us, his head resting in the crook of my neck. I used what little energy I had left to keep Theo safe.

And while I too caved into the depths of sleep, I made it a light sleep so that if anyone were to return for Theo that I would be ready.

I would never let something like this happen again.

Ever.

Theo was my lord and my master... No, while that may be how it appears on the outside and I had spent years telling myself that that was the only reason I protected Theo, I knew the truth now.

I was going to protect Theo because I loved him.