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(Alex's dress and hair above :)

~Remember him, no matter what.~

"Hey, if I was an assassin I would have not brought up a conversation about how I'm not an assassin!" I dodged the flying chair that clashed into the wall behind my back. Aurora made it certain that she was skeptical and suspicious of everything I did - even breathing counted as an act of crime.

"I don't know about that, maybe you are a really bad assassin! You literally flew through my window! Probably hoped your foot has killed me!" She squawked accusingly, taking a firm hold of the golden bedside lamp.

"Do you even hear how stupid that sounds?" We stared at each other before bursting into laughter. Aurora pointed her gaze down in embarrassment before puffing out a harsh breath, a small smile forming upon her lips at last.

I think that's how I've told her my story,  that's how we became friends, and that is exactly how Aurora went out of her way to help me find my mother.

"Rory, you do understand that distracting the guards will not work? I'm trying to go unnoticed, not point all the spotlight in my direction." I think the girl was looking for company and adventure - which was the reason for her willingness to aid me. She too disagreed with Gaia and her ways, and most importantly she knew the ways down to the prison cells.

"You came with the God of the Underworld. Now, I remember he owns an invisibility helmet that could get you past the guards." Aurora smiled at me with bright glowing eyes. I exhaled deeply tangling my fingers in my lap.

"Whilst the helmet does exist. I won't be able to retrieve it, it got lost the other day." And I had no clue whether the Devil ever got it back.

Aurora arched her eyebrow thinking of another plan. "Wait, I know!" She scrambled to her feet immediately and stood in front of me.

"The cloak." She spoke raising her hand in the air like she was a genius.

"The cloak?"

"His cloak has many abilities, including invisibility. Get the cloak and we're talking." I gave that an idea a thought. It wasn't the best of the best, but I had nothing else. I doubted that the Satan would ever allow me enter the prison cells or discover the location of Selene, for some reason he refrained from sharing any information about it whenever I brought it up. I even wondered whether he actually knew her whereabouts and simply kept me for his own entertainment.

"There is a tiny problem with this plan. How. Am. I. Supposed. To. Get. It?" I met Aurora's thoughtful expression. She looked me up and down before smirking.

"Ahh Alex, just for you luck I have a few maids who know exactly how to get you flawless. There is a ball this evening." Aurora tapped her chin mysteriously.

"Use your seductive side, get it off his shoulders." My eyes expanded as I glanced down at my short strands of blonde hair. I didn't know if this could work. The devil hasn't shown interest in me. So why would he now? Even if he did, I didn't know how to manipulate him into handing me the precious cloak that never left his shoulders. The cloak might have been full of skill and magical abilities, but I couldn't remove it without the Satan noticing it being gone. I honestly haven't seen Hades without the thing ever, it was like that two were inseparable.

"You're insane. I'm as seductive as a cabbage!"

"Is this important for you?" I found her meaningful gaze. The Goddess kneeled in front of me with a warm smile. I nodded, clenching my fists together into a grip that gave me just a little bit of hope; maybe it would work.

"Then pamper up and get that cloak." I met her encouraging smile with my own. Rory flicked her fingers before maids entered the room and were set to work on both of us.

***

"Are you sure he isn't back yet?" I asked after about two hours. It was one big miraculous experience. The maids did wonders to my face, packing on natural products and soothing my dyed blonde hair into soft curled mess. They handed me a dress that slid onto my body like a glove. It was a low cut back with a crystal covered front. I thought the grey contrasted well with my pale face - because I was dreading the accomplishment of my plan.

"We have a few minutes left. My dad and the rest of the highly honoured Gods are in a meeting right now." I lifted my head, narrowing my eyes and examining her petite form. I noticed that her bed was full of soft plushy toys.

"How old are you, Rory?" She looked back me through the mirror giving a sweet grin. She dressed herself in a bright golden dress which complemented her warm blonde hair.

"I am twenty by the Olympian age." She observed her eye for any smudges. I gazed at her still.

"And by human years?" Aurora displayed a frown before twisting on her high heel and fully looking at me now.

"A little over one." The Goddess raised her eyebrow when I tapped my chin.

"Interesting."

"You're such a weirdo." I chuckled before my eyes sprang wide. I needed to return back to my room - one that I burned down to ash.

"Come on! Just climb the ladder!" Aurora pushed my bum up the metal thing but because I was already wearing heels the task was so much harder to fulfill. I just hoped I didn't break a sweat, and maybe my neck if I fell.

"It's a lot more harder than it looks!" I hissed grabbing onto the railing of my window. I thudded to the floor and gave out an ouch.

"You're alive up there?" I heard Aurora's high pitched voice call back from the level below. I glanced down the window and smiled giving her thumbs up of success.

"Go down there after the ball! Most guards are on a break at that time!" The girl suggested before closing the window with one click. I took a deep breath and straightened myself. Curling my fingers around the cool balcony railing I stood there with a stiff back, watching as the sun lowered itself just above horizon.

I heard the doorknob rattle but I didn't make a move to turn around.

I could do this.

The door creaked open, I forced my eyes shut.

I could do this. I could do this.

Several footsteps entered, I swallowed a breath.

I could do this.

"What happened to the room?" His voice was close to my ear. I pried my eyes open and twisted on my feet, meeting his amused charcoal retinas.

"The better question is what didn't happen to it." Hades didn't look down or even spare me a glance. He was staring me right in the eyes, not breaking the contact.

"Who dressed you?" I held his gaze, forcing a reply.

"A few maids came in." His eyes narrowed, hopefully not in suspicion. There was a pause before he walked over to the balcony edge, then bowed over the railings out the window and down to the balcony below.

"And which door did they use?" He asked with no indication of what was on his mind.

"Or should I say, the ladder?" I felt red stain my cheeks as my face suddenly caught fire. This heat of humiliation was making my legs weak.

"I made a friend, she offered to change me." I spit out the half-truth. Hades snapped his head to mine and moved forwards until he was directly in front of my face.

"Don't think she did an excellent job in doing that, you're still as stubborn as you ever were." Just when I think I look bad, Hades makes me feel even worse.

"Thanks!" I dwelled and disappeared into the bathroom. I pressed my head against the surface of the door and sighed. I had no idea how snatch his cloak when Hades was not in the mood, but honestly when has he ever been in a mood?
I breathed deeply through my nostrils, falling down to my knees and just letting me savour these last sweet inhales alone.

"We need to go!" Hades knocked multiple times on the door. I exited and did a little 'go-ahead' gesture. I noticed that the devil has altered his regular black jeans to an even darker tuxedo which was nothing but pitch black colour.

"We are going to have a discussion about your little friend after the ball."
I really wanted to roll my eyes, and we weren't even at the ballroom yet!

"Whatever."

I got shoved angrily into a chest.
"Oh no, don't whatever me here. You are my servant, and you will act like one whether the hell you want it or not. I. Will. Make. You." Hades breathed into my ear, his lips tracing my cheekbone.  I shifted away from the toxic lips and continued down the hall  my heels stomping aggressively against the floor.

I turned around meeting the Devil's immobile form and deadly piercing gaze.

"That's cute. You think you're scary. But I've seen scary - you don't have his smile."

A/N - how was this one? I updated again whoop whoop!!

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~All the best ~

• Marina •

Follow me on Instagram! I post updates on the story there! @ emberia_