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~He has full control over my heart.~

Song of the Chapter: Luude - Sink or Swim (Ilovethissongsomuchplslistenwhilstreadingthischapter)

I blinked as our surroundings faded. Hades hand left my wrist and I observed probably the darkest pit of the forest. Where was the devil? Darkness was everywhere giving me crawling chills up my back.

"I see you have a soft spot for creepy and lightless places." I whispered predicting that he would hear. Twigs crunched under me feet as I took a step forward. My heart beat picked up its pace as I saw two grey eyes pop in front of me.

"I don't live in darkness. Darkness lives in me." I kept my breathing even, not because Hades moved unpredictably. My hands reached out acting as a defense barrier against anything I could run into; trees, shrubs, Cerberus.

"How dark is your soul then?" I ushered and ambulated into the unknown. The woods felt bothered today, something was disturbing them. Growling was behind me, the demonic monster also known as Cerberus was either one: prepared to bite a piece of my leg or two: effectively trying to scare me to shit. I wondered if Hades would do anything if his pet jumped at me. Or would he watch with appeasement that often feeds his coarse soul.

"I don't like your games." I muttered strolling with no clue of where I am. I think I heard shuffling in the background but growling was coming from the undetectable directions.

"Hades." I chirped anxiously stopping for a moment. I heard water, a river or a lake was flowing somewhere very near. I knew the devil was watching but for what purpose? Was he waiting?

"HADE-" With a foot slipping forward panic took over, it didn't touch the land. A scream tore from my throat as I realized my whole body went off either a cliff or a burrow. I saw reflection of myself in the water which was guided by the moonlight. It were my eyes - filled with fear and pools of black.

A hand grabbed me by the back of my shirt and lurched me upwards. I threw myself at the person probably clawing their face out with my grown nails. My teeth sank into my bottom lip so hard I tasted blood.

My body was shaking so much I think my bones jumped out of my skin. I saw two grey eyes stare at me curiously but my hands were gripping so tightly to the devil's dark black shirt, I think all of my blood has left my fingers.

"F-fab conversation I think I'm ready to go back." I let my fingers loose and stood up slowly dusting off my unsettled nerves. It was even colder in this region, didn't help that I lost the devil's coat during my gracious fall.

"As an offspring of nightfall you shouldn't be scared of darkness." Hades appeared next to me. Images of mum and dad flashed before my eyes and I casted my eyes towards the solid ground. The devil didn't know me, he may have known my parents but not me. I was not like them - I wouldn't repeat their mistakes because I was here to solve them.

"Well excuse me, I'm not a devil that doesn't fear a thing." I gnarled picking up pace in the opposite direction of the cliff. For brie second I wondered what was it like - not to feel fear. Was it a rewarding feeling? Or did it make you no better than a unoccupied shell.

"I'm very curious into how you pulled that trick on me." I spoke firmly after silence dusted the atmosphere. It was unnatural for Hades to remain quiet for so long.

"What trick?"Hades's voice followed me as did his footsteps just an inch delayed behind mine. I turned quickly seeing just in time a slightly wide eyes.

"You know that trick." I deadpanned, twisting forward so that I wouldn't have to see his staring face.

"Ahh that trick." A wind current picked up with a stronger force. The tree branches scratched each other and the rustling of leaves brushed past my ears.

"Cerberus didn't exactly settle with that soul." My brows rose to the hairline and I looked at Hades with a somewhat conflicted expression. It was hard to believe that a demonic dog suddenly decided it did not wish to consume a soul. I saw everything with my own eyes.

"So it was Cerberus that brought Megan back?" I swallow my strong shallow breaths. I told myself that whatever happens I will deal with consequences in a calm way.

"I watched the dog bite Megan's head off, and...and she's back to normal like nothing happened." I shrug my arms stopping in my tracks. My body went sideways before I fully turned to face the devil.
"How is that even possible?" Not going to lie, when it came to my friends and family everything was a struggle.
Maybe Hades is right, maybe I care too much.

"It was a mere illusion." Hades replied and I smiled grimly before chuckling.
"Illusion." I mumbled softly before locking eyes with the black haired man. Then I went wordlessly further down the pathway. It was a very lonely road not that I was ever here before.

"You know, my whole life was an illusion." I started, pushing one foot after the other. Reminding me just to keep walking forward, the past is left in the past.

"People that I held close to my heart hid so many things from me and it's just...it..." I rambled keeping my hands in the thin pockets.

"Hurts?" Hades nodded.

"Yeah." We made eye contact once then didn't say a thing.

"When you love someone, you cannot stop yourself from doing insane deeds." I nodded silently, casting my eyes towards the stars which shone bright in the sky.

"My mum used to say that stars are tiny holes in heaven." I murmured grinning like a fool whilst not noticing the enclosing distance which Hades reduced by taking confident steps towards mine.

"When I was young, Gaia used to say that every star is for a god or a goddess living in the above." I smiled gingerly giving the small but powerful dots a glance.

"See the one shining the brightest? That's Helios the god of the sun. That on the left is Eos, goddess of dawn. Did you know she goes each day to paint the sky in pinks and reds?" Hades extended his hand pointing at many different stars which all appeared the same, but he could tell the difference between them.

"Who's star is that?" There was one next to Helios and Eos, it was fairly dim, not as bright as others. I lifted my hand towards that small little spark.

"That's Aurora, a solar goddess she's been helping Eos in her acts." I watched the dot closely, something strangely familiar went through my stomach.

"I thought she'd be a goddess of sleep. Since you know, Aurora and the sleeping beauty are the same thing-" Hades released an annoyed huff which gained my attention. I was surprised to find out that Hades knew which fairytale I was referring to.

"Just listen-" Hades rolled his eyes in a moment of a second.

"Did you just roll your eyes?" My mouth formed an 'o' whilst the deity looked very perplexed.

"I did not." Hades puffed out under his breath. He didn't look up just stared down at the frozen leaves on the ground.

"But you did." The corners of my mouth threatened to lift up as Hades jerked his head up, his eyes swarming in mine.

"No I did not." He gritted barely through his white teeth.

"Just admit you did." I smirked watching as the God of the Underworld was baffled for a response.

"I did not!" The grey eyes went lighter in their colour. Before I knew a smile formed on the pale face.

"I saw you roll your eyes!"

"Okay fine!" He cried out stuffing his hands into the side pockets of his jeans. Was I making devil uncomfortable?

"Which star is yours?" I scanned the sky smiling widely after a while of silence.

"Hades?" I looked at him when he didn't say a word.

"I am the darkness. I don't own stars, I make them seen." The devil explained glancing upwards.

"It must be lonely." I admitted kicking some leaves with my left foot.

"What?"

"Living in the underworld all by yourself." I murmured softly.

"An army of skeletons keeps me fairly preoccupied, believe me." We shared a small mutual smile.

"But do you like ever leave Hell?" I asked tenderly and turned my body fully towards the deity of the underworld.

"It's late we should get you back home." Hades rushed practically running of into the forest. I sprinted after him, calling his name over and over but the devil never really answered he slowed down just a bit, keeping his pace in long quick steps.

"Hey what's wrong?" I was out of breath, panting like a dog. Cold sweat went down my forehead and I wiped it off with the back of my sleeve.

Hades peered back at me, his eyes widened slightly when he looked down. He started whipping his head in all different directions as if something was here.
Pushing two fingertips against his lips he whistled loudly. A bright red mini explosion happened which did not harm any of the trees. Out of the explosion came running Cerberus.

The devil peeked at me from the corner of his eyes. "Goodnight."
Then he vanished altogether with his dog.

"Alexia what are you doing out here!?" Caleb emerged from the trees dressed only in sweatpants. Sweat covered his very built stomach and his hair was damp.

"Out for a walk." I replied but Caleb didn't look convinced. He started for the trees in front and I followed watching as the mansion appeared to our view.

"Look I don't know anything about your situation but Ethan and I share the same viewpoint." Caleb grabbed my wrist and squeezed it lightly as if trying to hold me back.

"About what?"

"Don't trust the devil." I turned my head at Ethan who was fiercely glowering at me.

"Care to explain where you went?" I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but vocal chords refused to work as soon as I saw Alec step through the door. His shirt was not on his torso but his palm. It was winter outside why were they exposing themselves to such cold.

Alec's mouth was moving, he was saying something but everything was as if under water. I was drowning.

My hands went towards my throat, I was choking. Gurgling noises escaped my mouth.

An image flashed before my eyes, she had a symmetrical face. Full of beauty and glamour.

"Blood! Blood will stain your hands!" The female sang before the force released me. I fell to the grass coughing and inhaling. If I was correct that was my signal, I had to act now.

"Envelope, where is the envelope!" I shrieked jumping from Ethan's arms towards the house and up the stairs.

I barged into the room plunging towards the pillow that had the envelope hidden in it.
My fingers fumbled with the corner tearing the papers apart.

Boys followed me into the room all staring expectedly. Even Megan and Sophie were here staring like I was completely out of my mind.

"Guys stay clear." I muttered before prancing the silver envelope open. Sparks flew and went around my body, my surroundings faded, I appeared in a white room, it was whiter than snow. For a moment it was deadly silent until the constant clicking of thin heels caught my attention.

"Hello, Hello!" A sweet, feminine voice cried out. A young female with silk blonde hair embraced me tightly, wrapping her fragile arms in a circle.
She smelled of wild flowers and soap, it wasn't unsettling but rather nice.

"You must be Alexia, Selene's daughter." The deity smiled warmly before taking a grasp of my shoulder.

"Ambrogoi said you know my purpose." I mentioned quickly and even wider grin spread across the pink cheeks. From my understanding his was Aphrodite, the most beautiful goddess out there, and she truly was flawless.

"I do. I know just the solution on how to stop the uprising war." Aphrodite spoke sweetly, earrings dangling on her ears as she took meaningful steps towards the polished chair.

"You need destroy the one who started it all." She turned very quickly, catching me by suprise with her red carpet smile.

"My dad? You want me to kill my own father?" I took a reluctant step backwards. Aphrodite looked skeptical for a moment before crossing her arms over her slim body.

"No. Listen darling, and listen closely. The only way to settle this war is to kill the one who started it. The one who made your parents fall in love." She girl was beautiful but yet so tightly locked into her shell. Her steel grip on my arm was slowly cutting off any bloodstream.

"I don't know-" Her sharp nails dug into my skin as I drew out a painful exhale.

"I want you to kill Hades."

This is not the best chapter in fact this chapter sucks but at the moment I have this weird writer's block where I need to somehow jump from one point to another and its slowly driving me insane. I will probably go back and edit this chapter because vocabulary and structure is absolutely crap.

Please vote and comment I'm in a very doomed mindset at the moment.
But listen if you are going through hard times, it's okay. You will get through your struggles. A bad day doesn't last a year.

Happy holidays.

Stay celebrating,

~Marina~

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