Jericho

I wrap Eden in my arms, enjoying the feel of her skin beneath my lips as I trace her jawline.

"I have a gift for you." I say to her as I pull away slightly to look her in the eye.

Immediately something seems off, her once beautiful eyes seem to have lost the spark that always resided there. From the moment I saw her, her eyes pulled me in in ways I can't put into words.

But now.. her eyes seem so.. dull.

Ordinary.

"Are you feeling alright?" I ask, worry present in my tone.

She smiles the smile I've loved since the moment I saw it grace her delicate face, and truly all else seems normal about my mate. Everything but her eyes. They don't pull me in as they once did.

But I still feel the undeniable pull my body feels towards hers.

"I'm fine, I'm honestly exhausted. Melinoe dragged me around everywhere, showing me this and that. She's not as bad as I thought she was." She says softly to me. Maybe it's the lack of proper sleep and meals effecting Eden, that's bound to make anyone appear less lively.

As far as Melinoe goes, she used to be bearable, until she shifted her main focus from Damien to Ozul, his dark nature seemed to taint the woman.

"If you wish to spend time with Melinoe that's fine with me, but I don't want her presence lingering. I don't particularly enjoy her company." I state, knowing I want Melinoe nowhere near me, but also knowing I'd never keep Eden from gaining a friend if she so desires.

Edens lower lip pouts out slightly, the action adorable. "She's nice, I don't see why not."

"Me and Melinoe had a falling out a long time ago, we've never seen eye to eye, and it's best I maintain a distance. Plus, once you found out I'd been intimate with her you made it clear you didn't like the woman." I remind her.

Edens musical laughter fills the room. "I guess I just needed to give her a shot, instead of letting my emotions rule my judgement." At that she breaks away from my arms which she'd been wrapped in, her hips swaying in their perfectly sinful way as she walks away from me.

"Enough talk of her though, we should find Damien and Ozul and get going, we'll never catch Aries if we sit around staring at each other." She says playfully towards me as she seductively bends over to grab her pack that's laying on the floor, full of clothing and other things she'll need on our journey.

I can't help myself and walk up behind her, knowing it's what she wants, or she wouldn't be teasing me in such a way.

My assumption is confirmed as I walk up and grasp her ass in both my hands, she presses herself into my hands, silently asking for more.

Before she suddenly pulls away much to my disappointment.

She giggles and turns to look at me over her shoulder. "We have to get going, Jericho." She insists.

I grab her in my arms, bringing my lips to her ear. "Just let me bend you over real quick, we won't get another opportunity once we're traveling with the others." I whisper roughly in her ear, and just like always her body erupts in goosebumps, her slight arousal already filling the air.

"Jericho- I-" Eden begins to say breathlessly to me, before a sudden knock on the door interrupts us.

I'm never moving back into this fucking idiotic palace where I can't get a moment of peace.

I release her and make my way to the door to see who's come to ruin my fun.

I open the door and am thankful to see Damien standing on the other side, I had an odd feeling it was going to be Ozul.

"Are you ready to leave? Ozul has already gathered Ajal and the weapons you brought from Hades." He informs me, taking a second to glance over my shoulder at Eden.

It's no secret every Reaper who's mate has ceased to exist will feel some sort of pull towards other Reapers existing mates, it only makes sense. Our very being knows only a Reapers mate can withstand our true forms while being intimate.

A Reapers mate is designed by the gods for us, perfectly so that they can take us in our true form, they're the only being who can handle our essence, our seed.

If a Reaper were to have sex with another being in their true form it would corrupt their minds, slowly darkness would eat away at their very soul.

Our essence and seed is basically poison to anyone except a Reapers mate.

Without a mate, a Reaper is forced to hold back, never fully releasing themselves. Never experiencing true release.

Though there are those who do not care to take advantage of the weak, having no problem corrupting and poisoning others for a moment of true release.

Those Reapers are no longer welcome in the Palace of Reapers. They know to stay far away from me. They know I'll end their existence in a heartbeat.

Scum of the realms.

Putrid.

Evil.

I clear my throat loudly, not appreciating how long and intently Damiens eyes linger on my mate. I know he'd jump at the opportunity to share her with me. And I won't deny that the thought has crossed my mind more than once.

His eyes meet mine again, his golden gaze almost a reflection of my own.

"Then let's head out, if there's nothing else that needs done here." I say sternly to him.

The way Damien nods and turns silently let's me know he meant no harm. I can't blame him, I'm sure my mind would wander as well if my mate had already passed from this life. I'd long to have even a taste of what it was like.

I snake my arm around Eden's waist, needing her near me as I think about what life would have been like had I not found her.

I hold her close as we walk down the halls towards the portal that will lead us out of the underworld, where we'll begin another journey in an attempt to capture Aries.

Ozul waits near the portal that's already been summoned, my hellhound sitting near Ozuls griffin, seemingly on edge.

I make my way to Ajal and pat his head, trying to reassure my companion that I'll be by his side. He hates Ozuls griffin, and has gone so far as to try to attack it on multiple occasions.

These will be our creature companions on the journey, Damiens dragon is too large to accompany us this time.

I stand, adjusting the pack on my back before tying some of our things to Ajal as well. I turn and look at everyone in turn, my eyes landing on Eden last, a small smile present on her plump lips.

"If there's nothing else to do, let's begin our journey," I hold out my hand for Eden to grab, and she seems more than happy to do so as she reaches out to grasp my hand. "shall we?"

"Yeah yeah, stop being so cheesy and let's get going already." Ozul says, seemingly impatient and annoyed.

I narrow my eyes at him, not feeling like dealing with his bullshit. "Watch your fucking attitude Ozul, before I have to give it a damn adjustment." I say coldly.

"One day you'll challenge me Jericho, and when I win I will take my rightful place as leader of the Reapers, and your mighty scythe will reside in my hands." Ozul says darkly.

My loud laughter booms out, unable to contain myself at the idea of Ozul thinking he could beat me. He's challenged me many times, and had his ass embarrassingly handed to him every single time.

"I apologize for laughing, but that's the funniest thing I've heard in a long while, Ozul. I could beat with with a hand tied behind my back and my eyes closed." I say to him, laughter still present in my tone.

Ozul looks deadly mad as he stares me down, before things can escalate Damien walks in between us, blocking our view of each other slightly.

"Nows not the time guys, we need to get going, Jericho will whoop your ass at a different time Ozul. We need to stay focused." Damien says sternly.

I nod, agreeing with him. I'll whoop Ozul after I complete my task.

"Come on boys, let's get going." My head whips in the direction of my mates voice as she stands just outside the portal, before she walks through and vanishes from view.

Well that was daring of her, I'm honestly not pleased she was the first one through, there could be danger waiting on the other side.

Not taking a second longer I follow Eden through the portal, not wanting her to be alone too long.

Damien and Ozul follow quickly behind me, Ajal and the griffin Ozul calls Umbra trailing behind them.

This place is unlike our last, but it's the place I saw in the vision Hades granted to me when I visited him.

There's green trees everywhere, the vegetation is thick, and their air is hot and humid, feeling a sticky feeling on ones skin.

This journey is going to be worse than the one up the mountain.

I look over at Eden to find she's already disposed of her over shirt, leaving her in a small tank top and mid thigh length shorts that hug her every curve.

I admire her, with her long dark hair braided to the side, swept over her shoulder, her full pink lips, her dainty nose, and her eyes.. her eyes..

"Hello? Jericho? We need to get moving, stop eye fucking your mate." Damien says, laughing loudly at his own lame joke.

"Well you interrupted me trying to actually fuck her before we left, so that's on you." I state to him, knowing full well he knows he cock blocked me earlier.

A smirk makes its way to Damiens face. "We had to get going."

Fucking smartass.

"Well, then let's go." I say, gesturing for Damien to lead the way.

An annoyed look crosses his features. "You know damn well you're the only one with a built in tracker, you ass."

I smile, knowing it's true. I turn and start walking in the direction I feel lead, knowing my tracking skills have never let me down.

"That's right, tracker boy, go get 'er." Ozul says, laughing, before I turn and bring my fist swiftly towards his face, stopping barely an inch from his jaw. I watch his face as it sinks in just how fast I almost broke his jaw.

"You don't have the right to joke around with me Ozul. Not like Damien, you lost that right the first time you challenged me as leader." I say coldly, turning my back as I begin walking again, Edens hand still in my own.

The rest of our day is spent in almost complete silence as we make our way through the thick trees and over grown grass and weeds.

Everyone's a sweaty mess as the afternoon sun heats the air, but we continue on until the sun has set, leaving us with only the light of the moon.

"We'll rest here tonight." I state as I stop in a small area where the grass isn't as dense, making it an ideal spot to set up tents and get some rest before setting off tomorrow for another heat stricken day.

"I'll cook something up while you and the others set up camp." Eden says, her voice soothing after the hot day of traveling in silence.

She kisses my cheek and begins unloading one of the packs off of Umbra. Within a few minutes she has a fire going with her magic while she fills up a pan with eggs and ham for everyone to eat.

Me and Damien do the majority of the work as Ozul does a quick walk around of the area, making sure all is safe for us to sleep for the night.

The smell of the food Edens cooking up has my stomach in pain from how hungry I've grown, I should have eaten before we left, but I was too focused on obtaining weapons to fight Aries with, ones that could stand up to her sword of saints.

One that guarantees me my victory. Had I known she possessed such a weapon during our last fight I would have been more vigilant and would have avoided getting injured, where she pulled it out of thin air like some trick is what got me.

The thought brings back the realization I hadn't given Eden her gift.

A smirk makes its way to my face, wondering how she'll react to receiving the gift I had Hades enchant for her specifically.

My Eden, you are truly a warrior, you will see when the time comes.

You are a beautifully vicious woman.

I smirk to myself, thinking back on my dreams of her causing absolute mayhem in battle.

I don't know when it is to come, but I will be by her side for every moment of it.

Ozul makes his way back at the same time Eden has the food ready for everyone, we all eat quickly, desperate to have something in our stomachs after walking for so long in the heat. I'm forever grateful for Edens magic, providing clean water for us to drink throughout the hot day.

Damien and I set up two tents, one for him and Ozul, the other for me and Eden.

We all help clean up before going off to our tents for the night, but I don't miss the odd longing look Ozul shoots Edens way, it feels too intimate for my liking, but I decide to brush it off for now. All my brothers seem to let their eyes linger on my mate. They know better than to say anything out of line, and know touching her would be a death sentence.

Me and Eden settle into our tent, I scoop her up in my arms, pressing my lips to her neck, needing her close.

"Jericho, they'll hear us." Eden says, laughing softly.

I reluctantly release her, disappointed we won't get to have any time to ourselves for who knows how long.

I decide this is a good time to give Eden her gift, and take out the small rectangular box that contains her gift.

"What's this?" She asks, smiling up at me before turning her gaze to the box.

"It's my gift I meant to give you earlier." I say as I smile smuggly at her.

Eden opens up the box quickly, before she carefully pulls out a small dagger, one with rose covered vines on the handle, decorated with small rubies.

It's a dagger she should know all too well, the only changes I've made are that of the runes on the blade, the ones Hades carved himself at my request.

It's the dagger she held to my throat the first time we met, she never retrieved it, and I've held onto all this time, knowing I'd find something special to do with it.

I search her face, waiting for a reaction, for the memories of our first encounter to come flooding back to her.

But the realization never hits, she simply examines the dagger as if she's never seen it before.

How could she not recognize a dagger forged from her own magic?

She looks up at me and smiles softly. "Thank you, it's beautiful." She says, her dull eyes staring into mine.

"Eden.. this dagger doesn't seem familiar to you?" I ask her curiously.

A sudden emotion flashes across her face, it was brief but I saw it.

Panic.

Her dull eyes.

Her lack of speaking to me.

And now she doesn't remember the very dagger she held to my throat?

I scoop her chin up with my hand, studying her eyes intently.

Something's off.

Something's wrong.

Without a word my hand begins to glow an amber color as I bring it towards Edens breasts. I can see her breathing pick up at the same time she realizes what I'm doing.

My fingers lower her top so I can touch between her breasts gently with the tip of my finger.

My magic instantly feels the dark presence, and the lack of light that once resided there, turning an angry dark red as it glows brighter with fury.

This is not my mate.

In an instant I appear in my full Reaper form, I feel my body becomes larger, my canines extend, and my nails become boarderline claws as my horns adorn my head. Declaring me as who I truly am.

The Leader of the Reapers.

A demon.

A monster.

Fear incarnate.

"Jericho, wait, plea-" The imposters words are quickly cut off as I wrap a large hand around her throat, cutting off their air supply as I bring their feet into the air.

"Where is my mate?!" I yell out so loudly it shakes the tent and brings tears to the imposters eyes as they claw and fight against my hand holding them.

Ozul is the first to arrive. "Jericho! Stop! You're going mad! What are you doing?! Let her go, you're killing her!" He cries out frantically.

"This is not Eden, this is not my fucking mate!" I growl out sadisticly.

Damien is next to join in coming to see what the loud chaos is about, followed closely by Ajal at his heels.

"Jericho what's the meaning of this?!" Damien shouts at me.

"This isn't Eden!" Is all I can make out, my darkness trying to take hold of me.

Trying to take over.

Trying to own me.

I can never let my darkness take over.

"Jericho! Listen to me! It's Eden! It fucking is!" Ozul yells out to me.

But I know for a fact this isn't Eden. This isn't her.

"No." My darkness growls out to him, the single word coming from me sounding like a million voices being summoned from the depths of the underworld.

The imposters eyes begin to roll back, their hands becoming weak as they claw at me uselessly.

"It is Eden! It's her fucking body! It's not her soul but it's her body! You're going to kill your mates body! Fucking stop!" Ozul shouts at me, panic evident in his tone.

In an instant I drop her body, loud gasps and coughs coming from her, signaling she's still alive and conscious.

"What the fuck do you mean, Ozul? What have you done?!" I demand of him, all my anger now turned towards my fellow Reaper.

"I-" Damien busts Ozul in the jaw so quick I don't even register he's done it till Ozul is spitting out blood.

"And don't lie, you fucking snake." Damien says as he pulls Ozul back to his feet, grabbing his arms behind his back, leaving him immobile.

"That's Edens body, I promise it is." He says, not meeting my eyes.

I step forward, gripping Ozuls busted jaw roughly in my hand, forcing his gaze upon me.

"Then where the fuck is my mates soul?" I ask, jerking his head in my hand before letting go. "And who, " I nod my head in Edens body's direction."the fuck is this imposter."

No matter who it is, Ozul and them will both die today.

They will die by my hand, and there will be no mercy.

"She's still there, she's still in her body, she's just.. not in control." Ozul says, annoyance laced in his voice, causing my anger to grow which leads to my hand smacking him clear across his face.

"What demon dares to possess my mates body, Ozul?" I demand of him, my tone dark and laced with anger.

Ozul refuses to meet my eyes as he speaks quietly.

"Melinoe."

3,333 words.
I'm a little excited that this chapter magically has 3333 words exactly.

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