Page 55 of Guided by the Stars (Creating Destiny #1)

“Kai, how many people are coming?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

I look around the room and notice there are fireplaces lining every wall, all with roaring fires.

There are also water fountains all over.

Some of them are grotesque. Some are beautiful nymphs playing around with water pouring out of pitchers.

“This is all for you, my Delfini” Hades’ voice booms from across the room as he walks in.

Kai tightens his hold on me. Hades looks better than when I saw him earlier in a dress-sheet thing, I swear.

Now he’s dressed in a suit and tie with his scepter in hand.

The crown on his head matches the one he had made for me.

His eyes are black and I want to shudder, but I hold my ground.

Hades isn’t ugly, but he is older than Kai, you can see it in his face.

Of course he is handsome, he is a Greek god.

I plant the best screw-you smile on my face.

“So are we name-calling now? Is it my turn?” I say.

Looking around the table, I see that there are pomegranate seeds all over the tablecloth.

There are place cards for us and Kai leads me to my seat.

Hades is the head of the table and someone comes over and pulls his chair out, though chair is an inadequate word for what looks like a throne made from onyx with skulls on it.

The details are incredible, you can see every feature of the people on their knees begging to Hades, or maybe worshipping, but their faces all have tears on them.

My place card is on his left side. Jax is on the opposite side of me, a chair away from Hades and right in front of Kai.

We sit down and I am glad Kai is next to me.

“I love them feisty. My dear wife, well I remember her being quite the little feisty one when she was first brought here, but don’t worry, you will come to love it here just as she has, Delphini.

I’m not giving you much choice. I am sure you saw firsthand what punishments I deal out. ” He has a wicked gleam in his eye.

I pay him no mind since I know he wants to get a rise out of me.

I raise my eyebrow at him. “What did you call me?” He chuckles and snatches my hand from the table, bringing it to his lips, and I want to vomit the moment his icy hands touch my skin.

Those hands that have hurt two men that I care about.

I snatch my hand back as he chuckles. “Dolphin is what I call you, considering that the blood that is coursing through your veins is that, my pet.” He claps his hand and people fill up the table with food.

It smells amazing, but it’s also a little off-putting.

There are lamb chops, ribs, ham, roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, rolls, kabobs, pies and cakes all placed on the table.

While the food looks delicious, there is something wrong with it. It is almost as if it is glamored.

Someone comes and fills our goblets with what I am hoping is red wine, because at this point I just don’t know.

“No, thank you,” I say as a lady tries to offer me food.

Hades’ plate is full of various things. Kai and Jax drink only the nectar, but I am not stupid.

I remember that Kai told me not to eat where people can see me.

Plus, Hades will use it against me. “I am not hungry,” I say and place my hands on my plate, pushing it away from me.

“I only came because of your kind invitation, though I feel like it wasn’t an invitation and more of a,” I trail off, shrugging my shoulders. “How do I say it? Demand.”

His cold, hard black eyes are on me and he smirks as he sips whatever is in his goblet, a goblet made entirely of gold with jewels embedded in it.

“The way that dress hugs your figure is exquisite.” I hear Kai shift in his chair.

I don’t turn to look at him or offer him a word of comfort.

I know what Hades is doing, and right now we are in a battle of wits .

“Cut to the chase, your Lordship,” I say, sitting back in my chair, keeping my eyes on him.

“You sent the dress, as beautiful as it is, it was a sign that you own me, and you added the souls knowing it would draw me to it, but also that it would cause me to shun it. Just tell me what you want.” I give him my best ‘don’t fuck with me’ attitude and place my hands on the table.

He sits back in his throne and plays with the rim of his goblet.

“Very well. Jax, leave us.” Hades shoos him with his hand.

Jax looks over at Kai and then at me, and still I do not move in the slightest or give any kind of sign.

I know Hades is watching me. Jax stands and leaves.

Hades is still looking up and down my body like he can’t wait to jump me.

Jax walks out but I notice that he left the door ajar.

“You can become my secret queen here and have my children, or you can die,” he says, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

Kai has grabbed a hold of my thigh and is squeezing it so hard that I am sure there will be bruises.

I bust out laughing, then nod and touch my finger to my mouth as if I am thinking about it.

“My answer is ‘fuck no’ to the first one. And as for the second one, well let me see…” I pause as if considering his ridiculous idea.

“That one is ‘hell to the no’.” I roll my eyes.

I feel the anger rolling off of Hades and the fire of damnation is in his eyes.

“Kai, leave now!” Hades orders. I see the darkness and shadows making the room quiver, long black inky tendrils are all around, and I can feel the darkness touch me. Kai doesn’t move, but I know if he doesn’t this will end up worse. The room is dropping in temperature and I know it is Hades.

“Go, I am a big girl, I can handle myself,” I say and pat his hand. He rubs my thigh and stands up. I am shaking on the inside, but Kai has already gone through so much pain and torture, so I will handle this the way I have everything else. Alone.

Kai is rigid, his shadows cloaking him as he exits.

“Now that my son is no longer here, listen to me, my pet. Think this over, I’m allowing you to be my consort and to live a life of luxury here.

All you have to do is have my heirs.” I open my mouth to tell him to fuck off, but before I can he continues.

“Trust me, saying no is worse because your friend will be here shortly. Persephone is going to get her,” he says, and I feel the blood drain from my face.

He plucks my hand from the table and rubs his fingers along my wrist. “So which is it, you or her?”

Looking back to the door, I notice that I am alone.

“Neither, I choose neither. I will never bow before another person again unless it is my desire to, and never would I subject Nora to that.” I pull my hand back and stand up, slamming my fist down on the table.

“Also, I am not Persephone, I wouldn’t eat here.

I don’t plan on being trapped here forever.

You might be the ruler of souls, but my soul hasn’t left my body.

” I shove my chair back and he grabs my arm roughly and brings me into him.

My blood is boiling, my body is shaking, and my vision is fuzzy around the edges.

The icy-cold stab of fear is shooting through my heart, but in this moment I see red.

The water in the fountains and in the cups is boiling over.

Hades smiles evilly, gloating like he has just gotten what he wanted.

“I am going to enjoy breaking your spirit, my dear. You will carry my mark on your body because I decided for you; I want you and I will have you.” He looks over my shoulder and waves someone over.

“Take her to Tartarus. Let us begin with a couple hours of torture. Let’s see if she will refuse me again. ”

I go weak and someone grabs me, pulling me along.

I remember seeing the portraits when I first tried to escape.

I also remember the smell and the screams I heard outside the gates.

It is a place I don’t want to go, but I also know I don’t want to end up with Hades either.

As much as I want to scream, I know that is what he wants so he has an excuse to punish Kai.

So I keep my mouth shut and swallow my fear along with my screams, because if I can make sure Kai doesn’t come to more harm because of me, I can bear it.

He said only a couple hours, I think I can handle a couple of hours. I hope I can, because I have no choice.