Hades (Contemporary Mythos Book 1)

If there was one thing I knew about myself, it was the inability to leave work at work. I snuck out of our hotel room first thing in the morning in my PJs and went to the computer lab. That and I could hardly sleep given the way things ended with Hades. The disappointed look on his face haunted me. A face I’d put there.

Sara had a knack for making me feel guilty, and if she caught me, it’d be like I stole her last Cinnamon Bun Oreo. I secured myself in the corner of the lab, making sure to keep my head low. The light from the monitor glinted in my glasses.

The file slack. I can’t believe I didn’t think to check it before. Or I’d gotten so burnt out with the case it slipped my mind. Wouldn’t be the first time it happened nor the last. Examiners were human beings as much as we’d like to think of ourselves as robots. Essentially, files are never entirely deleted. Instead, their data is moved around the hard drive as it makes space for other files. It could get tricky when less and less of the file was available, or if it became so fragmented, piecing it all together from varying points on the drive. For anyone trying to hide something, deleting a lot of data was usually a first step in covering their digital tracks.

Making sure to keep my head level with the monitor, I started processing. The sound of the door opening made my head dip lower.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sara said, standing at the end of the row with her arms crossed.

I chuckled, sitting straight up. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Stephanie Rose Costas. You. Promised.”

“Sara, I know, but we only have two more days here, and I didn’t want to waste them wracking my brain over this working or not.”

She stomped over, glaring down at the screen. “You know this is confidential evidence. Sifting through it on a public domain could get you in some deep shit.”

I drummed my fingers against the desk. “Not if I’m logged into a virtual private network.”

“Stephanie.” She loomed over me. “You would’ve had to set that up at work.”

“Look at you, knowing how VPNs work.”

“Which means you knowingly set it up before we left. You had every intention of logging in before our plane left the tarmac, didn’t you?”

I blinked. “I may have a serious problem.”

“I know you’re passionate about your job and want to help people, but you need to start putting yourself first, Steph.” She stood up with a sigh.

I traced a fingertip over my lip, remembering the kiss with Hades. The scowl that creased into his brow when I’d stupidly said it shouldn’t have happened.

“Did you at least find something?”

I jolted in my chair. “Hm, what?”

“The process is finished.” The word “complete” flashed on the screen.

“Right.”

After scrolling through the broken data, it wasn’t looking good. I sighed, leaning back in my chair with a humph.

“From the way this data is patterned, it’s as if he knew the possibility and added meaningless files to override the data continuously,” I said.

“Is that why I keep seeing the filename: catmeme.jpg repeatedly?”

“Exactly. And I already checked. That file is an actual cat meme. Son-of-a-bitch.” Swearing meant I was on a whole new level of frustration. There was always a shred of evidence. Something. I pressed my face into my palms and started crying.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s not as if the physical side of things was any better. He knew what he was doing. He didn’t get messy, as so many other serial killers do. Committing suicide was probably the smartest thing he could’ve done.”

It wasn’t about the case. The crying turned into full-on sobbing.

“Steph, my God. What’s the matter?” Sara said, taking a seat next to me and rubbing my back.

“Hades.”

“Did he do something? Say something?”

I sniffled. “No. It was me. Me.”

“Sweetie, you’re going to have to give me a little more here.”

“I kissed him.”

She stopped rubbing and dipped her face into mine. “Was it bad?”

“No.” I started sobbing again. “It was perfect. Beyond perfect.”

“Stephanie.” She turned my chin to look at her. “Are you going to tell me or what?”

“It was a great kiss that shouldn’t have happened.”

“Why?”

“Because we can’t be together, and it’d just hurt more in the end.”

“Why can’t you be together?”

I rubbed the back of my hand across each cheek, wiping away tears. “Do you remember the movie Labyrinth?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I remember David Bowie’s codpiece and her name being Sarah mostly, but yes.”

“Sarah is pulled into the Goblin King’s spell. Like it starts as a wicked ploy on Jareth’s part at first, but then Sarah really does start feeling something for him.” I pinched my eyes shut, remembering Hades call me “real.” “He’d been known for wicked deeds and ill intents but went through everything to lure her into the labyrinth. Seduce her, to make her his.”

All Hades wanted was to feel normal for a short time while he was on the surface. With one action and few words, I ripped that way from him.

“You’re starting to lose me here, Steph.”

I sighed. “Do you think under different circumstances, Sarah would’ve become the Goblin Queen?”

I looked at Sara pleadingly, as if I needed to hear her say it. To tell me what I was feeling was alright.

“What if he hadn’t kidnapped Toby, but rather approached her in the normal sense?”

Or knew what he’d done in the past was wrong and vowed never to do it again…

“But then…” I pursed my lips. “She wouldn’t have been able to be with him anyway. He was a being from another realm.”

An immortal god with a kingdom to rule.

Sara cleared her throat and wrapped her hands around mine. “I’m not sure why you’re using analogies to get to your point, but I’ll humor you. She could’ve been with him if she agreed to become immortal. But you’re right. He didn’t deserve her after all the shit he pulled. I don’t care how much he claimed to love her.”

Become immortal. My heart sunk to my feet.

“You need to talk to him, Steph. Clearly, you both like each other, and he seems pretty understanding, so talk to him.”

I wanted nothing more than to tell her everything. Get her opinion on everything. But I couldn’t.

“Come on.” She grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back. “Shut all of this down. We have a contest to primp you for.”

“Primp?” I asked.

“We still haven’t used our free spa passes, remember?”

Who could think of relaxing at a time like this?

“Go change. I’ll meet you there,” she said, shoving me toward the door and slipping our passes into my pocket.

I stood outside of the spa, chewing my thumbnail. When she said to meet her here, I didn’t realize she meant in twenty minutes, which is how long I’d been standing here. I was sure of it.

“I’m gonna take a wild guess and say this isn’t a whiskey tastin’, is it?” Hades said from behind me.

I spun around to face him, and my heart raced. “Hades?”

He dipped his chin down. “Hey, darlin’.”

“Sara, she must’ve—” Tears threatened my eyes, but I held them back.

“She did.” He smirked. “Rather clever, I gotta say.”

I stepped forward. “About yesterday, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He held up a hand. “You don’t have to explain.”

“No, I do. I said that we can’t because I didn’t know if we could.”

His face fell blank.

It was better than that scowl of his.

“So, you don’t regret kissing me?” His brow raised.

Gulping, I shook my head. We stood in awkward silence, staring at each other.

I glanced behind me at the spa. “I probably know the answer, but have you ever been to one of these before?”

He smirked. “No.”

“Me either. I can give these passes to another couple,” I said with a shrug.

He walked up to me and slipped his hand into mine. “Or we can experience it for the first time together. I can power through it if you can.”

My throat constricted, and I tightened my grip on his hand, letting him lead me into the spa.

The attendant, a young man, greeted us with a warm smile. “Kalimera.”

Hades bowed his head.

“Eísai mazí?” the attendant asked, cocking an eyebrow at Hades.

“Naí,” Hades replied with a nod, pressing a hand against my lower back. “Passes, sweetheart?”

“Oh, right.” I dug into my pocket and held them out.

The attendant motioned with his hand for us to follow him.

As he led us to the back, I leaned toward Hades. “What did he ask?”

“If we had passes.” His lips thinned.

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you screwing with me again?”

He gazed down at me with brightened eyes but said nothing.

“This is what I get for letting that Greek Rosetta Stone collect dust.”

The back area of the spa had several doors leading to changing rooms.

The attendant pointed to the left. “Gynaíkes.”

“Women,” Hades translated.

I locked eyes with him as I slipped into the changing room. We gazed at each other until the door closed, breaking our trance. Several white robes hung from silk-lined hangers, and there were cubbies to store personal items. I removed my shorts and shirt, standing in only my bikini.

I had a choice. Keep the bikini on or not. A simple choice, but it made my mind reel. A week ago, the version of me that arrived in Greece wouldn’t have stewed on it for long. She’d have kept the swimsuit on. The one-piece.

I pulled on the strings and let the suit fall to the ground. The robe caressed my bare skin when I slipped it over my naked form. It was soft and fluffy terry cloth. When I returned to the hallway, Hades walked out of his room at the same time. I clenched the neckline of my robe and stared at his bare chest peeking out.

His eyes roamed down my body. When he reached my feet, he cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head. “You ready?”

I nodded. In truth, I wasn’t even sure what I should be ready for. Were we getting massages? Facials? I bit back a laugh at the thought of Hades with a clay-based mask on his face.

The attendant held his hand out toward another room. Two tables situated side by side with face pillows and white sheets draped over them. He rattled something off in Greek with a wide grin and left. I shuffled into the room, playing with the ties of my robe. Hades walked in behind me, shutting the door with a light click.

“He said they’d be with us in a moment and to get comfortable under the sheets,” Hades said.

My stomach clenched when he said “under the sheets” and thoughts nowhere else but in the filthy, filthy gutter invaded my head.

I moved to one table, undoing the ties of the robe. Glancing over my shoulder, I caught him staring. He shot his gaze skyward, rubbing the back of his head again.

“I can turn around,” he said.

I should’ve been lady-like and asked him to, but surprisingly I wanted him to watch. Instead, I let him make up his own mind, kept my back to him, and slipped the robe over my shoulders. As bold as I felt, I couldn’t bring myself to take a peek at him. But the sound of a husky breath letting out of him as I crawled under the sheet told me he hadn’t bothered turning around.

I shoved my face into the pillow and turned my head when I heard his own robe’s sound coming off. My cheeks warmed when his perfectly rounded and muscular butt stared at me. He slipped under the sheet, and I turned my face away with a grin.

“I saw that,” he mumbled.

We spent the next hour being massaged by Georgios and Alexandra. Hades asked for Georgios, claiming he’d have the stronger hands to handle his extremely tight muscles. A small part of me hoped he asked because he knew Alexandra had a good possibility of trying to take the massage to a whole other level once the aura kicked in. Involuntary groans escaped my throat when she’d worked my lower and upper back. Sitting at a computer desk all day had been taking its toll. They rubbed large chunks of salt against our skin, wiped it off with hot towels, and instructed us in Greek before leaving us to slip on our robes.

Hades lay on his back, staring at the ceiling with heavy eyes. “I never thought in a million years I’d do something like this. Have to say, I’ve been missin’ out.” His dimple made an appearance as he looked over at me with a smirk.

I laughed. “Me too. Sara will never let me hear the end of it.” Sitting up, I wrapped the sheet around me.

He leaned on one elbow and watched me.

“Did they say what’s next?” I asked.

He gave a subtle nibble on his lower lip. “Soakin’ in the mineral bath.”

“Guess I better get my bikini back on, huh?”

He nodded.

We slipped back into our robes without any attempts to disguise our ogling of each other.

After slipping into my bikini, I followed the attendant to the bath where Hades already was. Scented candles surrounded a square-shaped tub, a colossal tub that could have fit a dozen people. Vanilla, lilac, and cinnamon permeated the air. Steam floated over the water, and there sitting at one end was the god of the Underworld himself. One knee poked out of the water, propped on the bench seat. He swirled his finger, watching the ripples with squinted eyes.

My feet made light flapping noises as I walked toward the edge of the tub. He lifted his chin and pierced me with his gaze. I kept eye contact as I dipped a foot in the water.

“Warm enough for you?” He asked.

I sat on the bench seat across from him and closed my eyes with a contented sigh. “It’s perfect.”

“I took the liberty of making it a tad more…inviting.”

My eyes fluttered open. He had that wicked glint in his eye and continued to circle his finger in the water.

“What’s the Underworld like?” I asked with a voice barely above a whisper.

He stopped twirling his hand. “What do you wish to know?”

I pushed from my seat and waded through the water until I was on his side. Shimmying across the bench, I scooted until I felt his thigh brushing mine. “Everything.”

He glanced down at our legs touching before waving his hand in front of us. The black smoke fog swirled over the water. “The river Styx,” he started, and the smog morphed into a projection of a river. Bodies poked out from the water as a boat sailed past them.

“Who are those people?”

“Souls on their way to judgment.”

I looked at him. “To you?”

“To me, yes.” He wiggled his fingers, and the fog morphed into a tall throne with spires. “The river leads to my throne room. It’s where I spend most of my time.” Cave-like walls and a high stone ceiling surrounded the throne. The boat pushed into the sand of the river’s shoreline. “The sand is black. My throne is black. Everything about the Underworld, Stephanie is dark and dreary.”

I slipped a hand over his knee. At first, he tensed but then relaxed against my touch. “Tell me more, Hades.”

He stared at me before waving his hand again. A dog with three heads snapped its jaws at a faceless figure. “My guard dog, Cerberus. It doesn’t happen often, but when a soul escapes or wanders away from Tartarus, Cerberus is duty-bound to bring them back.”

“Tartarus. Is it all fire and brimstone like I imagined it to be?”

He pursed his lips. “I’d rather not get into details about Tartarus. If you’ve ever pictured what hell would be like, then it’s truly all you need to know.”

I made absent circles with my fingertip over his knee. “And the Elysian Fields?”

“My powers couldn’t show the true brightness and colors of the Fields. It’s paradise.”

My heart fluttered. “Sounds amazing. Are people happy when they see it? Does it help them not be so afraid?”

He turned to face me, draping one arm on the edge of the tub. “It does. So curious, you’d think to ask such a question.”

“Have you thought about it? Taking on another Queen?” It left my lips before I had a chance to think about his reaction.

His jaw tightened, and he looked away. “I have. But I’d never feel right askin’. Since last time, it’d have to be a choice. An eternity in the Underworld isn’t exactly an easy sell.”

He forgot it was a package deal, a package that included him.

“Anything else your smoke monster can do?” I gave a coy grin.

His tongue grazed his lip, and he whispered into my ear, “Shut your eyes.”

I kept my grip on his leg and closed my eyes. A touch like a rose petal caressed my arm. It lit every nerve on one side of my body on fire, liquid fire coursing through my veins. The sensation traveled up my neck, and I moaned. My hand clenched his knee, and he slipped a hand over mine, clenching it back. It skirted over the back of my head, dipping over my shoulder to my breasts. I gasped, and my lip trembled. The sensation dripped to my core, tantalizing me, and tightening. My head flew back. I grabbed for him for fear I was falling.

My eyes flew open, and I couldn’t catch my breath. The fog was wrapped around us, curling over our limbs and breezing through our hair. I stared up at his ravenous gaze. His nostrils flared. He dipped his chin, kissing me with the same fiery intensity I’d felt across my skin. The fog swirled around us, and I fought back a groan.

A throat cleared nearby that didn’t belong to Hades or me. A low growl vibrated in Hades’ chest, and he slipped away. The attendant gave us an awkward wave and rattled off words in Greek. I pressed a hand to my chest, ensuring my heart still beat.

“He said our time is up,” Hades said with a frown.

Ironically, our time really was up. Hades would have to return to the Underworld, leaving me with nothing but memories of his molten touch.

“I still don’t regret kissing you,” I said for me as much as I said it for him.

He traced his knuckles down my cheek. “I only regret I can’t stay.”

“We still have tonight.” I forced a smile.

As Hades walked me back to my room, the older woman from the resort I’d seen him talk to days before ran up to him. She looked pain-stricken, grasping his hands within her gnarled ones.

“Fovámai,” she kept saying over and over.

Hades glanced at me before wrapping an arm around the woman’s shoulders and leading her to a bench. Her hands trembled, and tears streaked down her face. A butterfly appeared in his hand, and he held it out to her. It was beautiful in shades of purple, delicately flapping its wings, allowing the woman to hold it. The woman smiled. Smoke swirled in patterns around her body, emanating from the butterfly. She didn’t seem to notice, staring down at the insect, grinning, until she slumped over motionless.

I walked over. “Is she…”

His face hardened. “Yes. Her time had come to an end.”

I gasped, tears threatening. “I thought you said you guided the souls once they’re in the Underworld, not here.”

“I did say that, and it still holds. Something’s not right. I have to go back soon.”

I stared at the woman in horror. It was a natural process of life, but being so close to it sent a chill down my spine. The only sense of comfort was seeing her serene face when he’d calmed her.

“Stephanie,” Hades said, gently touching my elbow.

I jumped and peered down at the man who had shared such intimacy only moments ago. It felt bizarrely normal despite conversations of the Underworld and animated fog. I should’ve been scared of him after witnessing what I just had, but couldn’t bring myself to be.

“Yes?” I asked through a cracked voice.

“Can you please go get someone? Tell them what happened to her.”

“What about you?”

His brow creased. “What about me?”

“What if they…” I lowered my voice. “What if they think you killed her?”

“They won’t. Trust me.”

He kept my gaze and waited for his words to sink in.

I gave a firm nod and turned away. His hand caught mine.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said.

Tonight. The dance.

I sat on the couch in my pink chiffon dress and nude-colored flats, waiting for Hades. Sara had been rather proud of herself when I got back to our room. When she asked how it went, I left out all of the steamy details. He wasn’t going to be around forever. It was just as unfair to her to make it seem otherwise. She helped me with my hair and hurried off to claim her front-row seat in the atrium. Thoughts of the older woman consumed me. It was a grim realization of who he was.

A light knock sounded at the door. I stared at the peephole before opening it to reveal Hades leaning against the frame with his hands in his pockets. He wore a black silk collared short-sleeve shirt with several buttons undone and black pants.

I sucked on my lower lip. “You’re going all out. Same outfit and everything.”

“Figured you would appreciate it.” His eyes dropped to my dress.

My body hummed. “Oh, I do. Very much.”

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Heat flushed over my cheeks. “Is everything alright? With the woman, I mean?”

“Yes, but you shouldn’t have to think about that right now. Tonight is for you.” He reached for my hand and curled it around his arm, escorting us to the atrium.

“What happens to all the souls when you’re not in the Underworld?”

“They remain in the river Styx until I’m there to guide them in the right direction.”

My grip tightened on his bicep. “That’s awful. It’s like a sort of limbo?”

“Time works differently down there. They don’t know how long they’ve been there. But, it’s also why I can never be on the surface for a prolonged time. They might not know, but I do.” He squeezed my hand.

“That’s quite the burden you have on your shoulders.”

He shrugged. “You get used to it. I was never meant to lead a normal life. No waking up, brushing my teeth, and brewing a pot of coffee.”

“You’d take your coffee black, I assume?”

“Naturally. And I’d guess you have a little coffee with your sugar?”

I laughed. “And two creams.”

His eyes twinkled, peering down at me. My breath hitched. The murmurs from the inside crowd muffled through the atrium doors once we reached them.

“Ready to win this thing?” he asked, pulling the door open for me.

“I have full confidence in you. I just hope I don’t trip and fall flat on my face.” Nerves prickled my skin.

“You know I wouldn’t let that happen, darlin’.” He pressed his hand against my lower back, steering me toward the table with sign-in sheets.

The woman looked up at us unenthused. Her gaze landed on Hades, and she smiled wide. “You look amazing.”

Hades was a juicy steak, and I was a window.

My hands trembled as I picked up the pen. Hades touched his fingertips to my arm, gently taking the pen from my grasp.

He nodded at the woman. “Thank you kindly.”

After he signed our names in that gorgeous scroll of his, he led me past signs reading “Contestants This Way.” We went backstage where a man stood, holding square pieces of paper with numbers on them. He handed us a number six and pointed to a far corner. I shuffled my feet forward, Hades still leading me.

“Are you okay? We got this. Not sure why you’re so nervous,” he said, massaging my shoulders.

My eyes closed, remembering the feel of the fog pooling over my chest.

“I’m fine. I’ve only wanted to do this pretty much my entire life. I have the perfect partner, the perfect scenery. Hardly seems real.”

“Perfect partner?” His breath breezed against my ear.

I tensed and turned around to face him. (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life blasted through the speakers as the first couple took the stage. “Guess we should watch our competition?” I moved to the wings.

Several couples went before us, most of them messing up one move or the other, and none of them were able to complete the ending lift. Rupert and Michelle were next. I secretly hoped Rupert broke a leg.

Okay, not really. But still.

Hades stepped behind me, gripping each of my hips. I watched them go through the routine flawlessly, and my heart raced.

“They won’t be able to do the lift,” Hades whispered.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Trust me.”

Rupert trotted to one end of the stage, motioning for Michelle. He planted his hands around her hips and hoisted her straight into the air. She remained suspended until Rupert winced, clutched his stomach, and she landed flat on her butt. She was lucky she didn’t land on her head.

Several resort workers ran on stage, helping Michelle to her feet. One bent over to help Rupert, but he slapped their hand away. Michelle cried as they led her off stage, Rupert following behind, still clutching his side. Hades’ expression turned predatory as Rupert passed us. When he spotted Hades, that same look of pure terror engulfed Rupert.

Hades’ expression softened. “We’re up darlin’.” He took my hand and led us to the dancefloor, but I couldn’t help look over my shoulder at Rupert.

Why was he so scared of Hades if he didn’t know who he was? And what was he hiding? Or was Hades the one hiding something?

The song started up, and as we practiced, he wrapped a hand around my back, dipping me. Sara gave an enthusiastic “woo” from the front row. I turned my back to him, draping my arm around his neck, and right before he gripped my hip to spin me, he kissed the tip of my nose. It threw me so off guard I almost didn’t move my feet with the turn.

As we went through the cha-cha moves, spins, and dips, we made eye contact whenever we faced one another. I got lost in his gaze several times, staring at amber-colored eyes. Did his true form have the same color? He wrapped a hand around my waist, lifting me, and spinning several times. It was the first of two times I’d be entirely at his mercy during the dance.

When we neared the end, ready to perform the final move, he squeezed my hand, backing up to the edge of the stage. Was he going to—? His eyes flashed before turning as he leaped off stage. I stared dumbstruck, pressing a hand to my chest. Sara sat between Keith and Guy, and she elbowed them both, motioning toward me. Begrudgingly, they both got up to help me down from the stage. I thought I was about to cry.

I ran at Hades, his hands wrapped around my waist, and with no effort in the slightest, I was up in the air, doing the best Baby pose I could. The crowd went wild, but I was far too preoccupied with Hades lowering me back down. I gulped, staring at him as I slid to the ground. He searched my face, looking about as confused as I felt. At some point between the feel of my chiffon skirt floating like a cloud around me and the longing in Hades’ eyes every time we drew close, a realization crept over me like a flame on a lit match. Whether we won the contest or not, I couldn’t be sure because my mind caught on the fact that I’d fallen for the god of the Underworld.