Hades (Contemporary Mythos Book 1)

We stood still staring at each other while everyone else around us cheered. Hades brushed a strand of hair from my face. The subtle touch of his fingertips grazing my cheek made me shudder.

“Oh, my God! That. Was. Amazing. I felt like I was watching the movie all over again,” Sara said, grabbing my shoulders.

I gulped and slipped away from him.

“You two, okay?” Sara asked with a crinkled brow.

Hades’ eyes glinted. “Never better.”

“Well, come accept your award.” She grabbed our hands and dragged us toward the stage.

“They haven’t announced the winners yet,” I said, laughing.

She cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, please. You guys were smoking. And the only couple who did the lift.”

A resort worker walked out on stage with a microphone and envelope. “I’m sure I know whose names are in this envelope, but may I announce the winners?

The crowd cheered, pointing at Hades and me. I turned to face him, shoving my forehead into his shoulder. My inner introvert screamed. Being the center of attention made me want to crawl in a hole. Hades’ body tensed.

“And the winners are…” He opened the envelope, paused, and smiled. “Stephanie and Ha—des. Hades? Did I read that right?”

Heat sprung up the back of my neck as Hades led me to the stage. The resort worker handed us an envelope. “Tomorrow evening, we’re having a special guest. And you two have been given VIP access.”

“A band?” I asked, peeking into the envelope. Inside were two badges, and once I read the name Apollo’s Suns, I almost lost it. “Apollo’s Suns?”

Hades rolled his eyes.

“That’s right! Not only will you watch the entire concert from the wings, but you’ll also get the opportunity to meet the band itself.”

“I’m overjoyed,” Hades said monotone.

I slapped him on the shoulder with the envelope. “They’re one of my favorite bands.”

“Of course, they are.”

As we walked off stage, I grabbed his arm, turning him to face me. “Can you stay through tomorrow?”

He licked his lips, holding his head low. “Does the concert mean that much to you?”

“Well, I hoped to watch it with you, but I also can’t be so selfish as to keep you from wandering souls.” It alarmed me how normal that sounded.

“I doubt one more day will hurt. I’ll stay for the concert and then I have to go back.” His jaw tightened. “In the meantime, I have a few things I must do. I’ll meet you back here tomorrow night.”

I frowned. “You’re not sticking around?”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He curled his hand around the back of my neck and kissed my forehead.

He turned away and walked off before I had another chance to protest.

It was our last day in paradise, and I was depressed for more reasons than one. Admittedly, the thought of never seeing Hades again was at the top of the list. I sat on the stool of the swim-up bar next to Sara, who was with Guy. Sara leaned into Guy, and they couldn’t stop smiling at each other. The ice had melted long ago in my hurricane drink, diluting the color to pale orange. I stared into my glass, stirring its contents.

“We’re going to have to go on vacation more often,” Sara said.

I took a sip. It tasted so watered down it made my nose scrunch. “Why?”

“Look how depressed you are.”

Not over what she thought. “Yeah. More brain breaks couldn’t hurt honestly.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” She shook my shoulders.

“Too bad you girls aren’t sticking around for one more day,” Guy said, tossing his hair from his face.

“Why’s that?” Sara asked.

He grinned and moved his face closer to hers. “Because we’re here one more day.”

I bit down on my straw with such force it cracked. “I think the concert is a perfect end to our vacation.”

“Oh man, Apollo’s Suns? Their singer is steaming,” Sara said, fanning herself. “And you finally get to meet him, Steph.”

Guy smirked, taking a long guzzle of his drink. “If you like the blonde pretty boy look.”

“Methinks someone is jealous,” I said, elbowing Sara.

She elbowed me back. “Methinks you’re right.”

“I can hear you. You know that, right?” Guy asked.

Sara grabbed a cocktail napkin. “Can I borrow a pen?” She asked the bartender. After scribbling a series of numbers, she slid the napkin to Guy. “Tell you what, Canuck. You ever want a tour of Chicago, you let me know.”

Guy’s eyes sparkled. “Chicago isn’t too far away.”

“Not at all,” she responded, popping the cherry from her drink into her mouth.

Seeing them so happy made me nauseous. I’d grown feelings for Hades, and here he was about to crawl back underground to play soul keeper. “I’m going to get a refill.”

“Why don’t you get it from this bar?” Sara asked, but I didn’t look back.

I slurped down the rest of my drink and waded through the pool. Once I reached the bar Hades frequented, I plopped my empty glass down and pointed at it. “Another hurricane, please.”

Michelle emerged from a corner of the walkway. I crouched my head down, as if I were a turtle with a shell, hoping Rupert didn’t follow her. Much to my dismay, he did. I tensed, moving to the opposite side of the bar. Michelle’s face looked pain-stricken, and she wrapped Rupert’s arm around her shoulders. Most of the color had drained from his face, and he clutched his side like he had a stab wound.

They passed by the bar, Michelle dropping him several times as she dragged him along. I ran over to them. “Michelle, do you need help? What’s going on?”

She shook her head frantically. Rupert groaned. “He has a stomach bug or something. I’m taking him to the infirmary. I’m fine. Thank you.”

Stomach bug? I had my fair share and didn’t remember looking that bad. I stepped away, feeling guilty for not being able to help.

“Why the frown?” Keith asked, appearing beside me.

Rupert’s business was his business.

“Last day,” I said.

“Ah. Yeah, that’s always a bit of a downer.” He patted his hips, looking around.

We stood there for a few awkward moments.

“Everything good with, uh, Hades?” He scratched the back of his head.

“Hm?” Between Hades and the enigma that was Rupert, my mind couldn’t concentrate on the present moment. “Yeah. He had some business stuff to take care of, but he’ll be at the concert tonight.”

“Cool.” He nodded. “Well, it was good talking to you.”

“You too.”

He brushed past me, and I slapped a hand over my face. Tonight couldn’t get here fast enough.

I waited outside of the atrium, bouncing around on my heels. Hades was running late. It was like first date jitters. Only this wasn’t a date and not the first time I’d hung around Hades. I wanted to make the most of it. The final night together. I wrung my hands together before clasping them around the lanyard on my neck. Maybe he had to go back and didn’t have time to tell me?

“Think I wouldn’t show up, darlin’?”

My breath caught in my throat as I felt his presence at my back. The smell of ash and burning firewood hit my nose, and I turned to face him. “I would’ve understood if you had to go back unexpectedly.”

“And that’s precisely why I made it a point to show.” He dipped his chin, those sexy strands of hair falling over his cheeks.

With a stiff arm, I shoved another lanyard at him. “Here you go.”

“Ah, yes. How fortunate we’re VIPs.” He plucked the badge from my hand and slipped it over his neck with a grimace.

“What do you have against Apollo’s Suns?”

He led us toward the entrance. “Their singer is my egocentric nephew.”

Hades walked forward, but my feet froze to the ground. He opened the door, waiting for me, and did a double-take when he saw I was several feet away.

“The frontman of Apollo’s Suns is the actual Apollo?”

“As I said—egocentric.”

I shuffled forward, but my arms remained stiff. “I’ve been a fan of them so long. I’m not sure how I’m going to look him in the face.”

He slipped his arm around my waist. “You look me in the face without issue. Just try not to get blinded by his sunshine smile.” Sarcasm laced his words like venom.

A resort worker spotted our badges and motioned for us to follow him. Without knowing, I gripped onto Hades’ shirt, my heart racing as we got closer and closer to the stage.

“You have no reason to be nervous. He has half the power I do. Maybe even less.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Did you ever stop to think I’m nervous about meeting a rockstar, not the fact he’s a Greek flipping god?”

He frowned. “Sorry.”

Now I was double nervous. I often heard rockstars referred to as “gods” in their own right, but never in the literal sense. It was ingenious. His cover—was essentially himself. Ingenious or extremely arrogant. The resort worker led us to the wings. We were so close you’d be able to see the sweat rolling down their faces.

“Here we are. The show should be starting in a few minutes. You’ll be able to meet the band after the first act. Enjoy!”

Hades folded his arms over his chest, a scowl distorting his features. The lights dimmed, and I clapped. The band entered the stage from the opposite side, the drummer taking his position first, followed by the bassist and guitarist. The crowd roared, waiting for that pivotal moment when Apollo made his grand entrance. A burst of flames ignited in the middle of the stage. Ace or rather, Apollo stood with his iconic silver and ivory guitar with glowing orange suns down the neck.

“Oh, brother,” Hades mumbled.

I stopped clapping. “That wasn’t pyrotechnics, was it?”

“No. It wasn’t.”

Apollo stepped up to the mic stand, throwing the rock symbol into the air. “How are we tonight, Corfu?”

He wore skintight metallic gold pants and a leather vest with no shirt underneath. His bleach blonde hair hung to the nape of his neck, draping over his perfectly sun-kissed skin. Every time he ran his fingers through, it only made him more attractive as it fell in a perfect frame around his chiseled facial features. He had the brightest blue eyes I’d ever seen, a broad jawline, and just as Hades described—an electric smile.

The drummer began their first song. Apollo strummed his hand over the strings of his guitar, sun rays blazing from it toward the audience. I’d seen the effects before, but it was crazy to know they weren’t parlor tricks. Every time he did something, Hades’ eyes would fall shut and he’d shake his head. Considering he was stuck underground every waking day of his life, it must’ve been annoying to watch another god flaunt their powers so openly.

The songs I knew had a different meaning now. The lyrics centered around Apollo’s life. Lyrics I previously thought were a complete myth. I curled my hands around the strings of my lanyard. Apollo moved to the front of the stage, swinging the guitar on its strap behind him. He grabbed the mic stand and leaned forward, reaching out to various women screaming and clawing over each other to get to him.

I elbowed Hades. “Aura?”

“Aura and an ego the size of Olympus,” he mumbled.

“We can’t help who our family is.”

“Very, very true, darlin’.”

Apollo worked the crowd, especially the ladies, occasionally hopping down to roam the aisles. Fire, sunbursts, and blinding flashes of light went off throughout the performance. When they played the final song of the first act, he turned in our direction, and my heart quickened.

Oh, my God. He was coming over here. My inner fangirl went into overdrive. This was my chance to redeem myself from the airport.

He dragged a hand through his hair, grinning wide when he spotted Hades. The guitar slung over his shoulder, and he rested one of his hands on the neck of it. “Uncle. Long time no see.”

“You’re hilarious,” Hades replied, narrowing his eyes.

Apollo bit his lip, letting his steely blue gaze drop to me. “You look familiar.”

I snorted, feeling my cheeks warm. “Stephanie. Steph.” Keeping one hand on my lanyard, I stuck the other one out to him.

He snapped his fingers. “The airport. You were that shy little mouse who couldn’t bring herself to talk to me.” He gave a snarky grin and shook my hand.

Why in the world did he have to remember? The heat from my face traveled down the back of my neck. Hades stepped between us, breaking Apollo’s hold on my hand.

“So, this is what you do with your time? Pretend to be a rockstar? Exhibit your powers openly?” Hades asked as he slipped an arm around my waist.

Apollo looked at me with a cocked eyebrow.

“She knows,” Hades said.

“She knows? Well then, that changes things entirely, doesn’t it?” He grinned at me. “And I’m not pretending to be a rockstar. I am one. Are you able to subscribe to Spotify in the Underworld?”

Hades sighed. “Considerin’ none of us are ever in the same place by coincidence—why are you here?”

He pointed at Hades and spoke to me. “This is why my dad gave him the Underworld. He’s a smart cookie.”

His dad. Zeus. Uncle Hades. Underworld. Apollo. I’d warped into the Twilight Zone.

“My visit comes with bad news, I’m afraid,” Apollo started, draping both hands over his guitar.

Hades rolled his shoulders. “I’m listening.”

“Thanatos has abandoned his duties.”

“What?” It came out more like a growl.

Apollo held up his hands. “I’ve no idea how or why. But something tells me you’ve noticed.”

Hades dragged a hand over his face.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It means, my dear Stephanie, Hades here is in charge of souls both on the surface and below.” Apollo pointed at the ground with a smirk.

His smile annoyed me. “This doesn’t sound like a funny situation.”

“Maybe not for my uncle. He’ll be a very busy man.” He slapped his shoulder.

Hades growled again, balling his hands into fists. “I’m powerful, but even I can’t be in two places at once.”

“Sounds like you need to have a little talk with Thanatos.” Apollo shrugged.

It unnerved me he didn’t offer to help, and on top of that, he acted like this was all no big deal.

Apollo rubbed his chin. “I’m curious. How did you go about telling her about, you know?”

Hades cocked an eyebrow. “I showed her.”

“You just—” Apollo’s eyes widened. “You took her to the Underworld?”

My body stiffened.

“No, you idiot. I showed her power. The fog from Styx.”

“And that was it? Just like that, she was cool with it?”

“More or less.”

Apollo frowned.

“Is there a particular reason you’re asking?” Hades said.

“No. Nope. Just curious,” Apollo replied, looking away.

The lights faded on the stage before brightening again.

Apollo raised a single finger. “That’s my cue. It was a pleasure meeting you, Stephanie. And Uncle, charming as always.” He flashed a smile before returning to his waiting audience.

Hades paced like a caged lion. “I’m sorry. I wish nothin’ more than to spend time with you, but I’ve got to take care of this.”

“I understand.” Tears built up in my eyes, but I fought them back. “Will I ever see you again?”

He frowned. The deepest frown I’d seen on him yet. “I’ve never lied to you, and I won’t start now. I don’t know.”

There was no stopping them now. Several tears rolled down my cheeks.

His face fell, and he cupped his hands around my face, wiping the tears away with his thumbs. “This may sound strange to you, but mortal tears over me is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

I gulped, staring up at him, wishing with every fiber I could go with him. Before, the thought of the Underworld terrified me, but now facing the harsh reality of never seeing him again terrified me more. He dipped his head down and kissed me. A kiss so tender no one would have ever believed it came from a man who tortured the evil in Tartarus. And then he vanished. The faint smell of fire hung in the air, the taste of ash on my lips.