[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
long as I have to. He pulls me close and I inhale his musky
scent. A smell that I hope I ll never forget; whether I stay or
go. He covers me with his arms. I feel warm. He s my down
comforter. He ll never let me freeze. Close your eyes, he
tells me.
Time whirls around us. We re in the middle of a
cyclone. Spinning in circles and despite the dangerous
situation I know I ll be safe. He will always keep me safe.
He clutches me tighter to his chest, the muscles in his arms
clench and for a brief moment I feel like I belong here.
Wrapped up in a tangle of his limbs for all of eternity.
Then he releases me and part of me aches. I ache in
spots where his fingers just were. The spots throb like fresh
bruises and won t quit until he puts pressure on them.
Rushing water whooshes and fills my ears and I spin
around thinking he might have brought me to a beach or
something. Depression sails through me like a Jet Ski
bouncing around on waves when I realize we re back at the
dock on the Styx.
The brownish green water splashes against the dock
and I center on fog that hovers above the water. Hades
senses that I might be upset and brushes his fingers
against my face. You look upset, he says in a voice full of
gentleness. Is something bothering you?
I can t understand why his touch feels cold yet warm at
the same time. Is it always so bleak and depressing down
here?
You get used to it.
I feel like I m glancing at plains of misery, an up close
and personal version of what death is supposed to look
like. I don t think I could ever get used to this, I say. I d
miss the sunshine too much. I d miss watching things live.
Hades drops his hand from my face. Just wait, he
comments. There is so much more of the underworld that
you have yet to see.
The ferry appears next to the dock and Charon hangs
over the side. Master, he hisses. Hades takes one hand
and Charon takes the other as they help me onto the boat.
My eyes dart across the rows of wooden benches until I
center on the wooden bench in the back right corner of the
boat. I sit down as Hades appears on the bench across
from me. Then Charon begins working the oars as I stare
off into the choppy waters of the river of death.
Fifteen minutes into the ride and I can feel Hades eyes
on me. He s staring, a thoughtful look in his eye. So why
did we have to take the ferry? I face him. Couldn t you
have just whisked us there yourself?
Yes, he says, still penetrating me with his gaze. But
then I don t think the shock value will be as good.
Shock value? He smiles and my heart picks up
beating rapidly. You know you should do that more often.
Do what?
Smile. His smile is beautiful, clouds parting during a
thunderstorm to reveal a sliver of sunshine.
He smiles wider. I ll try to.
I look away bashfully as heat rises in my cheeks. I m at
a loss for words. Truthfully I just want to stare at him. I want
to feel the tiny smolder I get in the pit of my stomach every
time I look into his eyes. Instead I play it off casually and
nod toward Charon. How come he knows where we re
going?
He s the captain of the boat. We wouldn t be able to
go anywhere if he didn t know where we were going.
Oh. I look down, feeling silly. Embarrassed I play with
my fingers and apparently Hades thinks my attempt at
being coy is funny because he starts laughing.
I don t think it s funny. In fact his laughter makes me
angry. I stand, wagging my finger, prepared to give him a
piece of my mind when the boat rocks and I topple over,
tumbling to the opposite side. Just when I think I m about to
go overboard and land in the murky waters, Hades catches
me, clutching onto my waist tightly. I turn my head,
awkwardly and my lips are centimeters away from his. Any
slight movement and they ll be touching. His eyes dart
across my face, searching, studying my features. He s
trying to figure me out.
Bewildered, I steady myself sitting up, and try to make
a joke, Nice catch.
As I turn to walk back to my bench he whispers
something. The soft words are barely audible, but I m pretty
sure I made out what he said. I could have sworn he said,
Come back.
I pirouette and gawk at him. What did you say?
Nothing. I know he s lying.
No, I heard you. You said something. He said, Come
back. I am sure of it.
I think you are hearing things. I didn t say anything.
I narrow my eyes trying to keep a straight face. I m
actually flattered that he wanted me to stay in his arms.
Right now that s the only place I want to be. You said
something. I have excellent hearing, you know.
He glances out into the waters of the Styx. Perhaps
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]