She wanted to ask where they were going, but thought better of it. She didn’t want to risk breaking this almost peaceful moment between them.
They weren’t sniping at each other or prying into the other’s past. It was just the two of them in a silence that wasn’t deafening. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been able to remain in the quiet with someone without bursting into tears over Micah, or agitated by the boredom.
That’s probably what made her start to freak out. It wasn’t the type of comfort where it was like the other person wasn’t even there. It was the other kind; the kind where everything about the stillness was made perfect by the very fact they were.
Hadrian, God of the Underworld, was not the guy she was supposed to be having perfect silences with. He wasn’t the guy she should be holding hands with, or taking a somewhat romantic—because despite the fire and the burning smell it had been—stroll with.
He became all too tangible then, all too real. Hades wasn’t a fictional character off the pages of a book; he was a living, breathing being. He had what Micah didn’t. The warmth, and the beating heart. The life.
Which meant that this was too much. He’d said earlier that she was Micah’s tether to the mortal world, but hadn’t been aware it went both ways. Micah was what held her together, kept her whole.
Without Micah, she ceased to exist. The Spencer Perry, the “It girl”, ceased to exist. Who was she if not the girl everyone else knew her to be? The girl Micah knew her to be?
They entered the throne room, and she recognized it instantly from her first visit. The reason she’d come here that night pulsed like a neon sign in her mind’s eye. She’d risked everything to get her boyfriend back. Not just to be with him again, but to be herself again.
She dropped Hadrian’s hand, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn’t look his way, but saw him glance at her out of the corner of her eye. She followed him down to the end of the room where the throne sat up on its dais.
Without him seated in it, it appeared cold and dispassionate. Solid black metal lording over the rest of the room.
“You should seriously consider redecorating,” she said in an attempt to lighten the mood again. One look at him showed she hadn’t succeeded. “Maybe add some windows or something at least. There isn’t even a table in here.”
He moved forward, then pivoted so that he was standing before her. His eyes narrowed into thin slits. “I like it the way it is.”
She shrugged, trying to cover up the fact that his penetrating stare was making her uncomfortable. Her skin felt too hot, and suddenly too tight to boot. “Suit yourself. You’re the one who’s gotta live here. Speaking of, why isn’t there ever anyone else around?”
“Because I don’t want them around,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Why?”
He smirked, the move twisting his face into a mix of angelical features and something darker. It was wicked, lethal, and when he stepped closer she retreated without thought.
“Maybe I don’t want them to see you,” he told her. “Maybe I don’t want to share the mortal. Maybe—”
“You want to keep me your curiosity?” she snapped, unable to help the acidic bite of her words.
He didn’t seem affected by it anyway, instead his grin widened, and she saw the god in him. “Maybe.”
“Earlier, when Ferris dropped me off he sounded strange. Different. He asked me if I needed anything before he went. Was that because he knew you were on the beach?” she asked, recalling how weird it had been.
Hadrian began to pace lazily before her, cupping his hands behind his back. “You mean because he knew I could hear you? Yes.”
“But you’re friends.” At least, they’d seemed like it at Syd’s party. There’d been more to it, sure, the underlying respect one gave to their leader, but it’d also been clear that the two were close.
“I am the Lord of the Underworld,” he reminded, as if she needed it. “Even my friends need to abide by the rules. I rule here, and no Ferryman, not even Ferris, would risk angering me. Now, if you don’t mind,” he stepped forward, quickly invading her personal space, “I’ve got more messengers to deal with.”
He lifted a hand, about to snap his fingers, but she grabbed him around the wrist to stop him. When he quirked a brow she let go, not wanting to have physical contact longer than she had to.
“You mentioned that was who you were fighting on the beach before. Who was it? What message did he deliver?” She rolled her eyes when all he did was cock his head, a sure sign he wasn’t going to respond. “Come on, Hadrian. You told me you’d look into my ghost problem. I don’t want to go home if…you know...I’m going to be met with Casper-the-Breaky-Ghost.”
“I asked around,” he said. “There’s nothing to be concerned about. It was just a lone spirit. Harmless.”
“And the one that pushed Syd in the pool? That wasn’t harmless, in fact it caused a lot of harm. What if there is more to this than just an attraction to Micah? And even if there isn’t, how do I get them to stay away?”
Some of his bravado faded, and he reached out a hand to cup her cheek. “There’s nothing to fear, Spencer. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Then just like that, the kindness vanished and he moved away, heading straight for his throne. “Now if you don’t mind…”
The moment he snapped his fingers, Ferris appeared standing in the space between them.
He glanced at his king, bowing his head and then extended an arm towards Spencer without a word. It seemed the “politeness” from earlier had carried over. This wasn’t the same guy she’d met at the restaurant, or who’d come for her in Syd’s bedroom.
“One more thing,” she paused with her hand just barely touching Ferris’s palm. Once she knew she had Hadrian’s attention, she continued. “You never answered my question earlier, about the war. Which one got the girl in the end?”
At her side, the Ferryman tensed, his gaze dropping to the marble floor.
Hadrian lowered himself into his throne, mouth thinning to a straight line. The muscles in his jaw clenched. He looked coiled and ready to strike, the only problem was she couldn’t tell if it was at her or not.
Finally, he relaxed enough to answer, though he more barked than spoke. “Neither.”
With a motion of his chin, Ferris whisked her away, but not before she’d caught the sadness in Hadrian’s eyes.
Chapter 21:
“Oh thank god!” Sydney exclaimed the second the two of them popped up in her bedroom. She rushed Spencer, wrapping her in a bruising hug before pulling back to glare. “We were so worried! Next time you’re going to be gone so long, at least have the decency to send a text!”
“What?” She frowned, glancing over at the clock hanging over the blonde’s desk. “It’s only four p.m,” she said. “So I missed a day of school? Big deal.”
“A day?” Quinn spoke up, making her presence on the bed noticed. “Spence, it’s been three. Do you know how much covering that took from the two of us, what with your ‘rents out of town? Seriously, you owe us. Big.”
That couldn’t be right. Three days? They had to be screwing with her. There was no way she’d been down there for that long.
She turned to the Ferryman, eyes widening when she saw the sheepish look on his face. “No way. Tell me that’s not true.” When he didn’t, she backhanded him on the arm. “What the hell, dude?! Why didn’t he tell me? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It is not mine to ask,” he stated simply, clearly annoyed with her love tap.
“I can’t believe this.” She heaved a heavy sigh and slumped down onto the bed.
“There wasn’t even a body here for us to watch,” Syd said. “It was freaky. You were just gone.”
“There was no need to leave her body behind,” Ferris cut in. “Her parents not being here meant that there was no risk of someone stopping in to check on her in the middle of the night.”
“Shouldn’t I be exhausted then?” Spence
r asked. “All things considered?”
He shrugged. “Do you feel tired?”
She thought it over for a long minute and then shook her head. “No.”
“Then I guess not.”
“We were just about to head out for some food,” Quinn said, getting up from the bed. “You should come, Charlie.”
He glanced between the two girls as if unsure, though it was obvious that he wanted to say yes.
“Ugh,” Syd rolled her blue eyes. “Let’s just go already.”
“Wait,” Spencer jumped to her feet. “We need to stop by my place first.” If she’d really been gone that long, then that meant that Micah had been stuck in the Underworld too. He was probably worried sick about her.
Her friends seemed to get that, even Ferris, and they all nodded in unison before turning for the door.
The drive only took ten minutes, and once there she bolted up the walk and unlocked her front door like hellhounds were at her feet. Throwing it open, she pounded up the stairs, calling his name as she went. She avoided looking down the hall towards the bathroom, not really wanting to relive that just yet.
Her room was empty when she got there, but she spun in a circle in the center a few times as if thinking maybe she’d missed him. When she called again and still got no response, she felt her heart deflate. How could he not be here?
None of the others had followed her up, wanting to give her space, and she was about to head back to them when she felt the tiny shiver snake down her spine. She twisted around and broke out in a grin.
Micah stood right in front of the window seat, concern sparkling in his hazel eyes. Seeing that she was smiling, he came towards her, taking her up in his arms.
She had a brief second where she mentally compared his hug to the feel of Hadrian’s arms around her, before she guiltily swatted it away. It was stupid of her to think about anybody else but him. He was the only thing she wanted, after all. The only thing that mattered.
“Where’ve you been?” he whispered against her neck, holding her like he was afraid she’d disappear the second he wasn’t.
“Sorry,” she pulled back just enough that she could look him in the eyes. “I was in the Underworld with Hadrian. He failed to mention that it would be such a long trip. Time must move differently because I had no idea so much of it had passed, or I would have done something to get back here sooner.”
“Are you alright?” His gaze swept over her, inspecting for himself. When he seemed satisfied that nothing was wrong, he sighed. “The most amazing thing happened to me, daisy. I saw my dad! I spoke with him!”
She recalled Hadrian mentioning that and moved so that they were both perched on the edge of her bed. “How is he?”
“Amazing!” he told her excitedly. “I can’t believe how much there is to tell you about him! He looked exactly the same, hadn’t aged a day since the last time I saw him. And his laugh…I’d almost forgotten what it sounded like. How infectious it was. You always used to say that.”
She nodded. She remembered Mr. St. James well. He’d been like a second father to her.
“We talked for hours, Spence. It felt so good to just be there with him again, to be able to touch him. He asked about you and when I told him about the deal you’d made, he was astonished. Apparently he’s never heard of anything like that ever happening in the Underworld before. I was with him just now, before you came. I’m going to go back once you leave again. Can you believe it? My dad! And I can actually remember it this time, the whole thing. The river and the Meadows and the people. My grandparents are down there too!”
Spencer listened to Micah go on and on about his wonderful time, hearing how glad he was to get his loved ones back. Losing his dad had been killer on his whole family, but he’d taken it harder than his mom. He’d always worshipped his father; it was the major reason he’d signed up for football and become the quarterback to begin with.
While she listened, her thoughts trailed off, thinking about her life before and how suddenly it felt so long ago. She’d been shoo-in to becoming cheerleading captain for this year, but she’d quit right before summer camp. Cheer camp took up too much time, time she’d spent with Micah instead.
How many people had Hadrian loved and lost during that nine-hundred year battle? How many family members, friends, lovers…That last part made her uncomfortable, a hot spot forming in the center of her chest.
They barely got along at best; and at worst, they goaded each other just for the heck of it. She knew half the time he said things just to get a rise out of her, and she had to admit she did the same on occasion.
Whether they liked it or not, however, the two of them were stuck together until the six months had been delivered. Which meant she still had a long ways to go and a hell of a lot of visits to…well, Hell, left. Though she hoped he wouldn’t ever decide to show her the actual Hell—aka Tartarus—up close and personal. That was one sight she felt she could do without seeing.
There was still the last river though, the name of which always seemed to elude her whenever she tried to remember it. Tomorrow night she’d ask him to take her there, so she could successfully say she’d visited all five rivers of the Underworld. Plus, maybe hearing it said in his sexy smooth voice, she’d actually be able to recall what it was called from now on.
Shit.
She grimaced at where her thoughts had unwittingly taken her. She did not think he was sexy. Nothing about him was sexy. Except for, well, the hair, and the eyes, and the bone structure, and the body…
But he wasn’t Micah, and nothing could compare to the love of her life.
She paid closer attention to his boyish grin as he continued to talk about his visit with his father. His blond hair was short and a sunny golden color that flashed bright yellow in the sunlight. His hazel eyes, a cool mixture of greens and light brown hues, were currently excited and open. She could read every emotion he felt just by looking into those eyes.
She could read everything about him period. She knew where every scar was, every birthmark. He’d cried like a baby at his dad’s funeral, despite the fact that they’d been fourteen. Up in his room she’d held him, his head resting in her lap as he wept. She’d never seen him ever look so vulnerable. So wounded. Hadn’t seen that look on anyone’s face again, until the night in the hospital when she’d found out about Micah’s death.
She’d given him the scar right below his chin, the one that someone would have to stoop down and really look for. It’d been in the first grade when he’d tried to pop the head off of another one of her Barbies, and in retaliation she’d thrown one of the building blocks at his face.
“…And that’s the best part,” his words finally managed to pull her out of her thoughts, and she noticed for the first time that they were no longer touching. Their five minutes must have run out a while ago.
“What’s the best part?” she asked, cringing a little that she hadn’t been paying attention.
He didn’t seem to notice however, repeating himself without a moment’s hesitation. “That I now get to see my dad,” he smiled sweetly, “and you. When you’re away I can be with him, and when you’re here I can be with you. I don’t have to be alone anymore, Spencer. I don’t have to disappear whenever you’re not around. Isn’t that great?”
“Yeah,” she forced herself to return his smile. “Great.”
“Spence!” Syd’s voice ricocheted up the stairs. “Come on I’m hungry!” There was a short pause and then, “Oh, and hi, Micah!”
“It’s still really weird that they know I’m here,” he said with a slight chuckle. Some of his enthusiasm dwindled, his gaze going to the open doorway. “When you see her and Quinn, let them know that I miss them.”
She leaned forward, wanting to comfort him even though they couldn’t touch. “You’ll tell them yourself in a year.”
The corner of his mouth turned up in a smile that didn’t come close to reaching his eyes. “Yeah. You should go.”
“Are
you sure?” She hadn’t even gotten the chance to talk about her recent trip to the Underworld. Usually he wanted to know all about it, in order to make sure that she wasn’t in any danger down there. Not that he ever fully believed otherwise, but at least hearing about it eased his mind some.
“I was in the middle of a conversation with my dad anyway, and you don’t want to keep Syd and her stomach waiting much longer. Remember how well that turned out the last time we took too long up here when she wanted to go eat.”
Spencer laughed at the memory of their friend barging in on them half-dressed. It had been awkward all around.
“Alright, I’m supposed to be staying at Syd’s until my parents get home but…As long as you’re here it won’t be a big deal. You will be here tonight, right? If I come back?”
He nodded, but seemed to be elsewhere already. “Yeah, sure. I can sense when you’re here, so I’ll come topside when you are. Wait, why do you need to stay at Syd’s anyway?”
“Ghost problem,” she told him, waving her hand absently in the air and heading towards the door. It had become very obvious that he just wanted to get back to his dad, and she couldn’t blame him. She felt bad that she hadn’t been paying enough attention while he’d been telling her about their visit. “I’ll catch you up later.”
“But you’re ok?”
“Course.”
He smiled and nodded his head. “I love you, Spencer.”
“I love you, too.” The second he faded out, she sighed. It had been three days since they’d last seen each other and he’d been in a rush to get back to the Asphodel Meadows.
She made her way downstairs, still feeling less satisfied than before their conversation. The others were waiting on the front porch, and she locked the door behind her with a shrug.
“Ok, ready.”
“Finally,” Syd moaned and bounded back towards the car.
Spencer spent the ride over sitting quietly in the back seat. She replayed the events of her recent trip with Hadrian, and then how disconnected her conversation had just been with Micah.
Unhinged Page 21