by elda lore
“You wouldn’t have allowed it?” she growled. “What would you have done? Let me rot in that miserable screeching cavern?”
“Never,” I hissed back. My eyes closed at the images of her giving into the pressure, the pain, and the pleasure of those seductive tones echoing off the Cavern of Decision. My head shook adamantly left to right. “I would not be the cause of your demise.”
“And how is leaving me alone in a field, not leaving me to die?” She leaned forward. Her breasts brushed my solid frame, and I retracted my core in an effort to not touch her. My breath held and my voice strangled when I next spoke.
“It was the only way. Being with me was killing you.” With that, she stepped back and I exhaled in relief and disappointment. I couldn’t risk touching her, though.
“Killing. Me?” She stressed each word. “Being with you was the most alive I’ve ever felt.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Hades, I love you.” Her fingers wrapped around my sweaty biceps and a breath surged too quickly inside my chest. I choked, coughing harshly, forcing her back.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” I struggled between each throaty hack.
“I know exactly what I’m saying. I don’t know what you’re doing or why you’re playing this charade, but I know how I feel and I love you.” The words fell softly from her defeated lips before she turned and walked away.
--
One issue in being above ground was the light. I needed it. My new roommates, however, were annoyed that I slept with a light on. After too much taunting, I said I was going for a walk. My feet took me in one direction without any thought. It wasn’t a hundred yards to her house, and I stared at her home. More than a typical farm house, its second story balcony was supported with four Grecian-looking columns reminding me of something straight out of Gone with the Wind. The upper floor provided cover for a lower porch complete with a swing and flower baskets adorning the space. My eyes travelled the windows on the second floor, noting one still aglow and beaming light down into the yard. A cypress guarded the corner of the home, and if I stretched, I might be able to reach the balcony. To my surprise a trellis rested behind the tree, so I climbed.
This is a mistake, I admonished in my head. I’d been warned. I could not touch her.
Persephone sat on her bed, holding a book open on her lap. Entering her room was not my intention. I only wanted to see her, but each step I took, increased the desire to be closer to her. I risked a gentle knock on the window. She looked up, startled, but then her rosy lips curled. Instantly, they fell. I knew that frown. She wanted to be mad at me.
“How very Romeo of you to climb the trellis,” she mocked after I swung a leg through the window opening.
“O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art,
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,
As is a wingèd messenger of heaven…”
“Are you saying I’m an angel?” She tried for irritation but a giggle filled her voice. The struggle of anger released out of her, as I finally stood within her room. The laughter fluttered around me, wrapping me in its wings, and I lunged for her.
“Yes,” I exhaled before taking her mouth with mine and drawing in the first taste of fresh air I’d had in weeks. Her breath was my life and she filled me as our mouths rediscovered one another. At first harsh and aggressive, we nipped and sucked, marking each other, but then we slowed. Our tongues danced and we fell in rhythm with one another.
“By heaven above, I’ve missed you,” I inhaled, taking a breath before diving into the savory taste attached to my lips again. We stroked tongues and roamed hands, touching one another, verifying we were each real. I waited while I kissed. Any moment, I would disappear, and I wanted the last thing my vanishing lips touched to be hers.
“So beautiful,” I whispered between kisses. Her skin heated with each pass of my tongue inside her mouth. After several minutes of reconnecting with the joy that gave me life, I pulled back to rest my forehead against hers. I inhaled the sweet summer scent of her, stronger in her world than it had been in mine. Witnessing her so often in dark shadows and dim lights, the brightness of her room enhanced her features. Blonde hair, bark-colored eyes, and tan skin glowed under the harsh lights. “It’s so bright in here,” I noted as she stepped out of my embrace. I missed her instantly. Hurrying to the side of her bed, she flicked on a low table lamp and turned off the overhead. She stood and stared at me across her bed, her finger pressed to her lips.
“My mother’s in the next room,” she whispered. “My grandfather’s down the hall. Zeke is in the guest room.”
My head shot up. “Zeke? Is here?”
Her brows quivered briefly. I had so much to explain. I sat on the edge of her bed, and patted the spread. The homemade quilt was a variety of sunny yellow hues, contrasting with the solid black silk of mine. The size of the bed much smaller than mine as well—it would barely hold us both.
“You know Zeke?” The words did not sound surprised.
“Zeke is my uncle.”
Her eyes opened wide. “So it’s true?”
I nodded in acknowledgement, uncertain what she knew, but diving in. “I have several cousins, and one of his sons, Solis, is the closest person to a best friend I’ve ever known. We don’t hang out in the typical way as you might with friends, but we do see each other, especially when there is a need.” I dipped my head and reached for her hand. She sat cross-legged on her bed and stared down at our joined fingers. “Seeing you was a great need.” My eyes focused on our fingers, so similar now compared to the underworld blue of my skin. I took a deep breath before I started my tale. “I am heir to the underground, and Solis is heir to the heavens.” I sensed her head shoot upward, but I concentrated on her hands. “He’s the reason I’m here.”
“How?” she breathed out quietly, interrupting me.
“Solis gave me this.” Reaching for the firefly tucked inside my shirt, I pulled it forward and tenderly held it in my hand. “He’s given me the power of light to keep me visible. The firefly holds solar power, which in a sense gives strength to me to stand in the sunlight for a while. Just to be safe, I keep a light on at night to restore the energy source.”
Her fingers curled over mine, rubbing tendering between them. Our hands fumbled with one another’s.
“Is it like a glow stick?”
My head tilted. “I guess, sort of.” I smiled to reassure her.
“What happens if the light goes out? If it’s totally dark?”
“I’ll disappear.” My tone was serious and her dark eyes widened in fright.
“My grandfather told me some things. He said you had powers. Or rather a destined purpose, and our chance meeting set things in motion. But if you gave me up, why did you come back?” Her hand softened in mine. She held back from telling me more, and I sensed it in her touch. Fear shadowed her brown eyes.
“I had to be certain you survived. I wanted confirmation that I’d done the right thing. You were sick and I returned you to save your life.” Her hand tightened again and her mouth curled slowly, a rosy color heightened her cheeks.
“I’ve heard my mother talking with Zeke. They’ve mentioned a curse.”
I reached for her cheek and traced over her lower lip with my thumb.
“I’m not letting anything hurt you. The curse is my parent’s. Not ours. I can’t help their history, but I won’t let it be ours.” She kissed the pad of my thumb in response and the touch shot straight to a body part aching to fill her. Aching to assure her. Nothing would hurt her.
“How is my mother involved?” Her voice lowered. “She shared a few things with me, but I sense there is more. I don’t think I understand all of it.” I didn’t feel it was my place to explain the truths that I knew. Demi had chosen not to tell Persephone how she knew my father. I’d guessed correctly, though, when I confronted him. My father was resentful of Demi’s rejection of him at some point. His revenge was to steal her daughter.
“I think it goes
back farther than us, Firefly. Three sisters, right? You have two aunts?” Her head shot up in surprise at my knowledge. “And there were three brothers. Zeke, Hades and Idon. Each had his sights on a girl. Each lost the girl. Each suffers from their stupidity.” Internally, I laughed at the irony. I would lose the girl as well, but I’d never consider the risk stupid.
“I wasn’t supposed to touch you.” My thumb stroked over the back of her hand. Flipping it, I pulled the open palm up to my mouth and kissed the tender skin. “Solis warned that in coming here, contact could be a risk. If we touched, it might dissolve the heat and I’d vanish.” She withdrew her hand, but I reached out again, imprisoning her fingers with mine.
“I couldn’t help myself, though,” I whispered, stroking over her lean fingers, memorizing the touch of her warm skin. Her fingers wrapped around my biceps earlier proved it wasn’t true. “I couldn’t stay away any longer. And it looks like I’m not disappearing,” I chuckled as our fingers caressed more frantically, tangling together, gripping tighter to one another.
“I won’t let you leave.” She rose up on her knees. “You can’t leave me again.” Walking on her knees, she closed the distance and fell against me. Her arms wrapped around my neck and her breasts pressed against my chest forcing me back on her bed. I held her tight, making promises in my head, I knew I couldn’t keep.
Invisibility
[Persephone]
As Harris Black, Hades restored me to my old self. I smiled. I laughed. I talked. And we spent every spare moment together, hidden from the watchful eye of my mother. Hades explained giving his real name would only force my mother to demand he leave. I disagreed with his argument that he was at fault for my extended stay in the underworld. I assured him, I’d have stayed, if given the choice. While I missed my home, being returned to it made me realize I missed Hades more.
We tried to keep our hands to ourselves and remain inconspicuous about our unending affection, but the attempts were fruitless. We got caught kissing behind the wagon. We were spotted embracing outside the caboose. We found each other’s eyes whenever we could, and like a moth to a flame, I burned with desire, which Hades denied. He refused to let us be more physical with one another, afraid that our intimacy was the cause of my illness. I didn’t want to believe spilling his seed in me poisoned me, but at this point, anything seemed possible. My whole life was unreal.
Someone else who noticed our relationship included Tripper Grant, and he wasn’t taking kindly to Harris Black.
“I know you,” he hissed on further inspection of Harris Black. His nose wrinkled as if he smelled something rotting and his lip twitched in disgust. “You’re that freak.”
Hades’ hackles rose and he straightened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” As his peach-toned face flushed with anger, the white scar gracing the side of his cheek glowed brighter.
“Shut up, Tripper,” I admonished. Hades clenched his fists at his sides, and I recalled Tripper’s fight in the underground ring. He would be no match for Hades; he’d be crushed to dust. I reached up a hand to calm the anger growing in Hades, but he stepped away from my touch.
“I’ll be watching you, Freak,” Tripper warned, spitting at Hades’ feet. Hades held his ground. Once Tripper stalked away from us, Hades spun away from me.
“Harris,” I called out after him, the name a struggle. He turned back to face me.
“You need to stay away from him,” he warned. “I don’t trust him near you.” With those words, he stalked away. His stride was too long, and he outstepped me. Before long, I gave up, allowing him space. I waited all day and then worried into the night. I left my nightstand light on low and closed my eyes, not able to fight the pull any longer for sleep.
In my dream, Tripper captured Hades, held him down like Hades told me and carved him. Only, Tripper stabbed at the ancient clock tattoo. He sawed back and forth, as if gutting a pumpkin. Removing the clock, he held it in his hand, as it took the form of a solid pocket watch. Then, Tripper crushed it. The gears sprang forth and the hands popped out. The glass cracked and the numbers seeped through Tripper’s fingers like droplets of blood, slowly plopping toward the ground. Before they hit the surface, the bright red turned vibrant blue and flapped to life as butterflies. My face tickled as they came at me. At first, they caressed tenderly, kissing over my forehead and cheek, but then they attacked and sucked at my mouth. I struggled to fight the aggressive pull on my lip and heard cackling. Tripper. Tripper assaulted my mouth, and I recognized the barky sound of his laugh.
I sat upright and drew in a deep breath.
“Shh, Firefly, it was just a dream.” Cool hands brushed back my hair then swiped up and down my bare arm. I shivered at the touch, relishing the sensation.
“Hades,” I breathed. His blue eyes danced as he looked at me, his mouth curling up on one side. I shivered again at the thought of Tripper’s mouth on mine.
“What was it, love?” The endearment made me reach for him. I held him tight, inhaling deep breaths of his cedar scent newly mixed with sunshine.
“Bad dream.” I reassured him, needing him to touch me for my own reassurance. His hands came to my sides and he held me back. We stared at each other for no more than a heartbeat before his lips were on mine, trying to rid me of the horror in my head. I tugged him down on me, not breaking our kiss. My legs spread and his slipped between mine. In my thin shorty pajamas and a tank top, there wasn’t much between us but his jeans. I reached for his shirt to remove it, and to my surprise he let me. My hands ran down his naked core, my palms flat over the ridges of his abs.
“Am I different?” he whispered, as he kissed under my ear and along my jaw.
“You’re exactly the same,” I sighed, pleased that nothing about him had changed, other than his name.
--
A few nights later, we were invited to town. There wasn’t much else to do for miles and miles. The city was forbidden to Veva and me by our mothers, with Zeke backing up the threat with if we went near the developing metropolis he’d skin us alive. It was an idle threat, but we didn’t push the west side of our property for entertainment. Instead, we went east, to the one-stoplight main street with ten still-barely-in-business stores. One of those businesses was an ice cream shop, and we cooled our palates with mint chocolate chip ice cream.
“Harris, your lips are blue,” Veva teased and I noticed the shading of his newly rosy lips returning to the deeper blue familiar to me. My eyes widened.
“The ice cream’s cold.” He brushed off the concern, but distress was in his tone. His hand rose to swipe his lips but I interceded, grabbing his wrist. I leaned in and kissed him heartily. When I pulled back, his eyes were glazed over and his lips restored to the previous dull pink. His mouth twisted slowly as the heat rose between us.
Unfortunately, Tripper drove by then slammed his truck into reverse to pull up near us. I didn’t have the heart to tell Swanson his brother should leave, but it was evident to Hades that I didn’t want to be around Tripper. His comments about my mother, his leering look at Veva, and his negative attitude toward Hades upset me. He spun us in the opposite direction, but when Swanson called after us, Hades didn’t deny Swanson’s request to go for a ride.
The next thing we knew, Swanson, Veva, Hades and myself rode in the open bed of Tripper’s truck while Tripper drove like a madman across the dirt paths lining our property. Penelope sat next to him in the truck cab, giggling and laughing under the influence of too much alcohol. Music blared from inside the cab and Veva screamed with each jolt of the pick-up. I don’t know how I ever considered this fun. Hades didn’t find the ride entertaining. His hands gripped the edge of the truck and Tripper called out to him.
“What’s the matter, freak? Scared of a few bumps in the road? Heard you’re scared of things that go bump in the night, sleeping with a goddamn light on.” His laughter bellowed out into the darkness, like the sound of angry bees. I didn’t believe for one moment Hades was scared. It was the lack
of control. He didn’t have it, jostling around in the back of the pickup.
“Tripper,” I yelled. “Stop the truck and let us out.” I banged on the window for his attention but he ignored me. Taking another swig of his beer, he hit the gas and I fell back from the glass. Hades stood.
“Stop the truck, man.” I noticed his struggle to keep his cool and his footing. His fists clenched at his side, but he hardly budged as we hit another bump, while moments prior he struggled to remain upright. His eyes grew large and even in the minimal light, I could see his anger rising.
“Want to see something scary?” Tripper bark-laughed and my heart fell to my stomach in recollection of my dream. I also predicted what he’d do next. The exterior lights of the truck went off, taking the interior lights as well, and we fell into utter darkness. With the clouds covering the moon, the world went pitch black, and I cursed Tripper. I turned to face Hades, but he was gone.
“Harris!” I screamed. “Oh my God, Harris!” I stood just as Tripper hit another bump and pitched forward, falling awkwardly into Swanson.
“Turn on the goddamn lights and slow down,” Swanson shouted at his older brother. Tripper did one thing his brother asked. The lights flipped back on, illuminating the space before us, but we needed to turn back. The distance behind us grew with his continued speed.
“Turn around!” The hysteria in my voice could have woken the dead.
“You asshole, do as she asked,” Swanson berated his older brother, pounding on the window behind his brother’s head. Tripper did an immediate three-sixty, tossing Swanson and I to the side of the truck bed. I hit the back of my head and cried out in pain. Veva scrambled to reach me and pulled me up against her. Penelope continued to squeal with excitement from the front seat. As we headed back in the original direction, nothing could be seen. The lights beamed, but only the dirt road stood before us. As Tripper raced back toward our homes, I knelt, gripping the edge of the truck. My heart galloped and my mind prayed.