The sound of someone yawning loudly made me look over my shoulder, back towards Melinoe’s room. Grace was standing in the doorway, rubbing her face and putting her eye patch in place.
“Mel,” she said, “I thought you were coming back to bed.”
“Grace?” I made her name a question—not the Is it really you? kind of question, but more in the, That had better not be you, way.
“Hel!” Grace screamed, and ran to me. “Oh my god, Hel, you’re back! Does Ray know? Does Soren?” she rambled.
I shook my head no, and gave her my most stern glare. “What the fuck, Grace?” My hands were on my hips, and I had no intention of talking about myself right now.
“You don’t get to scold me, Hel.” Grace almost yelled it at me, but fought to keep her tone neutral. “You are the one who took off without even telling us your plan. We were sure we’d never see you again. You tossed all of us aside to traipse around after some guy who you knew for a few weeks before you died. Don’t act like you care that much about what, or who, I do.”
Ouch. “I’m sorry, Grace. Of course I care. I just worry, and I didn’t want to see things get bad between you and Boude. He really loves you,” I said, taking her hand in mine.
Grace sighed, and wasn’t happy the argument was ending that easily. “Yeah, well Sor..”
“Meet Raphael!” I urged a bit too enthusiastically as I cut her off.
Introducing Raphael to my friends felt strange. When he had been in my life, I hadn’t had anyone else important. Now I had several friends who all knew about him, but I hadn’t had time to tell him much of anything about them.
All the anger in Grace’s face vanished as she grabbed Raphael and hugged him. “She missed you so much,” Grace told him.
This was getting embarrassing.
Grace, Raphael, and I all ate and chatted as we awaited Melinoe’s return with Hades and the big doggy. Loki excused himself for a nap.
I was starting to feel slightly less freaked out, and more distant from all of the events that had recently transpired, as we sipped our tea, and even laughed a time or two.
Grace was captivated with the story of how I got to Hell, and how Raphael and I found each other.
“That’s just the most brilliant love story,” she cooed.
“Umm, no. No, Grace, it was terrifying, and we wouldn’t have even made it out if it hadn’t been for Loki,” I explained, finally saying out loud that Loki was apparently my father.
“You’re a goddess,” Grace said quietly, and took a drink of her tea, leaving a red lipstick print on the white cup. “You’re a motherfucking goddess!” She stood up and leaned across the table towards me.
I instinctively leaned back and looked at Raphael, who let out the chuckle he’d been trying repress.
“I can’t wait to tell Andreas,” Grace said smugly, and plopped back down in her chair.
That made me laugh; he was going to be so pissed.
“Is everyone still at the mansion?” I asked.
“Yes. Well, Andreas’s shop is open again—all of the businesses are,” Grace said.
I tried not to look directly at her when I asked the next questions. “How long was I gone, and does Boude know about Melinoe?”
“Long enough for all of us to believe you weren’t coming back, and no,” she answered.
“Maybe that’s a discussion you should go have before things get more complicated,” I suggested.
“You’re right, I know,” she whined. “I just came here to help her search the tunnels for you, and then things happened.”
I laughed. “You and your rescue missions. I appreciate the effort, I guess. That is, if you ever did search for me.”
Grace looked offended. “Of course we searched for you, but she told me it was no use.”
“Go back to the mansion and tell everyone I’m back—you can tell them everything. Tell them about Hell, Raphael, and even Loki. It will save me time when I get there. Talk to Boude. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I told her.
Grace stood up from her chair, resigned to handle all the drama I had just asked her to. “OK.” She stepped around the table and hugged me. “Hurry back to us.” She hugged Raphael again and headed towards the door. “Oh, and let Mel know I’ll be back when I can.”
“I will,” I told her.
I looked at Raphael and took his hand again. I still couldn’t believe he was here.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“Just how happy I am,” I told him.
“For real? You’re still happy in all of this mess?” His eyes held disbelief.
“Yep, as long as I get to keep you,” I smiled.
He leaned in and kissed me, filling my stomach with butterflies that seemed to flutter all the way up to my chest. “For as long as you want.”
A high pitched whine, followed by deep rumbling bark, was my first hint that everyone was back. I barely had time to look over my shoulder before I was knocked backwards onto the floor by two huge paws. No matter which direction I turned my head, I couldn’t escape the slobbery kisses of one, or all three, heads.
“Cerberus!” I laughed, as I tried to push him off. I finally gave into his excitement, and wrapped my arms around his back to hide my face against his body. At least that way I didn’t risk drowning in drool.
It took both Hades and Raphael to pull the dog off of me. I stood up, attempting to smooth out my hair, and then used the tail of my shirt to dry my face. So sweet, so gross.
Hades shook his head, looking at the dog. “Traitor,” he huffed.
Cerberus leaned against my side, tail thumping happily on the floor.
“Was he still waiting for me in the tunnels?” I asked.
“Right over the entrance,” Hades said.
I rubbed the head in the center. “Such a good boy.”
Melinoe had taken the chair Grace was in before, and was kicked back with her legs propped on the table, her feet hanging off the edge, as if to say she wasn’t a total heathen.
Raphael was at my side petting Cerberus, and I saw Hades looking him up and down.
“Hades, this is Raphael. Raphael, meet Hades,” I introduced.
“Pleasure,” Raphael said, giving the god of the underworld a deep bow of his head.
Hades smirked, and gave Raphael a long lingering stare, being sure to meet the other man’s eyes.
Raphael flinched when he realized he was seeing his own reflection in Hades’s mirrored eyes. I couldn’t blame him; it was very disconcerting.
Hades didn’t actually respond to the introduction, but didn’t seem like he was trying to be intentionally rude either. He just motioned for us all to take a seat, and sent one of Melinoe’s guards to fetch Loki so that we could all talk.
Loki came into the room a few minutes later, yawning and stretching. “Pardon me, I only nap every few years or so. It takes me a while to wake up.”
Hades rolled his eyes at the other god, and said, “Shall we discuss everything that’s happened? I admit, I’m not very certain of where things stand, since I didn’t expect you to make it back.” The last words were directed at me.
“I don’t think you counted on my father helping me,” I grinned.
Hades glanced back at Loki. “Yes, well, there was some debate over whether or not there was any truth to that rumor.”
Loki bit into a bright green apple, and with his mouth still full said, “Now, you know there is.”
“So now what?” I asked. “What of your little contest, and the souls? When are you going to seal the gateways again? What happens after that?”
Hades looked down at the table where his hands were resting. “Those are the questions on my mind as well. I hadn’t expected things to get quite this complicated.”
“And that is precisely why you should have held the agreement in place, instead of getting your feelings hurt and doing things your own way,” a new voice said as she entered the room.
We all stood, Hades include
d, and watched as Persephone came to the table. She first walked up to Hades and smiled at him. He hesitated to move forward, obviously nervous about the wrath he was likely to receive, and deserved.
She leaned in and kissed her dark husband. “What am I going to do with you?” she asked playfully. Relief washed over Hades’s face, and he looked at her with big puppy-dog eyes. “I can’t believe you tried to lock me out of my own kingdom.” She shook her head. “As if I don’t have my own secret doors.”
“Hello, mum,” Melinoe said, coming over to give her mother a hug.
“Hello. You’ve played both sides of this, I’m guessing?” Persephone asked her daughter.
Melinoe smirked, “Well, I mean, I have to listen to both of you, right? Might as well use your quarrels to my advantage. Oh and by the way, Dad tried to have his way with Hel, and had her entombed when she wouldn’t agree.”
Persephone closed her eyes and let out a long breath. She motioned for her daughter to step away so she could talk to us, after giving Hades a nasty look.
The Queen turned to me. “Hel, I am so sorry that your inauguration into the royal life has been such a dreadful one. I had hoped it would be peaceful for you.” She turned to glare at Hades again. He looked away.
Trying to think of what to say, I finally settled on, “I appreciate you trying to help me step into my power, but I don’t want to be a ruler.”
Loki sighed, like he was tired of explaining it to me already. “It is your destiny.”
I let him see how annoyed I was. “To Hell with destiny. I want to make my own way and choose things for myself from now on!”
The gods in the room with me looked absolutely baffled and appalled. Persephone looked sympathetic, like a mother explaining to her child that they had to go to school, or that she couldn’t bring the family pet back to life.
“If you find a way to beat destiny, I will bow down before you. Many have tried, and running works for a while, but it always catches up with you. It is far better to embrace what the stars have aligned, and try to find a way to satisfy our hearts desires while doing what we are meant to do.” Her voice held the knowledge of ancient lifetimes.
I knew she was right, but I didn’t have to like it. I crossed my arms and looked away from everyone, trying to keep the first of the angry tears from escaping my eyes.
Instead of moving in to comfort me, Raphael stepped slightly in front of me, to block everyone’s view while I composed myself—another reason to love him.
“Queen Persephone, where should we start with the situation we are in right now?” Raphael asked.
“That is something for us to decide after a long discussion.” She turned to Hades. “Please summon Lucifer. All of us need to reach an agreement.”
“Do I need to stay?” I asked.
“No, go back to wherever your friends are. The underworld is in no condition for you to run right now. Let us get things settled, then we'll talk about things with you. Go. Rest, and enjoy those you love,” she said sweetly.
“Thank you,” I said, and left with Raphael by my side.
“You’ve been quiet through all of this,” I said to Raphael as we walked.
“I don’t know anything about this part of the underworld. I couldn’t begin to give you advice,” he said.
“Do you think I’m crazy for not wanting to fulfill my destiny?”
“No, not if it would make you unhappy.”
“Deciding the fates of souls would not make me happy,” I said.
“What would? I mean, if you could do anything you wanted, what would you choose?”
It surprised me that I had to think so hard to answer him. All I had wanted for so long was just to have him back with me. I got him, so now what do I want.
“If I could have anything that I wanted, I would go back with you to my cabin, my cemetery, and we would still take that beach trip together, and forget all of this.” I shook my head at the ridiculousness of it. “But I would settle for us living and working here, as long as we were happy.”
“You would want to continue being a reaper?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Yeah, I enjoy it. What would make you happy?”
He shook his head, and his eyes had lost some of their magic. “I have no idea,” he answered.
I had to admit that it hurt my heart for him not to say something along the lines of, “I’ll be happy as long as I’m with you,” or some other kind of sappy reply. I knew his time in Hell was haunting him. I was there practically no time at all, and I knew it would always haunt me. I just wished that I knew how to help him.
I entered the mansion to the angry faces of most of my friends. Maybe letting Grace come ahead and tell them everything had been a bad idea. Instead of being relieved to see me and hearing about what happened, they had had time to sit and dwell on all the worry I had caused them.
I understood, I really did. What I had done was selfish, as far as their feelings were concerned. But I didn’t regret it—not at all.
They were plenty nice enough to Raphael when I introduced him, but even Ray would barely talk to me. Grace and Boude were nowhere to be seen, and I thought it best not to interrupt them.
Just so I knew that everyone was caught up, I explained we were waiting on the gods to have their meeting, and after that we would have some clarity. Ray nodded, and Billy sighed.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “to all of you. I know you think what I did was reckless—and selfish—and I apologize if it made any of you feel like you weren’t important to me. If you know me at all, though, you know I would’ve done the same thing for any of you.”
Everyone watched, waiting for me to say more, but that was all I had. I was tired and hurt, and didn’t have a clue what was going to happen next. I wanted some peace.
I turned away from everyone and went up the stairs to the room I had been staying in, listening for the sound of Raphael’s footsteps behind me—but he didn’t follow me.
I went inside the room, and was surprised to find Boude sitting on my bed. His head was in his hands, with his bright red hair draped around him.
He was surprised to see me as well. “Sorry, it was rude of me to use your room. I just needed a minute away without having to walk past everyone.” He started to get up.
I held up my palm to stop him, and walked over to the bed to sit down next to him. “I’m sorry,” I told him.
“Eternity,” he sighed. “Sometimes it is daunting to face an eternity of love and heartache.”
I rubbed his back gently. “Is that why most vampires become so emotionless?”
He nodded. “It takes practice, but feelings are something you can learn to live without.”
“When the two of you got together, I could only think about you hurting her, and how sad I would be for my friend. It never dawned on me that she could hurt you, and I that I would still be so sad for my friend.“ I squeezed his shoulder.
Boude patted my leg beside him. “Thank you, Helena.” He dried his damp eyes, and straightened himself into the classy posture I was so used to seeing from him. “Enough sadness; we still have reason to celebrate. You survive Hell and saved your true love!” he cheered.
I gave him a half-hearted smile. “And everyone downstairs hates me because they think I’m a selfish bitch.” My voice was cheerful and loaded with sarcasm.
“You would’ve done the same if it had been any of us. That’s hardly selfish,” said Boude.
“That’s what I said!”
The door was cracked, but Raphael still knocked before peeking inside. “May I come in?” he asked.
“Sure,” I told him.
Boude stood up and straightened himself out as Raphael came into the room.
“Boude, this is Raphael; Raphael, meet Boude,” I introduced.
The man and vampire shook hands.
“I need to be going,” said Boude. “Thank you for chatting with me, and congrats on your success.”
“Anytime,” I replied as I watched
him leave.
He made sure to pull the door closed until the latch clicked.
Raphael stood in front of me, looking down to meet my eyes. “Everything OK?”
“Eh, he and Grace are…” I started.
“Ohh, that’s Grace’s boyfriend, who I’m guessing is now her ex.” Raphael put the pieces together.
“Yeah,” I said, and laid back on the bed.
Raphael climbed on top of me, straddling me and looking down at my face. “I think you could use an orgasm,” he said, and I watched the most delightful grin spread across his face.
I laughed, and felt the warmth of it spread up my face and down the rest of my body. “I think that’s an excellent observation.”
He kissed me deeply as his hands first explored my body over the clothes I had on, then slipped under my shirt.
“We still haven’t showered,” I breathed.
“Shhh.” Raphael silenced me with his tongue in my mouth again.
Once undressed, he was back on top of me, his fingers sliding in and out of me to make sure I was ready for him.
Once he was satisfied with how wet he had gotten me, he took my wrists in his hands and asked, “Does it still hurt?” inclining his head towards the injury.
I shook my head no, but said, “Just be easy.”
Raphael put my arms overhead and pinned me to the bed. My hips arched up to his, wanting to feel him inside me. He kissed me for a long time, letting that desire build and build; but the longer he waited, the more desperate I felt, and my attention turned from lust to fear.
I was pinned, helpless in his grip, and moving my arms meant potentially hurting myself. I couldn’t even turn my head away from his aggressive kiss to tell him to stop or catch my breath. My vision went fuzzy and dark, and when I tried to focus on Raphael, instead I saw the other demons we had seen in Hell—not the sexy ones, the scary ones—beings that looked half decomposed, with bits of raw flesh hanging from the red muscle and glistening bone underneath. In my mind’s eye, they smiled at me, happy they were still able to hurt me, maybe in the worst way possible: by ruining sex with the man that I loved in a place that I was supposed to feel safe. The smell of sulfur and decay filled my nostrils, and my mouth filled with saliva, like it does before you’re going to be sick.
Digging to Hell (The Gravedigger Series Book 3) Page 11