The Dark Paradise Trilogy Box Set

by Heather C. Myers

  “I-” she cut herself off, unsure of what to say. If she told him that she was overrun by someone, it would play into his belief that she wasn’t ready yet to be out fighting this war. If she told him the truth… Well, to be honest, she wasn’t sure how he’d react. Knowing Ollo, he’d probably feel some sort of guilt at the prospect of her saving him in exchange for her own life and mask his guilt through anger.

  “Don’t lie to me, darl.” As if he knew. He probably did. Then, “Please.”

  That did it. She was done. She couldn’t lie to him. Not when his voice, while still certain and firm was tender. Not when he said please.

  “It happened a few days ago,” she told him, her grey eyes glancing to the grass. The fresh scent pricked her nose; it had probably been cut this morning. “A woman was going to get raped. I stepped in to stop it. Black Wing was chasing someone down.” She shook her head, bit the inside of her lip. “And then, I had a vision.”

  Ollo pressed his lips together. “This, after he noticed you?” he guessed, and she nodded her head in the affirmative.

  “By the time it cleared up, the man was on top of me, slapping me around,” Reese said. She was able to finally look at him again. “If Black Wing hadn’t come when he had, the man would have raped and killed me too. The woman…” She shook her head, feeling her own bout of guilt seep into her bloodstream and course through her entire body. “I couldn’t save her.”

  “You can’t save everybody, darl,” Ollo told her. “That’s what I don’t think you’re quite prepared for yet. You can handle yourself, yes, but you need to realize that not everything is going to go according to plan. There will be blood on both sides, and you can’t take the loss personally. If you take on that burden, you’ll forget to fight, you’ll be vulnerable, and you, too, will be lost. And that is the last thing I want for you.” He paused, his eyes still studying her, still trying to decipher something. “What, may I ask, did you See?”

  This was it. The moment of truth.

  Reese took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders back. She would tell him. He deserved to know. And if she Saw it, it would already come to pass. No one could change it.

  “I saw you being threatened by someone,” she told him, her voice coming out more firm than she inwardly felt. Ollo somehow had the power to make her strong at her weakest point. “I don’t know who it was, exactly. I couldn’t see them. But they attacked you with a weapon. It wasn’t hand-to-hand. I think it might have been a knife,something small but powerful. And I jumped in front of you. I pushed you away so it wouldn’t kill you. Because if it touched you, it would have killed you. I don’t know how I know that, but I do.”

  Ollo clenched his jaw. She knew he wanted to immediately respond to what she told him, but she appreciated the fact that he kept his words to himself, at least for the moment. Until he had thought them through to make sure they wouldn’t come out the wrong way.

  “Why would you do that for me?” he asked.

  Reese furrowed her brow. She thought the answer was obvious. Were guys really that clueless? Did they really need everything spelled out for them?

  “Because I love you.” She said it as though it was a simple fact, not a revelation. Because that was what it was.

  He already knew this. She had told him how she felt when they had been camping, before her family was murdered, before the war had officially begun. Why did he need her to say it again? Especially when he, himself, had yet to ever admit to reciprocating the feelings.

  “Oh.”

  Well. That wasn’t exactly the answer Reese had been hoping for.

  “I thought you were avoiding me because…” He let his voice trail off and reached up to cup the back of his head.

  “Because…?” Reese prodded, perking her brow. She temporarily pushed the fact that Ollo completely ignored her confession again to the back of her mind.

  “I thought you regretted what we did,” he said, his eyes finding hers once again. “Not because you were injured. Not because you had a vision.”

  “Oh.” Now it was Reese’s turn to attempt to search for words. “No. I don’t regret that. I liked doing that with you. I know you know me better than anyone else, and I wasn’t sure how you’d react to my vision or… or my face. So I did avoid you until I came up with a feasible explanation.”

  “You were going to lie to me?” he asked flatly.

  “Just hide the truth for the moment being,” she said with a tiny smile on her face.

  Ollo looked like he wanted to say more, but didn’t. Instead, a thought struck him, and he asked, “Do you die for me, darl? In your vision?”

  Reese shrugged. “I don’t know, Ollo,” she told him honestly. “All I know is that I push you out of the way, I get struck and then I fell. After that, everything goes black.”

  18

  The first thing Keirah noticed when she opened her eyes was how badly her chest hurt. It felt as though someone had shot a hole straight through her heart and it ripped out through her back. Which, as her memory began piecing everything back together, was exactly what happened. Yet, somehow, she was conscious. Somewhere. Her hand reached up to her heart, it was still beating. There was no blood, only pain. Which meant that for the time being, she was still alive.

  She was lying on her back on concrete and she forced herself to sit up.

  “Ooh, be careful you don’t get up too fast.”

  Keirah looked up to find a blonde woman, a couple of years older than she was, kneeling down in order to help Keirah stand. It wasn’t concrete she was laying on, but tile. She blinked once, twice, her hand reaching up to touch the back of her head, to make sure there was no blood seeping out of an unknown wound. Her eyes took in her new surroundings – a plush room filled with corals and blacks. A four-poster bed with a canopy fit for a dark princess. A vanity mirror attached to a dark oak desk probably filled with toiletries. A tall, matching wardrobe, similar to the one Noir had given her back at the mansion. She wondered what type of clothes were in there, if there were any. No windows, only pale pink walls. It looked, felt, lonely. The atmosphere here was cool, not warm. Not welcoming.

  Where was she?

  “Where am I?”

  “Oh, um.” The woman glanced at her feet and then looked back up at Keirah. “Purgatory.”

  A smile broke out across Keirah’s face. “Are you serious?” she asked. She couldn’t have kept the glee out of her voice if she tried. “Purgatory? I made it?”

  “Um, yes.” The girl cocked her head to the side so she could study Keirah better. “I’m sorry, I’ve never seen a reaction like yours before. Are you insinuating that you’re happy to be in Purgatory?”

  Keirah turned back to regard the girl seriously for the first time since waking up. She was a few inches shorter than Keirah was, with wheat-blond hair pulled into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were a cauliflower blue, but they were hidden behind thick-rimmed glasses. She had red lipstick on–the only makeup Keirah noticed–which went surprisingly well with her pale skin. Clearly people who lived in Purgatory weren’t around the sun very often, if at all. The girl was dressed in a magenta collared shirt buttoned up at the elbows tucked into a grey pencil skirt. She looked… professional.

  “Yes, yes I’m happy to be here,” Keirah told her. Maybe this girl–however awkward she was acting–could help her find Noir. Or at least give her some kind of idea on where to start. “I’m looking for someone.”

  “Oh.” The girl pressed her lips together and nodded her head. “Oh. That makes sense. Normally, we don’t get breathers here of their own volition.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Excuse me.” The girl had the decency to flush. “I meant no offense. Breathers are what we call people from earth who haven’t actually died. In fact, only one other breather has come down here. He came to get the love of his life back, couldn’t actually follow the guidelines so she was condemned to remain here.” She shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. “Men
. Am I right? They can’t trust that we’re following them when clearly we are. They have to look.”

  “I don’t mean to interrupt, but who are you?” Keirah asked. She kept a hold of her patience because she knew that this girl could have the potential to help her. This girl might even be able to take her straight to Noir himself.

  “Oh.”

  Keirah smiled and shrugged her shoulders as the girl flushed at her rudeness.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I tend to ramble. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing it. Haye says it’s because I get nervous, but I just think it’s because I have so much to say and realize–” she cut herself off. “I’m doing it again. Sorry.” She cleared her throat and clasped her hands behind her back, trying to stand up straight. Her shoulders stuck up a bit, however. “I’m Persephone, but you can call me Seph. If you want, of course. Everyone here calls me Seph.”

  “You’re Persephone?” Keirah asked in total disbelief. She didn’t mean for it to come out rude, but it was hard to believe that this awkward woman–who looked to be no more than twenty-one years old, who stammered and rambled and who dressed like a thirty year old New York businesswoman–was the goddess of the Underworld, Persephone. The dark Queen, the only woman with the ability to capture Hades’ heart. His left-hand man, technically woman. This blonde wisp of a thing was Persephone?

  In all fairness, Keirah had to admit that she was pretty. In a nerdy kind of way. She had a nice body, good breasts–bigger than Keirah’s, but that wasn’t exactly saying much–nicely shaped legs - not too skinny, not too thick. Her face was oval-shaped, and maybe her eyes were a bit close together, but she knew that once Persephone removed her glasses, the color alone would strike anyone into speechlessness.

  It was hard for Keirah to wrap her head around the fact that she was talking to a real goddess. Royalty. And yet, Keirah felt as though she were intimidating the girl–woman–who was supposed to be queen. It didn’t make any sense.

  “Um, yeah.” She looked down at herself as though to double check. “That’s me.”

  Keirah shook her head, withholding the rest of her judgment. She needed to get her bearings and figure out her next step.

  “I thought I was in Purgatory,” she said. Her eyes glanced at the luxurious room once again, taking everything in. This didn’t seem like Purgatory or the Underworld.

  “You are,” Persephone–Seph–affirmed.

  “But you’re Persephone,” Keirah said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the Underworld, ruling next to Hades?”

  Keirah thought she might have imagined it, but Seph’s blush only deepened. As if she was in middle school. As if she really was the most awkward person Keirah had ever met. Even more awkward than Noir.

  “Purgatory and the Underworld are interrelated,” Seph explained. Now that she could focus on something, a fact, she seemed more confident. In fact, she was able to look Keirah in the eye without a problem. “They mean the same thing. Purgatory is where souls go before they’re ferried off to their final resting place. It’s like the gateway between Heaven and Hell. The Underworld is the same thing; it just has a different name. Does that make sense?”

  Keirah nodded. “But Hades still rules the Underworld?” she asked. “And Purgatory?”

  “Well, technically, he rules one world, referred by either of those names,” Seph went on, sliding her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “But yes, Hades exists and he is in charge.”

  Keirah furrowed her brow. “Wait a second,” she said. “What is he in charge of? If this place is a stop rather than a destination, then why is he needed? What’s his job, exactly?”

  “Well, not all souls immediately go to Heaven or Hell. Some do, but some have to remain here for a certain period of time. Until they’re forgiven or until they’re redeemed. Some are sent back to earth in order to complete a task, others remain here. Some live their life as though nothing happened here, while some are punished. That’s where Hades comes in. He regulates the souls, decides which souls are ready to leave, which souls aren’t. And then Henry ferries them to their final resting place.”

  “Wait, do you mean Henry?” Keirah asked, her brown eyes wide. “He’s really Charon?”

  “Um, yes.”

  “Then what’s he doing on earth?” she asked, more to herself than to Seph. “If he has a job, why frolic around on earth?”

  “Well, in his defense, earth is way more lively than here,” she said, and then chuckled. “No pun intended, but that was pretty good.” At Keirah’s look, her smile dropped and she cleared her throat. “Right. Well, there’s really nothing for him to do if souls aren’t ready to leave. When Haye calls Henry, he comes. Henry is always on time and always does his job. I think that’s why Haye doesn’t mind it when Henry chooses to spend the majority of his time on earth rather than down here. I mean, I definitely would.”

  “You can’t just leave?” Keirah asked.

  “Considering the fact that it’s nearly summer, no, I can start to leave if I want,” Seph responded. “I stay during the winter , leave during the summer. Like the myth says. Except I can choose to stay here longer if I want.”

  Something else struck Keirah as strange. “So Hades has more power than Henry?” she asked, perking her brow.

  “Duh.” Now Seph was looking at Keirah with an odd look on her face. “This is Haye’s domain, and Henry respects that. He’s good at his job. But Henry also knows his place. He doesn’t question Haye, doesn’t overstep his boundary, doesn’t argue. Henry respect Haye, and Haye really respects Henry.” Seph furrowed her brow, crossing her arms over her chest. “Which begs the question–well, I’m not sure if this particular matter begs the question, but I just realized something now–how’d you get here, anyways?”

  “What do you mean?” Keirah asked.

  “You’re a breather – no offense,” Seph said quickly. “Like I said, we don’t get breathers down here, like, at all. Somehow, you were able to get here whilst alive. How?”

  When Seph was on the interrogation side of things, she had confidence. That was what made her look beautiful. Almost intimidating. Unstoppable. Keirah couldn’t help but stare at her.

  “Henry told me.” Might as well be honest about it. There was no need to lie. She just wouldn’t go out of her way to explain if she didn’t have to.

  Seph quirked a brow. “What did you give up in exchange for getting here?” she asked.

  “We worked something out.” Keirah almost told her he asked for her soul. She wasn’t going to tell Seph she refused, but Henry’s actual request sounded more believable than what she stated. However, in keeping up with the honesty policy, she decided on something vague but plausible.

  Seph didn’t look like she believed her, but didn’t question it. Instead, she shifted her weight and looked to the side. Keirah wondered if Seph’s own room resembled this one, or if it was much grander. Or if she shared one with Hades – Haye. Were they married yet? Or was she just trapped down here for six months?

  “Why?”

  The question through Keirah off guard, and she blinked once. “Excuse me?” she asked, focusing back on Seph.

  “Why would you work something out with Henry in order to get down here?” Seph asked. “Just because we’re not familiar with the everyday going-ons on earth, we are aware of Henry and what he represents. We know how powerful he is, and we know how intimidating breathers are when they cross his path. People are either very foolish or very arrogant if they choose to strike a deal with him. Knowing all of this, why would you choose to be in debt to a man more powerful than your president. Of the United States. What I’m trying to say is–”

  “I think I got the gist of it,” Keirah said, holding up her hand. “I did it for love.”

  “Love?” Seph asked, her eyes wide. “You’re in love?” Keirah furrowed her brow, causing Seph to start stammering. “I don’t mean to insult you, of course. I mean, obviously you’re in love – have the
capacity to love. And love makes you do crazy, great things. Including sacrificing whatever it is you chose to sacrifice for Henry. Well, not for Henry. To Henry. For information or transportation on how to get here. Or something. I really have no idea how these things work, especially when it comes to Henry. Seriously. That guy is so–”

  “Have you ever been in love, Seph?” Keirah asked, cutting her off.

  “Me?” Seph looked bewildered at such a question. “In love? Um. Well, define love. Is it familial or platonic? Or romantic? Because, you see, I’m not sure. I guess everyone has their own definition of love, but I’m not sure if my definition is the right one. You know what I mean?”

  “It doesn’t matter how you choose to define love,” Keirah told her. “All that matters is you get to define love for yourself.”

  “I–” She paused, letting Keirah’s words sink in. “That’s actually…” She shook her head, her blonde hair following the movement in its ponytail. “Wise.” She smiled and looked back up at Keirah. “That’s actually very wise. I take it the knowledge comes from personal experience?”

  Keirah shrugged a shoulder. “Something like that,” she said with a nod of her head.

  “So, the guy–or girl; we don’t judge down here–you’re in love with died, and you’re trying to bring him back to life?” Seph guessed.

  “I’m not sure,” Keirah replied. “I’m told that the guy I’m in love with isn’t human. So I’m not sure if something that was never alive can really die…”

  “What do you mean?” Was it Keirah’s imagination, or did Seph pale?

  “I think Burr referred to him as an Excom?” Keirah said, trying to remember her conversation with the lawyer. “Like, he’s so bad that both Heaven and Hell excommunicated him.”