Eternal Night (Skeleton Key)

by Marian Tee

  Eternal Night

  Marian Tee

  Contents

  Copyright

  Hades and Persephone

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  Hades and Persephone

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  Hades and Persephone

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  Hades and Persephone

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  Hades and Persephone

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  Hades and Persephone

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  Persephone

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  About Skeleton Key

  About the Author

  Enjoy an excerpt of The Master and His Soul Seer Pet.

  Also by Marian Tee

  Eternal Night

  By Marian Tee

  Copyright 2016 by Streak Digital Publishing

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Hades and Persephone

  On the first instance Hades’ gaze settled on the brown-haired girl, the Prince of Darkness fell in love. Watching her play amidst the flowers, running freely on the meadows, and frolicking in the lake, Hades saw her as the epitome of joy and beauty, innocence and love.

  He wanted her. He must have her.

  And so he did.

  He went to her, a figure in and from the dark, a prince who made the promise of eternal night more forbiddingly thrilling than lonely and terrifying. His eyes, a swirl of black, white, and gray, mesmerized the girl, and she rose from her knees, trembling.

  When he offered his hand, she did not hesitate, and even as her heart beat maddeningly hard and fast, she placed her hand in his.

  Days passed, and Hades sought to be in the girl’s company almost every day. They talked and talked, past sun down and even when the moon reached its zenith in the sky. And finally, the day came that when the stars faded into slumber, Hades and the girl became one.

  The shadows they left on the grass blended, and her soft cries filled the night.

  He pledged his love to her, and so did she.

  When streaks of sunrise began to paint their skin, Hades turned to the girl in his arms. Looking at her, knowing that she had given herself to his, he had never felt more invincible and alive. For countless millennia, he had believed that it was his destiny to walk alone, despite what the prophecies foretold.

  But with her---

  With just one touch, she managed to sweep away the loneliness inside of his heart. With her, he began to hope, and if she agreed to be truly his, he would treasure her forever.

  “Persephone.” His lips savored the sound of her name. Persephone, Persephone, Persephone. Each utterance brought him untold pleasure.

  She looked up at him. “What is it, my love?”

  He said slowly, “I want you to be with me.”

  Her eyes shone. “Then be with me! I will tell Mother about you, and we could---” Her voice trailed off at the way Hades’ beautiful face remained grave. She said uncertainly, “What is it? Do you not want me to tell others about us?”

  “You misunderstand,” he said tenderly. “It would be my pleasure to let mankind and the world beyond it to know that you have captured my heart.” He touched her face. “But the way we are now – the way we do – cannot continue. My world languishes every time I am away. So you must make a choice.” He drew a deep breath. “And I hope you will choose me.”

  Her eyes widened, and she let out a nervous laugh. “If I didn’t know you so well, I w-would think you are proposing marriage.”

  Hades said simply, “I am.”

  Persephone gasped.

  “I love you, Persephone. You should know that by now.” He looked into her eyes. “Do you love me?”

  “Of course I do,” she cried out. And then unable to help it, she threw her arms around him, causing him to release a startled laugh as her sudden weight forced him to fall back on the grass. She rained kisses all over his face, laughing as well, but when she pulled away to look down on him, tears were streaming on her cheeks.

  “Oh, Hades. I never even hoped you would love me, too.” She smiled tremulously at him. “Everyone says that you are the type to make all the girls cry and break their hearts because no matter what, you will not fall in love with them. Every girl I know wants to marry you, do you know? Every girl!”

  “But I don’t want any girl. I want you.”

  Her cheeks turned pink. “Oh, Hades. You are one of our most powerful gods, brother to Zeus himself. How can you want someone such as me?”

  “You are a goddess yourself,” he reminded her. “Demeter’s blood runs in your veins, and she is an Olympian like me.”

  “Exactly.” Her smile was pained. “It is Mother who is powerful and famous, not me. You should have fallen in love with someone who had done more for the world, someone like Artemis---”

  Hades grinned. “She would not hesitate to shoot arrows into my body if she learns I am contemplating matrimony with her.”

  “Then Athena?”

  “She will steal Zeus’ thunderbolt and strike me down.”

  In a small voice, she asked, “Are you certain I am deserving of your love?”

  He shook his head, saying gently, “It is the other way around. I am not deserving of your love. I am sinful and broken, and yet still you entrusted yourself to me. You are everything I have wanted but never allowed myself to dream. You have enslaved me, milady, and I have never been happier to be one’s captive.”

  He clasped her face and drew her down for a kiss, and she surrendered to his touch with a soft moan.

  When he pulled away, he was smiling. “I love you.” But his eyes remained grave.

  “I love you, too, Hades.” She touched his brow. “But I don’t like you looking you so sad.” She bit her lip. “Tell me of this choice I need to make. If it’s to make you smile from the heart, I will do it.”

  He captured her hand and brought it to his lips, his heart softening at her words. “If only it were that easy, my love,” he said with a half smile.

  “It is when you love each other.” She traced his lips. “So tell me.”

  And so he did.

  “If you choose a life with me, my love, I promise to give all of myself to you. You will be my Queen – my everything. But it is also a life that dwells forever in the darkness, and there can only be a few days in each season that we may leave my kingdom. The balance of the worlds above would be ruptured if we were to stay away far too long from it.”

  At her silence, Hades rose up and gazed down at her. She was still lying on her side, one hand under her face, and her large eyes were filled with turmoil. It wrenched his heart, and he said tautly, “I am asking too much from someone as young and sheltered as you. I understand this. But I also had to let you know because I didn’t want you to think I’m abandoning you. I must return to my kingdom and---”

  She sat up and placed her fingers on his lips to stall his words.

  Their eyes met.

  “I will go to the ends of the earth with you if it is what you ask, Hades.”

  His heart thundered against his chest, and he had to fight for control as he carefully removed her fingers. “Do you understand what you’re saying?” he asked hoarsely. “Do you understand what life will you lead by becoming my bride?”

  “Yes, m
y love.”

  His arms locked around her, and he nearly crushed her to him, making her cry out in laughing protest. “Hades!”

  He forced himself to loosen his hold. “Sorry, my love.” He kissed her hair. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  A small town in England, Present Time

  Ever Carlisle wiped the tears from her eyes surreptitiously as she closed the book and hid it under her pillows. Although her bed was but boards of wood and her blanket was nothing but an old discarded curtain, these little discomforts ceased to exist the moment she lost herself in the stories of the Underworld.

  She could no longer count the number of times she had read this particular version of Hades and Persephone, but she was pretty sure she would continue reading it over and over. It was just so beautiful and romantic, so…much everything that her life was not was.

  The buzzer in her room sounded, reminding her on cue that Hades and Persephone’s love story was a dream and this---

  The buzzing went on and on, threatening to shatter her eardrums.

  This was reality.

  She had once asked Arisa if the volume could be adjusted, and her aunt had only given her a look. The next day, the buzzing had gotten twice as loud, and Ever had learned her lesson.

  Biting back a sigh, Ever sat up and reached for the intercom. She pressed the number for her aunt’s room. When her aunt picked up, she murmured, “Good morning---”

  Arisa cut her off rudely, demanding, “What’s taking you so long?”

  “I’m sorry, Aunt. I’ll be right---”

  Arisa slammed the phone down on her.

  “---there,” she finished unnecessarily. Returning the receiver to its place, she walked to the windows of her bedroom, which was really the house’s old and unrepaired attic. The world outside beckoned, with its cerulean skies and the sound of life.

  Chirping birds, the low chatter of neighbors greeting each other, and if she closed her eyes, she could even imagine hearing the way the wind sang of all the dazzling and beautiful things it had seen.

  This world was beautiful, but for one like her, it was but an oppressive cage and she would gladly trade it for a world of eternal night if it meant she could just be…

  Free.

  Outside, the skies slowly turned overcast. Lightning flashed. Thunder rolled. And then it started to drizzle. She closed her eyes, the sound of raindrops soothing her.

  She loved weather like this, mostly because she felt like this was how the Underworld would be.

  Exquisitely, soothingly dark, and ruled by a king and queen who loved each other.

  I don’t care if I’m stupid, Ever thought with a rare burst of stubbornness. Dreams were free anyway so why couldn’t she let herself dream of the most magical things?

  And for her, that dream would be to find her own Hades one day.

  Her Hades would sweep Ever off her feet and take her away from all of life’s cruel realities.

  Most of all, her Hades would see her as a human being worthy of love.

  Everyday life was predictable by nature, but whether such a routine would feel monotonous depended on the company one kept.

  Those who were surrounded with love were lucky. The very repetitiveness of their daily lives was an aspect they treasured. They saw it as a sign of stability and commitment, and there was no greater thing they could ask than the assurance that the rest of the days would allow them to stay together.

  But for those who were alone even when surrounded by other people, the sheer monotony of their days would be like a hole in their existence, a gnawing emptiness that would grow every second until they were but shells.

  They would stop living.

  Instead, they would merely exist…until they stopped existing at all.

  I can’t believe it’s just eight in the morning, Ever thought as she started cleaning the living room, which was decorated in shades of yellow. It was the picture of genteel poverty, which was ironic since everyone knew Arisa Carlisle was extremely wealthy. She only happened to be stingy, too, and did not care at all that the wallpapers had faded and started to peel and that the aging carpet covered the entire second floor already had a musty odor to it.

  Ever couldn’t help gritting her teeth as she pushed the heavy sofa to the side. It would be nice if she could have someone to help her with the furniture lifting, but that would mean Arisa having to pay for another helper in the house, which was next to impossible.

  When Arisa was done with the second floor, she trudged down the stairs carrying the vacuum cleaner to start on the hallway.

  Unable to help it, she glanced at the clock once more and suppressed a sigh when she saw it was only eight forty-five.

  It had been only less than four hours since she had woken up, but already it felt like an eternity.

  Usually, Ever would wake up at four in the morning to treat herself with an hour’s worth of reading. But today, she had woken up late and had barely enough time to shower and eat a quick breakfast before rushing to her aunt’s room at six-thirty.

  There, she would assist Arisa to change and take a bath and afterwards accompany her aunt to the dining room for breakfast. While Arisa had her morning nap, the rest of Ever’s day would be taken up by cleaning until it was time for her to have a quick lunch and afterwards to make sure that Arisa would wake up with lunch in bed.

  Then after that, there would be the gardening and errands while Arisa had her afternoon nap. By the time she returned, Arisa would have to be woken up to have dinner – still in bed – and after that she would need to prepare her aunt for bed.

  It would take about thirty minutes for Arisa to choose a book or pretend choosing one when they both knew her aunt would still end up choosing her favorite bible study companion, one written by the local pastor and which had a condescending and condemning tone throughout.

  Another hour would be spent on reading and only when Arisa had snored five times straight would Ever be able to safely leave the room. She could then have her dinner alone in the kitchen and by then, it would be close to midnight.

  She would have four to five hours of sleep before yet another day would begin and end, just like how the other days past had begun and ended.

  The vacuum cleaner suddenly started making loud noises, startling Ever out of her thoughts. Bending down, she switched the vacuum cleaner off and banged it a few times, the only way to get the decade-old appliance back to its normal self.

  Straightening, she glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner and bit back a groan.

  Eight fifty-five!

  Had ten minutes only passed when she had daydreamed about her day being over?

  “Be sure not to waste time gossiping with anyone,” Arisa muttered warningly as she handed her niece her yellowed library card that afternoon. “Once you’re done with the library, go straight to the market, buy the things on the list, and then come back here straight away.”

  “Yes, Aunt.” It was easier to agree with Arisa than let the other woman know that a) library cards had been phased out and b) no one in town, with the exception of the pastor and librarian, cared to even look at Ever.

  As far as the townspeople were concerned, Ever Carlisle was persona non grata the day Ever’s father died in bankruptcy, his personal fortune swindled by a con artist disguised as a foreign investor.

  “Be sure you’re back before five.” Arisa scowled. “You’re probably too selfish to care, but know that if you come later you are choosing to let me starve.”

  She nodded obediently. “I’ll come back as soon as I can, Aunt.” Privately, though, Ever believed her aunt could miss a dinner or two for her own good. For as long as Ever could remember, Arisa had been complaining of mysterious aches and illnesses while stubbornly ignoring her doctor’s advice about leaving the bed more often and eating less.

  Arisa tried to hide her irritation from Ever. Hateful child, she thought furiously. The girl just didn’t stop smiling, no matter what Arisa said or do
, and it was positively grating on her. Every day of her life, she found herself hating Ever more and more, with the way the girl reminded Arisa of how she had also been young and pretty once, and most of all, without these pounds of extra flesh that she had to carry like baggage.

  The changes in her physical appearance was something Arisa couldn’t make herself accept, and it had turned her into a recluse in the past decade, with only the pastor and librarian allowed inside her home.

  “May I go now, Aunt?”

  Arisa glared at her niece. “You can’t wait to leave, can you?” And no wonder, Arisa thought nastily. Outside, Ever would be able to bask in the men’s attention, whose gazes would all be glued to her niece’s pert breasts and swaying hips.

  It was not fair, Arisa thought bitterly, that she had been once just like Ever – and now she was like this.

  She saw Ever staring at her, and Arisa burst out, “You think I’m nothing but an old, disgusting, fat bitch, don’t you?”

  Ever blinked at the sudden vicious change in Arisa’s words. “Aunt---”

  “Even after all these years,” Arisa snarled, “you only see me as someone paying for the bills and nothing else.” Her voice turned into a shriek. “Don’t think I’m not aware you’d like me to die!”

  Ever shook her head, horrified at her aunt’s insinuation. “I would never---”

  “If you think you’re getting a penny out of me on my death, you’re wrong!” Arisa laughed wildly. “When I die, all my wealth will go to Pastor Nolan’s church, just as it should be. The nerve of you, to think you could inherit my fortune even when you still owe me money---”

  Ever’s temper began to strain, which was rare since poverty tended to effectively beat pride out of one’s system.

  “You’re just like your worthless mother, scheming to get money you haven’t worked hard---”