Eternal Night (Skeleton Key)

by Marian Tee

  It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, but when she did she was slowly able to make some outlines ---

  Ever’s hands flew to her mouth in an effort to contain her terrified scream when she realized what was carrying her tent.

  Underneath the tent was a pair of large and powerful creatures, with shaggy black hair covering their bodies and flaming red hair covering their heads. They walked on four legs and were about ten feet tall –

  But they could get taller than that, Ever thought sickly, if these creatures ever choose to rise on their hind legs.

  What were these creatures? They appeared like donkeys and yet she couldn’t recall any kind of species that could be this big. Were they docile or aggressive? Should she risk jumping off or---

  The creatures suddenly went still.

  A moment later, the creatures let out a keening cry before doing exactly what Ever feared the most. The pair rose up, and Ever screamed as she found herself tumbling back into the tent. The back of her head hit the bed, and she moaned. A moment later, she felt the creatures drop back down on their fours, and this time she found herself falling forward---

  Oh my God, she was going to fall out of the tent and before she knew it, the creatures would crush her under their hooves---

  A pair of strong arms suddenly swept her up, and when she opened her eyes dazedly, she found herself staring straight into the dark gaze of the god of the Underworld.

  “Are you alright?”

  She stammered, “H-how---”

  Hades took her back to bed, and as he laid her down, he said dryly, “You know who I am, milady. I’m sure you do not really need to ask how I came to you so quickly.”

  Her lips opened and parted, Ever unable to make her mind what she wanted to ask first.

  Logic told her that she could be just dreaming all of this. If not that then she was dead. Or Inception was real.

  But---

  Her instincts, on the other hand, insisted that this was real – whether she liked it or not.

  Realizing that Hades’ dark burning gaze was still on her, she began to feel self-conscious and hated herself for it.

  He is a married man, Ever!

  He may be your fictional boyfriend, but this is real now, and he’s not yours!

  Seeing the ferocious frown that had furrowed her smooth forehead, Hades said honestly, “Whatever it is your thinking, I would willingly pay a king’s ransom to know.” He paused. “But you probably wouldn’t tell me, would you?”

  “No.”

  His lips twitched. “I figured.” Moving forward, he sat down on the edge of the bed and raised a brow at the way she immediately scooted away and practically plastered herself to the wall behind her.

  “Are you afraid of me, milady?”

  Unable to bear the thought of lying to him, Ever said reluctantly, “No.” But before he could ask any more leading questions which she truly didn’t want to answer, she changed the subject awkwardly by speaking the first thing that came to her mind. “The creatures carrying this tent…what are they?”

  “Empousai,” Hades answered readily, remembering belatedly that such creatures were unknown to the modern world. “They’re gentle creatures, despite their appearances. I’ll introduce you to them later.”

  “Uhh, thanks.” Her voice was weak.

  “You will love them, I assure you. They are quite affectionate.”

  “I’m sure.” Remembering how huge the empo-something was, Ever wondered uneasily if that was a good thing. She sneaked a peek at the god of the Underworld and with his attention seemingly trained elsewhere, Ever couldn’t help studying his appearance.

  Everything about him felt both familiar and unfamiliar, she thought absently. He was much, much taller than she expected, and more powerfully built, too. If she had to be honest, he was also more beautiful than she imagined, and the way his hair and eyes were the purest shade of black was quite mesmerizing.

  And as for those wicked lips of his---

  Ever’s face flamed as she remembered too late the way the god of the Underworld had licked and bitten her ear, and even worse, how much she had liked it.

  How could you, Ever Carlisle, she chastised herself despairingly.

  This man was married! Worse, to a goddess! Worst of all, no Greek myth had ever made mention of divorce---

  Shame washed over her upon realizing where her thoughts were heading, and Ever’s hands flew to cover her face.

  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.

  Or husband.

  Got it, Ever?

  When she lowered her hands, it was to find the god of the Underworld smirking, and his tone was light and teasing as he asked, “Are you uncomfortable at looking your fill of me, milady?”

  An embarrassed squeak escaped her.

  Could gods read minds?

  “No,” Hades murmured. “Gods do not read minds---”

  “But you just did,” she cried out.

  He chuckled. “No, milady. I didn’t. What I did read was your face, which is quite expressive.” When he leaned towards her, she stiffened, and Hades frowned. “What is wrong?”

  “I can’t believe you’re even asking that question,” Ever muttered.

  He raised a brow. “Why shouldn’t I?”

  “Because!” She threw her hands up in frustration.

  “Explain,” Hades commanded, not liking the way she was gazing at him now. It was as if he had disappointed her. Which was crazy, he thought, since he had never met her before this.

  “I can’t believe you’re making me explain!” Ever shook her head in dismay. “And to think you even bit my ear---”

  “Why shouldn’t I have?”

  “Oh my God, that you would go there---” She shook her head miserably. “You’re not supposed to be like this. I dreamt of this so long, and I never thought it would come true, but now that I’ve finally met you---” She glared at him.

  “If you look at me like that one more time,” Hades murmured pleasantly, “I shall take you to bed and will not let you leave until the next sunrise.”

  A squeak escaped Ever, and she quickly averted her gaze from his, thinking despairingly, This is definitely not the Hades she had read about. He wasn’t just adulterous but he was even more sadistic and---

  Outside the tent, the creatures let out another cry, and Hades said, “We have arrived.”

  “W-where?” she asked without looking at him.

  “The Underworld.”

  Before the fact could even sink in, Ever found herself once again swept up in the god’s arms and a second later, he had flown her out of the tent and taken her to stand a short distance from a pair of gates that seemed as tall as mountains. They were unlike any gates she had ever seen in her life, but in a way they were also exactly like what she would expect of the Underworld.

  This was where the dead go, she thought weakly, so of course it had to be frightening.

  And it was that, with the gates made of superimposed corpses that seemed to have been buried between layers of perpetually burning rocks. Once in a while, a pale limb would protrude, causing the layer of burning rock to expand before snapping back in---

  She swallowed at the wailing sound that followed, like someone being tortured.

  “Are those real?” she whispered.

  “A preview of Tartarus is the best way to describe it.”

  She gulped. Tartarus was where the titans were imprisoned as well as where irredeemably damned souls went, never to be seen or reincarnated again.

  “Are you ready to enter the Underworld, milady?”

  She slowly turned to look at him. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

  He laughed. “You say that, and yet your eyes appear to be glowing in excitement.”

  Oh!

  As her cheeks turned red yet again, he considered her thoughtfully, an idea occurring to him. He asked carefully, “Do you know which oracles are dedicated to Apollo, milady?”

  “Delphi is
the only one I know, nothing else.”

  “Do you know which city honors Hermes as its patron?”

  “Sorry, no.” She paused before saying awkwardly, “I’m sorry if my lack of knowledge disappoints you. I actually haven’t finished high school.”

  Hades was stunned. “But you appear well-read---”

  “Not really, and most of the books I’ve read are from the library.”

  Blaming himself for the note of shame that had crept into her voice, he said gently, “There is nothing shameful in what you have revealed, milady. But I also beg your forgiveness for making you speak of such things.”

  She shrugged, obviously discomfited, mumbling, “It’s okay. It’s no big deal.”

  But it obviously was, Hades thought and he made a mental note to send for the wisest scholars so that his future queen could learn to her heart’s content.

  But first---

  He offered his hand. “Shall we?”

  “Umm---”

  Seeing her glance at his hand like it was a snake about to bite her, Hades bent his head and whispered to her ear, “I’m beginning to think you have a secret liking of being threatened. Do you, milady? Because I can think of several quite easily right now---”

  Ever grabbed the god’s hand. “Let’s go?”

  Hades straightened. “A pity.” She grunted, and the sound, albeit unfeminine, was also genuine and this pleased him immensely.

  As they started to walk, the god asked Ever for her name.

  “Ever.”

  “And you are from England?”

  “Yes.” Did he really not know, Ever wondered, or was this some sort of test?

  “You spoke earlier of a magical door,” Hades prompted. “Tell me how it came to be and how it transported you to my world.”

  “It started when I heard music, the one playing at your party. And then I heard voices, probably your guests, and I followed the sounds until I came to a room in the library and then it was gone.” Ever drew a breath as she remembered the sense of crushing disappointment that had weighed down on her at that time, and she whispered, “It made me sad.”

  “Because you wanted it so badly?”

  She nodded. “I had almost lost hope when I found a skeleton key, and that was when the door appeared. The key unlocked it and the next thing I knew, I was here.”

  “Do you have the key with you?”

  She nodded.

  “May I study it when we reach my castle? I promise to be careful with it, and I shall only study it in his presence.”

  She hesitated for a moment before nodding once again.

  “Thank you.” By now, they were standing right in front of the doors, and he said gravely, “My kingdom lies behind these doors, milady.”

  “I know.”

  “It shall be your kingdom, too.”

  “I know---what?”

  He raised a brow. “I told you, did I not? You are my prophesied---”

  “No, I’m not!” She was shaking her head vehemently while trying to tug her hand out of his hold, but Hades didn’t even consider letting go.

  “Do you not want me, milady?”

  His dark gaze glittered at her, and she said weakly, “That’s not the point.” But inside, she wanted to weep in despair. Yes, she did ask for her own Hades – but she had not asked for the original one, especially when the latter was married!

  As Hades started to lean towards her, she found herself leaning away, all the way down to her waist until here was nowhere to go if she didn’t want to fall on her back.

  His hand suddenly touched the small of her back, and Ever yelped. She had never been touched by a man so intimately before, and she could feel her mind slowly losing its grip on rationality – and morality.

  “Please---”

  “Please what, milady?”

  She said in a rush, “Don’t do this. It’s not right. You’re married.” There! She had said it, and now she had an even greater urge to weep.

  A second later, she found herself settled back to her feet and when she looked up, confused, the god of the underworld demanded, “What did you say?”

  She stubbornly pursed her lips, not wanting to repeat such painful words.

  The god’s hands settled on her shoulders. “Did you just say I was married?”

  Of course I did, she thought furiously, and the whole bloody world knows it.

  Hades’ lips curved in a smile as he realized that this all along was the reason why she had appeared so adamantly against being with him. “You little fool.”

  She glared at him. “I am not a fool.”

  Instead of answering her, he asked, “Do you know of the gods that stand by the entrance of the Underworld?”

  Ever blinked. Where did that come from?

  “Do you?” Hades pressed.

  “Of course.” Frowning, she enumerated them one by one. “There is anxiety, Diseases, Fear, Agony, Hunger, Death, Grief, Sleep, and Old Age. The entrance is also guarded by the Guilty Joys and on the other side are War, Discord, and the Furies.”

  “Impressive,” he murmured.

  She turned red. “It’s nothing. I’ve just read it in a book.”

  “And yet you don’t know all the oracles devoted to Apollo.”

  “I---”

  “Or even the city that looks upon Hermes as its patron god.”

  Ever froze, finally realizing where this was going.

  “It seems, milady,” Hades drawled, “you were only interested in me.”

  Bloody. Hell.

  “There is no need to worry,” he purred. “It is as it should be---”

  “It’s not,” she snapped even as her face couldn’t stop blushing.

  Bloody, bloody hell.

  The god of the Underworld knew that she had a crush on him – even when he wasn’t real!

  “You are my prophesied queen.”

  “I’m---”

  “The one I’ve been waiting before,” he finished.

  “How can I be,” she cried out, “when you have---”

  Hades’ lips brushed over hers, and Ever froze.

  Again and again, his lips moved over hers, their mouths grazing against each other, and Ever’s knees began to buckle.

  Bloody, bloody, bloody---

  He whispered against her lips, “Contrary to what you have read in books, milady, I am what you would call…”

  Her heart stopped beating.

  His teeth sank into her lower lip, and she shuddered.

  When he released her lower lip, Hades said, “I believe I am what your times consider as a divorced man.”

  Bloody, bloody, bloody hell!

  So there was divorce in Greek’s myths, after all.

  And then there was no time to think as the god of the Underworld conquered her mouth in a deep kiss.

  It was Ever’s first kiss of any kind, but she didn’t even think of resisting.

  This was Hades.

  This was her dream come true.

  If he had told her he wanted to make love to her at that moment, she would have started stripping.

  Or at least she would try, Ever thought hazily. It was hard to concentrate on anything, with the way Hades’ mouth was driving her crazy. And oh, there was his tongue. The way it stroked inside her mouth, tasting every inch of her, was making her shudder over and over, and when Hades started sucking on her tongue---

  Ever threw her arms around the god’s neck and clung to him as her knees completely gave out.

  It was the sweetest and hottest kiss, but it was over before she could even think of savoring it. She blinked up at Hades, still unable to string two thoughts together.

  “Do not look at me so, milady,” Hades said under his breath, “or you will have your wedding night before your wedding.”

  Even as she felt her face heat up, Ever muttered with awkward honesty, “I don’t mind.”

  Hades’ gaze widened imperceptibly and he said under his breath, “You appear to have a natural flair for saying and
doing things I don’t expect you to do.”

  Oh!

  That was a good thing…right?

  The god flicked her forehead, startling her, and he murmured, “That is quite a feat, considering my age.” Taking her hand once more, he told her solemnly, “And while I appreciate your efforts to seduce me---”

  She choked out, “I…did…not…” Or did she? Ever was confused. The last time a boy had tried flirting with her was when she was sixteen, and she could no longer recall the rules.

  “If you say so.” His voice was soothing, but his eyes were gleaming wickedly.

  Who would have imagined the god of the Underworld could be such a flirt, she wondered dazedly.

  “Are you ready, milady? My subjects await us.”

  “S-subjects?” she echoed faintly. Surely, that didn’t mean what she thought it meant.

  “Yes, and they shall be your subjects, too, once you are officially crowned as my Queen.”

  Ever’s knees were threatening to give out again, and this time so was her lungs, which was starting to struggle in its ability to draw in oxygen.

  The god of the Underworld was intent on making her, Ever Carlisle, his Queen.

  She watched him raise his hand, and the ground underneath them began to shake as the enormous doors began to open.

  Before she could think about what she was doing, Ever had already reached for his hand---

  Hades turned to her in surprise.

  ---and yanked in back down.

  “Wait!” She gulped, expecting the god’s fury or at least irritation but Hades was grinning again. It made him look even more handsome, and for one moment she lost her train of thought. What was she going to do again? And what had she done to make him look at her so?

  Seeing her blink bemusedly at him, Hades explained, “You have done something completely unexpected again.”

  Riiiight.

  Didn’t that mean she was acting crazy, Ever wondered.

  Then again, an amused god was always better than an angry god so she wasn’t going to complain.

  Clearing her throat, she said carefully, “This, err, thing about your subjects---”

  “Soon to be our subjects,” he reminded her.

  Ever coughed. “Yes, well, that’s the thing---”

  Her visible discomfort turned Hades’ face expressionless, and his voice was without inflection as well when he asked, “Are you worried they are all monsters?”