Chapter 1: Julias's Release

There stood the old Sakura tree, with its blossoms ready to burst, but the weather too cold. I watched as the sky filled my eyes, and the wind whipped my hair back. The pink strands glistening in the sun as my eyes closed. "Another day….." I breathed in the sakura scents and walked away from the tree, heading down to my small cottage. Opening my door, I walked inside and shut it behind me. I could feel the God's watching me and it made me feel safe. Taking care of that old tree is like a dream to me. I went into my room and opened a box that was in the woods. It was old and was a dark oak wood with Greek writing on the sides. I couldn't read it but I was interested with it with just one look. I reached for the latch and froze. What is this feeling? I couldn't keep my heart from racing and I held my chest for a few moments. After I calmed down I took off the latch, opening it slowly, I looked inside. I couldn't help but cover my mouth at the sight. "...Oh….my Gods." The only thing I could see was darkness inside it, a dark aura radiating from it, but the thing that shocked me was that I could feel someone in there.

I reached inside barely and felt something brush my fingertips. I was then knocked back into my wall, making me scream in pain. I landed on my knees and looked at the box. There stood a naked man, his hair a bleach blonde, and his eyes the color of the blue sky. His skin was pale with little pink. He looked down at me, with a type of dark expression I didn't understand. He grabbed my sheets and wrapped them around his waist, covering what he had. I was lucky not to see them, but I still couldn't stop staring at his beauty. His age area was around 21, but his face made him look more mature. He looked at the box and knocked it down to the ground, like it was a horrible meal. I watched it tumble down to the ground and land next to my bathroom door. He then looked back at me again, this time he started to walk to me. I stood up quickly and watched as he stood 1 and half feet taller than me. "...name." He spoke clearly and strong, like he expected me to answer. I couldn't find my voice to speak and tried to a couple of times. "R-...Rachel…" He studied my face and looked me in the eyes. "Julias. Thank you for releasing me from that box. Hades trapped me in there." I nodded slowly, not understanding what he was saying at first. "Well, i bid you goodbye." He headed to the front door and opened it, taking my sheets with him. I let out a breath i had been holding and turned to go get more sheets, only to meet him again. "One more thing, if you need help, call my name." How did he do that? He left again, and to my dismay, i looked around to make sure he was gone.

Seeing he was, I went to my closet and took out sheets, laying them on the bed. I fixed my bed and looked at the fallen box. Why would Hades do that? I walked to it and picked it up. It was now very much lighter than it was when I found it, and the inside was still a dark aura. I walked to my closet again, putting the box inside it and shutting the door. I didn't know what to do with it, but I didn't want it lying around.

I went into my kitchen and started on my evening meal, acting like meeting Julias never happened. He seemed dark but light at the same time, and I was confused by it. I was so occupied on him, i cut my finger with the knife i was using. "Ow!" I dropped the knife and held my hand to my chest. The blood already coming out, making me feel like i spilled hot water on my chest. I quickly sprinted to my sink, washing my hand as fast as possible. The blood mixed with the water and made it clear red. I couldn't help but curse at myself for thinking about him so much.

After I finished washing my now bandaged finger, I went back to cooking. I finished with the cutting and measuring, putting the items in the boiling pot. The scent of soup and chicken filled my home, making my stomach growl. "Mmm, I'm so hungry." I sat down on the counter, swinging my legs back and forth. I soon was planning on a bath, but I held it off until the food was almost done. I then heard a noise from the front of the house. I got off the counter and walked towards the sound. It got louder and I became a little frightened. Animals can't get inside and no one goes this far. I grabbed my broom, holding it up high, ready to hit the intruder. I got closer and leaned against the wall. I swirled around to the other side and swung, only to hear a snap of the broom. I realized my eyes were close the whole time and opened them slowly.

There stood a tall dark figure with a giant sword on his back. It was walking towards the kitchen and its feet made the sound i heard. Its eyes were a blood red, no pupils filling them, and his armor was as black as it could get. The spikes sharp and silver. I heard a low growl come from it and I slowly stepped back, its fangs showing more than i thought. It suddenly grabbed the rest of the broom i held and threw it to the side. I stepped back more, only to fall on a misplaced chair. Damn! I quickly looked at it, its hand reaching for the sword on its back. I stood there with eyes widened until my adrenaline kicked in. Right when it swung, I got up and ran. Its footsteps were loud and I jumped over my table into my kitchen. It followed, crushing my table and i looked around the kitchen for something to use as a weapon. i grabbed the knife and swung at it, its body lunging backwards. I then looked at my pot, boiling and hot. I quickly grabbed it, yelling in pain as the handles burnt my hands. I splashed my soup on it and watched as it roared in pain. I quickly stabbed its arm and ran out of the kitchen towards the front door. I reached it but was knocked down by a flying pot. I fell to the ground, holding my throbbing head. I felt dizzy and started to crawl as fast as i could. I could hear its footsteps getting closer and closer, but I couldn't crawl fast enough. I reached the frame of the door and grabbed it, just in case it tried dragging me back into the house. I was right and it grabbed my feet, pulling on me to get into the house. I held on for dear life as my legs felt like they were about to break. I couldn't do anything to fight and thought about what happened earlier. If you need help, call my name. That's it! I breathed in heavily and yelled as loud as I could. "JULIAS!"

In an instant after I called his name, I heard someone grunting. My legs weren't being pulled on anymore, and i turned my head slowly to look at the creature that attacked me. I saw Julias wrestling with it, his body smaller to it, but he was stronger. He squeezed the creature's body, trying to break its spine. I stood up and stood there in amazement at how fast he got here. He held the creature in a headlock and smiled demonically. "Now, apologize to her." His voice was demanding and dark, not the same as before. The creature looked at me and spoke in Greek. Julias tightened his grip and sneered. "That's not very nice." The creature choked and said something else, followed by a head but to Julias's face. Julias fell backwards and the creature lunged at me. I panicked and grabbed the broken broom stick, pointing it at the chest of the creature. I shut my eyes as I heard the sound of it gagging, the sound of liquid hitting the floor, and the struggling of the creature. I waited until it stopped moving to open my eyes. I opened my eyes slowly and saw the creature was dead, the broom inside its throat. I trembled and dropped it, watching him fall forward, moving out of the way. His blood was black and purple, its color staining my clothes and the floor.

I slowly looked at Julias, his face unharmed from the head but he got. He looked at me in surprise barely and walked over, kicking the creature. "Hades…..looks like you've found out." I looked at him confused and shook my head walking into the mess of my house. "...great." I began to pick up the broken pieces of wood that was scattered on the floor, getting a splinter every five seconds. "...thanks Julias." He looked at me and nodded. "Like i said, i'd help you if you called." I continued with picking up the broken pieces and then sighed.

He then with a wave of his hand, summoned a dozen skeletal janitors and they started cleaning and repairing everything. "I take it you're wondering why Hades trapped me in the box?" Julias asked. I looked at him in surprise at summoning them and shook it off. "Yes, i am." I said while walking to my closet. "My father did not want a new heir to lead his troop. That was a hundred years ago." I stood in shock as i looked at the over hundred year old man. "But, what was the point of asking Hades to do it? I mean, couldn't he have just killed you?" I didn't want to sound harsh, but i stated the truth. "because i am technically already half dead and also i haven't been allowed to age so I'm still only 15" I stared at him in shock, he looked more mature to be a 15 year old but I still couldn't believe it. I looked at the 'clothes' he wore and sighed. "Maybe you should get some new clothes. Going into the near town in, sheets aren't a good idea." I opened my closet and grabbed some fabric and my sewing kit. I always knew how to make clothes, but I only did it when I needed some for myself. I took out my measuring tape, turning towards Julias. "Now, could you please raise your arms for me?" He looked at me and nodded. "Of course." He raised his arms, making a T shape. I measured his arms and waist, making sure that his clothes would fit him perfectly. I then looked at his legs. Great...i have to measure his legs. I kneeled down and measured the length, then the wrap around of his legs. I measured his hips as fast as possible and stood up, walking to my room. "Just stay there, I'm going to make your clothes." With that, I walked into my room, shutting my door and beginning to cut and sew his clothes.

I woke up to a loud knocking on my door and sat up instantly. "Hey, you okay in there?" I heard Julias's voice calling to me and looked at his clothes. I had made him a long trench coat with a long sleeve gray tee shirt. His pants were baggy but tightened around his calves. I smiled lightly at my work and walked to the door, opening it. "You okay?" I nodded, wiping my eyes. "What's wrong talk to me please" he looked worried and I felt a little glad. "Nothing's wrong, i just fell asleep that's all." I went to my bed, grabbing the clothes and handing them to him. "Here, I finished the clothes for you." He took them and examined my handy work. "These are nice." i nodded and put up my sewing kit, walking back into my room. "You can bathe if you'd like, it's probably best since you haven't for over a hundred years." I jokingly said it but made sure to sound serious as well. "I already did" he said looking a little sad. I felt a wave of guilt rush over me, and I looked away. "I-I'm sorry….i didn't mean to hurt you." I walked into my room looking down, i never wanted to hurt him but i did. He then started cooking in the kitchen and it smelled quite sweet. I couldn't help but walk into the kitchen and look at him. "That smells amazing Julias,..Where did you learn to cook?" I stood next to him, looking at the food. "I had a hundred years of practice." I giggled at his comment and nodded. "Yeah you did." I walked to the dining table and sat down, tracing the wood texture. The feeling making my fingers on the wood go numb.[ I wondered why he most likely 'cared' about me, and looked out my window. That's when I saw it, the sky was dark and cloudy. The clouds thundering and lightening shooting onto the ground. What's going on?! I quickly stood and ran outside, looking at the swirling clouds. "Is this,...because of Julias?" I looked back at the house, noticing Julias standing right there. He was looking at the sky as well, my heart raced as he looked at me. "...Hades." He walked to me and looked at the Sakura tree. "We have to leave." "We? Excuse me i'm not the one who's supposed to be trapped in a box." He shook his head. "You let me out." That hadn't crossed my mind at all, and he was right. I let him out, and Hades will find me and probably kill me.

"Better pack your things, because we're leaving after breakfast." I looked at him and watched as he walked inside the house. I have to leave everything behind?...Even..the tree? I looked back at the tree, feeling my heart grow sad. I didn't want to leave, but I had no choice. I walked into the house and into my room, knowing i was close to crying. "...don't cry stupid….don't…" i couldn't stop myself and let my tears fall on the ground, the sadness leaving but growing. I could hear Julias's footsteps and quickly wiped my eyes. "Breakfast is ready, come on." I nodded, still facing away from him. He left the room and I followed, making sure my tears were held back.

I sat down, looking at the plate of food. I didn't feel hungry anymore, but I needed to eat for the journey ahead. I began to eat the eggs on my plate and could feel Julias staring at me. I looked at him slowly, his expression worried. I started to eat quicker, my heart pounding in my chest. I could see my plate almost empty and heard Julias stand. I didn't mind it and continued, only one bite left to eat. I then felt a hand on my back, my mouth full of food, swallowed fast. I looked slowly over my shoulder, seeing Julias. "...what's wrong?" I grew wide eyed at the question and could feel my tears. He quickly hugged me tightly, my small body enveloped in his. "It's okay, you can cry." I then let it out, crying deeply into his chest, only small whimpers being heard. I couldn't stop crying and gripped his shirt, my heart aching. "...Rachel, i know you don't want to leave but...it's only to protect you." That made me look at him oddly, we only knew each other for 2 days and he wants to protect me. I stood up, grabbing my plate and putting it in the sink. "I'm going to go pack my things." I walked to my room, shutting my door. I quickly grabbed my backpack and put all I could in it. I lastly grabbed my necklace, a sakura patel had been preserved inside the plastic glass structure. I loved it with all my heart. It was the only thing i had that reminded me of how blessful the god's were, and nothing could replace it. I put it around my neck and swung my backpack on my shoulder. Time to go. I walked out of my room, seeing Julias waiting. "Let's go." I nodded and we walked out my house, and i knew we had to burn it. He threw a match and the fire spread fast, leaving me to watch it glow in the dark sky. Goodbye. We walked away from the burning house and I glanced one last time at the Sakura tree that i loved. One tear rolled down my cheek and I walked on, watching the place I once called home, get smaller and smaller.