Chapter 10

It was just another morning in the Underworld. A lot had changed in the past few months. Hades wasn't cruel anymore and he was actually starting to treat others with respect (mainly them and Rhea). None of the other Underworld creatures ever wanted to go near him. For once, life was good. Opportunities for roasting were limited, and Hades and Belle were actually together, which had come as a surprise to the two imps.

"Ah, it's almost like a vacation," sighed Panic.

"Yeah, maybe we won't need those flame proof clothes after all," agreed Pain.

Meanwhile, in another part of the Underworld, Hades was not feeling the same joy as the minions. For the first time ever, he had gotten sick.

Oy vey, as if losing my powers can't get any worse. Suddenly, he glanced at the sundial (which can surprisingly still work in the Underworld). He was late, incredibly late. Belle was expecting him at breakfast, and he just had to be there. Being sick wasn't an excuse. Besides, maybe she wouldn't notice. If only he had known how wrong he was.

Belle gently tapped Hades on the arm again to wake him up. Suddenly, he opened his eyes startled, but relaxed when he saw Belle.

"Hades, I hate to say this, but I think that you might be coming down with something."

"Well, of course, I'm a permanent resident of the Underworld." Hades teased. He laughed slightly, but felt weak.

"No, that's not what I meant. I mean I think you're…" Suddenly Hades made a zipped shut motion on his lips.

"Belle, can we talk about this somewhere else?" Hades stood up and the two of them went into the hallway.

"Sorry about that Belle. But if anyone mentions an illness around here. The two imps will get freaked out. It's not that I care about them, but it's a nightmare to deal with." Belle smiled. She knew he actually did care but would never admit it. He kept his gentler side well hidden.

"So, what happened when you were sick before?"

"I haven't been sick before. Or if I have, I don't remember. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do about this inconvenience anyway." He coughed loudly.

"Hades, being sick is worse than an inconvenience."

"Fine, you're apparently the expert. What am I supposed to do, babe?'

Belle raised an eyebrow at first. Even though he was severely sick, he was as flirtatious as ever. She still wasn't used to the nicknames, but it was sweet anyway.

"Well, at least you haven't lost your charm. That's normally the first thing someone loses. Just go back to bed, Hades."

"For the entire day?"

"That's basically it. The only other thing that would help is if you had some kind of antibiotic."

"A what?"

"An antibiotic. It's a type of medicine that keeps you from getting worse."

"Well, then I definitely do not have any of that. Even if I had whatever it is before, I don't have it anymore. Is it easy to make?"

"I wouldn't know. I'm sorry, Hades. Just rest is all that you can do."

"Well, that's out of the question. I would rather spend the day with you than by myself."

"Hades, you are the most stubborn man I ever met."

"Even worse than Hercules?" Hades grinned. It wasn't exactly a victory, but being able to tease Belle slightly meant he was fine, right?

"Fine, I guess you forced me to resort to this then." Belle sighed and headed back to the dining hall. Hades didn't understand what the big deal was, then he remembered that his mother was in there. No. She wouldn't, would she?

He was about to tell Belle he was fine, when suddenly he was dizzy, and everything started to go dark. He passed out just as he saw Belle coming back with Rhea.

It was several hours later when he woke up. He noticed Belle was asleep next to him. She seems so calm and relaxed. If only I could make her feel this safe always.

"Belle?"

This time it was Belle's turn to wake with a start.

"Hades?"

"Thanks for staying with me, Belle. How long have you been here?"

"Since yesterday morning when you passed out. You said you didn't want to be alone." She smiled at him. Hades smiled back. This hadn't been what he meant, but who was he to complain?

"How much trouble did my mother give you for this?"

"She didn't. She doesn't know." Belle grinned, then blushed slightly.

"I guess you don't always follow the rules then."

"Sometimes I have a rebellious side to me. I guess you just brought it out."

"I hope you don't regret that. It just makes you even more perfect." Hades teased, but Belle wasn't looking at him. She seemed sad, instead of laughing brightly as she usually did when he teased her.

"I hope I didn't offend you, Belle. It's just how I see you."

"I think you mean Meg, not me. She's beautiful and witty, everyone says so. There isn't a man in the world who wouldn't love her." Belle sighed, and Hades held her hand gently. How could Meg be better than Belle? Belle was smart and kind, definitely not sarcastic. That had been the one thing he hadn't liked about Meg. Sure, there were times when it was useful to be manipulative and sarcastic, but it wasn't as if being that way had gotten him anywhere. Hades hadn't treated Meg horribly in all those years of her being his minion. She'd had her own room, her own space, and received time off. It was more than Pain and Panic had ever had. Now he was wishing he hadn't made the two imps get bunk beds and share a room. They usually fought about who got the top bunk.

"No, Belle. I don't mean Meg. The truth is, I really didn't like her all that much. She was alright sometimes, but usually she was just another difficult minion to deal with."

"Hades, I know I shouldn't ask this, but I have to know. How involved were you with my sister?"

"Nothing happened, actually. She might give the impression that it did, but I can assure you, the only relationship we had was master and minion, as it is with Pain and Panic. Did you really think I would be with someone like her?"

"Wasn't that what you wanted? Meg always said it was. She said some other things, as well." Belle looked away quickly.

Hades only scoffed. "She exaggerates. I asked her out once, she said no, very rudely by the way, and that was the end. I usually don't go after someone not interested in me, no matter what she may say happened."

"Well, what about me?" Belle asked.

"You're an exception, Belle. You're worth it. You'll always be worth it."

Belle kissed Hades gently. He did care. It didn't matter what her family said; he was worth it too. Belle stayed with Hades the rest of the day and read to him from different books in the library. When she went over to his desk to find another book, she noticed Romeo and Juliet on the first shelf. He had still kept it after she had found it that day in the library. Then again, he did say he wanted to read it again.

"Hades, what about this one?" Belle asked as she held up the book.

"I can't read it to you if that's what you're asking. I know it doesn't make sense since I'm fluent in a lot of languages, but I can't read Italian very well."

"So you've never read it?"

"I've never read anything by Shakespeare."

"Well, I can read it. I happen to be fluent in French and Italian."

"Where did you learn Italian? I thought your family only spoke French and Greek."

"Back when my mother was alive, she taught me and Meg. I was the only one who paid attention though."

Belle opened the book to the first page and began reading. Her melodious voice was simply intoxicating, and Hades cherished every word.

"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene…,"

Several chapters later…

"There never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo," Belle and Hades both sighed at the same time, then looked deeply into each other's eyes.

"Belle, that was amazing. I've never heard anyone read so eloquently."

"Well, I've never had someone listen so intently. Thank you for that."

"No one else has heard you read out loud?" Hades asked, incredulous.

"Not in several years, not since my mother passed away."

"I'm sorry to hear that, but you're welcome to read to me anytime. I enjoyed it very much, in fact I feel much better." Hades immediately got out of bed, before feeling slightly dizzy again. So much for feeling completely better.

Belle got up and helped him back to bed, but knew she should leave soon. It was bad enough that she had been in his room for two days, but she couldn't stay longer than that.

"Belle, wait. Don't go."

"Hades, I shouldn't even be in here as it is."

"Just like I shouldn't have been in your room?"

Belle sighed. "Hades, that was different, I needed you. I was scared."

"You think I'm not scared?"

"What would you have to be scared of, Hades? It's just a cold."

"It's more than that, Belle. I have no control over my powers right now, and neither of us knows how long this will last."

"Just a few days I'm sure. You'll be back to your old self in no time."

Hades knew she was only referring to how he had been before getting sick, but those words also reminded him how long he had to break the curse. Time seemed to be moving so fast now. He still wasn't sure it would work.