Chapter 13:

I popped out the cough syrup and cleaned his hands and face with sanitation. I carefully chose the pills and the syrup, trying to keep his hands, clothes, and face clean from anything harmful. The King wasn't able to talk, but he was able to open and close his eyes. There was no emotion that I could see and that scared me. I put on my gloves and kept working.

Marcus could lose his dad. All because of illness. Which brought me to my breaking point. I lost my dad a long time ago. To something terrible. And now Marcus was going to lose his dad soon.

That's what drove me to do my best for him. I don't know what kind of disease Romptus had, but I tried to be careful. Romptus wasn't a bad man. I know he wasn't. He did love his son. I'm positive of it. It almost brought me to tears, that a man was going to die right infront of me.

Through the night I worked quietly, trying not to bother with the Lord of the Underworld watching me from behind in the shadows of the window curtains. I didn't care if he saw the pills and little bottles, just as long as he was going to keep his promise. Hades, that son of a bitch. I didn't know what he wanted with me. I didn't what he was going to do. But I was sure I was going to die. Slowly. Painfully. Soon.

"Could you please not stare at me?" I asked him.

There was no sound, but he heard me.

"Who are you?" his voice asked.

I gulped.

A lot of people were wondering that by now. Everyone in this new world. All of them. All throughout the land, they wondered. How curious it was, with the way I dressed and the way I talked and handled things on my own. With my choice, I decided that Hades would be the first person to know.

"My name's Evey. Evey Thornton."

My chest was lifted! Finally someone knew my full name.

"Even by your name… I know that you are not who they think you are."

"I know… I'm not special as they all say. I'm not special in any way, I'll tell you that right now."

"You are a mortal… but not a mortal created by Zeus."

"No."

"You have strange…abilities. Strange possessions. Things I have never seen before. That no one here has ever seen before."

I had my back turned towards him. I could feel his presence get closer. Walking. Striding towards me. In a possible attempt to get closer to who I was. I couldn't do this anymore. Someone had to know.

"Do you want to know the truth?"

I looked back at him, looking into his grey eyes. Hades stood there, accepting my offer of intelligence.

"Do you really want to know?"

I gave a small smile. It was a great relief to let someone finally know. It was a huge weight that was put on my shoulders.

This was it.

"I'm from another world. I'm just a Junior in Highschool, who lives in a place called America. That's where I come from. I'm wasn't completely happy there, but it was good enough for me. I'm not from here. I don't even know where I am. I can play volleyball, basketball, and tennis. My grades in school are fair, but I'm not a slacker, and I'm not a genius too. I have a driving permit, and I'm still learning to drive out in the open road. I don't have my license yet.

I have friends who are just like me from where I come from. In two years I want to go to college and get my education. But that's not going to happen, I don't think. Now look. My life's turned upside down. I don't know how I got here. I don't know why I ended up here. But I know that I'm a lie. You don't know how hard it is! You have no idea what spot I've been put on! A complete lie. A fake. Just a joke…" my voice trembled at that last sentence. I turned back around.

The King was sweating. There was a light on his face. Giving off the clear signs of how sick he was at the moment. I didn't know if he was getting better or getting worse. Marcus looked so much like his father. Just as my mom said I had my dad's smile.

"Why weren't you happy?" Hades asked.

I didn't think it was a personal question, so that was ok.

"Because of a…death in the…family. It was huge blow to our family. It was my father. He, uh, died a long time ago. It was a long time ago, but I still remember it. Sometimes I want to remember it and sometimes I don't. Which makes me sad and confused, and when I'm sad or confused, it makes me angry. After he died, it was just me and my mother. That was the…hardest time for us."

"Death is life. Life is death. Death is just." Hades stated.

Being the expert and all.

"I know. But I was young… I was…- I was young. I was too young. I didn't know it would happen to us. I didn't know. I was young."

"How did he die?"

"I'm not telling you that…" I sniffed," Not that you would care."

I gave him a long glare before returning to my work. I didn't want to get into this. Not now. There was no chance for me to go home now. The King would be better. I'm not going to let Marcus go through what I had to go through. My mind didn't press on the subject any further.

Through the next couple of days, the King would look up at me, then go back to sleep. Hades would be there. Then he would not be there. On some days, I had to wear my mask with gloves, and prepare soup and hand feed to him, then put him to sleep and do it all over again. The King would try and sit up, but fail.

"Don't do that. It's time to clean you up."

I put the King down and cleaned him up. Softly and gently cleaning his face and hands, killing germs and bacteria.

More days passed. The number of days added up to a week. Which made me nervous and scared for my mom. In my world, I wondered how long I been gone. The speed of time was weird here. But on one morning, I came into the King's chambers to give him his daily medicine when I saw him sitting on his bed. Looking towards me, he gave a smile, an appreciative smile.

"So…Princess…you are the ocean healer I have heard so much about?" he smirked.

"Yea. I have so many names I can't even keep track."

"Are you here to marry Marcus?" he raised his brows.

"I'm here to help you. And because I want to. Not because I don't have a choice…"

"My Marcus… my boy… Where is he?"

"He's safe… but he won't be for long."

Fear tugged at Romptus, making him tremble. I gave him a sympathetic look.

"What do you mean? Where is he? I want to see him!"

I pushed him back, a little frustrated with him.

"Sit down before you fall down! Marcus and I negotiated with the men of King Atalo and if you stop being stubborn and greedy, your son might live! King Atalo isn't happy with the way you remember your truce over the land! Remember? A long time ago? When you two were trying to work it out?"

"Greed? Land!"

Guilt was written all over his face.

That set his teeth on edge.

"You know what you did! How could you do that! You let it get to your head you ass! If you give up the land you stole, Marcus can live, and you won't have to go to war! There is an army! On their way here! Ok? Shit's bout to go down! If you catch my drift. Get it? Now pull yourself together!"

I poked him in the chest.

"I know your freaking out but don't be such a girl and do what's right! A lot of people are going to die if you don't! I made a deal and-and-"

I broke off mid-sentence.

My shoulders fell, stricken with grief. It was a very terrible, but honorable thing to do. Sacrifice my happiness for another. Marcus will be happy his dad's ok. With the look on my face, Romptus gave me a concerned look.

"What is it, Princess?"

I regained my breath. My eyes turned towards the window, and was thankful that Hades wasn't here to scare Romptus into a heart attack or something.

"Nothing. It's important that your healthy…and you can…see your son. You do feel alright do you? No sore throats? Itchy eyes? No dry mouth? Sneezing? Runny nose?"

"No. And I give you my most- You have my utmost gratitude. Thanks to you, I can be with my son."

"No problem. But I need you take these every day, once a day, and you'll feel better. I don't know what you were so sick about. But these will help. Don't take them all at once or you'll overdose and die."

I dug out the pills, giving him about 10 pills.

"What are these?"

"Very special medicine… It'll help. Once you take these, drink it with water. But don't drink it with wine or any other alcohol. It'll make you drowsy and sick, and it common for it to be unhealthy."

The King was about to burst into tears. Back in these days, I guess it was rare to see a King cry, because he was trying to conceal it. He put the pills in a small bag. He made the noise when men are tying to make it look like they're not crying.

"If there is any way that I can thank you. You-You are the most gracious young woman I-I have ever met! You are so kind and warm! If I was 20 years younger, I'd ask you to be mine," he blushed.

"Thanks. But there is one thing that I'd like for you to for me…" I trailed off, getting my bag.

"Of course! Of course! Anything! Anything you ask! Anything!"

From my bag, I pulled out the golden coins.

The gold coins that Prince Marcus gave to me when he helped me escape. When he asked me to fetch the apples.

I gave it back to the King.

"I didn't spend any of it. But it would mean a lot if you give these to a couple of friends of mine. It's the village down by the sea, where I first started to heal people. I'm sure you heard of it. Their names are Adelio and Andra. I think it would help them because they're going to have a baby soon."

The coins ringed loudly as I dropped them into his hands. Clanking and piling up. There was more than 20 gold coins perhaps, toppling back into the hands of the rich. The King was…utterly mortified.

Speechless.

Shocked.

"P-Princess…" he whispered.

"What are shocked about? You're a King. You shouldn't be surprised if you get a few more gold coins or not."

"It's not that. But…most women around here would take this gold and go fend for themselves… Just take what they want and give nothing back… Y-You are not like the others…" he trailed off.

That's when I started to lose it. I did it! I saved a father, a father that I could never get back.

But I was sad. Hopelessly sad, because in the shadows of the curtains, there he stood. Hades. It was time to go. To disappear completely. Hades waited. Our deal. That's when I started to cry.

"Tell Marcus t-that- I hope he finds a new love. And I-I know she'll be what his dreams are made of. Tell I'm I'll think of him everyday. A-And I'll miss him. And that I want to give him something…" I reached into my bag.

I pulled out my bracelet. Danglers.

"I want him to have this. He gave me something in the beginning and I want to return the favor."

"But where will you go?"

"I'll be fine. Tell Adelio and Andra that I'm ok. And I give my best wishes for their baby. Tell them that the gold is for them and their village. Tell them that the gold is, like, for the baby shower…." I smiled.

Then… I had one more request.

"And tell King Atalo that h-his men are very brave. I would know, because I saw them try and go up against a beast in the forest once. And t-tell…Aric I'm sorry. He's the leader of the Atalo's army. I'm so, so sorry! That I never meant for this to happen. And I want to give him something…" I reached in my bag.

I pulled out the white scarf, the ocean I wore when I walked out of the ocean.

It still had a clean white texture to it.

Aric would be terribly heartbroken…telling his men about his runaway bride to be.

His future gone wrong.

My throat stretched itself, making my pain not all the more fun.

King Atalo bowed his head, and took my requests seriously.

He took the gold coins, danglers, and the scarf. He held it with such care and a ferocity a loving father should have.

"Now I want you to promise me something, King Romptus, that you clear things up with Atalo and please- please make peace. If you do, think about it, you'll be saving millions and millions of lives. And every living soul counts. Now that I gave you life to live with your son, you must do this for me…"

There was no debate and no second thought. I had proved my point, in the most gracious and honorable way.

The King smiled.

"Of course… Of course I will…" The King wept," Nothing would make me happier, my dear.

This made me happy.

"Goodbye…" I whispered.

Before I knew it, I was whisked away by Hades. King Romptus' body grew smaller and smaller as I was lifted into the sky. Tears fell. Hades held my body bridal style. My head hung backwards while my legs were limp and my stomach turned into complete jelly! Somewhere on my body there was this cramping that felt almost painful, but not so much as to make me cry.

Marcus would be happy. Adelio and Andra would be happy. Romptus would live and there won't be any war between him and Atalo. Peace would be definite. And I was so proud of that.

But where was my happy ending?

Feeling the cold in the wind, I folded up my arms and simply let go of all hope. Everyone else was happy. But I had no chance in living this one through, save for all the previous occasions I felt like I was staring at terror in the eyes. But something still tugged at my heart. Wondering if he would take any mercy, I looked up at Hades. There was no feel in his eyes. He was the god of the underworld, yea, but did he care about how other people felt?

His face… It was totally emotionless.

But I had to try something.

"Can I do one last thing?"

I whispered to Hades my plan, but with absolutely no emotion he kept on flying. He flew with the pace any other bird would fly, but there was elegance with it. Better than any other winged creature I've known. Thinking my plan was ignored, I became depressed. There would be no last goodbye for a special someone. But then Hades slowly started to descend from the skies and onto the ground.

"Do what you must, but be quick about it."

"Thanks…" I whispered," Is it through here?"

Looking back at him, Hades gave me a nod. My hands pushed away the bushes as my arms searched for a path through the trees. Stepping over some rocks, I found my final destination. I couldn't run this time, Hades would catch me and kill me. Through the trees and over the rocks was the campsite.

The men stood up immediately, while others nodded their heads and bowed. They were all confused or really suspicious. But their lives were spared. Soon they would find out there'll be no war. Ignoring the stares of the soldiers, I made my way through the crowd to find Aric's tent. His tent was the biggest one, the exact same tent when I first came here. This was the first place I started to have feelings for him.

This was the place he suddenly became my friend, when he was so nice to me and he saved my life. I started to have feelings for him, because I loved his strong personality. And just by looking at him, there was no doubt that he was the devoting and loyal type. A man to grow old with.

Any woman in the world would be lucky to have him, and any woman would be backshit crazy to even think about refusing him. But since I was from another world. It just wouldn't work. Plus… I didn't want him and Hades to face eachother. Put them in one room, and the first starts flying.

I entered the tent. Totally not ready to say goodbye.

"Aric?"

"EVEY! Oh thank the gods! Evey! I've been praying for your safety! Alas, they bring you back to me! They bring you back to me… Oh my Evey!" he hugged me, with that soft voice that made me melt.

I hugged him back, putting an equal match to his iron grip.

"Is it done?"

"I talked to Romptus, and he's feeling much better. Marcus won't have to get married so soon. And when you go to the palace, you'll find out that you don't have to go to war. So everything's been cleared up."

"Excellent!"

There was that look on his face. That look of pure happiness. Not just normal happiness any every day person would have, but pure joy. Obviously telling me what since everything was going to be fine, that he and I could go get married. But this was so much harder than I thought.

"Aric… there's something I have to tell you."

Aric took my shoulder and sat both of us down.

"Yes? What is it?"

"I know that y-you love me and you want us to get married. And I know that you're a really nice guy. Brave. Honest. Trustworthy. Basically everything else that a woman wants in a man…"

"Yes?"

My hands cramped up. There was that string that pulled at my throat again, making my words sound painful.

"But I can't marry you…"

I put my head down, not wanting to look at his face. Opening my eyes, I saw my hands twine around themselves, feeling the heartbreak and anguish. My ankles were locked against eachother, feeling like anchors.

"W-What! W-Why! Why w-would… I don't understand… I-I thought… Why are y-you saying this? Look at me!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I can't. I can't…"

"Look at me! I don't understand. A-Are you promised to someone else? Y-You can't do this to m-me! You can't… No. No. Look at me!"

He knocked over his chair!

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"Is it the Prince! Is it someone else! W-Was it me! W-Was it me! Look at me and tell me! I-I… Evey… I'll do a-anything!"

I didn't look at him, but I saw his sword, sheath, and knives being thrown to the ground. He threw them down!

"I'll give t-this up. I'll give it all up! I'll give it up! Why don't you look at me!"

"I have to go…"

"Don't go! For me! St-Stay for me! For me, Evey! We'll leave immediately! No one has to know! Stay f-for me!"

"I have to go…"

"What! No! No! No! No! NO! NO! Evey! Look at me! Y-You can't… No! S-Stay! I love you! I love you! I love you!"

"No, Aric…"

He completely dropped on his knees, clamping himself to my legs and holding his head on my stomach, desperate. There might've been a chance that it was really rare to see an army leader like him break down like this.

"I-I have to go… I came…I just came to say goodbye…"

"No! Y-You aren't- You can't leave me! I asked you to b-be my wife! Please accept me as your husband! Look at me!"

"Don't do this to me…!" I broke down in sobs!

It was the most horrid thing that I had ever done in my entire life. I was breaking someone's heart. But I had to keep Aric safe from Hades. I had to do this. Even if it meant hurting him. If I wasn't back in a few minutes, Hades might hurt Aric, and the rest of the men.

"T-Tell me you love me… Say you'll stay w-with me…!"

We were both on our knees, crying for some kind of mercy. His strong arms were wrapped around me, feeling possessive and loving.

"Look at me. Look at me. Stay, Evey. S-Stay with me… Marry me!"

"I can't… I have to go…"

"Look at me. Look at me…Evey, look at me… please… Evey, please…" his voice turned into a whisper.

Not caring anymore, I looked back at him. There was a small brief moment that I was staring into his eyes, but not before he was kissing me with a passion of a thousand suns. I moaned, thinking that this was complete heaven. Aric grabbed my thighs, lifted me up for a second before laying me on my back. My stomach was pulsing with a feeling I never felt before. This man, this soldier, just transformed into some sort of animal! I could definitely feel the heat. I began to feel wet between my legs, making me quiver against him. Feeling nervous and excited at the same time. His massive body was softly crushing against mine, almost grinding.

His lips kissed my lips, then kissed my cheeks, neck, and chest. My hands grabbed his head of blonde hair, as he sucked on my neck. I didn't even protest when he took my legs and wrapped them around his waist.

"Aric, I have to go…"

Aric began take off his armor and shirt, soon he was completely shirtless and oh dear lord- he was fuckin beautiful! 6 pack abs and huge arms and nicely tanned- oh god! He reached down to my skirts and lifted them, then began to untie his own pants. His hands moved up and down my thighs, powerful and gentle.

"Aric….Oh god… I have t-to go…"

"You're not going anywhere…" he growled, carnivorous and lusting.

I grabbed a hold of him and began to kiss him. Aric's anguish seemed to have just disappeared now, turning into hot passion. We broke apart for air, then Aric positioned himself. Making me tremble.

"First time," I blushed," Ever…"

"I'll be gentle…"

But before Aric could do anything, he lifted me up one last time and put us both on the bed of fur in the corner of the tent. It was a lot better than the floor, and the furs were really soft. Once again, Aric was above me. Against my thigh, I could feel his hardened length leave a wet trail as it headed for my entrance.

He kissed me one last time, wanting to tear off my shirt. The last piece of unclothed item on my body.

Aric pulled off my white shirt and my bra along with it. Kissing my breasts, and softly nipping at them. That's when it hit me. I just suddenly remembered the new world outside of this tent! What the hell was I doing! When I saw my shirt, I had mistaken it for my white scarf for a split second, and remembered King Romptus. Prince Marcus. Then the deal. And the reason for the deal.

Hades.

Shit!

I pushed off Aric with a jolt, making him land backwards on the ground. I couldn't believe I did this! And I was still so young! I grabbed my clothes and began to redress. Aric was dumbstruck, and he got up.

"What are you doing!" Aric exclaimed, wrapping himself in furs.

"I have to go! I have to go!"

"No! W-What- We were just about to…"

"I know! Aric, I just want you to live!""Where are you going! You're not going anywhere!" he grabbed my arm!

"LOOK! If you don't let go Hades is going to come after me and kill all of you! I made a deal to save you and other people and if I don't go back to him, then I am DEAD! NOW LET GO OF ME!"

I pushed Aric away and ran from the tent, past the men who stared at me. A beat began to drum in my ears. No! No! Hades is going to be pissed! Don't come! Don't come! Please don't come! I was running out of time. He'll kill him! I huffed and huffed as I tried to run harder! Run harder! Run! Run! Time was ticking! Closing off seconds and minutes! I tripped over something, but scrambled to my feet and booked it! I bursted from the bushes and ran into Hades himself.

Hades had that angry look in his eyes, and already there was a prediction on what he was going to do. Grabbing onto his chest, I tried to hold him down. Getting infront of him, blocking him from the campsite.

"What happened! Why were you gone so long!" he seethed.

"It was a hard long goodbye! NO! NO! I'm here! That was the deal!"

I held him back.

"Why sweat when the night's so cold?"

I touched my forehead, and yes, I was sweating. I wiped off my face. Receiving his message, all the color flushed from my face.

"It's not what you think…!"

Without a word, Hades began to walk towards the camp. I ran infront of him again, trying to block him. Run, Aric, run! Run! Run! Please run! I screamed as loud as could in my head! My arms weren't strong enough, making me weaker, and making me cry again. I tried to block him again, but he knocked me down, hitting my chin on the dirt. My hands and knees began to crawl. Hades was walking in large strides, forcing me to yell at him to catch his attention.

"NO! Please don't! Don't kill him! NO!" I screamed through my sobs.

That didn't stop him.

"What about our deal! You hurt him and I am leaving!" my eyes squinted, as my vision began to get blurry.

That didn't stop him.

"Okay…! Okay! Please, I'll do anything! I'll do anything! Please!" I screamed, hanging to his robes.

That made him stop to turn back to me. In one motion, Hades turned to look at me, listening to my request. That made me jolt up with hope. I stood up, shaking me head. Blood dripped from my chin.

"Yes. Yes. I'll give you anything!"

"Anything…?" he whispered.

I shook my head, tears streaming down my eyes. Hades walked towards my trembling figure, feeling no shame or guilt in seeing my terror and pain. With black chalked hands he touched the air next to my cheek. His eyes were rimmed with red around his grey eyes. This was the closest we ever been.

"Kiss me."