A shout out to some of my readers in Canada and China. You guys have been here from the beginning. I notice all these people in all these different countries and I feel really good because I'm learning that even in countries like Iceland, Malaysia, Singapore, and my reader in the Dominican Republic have something culturally in common with Americans and Canadians. We're a bunch of nerds. I would really like to talk to you guys.

Also, this chapter will have implied sex. I still want to keep it rated T. If you want dirty stuff, read Savior of the Wastes.

Chapter 9: Sennia's Embrace

I awoke to the sound of light snoring and small arms wrapped around me. My face was warm from her body heat. It was comforting in the chill of the late November morning. The blankets were wrapped around her like Persephone, and I, Hades.

I looked up to see her head laying gently on the pillow, her hair a messy halo around her face. It seemed that my movement woke her and she lifted her head, her eyes heavy with sleep.

"Good morning, love."

"Good morning." She rubbed her face.

"You look amazing when you first wake up."

"That the biggest lie I've ever heard."

"But it's true. Your hair is messy, your cheeks like roses. Skin like dying lakelurk."

"Eat my ass, love."

"Only for you... love." I pulled her face to mine.

"Ass. Let's go to the kitchen." She stood up to stretch.

"In a bit." I yanked her down into my lap. She dropped with a yelp.

"Well, hello there."

"I've really missed you, love. The Mojave is really lonely sometimes."

She pressed her forehead to mine and whispered "but not right now."

Breakfast was a mix of fruits and nuts with bacon. The Legion has always tried to maintain healthy meals for the soldiers. There was no such thing as a "vegetarian" in the Legion.

Sennia sat across from me with her plate. She kept adjusting her sitting position.

"Are you alright?"

"It hurt."

I sat in silence as I tried to figure out what could have happened. Everything led right back to the fact that I had hurt her. I had physically harmed the beautiful woman sitting across the table picking at her diced pears. I, Hades, have harmed Persephone. I felt sick to my stomach. I pushed my plate away.

"I'm so sorry I hurt you." I stood up and left the kitchen. I walked too fast for her to catch up. I kept turning to lose her. I don't fucking deserve to see her. I kept walking until I could walk no more. I was on the shore. I sat in the warm sand. I sat back and rolled on my side.

I hurt her. I hurt Sennia. I hurt my love.

I had spent weeks trying to get her to notice me and when I finally have her, we fight, I leave her without saying "goodbye", and I fucking hurt her in the most intimate thing two people can ever do. I treated her like dirt.

"I don't deserve her."

I grabbed a handful of sand and threw it. I needed to throw something. Anything. Is that the kind of behavior Sennia needs in her life? The wind picked up and blew a large portion of the sand into my face. I closed my eyes in the gritty attack but only half succeeded.

"Fuck me." I scratched at my eyes and crawled to the water. I splashed water in my face but it was no good.

"Do you need any help?" Sennia was behind me.

"Stay away. I treat you like..."

"A slave?"

I looked up at her with grains of sand in my burning eyes. "You know I don't think of you like that."

"You don't treat me like the other women here, but I got your attention." She knelt down on the sand. "Lay down, I'll help you."

"Why help me? I hurt you, I yell at you, I didn't even say "bye" that night. What do you see in me?"

"I see the largest pile of shit in the world on this island. I see nothing else, no food, no clothes, no water. There is a big sign on top of the shit. I spend all day climbing it. I have no fucking idea what's up there. I finally get to the top and realize the largest shit in the world is mine."

"Are you going anywhere with this because it's a little insul..." She poured water in my eyes.

"Just wait. The largest shit in the world is mine. What the hell am I supposed to do with it? It's a big pile of shit. I start to sink in the pile and freak out. No one is around to save me. I'm getting shoulder deep in the shit. Surely, I shall die. I'm starting to suffocate. Only my hand is showing out of the pile. Suddenly, I can feel a rope."

She pulled out my Mark from her robes.

"I am rising. I can breathe again. I can move my arms. I can shake off some shit. I can pull my legs out. You're standing in front of me with the Mark in both of our hands. You pull me to you and kiss me. You completely ignore the fact that I am covered in shit. You still love me when I am covered in it. You love me no matter what. That is what I see in you, Vulpes. A man who will love me to the end of time."

"That was an interesting, yet disgusting, way to put it."

"What did you take from that speech?"

"That you were in a world of shit that would consume you and I pulled you out at the last second."

"And?"

"I love you with a passionate fire of Hades that will cleanse the wastes and your isle of shit." I pulled her into a kiss. "And I will love you always."

"Exactly. Get up. You're getting sand in your hair."

I looked up into her black eyes. I smiled at her gently "Marry me."

She stared at me in surprise. "Really?"

"Is that a yes? If so, it would have to be after the war. It's much safer for you." I pulled out one of the rings in my pocket. I held it in front of her and the light hit it with a shine as brilliant as the sun.

"Vulpes," she threw her hand over her mouth. "yes. I will."

She must have thought I was still just using pretty words.

"Let's go for a swim."

"I don't know how."

"You really think I'll put you in danger?"

"Well, no. Are you going to teach me?"

"Maybe some other time. Right now, just floating is nice." We waded through the water, her hand in mine.

"How do I float?"

"Lie on your back, I've got you. Just trust me." I held my arms out under her to keep her level.

"Alright. Am I doing it?" Her eyes were darting around frantically.

"Keep calm. Breath steady. Just relax. That's all there is to it. Just lay back, relax, and keep breathing at a steady rate."

Her breathing slowed as she started to bob in the water.

"Where are your hands? Vulpes, you lied to me!" She started to sink and kicking wildly. I grabbed her before she could sink.

"I let go a while ago. That was all you. If you don't relax or concentrate too hard, you'll sink."

"I could have drowned, you asshole."

I gave her a ridiculous stare. "Really? You think I would just let you sink?"

"Well, no. But I was still scared."

"Do you want to try again?"

"Fuck yes."