Author's Note: This was my second favourite chapter to write. The fluff in this is just cute it's also another one of the longer ones. Hope you enjoy!
Before he could continue any further, A creature with three heads approached. Kassandra and Hermes immediately panicked.
They were cornered and there was nowhere to go and this horrible creature was approaching. There was no other choice but to fight their way out if they wanted to make it out of the underworld in one piece.
"Guard my back in case the monster decides to lunge at me from behind and I'll guard yours" Kassandra ordered Hermes as he stood back to back with her with both their weapons in their hands. He nodded in response.
"This will be messy" Kassandra said through gritted teeth as the monster approached closer and she swung at it's head, slicing one of the heads of the three headed monster they were fighting.
For the next half an hour they focused on slaying the beast and weakening it. After a long and draining fight the beast was finally dead.
Hermes and Kassandra collapsed on the floor in exhaustion. They sat in silence resting until Hermes spoke up.
"I can't believe she did that," he started, referring to Persephone.
Kassandra looked at him as he spoke. His head was down and he looked defeated and sad. She put her hand on his shoulder to try and make him feel better.
"Me neither. She wanted us both dead and tried to kill us by throwing us in here". Kassandra responded agreeing with Hermes.
"It's not just that, worst of all she had feelings for Adonis all this time" he said looking down at the floor again in despair.
Before he looked at Kassandra and continued. "I guess you were right, I should have listened to you". He said in a sad and regretful tone.
Kassandra turned to face him, her tone soft now as she felt sorry for Hermes after all he had been trapped under her spell so it wasn't entirely his fault.
"It's alright. I understand. Love blinds people, literally. You saw Adonis' face all because he loved Aphrodite" she said trying to reassure him.
"Yes and she tried to kill me too because I failed her and wasn't of use to her anymore. I can't believe she could just dispose of me like rubbish like I didn't mean anything to her. She claimed to have loved Adonis but did she really? With all the things she did ? I can't believe I fell for a woman like that" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I couldn't believe it either". Kassandra admitted.
"But Persephone was very beautiful on the outside with her charm as well. The way she puts people under her spell. It's hard not to get caught up. I guess Elysium is a complicated place, not the paradise I always thought it was. So many traitors everywhere. Who do you trust?" she wondered, speaking her thoughts aloud staring into the dark grey gloomy atmosphere of the underworld
"I trust you" Hermes said, breaking her out of her thoughts and catching her by surprise. She didn't expect Hermes to answer her. It was meant to be a rhetorical question, not one to be answered.
She turned back to face him. His voice was soft and his expression too. He actually seemed genuine, Kassandra thought.
"After everything I went through in Elysium I actually realised that you were the truest friend and ally that one could have. I never really trusted humans before as I always saw them as outsiders until I met you and that changed". He admitted looking into her eyes.
Kassandra was surprised to hear that Hermes never really trusted people, especially humans but then again he was brainwashed by Persephone to hate humans so it made sense.
"You made me realise that everything Persephone said was wrong, that she was the horrible one all along not you" he confessed looking into her eyes the entire time.
Kassandra nodded, overwhelmed by everything she was hearing.
"Yes she tried to turn you against me and Hekate too" Kassandra replied agreeing with Hermes again.
"She did," Hermes replied, nodding. "But she failed. If anything it made me realise what I had was in front of me all this time".
Kassandra looked back at Hermes. She was in shock. Was Hermes confessing his feelings to her? Her heart beat faster as she felt overwhelmed with emotions inside.
Hermes stroked her face. As he leaned in closer to her. The tension was bubbling as their faces were inches from each other. She shivered under his touch. She couldn't believe that Hermes was touching her. It had been a while since she had been touched this intimately.
"You're beautiful, Kassandra. I have waited many lifetimes for this".
She pulled back, stunned and confused. Hold on. Many lifetimes for this? What was Hermes talking about? This was suspicious now.
"Many lifetimes? What do you mean by that?" she asked abruptly, distancing herself from Hermes.
Hermes sighed. He decided to admit everything about why she was here and why he chose her as the staff bearer.
"It's a long story. But I brought you here, I did all of this." he admitted.
She frowned at him in confusion and suspicion. He continued, Not wanting to break the trust and the connection they had that he had worked so hard on. Everything had been leading to this moment and he wasn't just going to let it screw over.
"I have been watching you ever since Pythagoras had you. I saw everything you went through from Sparta to Kephollonia, then Natakas and your child everything right until you arrived here".
"Right," she answered, frowning back at him. It was time to admit the truth there was no going back.
"The truth is, I have always loved you since you were a baby and you were growing up. I tried to distract myself and push it away by going for Persephone as I knew you were going to leave Elysium eventually . But the more time I spent with you, the harder it was. Now with everything that happened with Persephone I felt like I couldn't hide it anymore. I've been holding this secret for too long. I understand this is a lot to take in and if you don't want anything to do with me I can get you back to the mortal realm and we can pretend this never happened". He reassured her.
Kassandra looked deep in thought, the frown was now gone and her face had softened with understanding.
Hermes waited anxiously looking at her for an answer. He wouldn't be surprised if he had his heart broken twice in one day.
This was too sudden and even sounded a bit creepy the way he had told Kassandra that he had watched her grow up since she was a child. After a while of quiet silence, Kassandra finally spoke up.
"The staff, Pythagoras, helping me and bringing me here"... She trailed off "It all makes sense" she realised putting the pieces together.
'That's why you chose me... Because you loved me". Kassandra stood up walking toward Hermes.
"Yes that's right" he confirmed, unafraid anymore. "Oh Hermes..." she trailed off tears running down her eyes.
"I feel the same about you too. You were always my favourite god growing up and when I first saw you here I thought you were so handsome and kind and ugh I just fell in love with you. I tried to tell myself you would never feel the same as you were always gushing about Persephone and that a God would never love a human... But how wrong was I" she continued emotional
"And no you're wrong, I want everything to do with you".
Before Hermes could continue any further Kassandra marched towards him and gave him a kiss . He picked her up as their kiss deepened and they started making out. Eventually they stopped. Kassandra pulled back.
"But I have one question," she said, frowning and narrowing her eyes at Hermes.
"What is it my lovely?" he asked, hands around her waist still.
"Is everything that's written about my Fate true?" she asked.
"Yes it is, Kassandra . That's if you decide to leave Elysium . That can change if you stay with me." he answered gently.
"Change how?" she inquired curiously.
"I can help you become immortal permanently. And if you stay with me in Elysium I promise you a happy and fulfilling life, one full of peace and happiness and one where you don't have to witness people die anymore".
"Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes my love you can trust me with that" he replied reassuring her
"Hmmm.." she murmured deep in thought. "I would like that, now how do we get out of here?" she asked Hermes.
Awwww Kass being corny and being a sucker for love. What will happen next will they really be free and happy? Find out in the last and penultimate chapter.