CHAPTER 34: A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

HAPPY NEW MONTH TULIPEES !!!

...

Lilith stood frozen in shock, her wide eyes locked on the strange creature before her as she struggled to process what she was seeing.

"I see you’ve finally met Grim," came Hades’ voice.

Lilith turned swiftly to find him emerging from the bath room, wearing loose trousers and a robe. A towel hung around his neck, and his damp hair clung to his forehead, evidence that he had just finished bathing.

"She’s a crazy woman, Master. She almost killed me," Grim muttered, rubbing the spot where Lilith had struck him with the broom.

"You look fine to me," Hades replied dismissively as he strode lazily toward his dresser. Then, turning his attention to Lilith, he added, "You should continue cleaning. Grim doesn’t bite."

Lilith swallowed hard, still feeling her heart pounding from the earlier fright. "Very well, Your Highness," she murmured, keeping a wary eye on Grim as she moved toward the bed, making sure to keep a good distance between them.

As she began dressing the bed, Grim climbed up the wall with ease, curling up comfortably by the window.

"I am going to pay an old acquaintance a visit. I might not be back until night," Hades said.

Lilith turned to look in his direction, only for her face to heat up instantly. Hades stood with his back to her, his robe discarded, leaving his upper body completely bare.

Lilith swallowed hard, willing her eyes to look away, but they refused to obey. She had always known the prince was a large man, but she had not expected him to be this well-built. His clothes had done an excellent job of concealing just how massive he was. His muscles were defined in all the right places, broad shoulders and strong arms. His body was toned and structured so perfectly, it was as if he had been sculpted by a master artisan who left no room for flaws.

As he moved, his muscles flexed effortlessly, and she noticed something else his skin was smooth and unblemished. There were no scars, no lingering wounds. The brutal injury Leonidas had inflicted had vanished without a trace, as if it had never happened.

Leonidas. A pang of sadness settled deep in her chest at the thought of him. Though he had betrayed her trust, she couldn’t help but wonder what had become of him. The prince had severely wounded him, was he dead? Or had he managed to find help?

Lost in thought, Lilith looked up to his face and froze. Hades was staring at her.

Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest as her face burned with embarrassment. He had caught her staring at him, red-handed. Could this day get any worse?

To her relief, he said nothing. Instead, he simply turned away, as if entirely unbothered by the situation. Lilith quickly focused on her task, pretending as if nothing had happened.

A few minutes later, Hades was fully dressed and left the room. Thankfully, the creature followed him out. Only then did Lilith let out a breath of relief.

It had felt suffocating being in the same room as both of them. Shaking off her lingering embarrassment, she finished her cleaning before making her way to the kitchen, hoping to have a brief conversation with Fiona and Madam Thalia.

~~~

Walking through the thick darkness of an ancient cave, two cloaked men moved side by side, one leading the way with steady confidence, the other quivering in fear. The eerie atmosphere, filled with sudden, jarring sounds, that only heightened Leonidas’ fear. His bandaged arm and face made moving between the tight spaces difficult, and every movement sent sharp pain coursing through his body. Sweat dripped down his forehead and neck, soaking into his shirt.

"You sure this is the right place? There doesn’t seem to be anyone here," Leonidas chuckled nervously, trying, and failing, to mask his anxiety.

"Just a little longer. We’re almost there," the man ahead replied, his voice devoid of any amusement.

Doubt crept into Leonidas’ mind. Had he made a mistake following a stranger into an unknown cave, all for the sake of revenge and money? His survival instincts screamed at him to turn back. "Can... can I go back? I don’t think I want to go through with this anymore," he murmured.

The man in front of him halted abruptly and turned to face him. His piercing purple eyes glowed unnaturally in the darkness, sending a shiver down Leonidas’ spine.

"Just a little longer. We’re almost there," the stranger repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. Then, without another word, he resumed walking.

Leonidas swallowed the lump in his throat and forced his feet to move, trailing behind him.

Finally, they emerged into a large open space, the eerie darkness giving way to an otherworldly glow. Candles lined the path ahead, but their flames burned with an unnatural white light instead of the usual waem light. Crystals jutted from the walls.

In the center of the chamber, a rug lay neatly spread out, Leonidas’ unease deepened. Whatever awaited him here, he had a feeling there was no turning back now.

"Sit," the man commanded, and Leonidas obeyed, still cautiously observing his surroundings.

"Here. Drink this." The man extended a small bottle filled with a thick, black liquid.

Leonidas’ gaze flickered from the man’s face to the bottle and back again. "What is this? Why should I drink it?" he questioned, suspicion lacing his tone.

The man’s eye twitched, a sign of his thinning patience. His voice was cold, edged with irritation. "You want your revenge? Then drink it."

With a shaky hand, Leonidas took the bottle, hesitating before tipping it back and forcing the liquid down his throat. The taste was vile, bitter and nauseating. His stomach churned violently, and for a moment, he thought he might vomit.

He exhaled sharply, suddenly feeling sick. A wave of dizziness washed over him, forcing him to shut his eyes tightly.

"W...what did you give me?" he whispered, his breath coming in short, gasping intervals. His chest felt constricted, like an invisible force was squeezing the air from his lungs.

The man simply stared down at him, his expression blank. Leonidas’ vision blurred. Darkness swallowed him whole.

When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the cave. Above him stretched a sky painted in deep red. The trees around him were stripped of their leaves, their skeletal branches reaching toward the sky like twisted fingers. There was a lake before him, but instead of blue water, it was filled with red liquid flowing endlessly.

Leonidas spun around, searching desperately for any sign of life, but there was none. The eerie silence made his skin prickle. Just as he began to think he was truly alone in this strange world, a deep voice called his name from a distance.

His breath hitched. He turned again, scanning his surroundings, but the source of the voice was nowhere to be found.

Then, without warning, his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

Standing before him was a towering figure with blazing red eyes, a massive frame, and two black horns protruding from his head. Midnight-dark hair cascaded over his shoulders. The man was beyond terrifying as power radiated from him.

Leonidas’ throat went dry. He lowered his gaze to the ground, his entire body breaking out in goosebumps as fear, awe, and something primal coiled deep in his gut.

"You have so much hatred, pain, and hurt inside you, it’s beautiful," the man said, his voice a chilling whisper that sent shivers down Leonidas’ spine. "I can help you channel it. I can give you the revenge you so desperately crave."

Leonidas swallowed hard, his breathing unsteady. "I... I don’t understand. Where am I? Who are you?"

The man remained motionless, his red eyes fixed on Leonidas. "I am the one who will grant your wishes and turn your dreams into reality. I will help you bring Hades to his knees and give you the woman who is rightfully yours. Is that not what you desire most?"

Leonidas’ throat tightened. "I... I... How is that possible? The prince is a madman. He... he cannot be killed."

A dark chuckle rumbled from the man’s chest. "Everyone can be killed, Leonidas. You just have to find out how."

Leonidas narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. "I..."

"Tell me what you want, Leonidas," the man urged, "Say it."

Leonidas clenched his fists, his nostrils flaring. "I want to know how to kill the prince."

The man tilted his head. "Is that all you want?"

A fire ignited in Leonidas’ chest, rage consuming him. His jaw tightened, and his voice came out as a growl.

"I want to watch him bleed. I want to break his bones the way he broke mine. I want to burn the skin off his face, just as he did to me. I want to drive a dagger into his heart and make him watch as I take Lilith, make her mine and only mine. I want to kill him."

The man’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I will help you, but you must pledge your allegiance to me and obey my every command."

Leonidas didn’t hesitate. "I will do whatever you ask, whatever it takes, as long as I am the last thing that bastard sees before he dies."

"Very well, then. Your wish is granted, my humble servant."

The man leaned forward, slowly raising his hand until his fingertip touched Leonidas’ forehead.

A searing pain erupted through Leonidas’ body, his screams tearing through the silence. His eyes burned with an unnatural glow, his body convulsing under the torment. The agony was unbearable, his entire being feeling as if it were being torn apart. He clenched his teeth, his nails digging into the ground, but nothing could stop the pain.

Then, suddenly, everything went black.

When Leonidas opened his eyes again, he found himself lying outside the cave. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, his body drenched in sweat. Had it all been a dream?

But as he sat up, he knew, deep in his bones, that something had changed. Something inside him was different.

Leonidas stumbled to his feet, glancing around to find himself completely alone. His breathing was uneven as he looked down at his bandaged hand, noticing for the first time that he felt no pain or discomfort. Slowly, he began to unravel the bandages, his eyes widening in shock, his hand was completely healed. No broken bones, no bruises.

Heart pounding, he reached for the bandages wrapped around his face. As he carefully removed them, his fingers trembled. Though he couldn’t see his reflection, he could feel the rough, uneven texture of his skin where the burns had been. The scars were still there, a reminder of what the prince did to him.

Leonidas swallowed hard as rage bubbled up inside him, consuming every rational thought. His fingers curled into tight fists, his nails digging into his palms.

He was going to kill Hades and he was going to enjoy every bit of it.

He swore to himself before turning around as he strode away, making his way out of the forest.