Theo chuckles humourlessly. “And then there are those who are definitely not heroes. And I, Blondie, ain’t a hero.”
You could be.
He doesn’t respond, and I don’t press it, just sip at my sweet latte, letting the warmth chase away the bite of winter. Gods, I love winter.
Our breath drifts in little white puffs as we walk aimlessly across the grounds. By the time I’m savouring the last of my drink, I realise his cup has been empty for ages.
“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” he groans, tossing his cup into the bin with a careless flick. “Got myself roped into this bloody charity event.”
That’s nice. Hopefully, you actually manage to raise something,I scrawl, sending a smug smile his way.
He smirks, cocky as ever. “I’m damn amazing, Blondie. The money will be raining in.” He pivots to leave, then abruptly turns back, leaning down until his gaze locks with mine. My breath hitches as he holds up a ten-pound note between two fingers, his grin wicked.
My eyes widen. No… how did he realise?!
“Your sleight of hand needs work,” he murmurs, slipping the note smoothly into my pocket before I can blink. Then he straightens, already walking away.
I stand frozen, scrambling for a comeback, but by thetime the perfect one hits me, he’s long gone, leaving only the echo of his low chuckle in the cold night air.
Behind the Smile
Theo
Darkness falls around me, and I feel his presence behind me in the bathroom. It’s dark outside, but I can still hear the distant chatter of the students out there.
“What do you want?” I ask, zipping up my pants and washing my hands. I look up to see his shadowy form in the mirror.
“She’s planning to travel tomorrow, and you have things you need to do for me before that. You do remember, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but you already know I’ll do what you ask, as long as you uphold your side of the deal.”
He chuckles darkly. “Do you dare to threaten me? Do you forget I am the one who brought your brother back from death’s door, which he would have been crossing that very moment if I hadn’t stepped in?”
Obviously, I fucking know.
“I’m not threatening you; I’m reminding you. I know you saved him, but I have given you many lives in return, too,” I reply coldly. Ares was dead that night when I reached him. I could see the last wisps of his soul leaving his body when I had asked for Hades to help him.
One could say I sold my soul… but my soul was already his from the moment he chose me as his favoured.
“Of course, that is your job. Don’t forget the power I have given you. You have eleven souls to harvest tonight, since who knows how long you won’t be around.”
“And who wants them?” I ask. Sometimes, I tell myself it’s better if I don’t know who I’m killing for. I’m just the messenger. I shouldn’t ask, but you know me, sometimes it’s hard not to say anything.
“Well, there’s a woman who’s been dead for 300 years, and she wants her bloodline finished since they treated her terribly before claiming her wealth.”He chuckles, a hint of dark amusement in his voice. “I hear the youngest just got married.”
“So, I kill the newlywed?”
“You kill him, his wife too – just in case she’s pregnant. And you kill the man’s mother. They are all that remain of the family.”
“Right,” I say.
This is one of the things Hades does: bartering with the dead in exchange for something. Mainly for those who seek revenge beyond the grave. I don’t know what she’s offering in return, and I don’t care either. Maybe the woman has magic, or is she human? Who knows, but there’s always something he’lltake in return. Nothing is free with him.
And I’m the one who carries out his will, because a god can’t walk the earth – not yet anyway.
That’s another thing. I get that people like my family don’t want that, but does it really matter if they fucking did? I mean, I’d rather just enjoy my life than have to prepare for a war where I’ll probably die young and not get to chill.
I lean against the sink as he tells me the other names of my victims for the night.
