The house was still and dark, and the lack of her presence was so strong I felt it in my very marrow.
For a moment I couldn’t move. Everything crashed around me. The world felt like it was opening up, threatening to swallow me whole.
I looked around the room at all the expensive paintings. None of this meant anything.I mean nothing.
I saw red and started tearing through the room, breaking anything I could wrap my hand around and throwing them against the wall, hearing glass shattering.
I ripped the drapes from their rod, and tore the lamp off the bedside table before throwing it against the wall. All I heard was the blood rushing in my head. All I felt was this darkness that should’ve been familiar but wasn’t in that moment.
When my destruction tapered off, I stood by the bed panting, huffing, my hands curled into fists.
I wanted to bring them to my nose and inhale her sweet scent. I wanted to chase after Persephone, throw her over my shoulder, and bring her back to our room so I could fuck her again.
I’d make her tell me it didn’t matter how bad I was, or how she was too good for a motherfucker like me. It didn’t matter because she wanted me regardless.
“How stupid I was to fall for the villain.”
I stared at the door she’d just left out of, wanting to go to her. But I knew what had just happened was for the best. It was better this way… her hating me. It was good for her to see the despicable creature that I was.
But if that’s the case… why did everything seem impossible now?
Chapter28
Persephone
It had been two weeks since the incident at the party.
It had only been two days since the blow-up with Hades where I’d walked away from him. But I still heard those cruel words echoing in my head.
I knew he hadn’t meant them, but that didn’t mean they hadn’t cut me deep.
The next day, when I’d been sure he’d left for work, I went into his room to get my things. I’d come across a war zone of tossed-over furniture, broken glass, and clothes scattered everywhere.
The state of the room told me how volatile he was. It told me how much he hurt.
I figured both of us needed a little cooling down period. I couldn’t even imagine how much pain he was in after baring himself to me that way.
Those who hurt seek to hurt others in defense.
And as much as I wanted to give him space, no matter the horrible things he’d admitted to me and said in retaliation because of his pain, I missed him.
He hadn’t texted me or called. And I hadn’t seen him in passing in that entire time.
But I wouldn’t let him shut me out, wouldn’t let him keep that wall up he’d perfected his entire life. Not with me.
We need to talk.
I believe you.
I want to help you.
I miss you.
My texts had gone unanswered, which I wasn’t surprised about, but it didn’t sting any less.
I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the story Hades told me, and I couldn’t get rid of the horrible images of what my father and grandfather had done to him as a child.
I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think of anything else but my father leaving those scars all over his back and chest.