The familiar scent of her apartment greeted Aurelia as they stepped inside, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the Underworld. Hades moved through the space, setting down the bags Thalia and Lira had insisted on packing for her.
"They said you'd need these," he remarked, glancing at the overstuffed luggage. "Clothes, shoes, accessories… apparently they believe in being overly prepared."
Aurelia smiled faintly, shaking her head. "They always overdo it."
He gestured to her. "Do you need to grab anything else before we go?"
She took a moment to look around her small apartment. The sight of her books, the cozy couch she loved to curl up on, and the little trinkets she'd collected over the years brought a pang of nostalgia.
"Just a few things," she said softly, stepping into her bedroom. She grabbed favorite sweater, a worn journal, and a picture frame with a photo of her and her late parents. Hugging the frame briefly, she whispered a silent promise to herself before returning to the living room.
"I'm ready," she said.
Hades nodded, extending a hand to her. With a small exhale, she placed her hand in his, and they walked out of her apartment like a normal couple…. as if any part of their story could be considered normal.
Outside, the sleek black Lamborghini Urus gleamed under the afternoon sun.
"Is this… is this yours?" Aurelia asked, blinking at the luxury car.
Hades smirked, walking ahead to open the trunk. "Do you think I'd make you walk?"
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small laugh. He loaded the bags into the trunk with ease, then walked around to open the passenger door for her, gesturing for her to get in.
"Thank you," she murmured, sliding into the plush seat.
Once she was settled, Hades closed the door and climbed into the driver's seat. The car roared to life with a low, powerful hum as he drove out of her quiet neighborhood.
The silence in the car stretched uncomfortably. Aurelia shifted in her seat, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. He looked completely at ease, his hands relaxed on the steering wheel, but to her, it was nerve-wracking.
This was Hades, the god of the Underworld. What kind of small talk was appropriate here? So, tortured any souls lately? No, definitely not.
Desperate to fill the silence, she reached for the radio. A familiar beat filled the car, and her face lit up as the opening chords of Justin Bieber's Let Me Love You played.
"Oh my god," she said, unable to suppress a grin. "This is my favorite song!"
Before she knew it, she was singing along, belting out every lyric with enthusiasm. She lost herself in the music, the tension melting away as she danced slightly in her seat, her voice filling the car.
"Don't fall asleep
At the wheel, we've got a million miles ahead of us
Miles ahead of us
All that we need
Is a rude awakening to know we're good enough
Know we're good enough…"
She moved slightly in her seat, her body swaying to the rhythm. Her fingers tapped on her thighs, perfectly in sync with the beat.
"Say, go through the darkest of days
Heaven's a heartbreak away
Never let you go, never let me down…"
By the time she reached the chorus, her voice filled the car, carefree and joyful. Hades glanced at her, a rare smile tugging at his lips. He didn't interrupt, content to watch her with quiet amusement as she sang her heart out.
When the chorus came around for the second time, she noticed his gaze lingering on her. Flushing, she stopped mid-verse, her voice faltering.
"What?" she asked, self-conscious.
"Nothing," he said, his smile widening. "I didn't know the mortal world had songs that could make you this happy."
"Well, now you know," she said, laughing to hide her embarrassment. "Justin Bieber has magical powers of his own, apparently."
"Clearly," he said.
"You know, I never imagined this would be the soundtrack to our journey."
Aurelia froze, her cheeks burning red. "Oh, um…"
"Don't stop now," he teased,
"You're just getting to the good part."
She hesitated, biting her lip before giving in.
"We were burning on the edge of something beautiful
Something beautiful…"
By the time the chorus came back around, she was singing even louder, her confidence returning.
"Don't you give up, nah-nah-nah
I won't give up, nah-nah-nah…"
When she glanced over at him, she noticed the faintest trace of a laugh in his eyes.
"What?" she asked, self-conscious now.
"Nothing," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "I just didn't think I'd ever see you like this. It's… nice."
Aurelia blinked, momentarily stunned by his words, before shaking her head with a small smile.
Hades chuckled softly, returning his focus to the road.
As the song faded out, Aurelia leaned back in her seat, her nerves from earlier forgotten. For the first time in a while, she felt like herself. Maybe, just maybe, this journey wouldn't be as overwhelming as she thought.
As the car glided smoothly to a stop, Aurelia's eyes widened at the sight before her. Towering roller coasters, spinning Ferris wheels, and a kaleidoscope of colorful lights greeted her.
"An amusement park?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise.
Hades stepped out of the car, rounding to her side and opening the door. "You mentioned once that you'd never been to one," he said, offering his hand to help her out. "I thought we'd fix that."
Her heart swelled at the thoughtfulness behind his gesture, and a smile broke across her face. "I… didn't expect this."
"Good," he replied with a rare softness, his lips twitching into a half-smile. "Now, come on."
The moment they stepped inside, Aurelia was hit with a wave of excitement. The smells of buttery popcorn, sweet cotton candy, and fried dough filled the air, mingling with the joyful chaos of children's laughter and carnival music. Her eyes darted around, taking in every detail… the spinning teacups, the shooting game booths, the flashing lights of bumper cars.
"What should we do first?" she asked, almost bouncing on her heels.
Hades chuckled, "Whatever you want."
They started with the carousel. It seemed simple enough, but as soon as Aurelia climbed onto one of the painted horses, she burst into laughter. The gentle rise and fall of the ride, paired with the twinkling lights and whimsical music, filled her with a childlike glee. Hades stood beside her, one hand resting casually on the pole of her horse, his amused gaze fixed on her.
"This is ridiculous," she said through giggles.
"Perhaps," he admitted. "But your laugh makes it worth it."
Next was the bumper cars. Aurelia's laughter turned into shrieks as Hades, surprisingly competitive, steered his car with precision to bump hers every chance he got. She retaliated, slamming into him so hard that it earned her a playful glare.
"You're better at this than I expected," he said, smirking.
"I learn fast," she teased, sticking her tongue out at him.
As the evening went on, they ventured into the more thrilling rides. The roller coaster was first.
"I don't know about this," Aurelia said, gripping the safety bar as the ride began its slow ascent.
"You'll be fine," Hades assured her, though his smirk hinted that he enjoyed her nervousness a bit too much.
The ride plunged, twisted, and turned, leaving Aurelia screaming at the top of her lungs. By the time they reached the end, she was breathless, her cheeks flushed with exhilaration.
"That was… insane!" she said, her heart pounding.
"You survived," he said, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"And I want to do it again," she added, laughing.
They tried a spinning ride next, where the centrifugal force pinned her to the wall, and a haunted house that left Aurelia clutching his arm like her life depended on it.
After surviving the rides, they wandered over to the game booths. Aurelia's eyes lit up when she spotted the Ring Toss Challenge.
"You think you can win me one of those?" she asked, pointing to a giant teddy bear hanging above the booth.
Hades raised an eyebrow. "Easily."
True to his word, he won not one but two giant teddy bears, much to Aurelia's delight. She hugged the first one tightly, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
"Show-off," she teased, though she knew he could tell that she was grateful.
"If it makes you happy, I don't mind," he replied, handing her the second bear.
By the time they left the park, Aurelia's arms were full with her prizes, and her cheeks ached from smiling so much. The evening had been a whirlwind of excitement and joy, and for the first time in a long while, she felt lighthearted.
As they approached the car, she turned to Hades, her expression soft. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"For what?" he asked, tilting his head.
"For this. For everything," she said, hugging the teddy bears tighter.
Hades gave her a rare, genuine smile. "You're welcome."