Hours passed, Aurelia could feel the weight of the chains and the suffocating room surrounding her. She had expected Hades to come for her, to break down the door and sweep her into his arms, but as the minutes turned into hours, doubt began to gnaw at her. Was he coming? Or had he truly abandoned her?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the door creaking open once again. Perseus entered, a grim smile twisting his lips as he observed her disheveled state.
"Well, well," he said mockingly. "No Hades yet. I must admit, I'm surprised. I thought for sure he'd come for you by now. But perhaps I was wrong. Maybe you're not his weakness after all."
Aurelia's heart dropped at his words. She shook her head, desperately trying to deny the possibility. "No," she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. "No, he's coming. He won't leave me."
Perseus chuckled darkly, pacing slowly in front of her. "You want to believe that, don't you? But the truth is… he hasn't come. And if he doesn't show up soon, I'll be forced to carry out my backup plan."
She blinked, her vision blurring with tears. "Please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Please, don't do this."
Perseus stopped in front of her, his cruel smile widening. "I gave him every chance. And now, well, you're no use to me unless I make him come. And if he doesn't… you'll die anyway."
Her heart raced. "What are you talking about?" she managed to say.
"Simple," Perseus said. He revealed a small device from his pocket, its red light flashing ominously. "This is a bomb. It'll detonate if Hades touches you, and if he doesn't come to save you in six hours… you'll die either way."
Aurelia's breath hitched, panic gripping her throat. "No," she whispered, shaking her head furiously. "He'll come. He will."
Perseus turned away, indifferent to her pleas. "We'll see."
Where was he?
The hours had slipped by in an agonizing blur. Every tick of the bomb had echoed in her ears like the countdown to her demise. I mean it practically was. Would Hades come? Or would he let her die here in that cold, dark room?
Tears began to sting her eyes, but she pushed them back fiercely. She wasn't going to cry. Not yet.
Perseus had warned her. He had placed a ticking bomb on her, one that would explode if Hades touched her, but it would still go off if he didn't show up in six hours. A sadistic game. He wanted to make sure that even if Hades didn't come, she wouldn't leave this room alive. She had no choice but to wait.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a loud bang. The room seemed to shake around her, and Aurelia's heart stopped. 'Had Perseus placed another bomb? Was this it? Was she going to die?' She thought.
Aurelia's pulse quickened, panic flooding her chest. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of the explosion. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself, but the fear began to overwhelm her.
Then the door crashed open.
A tall, dark figure stood in the doorway, his silhouette illuminated by the faint light from above.
It was him.
Hades.
She wanted to scream with relief, to leap into his arms, but something…. an instinct, a horrible reality stopped her. She couldn't let him touch her. Not yet. The bomb.
"No," she cried out, her voice trembling. "Stay away!" She struggled against the chains that bound her to the chair.
Hades froze, genuinely confused as he stepped forward. "Aurelia," he said, as his gaze flickered to her chains. "What's happening? Are you hurt?"
Her heart ached as she watched him, so close, so near, but she couldn't let him touch her. "No, Hades. Please," she whispered, shaking her head frantically. "Don't come any closer. I…. I can't let you touch me."
"Aurelia, what's going on?" He took a cautious step forward, his eyes scanning the room. He had no idea what was happening. "I'm not leaving without you."
She shook her head again, her voice cracking as she struggled to explain. "There's a bomb… He… He said it would explode if you touched me. And it will still go off if you don't come in time." Her words tumbled out in a rush.
Before she could continue, a slow, mocking clap echoed through the room, breaking the silence.
"Bravo, Hades! Bravo!"
Aurelia's heart sank. She had hoped, prayed, that Perseus was gone. But there he was, stepping into the room with a smile on his face and a look of satisfaction that made her skin crawl.
Hades turned. "Perseus," he growled, "What do you think you're doing?"
Perseus laughed. "Oh, Hades," he said, a wicked grin stretching across his face. "Don't be so formal. You're my uncle, after all."
Hades took a step forward, obviously filled with rage. "You'll pay for this, Perseus," he growled.
Perseus interrupted with a twisted chuckle. "I've been waiting for the day I could finally bring you to your knees. All I needed was a little mortal…. Aurelia here….. the key. And now, here we are. You've walked right into my trap."
"I should have known," Hades said quietly,"You're the one who's been pulling the strings."
Perseus smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. "You're not as invincible as you think, Hades. And you know what? I've been waiting for the day I could make you weak. Make you feel something. And I've found it…. the mortal that makes you vulnerable. It's so simple, really. All you had to do was come for her."
Aurelia closed her eyes briefly, she had never wanted to be this… this burden to Hades. She had never wanted to be the reason he felt this weakness. It broke her in so many ways.
But before she could dwell on it any longer, a familiar voice sounded.
"Enough."
Aurelia's eyes snapped open, and she saw the man Achi materializing behind Perseus, his powerful form standing like a sentinel.
"Let her go," Achilles growled. He stepped closer, and in an instant, he had Perseus gripped from behind, his powerful hands locking around his arms with terrifying strength.
Perseus's eyes widened, but he didn't struggle. "Achilles," he sneered, "you think you can stop me?"
Achilles's lips curled into a grim smile. "I don't think," he said, "I know." He turned his gaze toward Hades, who was watching with cold, silent fury. "Let's end this."
Perseus swallowed hard, his bravado fading as the demons that had gathered around him drew closer. "You—" he began, but his voice faltered as he realized the power they wielded.
Hades's gaze never left Perseus as he spoke. "You will never threaten her again."
Perseus, now visibly shaken, reached into his pocket with trembling hands. The remote. He handed it over without another word, his fear was evident as he realized the gravity of messing with Hades.
Hades pressed the button, the remote letting out a soft beep as the bomb's countdown ceased. Aurelia felt her body relax as the tension left her in a rush.
Achilles released Perseus, and the demons moved in. "Take him to Tartarus," Achilles commanded.
Without a word, the demons obeyed, dragging Perseus from the room, his protests echoing off the walls.
Hades moved swiftly, his arms wrapping around Aurelia, pulling her close. She buried her face against his chest, knowing that she was finally safe.
He had come. He had found her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry I took so long to find you. I will never leave you. Not again."
Tears filled Aurelia's eyes once more, but this time, they were tears of relief. She clung to him, whispering her gratitude into his chest, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to believe that everything would be okay.
The nightmare was over.
With a single thought, Hades teleported them to safety, to their hotel in Paris, away from the chaos of the past few hours. And in his arms, Aurelia felt for the first time in what felt like forever… home.