Corrupted by Bella Klaus
Chapter Five
Black spread across Hades’ eyes, and his features twisted with a fury that made my breath catch. Straightening, he rose from the floor like a tidal wave, reminding me that he wasn’t just any lying asshole. Veins protruded from his temples, and the muscles of his neck corded.
Dread rumbled through my insides, but I tightened my stomach, reminding myself that I wasn’t the same person he’d abducted. Hades wouldn’t be trying so hard to get my help if he didn’t need me—and this angry display was just a show.
I dug my heels into the wooden floor, daring him to smite me with his wrath. “Listen to me,” I said from between clenched teeth. “You might think you can sweet-talk women or pleasure them into submission with your silver tongue, but not me.”
His nostrils flared, and he flashed sharper-than-normal teeth. “What will it take to satisfy you?”
“Do I need to repeat myself?” I hissed.
Hades went perfectly still, reminding me of the eerie calm before Mother unleashed a tsunami of temper. At any moment, he would erupt, and I would drown in indignation.
Instead of lashing out as expected, he disappeared.
I scrambled off my armchair with a scowl and headed toward the exit. “You still haven’t admitted you were wrong.”
Namara, the redhead who worked in his adjoining office, rose off her desk chair and curtseyed. “Your Majesty—”
“Where is he?” I said.
She paused, tilting her head to the side before meeting my gaze. “Gone to run a few errands.”
My lips tightened. “Does he communicate into your mind, too?”
She inclined her head. “It’s the most efficient way for His Majesty’s staff to understand his orders. May I offer you something to eat or drink?”
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling hungry for the first time since leaving the palace for the Devil’s Ball. It had been nearly twenty-four hours since I’d last had a meal. If Hades returned to drag me back to Hell, I wasn’t sure if I’d get another chance for food.
“Breakfast would be lovely, thanks.”
Namara bustled around from her desk and toward a door that held a kitchen the size of her office. There wasn’t anything demonic about its ash-wood cabinets, stainless-steel appliances, and pristine white work surfaces.
I followed after her, curious about the kinds of food she might serve Hades while he was at work.
“We have hot chocolate, coffee, and tea,” she said. “What is your preference?”
Placing a hand on my empty stomach, I bounced on my feet, now welcoming the prospect of food. “Could I try the hot chocolate, please?”
Namara set the table, and served me a light breakfast of a toasted cheese sandwich made with sliced ham. The hot chocolate was sweeter than anything Pirithous had ever made for us, thick and creamy with more than a hint of hazelnut. It was the kind of drink a girl needed after having visited both Heaven and Hell in such a short space of time.
My frazzled nerves calmed, and I accepted a glass of orange juice before realizing I’d just eaten food prepared by a demon. “Excuse me?” I whispered. “Will eating this condemn me to a lifetime in Hell?”
She shook her head and smiled. “That rule only applies to items consumed in Hell. Eating it here renders it just as harmless as human food.”
“But twice as delicious,” Hades drawled from the doorway.
I spun around in my seat to find him dressed in a black suit with a matching shirt and tie, and sporting a wide grin. My spine straightened. What was he scheming now?
“You demanded an apartment?” he said to me.
I nodded. “And an income—”
“And a shopping spree,” he drawled.
“And an apology.”
Ignoring my last request, Hades tossed an ebony credit card on the table. I turned it around, noting that it was missing a chip in the front and a magnetic strip at the back.
“What’s this for?”
“You.” He stretched out a hand. “Come with me, and I’ll show you to your new London penthouse.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Is this some kind of trick?”
He pressed a hand to his broad chest. “You should know that Hades never leaves a bargain unfulfilled.”
From the lilt in his voice when he said the word ‘bargain,’ I was sure he was using it as a euphemism for something else.
I rose off my seat, crossed the room, and took his hand, hoping he wouldn’t drag me to Hell and seal its barriers until I agreed to search for his wife.
A heartbeat later, the world flip-flopped, and I stood in a spacious apartment. Its decor was mostly white, with an entire wall of two-story-tall windows that overlooked Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and the River Thames. Across the water stood the London Eye, which was illuminated a brilliant blue.
My heart skipped several beats before resuming twice as fast as usual. This apartment couldn’t be for me. There had to be a catch. A place like this would cost a fortune.
“What is this?” I asked, my voice breathy with awe.
“Your penthouse,” he said with a smirk. “Two double bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a study.”
“Are you sure it’s for me?” I glanced around, taking in a pair of ivory-colored sofas long enough to sit twelve. A bank of low tables separated them, each balanced on square structures that appeared to be speakers.
The rest of the furnishings and accessories were either made of glass or charcoal-gray with gold accents that provided a touch of color. Floating chandeliers illuminated the room, providing gentle lighting. It was tasteful and neutrally decorated, as though ready for me to add a personal touch.
Hades placed a large hand on the small of my back, making my spine tingle from the notches beneath my skull to the tip of my tailbone.
“That was our agreement,” he drawled. “The deed is in your name. As for the income, the credit card gives you unlimited access to the Fifth Faction’s coffers.”
I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself. This was more than I had expected.
A knock sounded behind us, jolting me out of my stupor.
“Who’s there?” I whispered.
Hades swept his arm toward the door, which swung open to reveal a man with a pointed goatee. He wore a long coat made of leather patches that he’d buttoned up to the collar. Behind him were a troop of women the exact same height and shape as me, each of them wearing different outfits.
“And here is your shopping spree.” Hades took my hand and guided me to a loveseat barely large enough for two.
Hades sat first, taking up all the space, and placed his palms on his lap. Behind him, the man with the goatee set up a tall screen that crackled with magic.
My gaze darted toward the empty sofas. I was still mad at him, and he hadn’t yet apologized for concealing Persephone, so I perched myself on the arm of the sofa, staying close enough to enjoy what was looking to be a fashion show, but without giving him what he wanted.
“Jean-René Jacques agreed to showcase his latest fashions.” Hades slid his arm around my back and rested his hand on my thigh. “After that, we have Grace Van Oberon, and then Le Scandale Lingerie. Choose anything you desire.”
“Okay.” I settled into his side, watching the women walk a loop around the sofas in a variety of spring clothing. Some wore pants, others cocktail dresses, others beautiful gowns that skimmed the floor. I shook my head, marveling at the variety.
Hades pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around my middle. “I have provided you with the apartment, the income, and a shopping spree. I’ve even scheduled a consultation with the Dean of the University of Logris because you once mentioned wanting to complete your education.”
“That’s…” I cleared my throat, trying to concentrate on the fashion show and not wriggle in his grip. Awesome couldn’t even begin to describe what he had done for me. “Thank you.”
“Now, will you come with me to Hell?” His hot breath tickled my ear.
“But you said there were more designers after this one,” I murmured.
“After the show.” He made himself sound like helping me select beautiful clothing was a chore.
I tilted my head to the side, looking for the man with the goatee. “Monsieur Jacques?”
He jogged out from behind us with his hands clasped. “You called.”
“Do you have smaller models?” I asked, and rattled off a description of Dami’s alternative form.
The fashion designer frowned. “But of course, Mademoiselle—”
“Madame,” Hades snapped. “You’re addressing a married woman.”
He bowed low. “My apologies, Your Majesty, but all the customers you brought me have been unmarried.”
“Be grateful you have another seven years on your contract before I drag your supercilious carcass to Hell.” Hades gnashed his teeth, making the other man flinch.
“Yes, sire.”
I turned to him, my lips pursed in a tight line. “How many of these apartments do you have dotted around the world?”
His features twisted into a scowl. “There hasn’t been a single woman for me since we locked gazes and I confirmed you were the one I sought.”
“That was less than two months ago,” I snapped.
He leaned back on the sofa, hummed his agreement, and tightened his arms around my middle. “Until then, I thought I was a widower, destined to spend an eternity alone.”
“But you had Persephone,” I said.
“Who was no better than a living corpse,” he hissed back.
Clenching my teeth, I turned my gaze back to the fashion show. Young women the size and shape of Dami paraded among the redheads, wearing items more suited for her slender figure.
I slid my hands beneath Hades’ arms and shifted on his lap, trying to wedge myself free. Why couldn’t he be a decent supernatural and just apologize for having misled me?
“Kora.” He placed his hand on mine. “Will you please put aside your feelings and focus on your duties?”
“The ones I didn’t sign up for?” I asked.
“You accepted the power…” He let his voice trail off.
“Which you’re free to draw upon,” I replied with a sniff. “That was the arrangement. Nothing else. Now, if you’d release me from your lap, I would be much obliged.”
Ignoring me, he turned back to the show and watched in a stony silence. The second designer was a young blonde woman in a black jumpsuit, who appeared vexed that Hades wouldn’t respond to her flirtatious comments.
Her selection consisted of gym clothes, casual gear for lounging about the house, jeans and tank tops that looked great on both types of models. At the end of her show, Hades purchased all the items in all colors and both sizes—just as he had done with the previous designer.
A knock sounded on the door, and Dr. Atallus stepped inside, cradling Dami in one arm, and clutching a leather case in the other. Dami was alert, her green eyes bright, and her head swiveling in all directions, taking in the decor.
“Let go of me.” I elbowed Hades in the ribs, adding a bit of electricity to strengthen my point.
He released me with a grunt, and I rose to my feet, leaving the lingerie show to approach the doctor and my best friend.
“Feeling better?” I rubbed the tips of her ears.
She gave me a bright nod and a perky meow.
I turned to the doctor. “Did you find any injuries?”
“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” he said with a soft smile. “Light bruising and a few plucked whiskers. For reasons I can’t fathom, whoever captured Damisa made her swallow seeds, which I’ve removed from her digestive tract.”
My brows drew together. “What kind?”
He shook his head. “That’s something I’ll need to give to a colleague for analysis.”
Dami twisted around in the doctor’s arms and reached for me with her front paws. I scooped her up and cradled her to my chest.
“Is there anything else?” I asked.
“She also suffered considerable sensory deprivation, and her levels of magic were depleted.”
I glanced down at her leopard skin head. “Why?”
“Taking human form is taxing on Hellcats to begin with, and requires them to supplement their diets with bryanstan.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“An extremely rare and expensive compound generated in the pits of Hell,” Hades said. “It occurs when brimstone reacts with the residue of magical souls. Fortunately for you, I control the world’s supply.”
Ignoring him, I turned to the doctor. “Thank you. Is there anything else?”
He reached into his leather bag and extracted a glass jar filled with yellow salt. “Give Damisa two pinches a day with her meals, regardless of whether she has shifted.”
She meowed a protest, which I guessed was her way of saying she could look after herself.
My lips curled into a smile, and I gave her a kiss on the ear. “I’ll make sure she takes her medicine.”
The doctor inclined his head and strolled out of the apartment, passing the models streaming through the door. I turned to Hades, my eyes wide. “Will you get us some more bryanstan?”
He tapped his lap and bounced his thighs up and down. “When you take up your throne, what’s mine will become yours.”
“And your original wife?” I asked.
Exhaling a sharp breath, he ran his fingers through his hair. “You are the most persistent creature.”
“Since when was it considered unreasonable to ask questions?” I said. “Maybe your other women didn’t mind your wandering attention, but I won’t settle for anything but a hundred-percent fidelity from my husband.”
His brows rose. “You count yourself as mine?”
“Until I can find a way to be rid of you.” I turned Dami to the fashion show. “Look, Dami, some of the models are just like you.”
She gave me an enthusiastic meow.
Another knock sounded on the door, and Namara from the office stepped in with even more designers. For the next hour or so, the models glamoured to look like us paraded a range of outfits. I sat beside Namara, with Dami on my lap, who gave high-pitched meows whenever she found an outfit she liked.
Hades glowered at us from the love seat, resting his chin in his hands, and made dramatic sighs to telegraph the extent of his boredom.
At the end of the show, Namara clapped her hands together and stood. “That’s all we could arrange at such short notice. His Majesty has ordered every item shown in both your sizes.”
Dami raised her head, offering Hades a loud meow of thanks.
He rolled his eyes. “Now, will you consider my request?”
“One, I need a good night’s sleep. Two, you haven’t apologized—”
He hissed through his teeth. “I groveled at your feet.”
I placed both hands over Dami’s ears. “Nothing you said during that so-called groveling sounded apologetic.”
“Is that what you want?” he growled. “For me to say I’m sorry?”
“Not if your intention is to manipulate me into a deadly chase around the depths of Hell.” I clutched Dami to my chest. “Anyway, you heard the doctor. Dami is suffering from magical exhaustion and needs my help.”
Hades nodded toward Namara, who stood at the end of the sofa with her notepad and pen. “I know a capable imp who enjoys pussies. If you need a cat sitter—”
“She’s my best friend,” I snapped. “Not my pet.”
He inclined his head. “My apologies. I was mistaking you for a Queen of Hell. Apparently, I should have set my assessment of you to a spoiled brat trying to make a point.”
“Meow!” Dami said.
“That’s right.” I gave her a sharp nod. “You tell him.”
“She says she wants everyone to leave, so she can go to bed,” Hades drawled. “Doctor’s orders.”
“Meow?” she added.
“And she wants the phone she entrusted you for safekeeping.”
My shoulders sagged. So much for thinking Dami was helping me with Hades. I picked up the handset from where I had left it on the low table. “Oh.”
Dami placed her paw on the home screen, unlocked its security, and scrolled across the paws app.
Hades rose from his seat with a snarl. “I’ve just heard that Persephone has destroyed an entire village of the Asphodel Meadows with her plants.”
“Are the souls alright?”
He shook his head “In the time you’ve spent dithering over fripperies, the Goddess of Spring’s empty shell has exacted more damage than four oversized soulkins.”
My mind conjured up an image of the old man who had stitched hundreds of souls to his body, forming a ghastly quilt. He had been overpowered, reducing massive demons to blood and guts.
“Really?” I whispered.
“What are you going to do about it?” he snarled.
My skin tightened. He was trying to make me feel responsible for something that wasn’t even my fault? I picked up Dami, mobile phone and all, and walked around the back of the sofa. Around the side of the apartment’s kitchen area was a set of stairs that led to a mezzanine level that overlooked the tall windows. I strode toward it, not sparing him a backward glance.
“Kora,” he hissed.
I paused at the foot of the stairs and tilted my head to the side. “The more important question is why you’ve been sitting here, watching models parade in lingerie and swimwear, while your wife is supposedly tearing apart your kingdom?”
His growl made the fine hairs on the back of my head stand on end. “Why are you being so stubborn?”
I took the stairs two at a time. When I reached the top, I glowered down at the lower level. Hades stood by the loveseat, his gaze raised to meet mine.
“Maybe you should look at who is really being resistant here,” I said, my voice cold. “I’m not asking for much. Just a heartfelt apology. Answers. I also want to know what I am to you.”
He flashed his teeth. “Why?”
“Because you seem awfully fixated on a woman who is supposedly an empty shell.”
Hades exhaled an exasperated breath. “Is no your final answer?”
I clenched my teeth. Why wasn’t he listening to me? Now that Persephone was back in his life, Hades acted like I was no longer his only option.
My heart clenched, and I hugged Dami’s furry little body to my chest.
What if this was the last time I ever saw him again?
