The Fugitive - Chapter 175

Esme felt a shiver run down her spine after seeing the ruby ring. The ruby ring that Gabriel gave her before she fell asleep. Was she crazy for thinking this dream was actually real? That these scenes that were so real and more like memories were her actual memories? No, she wasn’t some goddess.

‘mea dea’

That was just coincidental. The ring.. it was.. she saw it before sleep, so that was probably why she was dreaming about it now. But something about this was telling her it was all real.

Was she really Nyx, goddess of night, daughter of Khaos? Or well.. Nyx in a past life? But if that was true, why did Gabriel act like the first time they met was at ONYX? From how he was looking at her, or Nyx in the dream, he was besotted by her. There were only minor distinguishing features between her present self and the goddess: the black hair, golden freckles, and of course, the powers.

If she was Nyx in her past life, how the hell did she turn into a werewolf and was dealt with this shitty life before meeting Gabriel? Did she commit some grievous sin? But they were always taught that the ‘gift of the wolf’ was by the Moon Goddess. Selene, the goddess that apparently herself (her goddess, Nyx, self that is) was friends with. It made sense, considering Nyx was the goddess of night.

The scenery around her suddenly dissolved, swirling into glittering black and gold mist sparkling around her until she was at a new scene, a new part of this ongoing dream. It was the same day, and she had returned to the palace. Gabriel was returning to the underworld in the morning to tell Hades of their news once they spoke with her father. Now, she was exiting her quarters, her black and gold dress revealing her back and arms, her wrists wearing gold bracelets, and her earrings were of dangling rubies to match her ring.

“Nyx!” Acacius skidded around the corner. “Why didn’t you tell me you returned?! Khaos has been searching for you.. He destroyed the storage room; luckily, it was one of the empty ones. That’s not the point!”

Nyx looked at him, unconcerned by how flabbergasted he appeared. “Do you expect me to search for you in the palace? You know I am a busy woman..” She walked past him, heading in the direction of the hall where a feast was being held. She didn’t know the reasoning, but when did her father ever need a reason for throwing a grand party?

Acacius huffed, staring after her and grabbing his dark curls in his fist. “Busy romping that prince!”

Nyx stopped walking and twisted her head to look at him; her hair flicked to the side as she glared at him. Acacius’ eyes widened, and he bowed down, visibly shaking. She walked back to him, her footsteps quiet as the shadows from torches curled in towards her, dancing behind her skirt and following up her bare back. “I-I didn’t mean to. Nyx, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

She stopped in front of him, letting her aura chill the temperature of the room as the flames in the torches flickered and went out. Acacius flinched from the sudden darkness. “Stand up,” The goddess said emotionlessly. The shadows started swirling around them until there was a wall set up between them and any others who would be brave enough to walk down the unlit corridor.

Acacius peeked up at her before rising up, keeping his eyes to the floor. “I do not care what you think, Acacius. You should know that I would not hurt you.” Nyx said calmly while she played with the material around his shoulders before stilling and holding his shoulders. Her fingers dug in just enough to make him meet her gaze. “But.. that was disrespectful and not something you should speak of openly where others can hear. Do I make myself clear?”

Acacius nodded, looking glum. Nyx patted his shoulders and smiled, letting the shadows die down until the darkness was only from the nighttime. “How about I let you have a few days off? You’re always staying by my side, and don’t spend any time with all the women lusting after you.”

“Ah, but my queen, your radiance outshines those around me; how could I even compare to the mortal women..” Acacius began in a theatrical voice then trailed off when Nyx turned around, ignoring him again. He rushed to catch up to her and stayed a step behind her.

“Did you want days off or not?” Nyx asked without jest. She glanced at him as they stood before the archway that led to the hall.

“What would I even do with my days off? My job is to serve, and when I return, the endless jobs will be piled up, and I will be worn out again. No, no, I will remain by your side until my dying days,” Acacius replied with a long exasperated sigh.

“How dramatic. Hmmm, you could ask Kairos to take some of your workload. Ah,” She turned and looked at him with a mocking pout. “But you might lose a few of your admirers to him.”

Acacius narrowed his eyes at her. “They wouldn’t jump boats so easily.. ahem, I mean. Can you really trust him with jobs that only I can do? What if you end up killing him because he made an error? That would lie heavily on my conscience!” He blurted out as though he was really considerate of the other servant. Nyx knew him well, Acacius took pride in his job, as did Kairos from what she had observed of him, she could tease him, but luckily for him, she had to go in and see her father now.”

“Do what you will, Acacius.” She started to stroll into the banquet hall, only to stop and smirk at her servant. “Do not complain that I never offered you this chance.”

“Wait, Nyx!” Acacius stopped her again, and he glanced warily around the hall. “You distracted me. I must tell you something Kairos overhead-”

Nyx flicked her gaze at those who started to stare at her; they looked away though a few still lingered on her body. “Tell me after. You know how much I hate.. crowds.”

She continued through the loud hall with musicians playing their kithara’s on the side. Two long tables went down the side, and the table she was assigned to was at the back, following multiple steps that would overlook the rest of the hall. Nyx kept walking though she felt the magnetic pull of her soulmate nearby; usually, she never looked away from her destination. But she could feel him; how could she not search for eius amores; she turned her head slightly to the side and met Gabriel’s burning gaze.

He wore similar colours to her, and he pulled his hair back into a half-up hairstyle, making himself look even more proper with that straight, luscious hair. Nyx noted just behind where he sat, Kairos stood quietly and took some of the attention away from Gabriel. Which she much preferred because women were swarmed around Cassius, and she knew if Gabriel’s aura didn’t chill everyone to the bone, then they would try and do the same to him. But Kairos was in his own league with straight black hair to his shoulders, sharp dark blue eyes, and he oozed of intelligence. Unlike the gods and goddesses who were deemed unapproachable, aides like Acacius and Kairos were always sought out.

With their looks, it must make their jobs easier, one dashing smile and they probably putty in their hands. Nyx’s gaze flicked back to Gabriel, softening before she turned away and looked at her father, her features hardening and her mask falling into place. There were other gods here tonight, she noted briefly, which made her curious as to the occasion. Aphrodite and her husband, along with her latest lover, was among them along with Ares, god of war, Poseidon, god of the sea and others she did not care to take note of; she could already feel Zeus’ arrogance without looking in his direction.

But they were inferior to her father and the others at the table she was to sit at. Nyx started to ascend the marble stairs and raised a brow at her siblings. Her brother Eros, the god of love, sat at the far end winking at servants passing by; it was said he was also the son of Aphrodite though they did not look alike. One had goldish rays in their hair, and a figure all men died for, and the other had raven curls falling to his shoulders, his physique of a warrior though he was on the smaller side, his personality still lured many men and women to his bed. Surprisingly her other brother, Tartarus, was also seated in his human form besides the horns on his head and the occasionally fiery glow from his eyes and fingertips reminding those of how much power he truly wielded.

A seat was free between her brothers and Khaos on her father’s left side sat Erebus, stunning her for a moment and Gaea, her sister, goddess of earth, sat at the far end. Nyx was not close with any; they all had jobs to do and were set out in different areas; surprisingly, she was closer to her father and to Erebus though she had not seen either of them much lately.

“Sister.” Her brothers greeted, and Gaea nodded at her before her stony gaze fell back on the hall.

“My word, what is the occasion, father?” Nyx asked as she kissed her father’s cheek, almost flinching from the iciness of his skin. Her lips were throbbing from the chill as she sat in her seat.

“If you were ever around, I would tell you. But now you leave me with no choice,” Khaos glared at his daughter before standing up and, grabbing his chalice, moving a spoon above it, creating a loud ringing sound that called to everyone’s attention.

Nyx moved her gaze away from her father and looked at Erebus questionably, but his passiveness was not helpful; he looked back to the front, his aura intense and darkening from the attention Khaos was calling to them.

“I have gathered you all here tonight for the announcement of my daughter’s engagement.”

Nyx froze. How did he know about the engagement already? Her brows drew together slightly, but she didn’t mull on it further and looked back at her husband to be. His brows were drawn together, and his lips parted, his eyes widening slightly. What was with that expression?

“I am happy to accept such a devoted son-in-law to my chaotic family; he will surely fit in well. Bring your glasses together and toast to Nyx and Erebus.”

“To Nyx and Erebus!”