The Fugitive - Chapter 176

{ This has been updated, I am working on the next chapter and will have it ready and the one after that for the next chapter upload.}

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Everything around Nyx stilled and blurred; her vision tunnelled, only focusing on Gabriel at her father’s announcement. The slightest smile she had tugging on the corners of her lips dropped, and her brows drew together when she heard Erebus’ name and saw Gabriel’s features harden. Simultaneously Nyx and Gabriel moved their gazes from one another and to Erebus, who was already watching Nyx and then she swiftly looked at Khaos.

The sound of clapping in the hall filled her with dread as she realised Khaos and Erebus spoke behind her back about this. Nyx abruptly stood. “Father, how could you not ask me about this?” She asked him quietly.

Khaos’ dazzling smile slowly turned down, and he lowered his chalice to the table, turning to his daughter. “If you were here and not gallivanting around, you would know of the arrangement.”

Nyx stepped up to her father, who seemed even taller as his eyes darkened at her challenging stance. “Arrangement?!” She exclaimed and looked behind her father and to Erebus, who stayed quiet. “What happened to letting me choose?” Her gaze fell back on Khaos, and she stood on her tiptoes, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I already have someone I wished to tell you about tonight..” She revealed her ring to her father.

Khaos’ brows drew together as he held her hand. He looked regretful, and he turned his face away. She needed to keep speaking to him. “Father.. I am sorry I haven’t been present much, but I needed to follow my.. I needed to follow my heart. Please rescind your announcement of Erebus and me-”

“Enough,” Khaos snapped back, his head flicked back, and he held her gaze. “This has already been announced; I accepted Erebus’ proposal. Your lover has not approached me for my approval. At least I know Erebus, and I know he can make you happy.”

“How can you, father? I love G-”

“Nyx. Why don’t we take a walk?” Erebus stepped between them. It was then she realised her brothers and sister had backed away from the table, staring at the father and daughter worriedly. Their emotions were invoking their powers to spiral around them. The shadows from the surrounding lights were now pulled in towards her and started to cocoon the pair. On the other hand, Khaos had the ceiling shaking, resounding a thunderous noise.

The father and daughter continued to stare at each other until Khaos stepped towards her, and she grimaced at the sudden onslaught of power crashing down on top of her head, almost suffocating her, breaking through her shadows. She could hear screams and the pounding of hands against doors. Nyx lowered her head, her eyes filling with tears both from the feeling of despair and betrayal and from the pain of whatever manipulation her father created. The shadows instantly vanished, now was not the time to fight with her father.

There were too many witnesses, and Nyx didn’t want to bother listening to the other gods’ gossip. She could never win against Khaos; that was one thing she was certain of, but she did need to speak to them and convince them otherwise. It would be too cruel of the fates to pair her with Erebus when Gabriel, her soulmate, proposed, and she was ready to be with him. They loved each other. That had to be enough.

Nyx turned her head back to eius amores, he was standing now, and Kairos was holding him by the arm. Erebus took her hand in his and raised it to his lips, gaining Nyx’s attention; he glared in Gabriel’s direction as he snaked an arm around her tiny waist. Nyx looked back at Gabriel as Erebus led her away from the back of the hall.

“Let me speak to him,” She whispered, knowing now Gabriel could hear her from across rooms and long distances. Gabriel nodded in return, then spoke to Kairos over his shoulder, and his aide let go of his arm and started to walk away in the opposite direction. The double doors then closed in front of Nyx, hiding the hall and the noise within it.

The goddess turned her head back to the front as they walked past servants who bowed to the ground and backed away, trembling at the imposing god and goddess. “Erebus..” She placed her hand above his on her waist, trying to remove his fingers, but his grip tightened on her as he spun her to face him, pushing her against the black marble wall. Nyx’s lips shut from the burning intensity of Erebus’ gaze, and she decided he should speak first.

“You will stop seeing Gabriel,” Erebus said gruffly; his tone was low and threatening as though there was no room to argue.

“You have no right-”

“I have every right!” Erebus snapped, slamming his fist beside her head. The black robe he wore did nothing to hide the markings growing on his skin and the horns growing from his head along with his wings that curled around them, providing some privacy from the servant’s gazes. He turned his head and snarled, letting a black gooey wall crawl up behind him, shielding their private conversation and trapping her there. Erebus was too powerful for her overthrow with her power.

“How? How do you?” Nyx asked softly. She needed to keep him calm while demanding answers. Surely her friend would see through this; she could never be happy by his side; Gabriel was her soulmate, even with this small distance between them, she felt herself needing to be by his side.

Erebus lowered his hands to her face and put his forehead against hers. “It’s always been us, Nyx. You and me against everyone else. I get you, and you get me. You are MY fiancé now-”

“I never said I would be your fiancé Erebus. When did you ask me?” Nyx replied sadly. She knew now just how strong Erebus felt about her, but she had been too selfish to push him away. He’d always been there, and his presence was comforting, but it was never anything more for her. She moved her head to the side, not wanting to see the emotions burning behind his black eyes.

“You may have been Khaos’ favourite, but even he has limits, Nyx. I volunteered before he would give you away to the next man who asked for your marriage-”

“Don’t act like you are doing this for me,” Nyx snapped, turning back to him and gasping when she realised how close his face was still to hers.

“Fine. I want you,” Erebus replied truthfully. “I made it so your father could not refuse me. Nyx..” He planted a kiss on her lips, making her still before her mind caught up to her, and she turned her head away and pushed at his chest. “Gabriel is just a lover among many you’ve had. I am the real thing.. Take my hand willingly.”

Nyx shivered at his words and was angered by his statement that Gabriel was nothing more than a passing fling. “You know nothing about Gabriel and me-”

“You will get bored of him like you did with the others-”

“Then don’t you think I’d be bored of you, Erebus? We aren’t even lovers,” Nyx interrupted Erebus after he interrupted her. Usually, she kept a cool head with Erebus, but he’d never angered her like this before. He was meant to be her closest friend and ally, and yet he went behind her back and discussed her engagement with her father. Nyx’s anger grew by the second while her thoughts plagued her, and her hands slowly dissolved into black mist. She was readying for her escape from him.

Erebus looked down at her hands and back up to her face with a smirk. “You cannot run from this. You are mine now,” He replied confidently, making her wonder where that confidence came from.

“What deal did you make with my father?” She peeked up at his features, trying to gauge what he was thinking. “What did you promise him?”

Erebus smiled, but he did not respond. “What deal did you make!?” Nyx slammed her fists against his chest, solidifying them momentarily. She searched his features, yet still, he did not reply or give anything away. She knew he was powerful, but what else could he tell her father for him to agree? Was it simply because he was deemed better than the other useless gods?

“I will NOT marry you, Erebus.”

“Nyx, you are acting like I won’t do what it takes to make sure you are mine. Must I really threaten you about your little angelic-looking boy toy?” Erebus replied, tilting his head to the side.

Nyx stilled; her eyes widened from his comment before she scrunched them shut. “Erebus, even if I agreed to this marriage now, whether it is through threats or force.. I will not be happy.” She opened her eyes and stared up at him. “If you really have feelings for me.. You would care enough not to force this marriage on me. I would be yours in name only; I wouldn’t even consider you my friend if you continue with these actions.”

“Nyx..” Erebus whispered her name, and he caressed her jaw with his sharp nails. “You are acting like I am a regular man or god. I do not feel the same way as you; I want you as my bride. You’re beautiful, powerful and can keep me on my toes or calm this beast within me. You are exactly what I need. We are perfect for each other, both encased in darkness and bloom in it like those luna waterlilies you love so much.”

Had he gone mad, or had it taken her this long to realise Erebus was not like her, and this darkness controlled him more than he controlled it. She stared at her friend, stared into those dark depths of infinite blackness and the black veins beneath his eyes that never bothered her before seemed to take on a whole new meaning. Erebus, god of darkness, he didn’t control it; he was it. But he never hid his true nature from her, and others stayed clear from him for a reason.

“Accept it and take my hand,” Erebus whispered as he lowered his face to hers again, his large hand going into her hair.

“Erebus..” Nyx whispered back, making him pause before his lips could brush against hers. “There is a thing called consent before you try to kiss someone.” She kneed him in the groin, feeling satisfied seeing him groan and clutch his lower region.

“Nyx! Don’t you dare-”

She evaporated into mist before he could do anything more.