The Fugitive - Chapter 180

Nyx stared back at the God of the dead; her eyes shone with the tears that would flow for a million years. Did she really have to let Gabriel go? Was this what the fates had in store for her? When she finally found happiness, found him, it was being taken away from her, stripping her bare. But if she stayed with Gabriel, his death was imminent, and THAT would torture her more than the lands of Tartarus.

The goddess may have spoken to her father about living a short, almost mortal life if it meant she could spend it with Gabriel, but she never thought of how he would feel if she did die. Now it was Gabriel’s life that could be cut short by the string of fate if she continued to step in this direction. Nyx looked down at the ring on her finger; its red ruby weighed down immeasurably on her heart. Another tear rolled down her cheek as she felt the whirlwind of emotions jumping and falling from hollowness, sadness, and anger.

“Are the fates always so cruel?” Nyx whispered, turning away from Hades. She’d never shown weakness to any before, and now she’d cried before the King of the underworld. Hades did not answer, the gods were always known to be the cruel ones, and yet despite Nyx and Gabriel’s pasts of good deeds, the Moirai did not want to reward them. She chuckled darkly, “Of course they are cruel. Since when were any of us kind?”

Nyx was speaking to herself, dismissing Hades, who had been watching her with a pained expression. For someone who was known as the cruel and rich God of the dead, he had revealed this other side to the world, one she knew that centuries of stories would be created from, about the love he has for Persephone. His expression showed how much he truly understood Nyx and Gabriel’s tragedy.

“You may stay here as long as you wish, use the underworld as your refuge, but.. Erebus must know of your decision. Right now, he might toy with you and Gabriel until he takes what he thinks is rightfully his,” Hades advised as he searched her features with furrowed brows.

Nyx’s face hardened, and she bit her tongue until she scoffed at the God’s comment, ‘rightfully his’. “I am nobody’s property. I am a goddess..” She snarled, clenching her hands into fists as her obsidian eyes burned. She wanted to slap some sense into Erebus, but she’d already kneed him in his delicate area, and he still controlled Gabriel before they escaped to the underworld.

“Please do not destroy my palace,” Hades commented dryly, and she looked back at him in confusion until she realised the storm her shadows were brewing in the throne room. Like with her emotions, her powers were going out of control, making the banners and curtain flap and twist. Nyx inhaled deeply and cleared her mind watching the shadows draw back into her, curling at her feet once more while the others returned to their spots by the lit torches and chandeliers.

Nyx flicked her gaze back at Hades, who had been observing her curiously before he gestured her towards the doors. “I hear you did not dine at the banquet. Come, Gabriel is waiting for us at the dining hall.”

Even though her heart was twisting every time Nyx glanced at Gabriel’s beaming face, she was in a somewhat joyful mood from the warmth and kindness shown to her by Gabriel’s parents. After they left the family dinner, Gabriel led her back to his chambers, she’d shared a look with Hades before leaving, and her mood was slowly dropping the closer they went to his chambers. Nyx would have to speak to Gabriel, she couldn’t leave him without her reasons, but did she tell him straight away, ruining their time together? Or tell him after?

Once the gilded doors closed behind her, Nyx knew telling him straight away was better. But before she called upon the courage inside of herself to speak to him, Gabriel was already on her. His lips were on hers, his hands in her hair as she stumbled back into the doors. The goddess hadn’t even had time to look at her surroundings before she was lost in his embrace. But there was something about the way he kissed her so passionately, clinging to her body like she might escape him; the urgency of his kiss, the way his tongue controlled hers, and the tightening grip in her hair told her he already knew.

Gabriel pulled away, leaving their faces only inches apart as he stared into her eyes angrily. “Why, Nyx? Why have you made this decision alone? What happened to the courageous goddess who took my hand and stepped into the underworld after Erebus’ threats?” He breathed harshly, his hands still gripping her hair, so her chin was tilted up, and she could not look away from his gaze. There was desperation in his voice, and it made her almost break and give in to him.

“How could I live on if you die, amica mea? I..” Nyx dropped her gaze as her voice dropped to a whisper, as the tears started to fill her voice. “I was foolish and selfish. I thought..” Her voice trembled. “I thought if it was only my life that would be taken, then everything would be fine.. I’d be happy knowing I’d spend the last of my days with you.” She looked back up at princeps eius. His eyes had softened, but there was still a rawness and anger behind those crystal blue hues that made them glow. “But I didn’t think Erebus could reach you here in the underworld.”

Gabriel stared at her for a long moment, reading her expression as he untangled his fingers from her hair and cupped her face. “I do not care about the risks of being together,” He said. The strength behind Gabriel’s voice and the hands that cupped her face as he stared at her so lovingly made her almost melt to his will.

“Risks.. Gabriel, I cannot lose you as you cannot lose me-”

“Who says what the fates said would come to life?” Gabriel interrupted her. Again, he wasn’t listening about his imminent death; she could see how much he didn’t care and how besotted he was by her. He didn’t want to believe that she would die by being with him and was challenging the deities.

“Questioning the Moirai, really?” Nyx said quietly; she didn’t want to upset him with her sarcastic comment, but it was foolish to question those three; their fates were in the deities’ hands. Nyx gripped Gabriel’s wrists to pull his hands away, but he did not budge. She looked back into his eyes and paused.

“Will you.. return to Erebus?” Gabriel questioned quietly.

Nyx released a shuddering breath. “I..” She looked away, unable to stare back at his piercing gaze. She did not want to go back to Erebus and briefly thought about hiding from him, but he was more powerful than her, and it wouldn’t be long until he would capture her.

“Don’t,” Gabriel’s quiet plea made her close her eyes. He lowered his face to her jaw and started to leave kisses, going down her neck as his hands lowered her waist and pulled her close to him. “I cannot bear the sight of you in another man’s arms,” He murmured against her skin. Nyx placed her hands in his long hair, and his hands tightened on her before lifting her up and carrying her towards the bed with sleek black sheets.

“I..”

“Don’t,” Gabriel pleaded as he stared back at her before lowering her down on the bed.

Don’t.. He didn’t want to hear her response because he already knew the answer. When Erebus finds her, she would be forced to marry, but it would be a loveless marriage and one she would steer clear of the God as much as possible. But she couldn’t tell him that; she couldn’t delve into the intricacies of the marriage with another god when her life, her love, was above her.

“Stay with me.” Gabriel’s hands roamed down her body, hitching the skirt to her dress up and widening her legs. “Take pleasure in me and do not speak of him.” He started leaving kisses on the inside of her thigh, slowly teasing his way towards her core. “Get lost in me as I will in you.”

“Yes,” Nyx breathed. She was tongue-tied by the raw emotion she felt. It was all so cruel. A few tears escaped her eyes, and she cleared her throat. Gabriel noticed instantly and crawled over her body, leaving kisses along her cheeks, below her eyes before descending upon her lips, claiming her.

But before they went further, Nyx suddenly felt a tug on her shoulders, and she was ripped away from the world around her, the colours warping into darkness, her beloved disappearing until there was nothing but emptiness, a dark void in which she was now standing in. A dark chuckle echoed across the void, making her more confused about what was happening.

“Are you enjoying your trip down memory lane?” A voice called to her from the darkness.