The Reaping of the Gods

Chapter 10

"Larissa!" I hear Anaya yell from behind me. "Where have you been?"

Luke backs away putting some distance between us and I can feel my heart sink. It almost felt like a rejection.

"I had a lovely time. Have a good evening." Luke bows and places a kiss on my hand before turning and walking away. Just like that he turned and left.

"Larissa. You were supposed to be back an hour ago." Anaya grabs my arm and starts partially dragging me back to the Reaping house. We must've lost track of time because we hadn't been gone that long I thought.

I finally snap out of it and stop unconsciously resisting her. Getting back the girls swarmed around me at the bedroom doorway, a far cry from the distain I was shown last night and this morning. All of them in a buzz, all speaking at the same time and none of it intelligible.

"What's going on?" I grab Josie and almost shake her to get her to slow down.

She points to my bed, and sat on my bed is an older man. Wearing a black shirt, black pants with blue hair that somehow looked natural. He stands up and walks towards me.

"Hello." He reaches his hand out for me to shake.

"Hello....." I shake his hand back.

"Hades." Holy s**t. I am meeting some very high profile Gods.

"Larissa."

"Oh I know. I have heard and seen alot of you lately. Would you ladies give us some privacy please?" He motions for the girls to leave. They all shuffle out of the room quickly.

"What can I do for you?" I ask unsure of why I warrant a visit from Hades.

"I'm here to give you some advice. If you're willing to listen." I nod. Hades walks over to the window just beside my bed and stares out it. "Come Selection Day I think you'll have a difficult decision to make. Set, Luke or Home. I think you should choose Home."

"Why?" I assumed most people would be opposed to a girl choosing to go home mostly because that is one less match made.

"My oracles have seen a prophecy and I'm afraid you play a big part in it."

"Ha, that's funny. I'm sorry but there's no way I play a big part in anything." I snicker.

"Oh you humans are fascinating. You dream of being something greater than yourselves but then feign insignificance. You are special. I don't know how or why but it will come to light soon enough." He turns and looks at me. His expression void of any sort of emotion.

"What happens if I do stay, in this prophecy?"

"War. Set doesn't take rejection well and Luke. Luke has his demons. I'm afraid if you were to choose either, it would cause a chain reaction ending in a war between the two. So I'm asking that you choose neither. Take your money, go live an easy human life. Find love in that world, not ours."

"If I choose to stay, you're telling me people will die."

"Yes, people I care about. People you care about." Hades eyes soften, picking up a picture of Josie and her family she keeps beside her bed, and I know he's telling the truth. Gods are good at lying but have a tough time being vulnerable. That's something I've learned while here.

"What if I stay but don't choose either of them? Like what if I just stay for me?"

"I'm afraid your presence will just be a cruel reminder to each of them of what could have been. Which could force the same deadly outcome." Hades walks up and wipes a tear falling down my cheek. "I understand you have feelings for him but I'm trying to save my world." I snap my head up to look at him. He knew. Of course he knew. "Please take my words to heart. Don't take this harshly but I hope I don't see you again." With that, he places a kiss on my cheek and leaves the room.

The girls come rushing in, asking a million questions before they realize I was crying.

"What'd he say?" one of the girls questions. "Are you okay?"

"I need to get ready for my date. Set will be here soon." I feel numb like someone took my heart out. I was starting to think I had finally found a place. I hadn't let myself think it but I was starting to think I could stay and have a family. Josie and Alec could've been my kids Aunt and Uncle. It seems silly but I had already accepted that I was staying here. Not to mention that I was getting excited about the prospect of Luke and I.

Getting ready and half of my date with Set was spent in a fog. I don't remember what he said, or what I said. Just a haze of interactions. Even the sounds of the restaurant are muffled.

"Larissa......" I was startled to attention by Set trying to get my attention. "is there something wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry. I guess my brain is somewhere else."

"Well I'd appreciate your attention I have something very important to ask you." He reaches over and grabs my hand. "I know it's still a few days away before Selection Day but I want to make it clear that I will be putting my name in, if you will. You'll make an amazing wife and we will be a force to be reckoned with. Ultimate power couple." I couldn't help but notice that he was essentially proposing marriage but was making it seem like a business deal. I already knew I was never going to choose him but something rubbed me the wrong way about this.

"Thank you...." I had no other words to say.

"I will, of course, respect the rules of the Reaping and allow you to go on other dates until Selection Day but I must warn you that I do not take kindly to other men touching what is mine." He squeezes my hand until it hurts and I rip it away in shock. "You and Luke looked way too cozy earlier."

How did he know that? Was he following me? No, he wouldn't do it himself. He'd hire someone to follow me. The audacity to think I was going to be his.

"I am not yours." I stand up and storm out of the restaurant. I had been told so many things that I was and wasn't to do today. Who I should and shouldn't be with. The rage was boiling inside me. I ignored the calling of my name behind me, as I walk down the sidewalk back to the Reaping House.

Boom. The wind is knocked out of me as I get pushed up against the brick building beside me. The stars dancing in front of my eyes begin to fade when I realized I was being held up against the wall by my throat by Set.

"Who the hell do you think you are, you stupid b***h?" he slams his fist into the wall beside me. I couldn't breathe. Tears streaming down my face, I claw at his hand on my neck. I start to lose consciousness when I feel his grip loosen. I fall to the ground and pant heavily trying to catch my breath. I can see movement out of the corner of my eye. Looking up, I see Set dangling by his feet with Luke holding him by his throat.

"Touch her again and I'll kill you with my bare hands." Luke tosses him on the ground like a ragdoll. Set gets up wiping blood from his lip before slumping away.

"You'll regret that.....Luke." Set spits out with venom in his voice.

Luke runs up to me and wraps me up in his arms, carrying me away.

"Thank you." I lean my head against his shoulder and manage to calm my breathing down knowing I'm safe. With him, I feel safe. I burst into more tears as the flood of adrenaline dissipated. I can feel him hug me tighter.

"Always, my little human."