The Consort

Compromise

My husband assured me he looked worse then he felt. He looked as grey as one of the ghouls attending him, who had left as soon as I had returned. Hades sat up in his bed, his face lighting up as I crossed the room to him. I layered my hands atop his, after a moment his eyes met mine, their sluggishness concerned me. Fear of losing him gripped at my heart, squeezing it tightly. 

“How are you feeling my King?” My words took their time reaching him, and in response Hades smiled, his voice hoarse in reply that he was feeling better with me by his side. 

A swift knock on the door sounded and before I could reply a young man entered, carrying a silver tray lined with tea and a pill the size of my thumb. He stopped short at the sight of me, the dark eyes knowingly passing between me and my husband. It was the same apparition that had come to collect me from the world above. I stood as the man stepped closer, his face strained as he placed the silver tray on the bedside table before making his escape. 

I excused myself from the room, following after the boy until he stopped just down the hallway some. His shoulders tensed as I approached. “Damian?” I called, the boy responded to his name as if on instinct alone, turning to face me with such fierce hatred burning in his eyes before dropping into a slight bow. 

“Your Majesty.” He responded tersely.  I sized up the man before me, wondering how much damage he could do by opening up his mouth. In guessing my thoughts the boy smiled. “I will not tell of what I have seen your majesty.”

I relaxed slightly, comforted by the fact. I should have known the loyalty was a falsity when the boy sneered at me, hungry eyes wandering from my toes to the way to the hair tumbling down my shoulders. “Would you do anything to keep your secret?” He asked, crossing his arms and leaning upon the stone wall. 

“Anything?” I echoed his words and the boy bit his lip nodding carefully. 

He took a single step forward, his hands reaching for my waist as I closed my eyes. His fingers found the zip of my dress, lowering it inch by inch to stop above my rise of my bottom. I was pulled to him, the smile lingering on his lips was one of predatory joy. 

“Come with me, your Majesty.” I nodded meekly, an idea already forming in my mind.

Damian pulled me along easily, escorting me straight to the room which he called his own and closing the door behind us. I blushed demurely, pulling at the tie around his neck and bringing his ear to my lips as my deft fingers worked to untie the knot. 

“I hope you don’t mind - “ The tie unknotted in my fingers and I unwound the material from his neck. 

Grabbing both his hands in one of mine I pushed him onto the bed, swaying the tie back and forwards before gripping it between my teeth. I climbed onto my hands and knees, carefully making my way to sit upon his chest.

“I like my men a little….” I forced his hands up to the headboard, kissing him to accentuate each word. “Tied up.” As the words left my mouth the knot was complete, rendering the man beneath me unable to move. 

I smiled down at him, for the first time certain in my plan. With an ease that surprised me I dislodged myself from the bed, stuffing a pair of thick black socks in Damians mouth to ensure he would make no noise. Even now he looked at me passionately, wondering where all this would lead. 

I covered myself, forcing the zip of my dress back towards the nape of my neck. I turned away from the man on the bed, smiling at the reflection of the powerful woman in the mirror. Smoothing down my dress I curled my hair in-between my fingers and closed my eyes. After Thanatos had escorted me above ground everything had changed. I could feel the Earth, I could feel the way the roots responded to me, the way the Earth would move if and when I willed it. 

I ran from the room, knowing exactly where I needed to go, and what I needed to do. It was time to greet the God of Time.