Bound
The biting chill of the air clinging to my skin sends shivers down my spine, igniting a flood of memories. “Xavier!” My voice echoes into the void as I lurch forward, only to be brutally yanked back by an unseen force gripping my wrists. The acrid scent of charred flesh assaults my senses, intensifying as the searing pain encircles my wrists, eliciting a guttural cry of agony.
I strain to peer downward, but darkness shrouds my vision, blinding me to my surroundings. “Where... where am I?” I mutter, the words escaping as a desperate plea into the abyss.
A haunting voice cuts through the darkness, its tone low and somber, resonating with an unsettling familiarity. “Good morning, sunshine,” H voice reverberates, weaving through the shadows like an ominous melody. In the profound silence of the unfathomable abyss, a deafening snap pierced the void, a thunderous sound that heralded the birth of fiery crimson flames. These flames twirled and swayed atop the partially molten remains of once pristine white candles, their eerie dance casting surreal and flickering shadows across the desolate surroundings.
My gaze swept through the barren scene, only to be met by a cage of rusted metal bars, their imposing presence blending with the dampened and worn rock formations that seemed to enclose the space. A sense of disorientation engulfed me, and with a surge of fury, I demanded, “Where the fuck am I?” The words dripped with venom, laced with a seething intensity.
“You’re in my realm now,” came the nonchalant reply, cutting through the heavy air like a cold blade. The sheer audacity of his response fueled my rage. “You bastard!” I spat, my muscles tensing as I lunged forward, only to feel an excruciating restraint jerking my arms behind me. The searing sensation of my skin blistering against the chains sent shockwaves of pain through my body, eliciting a guttural scream that tore from my throat, reverberating through the despondent expanse.
I crumpled to my knees, a symphony of anguish and fury echoing within me. Through the haze of agony, I glared at the figure before me. “Don’t bother,” Hades remarked with a chilling calmness, his form leaning indolently against a weathered rock wall. He glanced at his fingernails with casual disinterest. “They’re silver.”
His words hung in the air, a cruel reminder of my incapacitation, bounding me to this nightmarish domain, leaving me at the mercy of the realm’s lord, Hades, who seemed utterly unperturbed by my suffering.
“Shade,” I cry out within the confines of my mind. There’s no trace of her presence, only a turbulent mix of anger and sorrow swirling within me.
“Xavier!” I shout desperately through the fractured mindlink, a lone tear tracing a path down my cheek. I lift my gaze to Hades, who looms mere inches from the worn steel bars. “Why?” I plead, my voice breaking. “Why me?”
Seeking any flicker of feeling in his dark gaze, I find none. “You were destined to be my bride. You see, twenty years ago, the Fates appeared to me and revealed a prophecy,” he continues, his tone rising with the weight of a legend. “A girl would be born possessing a power even greater than mine, one capable of aiding me in overthrowing Olympus.”
“You possess that power, and once we are wed, you will assist me in achieving my desires,” his tone grows more forceful, laced with demand. His face is dangerously close to the bars separating us, tantalizingly within my reach. Summoning every ounce of strength, I rise to my feet and bolt towards the barrier, bringing my face mere centimeters from his.
“I will never be your bride. I’ll never help you in any way,” I declare bravely, my voice charged with defiance. “You’re a fucking monster, deserving of everything that is coming for you.”
His hand thrusts through the prison’s confines, seizing my jaw and coercing me to meet his gaze. “You will be mine. Besides, your little mutt is dead. Nothing will stop me now,’ He says, releasing my face, and stepping back to adjust his navy blue blazer. My hands subconsciously snake around my stomach, his eyes fall to them. “I forgot about his sickening spawn inside of you. But oh well, I’ll just get rid of it too,” his voice is melancholic.
My eyes widen as tears begin to fill my gaze, “No! Please, no.” He seems to not be interested in discussing this topic, casually leaning down to my eye level. “If you think I will allow that child to be here, holding us back, then you are sorrowly mistaken,” he says in a harsh whisper, “He tainted you, I will not be tainted by it.”
He stands, turning away from me. “No! No!” I scream desperately. “Please, do what you want to me. But please do not hurt my baby.” He glances back over his right shoulder, his voice low and somber, “We’ll see about that.”
I sense defeat overwhelming me, my body sinking to the ground, and tears flowing uncontrollably. The stillness surrounds me, embracing the tight grip of sorrow. Within this emotional turmoil, anger emerges, yet it isn’t solely my own emotions that consume me. “Xavier,” I murmur. His presence, a flicker of life, reassures me. The anger gradually subsides, leaving me with a chilling emptiness.
Shivering, I lie on the damp ground, the unforgiving iciness of the stone floor piercing my body. Tears stream down, tracing the bridge of my nose, as my internal sadness intensifies. The weight of my defeat settles in; I’ve lost my wolf, my powers, my mate, and my freedom.
My hand rests on my stomach, and I observe the dirt staining my once-lilac sundress. “Mommy will get us out of here, my baby. I promise,” I murmur, attempting to infuse a glimmer of hope into my own heart.
A sudden thud and the scraping of metal jolt me from my clouded thoughts. “You need to eat,” a woman’s voice resonates in the air. Her tone is soft-spoken, with a slightly raspy quality, yet her face reveals true beauty hiding within. Strands of her once-golden hair now cling together in dirt and tangles. Her brown eyes appear dull and sunken, cheekbones protruding, and her lips are cracked and bleeding.
“Apate,” I address her. Her eyes lift from the ground, meeting mine with surprise. “I haven’t heard my name for so long. How do you know it?” she asks, tears glistening in her eyes. “I met your husband, Dolos,” I inform her as I push myself up. “After the war, I did some research on you and the others.”
Her bony hand reaches for her mouth as she gasps. “Dolos,” she utters in a saddened whisper. “Is he alive? Is he okay? I miss him so much. Please tell me he’s okay.” Her slender fingers grip the deteriorating bars of my prison. “He is fine, Apate. I saw him not long ago. Hades told Dolos that if he helped him, he would set you free. That was a lie.”
“I have been trapped here for centuries, by that misogynistic asshole. He has beaten me, starved me, treated me as a slave, but the worst of it is he told me he killed Dolos,” she reveals, tears streaming down as she sniffs.
Hades’ dark voice echoes through the air, “Where are you, Dirt? Where is my food?”
“Is that what he calls you?” I inquire of Apate. “Yes, he says I am the dirt underneath his feet, not worth more than a grain of sand,” she replies, her eyes full of sadness. “Apate, I promise you that I will get us out of here.”
“Dirt!” Hades’ voice rings out again. “I’m sorry, I must go, ma’am. Please eat,” Apate says hurriedly before turning and running away. I glance at the tray on the ground in front of me, laden with various delicious options – a small salad, potatoes, and a hefty slice of turkey. A small bottle of water rests at the edge of the tray. My mouth waters and my stomach grumbles from hunger.
I don’t even bother to use the utensils, I grab the turkey with my hands, biting a chunk off. My mouth becomes dry as I chew, I reach for the water, quickly twisting the lid off and taking a large gulp.
As I devour the meager yet satisfying meal, my thoughts race. Apate’s heartbreaking revelation about her centuries-long captivity fuels a burning determination within me.
I see a pale guard walk to my far left, just out of my view. “Sir, I need to use the restroom,” I say to him, of course, I am lying to him, I just need to get out of here to see my surroundings. “You have to wait for Dirt to come take you. Hades has given us strict rules to not touch you,” the guard’s voice is deep and dangerous.
A few moments pass by and Apate’s voice is out of sight but still noticeable. “Yes, sir?” she says lowly. “The prisoner needs to use the bathroom, so you will take her. Do not let her out of your sight. Do you understand, Dirt,” the guard’s voice is low and threatening. “Yes sir,” she says softly.
Her tiny frame comes into view, her brown dress is torn, showing small bruises all over her thighs and knees. She positions herself near the candles standing on their golden towers. “May I finish eating before we go?” I ask her. “Yes, take your time,” she replies quickly.
Once I finish eating, I carefully assess my surroundings. The damp and cold prison is hardly an ideal place for strategizing, but it’s all I have. I approach the deteriorating bars, whispering to Apate, “I’m ready.”
Apate walks to the bars, holding a long skeleton key in her hand. With a loud click, the lock of the door unlocks allowing the door to swing open with a loud creak. She walks to me and motions for me to lift my hands. I oblige, lifting my blistered wrists to her. With one swift motion, she unlocks the chains that hold me to the wall, leaving the silver cuffs around my wrists.
“This way,” Apate says, motioning me out of the cage.
“We need a plan, we need to escape this place.”
Apate nods, her eyes reflecting a mixture of hope and fear. “I’ve seen the patterns of the guards. There’s a moment during the changing of shifts when the hallway is less guarded. It might be our chance.”
The long, cave-like halls are cold and damp, their walls slick with moisture. The only sounds are the steady patting of our feet, echoing up the stone walls, amplifying the eerie silence. “Shea, you’re going to be okay. I’ll make sure you and your baby are well taken care of,” Apate says, turning to look at me. Her sunken eyes, usually so lifeless, now hold a glimmer of determination.
“I’ll make sure that you can get away from here, back to your husband,” I reply, placing my palm gently on her forearm, trying to convey reassurance through the touch. “Here’s the bathroom. I’ll be right outside if you need anything.” I watch as she steps into the dimly lit room, its decrepit fixtures barely visible in the faint light.
“Hades said you can take a bath or shower. Whichever you prefer,” she says, pointing to the iron tub positioned in the corner of the room. The metal pipes are exposed, leading to a rusted showerhead that drips sporadically. The tub itself is stained and ancient, a relic from a time long past. “I’ll bring you a towel. He wishes to have dinner with you, so I will show you to your new clothing.”
My breath catches in my throat, panic surging through me. There’s no way in hell I’m doing that. “I know what you’re thinking,” she continues, her voice dropping to a raspy whisper that barely cuts through the oppressive silence. “Use this as an opportunity to gain his trust.” Her eyes bore into mine, pleading for me to understand the gravity of the situation.
I swallow hard, the taste of fear bitter on my tongue. The thought of sitting across from Hades, pretending everything is normal, is almost too much to bear. But Apate’s desperate look makes it clear—this might be our only chance.
I step into the bathroom, the door creaking on its rusty hinges as I close it behind me. The room is dimly lit, with a single flickering bulb casting long shadows on the cracked, tiled walls. The smell of mildew is overpowering, mingling with the faint scent of rust and damp stone.
The iron tub stands in the corner, its once-white enamel now stained and chipped, revealing the corroded metal beneath. The exposed pipes snake up the wall to a rusted showerhead that drips sporadically, each drop echoing in the confined space. I shiver, both from the cold and the overwhelming sense of dread that hangs in the air.
I turn the faucet, wincing as the ancient pipes groan in protest before a stream of lukewarm water finally gushes out. Steam begins to rise, filling the room with a thin, misty haze. I undress quickly, my clothes falling in a heap on the cracked tile floor. The water feels oddly comforting against my skin as I step into the tub, the warmth seeping into my bones and easing some of the tension.
As I sink deeper into the bath, I close my eyes and let the water envelop me. For a moment, I allow myself to relax, to forget where I am and what lies ahead. The water is murky, swirling around me in eddies and currents, but I don’t care. I scrub my skin vigorously, trying to wash away the grime and fear that cling to me like a second skin.
The sound of dripping water and the occasional distant rumble from within the cave are my only companions. I take a deep breath, inhaling the moist air, and let it out slowly. The warmth of the bath provides a fleeting sense of normalcy, a brief respite from the oppressive reality outside.
Eventually, I know I can’t stay in here forever. I reach for the threadbare towel Apate promised and dry myself off, wrapping it around my body for some semblance of modesty. My heart is pounding, and the fear returns as the warmth of the bath begins to fade.
As I step out of the bathroom, the damp chill of the cave air hits me like a slap. The towel around my body is the only thing keeping the cold at bay. Apate stands outside the door, her eyes scanning me with a mix of concern and determination.
“Are you ready?” she asks, her voice barely more than a whisper. I nod, my nerves jangling as I follow her through the winding corridors. The darkness seems to close in around us, each step echoing off the stone walls.
We reach a door at the end of the hall, and Apate pushes it open, revealing a room bathed in a soft, golden light. My eyes widen as I take in the sight before me—a lavish dressing room filled with an array of designer dresses. The gowns hang from elegant racks, their fabrics shimmering in the light. Each dress is more extravagant than the last, with deep plunging necklines, high slits, and intricate beading that catches the light with every subtle movement.
“This is for you,” Apate says, her voice hesitant. “Hades wants you to look... presentable for dinner.”
I stand there, feeling a rush of anxiety. The dresses are beautiful, but they are also revealing, far beyond what I’m comfortable wearing. I pick up a silk gown, the fabric cool and smooth against my fingers. It’s a deep shade of emerald, with a neckline that plunges dangerously low. I glance at Apate, who offers me a reassuring smile, though her eyes are shadowed with worry.
“I can’t wear these in front of Hades,” I say, my voice trembling. “They’re too revealing. I’ll feel exposed.”
Apate steps closer, her expression softening. “I know it’s difficult, but this is part of the plan. We need to make him believe you’re playing along. It’s our only chance.”
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The thought of sitting across from Hades, wearing one of these dresses, makes my stomach churn. But Apate’s desperate look makes it clear—this might be our only chance.
With a heavy heart, I nod. “All right,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I’ll do it.”
I start to change, the fabric of the dress slipping over my skin with surprising grace. It clings to me, highlighting every curve, and leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable. The mirror in the room reflects a version of myself I barely recognize—confident, yet trembling with fear.
As I adjust the dress, Apate re-enters the room, her eyes scanning me with approval. “You look stunning,” she says, her voice filled with an unexpected warmth. “Hades will be pleased.”
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Let’s get this over with,” I say, my voice barely a whisper.
Apate nods, her expression hardening with determination. “We’ll get through this. Together.”
With a final glance at my reflection, I square my shoulders, ready to face whatever awaits in the dining room. The dress feels heavy with expectation, each step I take towards the door is a step into the unknown. Apate leads the way, and I follow, the echoes of our footsteps the only sound in the cavernous silence.
