7

GEORGIA

✿

Although I wrapped my bare arms around myself, I stayed on the pretty balcony and stared up at the starry night sky. I had dreamed of what he would look like for so long. How many stars would adorn the black velvet carpet and how bright they actually shone. Admittedly, I wasn't disappointed - he was beautiful.

"What a sight, huh Mom?" My breath breathed clouds into the cool autumn night. I wondered if my parents would hear me. Were they looking straight down at me? Were you proud of me? Did they share my joy that I was admitted to the final exam?

I crossed the balcony and leaned over the stone parapet. More and more people gathered in front of the entrance doors of our warehouse and crowded into the warm foyer in their pretty evening wear. I myself had decided on a tight black dress today, matching heels, combined with my red lipstick and a pretty ponytail with some strands braided into pigtails - an idea of Arya.

"Now it's time, huh? Eighteen revolutions of the sun.” I looked up at the sky again. I was finally able to find my mate. All my life I had been waiting, dreaming of what it would be like to find the one. The one soulmate chosen by the moon goddess herself.

"I just hope it turns out as pretty as yours," I whispered. My dad had told me about their encounters a number of times, and each time I'd listened with wide eyes; fascinated by the enchanting story of their love.

'There she was. In that lovely pink evening dress that made her eyes shine brighter than the stars in the evening sky themselves.”

"It was purple!" Mom mocked indignantly, laughing and slapping his chest. Infinite love was in her eyes. "Do you even know the color of my eyes?"

I laughed trembling at the fond memories I had so much of growing up in that cold, cruel place. I had them to thank for that.

"I wish you could be here today," I whispered through tears, my hands clenching on the stone railing. I was thirteen when my parents died and it was my fault. I could still remember every single scream, every single whimper of pain that had echoed through the tomb of the underworld that night.

My heart burned and tears clouded my vision. "I just miss you guys so much."

I would have given anything to trade her life for mine if there was only one way.

***

Four solar orbits ago.

The paralyzing cold of the rough, black lava floor crept into my bones and made me shiver.

"Are you cold?" Mom's purple eyes shone in the darkness. She pulled me next to her and her palms shone brightly as she let her healing powers flow into me without hesitation and warmed me from the inside out.

"Mom, don't do that." I tried to pull myself out of her embrace, but she wouldn't let go, just looked at me with a smile.

"I'm your mother, I'll take care of you." Her face was sunken from malnutrition, and the skin that stretched over her bones was pale from loss of sun. "Let a mother have that joy."

"Dad..." I looked at him for help, soaking up the salvaged warmth like a sponge.

Dad, who had his back to the cell door, just shook his head in surrender. He knew full well that there was no point in trying to talk Mom out of anything that she had set her mind to. Then he got up and sat next to Mom and pressed his hands to her body; provided her with his own healing.

With a small smile, my mom leaned into dad and pressed my head onto her shoulder, pulling me closer to her. I laughed, gave in and snuggled up to her. And together we enjoyed the silence that was so rare down here in the tomb.

we were together We lived. That was all I needed to be happy.

Loud footsteps echoed through the corridors. My eyes burned and I clenched my songs tightly, hugging Mom. I heard her objection as Dad stood up like he always did. Felt his shadow as the torch lit up the cell corridors and the silhouette of my dad lay protectively in front of us.

"Open cell 31 for me. Come on, come on," the murderous voice of the underworld monster snapped at his guards.

"Yes, Master."

Keys jingled, then the clicking sound of a lock springing open.

Hades' dark red, floor-length robe he wore expertly hid his thin, sickly body. "Give me the girl."

"No!" I buried my head in Mom's chest, wishing I could dissolve. Teleport anywhere but here, to this cursed place of eternal pain.

"Take me instead of my kid," I heard my dad say.

"I want the girl."

"I won't allow that."

"Isn't it?" Hades raised his hand and with a small sweeping motion threw my father against the lattice wall.

"Dad!" I flinched and reached out for him in alarm.

My father's scream filled the dungeon while the smell of burning flesh permeated the air. The silver rods etch his skin.

My mother shoved me protectively behind her, clawing out with a growl as Hades took a step toward us.

"The girl."

I cried, anxiously pressed closer to the wall. "Please do not!"

I knew what was to come. Had been through the agony so many times before - and last session's had been worse than any time before. I didn't want to experience that feeling again, the feeling of falling off a cliff, my body hitting the bottom hard and shattering the entire bones of my body. Didn't want to feel the hell of a burn like he was turning my body inside out and ripping my skin off alive.

"Only over my dead body," Mom growled.

"Always the same with you." Hades entered the cell and at that very moment my father threw himself on him, who turned into a wolf while he was still jumping. Hades registered before Dad could reach him and his claws could sever his neck. Hades looked at my dad without the slightest emotion until he suddenly yelled like crazy.

He writhed on the floor, whimpering.

"Daddy!" "No!" Mom and I yelled at the same time and rushed to him.

“No, you will not heal him. You will save all your strength for me.” Hades stepped heedlessly over the convulsing wolf's body, which suddenly went limp.

Mom gasped. "No..."

"Dad!" Sweat ran down my back and my tears flowed down my cheeks in unstoppable streams. I was still looking at my father, laying my hands on his body, but there was nothing I could heal. Not a single strand of his life force. "Daddy, please!"

I looked to my mom for help as the blood red robe came into view. He stood in front of us, mercilessly looking down at my mother, who stood up, her body shaking. She slowly raised her head and it was like a switch was flipped inside her. Her trembling turned into a tremor that I knew wasn't fearful in origin. Pure, vengeful rage. "You will pay for that!"

"I just want the girl, please."

Mom's hand shot out and Hades grabbed her forearm. Mom cried out as he drained her of all strength and sucked all of her light into himself.

Then everything happened very quickly. I jumped up, stepping between Mom and Hades, reaching for the junction of their two bodies, when a dark, black beam shot into me with the force of lightning, throwing me far back. I caught my breath as I hit my back, but that wasn't what made me scream. It was the deep stab that shattered something in my heart. Something I knew could never be put back together.

I blinked, trying to think clearly under the pounding of my head, as my gaze found my mother. It was a horrible picture. Hades body glowing more and more while my mother grew weaker and weaker, my dead father at her feet.

I struggled to my feet, crawled across the cold floor, and then it collapsed. I couldn't remember screaming or rushing towards her. But my vocal cords had been hoarse for days and my hands were crusted with red blood.

"Georgie, everything's okay." A loving look glazed over with pain. " Mommy's fine. Don't worry I- Aaaahhhhh! “

The golden light of my hands was dull and could not dampen my mother's torments. Sobbing, I tried hard to give her all my powers, praying it would be enough. But life breathed out of her body too quickly and her eyes stared lifelessly into space.

"No, Mom!" harsh, heartbreaking Schlueter erupted. I desperately shook her body. "Mom! Wake up!” I leaned over her, cradling her rigid face. "Wake up, Mom!" My face twisted into a pained grimace and my vision blurred. I sobbed. "Please! Please mom!”

"Mommy, mommy!" mimicked the monster's cold voice. "She won't come back, you stupid child!" Then his hands grabbed me and I was dragged away from the dead bodies of my parents and into a room that promised unspeakable torment. Hours later I was back in my cell - alone.

I pulled my knees up and rocked back and forth rhythmically. Sobs erupted from my battered throat as I murmured over and over, “He'll be back soon. He will be back soon.”

***

Hades broke me. irrevocable. And took everything from me.

It was the night I stopped being a kid.

" G , what are you doing out here?"