Chapter 2

As soon as I walked out of Hades’s citadel, I stumbled on my legs. I felt the blood drained out of my veins and had no strength to keep standing.

Lucian, who chased after me, held me quickly. “Ares, What's wrong? You don't seem well.”

Before I could respond, the world turned dark before my eyes and I fainted.

When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital ward in human territory. Lucian sat by my bed, looking anxious.

“Lucian…” I whispered, “What happened to me?”

“Ares… You woke up?” He took a sigh of relief. “Your body had turned pale. Doctors said you lack blood.”

He leaned closer before whispering.“It took five bottles of blood to wake you up. Can you believe that?”

“Last night… what exactly happened to you?” He asked in a serious voice. I sighed, “I don't remember. There is only a fragment of memory… a man… he pinned me down and…”

“And?”

“He bit me.” I replied.

“Bit you??” Lucian screamed. “Do you know what kind he belonged to? A vampire? A werewolf? Or a human?”

“I-I don't know.” I said. “I only wanted to reach Hades that time.”

Lucian rubbed his temple. “Do you know what it meant, Ares?”

“I know.” I said in a low voice. Back when Hades’s parents refused him from keeping a human mate, I offered him to bit me and make me a vampire. But, he charged at me. “Ares, are you crazy?”

“Your body is too weak to handle any kind of transformation. You will die bleeding. My love, I would rather stake my own heart than see you die.”

Remembering the old words he whispered me when we were in love, tears formed in my eyes. Lucian couldn't hold himself and said, “I’m calling Hades. He must find a way to save you.”

He dialed Hades’s number and before I could stop him the call was picked up. “Hades, Ares is dying. You have to save her. Someone bit her last night.”

Hades's cold and arrogant voice sounded from the other end, “She couldn't come up with other excuses, did she? Tell her I’m not buying her cheap tricks to grab my attention.”

“Hades, you-”

Lucian's voice were cut off by Hestia's, saying affectionately, “Hades, darling we still need to try on our ceremony dress. Let's go.”

And then the call was hung up. Lucian turned to me, his eyes laced with pity and guilt.

“It's okay,” I said, “If that what's God wills.”

“No,” he said, stroking my hair, “I’m going to meet our Clan’s High Healer. He must have a way. I’ll not let anything happen to you, Ares. I won't.”

After murmuring a few comforting words, Lucian left. Lying in a hospital ward, I recalled those old good days.

I used to be an attendant in a blood bank. That night I was happened to be working alone when Hades broke in.

“I want blood!” He screamed, his whole body dyed in red. I thought he was going through some mishap and needed blood for his relatives.

I gave him a few pouches and turned to bring a first-aid kit to help him. But, the moment I came back, my eyes widened in shock and terror. He was drinking the blood I just handed him down.

I opened my mouth to scream. But, the next moment it was sealed by his hot red lips. And that was how it began.

Back then we were so passionate in love that I left my whole life behind and shifted to his Clan’s territory, a only human living with a clan full of vampires.

To win the heart of his parents and clan members, I used to provide them fresh blood with my resources in the human territories. Slowly they began liking me. Lucian became like my own brother yet the betrayal comes when you expect it the least.

I had never expected that after doing everything, one day it will be Hades who will kick me out of his life.

I wiped the tears off my cheeks. Doctors told me I had to be admitted in the clinic until they discover what was wrong with my body. So, I booked a cab and went back to my apartment– to bring the necessity.

However, my legs froze midway at the doorstep as the scene before my eyes haunted my sight.

It was Hades and Hestia, entangled on my couch in their ceremony dress. Hestia’s clothes were half torn from her chest and red marks of hiccups were shamelessly visible. Hades was lying shirtless above her, his back full of scratches.

“Ares…” Hestia was the one who spoke first. Quickly covering her body, she said, “We were trying our ceremonies outfit and got carried away… I hope you don't mind.”

Hades stood up, bare and shameless. Not even a flicker of hesitation or panic flared through his eyes. Instead he asked, “Where were you the whole day?”