CHAPTER 31: WHAT DID YOU DO?

Lilith couldn’t stop pacing around her room, biting her fingers as fear and worry consumed her. Waiting for 10 p.m. felt like waiting for thirty years. She imagined every possible form of punishment, and none seemed pleasant, some were simply less terrifying than others.

No one had come to her chamber since her return, and for that, she was somewhat grateful. She didn’t think she was ready to face Madam Thalia yet.

As the clock struck 10 p.m., Lilith found herself standing outside the prince’s chambers. Just as she raised her hand to knock, the door creaked open, revealing the dimly lit room. Hades stood by the window frame, dressed in casual attire.

"Good evening, Your Highness," Lilith greeted politely with a bow.

A few seconds passed in silence. Neither of them moved, and she debated saying something else but decided against it.

"You will be sleeping in this room until I say otherwise," Hades finally said, pointing to a corner of the room. "Take a blanket from that couch and make yourself comfortable."

Lilith did as she was told even though she had a million questions running through her head. She gathered the blanket in her arms and moved toward the bed, preparing to climb onto it.

"What are you doing?" Hades’ voice cut through the silence. "I don’t remember telling you to sleep on my bed."

Lilith immediately stepped back, her face burning with embarrassment.

"You will sleep in that corner," he added, pointing to the spot on the ground.

Lilith moved without a single word. It wasn’t the first time she would be sleeping on the ground, so she had nothing to complain about. She neatly folded the blanket and spread it out before lying down, facing the wall to avoid looking at the prince, who remained in utter silence, gazing out the window.

Minutes passed, and curiosity got the better of her. She turned slightly, only to find Hades still standing in the exact position she had left him in. Letting out a deep breath, she closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to claim her, and eventually, it did.

Only to have her eyes snap open suddenly.

Lilith’s heart pounded as she adjusted to her surroundings. She could have sworn something...or someone...had woken her up, but the room was silent.

Her gaze shifted to the clock. It was a few minutes past three in the morning. She frowned. She hadn’t had a nightmare or any dreams at all, so why had she woken up so abruptly?

Her eyes landed on the window, and she found Hades seated on a chair, his body as still as a statue.

Slowly, she got to her feet and approached him. His eyes were closed, his face unnaturally relaxed. His hands were crossed over his chest as if he were trying to hide them, but Lilith still noticed the black veins snaking over his palms and long finger since he wasn’t wearing his gloves.

She let out a quiet sigh of relief before her eyes fell on the blanket neatly arranged on the bed. Without thinking, she picked it up, unfolded it, and gently draped it over him.

The moment the fabric touched him, Hades’ eyes snapped open. Just like the night he visited her at the inn, one of his eyes glowed red like fresh blood, while the other flickered between red and gold. Before Lilith could react, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist with bruising force.

"What the fuck are you doing?" His voice was cold and sharp as a blade.

Lilith tried to pull away, but he didn’t budge, his grip like iron. His piercing gaze locked onto her.

"I... I just wanted to cover you up. Please..." she whispered.

At her words, his eyes flickered to her wrist, which he was still holding. Instantly, he let go.

The sudden release, combined with her effort to pull away, sent Lilith stumbling backward. She fell to the ground, wincing as she cradled her wrist. Faint red marks, his fingerprints were already visible on her skin.

Hades stared at his open palm as if seeing it for the first time, his expression unreadable. Then, his breathing changed, deep, labored, almost as if he were suffocating. His fingers dug into his hair, his eyes squeezed shut. Black veins pulsed under his skin, spreading up his neck and onto his cheeks.

Without warning, he staggered to his feet and leapt out the window.

Seeing this Lilith gasped, scrambling to her feet and rushing to the window just in time to see him disappear into the dense forest.

Her heart pounded. What just happened?

Hades barely made it a few steps into the woods before his legs gave out, sending him crashing to his knees. The burning sensation erupted in his chest, spreading like an uncontrollable fire through every vein in his body. The pain was excruciating, like molten lava coursing through him. Black veins bulged under his skin, creeping toward his eyes. Thick, suffocating smoke poured from his body, dark tendrils curling into the night air.

Then came the voices. A million whispers. A million words. A million people. The air around him was filled with them, relentless and maddening. Hades clutched his head, pressing his hands over his ears, but it was useless. The whispers were inside him. Inside his skull. Inside his soul.

He bent over, pressing an elbow to the ground, his mouth hanging open as he struggled for breath. Every inhale felt like fire in his lungs.

Then, suddenly...everything stilled.

The whispers stopped. The crushing weight in his chest vanished. The searing headache faded into nothingness.

Hades slowly lifted his head, his gaze falling to his trembling hands. The black veins that had been bulging just moments ago were barely visible now. His breathing had never felt this easy before.

A deep sigh escaped his lips as he collapsed onto his back, staring at his hands in bewilderment. His brows drew together in confusion. What just happened? And what had the witch done to him? The questions swirled in his mind, but exhaustion pressed heavily on him. No matter how hard he tried to keep his eyes open, sleep claimed him, pulling him into the depths of darkness.

~~~

It took two days before Leonidas could speak again, his voice raw and strained from the agonizing screams he had endured. A thick bandage wrapped around his face, concealing the hideous burns, while another covered his mangled hand and waist from his broken ribs. He could barely feel his limbs, every movement was a reminder of his demise.

In the dim light of the clinic, Leonidas struggled with even the simplest tasks. Eating was a painful ordeal, and walking to the restroom on his own felt nearly impossible. He had lost count of how many times he had cursed the prince for what he had done. Rage festered inside him, a burning desire for revenge taking root in his soul.

As he returned from the restroom, his movements slow and labored, he froze at the sight before him. A man sat beside his bed, his face concealed beneath the hood of a dark cloak.

Leonidas narrowed his eye, attempting to get a clearer look, but the stranger remained covered in shadow.

"To think that you once held a reputable position with your wealthy father. It’s quite unfortunate that you’re now nothing more than a miserable wretch," the man said, his tone laced with mockery.

Leonidas scowled. "Who are you, and what do you want?" He was too exhausted for pointless conversation.

"Who I am is not important, Mr. Count" the man replied smoothly. "What matters is what I have to offer. You and I share the same goal, and I need your help."

Leonidas scoffed, irritation flaring in his chest. "Don’t fuck with me. I don’t know who you are, and I don’t give a fuck about whatever it is you’re offering."

The man simply smiled. Slowly, he pulled a small box from beneath his cloak and opened it. "Perhaps I can change your mind."

A blinding glow from the box illuminated against Leonidas’ face, his eye widened in shock.