Hades Titans {BOOK 2}

XIV. Forbidden

I waited anxiously before a knock landed on my door. I got out of bed, still in my silky, peach pyjamas, and made my way to the door. My hand trembled, recalling the last time I opened the door, and a blood-soaked Chase was standing in front of me. I inhaled a deep breath, before opening the door.

"Hi." Phoenix smiled, pinching his lips together as his face flushed a rosy colour. I hadn't seen him in a long time and had a lot of fond memories with him on Earth, which made me miss him.

"Come in." I smiled, as he bowed his head, taking a step inside. His hair had grown out and he brushed his curly locks behind his ear.

"How are you? Hayden said you haven't been feeling well." We both took a seat around our dinner table in the kitchen. He leaned back, keeping as much distance from me as possible. We hadn't told many people that we were expecting. It helped that Phoenix hadn't regained any feelings towards me. Telling him I was pregnant was going to be a lot easier.

"I'm okay. Thank you for agreeing to help me." I smiled, excited to catch up with him after so long. "Do you want tea or coffee?" I offered.

"Coffee," he smiled, as I pushed my chair back to stand up, he reached his hand out, holding it in front of my face, "I'll make it." He got up, walking to the sink, and filling up the kettle. As soon as he put the kettle on, it began to whistle and had heated up instantly. I felt weird having a guest and watching them make their own drink. He pulled out two cups and filled them both with water. I didn't want to tell him that I couldn't have coffee when he had already finished making it. He picked up both cups and carried them to the table, placing a cup of tea in front of me. I looked up in surprise but had assumed that despite asking Hayden not to say anything, that maybe Phoenix knew I was pregnant. I leaned forward to make sure he had coffee, and he did. I wasn't completely sure, so I didn't question it.

"So, what is it?" He leaned back in his chair, sipping on his coffee.

"I want to get Hayden another puppy. Well, not a puppy, whatever Mihai was." I smiled as my cheeks heated up. I didn't even know what he was. How embarrassing. "According to my research, you would know where to get one." I continued. I had asked around previously and Penelope had suggested that Phoenix liked to hang around in shady bars and midnight markets.

"That's a great idea. I'm sure I can find one." He smiled, agreeing to help me.

"Really?! That's great!" I felt a heap of happiness in my chest. So much had been happening, I looked forward to some good things, even if I had to make them happen myself. Bringing some joy to Hayden would keep his mind occupied for a while. "How fast can you get it?"

"When do you need it? I can go down tonight and scout out for one, but they aren't always around." He continued to sip his tea, comfortably leaning against the chair. He looked like he was in his own home and I was the guest. The air around us felt semi-comfortable, but still a little off.

"As soon as possible would be best."

"Ok, well I will definitely have a look." He smiled, as the air around us began to thicken. I could feel the awkwardness slowly creeping in, but I couldn't figure out why? We had had enough interactions to be able to hang out and be friends. We had been friends.

"Thank you." I held my warm tea in my hands, examining him from across the table. Though he looked comfortable, it looked like he was trying harder than usual to be casual.

"No worries." His smile was weak, and he quickly hid his lack of enthusiasm, by downing his coffee.

"How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while." I tried to bring up a new conversation and soften our awkward and hard atmosphere. "How's work? I can't wait to go back." It felt like I hadn't been to work in years. I looked forward to going back. All of my friends were at work and working mostly on Penelope's wedding, I hadn't been in the office in a long time. I just wanted my life to be back to how it was in the last year.

"I've been alright. I'm glad you and Hayden patched things up." I could see his chest tighten up, despite his soft tone. He was forcing it. I could feel it, but I couldn't figure out what I had done to upset him. "Work's the same, busy like always." He continued. "Everyone misses you."

"Aw, I miss them too. I got so caught up in planning Penelope's birthday, I feel like I haven't been in the office for months." I chuckled lightly. I still had a tight knot in my stomach as I tried to lighten the mood and the atmosphere, but it wasn't working. I felt like I was pulling the conversation from underneath him and he couldn't wait for it to be over.

"Yeah, I can't believe how fast the time had gone. It feels like she only just got engaged and her wedding's in less than a month." He smiled, speaking a lot more enthusiastically and softly. Perhaps it was the topic of conversation that was making him uncomfortable. Perhaps he felt like I was using him. Like we weren't friends after all.

"I know, I'm so excited. I hope it goes well." I smiled, adding to his enthusiasm, but it seemed to suddenly die down.

"I'm sure it will." His smile was weak again as the conversation had moved as far as it could. I bit down on my lower lip, watching his eyes look for a spot to land on that wasn't me. We were sitting right beside each other, but he had never felt so far away. His eyes landed on me and his Adam's apple sank deeply into his neck. My whole body had begun to tremble, and I could feel the heat pulsating from my palms. My heart thundered inside my chest like it had when I realised that Penelope was in love with Sylver, when Hayden told me he loved me when Phoenix said he loved me.

"I'm sorry." The words slipped through my lips, heavy as a tonne of stones.

"Sorry about what?" His dough eyes fixed on mine and I could see him sink into his seat. His Adam's apple began to bob up and down and I could see he was nervous.

"About everything that happened," I turned my face away, feeling the heat paint my face, "that you remember everything," I continued, "all of the feelings that we had for each other and - that I no longer feel the way you still feel." My heart sank as I could hear his break. The air around us thinned to almost nothing and I felt my chest tightening with every silent second. I couldn't look at him.

"I didn't realise it was so obvious." He chuckled, before clearing his throat. "I better go." He added on, sitting up properly. I felt horrible. I never wanted to hurt anyone, but it seemed all I had been doing is hurting the people around me. I didn't know where to look or what to say.

"Okay," I whispered, under my breath, forcing myself to look up at him. His lips parted as if to say something and his eyes fixed on mine, before dropping down to my lips. I felt a deep rush of butterflies in my stomach, as he quickly leaned forward and planted his lips on mine. My heart stopped.

"What are you doing?!" I pushed my chair back, getting up and pulling away as quickly and as far as I could, away from him. My heart was trembling, my hands shaking with anxiousness, anger, sadness, and hundreds of emotions that I couldn't even describe.

He got to his feet instantly, as if not even realising what had happened.

"I – I'm sorry!" His voice trembled. He rushed for the door, leaving me standing against the kitchen wall, completely dumbfounded. I watched him swing the door open and a shadow jump back with a yelp.

"Nick! What the hell?! You scared me." It was Penelope, with a gift bag in her hands. She wore a purple flowery dress, which brightened my entire view. Phoenix rushed out without a word, brushing past Penelope. "What the hell? What happened?" She slowly made her way in, with a confused expression on her face. She looked over to the two cups on the table, before looking at me again.

"Uhm..." My brain felt scrambled. There was nothing holding me together. I'm fine. I kept repeating, but my body wouldn't let me continue as if nothing happened. What is happening? I felt my knees tremble, before buckling under me.

"Evelyn? Are you okay?!" I felt Penelope's arms grip around my waist, but I couldn't stop the world from collapsing right in front of me. "Evelyn?!"