Cursed

࿏ Chapter Twenty-Five ࿏

Hayden

"Noooooooo!"

I can feel the tug of my skin as the needle is being yanked out of my arm. My mouth opens to yell but my tongue feels like sandpaper and I can't form the words. The last time I got this fucked up was at my drug dealers house. I'm no better than the junkies fiending on the floor. I'm living for my next fix and every moment in between is a waste of my time.

I remember when my dealer came at me with a needle. He had me pinned down as it plunged into my arm. I had tried to resist back then. In the back of my mind I knew that once I started with the needle it would be the end of me. I had no choice but to surrender to the craziest high I've ever experienced. It did not disappoint me. Everyday since then I've been searching the streets for more. Trying to get to that high again has been my priority.

Shooting up on my own was risky but I had to get back to that feeling. Ever since that night at my dealers I knew it was game on. I had to get back to that high. It's a gamble with my life to go as close to the edge as I can without overdosing. Then like magic, a medical grade syringe appeared in my bathroom. I don't even know how it got there. I probably fucking should've questioned that earlier but oh well.

I'll jeopardize everything I love to get back to that feeling. Even exposing myself to Rory. Here I am shooting up while she's sleeping in the room right next to me. I keep telling myself that I have to do this. I can't keep up with the symptoms of withdrawal. I just won't survive it. The very bones in my body feel like they're breaking. The pain is too much. I need it to go away.

I try to rub my eyes but I can't get my arm to move. My body feels like it's not my own. Someone is in here with me but I can't see who it is. I think I mumble Rory's name before blacking out.

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Hades POV (point of view):

Damn it feels good to be back. I take a deep inhalation, dialing in all of the sights and smells I can about this human world that I've been cursed to live in. Looking around the room I notice there's a young girl at my side. Her arms are wrapped protectively around her knees and she's shaking violently. The shock on her face brings me great joy and I can't help but laugh.

"Aphrodite, you lose all of your charms as a human. How pathetic."

"My-my name is-isn't Aphrodite."

"Sure it is."

How funny the human has no idea who she really is. This is going to be so entertaining for me. I stand up and begin to snap my limbs back into place. A sharp crack of my neck causes my head to swivel around precariously. My body appears to be partially human still while I'm merging into my god form. I'm going to need time and blood to regain my full strength.

After placing my head back on straight, I can focus on the girl. She reeks with fear, it's dripping from her like a melting ice cream cone. How delicious. I glide towards her. She's paralyized by fear and doesn't move as I lean down, letting out a hissing noise while my long tongue slithers across her forehead. The sweat tastes like roses and I know the goddess Aphrodite resides inside of her.

"It's time to make you mine."

"Wait! Please. I'm not who you think I am! If you hurt me Hayden will-"

"Hayden will what? Do you really think some puny human can stand a chance against me? It doesn't matter anyway because Hayden isn't real. None of it was real my dear."

"Yes it was! Hayden loves me!"

"Haha, you're in love with a fantasy. Hayden was merely the shell upon which I was cursed to inhabit."

"A shell? What does that even mean?"

"Oh wait here's the kicker, you're a shell too!"

Her eyes bulge in horror as she takes in my words. Her fear is amusing and I'm loving every second of terrorizing her.

"Who-who are you?"

"I'm Hades. God of the Underworld."

"God? Underworld?"

"That's right."

"Let's say I actually believe all of this. Which by the way, I don't. Then who am I a shell of?"

"Oh I think you might already have some inkling, perhaps you've dreamt of your true form even."

"Tell me!"

"You will make no demands of me! Besides, I find it amusing to let you struggle."

"Am I from the Underworld too?"

"No, you're from your own world. We must figure out how to return. But I'm too weak on my own. Together we can combine our powers. I can even transform you into your goddess form. Then we will return to our home and be together for all of eternity."

"I could never be with a monster like you!"

Just then I notice a sharp burning up and down my bicep. The damn human stabbed me! She drags the point of the needle down my arm creating a zigzag of broken flesh. My green skin separates like butter since I'm not fully developed yet. Black liquid rushes to the surface and bubbles out. I'm momentarily stunned by this, giving her the perfect chance to escape.

"You bitch!"

I lunge forward but in my weakened state I can't do any magic to stop her. She's gone.

"Aphrodite you can't hide from me!"