Cursed

❀ Chapter Twenty-Nine ❀

Aurora

I let a sliver of morning light reach my retinas before I snap them open wide. The last thing I remember is being on the ground in a cornfield. The inside of this bedroom looks completely foreign to me. Where am I? Then a calming voice speaks up from the floor next to me.

"I was wondering when you would wake up. Don't worry you're safe at my house."

"Oh my god Zach! You have no idea how happy I am to see you!"

I rush off the bed to embrace my friend. I can't help but wince as I feel all of my newly formed bruises.

"Wait, so you were actually searching for me out in that field?"

"Yes I was and I know I have a lot of explaining to do."

Zach's hazel eyes look at me quizzically. I take a deep breath and let the whole story pour out of me. I start from the beginning but when I get to the part about how I fell in love with Hayden, minus the graphic details of course, I can't maintain eye contact with him. I know he's disappointed in me for falling for a guy like that. Looking back on it now it feels like I didn't have a choice. Maybe it was my destiny to get swept up in such a turbulent romance. But if I had known what I know now, I would've walked away from Hayden that first night and never looked back.

I keep sharing more information about my relationship with Hayden to Zachery in the hopes that it will give him context for why this thing is hunting me. I decide to leave out the part about how Hades thinks I'm a goddess hiding in human form. Even though the magical orb sends my mind whirling I've rationalized it as a hallucination brought on by trauma. Like PTSD or something.

As I continue recounting the tale of my romance something new occurs to me. Maybe this whole time Hayden was leaving at night because he was battling with this monster that was trying to possess him? Even now I still find myself making excuses for his behaviour like it couldn't possibly be Hayden inside of that demon.

"Whatever Hayden was is gone now. This monster that's calling itself Hades is not going to stop until he finds me and kills me. Or worse, kidnaps me and forces me to live with him. I would rather die than be forced to be with Hades!"

I watch quietly as I can see Zach's mind trying to process everything that I've told him about my life for the past few months.

"Do you think Hayden was doing some satanic drug-induced ceremonies that got him possessed or something?"

"I feel like that's the only explanation Zach, I mean what else could it be?"

"I don't know. But from the way you describe Hades, he doesn't sound even remotely human."

"I wish I could provide answers for you but I can't. I want to understand all of this but whenever I try to, all I feel is pain. Hades is extremely dangerous. I know he will go to great lengths to find me."

"Oh no."

"What's wrong?"

"Look at this."

Zach reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cellphone. He holds up the screen so I can see a chat box opened up between him and Hayden. Looking at the time of the message I know for a fact that Hades was the one responding.

"Zach, he knows I'm with you. I've put you in danger, I'm so sorry!"

I can't hold back the tears any longer. I barely notice when Zach wraps his arms around my shoulders because I'm shaking from crying. He squeezes me hard and I melt into him. His hand go to my back and rubs me comfortingly.

"Shhh shhh, it's ok Ro. We will figure this out together. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

I feel so helpless to the wrath of Hades, but knowing that no matter what Zach will protect me helps ease the pain of it all. Who knows what he will do next. Zach and I need to come up with a plan.

"Listen Zach. I think we are going to need to stay here for a while. At least until we can find a way to get Hades out of our lives. Do you think your parents will be ok with me being here?"

"I don't know. But let me go downstairs and talk to my mom. If I can get her on board then it will be easier to convince my dad. I'll be right back, you stay here."

I nod reassuring him that I will stay in his room and try not to make any loud noises. He reluctantly lets go of me and opens the door to head downstairs. I'm left alone with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. I wonder if I should tell Zach about the whole Aphrodite thing. I feel bad lying to him but this is a lot for someone to take in all at once. There must be some truth to what Hades said, otherwise how would I have gotten to Zach's house without knowing where he lives? The magic got me here. It has to be real. A few minutes later I hear the sound of Zachs boots coming back up the stairs.

"That was fast, what did your mom say?"

"She's gone. Both of my parents aren't here, Ro."

Before we decide what to do next, his phone starts ringing. He answers the call while I watch as confusion and then horror materializes across his face. I try to comfort him without knowing what's wrong. Once he hangs up he is silent for a few minutes. His eyes start to glaze over and I can tell he's trying not to cry.

"Zach please tell me what's wrong? You're scaring me!"

"He...it...that thing...murdered my parents."