The God & The Shadow

Chapter 64

NIXON

A week. That's how long his fiancé was missing, taken by that asshole of a god. The only thing Nixon saw was red when it came to Lore.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. When Demeter came to him that day when they were still in the Fifth Realm, she'd promised him everything.

Power, Glory, and Veronica. Everything he didn't have when he was just Nixon. An angel. A soldier. No one special.

He yearned for the night to come every time since then, waiting for the goddess to appear in his dreams to tell him what to do. And when she finally gave him the task to get her the Book of Virulence, he finally knew it was all his to claim.

But Lore was the catalyst to his plans. Everything Nixon wanted, the god just had to make it his. Above all things, he just had to make Veronica his.

Perhaps it was wrong on his part to have let her go four years ago and never made contact again, but he never imagined having to compete with the King of the Underworld when he returned. He thought that what he and the assassin shared was enough for her to wait for him, but clearly he was the last thing on her mind.

So he took the opportunity. He didn't care what name she would carry or what memories filled her mind. No, all he cared about was having her in the end. As long as he had her, none of it mattered.

"My liege," one of the angels knocked on his door, Nixon's head turning to his direction. He continued when he gestured for him to come in, "we've found her."

Nixon shot out of his seat. Could it be? Have they finally found her? "Where?"

"Out in the–"

"Take me to her." He ordered. The angel bowed his head and turned, leading Nixon through the halls and out of the house. The mansion was rotting, least to say. Demeter hadn't returned since that night her daughter was taken, and none of the dark angels really cared enough to maintain the greenery the goddess had brought to the barren lands.

Nixon felt his breath hitch when she saw her. She was wearing a black dress, something he knew she didn't own. His mind couldn't release the thought that it was Lore's doing, but when he saw her face... it was enough.

He cupped her cold cheek when he approached her. She looked so beautiful, so full of purity and innocence. "Persephone."

She smiled. How long had he waited to see this sight again? Too long. That was all he knew.

"Nixon." Her hand reached up and held his wrist. His eyes moved to her lithe fingers, relief coursing through him when he saw the golden band still wrapped around her finger. At least Lore had the decency to let her keep that.

"Come." He threaded his fingers through her hands and pulled her along with him, giving the angels that surrounded them a knowing look. He made sure it would buy them enough privacy for the next couple of hours.

Nixon surveyed his fiancé as he closed the door. She looked nervous somehow, but happy. Happy to be here, with him. He still couldn't believe that she was finally back.

Persephone turned to him. "What?" She asked when she saw him staring at her.

He dismissed her with a shake of his head. "Nothing. I just– it's difficult to believe that you're here. With me."