The deal with the god (Hades x OC)

Chapter 17

Opal's POV
After eating, I told Hades that I was ready to go meet my family. I called them to say that I was on my way and would be there as soon as possible. I changed to a black dress and had to wear heels. When I saw my reflection in the mirror it felt as if I was living everything again, and I truly was. Such a thing had never been considered possible, not even a god could deny death.
He hugged me tightly, so close to me that I could smell his perfume. I told myself that I wouldn't cry in front of them, but I couldn't even hold my tears when a simple memory crossed my mind. How would I be able to contain myself in her house? In the house I grew up in, the one where she watched me grow. In the house where I watched her slowly die.
Despite my efforts, a tear left my eye. He noticed it. It only made it worse. After the tears came a sob. After the sobs it was a hug. But what would a hug do? Would it bring her back? No. Did I want her back? How could I know? Did I want to go through that again? Did I want my family to suffer? I didn't know. The only thing that I could be sure of was that death was inevitable. Bringing her back would only end up in her leaving me and everyone else again. I knew that one hug would make me feel slightly better. But his hug made me feel safe.
He teleported me, this time without touching my shoulder. He held my hand and squeezed it. I'm here for you were the words he spoke without a sound leaving his mouth.
We were in front of her house. I knocked, knowing that this time my mother wouldn't be the one to answer. Instead, it would be the grieving family she left behind.
"Hi dad." I greeted. Using all my strength to not break down in front of him. I had to be strong for them.
"Hello, Opal." I could see that he was trying not to show how hurt he was.
We hugged each other. It wasn't like hugging Hades, which was more of a loving hug, one to grant the comfort I needed. This wasn't like that, this was much worse, it was a we are both hurting, we are aware of that, we will never say the words out loud, but with the way our arms surround our bodies we know that we will always support each other no matter what.
I walked deeper into the house. Hades slightly behind me. The rest of my family was sitting down on the sofa. I remembered the last time I was in that house. She was so happy and healthy, how did all of that disappear so suddenly? How did she disappear so fast, leaving only the sadness of her absence?
Hades greeted my family, saying how sorry he was for our loss. My family appreciated it, despite not knowing exactly who he was.
"Are we going to the church?" I asked, my voice slightly trembling
"Yes, we were waiting for you." My brother said. He was the oldest, and I had always seen him as some hero who would always protect me. But now, I could see that he was just a helpless little boy, confused and hurt, who was forced to fulfill all my parents' expectations. He was the perfect doctor. But who would be there to heal him? Who would be there to tell him that it would be alright while he tried not to cry in front of his family? Who would be his Hades?

We were at the church. It wouldn't be the funeral. Only at that moment did I start to question. Who was this church dedicated to? I was standing right next to a Greek god, who answered my prayers?
"Who am I supposed to be praying to, Hades?" I whisper, staring at the church's door.
"Pray to whoever you want, Opal. I'll always be here to answer." He promised. Who did I want to pray to? If only that was my biggest problem at the time.
"I sure as hell won't pray to your brother." That was the first time that I attempted to make a joke. But it wasn't the same, I couldn't bring myself to smile.
We came in and everything went dark after that. After I saw her picture and the announcement telling when the ceremony would be. Except that this time I wasn't alone, but I felt lonely knowing that I would never see her again.
I never asked how she went. I did feel like I owed it to her, but I couldn't bring myself to ask.
Some of her friends visited, but it was mostly just us. After, we went to her favorite pastry shop to eat her favorite sweet. We ate in silence. None of us knew what we were supposed to say.
That day, I did not cry anymore. I had no tears left, but still, Hades continued to be there for me, never once leaving me alone like I wanted to. I wanted to lock myself in my room mourning, but he was determined not to. And I was thankful for it.

Hades's POV
After she said goodbye to her family, we silently decided to take a walk. We knew that we couldn't just teleport ourselves away because her family would see us disappearing.
I noticed that her feet were hurting, she was stumbling slightly. Without hesitating I picked her up bridal style. I observed her face, she was still gorgeous despite being hurt, at that moment she was just numb. I could see that she was thinking of something. The only thing I had in mind at that moment was how perfect she was and how much I wanted to kiss her.
"You're beautiful." I said accidentally, I never meant to actually say it out loud but when it came to her I always lost control.
"Thank you. You're not that bad either." She answered. That was not a normal Opal response. I was hoping for a sarcastic remark or something extremely insulting that, when coming from her, was the best compliment someone could give to me.
"You know, I once had someone say to me that I was really handsome and super hot. She was super drunk, though, I don't think that she even remembers it." I was trying to distract her from the pain.
Of course I was talking about her. Tons of girls complimented me when I went to parties, but she was the only one I cared about. Her compliments were the only ones I memorized word for word. She was the one I truly wanted. She was the one who fixed me after Persephone left.
"I didn't know that being drunk could make someone brave enough to lie to your face" There she was. But it wasn't the same, the smile was gone.
"You don't usually lie, Opal."
"Shit. Was I the drunk girl who told you that you were super hot?" She asked, extremely embarrassed.
"That and other things."
"I don't think that your ego needed that much pampering."
"Oh, but you made sure to pamper it. And now I'm never going to forget it." I tickled her and she laughed in a way I had never heard.
"Stop!" She said, still cackling. "Stop! You fucking idiot I'll kill you."
I stopped, and put her down. Now she was standing and I had my hands on her shoulder. "I am so scared, Opal."
"You better be." She said, and the smile was gone again.
I knew that at the moment there was nothing I could do but be there for her. Time would heal her, and I would be there to help her.

Opal's POV
I couldn't believe that he made me laugh. But that was grief. It was unpredictable, sometimes you couldn't do anything other than cry and think about your loved one, other times you seemed fine. The pain never really went away, it just stayed there, hidden in a corner, waiting for that painful memory to strike, waiting for someone to say something that reminded you of them. Waiting for your misery to begin all over again.
But it gets better, after a while you see that you can go a little more without breaking down, a week and then a month. And before you know it, after what seemed like infinite suffering, you would find that you had grown around the pain. You grieved. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. You had accepted. That doesn't mean that you stopped caring or loving them, you just understand that they wouldn't want you to be like that. I know that my mother wanted me to be happy above all, just like I did with her, and I will try everything I can in order to fulfill her wish. Because I love her, and I always will. The same way that she loved me. I just wished that she was still there to love me and tell me.

When I got home I was so exhausted. I ate and immediately went to sleep. In my bed this time, Hades was there, though. He kissed me on the forehead. "I'm proud of you, Opal. You were so strong today." He said. No one had said that to me before.
"Thank you for being there."
"For you, always."