The Underworld Ball (Book 2 in the Aphrodite's daughter series)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

                It was as if someone had flipped a switch in my brain. Nothing but seething hot rage built inside me, yet it wasn’t directed at Conner. I was mad at myself. I should have gone back to kill him after I had discovered my powers, but I had thought he had simply acted out of response to my presence. I would have never left him alive if I had known he would find someone else to taunt after I was dead. Then again I wasn't dead, and Conner doesn’t even know it.

                “Izzy?” Sasha’s timid voice broke me out of my trance. I heard something crack loudly and the wooden bedframe snapped underneath my grip. I tossed away the splinted pieces and wiped my hands clean from the dust. Sasha was staring wide eyed at the pieces of broken wood on the floor. “How did you do that?”

                “A lot of things changed while I was away.” I paused momentarily and forced Sasha to look me in the eyes. “Now Sasha tell me where Mr. Conner is?”

                She visibly paled at my demand and tried to avoid looking me in the eyes. “What are you gonna do?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

                “I’m gonna kill him?” My voice was hard and I was sure hatred was blazing in my eyes for the man who had tried to kill me and harm my best friend.

                “You can’t Isabella. He’s crazy. Something in him snapped after you left. He could kill you.” Her voice was panicked. A small smirk settled on my face and my eyes grew hard.

                “He couldn’t do it the first time, and this time I’ll be prepared.” Sasha gasped loudly as realization hit. She had not been Conner’s only victim. Thankfully she nodded and her shoulders straightened slightly.

                “School has already started so he should be staying late like he usually does to tutor students.” I nodded and stood to leave. “Where are you going?”

                “It’s getting late; I have people who will be looking for me soon. It’s best they not find me just yet.” I left the room and walked out of my house. I couldn’t stay there Hephaestus was surely find me if he knew I had left Olympus. So instead I started walking towards the only hotel in town. It was nice and clean and had penthouses for expensive guests. My lack of funds wasn’t a problem. When the desk manager asked for my debit card, I ran my hand up his arm and had him handing me the room key no questions asked. I also asked for some clothes to be brought to my room.

                The knock on the door made me jump. I had been lost in thought waiting on room service to bring me my food. The door swung open before I could even reach it and the attendant dropped to the floor in front of me. His neck looked like it had been snapped from the weird angle it was laying at. Before I could react, I was up against the wall with a hand around my throat. A gargled gasping sound came from my lips as eyes black as night bore into mine.

                “Hello my love.” His voice was deep and husky, and made my skin crawl.

                “Cronos, what are you doing here?” My air supply was quickly running out and I was trying to kick my way out of his grasp.

                “Did you really think I wouldn’t notice the moment you chose to enter the human realm. I can only imagine that your little watch dogs have no idea you’re here, since it was so stupid of you to come.” The edges of my vision started to blur and I felt myself slipping into the darkness.

Just as I was about to lose myself, his grip loosened and he crushed his lips to mine. I gasped into his mouth begging for air and he took the chance to force his tongue down my throat. With the oxygen returning to my brain, I placed my hands on his chest and shoved hard. He was much stronger than I expected and all I managed to do was force his face away from mine. Shit, he’s getting stronger.