You Will Live Forever

Chapter 25: You

Michael above.

"Alone at last." Hades grinned. We walked in the garden behind Karli's house. The foliage was tall and seemed a bit like a maze. It made me wonder who kept this place looking the way it did if Karli wasn't always around.

The sun started to set and the shadows edged their way on Hades' face. However, he still didn't look scary to me. Maybe it was because I knew him deep down but I couldn't help but wonder why I wasn't terrified of him.

"Whatever you're going to say, let's hear it," I said.

Hades sighed and sat down on one of the benches. He patted the seat next to him. I sat down.

"I wanted to ask you about some of your friends... more specifically Karli and Becks."

I furrowed my brows. "Why?"

"I need a new bride of the underworld. Simple. Usagi was in the running but you know how that went. She was devoted to me, but I want someone that challenges me. I've known Karli for a while. We've had this slight flirtation whenever she wasn't with Jeremy. Their relationship is on and off again as you know it. But Becks is a little spitfire and I'm intrigued."

"Why do you want to marry one of my friends?"

"I guess it's a way of saying that I have sided with you, but I don't wish to fight."

"Did you ever think of asking them if they are ok with it?"

"Not yet."

"Karli is with Jeremy. I'm not sure she'd be interested in you now."

"When she breaks up with Jeremy again, she may just come crawling to me... permanently."

"And why would she do that?"

"She doesn't trust him," Hades said simply.

I stared at him for a long moment then looked down at my feet and sighed. "I'm not talking them into any of this, but if you want to have a conversation with them about it, feel free."

Hades smirked. "Just like how you've always been. Not one to meddle in other people's business."

I sat up straight again and crossed my arms. "Anything else?"

Hades tapped his chin in thought. "Curious as to why Michael is hanging out with you instead of Apollo."

I blinked a couple of times. "I don't know. Ask them. Maybe it's because of the stones."

"Apollo has a stone and he's not fighting."

"His purpose is needed elsewhere."

Hades raised a brow. "Curious. That's all."

I stood. "I could ask you the same. Why is Raguel hanging out with you? He's an angel."

"They were created to be like me. Of course, he's interested in what I have to do. Besides, we are comrades. We get along just fine."

"Why doesn't he talk?"

"Because you once said to him 'words cannot always express actions or emotions.' He took it to heart. Stopped talking." Hades shrugged.

"Don't you think he took it a bit too seriously?"

"He's a serious guy. That's how the angels are supposed to be but not all of them came out the same, now did they?"

I looked down. "Guess not."

***

After training some more and after Hades, Apollo, and Raguel left, we wolfed down dinner and for the most part, everyone went to sleep. Karli and Jeremy were on the couch watching a movie. I was getting a glass of water from the kitchen when Leo approached me.