Hades Rewound (Hades Series #2)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

I stare at him, fear rooting me to the spot and temporarily freezing all muscle activity. "Poseidon? What the hell are you doing in my dream?"

"Isn't it obvious?" He replies conversationally, slowly starting to walk towards me.

"No." I deadpan. "Get the hell out of my dream."

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Are you so sure this is a dream Evie?"

I pretend to play the fool. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come now, Evie. Pretense oblivion does not look good on that pretty face of yours." He clicks his tongue with a simpering look that physically makes me sick to my stomach.

"Oh, so now I'm pretty?" I feign surprise. "Gosh darn it, I thought that according to you, I was a witchy bitch; kudos for succeeding in making those insults rhyme, by the way. Or, what was the other thing you like to call me? Ah, yes. A wench. That one's a little old-fashioned, but hey, you know how to make old-fashioned work."

"You flatter me, your majesty." He bows over-dramatically, and I grit my teeth. "I must say, I'm honoured that you seem to have such a fascination with me."

"No, that's just you. I just have friends in high places."

"Ah yes, the little water nymph. What was his name?" Poseidon clicks his fingers, looking down briefly. "Oh, that's right. Dorian. You know, I have to say, I am impressed that you managed to convince him to join your little rebel team. I'll even admit that I was surprised when I found out the extent as to which you got him to betray me, and not many people surprise me these days."

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't convince him?" I reply, struggling to keep my voice calm. "But from what I was told though, it didn't take him that much convincing anyway. I guess that's what happens when you alienate your followers from you."

He laughs condescendingly, and it takes all my strength to not attempt to deck him right then and there. "Did Dorian ever tell you the reason as to why he was angry with me? Because I think you will discover it was no fault of mine."

Oh, hell no he didn't. My blood boils, and I barely manage to keep my fury in check.

"Just like how all the people who have died recently was no fault of yours?" I demand hotly. "Or how Hades disappearing from our wedding wasn't your fault? Oh, and here's a good one; how about how us finding Hades in a broken mortal body with no recollection of the last fifteen years wasn't your fault? Yeah, you're completely innocent Poseidon, you've done absolutely nothing wrong."

"What, do you really think that was my doing?" He raises his eyebrows at me, and I hesitate, just a fraction. But he notices that hesitation, and his eyes light up. "Oh, my dear, trust me, had I the resources at my disposal then I would have done so in an instance; Hades and his perverted sense of what is morally right and wrong has become increasingly more irksome the longer time progresses. However, my powers unfortunately do not pertain the ability to wipe someone's memory that effectively, otherwise certain events may have ended quite differently."

I stare at him, torn between believing him or not. My gut is telling me not to believe anything he's saying, because he hasn't given me any reason to even want to begin to believe him, but I can't deny that there is some truth behind his words. I would never admit it to him, but he's right; if he did have the ability to wipe someone's memory, I have the terrible feeling that we may not have beaten him all those years ago.

But if that is the case... then who wiped Hades' memory?

"You're uncharacteristically quiet, my dear." Poseidon says, his voice silky smooth. "What, don't you believe me?"