Between Worlds (TEMP HOLD)

Eighteen: Bargains & Offers

        The palace was entirely black marble, and dark decor. I find myself having missed every inch of it. Our footsteps echo in these vast corridors. Nostalgia overcomes me, and I could almost see Xavier and Angelique leading the other girls and I through these seemingly endless, mysterious corridors.

          But a palace guard was escorting us through today, and David was here instead of Xavier.

          The guard escorts is down a spiral staircase, one that's been hidden behind tall pillars. Nervousness churns in my stomach. Being here now makes me grateful for every second that I had with Xavier, with Castiel, and I am ashamed of ever falling for Jasmine's tricks. I deserve to be punished here.

          Where is my husband, where is Xander, why weren't they here do greet me? My heart aches, and something doesn't feel right. This palace feels too empty, too quiet, too still. We're led down a dark corridor, with a made of confusing corridors, also being guarded by stern, robotic male faces that don't even bother glancing in our direction. I shiver.

          That's how the servants used to be. But why are there guards outside every door?

        "What's with these guards?" I couldn't help but ask.

         "Security has been up'd since Zeus has been calling the shots down here. He doesn't like Hayes's higher guard. Even with the watches, they were all trapped here when the portal closed. No one could make it through, and Zeus was scared. Everyone wanted answers, and they weren't happy with the ones that Zeus gave them. Everyone was confined to their rooms or to the bath house until further notice." The guard's voice didn't change as he explained it. He didn't have any new expression, and didn't display any hint of emotion.
         
         Xavier would not fit in with these new robotic soldiers. They would eat him up, and spit him out. He makes one wrong facial expression, and he would get zapped.

            What would Castiel's girl be Like? Would he hold a grudge now that he found someone? And what would happen to Xavier's job here? This is his whole life. The more I think about our situation, the more I realize how dangerous it could be for him. For me. For everyone in the palace, including the guards and the servants. I pray that Castiel's girlfriend could help him, will unconditionally love him and tolerate him on all of his bad days. He deserves someone that loves him, and hopefully someone merciful towards us.

          When we approach the tall, intricately carved door, I flash back to the sanctuary and think of Hera's office being this far down. Somehow, the heat of the Underworld is far hotter, and a thin bead of sweat has already formed on my forehead. But I missed this, and I missed being so far down, down, down.

        The guard at the door moves aside, and allows the three of us to pass. The guard whispers a password, and the snake knocker hisses and clicks open. The guard allows us inside, and shuts the door behind us. I flinch, and try the door, knowing that it's locked before I even feel the handle. A small part of my mind whispered: there's nothing to worry about. But my churning stomach and frayed nerves told me otherwise. I couldn't handle much more.

         A familiar voice rights my entire world, and my hand freezes on the knob. My breath catches in my throat. "I'm not sure whether to smack you, or hug you for what you've done."

          I turn around slowly. I have to face this. I have so be strong. If not for myself, than for my husband and for everyone else's lives that have been affected by this. I could feel David's arm brushing mine, hot and tingling with Underworld energy. There he is, and there she is, hanging off his arm like his prize.

          She was gorgeous, and that was an understatement. She reminded of a Victoria Secret model, and her dark eyes were striking and glaring at me as though I'm still a threat to her.