The Long Way Home

Chapter Seven

With slow steps the woman with the greedy eyes moves along the line of women, her eyes, all the while, fixed on me and Hades. The rest of the women stay put, waiting attentively. There's eagerness in each of their eyes. There's excitement in the way they lean slightly toward the greedy-eyed woman as she walks, waiting for her to say something else. Among them I notice the girl I was running after. She peeks at me from behind another woman's shoulder.

Even looking over Hades shoulder I can see that the greedy-eyed woman is someone I'd want to stay far from. She must be the leader because dominance just radiates off of her. There's dominance in her posture. It's in the squareness of her shoulders, in the up-tilt of her head, the deliberate and calculated steps she take. Even the woman's hair suggests that she's the leader. Her hair, glinting in the moonlight, is braided into a crown around her head, the coily texture of her hair making the crown puffy. Similar to the other women, the greedy-eyed woman wears a brilliantly white gown, the gown long and its fabric thin. Not a spot of it is smudged with dirt.

I tighten my grip on Hades arm as I peek at the women from behind him.

"It's so wonderful to have a new visitor," the greedy-eyed woman breaks the tense silence. "It's rare that we ever get one like yourself." She smiles big this time, showing beautifully white teeth.

A new visitor? I think to myself. Why is she only addressing one of us? That "one of us" must be me. For a split second I wonder if they can even see Hades.

"Wonderful," the greedy-eyed woman continues. "But I'd like to know what made you and your...companion," she hesitates when describing Hades. I guess she can see him after all. "wander through Greenwood at this late an hour, Ajalene."

I don't like the way my name sounds on her tongue. Coming from her, it sounds like a possession, like a ring or book, and not a name.

"Who are you?" Hades says, his voice laced with threat.

"To bring along this one..." the greedy-eyed woman's eyes finally land on Hades, her brows rising. "I suppose I can make an exception this once and welcome a half-breed."

At her last words Hades goes very still.

My whole body freezes.

"Half-Breed...?" I say quietly. "what does she mean by half-breed?"

"How do you know that?" Hades says quietly to the greedy-eyed woman, ignoring my question. There's a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Didn't think I'd know," she says, stopping her pacing. She clasps her hands in front of her and it is then that I notice a gold, snake-like piece of jewelry wrapped along the length of her arm. "I can smell it running through your veins. Very faint but still there."

Smell it running through his veins? I think to myself. What is she?

My mind starts to reel with confusion. The sudden feeling that I can't trust anyone begins to overwhelm me.

Her attention turns to me. "Ajalene, it is a shame that you don't know. This must be quite a surprise for you."

Now I see. She only said it because she knew it would make me question Hades and whether or not I could trust him. And boy, it was working.

"Hades, what the hell does she mean by half-breed?" I demand, letting go of his arm.

"So Hades is the name" the greedy-eyed woman says, happily. I don't like the way her eyes change with this new knowledge. I don't like it at all.

God, what did I get myself into this time? I think.

"What's your name?" Hades asks her, steering the subject on her. His jaw clenches, I'm guessing with effort to stay on the woman's good side. "You know our names. I think it's only fair that we know yours."