Go to Hell (on hold)

TWELVE

Hello! Here's the next chapter. I'm on vacation right now so I'm updating a little later than I wanted to, but life happens. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!
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"What is this?" An angry voice hissed. "Why is she in your room?" I was in a place between sleeping and waking. Whose room was I in? I wracked my brain and only came up with the answer when I inhaled ginger and citrus. Right, Dr. Green's bedroom.

"I was trying to make her comfortable," said doctor replied. "Would you rather I put her back in her bed?"

"You should have given her to me. I can take care of her." Kota. It was Kota's voice. I opened my eyes to slits. They were at the end of the bed, shoulders tense and voices tenser.

"Perhaps I can care for her better," Dr. Green challenged with a wicked gleam in his eye. Kota bared his teeth in a silent snarl.

"I won't let you have her, Dr. Green."

"I'm not saying I'll take her... yet. But how can you know you're what's best for her?"

"I don't. But I do know that I'm better for her than any of you." Kota stormed from the bedroom. Dr. Green ran a hand through his hair and left a minute later. Sleep pulled me back under.

I woke up alone. My head felt clear, but my body was still a bit weak. I gingerly hauled myself up to my room. There was another perfect rose on the floor in front of my door. Now I was nearly positive this was some sort of invitation to come back to the garden. But I was in no mood to deal with Owen. One by one, I plucked all the petals off the rose and flushed them, along with the stem, down the toilet. As it all swirled in the bowl, I focused on a faint bloodstain in front of the vanity.

The next two days progressed relatively quickly. I had nightmares every night, but thankfully none of them ended in injury. Luke was as friendly and charming as ever at breakfast. Victor was still as cold and detached. The only time he really interacted with me was to glare in my direction when I sneezed during his composing session. And each afternoon, there was a rose at my door. By some miracle I was alone both times. Once Victor found out I didn't need to constantly be escorted to and from my bedroom, he stopped doing it all together. Instead, he gave me a time to meet him the night before, then dismissed me when he was through with me.

I smiled to myself as I got dressed this morning. It was Silas's day. He said we would be going out on a yacht on the lake. If I were being honest with myself, I would admit I possibly had a slight crush on Silas. He was charming, smart, and kind. Not to mention devastatingly attractive with his tall, muscular build and enticing accent.

He picked me up the minute he said he would, wearing a smile brighter than the sun. Silas offered me his arm, and we walked to the lake. Although the sky was gray like usual, it seemed brighter today. I snuck a glance at Silas. Or maybe it was just him that made the Underworld seem lighter.

I paused on the shore of the lake and pressed a finger to my lips. The yacht was there, but so were at least fifty other people.

"Silas?" I asked tentatively.

"Don't worry, Aggelle Mou," he reassured me. "These are all my friends. They're good people." I questioned the validity of the last part, as we were in the Underworld. Was anyone here actually good? I looked into Silas's soulful brown eyes. He hadn't given me a reason to doubt him. If he said these people were fine, then I'd trust him.

"Okay."

I didn't like the wolfish look some of the men gave me as we clambered onto the boat. I didn't like how tightly packed everyone was, leaving no space to breath. And I really, really didn't like Silas's friends.