Queen Of Hell & Paradise (Immortal gods: Book 1)

Chapter 44- Ultimatum Pt. 2

Due to unprecedented circumstances, there will be a few more chapters, lol. Sorry everyone!

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Samantha

I lay him up against the tree.

Thanatos and Hecate are somewhere in the background talking about Hades' retrieval when I slip out soundlessly. Creeping behind Aethon's saddle to grab my bow and arrow, I strap it around my shoulder and leave them to continue their discussion alone in the fields.

I take a deep breath, smoothing out my hair before turning to leave. I don't want to reach Olympus and look like a mess, appearance says a lot about a person. If I arrive looking disheveled, no one's going to take me seriously. I'm already human. To them, this is reason enough to dislike me as it is.

I check my clothes for any earth stains and brush away a few specks of dust off my crop top. I still can't believe Hecate wouldn't lend me any of her stuff, I'm stuck wearing the outfit she picked out from the drawers.

Now I'm not fat by any means, but the shirt she chose is a couple sizes too small for my tall frame, and the sweats are so baggy they barely manage to cling to my hips. The dull brown color washes me out completely, and there's a sliver of my abdomen showing from where the pants slip. Persephone must be very curvy. I suppose it's fitting since she's the goddess of Spring, and it wouldn't make sense if her appearance didn't fit in with the generous nature of her job.

But still. I'm sure something in those drawers could have fit me better than this does. How am I going to be taken seriously when I walk up the steps to Zeus' palace in an ugly crop top and oversized slacks?

Like, hello? Can you say horrible fashion sense!?

I shake my head and let down my long tresses, proceeding to run my fingers down their length and then dusting myself off. Reaching to wipe off dirt and sweat from my abdomen, I feel my stomach start to groan and grumble with hunger.

I wince. How long has it been since I ate something? I've been so busy getting ready for our journey to find Hades, it didn't cross my mind to eat. I'm normally used to a set diet schedule, how did my hunger manage to escape my notice? I probably haven't eaten in hours!

Suddenly, everything around me starts to remind me of food. The trees start looking like broccoli, the grass begins to resemble lettuce and spinach, and the approaching lake makes me realize I'm thirsty.

When was my last meal?

I close my eyes, trying to suppress the hunger beginning to make me feel faint. Well, I guess it shouldn't be all that surprising. I've been busy all day, and the stress of finding a beaten Hades has definitely taken its toll on my body.

I sigh, hearing my stomach fuss again at the weak, syrupy scent of Athena's beads wafting into my nostrils. Unconsciously, my fingers reach into my pocket to play with the remaining two pearls, tossing them about and further aggravating my craving.

My longing for food only intensifies a few minutes later when I've reached the banks of the lake of Enna. I bite my lip, keenly aware of the emptiness in my gut at the sight of the glistening water.

Athena forgive me for what I'm about to do!

Clumsily, I stuff my hands into my pockets, searching for the velvet sac containing her power. I fumble to bring it out and untie it, greedily dropping the last two beads onto my palm and stuffing them into my mouth.

A sigh of relief escapes past my lips when I chew and swallow them, appeasing the hunger for now. I relish their sweet taste of honey as they slide past my throat and settle into my stomach-- satisfied. The sudden strength and bounce the pills provide me with are enough to make me cry, I was starting to feel lethargic. I hadn't remembered to bring a snack with me since Thanatos and Hecate didn't bring anything with them. Sometimes I forget I'm still human.