Blooming Emotions

~ Εννέα

"Who did this?" I asked, stunned, the next day. Hades' closet that once held only his clothes, now was split in half—one half being his, while the other held various shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, and shoes.

"I did, miss," Sudie small voice came from behind me.

"Are-are all of these clothes mine?"

"Yes, miss."

"Does it look like I have another lady in my life?" Hades teased.

I rolled my eyes at him and ventured into the closet. There was everything from a casual sweater to a stunning evening gown—I don't think I had this many outfits at my place. There was even jewelry!

"Now that you have some proper clothes, we can question Hekate. As much as I love you donning my clothes, I love to admire you in your clothes."

I nodded, ignoring his last statement. "Yeah. But what should I wear?"

He leaned in and put his lips on my ear. "Preferably nothing."

I squeaked, and the blood rushed to my cheeks. "Hades! Sudie is right there!"

"That is why I did not shout it."

"Get out, you jerk!" I shoved him playfully out of the room and closed the door. He laughed before sending Sudie away.

I rifled through the racks before settling on a sweater and some jeans. Hades escorted me outside. Morris—Hades' stallion—stood with a stable boy.

Hades patted the horse's nose before facing me. "Come on, magnolia. I thought that instead of teleporting, we could travel by horseback."

"I don't know how to ride, though."

"I am aware, but I am going to teach you."

I hesitantly stepped forward, still unsure of the demon-horse. "You remember me, right, Morris?"

"Put your left foot in this stirrup," Hades instructed. "Grab the saddle horn and hoist yourself up into the saddle."

I stuck my foot where he told me to and gripped the knob that he called the saddle horn. As I boosted myself up, a hand appeared on my lower back, helping me onto the hard leather. I glanced down to see Hades retract his hand. I blushed as warm tingles shot through me.

In one fluid motion, he swept himself up and straddled the animal behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I rested against him. "Grab the reins and flick them. I will tell you where to go."

I did as Hades directed, and the animal shot forward. At first, having nothing to keep me from falling, terrified me. But Hades resting his hands over mine in my lap gave me a subtle boost of encouragement. This ride was my first honest view of the Underworld, and it pretty much looked the same—identical green hills and white asphodels.

I didn't see a single person, either.

After a while, I grew to enjoy the rhythmic pounding of the horse's hooves. We headed north, but at a western angle. Nothing surrounded us except green and white—until I spotted a house in the distance. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a mansion—not a house. Behind the estate, a river flowed.

We slowed from a gallop to a walk. Then we dismounted; Hades stroked Morris' ears and mane. Hades let go of the reins and let them hang there. "Won't Morris leave if you let him roam?" I questioned.

"No, I trained my horses not to move around too much when the reins drag like that."

"That's pretty cool."