Aerith always believed she was an ordinary mortal-clumsy, geeky, and completely out of place in the world. But on the eve of her 18th birthday, she discovers a shocking truth: she's no ordinary girl, but the long-lost daughter of the Fates, destined...
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The Grand Hall Hades' Palace The Underworld
- Aerith -
"So," I said, looking at the ridiculous amount of food in front of us. "What do we do today?" I took a bite of something that looked like a croissant but tasted like a cloud had melted in my mouth. Since I had no idea what to expect for breakfast in the Underworld, I was pleasantly surprised.
Hades, of course, looked like he was thinking about something really profound. He always has that broody 'I'm-the-King-of-the-Dead' look. "I thought I'd give you a tour of the kingdom," he said, his voice smooth and deep like always.
"A tour?" I perked up. "Like, a proper tour? With sightseeing and everything? Do we get little audio guides and maps too?"
His lips twitched. "Not exactly." He gave me a look that said 'you'll see,' and I knew I was in for a day of surprises.
After breakfast, Hades stood and, with a flick of his wrist, he was suddenly wearing full gleaming black armor. I blinked, my brain taking a solid ten seconds to catch up. Holy gods, he looked incredible. Like, cover-of-a-romance-novel incredible. His armor shone under the dim lights of the palace, and the intricate patterns of black steel made him look like every inch the powerful king and warrior. I wasn't sure if I wanted to swoon or just sit there and gawk like an idiot.
"Whoa," I managed to squeak out, because words were hard when your husband looked like he'd just stepped out of an epic battle and had won—several times.
"I thought it would be fitting," Hades said, a smug smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You are my queen, after all."
Then, with another casual flick of his hand, a wave of magic rippled through the air, and I looked down to find myself in matching armor. Mine was slightly more delicate but no less impressive. It was tailored perfectly to my body, black and sleek with a subtle shimmer in the light. My heart jumped into my throat.
"I—what?" I stammered, staring down at the gleaming armor. "You... I... I have armor?"
Hades laughed softly, the sound like a warm breeze. "You're the Queen of the Underworld. It's only right that we tour the kingdom as such."
"Okay, I'm not gonna lie, this is amazing," I said, running my hands over the smooth metal. It was lightweight but felt strong, like I could probably take on an army—or at least look really good trying. "Do I get a sword too?"
