For full experience, readers are encouraged to read with the music.

An infuriated Valentine abruptly releases me and rushes up from the bed, taking with him the warmth and comfort of the last two minutes. Stalking over to the only communication device in the room, which is a telephone tightly fastened to the wall, he proceeds to slam a combination of digits into the mechanism's keypad, cursing as he does so. After a few buzzes, whoever he is attempting to reach finally picks up.

"Listen. I need you to-" he begins, but whatever the receiver says on the other end doesn't allow him to finish. He stands still as he listens calmly. Too calmly. Slowly, I watch on as Valentine's hand forms an iron fist around the phone, his knuckles blanching from the tension. He brings his free hand up and runs it through his snow-white tresses in frustration.

Then, from what I can tell, some bad news drops from whoever is on the line, for he freezes in place, standing uncannily still for a prolonged beat. Silence consumes every nook and cranny of the vast room. Very bad news.

Concern and curiosity beginning to eat me alive, I cautiously peel myself from under the heavy duvet and swing my legs over the side of the bed, ready to move in his direction. My feet don't even reach the ground before the deafening slam of the telephone followed by a loud crack, echoes across the room's large walls.

Though my head snaps in Valentine's direction, my eyes are immediately drawn to the newly formed hole in the cerulean wall. Loosened drywall forms a clear path to the floor, adorning it in a light coat of dust – contrasting against the deep blue flooring. Having long disconnected the phone from its chord; he stands by the detached communication chord seething, a deep pool of ichor slowly running down his right knuckle and onto the broken phone still in his firm grasp.

Something tells me that whatever he heard on the phone had probably been about his brother... about Hades.

As soon as the thought forms in my mind, Valentine shoots a wild gaze at me and grits his teeth. "YOU DARE THINK HIS NAME WHILST YOU ARE WITHIN MY BORDERS?!" he shouts at me furious.

And this is exactly why I had withheld the details of my dream. Because of fear of his reaction. Fear of this...His eyes quickly go from their haphazard flashing to a dark purple, as he tosses the detached phone onto the carpet a few feet away. He marches over to his closet and yanks each of the sliding doors open, exposing his wardrobe.

Peeling his shirt over his head; he reveals a toned torso, decorated with Greek symbols itched up and down his chest in a single, straight line. Had it not been for the confusion and irritation coursing through me, the sight might have even made for some sinful distraction on my part.

Snap out of it. I shake my head before refocusing my attention on the last few moments. He throws down the shirt in a frenzied tantrum and begins to go for the clasp on his belt buckle. I whip my head around and find something else to focus on, settling for the delicate glass lamp mindlessly resting on top of the bedtable.

After a moment too long of Valentine incessantly muttering profanities and rummaging around, he finally crosses towards me. Wearily peering up at him, I see he is fully suited. Leather black pants, a tightly fitted combat tunic, and his signature dark boots, now protect his body.

He reaches over me and grabs his jacket from the corner of the tall bed frame. "Where are you going?" I ask alarmed. The last 24 hours had gotten me so shaken up, the last thing I needed to be right now was alone. His jaw only ticks in furious concentration as he continues to rummage about, completely ignoring me.

"Valentine..." I call again, frowning. Still, I receive no response. Resentment soon joins the party of fear and aggravation in my system, worsening my trembling. I grip my braids in a tight, exasperated gesture to keep from losing my mind. I can't help but think back to how I managed to find myself in this hellhole. How I got myself mixed into this turbulent whirlwind. How I was dragged back here only to be whipped back into his life of constant rage, fear, and worry.

And now HE gets to be mad? Fuck it.

Fury spreading through me like a wildfire, it's my turn to fume. "You know what, please do ignore me like I'm not here. Like my life isn't also at stake. After all, people's lives have never really been that high on your list, have they?" I shout angrily. Valentine continues to rummage around, collecting various weapons and items, tossing them into a pouch. Never once even glancing in my direction. Laughing manically, I bring myself from a level 7 to a level 9.

"I wish you had any idea how much I truly hate you. You have made my life a living hell." I chuckle, losing it. At this, he stops. His back is to me and though he is heaving, he continues to remain silent. Nothing to say now. I should take this as a warning, but my twisted knives of rage want out. "When is it ever going to end?!" I let out as tears spring to my eyes.

I release a frustrated cry to his back as he remains in place, not saying a word. Not even bothering to face me.

"I must just be some insignificant animal to you that you can own and domesticate however you please, isn't that right?" I scoff as my breathing picks up, transforming into heavy heaves. Matching his own.

Once again, my grievances are met with deafening silence. No apology, no guilt, not even an ounce of remorse. I. Am. Livid.

In this moment, something animalistic takes hold of me and for the first time in my entire life, I allow violence to be my force of reason and talk me into my next course of action. Seizing the lamp beside me I hurl it in his direction, pouring all of my pent-up anger into its cool glass surface. The moment the delicate vessel leaves my hold, it fizzes midway in the air before dropping to the floor and dispersing into a dozen sharp pieces.

After another long pause, he turns to his desk to pack the last of his things before crossing for the door. As he readies himself to leave, I get one last blow in. Staring down into my palms, I sigh. "Look what has become of me..." Shifting my gaze to the floor, I continue. "Look what has become of you."

He tenses up and pauses in the doorway. Sniffling, I cross my way back over to the bed and sit on it wearily. I grip onto its sides before quietly gritting out: "Sometimes, I don't even know to whom I am betrothed; You, or...or Hades."

Instantaneously, I am face to face with his dark violet gaze, our noses only inches apart. His clenched fists weigh down the bedding on either side of my lap as he stares deep into my iced glare, as if in search of something. I hold my unfaltering gaze level with his, challenging him as I cross my arms. "Go ahead and do your worst. I'm sure it still won't be enough" I scowl boldly.

We remain like this for minutes.

Then, almost as if in defeat; he drops his head and sighs. Kneeling down, he rests his head in my lap and moves his hands up to my arms. A bit of his warmth seeps through me as he wraps his fingers around me and squeezes gently. "I would travel to hell and back for you. I would tear this whole fucking universe to shreds if something were to ever happen to you, petaloúda" he all-to-calmly laments.

My heart softens and my tears turn into ones of sorrow. My built-up rage and anger slowly dissipate into the air as I run my fingers through his white hair.

"I will return to you within the next hour. There are just some things I must take care of" he says, bringing his head back up and pulling my hands together to caress them. Guiding my knuckles up to his lips, he lays tender kisses against each one, pausing when he gets to the shiny black wedding band. Staring at it pensively, he brings that too up to his lips and gives it a gentle peck before turning his gaze back up to mine.

"Hades has no place within our kingdom, nor our lives" he promises. My eyes meet his again and he gives my hand one last squeeze before rising to his full height. Then, this time slowly, he trudges over to the door and gives me one last apologetic glance before exiting.

Seconds later, I make out his voice on the other side: "Make sure every inch of the perimeter is guarded. She does not leave. And you make sure no one comes in, Sergio. The palace is to be on complete lockdown until further instruction."

I lean towards the door as he pauses and sighs heavily. "This time, it is not a drill. He really has found a way. His bluffing is over." Another deep voice that I assume belongs to Sergio, immediately responds: "Understood, my lord."

There is a ruffling of metals, and weapons as he begins to shout orders to the rest of his company. The noises distance themselves from outside of Valentine's chamber and continue echoing down the halls as the guards scurry about to protect the castle.

I can't pinpoint exactly why, but for some reason in this moment, I feel as though something has changed...I feel as though, God forbid, something very terrible were about to happen.

My body shudders at the thought.

God. Forbid