Music 🎵

Several hours later, I am pulled from my thoughts by the sounds of Violetta's soft knocking coming from my door. Clasping my hands together, I am quick to respond: "Please, come in."

She gently lets herself in and pads over to my bed. Smiling, she peers up at me and asks, "Your highness, I think the gardens are looking lovely today. Perfect for a quick tour?" she winks. I smile widely at her excitement and gracefully sneak my arms around her.

"Thank you so much Violetta. You are far too thoughtful and kind." Nodding, her eyes dance with excitement as she returns the embrace before pulling away.

"So, he said yes after all" I wonder aloud, surprised.

"Yes" echoes a deep voice from across the boudoir.

Hades is leaning against the open doorframe, one leg crossed over the other. He wears slacks the color of midnight accompanied by a black evening shirt that hangs a few notches unbuttoned at the collar. His sculpted arms are tucked into his pockets, and hair is tied back in a smooth bun. Almost as neat as Violetta's.

His collected demeanor almost gives in to a carefree air about him. We silently stare at each other, neither of us saying a word to the other. After a moment too long, Violetta clears her throat and finally speaks. "Well, your highness, we better get going. There's a lot I would like to show you-"

"On second thought, I can take her from here. You are dismissed" Hades cooly interjects. Violetta slightly hesitates at the sudden shift in energy before curtsying and silently making her way to the door. She throws me one last tender smile as she exits, leaving us alone. This was not at all what I had been expecting. Especially considering the effort he'd been putting into ignoring me the past week.

I remain glued to my perched position atop the mattress, even moments after she leaves, my mind reeling back to the last time we were together in this room. Brief flashbacks of the scarlet trail left by the frail woman invade my thoughts as I stare down into my lap. I still feel timid and weary around him, and the magnitude of his temper remains a constant warning as I dare only to behold his figure in my peripheral.

"Or maybe you would prefer to continue sitting there and mugging me?" he breathes into the silence. I turn to face him, and our gazes immediately lock. Before I can even think of the words to say, he pushes himself off the wall and stands firm. Adjusting his collar, he interjects. "My understanding is that we have a garden to go discover?" A cool sarcasm laces his tone and it's just enough to loosen the knot of tension in the air.

"I believe so" I retort appreciatively before shuffling off the bed. As I am sliding into my slippers, he holds his arm out to me. "Shall we?" he snorts playfully. The smallest hint of a smile graces his face and I struggle to conceal my shock. The Hades that stands before me now seems like an entirely new man and this side of him, I'm not sure I've ever gotten the pleasure to meet since my coming to after the accident.

Snaking my arm through his, I return his gesture of good humor. "Yes, we shall Monsieur" I smile coyly.

He carefully leads me out of the room and through the long corridors. I hold onto him as I observe the usual sentries marching about in their uncannily perfect unison, combating distant feelings of suffocation.

As he pulls me further down the hall, the huge doors stationed at the end of the corridor quickly come into view. Floor-to-ceiling panes of stained red glass lay nestled between sturdy iron frames.

Two armed guards approach, making laborious work of releasing a series of latches and triggers directly connected to stronghold hinges adorning the edges of both frames. The magnificent contraption finally creaks as it releases, giving way to one of the most single beautiful scenes I have ever set my sights upon.

The first thing that greets me is the strong, warm breeze that caresses my skin in the most delicious way. The air smells of warm rain and dew and each and every one of my senses is heightened by the environment. Ahead of us, rows upon rows of hauntingly beautiful, sharp-thorned roses litter both sides of the trimmed path that begins at the entryway and continues into a thicket of forests further up ahead. The sky is a warm, pastel-pink hue and a huge merlot moon rests just above the horizon.

I am ensnared in both shock and awe. Never had I imagined a garden so harrowing and grievous in a way, yet so incredibly beautiful. Many secrets and mysteries hid in these grounds, and this by far had to have been one of the most entrancing ones.

The still air beckons me forth and I happily oblige, absent-mindedly releasing his arm and marching forward. The sentry-man to my right instinctually inches towards me in a way that causes my brow to raise. Hades holds a hand up and he quickly bows, shuffling back into his position. Ignoring the call of caution tugging at the back of my mind, I continue forward onto the edge of the walkway where the dark-cool marble transitions into smooth dirt. Stepping out of my sandals, I allow my feet to rest against the temperate dirt, absorbing as much of its comforting warmth as I can.

A gleeful chuckle escapes from my lips as I close my eyes and spread my arms out-basking under the mellow glow of the blood-moon. A gentle breeze picks up and ruffles my gown at its sides as I turn back to face Hades. A smile spreads across my face and I shake my head at him in wonder.

His own lips twitch in response and I don't miss the glint in his eyes as he watches me in my reverie. "I truly have no words. It's so beautiful...but in a cursed way" I light-heartedly admit before turning back to the garden.

"The thorns...they won't cut you. You are free to roam around as you please" he hints, egging on my excitement.

I swiftly pad up to the first row of roses and cautiously trail my fingers across the smooth pedals. I run them down to the dark stem.

I slowly reach my pinky towards a tiny thorn poking out from under one of the leaf petals, and briskly run it across the sharp tip of the thorn.

I am met with instant regret as I holler out in pain. I jerk away and hold onto my pulsating finger.

Hades chuckles from behind me. "I said they couldn't cut you. I never said they couldn't still hurt you, dear. These roses bear thorns that are stiffer than a warden's key, yet petals that are softer than the very fog from which they draw their vibrancy", he laments.

I courageously shoot him a pointedly deceived look as I rub my throbbing finger. When I glance back down at my finger, sure enough there's isn't a single trace of blood.

He walks up next to me and gently takes my arm.

"Okay, enough of that. I have something more to show you".

He leads me through a small pathway surrounded by rosebushes in the form of an arched wall. We walk several feet under the frame's shade before emerging on the opposite end where a glistering body of water comes into view.

Before us lies a huge, beautiful lake surrounded by small black shrubs and an assortment of greenery, all donning various shades of maroon.

Atop the clear, dark blue loch float several lilies with beautiful red flowers sprouting from their centers.

"Oh, my gods. This is so magnificent, Hades", I breathe out, captivated by the view.

I peer back at him, smiling. From where he stands, he is being illuminated by the cosmic red moon's reflection. Its warm glow softly bounces off the lake's surface and carves the sharp lines of his symmetrical face.

"A magnificent view, for a magnificent queen", he lets out absentmindedly, and at this I feel my cheeks begin to heat all over again.

"Come" he beckons gently as he ushers me to a huge rock lying just off the edge of the shore.

I hold onto his broad shoulders for support as his hands clasp around my waist and hoist me atop the molten boulder so that I am facing the horizon.

Effortlessly, he climbs up beside me and after dusting his hands off, he too stares off into the sky. No doubt admiring its changing warm hues as I am.

After a while of comfortable silence, he speaks. "I always come up here...when I need to think. I find it the best view in all of the castle. Perhaps even the entire realm if I am to be honest.".

My smile widens in response, "I can see why." I take a deep, relaxing breath as I continue to scan the skyline. Small floating dots in the distance travel their way North in pointed formations, not unlike the migration of birds I'd often studied under the stars back on Earth. Though this was much more marvelous. Much more of a puzzle. How so much life could thrive and prosper under such little light even further contributed to the beauty of it.

"It's so peaceful, I could stay up here forever," I sigh.

In my peripheral, I catch him turning over to face me, his eyes burning into the side of my head, and I whirl my head around mirroring him.

His pupils dilate, as he fastens his gaze to mine and I can feel my heart rate picking up as desire tugs at me from my core. His eyes move down to my lips for a split second before coming back up to meet my gaze.

"I can feel you heating up" he suddenly mutters hoarsely, his tense tone slightly wavering as he somehow inches closer.

I remain silent and flustered as my hitched breathing grows shakier. Glancing down at his soft lips, I allow my imagination to run terribly wild. So wild that suddenly, I find myself leaning. Our lips are mere centimeters apart when I am abruptly startled by a loud rustling noise in the shrubs nearby.

Unfortunately, the force with which I pull away counteracts my balance causing me to tip over the other side of the rock haphazardly. Hades reflexively grabs onto the front of my dress to stop me from toppling off.

"Woah, what's the hurry", he mockingly chuckles as he pulls me back into a sitting position. Embarrassed, I grip softly onto his arm to steady myself.

"I was just...frightened is all." He continues to make jests at my embarrassment. "It's really not all that funny" I chide at him, influenced by his humor and in it, finding some of my own.

I look back down at the swaying shrub as the rustling noises resume. Clutching tighter to him and using him as an anchor, I lean lower towards the bustling.

"What is that anyway?" I ponder aloud.

Just then, a tiny figure emerges out from the bush. Under the generous glow of the moon, I make out a shiny, black bunny as it glances us over curiously whilst chewing on a handful of few leaves.

It stares up at me with shiny black eyes. The hare chews down a few more times, before hopping its way off into the distance. I let out a breath I hadn't even realized I was holding.

I open my mouth to speak when Hades, without warning, precipitously releases me before grasping me again in what is his is brilliant idea of a prank. I let out a loud, strangled cry as I grip his arm to the point my knuckles turn white.

He is a fit of laughter when I recenter my balance and let go with one hand, slapping him on the chest.

"NOW THAT, WAS JUST PLAIN DIRTY!" I glare at him as he continues to laugh at me. Yet another side of him, I'd yet to see since waking from my ailment. It takes me by surprise, but I don't hate it in the least. In fact, I find so much comfort in this carefree version of him. Where it didn't feel like walking on eggshells, but instead as if I were, for once in my life, at home.

When he regains his composure, he taunts. "Oh, forgive me, but that was just way too tempting." I feign another death stare in his direction.

"Never rely on your surroundings, alone. Always channel your instinct" he admonishes still grinning. At this I swat him in the chest again and utter, "Oh, screw you." This earns me a brow raise as his grin turns into a smirk with something impure hidden in the context of his next words. "When?"

Now it's my turn to admonish him. "You gutter-minded beast. You urge me to lean on my instincts, but maybe you should use less of yours" I joke as I pat him on the chest, a third time now and this time the contact doesn't go unnoticed.

He glances down to where my hand was but a moment ago and something changes once more in his eyes. "Ouch your highness" he jests all-the-more calmly. It's as unnerving as it is intoxicating, the way he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him.

We stare at each other, a tense heat once more crackling between us like a campfire. He seemingly catches himself when hints of maroon begin to invade on the de-facto grey hues of his pupils. With the slight shake of his head he pierces the silence, and with it, the moment. "Shall we head back inside?"

Disappointedly, I nod in response and allow him to help me down. Once back on the ground, I let out a long yawn and stretch my arms out. "That was really nice" I tell Hades gratefully as he leads us back through the rosebush-tunnel. "Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I mean it." I add softly.

And I truly in fact did, not only for showing me his refuge, but for allowing me to gaze into a crack on his ever-present armor. A level of vulnerability that while he may not have seen it as so, I did.