The Curse of Betrayal (10 page)

He groans with pleasure and grabs under my butt, lifting me up so I’m fully held by his solid arms. I cross my legs behind his back when I feel his hardness press against me. It’s intimidating, but oddly, it only makes me want him more.

I deepen the kiss more and more as I try to get as close to him as possible. He loves my forwardness and walks us backwards until we’re pressed against a hard tree. Without hurting me, he pushes my back against it and dives in for a long kiss.

I try to breathe when his mouth leaves mine and travels to my neck. He sucks on my vein which makes my heart rate skyrocket. Butterflies tickle me from the inside out and my need for Ari reaches an all time high.
 

“Want to see my house?” He breaks our sexual trance, bringing me back to real life. The woods come into focus, and my face instantly freezes.

“Sure,” I answer breathlessly. I would probably agree to anything he asked me right now, which is a scary thought.
 

Ari’s house is near the front of the school, beside the large entry gates. The walk is chilling, but Ari’s hand clasped with mine gives me warmth. I stay quiet the entire walk, trying to compose myself after our make out session.
 

We walk down a cobblestone pathway leading to a two story gothic-style house. The shingles are black with perfect white shutters, offering a harsh visual contrast. The large, lurid blood-red door welcomes our entrance. The house looks to be straight out of a Halloween picture book, and the more I stare at it, the more it fits Ari perfectly.
 

“Come on,” I say, reaching back and eagerly pulling Ari’s hand as I skip towards the door. I want to open this new part of our relationship.

“Relax, Eury. We’ve got all night.” His voice is all deep and seductive, sending heat down my body. My familiar butterflies migrate to the pit of my stomach, and it’s impossible to ignore the sexual energy they bring with them. He unlocks the front door with a key he pulls out of his pocket and pushes the door open so I can enter first.

The house is much larger than Ollie’s cabin back in Connecticut and looks more lived in. We enter a foyer with a bench against the wall and shoes shoved underneath it. I quickly pull off my black coat and hang it above the wood seat. Then I kick my shoes off.

I walk through an arched doorway and am in an immaculate kitchen. It’s large with stainless steel appliances. There are granite counter tops and an island with stools. The cabinets are painted a faint coal matching the counter tops, and despite everything being obscure, the room is heavily windowed and open, making it airy.
 

As I explore more, I find a bathroom, dining room, and a living room. His house is messier than Ollie’s, but it’s not a turn off. Instead, I feel comfortable here.

In the living room, he has a large bookcase with movies, books, and CDs. Some are open and some discs are sitting on the outer part of the shelf, disorganized. On the coffee table, he has half-read magazines and books flipped open as if he was in the middle of reading them all when he left to find me.
 

From the living room, there’s a carpeted staircase bringing me upstairs to a long hallway with doors leading to unknown rooms. The first room I explore is a study that takes my breath away—literally. I could live in this one room alone and be content for life.

A large wooden desk sits in the center of the room, facing a large peaked window. I glance out of it briefly, and it has a view of the opaque woods. I’m sure during the day it’s much more scenic.

The room is lined with bookshelves that are more than over-filled with books. The shelves house everything from large encyclopedias to small trade paperbacks. There are also some plush chairs in between each book case.

With Ari still waiting downstairs, I find his bedroom. I creak open the heavy door and peek inside. Piles of clothes on the floor block the large walk-in closet, but his bed is tidy. Throw blankets and pillows are piled atop it. The walls are painted a deep cranberry, and most of the furniture is darkened, too. He has white curtains that whimsically cover the windows.
 

After scouring the top floor, I skip back downstairs, athirst to tell Ari how much I like his house. I find him in the kitchen, making us some hot chocolate on the stove.

“I know it’s not much, but I love it here.” He feels the need to explain.

“I love it. It’s so homey.”

“Oh, well, yeah. I spend most of my time here.”
 

“You’re a little piggy, huh?” I crave the way we used to talk. He’d joke with me, and I’d come up with some stupid remark. I want my old Ari to come back. I love Ari when he’s witty and fun, not so insecure and professor-like.
 

“Excuse me?” His face is perplexed, eyes deep, as he turns to face me while still robotically stirring the milk on the stove.

“You’re a messy boy.” I put my hands on my hips like I’m scolding him.
 

“Does that bother you?” He shoots me a sly grin across the counter top.

“Nope.” I smile and watch. Once he takes the pot off the stove, he places it on a warming station and then pours the two mugs full. Instead of serving it to me, he motions for me to come with him and leads the way to the living room.

“How were your classes today?” Ari asks me as we both sit on his plush couch. There is a fire roaring against the large wall, heating the room up nicely. After trekking through the freezing cold night, this is a perfect ending to the day.
 

“They were okay.” I reflect on my day. “I’m really trying to fit in here, but it just seems like I’m not normal.” I blush at my admission as I try to hide my face behind the mug, taking a sip of the hot sugary liquid.

“I saw you with Kara and her friends. They weren’t nice to you?” Worry coats his face.

“They were. There’s just this one girl, Lisa, who clearly hates me. It’s frustrating,” I tell him, venting out my day’s frustrations.

“You’ll be fine. Once people start to know you, they’ll love you.” His hand finds my thigh and strokes it lightly, reassuring me. His fingers brush close to the hem of my pants and my leg nearly spasms.

“Everyone knows about the curse,” I tell him.

“Yeah. It’s not really hidden in this world, and since I work here, most people know.” I barely hear his words as he rubs constant circles on my knee with this thumb. Little buzzes shoot through my body where he touches, shocking me.

“They’re treating me differently now that they know,” I confess, my voice breathy since all I can concentrate on is his touch.

“There’s not much we can do about that.”
 

“Yeah. I met my advisor, and she seems really cool. I think I’ll like her a lot,” I tell him, recalling Professor Onassis and her cheerful demeanor. She didn’t treat me differently when I told her about the curse, and she didn’t judge me.
 

“Cece? She’s amazing. I made sure you would have her. She’s extremely smart, and she knows what she’s talking about. She has visions. Did you tell her about your gift?” he asks me.

“Yes, Ari.” I drag out his name like a chore.
 

“Good.” He leans over and plants a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. “Want to sleep over?” I’m appalled when he asks, because I really didn’t expect him to be so forward. Especially after yesterday when he demanded we try to only be friends.
 

“Um… what?” I stutter out.
 

“You know, sleep over,” he repeats, pointing between the two of us and then up to the ceiling.
 

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” I want to take things slowly. I’m definitely not ready for sex. And with Ari’s personality, I’m sure he is.
 

“Oh, yeah okay.” He focuses intently on his cup of hot chocolate like he’s scared to see me.

“I’ll sleep over, but no funny stuff,” I relent. “I’m not doing anything like that until the curse is gone. I don’t want to regret something that may have been influenced by Hades.” I try to explain in the nicest way possible. I definitely don’t want him to think I don’t want him since that’s clearly not the case—I can hardly be in the same room without wanting to maul him.
 

“You think you’ll regret me?” Pain is evident in his voice, again.
 

“Not at all. I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry…” I tell him, staring into his emerald eyes, “I just need to focus on my mom and school and ending this curse before I get swept away,” I explain.

“I get it.” He starts to close himself off to me, building that wall up high so I can’t get inside. I know I have to break through and get him back before it’s too late.

“Hey.” I take his head between my hands, forcing his eyes to meet mine. “I’m sorry. Let’s go upstairs.” I want him back to the guy I love.

I plant a wet smack on his lips and then push off the couch to head upstairs. I reach my hand down to his, and he gets up behind me. I lead us up the stairs, making sure to playfully wiggle my butt with each step.

“Stop that!” Ari calls out, slapping my butt with his free hand. I squeal at the sting and run the rest of the way up the stairs until he catches me in his arms. He throws me over his shoulder, and then kicks open the door to his room. I can’t control my giggling, especially when he throws me down onto his huge bed.
 

I have only a second to prepare before I’m covered with his body. He pins me down and then starts kissing me. He starts at my hand, just one kiss, and then works his way to my shoulder. He nips at it flirtatiously while I try to squirm out of his grasp.

“Stop,” I giggle out, wrapping my legs around his powerful body. I need some leverage so I can get away from the tickling and kissing. He only laughs at me before nipping at my neck next.

But finally, his lips touch mine and playtime is over.

I moan into his mouth, finally getting what I want. He rolls me over so I’m hovering over him, but he refuses to quit. Without our lips separating, he darts up. I’m in his arms, and one second we’re laying down and the next I’m pressed against the wall.

He used his powers. For some reason, this makes the butterflies in my stomach go rampant with need. I wrap my arms around his neck while he holds me below my butt, so I’m pressed against him, feeling his need back.

“I love you,” I tell him between kisses. He pulls away from me.

“I love you, too, Eury.” With hooded eyes, he presses his forehead to mine and stares at me, almost like he’s trying to speak with my soul. I shut my eyes and let the stillness take over.

But it lasts only a second because he comes back in for a passionate kiss that doesn’t end. He refuses to stop peppering me with his love as we move from the wall to his bed.

Fully clothed but out of breathe, I cuddle into Ari, resting my head in the crook of his neck. His eyes are shut but he’s awake. He wraps his arms around me protectively. The last thought I have before falling asleep is about Ollie, wondering what he’s doing on this cold night.
 

CHAPTER SEVEN

jail dream

I awaken in the same dream I have been having for months now. It’s always the same, never changing. I peek around in my jail cell, hoping that something has moved or there is something new, but of course, it’s just my sense of false hope.

The black poles holding me in the cell are worn and scratched from people trying to escape. The paint has chipped, and it looks insecure, but I know by now; it’s solid. After many failed attempts trying to escape, I don’t even bother.
 

There is a small bed chained to the wall with hay piled onto it as a makeshift mattress. A small grey blanket, thinner than paper, lays atop of the hay, making it look oh so appetizing, but I know, it’s prickly and unpleasant. The bed consists of a simple plank of wood. I walk over to the bed and take a seat, wondering if it will hold me up, and it does, with only a small creak under me in complaint.
 

A hole in the corner of the room acts as a toilet, and the smell reaches my nose, instantly suffocating me. I hold my breath and look away, not wanting to see or smell the vile soil any longer. I glance out into the hallway, looking for a new person, a new cell—something new to work with, but nope. Nothing. There’s always nothing.

I’m let down again; all I see are the cells I’ve memorized time and time again. Although there are tons of people, I can’t hear anything; they don’t even look alive. They lie on the cold, cement ground or on their rough, wood bed—immobile and silent. I call out for someone to help me just as I do every time, but nobody answers me.

After a few seconds of sitting in solitude, a man, of whom I immediately recognize as Hermes, waltzes towards me, a smug grin plastered on his face. Immediately, I’m surprised because I’ve never seen him before. At least, not in this dream.

I watch as Hermes grabs a woman from the cell across from me and begins to beat her senseless. I scream at the first punch and lunge towards the hallway, wanting to help her. He leans into his leg as he kicks her in the gut. He bends at the waist and slams his fist against her jaw, over and over again—his flesh a mere blur.

Blood gushes from her split lip and falls onto the concrete ground in thick puddles. It looks like he calls for someone, but his voice is muffled as if I’m listening under water. I strain to listen through the black bars. My knuckles whiten as I clutch the barred door.

Hermes continues to assault her, using his knees, fists, and feet to render her immobile. Hades then emerges down the hall. The room dulls, a child creeps up on me and something similar to fog leads his way. Just his presence changes the atmosphere of the cells.
 

He walks to where we are and stops at the woman’s cell, waiting outside, touching distance from where I’m held captive. Lines of anger mark the men’s foreheads as they argue.

The woman struggles to fight back. She kicks Hades in the shin, but Hermes hits the side of her head to stop her. She falls back against the cold, firm wall and her head lies on the floor, bloodied and broken, rendering her unconscious yet again.