HIS HUMAN MATE- BRIDE OF HADES

"Come on, Lee. It’s your birthday; don’t you want to do something fun?"

I looked up from the book I was reading, blinking. "My birthday was days ago, Jada," I stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Jada rolled her eyes and sank down in one of the sleek leather armchairs close to my bed. "Yeah, but we didn’t get the chance to celebrate, and you know very well why."

"You know she is sick and probably thinks someone is out to get me," I said, giving her a rueful grimace.

"Yeah, the prince of darkness!" Jada exclaimed, feeling disheartened. "I love your mom, but don’t you think it’s time your dad did something?. You said it yourself: She is getting worse each day and keeps on saying how, he who must not be named, was out to get you on your eighteenth birthday."

I sighed, knowing this was true. I wasn’t sure what had happened in the past, but from what I was told by my dad, my mom had been in an accident when she was pregnant with me, and had sworn to my dad that she had died, but was brought back by the Hades, the king of the underworld.

Which, to be honest, was just farfetched. I wasn’t one to dispute anyone’s religion, but there was no way I believed that the Hade was real. Even if he was, he was the bad guy. That I knew.

And as much as I loved my mom, I couldn’t help but think that she needed help. She had gotten excessively worse last year, when I turned seventeen; she was always anxious and spoke to herself.

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to find her standing close to my bed with a knife, claiming she is protecting me from him. As the months passed and I clocked eighteen, she locked me in the room with her, refusing to let go or let me out, and kept on repeating, "He is coming; he is coming to take you from me."

It had been with the help of my dad that I was able to go to college; she had been hell-bent on keeping me by her side.

"Earth to it, Lee," Jada calls out, waving a hand in front of my face. "Your birthday might have been last week, but it’s never too late to celebrate."

"Why do I feel you are just looking for an excuse to party?" I asked incredulously.

"What if I am?. Does it matter?" She mused. "Besides, we are in college; let’s live a little. It’s no crime to have fun and meet new people."

"You mean college boys." I raised a brow, chuckling.

"That is besides the point." She playfully rolled her eyes, and I laughed. "This isn’t about me; this is about you." She points. "When have you ever gotten the chance to let loose and just have fun?"

"It’s my first day of lecture tomorrow; I don’t want to be late."

"You won’t, I promise. We are just going to have a couple of drinks, party a little bit, and be back home before midnight."

"Are you certain?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die." Jada demonstrated, placing both hands crossed on her chest with a smile on her face.

I wrinkled my nose, standing up from the bed and peering out of the front window. The gloomy clouds were threateningly low in the sky.

"It looks hella cold out there." I muttered, stretching my arms and arching my back. My limbs were aching from spending all day on the bed. What I really felt like doing was going for a run. But since Jada was determined to make sure we celebrated my belated birthday, I knew I had no choice in the matter.

"Quit worrying." Jada waved a hand. "We’ll board a cab; now hurry up and get dressed." Jada used the voice that she usually reserves for her nieces and nephews. She even raised a finger in warning.

"Okay, okay!" I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up. "I’ll just be a minute."

"If I had a dollar for every time you said that," she pointed at her watch.

I quickly entered the shower after removing my once-crinkly and now-wrinkled white top and slim-fit gray shorts. Normally, I’d neatly arrange them in my laundry basket, but I didn’t want Jada to wait any longer than absolutely necessary.

Even though I wasn’t really thrilled about my birthday, I was nonetheless eager to check out my new clothing. Once I was done showering, I returned to the bedroom to find it empty with no sight of Jada.

I towelled off and changed into a black short gown that was above my knee and strapless. Even with Jada shouting threats out the door of my room, I couldn’t resist looking at myself in the antique brass mirror that my dad had helped hang on the wall.

I applied some vibrant red lipstick and hurriedly slipped into a pair of high-heeled, tan boots that appeared to be much more expensive than they actually were. My auburn-red hair had been neatly bunned all day, when I anxiously yanked at the hairband holding it and caused it to ruffle. That would have to do, or Jada would come charging up here and forcibly march me to the club.

"Come on!" She called. "Seriously, you better get out here right now, or I'll...."

"I’m here!" I called out, pulling the door open with my coat in the other hand. "Let’s go!"

"Not so fast,” she said, holding up a hand, taking in my appearance. "I give you nine out of ten. I’m not really sure about the black dress, but your flawless face makes up for it."

"What! I think it's fine." I smoothed my hands over the fabric.

"Yeah, probably for a church service, not a club," she said. "It will do, though; we are already running late." I rolled my eyes at this, pulling on my coat and turning the collar up against the threatening winds outside, as Jada opened the door.

Immediately, an icy wind blew in, making my teeth chatter. I really wasn’t a fan of the cold.

"I’m quite tempted to run back inside." I said, gritting my teeth and following her out the door before locking it carefully behind her.

"Well, I do plan on dragging your ass out there."

"Ugh, I thought you said you booked a cab."

"Yeah, I did; it’s out front. We just need to take a couple of steps forward." She responds, pointing to a car a couple of miles in front of us.

We made our way to where the cab was, with Jada being the first to get in. I pulled the car door open, ready to get in, when a tingle ran up my spine, and goosebumps rose on my arm, like a cold wind had just blown past me.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." I rub my arm. "It’s nothing." I replied, getting inside the car. I stared out the window and could have sworn I saw a red iris with a black sclera staring back at me.

But just as quickly as I saw it, It was gone, and I began to wonder if I was indeed seeing things.

"Are you sure you are okay?" Jada asked with a concerned look, glancing in the direction of the window.

I smile, shaking my head. "I’m fine."

"Good, then let’s party!" She squeals, and I join in on her excitement, shaking off any paranoia.

He stood there in the dark, watching my every move. His gaze burned through the depths of my soul, waiting for the perfect time. To take what was rightfully his.

▪︎▪︎▪︎

The club was crowded when we walked in; people were dancing to Burna Boy music blasting through the speakers of the club.

"We need alcohol right now. And I don’t want to hear that you’re taking it easy because you’ve got class tomorrow. It’s your birthday. I want to see you get loose!" Jada yelled, dragging me to the bar.

"Technically, my birthday was last week."

"Like I said before, it’s still the same thing." She scoffed, "Have fun; let tomorrow worry about itself." She said, tabbing at the counter bar to alert the bartender.

A 6’0" Canadian boy, not older than twenty, with golden brown hair, stunning blue eyes, and a dapper smile approaches us. He was undeniably attractive.

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