[ graphic: @Ferret-bird ]

a jar of secrets
08 | taken away from me

"One bed, are you serious right now?"

I groan as Hades unlocks the motel room, closing it behind us and flicking the light on beside him.

"It was the only room they had left," he explains watching as I look around the small room. "It's not much but there's a bathroom through there-"

He points to the half closed door to my left.

"- we'll leave first thing in the morning, I'll take the couch."

I notice the couch is only a two seater which would not be comfortable for a 6'3 male to sleep on. I also notice a small tv in the corner and a square window which looks out over the one street town, a small black bag is already on the couch.

It is small but it will do for the night.

The first thing I do is rush over to the bathroom door and check my reflection in the mirror.

I scream which makes Hades run in behind me to see what's wrong.

"It's still blonde!?" I poke and prod my hair but the colour stays put.

"It is Spring time," he shrugs leaning up against the door watching me.

And what was that supposed to mean exactly?

"Hair doesn't lighten up this much Hades!" I turn to glare at him.

"Well yours does in Spring and Summer, and it depends on your current mood too," he points behind me to the mirror.

I don't know what I am expecting to see but it certainly isn't dark brown highlights in my newly blonde hair.

"What the-" then everything goes black, the last thing I remember seeing is Hades leap forwards to catch me.

❦

I awake to hear someone whispering angrily.

"- It must have happened when I came here.. no I've tried that and it doesn't work."

I try to remain still so I can make out the rest of the one sided conversation without alerting him to my awake state.

"Brother I appreciate the offer but I don't feel like going for a midnight swim..."

Oh no my nose is getting itchy which means a sneeze is coming on.

Don't sneeze, don't sneeze.

I bring one of my hands up to cover my nose but I'm too late.

Achoo!

"Damn it! She's awake I have to go, keep in touch."

I'm never going to be any good at sneaking up on people or listening to private conversations. I hear a toilet flush.

"Hey you're awake, you feeling alright?" the bathroom door opens and Hades steps out.

"I fainted, didn't I?" I ask feeling like an idiot. I try to sit up but my head goes all fuzzy and I lay back down on the bed.

"Give yourself a few minutes before you try getting up," he recommends before bringing me over a piece of laminated paper. "In the meantime pick something you want, I'll order it."

I take the menu and glance down at it, man the prices are expensive as hell.

"I'll just take the fries," I mumble handing it back to him. Hades raises an eyebrow at me before sighing.

"How about something that's not the cheapest meal on the menu?"

Damn I thought he wouldn't know.

Guilty I take the menu back and find something that sounds good. I watch as Hades takes the menu from me and goes to the corner of the room where the phone is to place our order.

Why he's doing this, I try and get up again, this time successfully and walk over to the couch to sit down.

I flick through the channels only to realise there's three of them, an old western, an old guy fishing and a local news station.

"You don't have to feel guilty about the money." I jump but it's just Hades who has finished using the phone and is now standing a few feet away from me.

"Well I can't help it, you're basically a complete stranger who kidna-"

I must have said something wrong because a flicker of pain crosses his face before he goes blank again.

I trail off, deciding to keep my mouth shut is probably the better idea.

"I'm not a stranger and I did not kidnap you..

"You took me away from my home?"

"Well yes but-"

"Are you friends of Ash and Pat?"

"Well no not exac.."

"Are you a kids parent from school?"

"No.."

"Have you ever been to Misty Hallows before?"

"No but Perseph-"

"Then you are a complete stranger who kidnaped me," I glare at him as I get up off the ancient couch.

"Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom."

I make it to the door just before his fingers close in on me, and I slam the door shut firmly behind me.

"Persephone this is ridiculous! Open the door," he tells me angrily.

"No not until you start telling me the truth."

My legs give out below me suddenly and I cry out in pain as my wrist hits the end of the bathroom sink.

"Persephone?"

I bring my legs up to my chest, my sore hand on top and I use the other one to wrap around me in a weird kind of self-hug as the tears come streaming down my cheeks.

"It's Seph.. just Seph," I yell out to him. "I'm just Seph.."

❦

I open my eyes at the sudden soft knock on the door in front of me. I must have dozed off for a while, there's no windows in here so I can't tell how much time has passed.

"Sweetheart, you have to eat something, look I've even got your lasagna and fries right here with me."

That's what I had ordered earlier, and although it smells delicious I wasn't coming out until I got answers.

"I'm not hungry."

I notice my wrist on my right hand has swollen and is now red from where I hit it on the sink.

"Well how about you come out and at least lay down on the bed instead, I'm not sure the bathroom floor is the most comfortable spot to sleep on," Hades tries to joke.

"No."

Although he is right, the floor really isn't comfortable and my butt had long ago fallen asleep but still I stay where I am.

"Okay.. well I'll sleep on the couch, if you need anything just wake me."

I don't reply and hear him sigh once more before moving back away from the door, probably to the couch. 

I glance back down at my wrist, it looks pretty banged up. With a sigh I stand up, a little shaky so I grab onto the edge of the sink to steady myself.

Maybe they will have some medical supplies in the cupboard.

I open the cupboard underneath the sink, disappointed to see that there is nothing in them, not even a toothbrush.

They would have ice in a freezer, wouldn't they? I remember there is one out there in the main room.

I put my ear up to the door trying to make out any noise. I can't hear Hades anywhere but I could hear the tv playing very softly.

I decide to open the door quietly and peek out, like I guessed the tv is still on casting a soft glow around the room. Hades is laying rather awkwardly on the couch, his legs hanging off the edge but his eyes are closed.

I tip-toe past him and to the little mini fridge and freezer near the door, I open it and scream mentally as there is no ice to be seen - only a dead and half frozen cockroach.

Gross!

I decide I may as well give up for tonight and make my way over to the bed instead, I could probably do with a few more hours of sleep.

I pull the blanket and sheet down, about to hop in when I see something move in the corner of my eye.

It's Hades who has gotten up off the couch and is walking slowly towards the bed.

"I thought you would never come out," he admits and I notice how he seems wide awake - too awake.

"You were never asleep, were you?"

I see him shake his head.

"I'm sorry about earlier, this is all just a lot to take in..." I mumble sitting on the bed in a crossed legged position.

"I understand, and I wish I could give you all the answers you wish for..." I notice the bed sink down a little as Hades takes his place at the end of the bed, choosing to sit as far away from me as he possibly could.

"But?"

"But I can't and won't. I don't want you in any more danger than you already are. Knowing what you know now is dangerous enough, your hair changing colour is only the beginning and the least of our worr.."

"Wait what? The beginning of what?"

Hades stays silent before turning to look over at me.

"The beginning of finding out who you truly are and no, no more questions for tonight," he says making me roll my eyes.

"But don't you think if I knew the truth then I might find out who I 'truly am' quicker?"

"Persephone."

"Yes yes I'm going to bed now." I poke my tongue out at him and I think I see an actual smile before it disappears completely.

I crawl in under the covers, careful of my sore wrist. I hiss though when I accidentally lay on it. 

"Let me see your wrist," Hades instructs picking up on it straight away. I watch as he gets up and comes around to my side, turning the little lamp on beside us.

"It's nothing... I just knocked it on the sink." I mumble but he takes hold of my hand anyways to look closely at the damage.

"It really hurts.."

"I know but it's okay, I will get it out for you but you have to stay very still."

It's the little girl from before, she's in yet another meadow but this time there's lots of rose bushes covering the area.

"I didn't mean to make so many," she goes on looking up at the tall man.

"I know. It was an accident which thankfully I was around to help."

I pin-point the problem for the girls pain, a small rose thorn is stuck in her left thumb.

"Now you have to be a brave girl okay, you can hold my other hand with yours if you want."

The young girl instantly takes hold of the older mans hand, squeezing tightly as he quickly takes the thorn out.

"Thank you so much sir... my mummy will have a fit though if see ever sees this, how can we hide it all?" the girl goes on hugging the man.

He laughs as he hugs her back carefully.

I watch in amazement as he lifts one of his hands and black mist appears out of nowhere and begins to hide all the out of control rose bushes around them.

"It's our little secret okay sweetheart," he smiles down at her and the little girl smiles right back.

"It doesn't appear to be broken, just bruised."

"What?" I blink to see that I'm back in the small motel room with Hades.

He's watching me with a look of close interest and fascination before he turns his attention back to my wrist.

"Just be careful with it okay, we'll get something for it in the morning," he continues lowering my hand.

"Oh um yeah... okay thanks."

"Alright well get some rest now, we leave early tomorrow," he reminds me, turning the lamp off with a click.

I turn on my side, careful of my arm this time as I try to get somewhat comfortable. Hades turns the tv off before laying back down on the couch, I hear it creak under the sudden weight.

"Hades.." I whisper into the darkness.

"Yes?"

"Can I ask a really random question?"

I hear him move around on the couch before finally mumbling a yes.

"Did you know a young girl?"

I don't know what makes me ask this, and after a minute of utter silence I begin to feel ridiculous for asking such a weird and random question.

"Which young girl are you referring to exactly?"

"Hmm long blonde hair, light freckles across her nose... I think she really liked flowers too," I say remembering the young girl in my dreams.

Hades doesn't answer and I start to think that maybe he's fallen asleep but then I hear his voice very softly.

"Yes Persephone, I did."

I don't know why I find myself getting a little excited over this because I mean there's a lot of young girls with blonde hair who like flowers but maybe I'm getting to something here.

Either that or I'm going crazy and it's all a corridence, yeah probably that last one.

"What happened to her?" I find myself asking curiously nevertheless.

"She got taken away from me."