'I waited patiently for the hurricane...'

My Tavernier Diamond

I scanned the aisles of freshly made food; my eyes landing on a packed chicken sub. I picked it up and tried to ignore all the weird looks I was getting from the other shoppers.

My turquoise dress was still stained with black blood, mud and grass stains. My hair was a wild mess and I'm pretty sure I smelt of barbeque.

Suddenly, a puff of black smoke appeared next to me. Instantly I tensed up, but tried to keep my expressionless mask on. There was only one being who could cause such a stir. This was not going to end well...

No one in the large supermarket noticed as the god of Death emerged from the smoke and glared down at me with more wrath than ever before.

Shit... I am in so much trouble right now.

I kept my eyes on the sub in my hands as I tried to read the ingredients- as if anyone ever does that. Some silence passed; his angry breathing the only thing keeping me from screaming at him.

"What the hell are you doing?" His voice was like a strong shot of whiskey and it burned just as much.

"Trying to decide between chicken or beef? Which one do you think?" I held up the two subs and watched as his eye twitched with rage.

Thanatos exhaled a shaky breath; his fists were clenched and rigid against his sides. He was on the verge of a major tantrum; one wrong move and some unlucky shopper might not make it to the cheese section.

It was somewhat amusing though- watching everyday people walk past Thanatos like he was just some guy on his way to a fantasy costume party and not the Greek god of Death. Some woman even nearly ran her shopping cart over his black cape. They were clearly hypnotized in order not to make a scene; completely oblivious to the presence of Death.

"You are stimulating my homicidal side, Aurora. Answer the fucking question."

"So beef?" I put the chicken sub back and opened the wrapped beef sub and took a bite. I'm pretty sure no one was going to care that I was eating off the shelf with the grim reaper standing next to me looking like he was about to rip my fingers off with his teeth.

"Be very grateful that I actually care about you or I'd be stuffing you into the meat cooler by now."

"Care... Such a simple term. Tell me; do you care about Delilah?" I turned my cold eyes to his raging red ones. They flickered.

"I promise on my entire existence that I did not touch Delilah." Thanatos anger was replaced with desperation- equally as striking. He pleaded with me; his hand found my arm, but I shook it off; "Aurora, please, listen. I would never hurt you like that! How many times must I tell you that you're the only one that I want?"

I shook my head; the fear of him lying too great.

"Look at me!" I lifted my chin and fixed him with cold eyes. Thanatos looked broken and that caused the mask of no emotion to slip from my face.

"You didn't touch her?"

"No, I promise." His voice was soft, low and gentle.

I licked my lips and looked down to my mud covered sandals and back up into his adoring eyes.

Thanatos eyes lingered on mine, until something caught his eye; the black blood. I stilled- our moment passed as his rage returned, but this time even more explosive; "What the fuck is that?"

He grabbed me by the arm, the sub falling from my grip and onto the floor with a splat. I tried to pull away but he wasn't a Fury- he was much more powerful.

"I got into a little tussle..."

"What happened? Are you okay?" He twisted me around in his arms, examining every inch of me. He tucked his hand under the back of my knee and lifted my leg up to investigate my scratched ankle. It was covered with some dried blood. He ran a gloved finger over the marks, which caused me to hiss softly in pain.

"We need to get this disinfected." He lifted his eyes and clamped his hands onto my cheeks. I felt like a chipmunk as his eyes bore into mine with earnest- he was being uncharacteristically motherly. It was scary; "You look like a mess, baby, and I mean that in the nicest possible way..."

"You should see the other guys..." I chuckled, but Thanatos didn't find it too amusing.

"Guys? Plural?"

Oops.

"Uh... There were two Furies in the park, and they weren't exactly friendly."

Thanatos closed his eyes and took in a deep breath to calm himself. I waited patiently for the hurricane.

"Tell me everything, from the start till now."

And so I did- I told him about how the portal shot me out into an alley and how I made my way to the park. I told him about how I chipped the one fury's fang and burnt the other's wings. How I decapitated the one and lured in the other and drove a burning stake through its heart with next to no magic left in my system.

By the end Thanatos was frozen and hardly breathing. His grip on my wrist had gotten so hard that I could feel the blood struggle to move its way into my hand. If those Furies happened to still be alive, there was no way Thanatos would let them stay that way.

He looked like he was about to torch the supermarket with no more than his glare.

"And then I ran here, wherever here is..." I looked around still slightly dazed from the lack of energy and the pure exhaustion.

Thanatos didn't move a muscle.

I gulped, the strained silence making me nervous; "But I'm fine now!" I attempted to laugh a bit to lighten the mood, but quickly stopped as he titled his head slightly, as if daring me to continue.

I didn't.

He unclenched his jaw with some effort; his voice far too calm to be natural; "Why didn't you use the portal-summoner I gave you?"

I blinked.

Oh, shit. I forgot about that.

"I...uh... forgot."

Thanatos curtly nodded his head once; "You forgot?"

"Yes..."

"You took out two Furies, alone."

"Yes."

"With nearly no magic?"

"...Yes?"

Thanatos pursed his lips and blinked blankly down at me. I tried to think of what he might do next, but the man was a walking mystery.

Finally, he spoke again; "I'm not going to deny that I don't find that extremely arousing, but if you ever," his grip tightened again and before I had the chance to react, his face shot forward, a few inches from mine; "EVER leave the palace again without my explicit permission, I will tie you to your desk, do you understand?"

I nodded quickly.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes." I squeaked.

Gods, why are controlling men so hot?

"Now, I'm going to open a portal to my room and we're getting you checked out by a physician and then I'm going to smash you into my bed like a jackhammer until I feel you've been punished enough. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Good."

The portal opened and I could feel my weak legs sigh in relief as Thanatos picked me up and held me close as we sky-rocketed through the abyss, leaving a half eaten beef sub splattered on the floor of the supermarket. I clutched onto him- the feel of his scent surrounding more comforting than my own mother's.

He was holding onto me like he was going to lose me if he loosened his grip by a smidge. He looked terrified as I told him about the Furies; I could only image the fear racing through him right now.

It was clear on his face- he blamed himself for all of it, but there was nothing he could have done. Luckily, Conrad, Professor Lorne, Lady Claudia and Alexus were all excellent teachers.

Alexus...

Fuck, I forgot about that.

We landed with a thud. Thanatos refused to set me down and instead carried me to his bed, I gladly let him. My stomach growled.

"Can I eat before you try to drill me into the mattress?"

"If you must." Thanatos smile was full of concern. "Let me call Opis. And let's get you checked out by a doctor."

"Where's Silas?"

"Permanently displaced."

I gapped up at him; "Thanatos, the boy didn't mean any harm-"

"He let Delilah into my room without my permission. The only reason he's still alive is because I know you wouldn't want him dead."

I nodded. Thanatos was trying to change for me and I appreciated it greatly, but I didn't want him to change- well, less death was definitely a good thing, but I fell in love with him as he was. Silas should be grateful that I wasn't someone to hold a grudge.

Delilah on the other hand... I wanted her dead, but that wasn't fair either.

"Thank you." I whispered.

Thanatos kissed my forehead with a delicate peck, and then my lips with a hard smooch. "I'm so glad you're safe, darling... I thought I told you to never do this to me again."

I smiled sheepishly; "Sorry. It wasn't exactly planned."

He nuzzled his nose against mine and ran a hand through my messy hair. His hot, minty breath fanned my face; "I'm proud of you."

I smiled and pressed my face closer, nestling it on his warm cheek; "I'm sorry I doubted you."

"That's alright, I don't exactly have the best track record."

I laughed, but it nearly turned to a sob as the day's harsh strain caught up with me. Thanatos held me close; "You killed for the first time... I didn't want that. Not for you."

A stray tear ran down my cheek and I shook my head against his jaw. I couldn't stop the nervous laughter; "It was bound to happen- here, in this world."

"You're better than this world."

"I lov-"

"My Lord!"

My words froze in my mouth.

AURORA!
NO!
What the hell do you think you're doing?

I bit my tongue. I couldn't believe that I was just about to tell Thanatos that I loved him- even he looked completely shocked, but a knock on the door shook him from his stupor; "My Lord?"

"Y-yes?" His wide eyes were still trained on mine. Both our breathing had stopped dead in its tracks.

"There are people here to see you and Lady Aurora."

"We're coming!" He gulped. He gulped! Thanatos gulped.

I quickly shot up from the bed with a hard blush. I walked over to the door, but before I could swing it open- Thanatos grabbed my shoulders and turned me around; his eyes filled with purpose.

"Aurora... I..."

My heart stilled.

"I... uh... I- I'll get Opis to bring you some food."

My heart sank.

"Okay, thanks."

We stared at the ground until it became really awkward. Thanatos cleared his throat; "Okay."

I nodded my head and turned back to the door. I felt like smacking my head against it. I'm an idiot.

Thanatos grabbed the handle and let me walk out first.

As if my day couldn't get any better, my eyes landed on the two people I had no desire to see. Delilah's nose looked broken and skew.

Alexus shot up from the couch and walked towards me, but I quickly pushed her back with my words; "Don't come near me."

Her hazel eyes filled with hurt. I dropped my eyes to the floor and Thanatos dismissed the two guards next to Delilah.

A furry figure suddenly raced towards me and nearly toppled me over. Trimorphe meowed happily as she jumped up to lick my face. I laughed softly and rubbed her ears, reassuring her that I was safe. She purred contently. She must've been so worried.

"We're so glad you're safe, Aurora!" Hypnos said from beside me as he gave me a small, comforting hug. I smiled softly up at him.

Delilah scoffed at his words.

"Would you prefer to rather be eaten alive and torn apart bit by bit by ravenous wild dogs or flung from the top of a volcano and burnt alive slowly?" Thanatos eyes were full of fire as he glowered at Delilah.

The young girl gulped and shook her head desperately. "Please- Thanatos, I just wanted for you to-"

"SHUT UP. Wild dogs it is..."

I clenched my jaw; "Let her go."

"Excuse me?" Thanatos asked incredulously as Alexus and Hypnos only watched. Opis looked on from the corner and Trimorphe stood protectively by my feet, glaring at Delilah.

"She's already embarrassed herself so much, just let her leave."

"I don't need your pity!" She spat at me and Thanatos ripped her up from her seat with so much force her head bobbed up and down like a doll's; "Apologise, right now!"

He pushed her in front of me, but Delilah couldn't care less; "I'm so sorry your legs can't stay closed!"

Before Thanatos had the chance to bite her neck off, I hit her; square in the eyes, my fist cracking against her bone.

She yelled out in pain as Thanatos dropped her in surprise. She fell onto the floor in a heap and I felt truly sorry for her, but my anger at her words overshadowed it by a hundred. I snapped.

Thanatos turned his eyes to me; "You hit her nose earlier? That's where all the blood came from?"

I nodded and shook my hand to ease the pain, but my eyes were glued to her form on the floor. Alexus spoke up; "That explains a lot..."

"You." I said with cold rage as my eyes darted to hers. "You liar."

"Aurora..." Alexus shook her head, her eyes filled with unshed tears; "I can explain!"

"Shut up, all of you. I want the truth- enough secrets." I turned my gaze to Hypnos. "You seem honest enough; tell me everything."

He looked to Thanatos who only sighed and nodded his head. Hypnos orange eyes found mine again; "Alright."

"Leave." I looked up at Thanatos and nodded my head to the door; "All of you."

He looked down at me with furrowed brows, but nodded and pushed Alexus and Trimorphe out. There was no point in arguing with me now. Opis dragged a crying Delilah out with him, leaving only the two of us in the dimly, candle-lit lounge.

I clenched my jaw and walked over to the drinks table. I poured myself a triple whiskey and took a big gulp- the liquor calming my shot nerves and the throbbing pain in my ankle. I sat down next to the fire and lifted my glass to my lips and indicated to Hypnos; "The truth, nothing but the truth, or so help me God, I will burn this fucking palace to the ground. My patience for the day has all but run out."

I took a sip as Hypnos sat down opposite me; "I can see that- you have quite the punch."

I smiled with menacingly low tolerance; "Start talking, Hypnos. I have more where that one came from and I'm starting to really enjoy distributing them..."

NEXT UPDATE- 2nd of June, did someone say *flashback?