'I was falling for Death...'

Trickery in Teal

Our plan was already in motion.

Thanatos had informed Conrad about our devious ruse and now a verified claim, by the Arch-mage of Hecate himself was running rampant among the gods.

Needless to say, Thanatos had been smiling like a loon the whole day.

Now for part two.

I was sitting next to the fountain; the cool water running through my fingers. The sun was hot, but there was a cool breeze in the air- it carried the scent of the fresh lake that surrounded the palace.

I adjusted the folds of my thin, mint-coloured dress and tapped a damp finger against my lips.

Where is he?

The courtyard was filled with young, beautiful women. Some sat under the shade of the tall cherry blossom tree, sipping tea and chatting. Others sat under the ivy-covered terraces playing games and gossiping. A few girls to my right were standing close enough for me to hear their conversation;

"I know! Why is he being so distant? It's driving me insane..." A petite brunette said as she covered her cheek with her palms in exasperation. I had a feeling I knew exactly who they were talking about.

"You know how he is. He's just going through a phase."

The girl next to her gently stroked the brunette's back with her palm and sighed loudly. The brunette nodded and shook her head at her dark skinned friend; "This is different."

The girl lowered her voice, but I could still make out her soft words; "I went to his chamber last night."

The dark blonde next to her gasped softly and tapped her friend on the shoulder; "You know you're not allowed to do that!"

"But I wanted to see him." She countered and waved away the concern with a dismissive tone. 

"What happened?" The other dark-skinned friend asked; her beautiful brown eyes wide and curious.

"I never even made it to his room. He was busy in the foyer, sorting through books. When he saw me, he just growled at me to get out."

Her friends merely shook their heads with depressing expressions on their faces.

"It's all her fault."

My ears perked up.

"That Aurora girl. She's somehow hypnotised him or something. He's not the same anymore..."

I pursed my lips.

This plan had better work, or else I'm done for when these girls find out my real name.

"That whore."

Interesting choice of words...

"She had better stay far away from him or else I'll-"

"Look!"

The dark blonde stopped her petite friend from finishing her death-threat and shot a sickly smile to the entrance of the gates. Her two friends turned around and instantly two beaming smiles formed on their faces. They quickly adjusted their clothes and pushed out their chests to show off more of their assets.

I didn't even bother to look up. Only one person could invoke a reaction like that.

Thanatos.

I heard him approach- his black boots hard against the stone.

A sudden thrill of excitement and nervousness hit me like a sack of bricks. My heart sped up and my palms began to sweat in anticipation. Just thinking about his eyes looking at me- through me- it made my stomach churn.

I wanted him to just say 'screw the plan!' and scoop me up and take me far away, but that was somewhat impractical.

So I waited for him to come closer.

His delicious scent reached my senses, but a high-pitched voice shattered my delectable haze.

"Master!"

I balled my hand into a fist and tried to control my breathing.

Thanatos didn't answer the group of girls as they practically raced towards him. He merely side-stepped past them and bee-lined towards me. I felt a great sense of pride as they were left speechless.

Suck on that, bitches.

Suddenly a black, gloved hand was in front of my face. "I'd like you to join me in my chamber, darling..."

Was that what he always said to the lucky girl he chose to spend the night with?

I grimaced and looked up; "I'm honoured, but I must decline, my lord."

The girls close by gasped softly and stared at me with wide eyes. The petite brunette's mouth was open in shock.

Thanatos frowned down at me; his hand still extended for me to take.

"I must insist, darling. You are immensity beautiful. One could even say you resemble an angel..." Thanatos winked slyly at the reference to my pet name he'd gotten accustomed to calling me. I tried not to smile.

"Please, my lord. I really don't want to be rude, but I simply cannot."

So formal...

I congratulated myself at sounding like a proper lady of the palace. No doubt that wouldn't last very long...

Thanatos clenched his jaw to stop himself from smiling; "Well, this is my palace and you are a guest in my home. I will see you in my chamber in ten minutes."

Thanatos turned to leave, but I quickly stood up; my voice loud. The other girls who sat further away and who only nosily looked on could now hear my words as I shouted at his back; "I will not! I am a mage of Hades, and in honour of my master, I will not pollute myself."

Thanatos turned sharply; his red eyes cold and full of fury. He was quite the talented actor. That worried me. How much was he acting around me everyday?

"I am your master here! Not him! You will do as I say!" He grabbed my hand, but I ripped it from his grasp.

The courtyard was now filled with prying faces and hushed whispers.

"Hades is my master and I only listen to him. As should you!"

With that I huffed up my chest and stormed out towards the stairs leading up to my chamber. There was an explosion of a soft hum of voices as the girls cooed around Thanatos to grab his attention, probably hoping he'd settle for one of them.

I was tempted to look back to see if he'd take up any of their offers, but I kept my head high and marched forward.

As I rounded the corner, my shoulders sunk and a bright smile erupted onto my face.

Part two was done and dusted.

A slow clap sounded from behind me. "Quite the show..."

I swung around at the sudden noise behind me and my eyes widened in response. The young woman was leaning against the wall; her auburn curls hanging down the front of her chest and her mouth set in a thin line.

In her eyes I saw hatred.

"Delilah."

She narrowed her brown eyes. "So Helen, how do you do it?"

She spat my name with disgust. I stood up straighter again and narrowed my eyes at her; a sly smile on my face. I could see my self-assurance irked her; "You're going to need to be more specific, dear..."

She pushed herself off the wall and came to stand in front of me. She was at least a head shorter than I was, but her blazing eyes showed she wasn't about to back down anytime soon.

"Stop acting, Aurora."

I blinked, not giving away any reaction that may cause her pleasure.

"I know you're the one he's been obsessing about. And I know you've been spending a lot of time together lately..."

"Remind me again how this is any of your business?"

Delilah glared at me, but I glared down harder.

"Have you two slept together?"

I scoffed and snickered in her face. "What makes you think I'm as easy as you? Maybe that's why he likes me... At least I present a challenge."

Delilah took a step back; her eyes wider. "My, my... What a sharp tongue you have..."

"All the better to cut you with." I smiled sweetly at her. Lifting a brow I turned to leave; "Now if you'll excuse me I have an actual purpose in life."

"Aurora, sweetheart..."

I turned my head to glance at the red-haired girl. She smiled at me with her white teeth; her hands on her hips; "Don't think he actually likes you. As soon as you give him what he wants- he'll dump you like the rest of them..."

I grinned and hoped to the gods that my smile made her blood boil with anger. 

"Personal experience?"

I left Delilah fuming in the passageway as I marched upstairs to my room. She'd let me leave without adding a retort, but from her glowering stare burning a hole through the back of my head, I'd deduced that she'd hated me even more than before.

I couldn't deny that her words had hit me.

There was a part of me that couldn't shake the thought that Thanatos would just throw me to the side like he did with all the rest as soon as I caved. But now, with this new lie to keep up, I wouldn't be able to give him what he wanted in any case.

Would he stop pretending?

Was he even pretending? What on earth were we? We're we... something and did I have feeling towards him that went further than I'd ever intended?

I hate to admit it, but Delilah's words had cut deeply, but what scared me more was the fact that I wanted him to want me.

As I reached my room and swung open the door, I leaned against it and exhaled a shaky breath.

This was unexpected.

Why didn't I notice it before?

I was falling for Death...

"Fuck."

A while later the devil himself stepped through my doors.

Thanatos' smile was big and bright. He strutted over to my desk where I sat making notes. "Wonderful performance, partner! Although, I must say I was particularly fantastic..."

I grinned and rolled my eyes trying to ignore the bubbling effect of his charm.

He sat down next to me on an empty chair and scooted it closer. His arm swung around my shoulder as he leaned in to nuzzle his face in my hair.

"Hmm..." He breathed me in.

I could feel my stomach explode with butterflies.

"What are you up to, angel?"

"I figured I'd revise some of the water bending Alexus taught me today."

Thanatos twirled a strand of my hair in his fingers. "You work far too much... How about we have dinner in my room? We can take a trip to the whiskey cellar like I promised you?"

My heart ached as I shook my head. It's best if we kept out distance.

"We can't be seen together like that. Delilah already figured out that I'm thee Aurora. She also seems to know about our time together."

Thanatos huffed in annoyance; "Delilah is delusional. She probably heard it from Evangeline when I accidently let your name slip the day you arrived."

"What about her knowing that we're spending time together?"

"A guess?"

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. "Well, I think she seduced it out of one of your servants."

"Possibly..." Thanatos said as he leaned in closer and ran the back of his hand down the side of my arm; his eyes focused on my neck. "But let's focus on more important things- like tonight... I want you to wear something white. Maybe even sheer."

I turned in my chair to face him; my legs in between his muscular ones. "This is important. We can't let the plan fall through on the first day..."

Thanatos sighed and gave me a pointed and dry look. "You worry too much. If the servants are a problem, I'll just dismiss them for the night. Then we could be alone..."

Thanatos leaned in for a kiss. I contemplated pulling away, but my body wouldn't listen.

His lips tasted of black coffee. He'd definitely had some not too long ago. I wasn't a big fan of coffee, but I could learn to love it like this.

He pushed his tongue into my mouth and danced it across mine.

It was sinful. It was wrong and I just didn't have the willpower to stop it. I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. He would be the end of me- he could burn me alive and yet I kept leaning in to feel the heat.

"Fine, I'll come over..." I whispered into his mouth; my resolve rapidly fading with every second. "But only to help you go through the rest of the books in your study."

I paused and then quickly added; "And for the whiskey."

Thanatos chuckled into my mouth. I savoured the sound and the delicate vibration. "Your wish is my command... Although, I have one little request- or make that two."

I raised my brow and grinned at him. Thanatos' mischievous smirk was delectably enticing.

"I still want you to wear white..."

"Fine. And?"

Thanatos bit his lip and gazed down with lust-filled eyes; "Call me 'my lord' again."

I laughed loudly and leaned back; "No way! That was only for the performance!"

Thanatos pouted and shot me a gloomy look while his fingers trailed up my bare arm. "Come on, angel! Just once!"

"No, Thanatos. Forget it!"

"Fine! I'll just have to get you drunk enough tonight..."

I laughed and pushed him away as he tried to claim my lips again. "I'll sneak over later; now leave me so I can focus."

"Of course, my lady." Thanatos said as he kissed the back of my hand- his lips tenderly caressing my soft skin. I shivered with desire. He cunningly emphasised the 'my lady' part and watched my reaction; "See? That wasn't so difficult, now was it?"

"Go." I said loudly pointing to the door while I tried to hide my growing smile. Thanatos bowed dramatically and turned to leave.

He strutted out, like some proud lion; his black cape swishing in the air behind him.

I pressed a finger to my lips, savouring the warmth that he left behind.

Unfortunately, for the rest of the afternoon, all I could focus on was the heat in my stomach and which white dress he'd prefer the most...

Sounds like someone's developing feelings... Hmm... ;)

*Picture- Delilah