Chapter 32

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I no longer hurt all over. I'm lying down on something soft. My eyes slowly open.

The black beams of a four-poster bed swim into focus – distorting the high ceiling above. I take a few deep breaths – trying to fight a sense of nausea building up in my stomach. I don't hurt anymore, but I don't feel good either. My mind is fuzzy and I try to grip onto any coherent thought; I try to make sense of what's going on, of where I am.

We came to the Underworld. The Furies were torturing me. And then...

Something shifts beside me.

Valentine.

My heart jolts in my chest and I half fall, half scramble out of the bed – crimson sheets tangling around my body and almost tripping me over onto a black and white tiled floor. The movement stirs another wave of nausea as I spin around – bending over slightly, hand on my stomach.

Valentine is laid on top of the covers, hands clasped behind his closely shaved head, muddy boots crossed on the bedspread. A devilish smile spreads across his face – causing those irritatingly charming dimples in his cheeks.

"Wakey wakey, rise and shine," he says.

"You. What are you doing he-" I shut my mouth – eyes widening. And then I promptly vomit on the floor – a translucent, watery liquid that splatters over the elaborate checkered tiles.

Oh God.

I clamp a hand over my mouth then slowly meet Valentine's eyes – heat flooding to my face. He's watching me – unphased, a glint of amusement dancing in the vivid blue of his irises.

"Oh God. Sorry. I..." I shut my mouth. "Wait. I'm not apologizing to you. Oh...God..." A wave of nausea overcomes me once more. "Bathroom..."

He removes a hand from behind his head, bringing it close to his torso, and turns it – finger pointing at a door to the left. I sprint past the bed – barely able to take in my surroundings or wonder where the hell he's taken me – and barge through the door. I fall to my knees in front of the toilet and hurl again.

Oh God.

I breathe hard – stomach muscles aching from the exertion. And it hurts. My throat feels like it's on fire. I retch again.

"I'm not quite sure how to take this, Lila." Valentine's gruff voice resounds from somewhere behind me. "Throwing up at the sight of me..."

"Go. Away."

He chuckles.

"You know, you really shouldn't drink water from the river. It can give you all manner of sicknesses."

I lift my heavy head slowly and flash a scathing look over my shoulder. Valentine is leaning against the doorframe, big arms folded across his chest, shocking eyes on me. His pale blue shirt is rolled up at the sleeves exposing his thick forearms. A smile toys at his lips.

"Oh, really? Well thanks for that gem of wisdom." The room swims around me. "But it's not like I chose to -" I jerk my head back to the bowl and start throwing up again. "Oh God..."

I feel like it will never end; my body aching, my skin clammy, my head thumping, the sour taste on my tongue. It hurts, too. Not as much as when I was made to swallow the water from the river Acheron - but there's a definite echo of it with each convulsion; my muscles jerking much more than they ever have before when I've been ill.

As I hunch over, groaning, I sense a movement behind me. Moments later my hair is lifted back from my face and a big hand rests gently on my back.

What?

"Steady..." His voice is softer.

"What are you...doing? " My words are hoarse, weak, lacking conviction. "Why are you...watching me...throw up...? It's...horrible..."

Gently he rubs my back, his other hand twisting around my hair – keeping it out of the line of fire.

"I spent the better half of February on a boat full of dead people. Believe it or not, I've seen worse."

Finally it seems to stop. I rest my cheek down – feeling the coolness of the toilet seat. I try to catch my breath.

"Why are you being nice to me?" My voice comes out as a weird, confused, hoarse moan.

"I have no reason not to be."

He leans closer - his body pushing against my back. I tense.

"What are you –"

But then he reaches over my head for the chain.

"I have the distinct feeling I put you on edge, Lila."

"You spent a month sending me creepy messages, resurrecting zombies, and telling me you were going to remove my heart..."

"Fair point..." I hear the smile in his voice.

He flushes the toilet and I release a breath.

"The Underworld has plumbing?!" I say – momentarily distracted as I watch the water swirling beneath me.

He shifts back and sits against the wall.

"I believe it all ends up into the River Acheron," he says.

Another wave of nausea washes over me. "What?!"

As if being forced to drink that stuff wasn't bad enough – it has Underworld poop in it?!

Valentine's low chuckle echoes around the space.

"Only joking. No. Not all the Underworld has plumbing. Only those who are powerful or important tend to have such luxuries."

I push my head up from the toilet bowl and lean back against the wall – trying to put a little space between me and Valentine. He sits beside me, thick forearms resting on his raised knees. 

"And that's you, is it?" I say.  

I glance at him. He catches my eye, smirks, and I look hurriedly away.

For the first time I survey my surroundings. I'm in a small, Victorian like bathroom – with black and white floor tiles, a bath with golden claw feet, and a small sink.

"What's with the tone, Lila?" He says my name in that annoying way he always does. Like he's taunting me. "I'm pretty sure I just saved you from eternal torture. What exactly does a man have to do to get a little gratitude around here?"

"Oh, I don't know..."I lean my head back against the cool tiles, looking up at the ceiling. "maybe not be a psychotic, murdering, zombie raising, evil asshole."

"Evil asshole, huh?"

My gaze flicks over to his – our eyes locking. The corner of his full lips twitches, and, to my uttermost disappointment, I find my lip twitching too.

I hurriedly avert my gaze. I can't be on any kind of friendly terms with this guy. Even if he did save me...

I exhale.

"Thank you," I say.

"Well, that's a start," he says.

"You only saved me to save yourself."

The corner of his lip quirks up. "It's true I have an investment in your well-being."

"Right..."

I close my eyes a moment. I no longer feel nauseas but my body aches all over. I swallow – my throat feels like it's been torn to shreds. My mouth tastes disgusting. I rub my lips with the back of my hand.

And a thought suddenly jolts into my mind with the force of an arrow, panic swelling in my stomach. How am I only just thinking about this?!

I jerk my head to him.

"Cupid and Cal! Where are they?"

He shrugs, eyes fixed ahead. 

"Valentine?" My tone is warning.

His heavy arm brushes against mine as he wafts a hand dismissively. "My brothers will be fine."

"You mean you didn't break them out?!"

He frowns. "They weren't a priority."

"How could you leave them there?!"

He turns his head slowly and give me a nonplussed look. "Are you under the illusion that my brothers and I are good friends, Lila?"

"No...but –"

"I'm presuming they've paid off Charon. I've dealt with the man many times myself and he's true to his word. They'll be fine." He looks away. "I'm sure they'll be finding their way to us in no time at all..." There's a slight bitterness to his tone.

Thoughts reel through my mind as I stare at the tiled wall. I don't know whether to tell him that that is not true. Cupid and Cal won't be finding their way to us. They don't even remember who I am.

They won't come for me.

"You seem concerned, Lila," he says. "What is it?"

I bite my lip. "Nothing. You're right. They'll be coming soon."

Valentine might have saved me. He might be being weirdly kind to me. But he's still a killer. It's probably safer for him to think I'm not completely alone here in the Underworld.

The thought spreads cold through my body.

I'm alone.

I feel him watching me intently and I blink hurriedly – worried I'm giving myself away. I need some time to think; to figure this all out.

I swallow hard. "How...how did you know I was being tortured anyway?"

"Well our host had something to do with that."

"Our host?"

"Yes. I didn't feel the need to settle down seeing as my stay in the Underworld was only ever temporary. I'm staying with an old friend."

"You have a friend?!"

He laughs – a gravelly sound that fills the small bathroom. "I know. It's surprising. But you're my friend too, are you not, Lila?"

I pull my knees to my chest - clasping my hands around them.

"I'm not your friend, Valentine."

"If that's what you want to tell yourself..." He rises to his feet – taking away his body heat – and walks to the door. He gestures with his head at the sink. "Clean yourself up. You can use my toothbrush. I'll take you to meet him."

I look slowly up at him. "You didn't answer my question. How did you know I was in trouble?"

A smile spreads slowly across his face.

"My friend is called Morpheus. He's the God of Dreams." He holds my gaze – his eyes blazing into mine. "And you were dreaming about me."

He turns away.

"You just can't get me out of your head, can you, Lila Black?" he says as he walks out of the door.

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