Chapter 40: Chapter 40

The moment I stepped near the portal I held on to Lukas. I had no memory of the time I was bought to Hell by Dean because I was unconscious for most of it.

When Lukas said that I should go along with him to Underworld, I had no idea that Lord Yama will be joining us. He was invited to the Ball. I tried to read or find any articles about the mentions of Annual Ball. Unfortunately, all I could see where invitations sent to Lukas from different Hell.

Leo was able to attend a few of them with Lukas, so he told me about what goes on. They hold various contests and games to bring harmony and develop friendship among Kings and Queens. The duration of the Ball usually depends on the host, but mostly it is around one week.

Hearing all those things made me excited because I was going to encounter all kinds of demons. If there anything like Yama or Lukas, then I had nothing to fear. Also, it reminded me that the Chinese demon would also be there. Li Changying. She would try to ruin my mood with some stupid bull shit, but I decided to steer clear of her.

Lukas tightened his grip on my hand and whispered in my ear, "It won't hurt. All we have to do is walk through the tunnel."

I bobbed my head even though my nerves were all over the place. It was my first time saying something like that. If someone had told me that the demons travel through a portal like it's a train station, I would have laughed on their faces. It's just to systematic and organised for someone like them.

Yama chuckled, "Don't worry, you won't find any ugly creatures in there."

Lukas rolled his eyes.

"I'm just telling the truth! The tunnels on earth are filthy and house rats."

I suppressed my smile at the disgusted look on his face. From the limited interactions I had with the lord, I knew that he despised a few things about earth and was vocal about it. It was amusing to me because most of the people on earth don't even care about those things.

"Let's just go" Lukas breathed as he urged me to step beside him. I refused to leave his hand, no matter what.

"Talia" Yama breathed, forwarding his hand towards me.

I raised my eyebrow in my direction. It was sweet that he noticed I was terrified, but he was still a stranger to me. Besides, I was comfortable holding onto Lukas than him.

"Uhh...I'm fine. Thank you"

Lukas chuckled, shaking his head, "Cara you have to hold onto him so that you can pass the tunnel. It's difficult for a mortal to get through one without guidance."

I felt my cheeks redden at that and simply placed my hand in his. The tunnel was silver in colour, but as soon as Lord Yama stepped into the block, it shone. My eyes squinted at the sudden brightness.

"It's okay. Just walk" I heard someone mutter, but it was unclear with the sudden light and wind.

I had my eyes closed the entire time we walked through it, just holding onto the both of them.

"You can open your eyes. We are safe" Lukas mumbled, his voice breathy.

I turned around only to notice that the tunnel was silver again. With that, I left Yama's hand and shifted towards Lukas. He wrapped his arm around my waist, and I didn't protest, hiding my face in his chest.

Yama quirked his brow, "That's strange. It never happened before."

Lukas hummed, "Maybe because of our combined power?"

"But we travelled through tunnels together before, but this never happened."

I raised my eyebrow at that. How did it happen then? It was so sudden and blinding that I could not focus on anything but getting past it. There was a sudden surge of energy I could feel brushing past me.

Lukas stared at my stomach, "Could it be because of our child?"

Yama flicked his eyes towards my stomach, and I unconsciously felt my cheeks hot. It was always overwhelming when people stared at my stomach for too long.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. It totally might be!"

Lukas sighed, "I was worried over nothing."

"Your child is going to be quite powerful" Yama laughed patting at Lukas back.

My stomach was in knots at that. Sometimes it was nice to know that I was giving birth to someone significant. But also it terrified me that the child was going to have immense power and no one to look after him. Maybe it was just me being overdramatic, but it always haunted me.

Lukas proudly smiled and gripped at my waist as if to assure me.

***

Underworld was beyond my expectations. I thought it would be darkness everywhere and gloomy scenes with Greek antiquities everywhere. But it was different.

The whole place was lighted up, busting with people everywhere or maybe they were demons I couldn't tell the difference. In the centre was a huge mansion just like one in Hell and surrounding the palace were small stalls and the usual residences.

"Is this it?" I nudged at Lukas as we stepped towards the mansion.

He hummed, "Yes. This is the main entrance for us."

"There are other ways to enter?"

Calmly Lukas nodded his head,"Just like our place back home even Underworld has locals. They have separate entries for them."

I hid my smile at his words. He referred to the mansion in Hell as our home, which strangely made my stomach flutter. Home.

"Wow"

Yama turned towards me, "You're very curious, Miss Talia."

I pressed my lips together, my cheeks flushing at his comment. I was indeed asking too many questions since the moment we stepped in Underworld. But I wanted to know as much as possible because it was all new to me.

"As she should Yama. This is all new to her after all" Lukas defended.

I stared at him for a few seconds, my eyes wide. Did he just defend me? That was new. Whatever it was, I was enjoying the new side of him. After the meltdown I had, he was very open about all the questions I had. Maybe he understood my point of view.

Yama nodded his head, "True true! She needs to know all these things, after all."

Lukas hummed as we were welcomed inside. Two of them stood at the entrance with garlands in their hands. As soon as we stepped near the door, they sprinkled rose-scented water and put the wreaths over us.

Yama rolled his eyes, "Hades is surely overcompensating for forgetting about the Ball."

"Give him a break!" Lukas scoffed.

I smiled at the guards, but they were cold and curt, not even blinking their eyes in our way. Lukas tugged me inside. That's when I noticed the couple. They were difficult to miss with the way they held themselves.

Lukas leaned in and breathed in my ear, "They are Hades and his mate, Persephone."

I felt my breath hitch. Even though I guessed it but knowing it was true made it feel real. Hades was clad in all-white suit with a rose on his lapel. I was expecting him to have a long white beard, but he looked youthful with his brunette hair slicked back and clean-shaven face. Persephone, on the other hand, was breathtaking with her white lace gown and her long blonde hair parted in one side.

"Ahh, Lukas!" Hades cried out, wrapping his arms around Lukas and tugging him closer.

"It's been so long, my friend!"

Lukas sighed, "Well if you did pick your phone once in a while."

"Sorry I was busy with this stupid Ball thing" Hades muttered pulling away when Persephone swatted at his arm.

"Agapi mou, we have guests."

Her accent was thick precisely like I thought. Hades snickered but fondly nodded his head and moved to embrace Yama. I stood by on the side when Persephone neared me with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, polýtimos! Is this your mate King Lukas?"

I blushed at the sudden eyes of the couple on me. Persephone held my hand and breathed deeply when her eyes fell on my stomach. I should have known that it was impossible to hide my pregnancy with these god-like demons.

"You're expecting?"

Lukas hummed, "I thought everyone might have known it by now. Yama sure did!"

Hades snickered, nudging at Yama, "Yeah well are we surprised about that? He always knows all the gossip."

"I do not!" Yama gasped, shaking his head, offended at the implication.

Persephone turned towards me, "You'll get used to them and learn to ignore one day. Let's go I will show you the room."

"She's so rude, how do you keep up with her?" Yama scowled staring at Persephone, but Hades simply rolled his eyes. From the looks of it, they seemed used to his banter. Lukas stood with them as I followed Persephone.

"You and Lukas can stay on the first floor. I had no idea that you were pregnant mou. If I had known I would have arranged something on the ground floor."

Umm, what? Was I going to share a room with Lukas?

"Do I have to share my room with Lukas?"

Persephone raised her eyebrows, "You two are mates, no?"

"Yes"

"And you are expecting a child together. What is the problem?"

***