10. Pyro

I want to chase after Hades, not stand here and chit chat with her ex. He and Drevi grunt a few words back and forth, but it isn't a deep conversation.

"So, Lainie said that you are the four horsemen, when are you bringing the apocalypse?" Seph jokes.

"It's not time yet," I reply with a solemn face.

"Oh, well, which horseman are you?"

"Does it matter?" I ask.

"You must be famine or pestilence," Seph states. "No one really knows their names, so I can see why you are bitter."

"I'm not ashamed of which horseman I am. My powers are gory and painful like my brothers. I've had people fear me and beg for their life as they writhe in agony when I kill them from the inside out. Just because I'm lesser-known, doesn't make me less powerful. Would you care to see?" I smirk, raising my hands towards him.

Fear washes over his face as I take a step towards him. Before I reach him, he raises an arm to point behind me. "Oh, the ladies are back so soon, too bad, we were just getting to know each other."

Drevi and I chuckle.

My brother pushes past me and holds out a hand to Hades. "Are we ready, my love? Frank is probably shitting bricks waiting for our return."

"Shitting bricks? How can he do that?" She adjusts her hold on the chains that have the souls bound.

Laughing, Drevi replies, "Not literally, but he likes it all to be perfect before the guests arrive.

"What is that monstrous thing Lainie is carrying?" I pipe in to ask.

"If you insult it again, you'll be wearing it," Hades scolds me. "It was a gift from my brothers; Halloween seems the perfect time to wear it. Here, handle these, and we will be on our way."

She hands the chains over but doesn't let loose until I have a firm grip on them. Drevi takes the dress out of Lainie's hands and nods to Hades.

Winking at Lainie, Hades reminds her, "Don't forget to start the task I have left you." Without warning, she snaps and we are back in the courtyard.

"Pyro, tie the souls around the fence posts. None too close together but keep them from the food and drink areas," Hades commands me.

"Whatever my pretty lady wants, but why away from the food?" I ask.

"It has been many centuries since they have seen food or drink. Without a body, they can't consume it, but they can make one hell of a mess."

"Oh, makes sense," I reply, removing one of the chains from my wrist and tying it around the post .

"Drevi and I are going to head up to the loft and get ready for tonight. Unless you need more instructions?" she asks.

"Nope, just four more to tie up, and I'll be up there."

"I could've sworn there were six souls, I'll text Lainie on the way up to the apartment," Hades mumbles.

I watch as they walk off hand-in-hand, Drevi overshadowed by the dress he is carrying in the other.

The souls just simply mill around, that is, until I get to the last one. It's a female, maybe in her twenties, and she is fighting for all she's worth to break out of her chains. She is screaming something at me, but no sound comes from her ruby-red lips.

"What is your problem? You aren't staying here, it's just for the night. Once the party is over, I'll personally see that Hades gets you back to the Underworld," I tell her, hoping that my promise may calm her.

But it does just the opposite of that and she thrashes harder.

"Gonna have to tell Hades about you," I tell her. Her green eyes widen with fear, and she stops pulling on the chains.

"Interesting. I'll see you all tonight at the party," I say with a little wave and head back inside.

Passing by the pool, some of the female guests call out to me to join them. I give them a little smile and wave but keep on walking. Not that long ago, I would have shrugged out of my shirt and jumped in without a second thought. But Hades changed all of that when she walked into our lives.

When I open the door to the casino floor, the cool air hits my face, and for the first time, I realize how sweaty I am. I wonder if I can talk Hades into joining me in the shower? A smirk pulls at my lips at that thought .

"Pyro, baby, there you are," a familiar, whiny voice says. Fuck, Chelsea is here.

"Not your baby, what are you doing here?" I ask in a neutral tone.

"You think just because you said we were over, I'm not going to come to the biggest party in Vegas?" she retorts. "By the end of the night, you'll be moaning my name once more."

I have to stifle my laugh. "Doubtful, but I hope you enjoy the party and find a man with a heart as cold as yours and move on with your life."

The stunned look on her face is the reaction I had hoped for; I push past her and towards the elevator. There is an older couple standing in it, waiting for the doors to close and take them to their rooms. I hop in and hit the close button and we are off.

"Floor twelve?" I ask. The gentleman nods, answering my question. "Are you two having a good time at the casino?"

"It is a lovely place, perhaps a little loud for us older people. But all in all, we are enjoying our stay."

"That's great to hear; how about a couple of drink certificates to the cabana by the pool? My treat." I smile and hold out the little blue strips of paper I carry for times like these. I used to keep them for all the hot women I hit on, but I've come more to my senses now.

"Isn't that kind of you, what can we do to repay you?" the older woman asks.

"It's my pleasure, my brothers and I started this place so all that came would enjoy it. So, if this makes your stay a little more pleasurable, I'm glad to help." I smile as the elevator dings, and the doors slide open to their floor.

"Thank you, young man, we need more people like you in this crazy world." The gentleman helps his wife out of the elevator.

That would be Hades and I, if only we aged , I muse.

As the doors close, I hear a blood-curdling scream.