Sixteen

I took a deep breath, trying to pluck up the courage. You can do it. It's only one conversation—one measly conversation. I exhaled, pushing open the door. There was a gasp from inside. "Calantha? Is that you, darlin'?"

I smiled, avoiding her eyes. "It's me, Blodwen."

My ex-boss engulfed me in a hug. "Where've ye been? You had me worried sick, darlin'! I thought you was missin'!"

"In a way, I guess I was. I, I needed to get away for a while. My mental health wasn't exactly stable last summer. I'm sorry that I left without telling you."

"Oh, darlin', don't be sorry!"

"I was wondering, um, is there any chance I could have my job back? I completely understand if you don't think I'm trustworthy anymore."

"Nonsense! 'Course ye can keep workin' here! We're in small-town Mississippi! Nobody not nobody is fixin' to be a florist!"

I grinned—my shoulders relaxing in relief. "Thank you so much, Blodwen. I promise nothing like... that will ever happen again."

"'Course, dear. Just, if your mental-health ever gets that bad again, promise me you'll go an' see a shrink or somethin'?"

"I do, and I will. Thank you."

She wrapped me in a hug for a second time. For the first time in a few days, I appreciated the touching. "When can ye start?"

"I'll come in first thing tomorrow."

I reached up to scratch my nose. Blodwen gasped. "Darlin', is that a wedding ring?"

I smiled, showing her the pink opal. "It is. My husband was part of the reason why I am okay."

"Who's the lucky fella?"

"Do you remember a man named Aidon? He moved here last summer for a brief moment. I followed him once he moved."

"Well, I'm happy for ye, and I wish you two many blissful years."

As assured, at six the next day, I strolled into the shop, ready for the joys of retail. There was a steady stream of people, but Blodwen refused to let me handle the register, saying that rude customers aren't beneficial to me. She had me in the back, watering the plants.

But I took my break up in the front, where there was a section of chairs for me to sit. As I neared the end of my break, a woman came in. Blodwen ducked into the back just as the customer drifted to the register.

I decided to forgo the three minutes left and help her. "Hi," I said, pasting on a smile. "I can help you if you're ready."

"Uh, yeah. I recently moved into town. I wonder if you have any flower suggestions or something to spruce up my house?"

I sucked in a breath as the memory crossed my mind:

"Since your mother is not here to intervene, I want to ask you again. Will you come over for dinner?"

"W-what?"

"I want you to have dinner with me. Will you?"

"Um, um..."

"It is okay. I get it—you do not want to. Thank you for the flowers, anyway."

"Wait! I, um, I would love to. When?"

"Excuse me!" the lady shrieked, snapping a finger in front of my face. "I asked you a question!"

"So-so sorry about that, ma'am. If you would come with me, I-I can show you some lovely daffodils or pansies that enjoy full sunlight. Or some bloodroot that likes shade."

She harrumphed, and I heard her murmur, "Bratty teen. Needs to stay in school instead of dropping out and getting herself married."

I didn't let my smile slip, and I brushed off her comment.

After a week of being home, the sense of normalcy finally started to set in. Although I still couldn't look at Hades' old house or my mother, I no longer wished to fling myself off of a bridge. I finally started to realize that I wasn't returning.

On the seventh day of being topside, a man visited my flower shop. He gave off creepy vibes with his lingering stare and posture, and the man never got anything. But I knew Blodwen would intervene if anything happens. So, I simply tried my best to avoid him.

But then he approached me after a few days of not buying anything. "Hi, um..." he stared at my chest, reading my name tag. I stopped myself from shuddering as his stare lingered a second too long. "Hi, Calantha, I was wondering if you guys do flower deliveries?"

I forced myself to smile. "We do, in fact! Were you looking to make one?"

"I am."

"Great! Follow me!"

I ignored the stare at my backside. I led the man to our catalog and let him leaf through it. As he flipped through the pages, Blodwen came to relieve me for my fifteen-minute break. The customer's stare followed me.

I have a bad feeling about this man.

As I walked home, I watched a car drive by me. I stopped short. Was that the man from the shop? No, it can't be. He left hours ago. I shook my head and continued walking. Tomorrow, I am taking my car without a doubt.

In the morning, I awoke to my doorbell ringing. I glanced at my alarm clock and rolled my eyes. I don't have to be up for another hour. I stumbled out of bed and padded downstairs to answer it. But no one was there. Instead, a bouquet of dark, carmine roses lay on my doorstep.

What? Who gave me these? Hades?

I lifted the bouquet and brought them inside my house. A piece of cardstock fluttered to the floor. I placed the seven roses in water and read the letter:

'Hello, Beautiful,

I hope these roses put a smile on your doll-like face. Although these roses will never be as gorgeous as you, they remind me of you. I hope one day that I can make your body turn that color as you cry out from ecstasy.'

I froze with the note in my hand. There wasn't a letterhead or a name of a sender. And the letter seemed to be physically written instead of typed. Doll-like face? I hope one day that I can make your body turn that color? If this is some form of a joke, it's not funny. Surely, Hades didn't send this? This note isn't like him at all. But who else would know my address?

I looked back at the roses. Why seven of them? Usually, people order a dozen or half-dozen—not an odd number.

This whole ordeal is too weird. I ran a hand through my hair with a sigh. I need a hot shower—that will help. And it did. The steam felt good on my skin. Blodwen had a suspiciously cheery smile on her face as I walked in later that day. She looked at me before averting her gaze, her smile growing. "Is there something you want to tell me?" I asked with mock seriousness.

"Nothin'," she said. "It's nothin'."

"Tell me."

"You've got a secret admirer."

The roses. "Who is it?"

"They swore me to secrecy."

"And you gave them my address for the roses?"

"'Course not. They already had it. Isn't it romantic?"

Yeah, sure. A stranger that knows my address is super romantic. "Oh, yeah. I love a good mystery."

At first, I thought the man that never buys anything wasn't going to come in today. He purchased something yesterday—why would he come in today? But I was wrong. With about a half an hour left in my shift, the bell jingled, and he stepped inside the shop.

"Good evening," Blodwen said, stepping forward to help him. "Back so soon?"

"Uh, yeah," he responded, his eyes sweeping the store. "I need to make a second delivery."

His eyes met mine, and a smile spread over his face. But it wasn't an attractive one. It was a smile that reminded me of a cat closing in on a canary.

"Of course," Blodwen continued, oblivious to my discomfort.

Since Blodwen had the man taken care of, I slipped into the back room. I'll even take pruning in order to get rid of that man's stare.

Why did that guy come in again? Why does he need two bouquets? Is it for a party or something? I would've noticed a large order.

My pen clattered to the floor, breaking me out of my thoughts. Right, I need to get back to work. I bent over and picked up the pen. As I stood back up, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I swayed where I stood, black dots scrambling over my vision.

I stumbled backward, catching myself on a table. I stood there for a second, blinking and panting. The pounding in my head and the spots slowly started to vanish. Woah. What was that? That's never happened before now.

Maybe I just need to take it easy.

After ten minutes, I walked back out, hoping Mr. Creepy left. To my luck, he had. "What's that man's name?" I asked.

"Who?"

"The man that was in here last."

"Why?"

Because to call him 'Mr. Creepy' is rude. "I don't know. It would be nice to be able to greet him, I guess."

"His name is Cameron."

In the morning, I woke up with a pounding headache and a sore throat. Damn, I must have caught something. Could this be the sickness Hades mentioned? No, this is just a cold. As I was making breakfast, the doorbell rang again.

Just as I expected, seven pristine roses sat on my step.

I read the note attached:

'Hello, Beautiful,

These roses preen just as prettily as you do, delicate and soft.

I can only imagine you watering these: bending over to pour the water, showing off that delicious ass, your breasts pressing against your shirt, bursting to be free. I long to make your body glisten like these petals.'

As soon as my eyes finished taking in the letter, nausea took hold of my stomach. I ran to my bathroom just in time to puke last night's dinner. Let's play a game: was that from the disgusting note or my sickness?

Either way, that note is absurd. I think I need to take a shower after reading that.

I sat there for a few minutes before I deemed myself well enough. I got ready—my movements sluggish and slow. I didn't want to disturb the peace in my stomach. I went to grab an anti-nausea pill when I froze.

I couldn't be... could I?

When was the last time...?

No, no, that's impossible. I got mine three weeks ago. I am just not due for another week—that's all.

I pondered who my secret admirer could be as I walked to work. Definitely not Hades—it's not his style. Then it hit me. Could it be Cameron? The deliveries add up with his appearances, but how did he get my address?

I dreaded Cameron's arrival. I knew I should ask him about the flowers, but did I want to talk to him? Of course not.

But then he showed up. I straightened my spine. Go and talk to him. Explain that the notes are creepy and gross. Everything will be fine.

I approached Cameron the minute Blodwen slipped away. He looked up as I moved closer. "Hi, Callie."

Callie? No one has ever called me that. I'm not sure whether I like it or not.

"Hi," I said. "I have a question for you."

"I do, too. Come to dinner with me?"

My fake smile almost slipped. I fiddled with my ring. "Oh, I'm sorry—I'm married."

His expression darkened, and something flashed in his ebony eyes. I took a small step back from him. The bracelet tinkled as I moved, drawing my attention to it. "You're married?" he asked, his voice low.

I looked back at Cameron. "Yes."

At his sides, his fists clenched, turning his knuckles white. I took another step. "Oh. Okay, then."

He spun on his heel and stomped out of the shop. He had the page for rose deliveries open. I guess he is my secret admirer, after all. I took a shaky breath. Man, he's terrifying when he's angry.

"Calantha?" Blodwen called. "Did Cameron leave? I was grabbin' somethin' for him."

"Uh, yeah—Cameron left. He asked me to dinner. When I told him that I'm married, he stormed out of here."

"Huh. Weird."

I hoped that I would never see him in the store again—him and his creepiness.

But I did.

As I locked the door to the shop, footsteps sounded behind me. My heart raced in my chest, but I tried to slow it. It's okay—it's just another person on an evening stroll. But the darkness didn't help my fear. Oddly, the bracelet on my wrist warmed as I grew panicked—as if it was attempting to soothe me.

I got about a block from the store when someone grabbed me from behind. A hand clamped over my mouth before I could scream. They dragged me into an alley. The rough brick pressed into my back. Cameron's dark eyes glared at me.

"Stupid bitch," he spat, pushing me further into the wall. "You think leading me on was all fun and games to you, huh?"

I whimpered in pain. Oh, God, he's going to kill me. And I was okay with it happening—Hades will welcome me back with open arms.

But, damn. You can't kill a god.

He continued talking, "Always teasing me with those tight uniforms, begging me to rip it off of you."

A hand found my breast, and he squeezed it painfully. I shoved against his chest, desperately trying to get him off of me. Cameron can't kill me, but he can rape me.

"If you won't be mine, I'll just have to be a little bit more forceful. But don't worry, baby, by the time I'm through, you'll never go back to your loser husband. I'll show you what real loving is like."

I glanced at the opening to the alley, praying someone would walk by and come to help. But I am alone.

I bit into his finger as hard as I could. He released me with a hiss. I made a run for it, sprinting for the sidewalk. But I was too slow. He yanked me back by my hair and slammed me into the wall. Pain exploded through my skull, and everything turned fuzzy. I crumpled to the grimy cement as my vision started to fade.

At this point, my bracelet was like a mini sun, pulsing heat through me.

"Well, this is interesting," a voice growled. A person stood at the mouth of the alley—a person that I knew. But that's not possible. Hades isn't here; my mind is playing tricks on me.

"This isn't any of your business," Cameron responded. "Back off."

"On the contrary. I do believe whatever you are to do is precisely my business."

Wait... is Hades honestly here? I tried to sit up, but the dizziness kept me on the floor. I wanted desperately to stand, to embrace my husband, but the world faded to black—the heat still pulsating.