The Loop

Angel awoke to sun pouring through her window. She stretched herself out like a cat and smiled at her alarm clock singing Coldplay's Hymn for the weekend. She jumped out of bed and started dancing around her room, singing loudly. Her 18th birthday fell on a Saturday and it just so happened her parents were out of town on business.

She rushed into her closet and threw on a comfy t-shirt and shorts. She lightly perused her clothes, knowing she'd need to find something to wear later. She'd spent two excited days planning with her BFF CeeCee to go to the graduation party of her high school's quarterback, Shawn. CeeCee had been invited because she fell in with the popular crowd  and Angel was her plus one.

The girls made a bet to see which one would get a guy to bed first, if at all. They'd made plenty of bets before but never one involving sex. CeeCee hadn't been a virgin since sophomore year with her first real boyfriend. And Angel had secretly been waiting for the perfect lovable bad boy to come along, someone right out of her favorite movies, but it never happened. She'd met lots of bad boys...none of them lovable.

As it stood, she hadn't given much thought to how she would successfully wrangle in the golden-haired jock but boys seemed easy enough to manipulate, especially ones she didn't like. He gave sexy athlete, panty-dropping vibes and he seemed as good as any. Her classmates would probably think she was reaching above her station but Angel was confident in herself. And she knew the glaring truth that every other girl seemed to forget, high school boys are always thinking about sex, not turning it down.

She'd always preferred a dark knight of sorts. Some brooding bad boy with a heart of gold, only for her. Someone who was ruthless but gentle and possessive yet loving. But those were fantasies and there didn't seem to be any movie characters walking the halls of her high school. Shawn wasn't exactly what she imagined for a first time but it was good enough. She'd held onto her stupid v-card through the whole damn high school experience and it hadn't done her any good. No boyfriends, no flirting, no sexting, nothing, while she waited for the Mr. perfect badass that never came. Her in-school life had been dry as a bone. She felt ready, ready to see what all the hype was about, ready to grow the fuck up, ready to let the obsessions of her childhood die. The least she could do was choose a guy with some experience.

Her phone rang. It was CeeCee.

"I'm outside bitch let me in!" she squealed on the other end of the phone as the doorbell rang. After Angel let her in, they gushed over who was going to be in attendance and re-hashed their game plan which pretty much revolved around finding a way to get their choices alone. Angel's competitive edge always got her into trouble. It made her fearless and reckless which CeeCee always chided her about.

When they'd sneak out to frat parties or the glittery eastside club on the weekend, Angel would regrettably get herself caught up in some wager. Those guys always wanted something from her and Angel sensed it wasn't always sex. It seemed like the more she showed them up, the more they wanted to crush her. Or control her. Sometimes it was a game of pool, or beer pong, sometimes it was just a drinking game. Either way, if a challenge was offered, Angel took it as a personal mission to win, no matter the costs. CeeCee called it a character flaw, Angel called it integrity.

"Ohmygod but if you really rope Shawn I'm going to die," CeeCee swore, "I still think you should go for the shy, innocent approach! He seems like the hero complex type. Haven't you learned yet that guys hate it when you're strong-willed?!"

She didn't wait for Angel to reply before continuing, "Ohmygosh I wish I could see her face when that bitch Jennifer finds out?!" She hated Shawn's girlfriend with a passion because she was a bitch to everybody and because she stole CeeCee's spot on the cheerleading team. At the idea of Jennifer finding out about Angel and Shawn hooking up, her BFFs face smirked deviously.

"I just don't know how you're gonna get his attention. He doesn't even know you exist. No one does," CeeCee rambled, gritting her teeth like she was sorry she'd said it. It was true though. Angel kept an extremely low profile at school which CeeCee just couldn't understand compared to the sexy, wild child she saw outside of school. Angel was reckless but not stupid, she couldn't risk anything getting back to her parents. She kept her real self a secret to everyone but CeeCee. Choosing to be a badass on the weekends when they went elsewhere.

"First of all, I'm nobody's shy and innocent type. At school I may seem quiet, but you know better," Angel insisted, "I just don't find school interesting. That doesn't mean I'm a wallflower. Besides, I'm going to be fucking hot tonight. I've got a good feeling and I hardly ever lose a bet!"

"That's right bestie get him eating out of your hands! You have to tell me everything afterwards though. I bet it's big!," they were both laughing on the floor of Angel's room. The girls rambled about outfit picks as CeeCee pulled a few dresses out of her duffle bag and spread them across Angel's bed. Angel, on the other hand, felt empowered in the brand-new dark green crop-top she tried on. It had a low center cut that made a "v" between her breasts and she dressed it down with low-rise distressed jeans and strappy wedges. The shirt showed off every inch of her double-d's, giving her some serious cleavage. The jeans hugged her hips and curved a perfect peach shape from behind. She'd make jaws drop at the party compared to her usual baggy t-shirt and sweats. Might as well wrap up my high school career with a bang, she smiled as she thought to herself. She chose a thin chain necklace to slip down between her breasts and around her waist.

After she picked out her outfit, Angel checked her social media for all the b-day shout outs and looked through the college mail her mom placed on her desk. She hadn't decided where to go in the fall, but she still had a month or two to decide. Angel's stomach grumbled and she almost ate the granola bar on her desk before a loud NO interrupted her thoughts. She wasn't supposed to eat or drink anything. She'd almost forgotten she was in the loop. Everything felt so real. She wasn't just witnessing it; she was re-living the day herself.
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A live feed broadcasted out to the jeep where Thia, Zero and Brazz watched on the edge of their seats. She looked happy, wild, and utterly human. They'd already had two small arguments over pulling her out. Thia and Zero grew more concerned over the effect it would have. They were so anxious, Brazz's resolve started to fade as well. No one wanted to see her go from this happy girl to the empty person covered in blood from a couple weeks ago.

The live feed also streamed in Hades' office. They alerted him of their progress while in route to the house and the feed popped up on his tv shortly thereafter. He fought the urge to rescind the order. If it were any other human, any other being, he wouldn't hesitate to do what needed to be done. He couldn't let her make him weak. Regardless of his pep-talk, he felt guilty, eying the large tv. Even if she hated him, was this a bridge too far?

She looked delectable as she tried on her clothes. His eyes slid all over her shapely figure with no one else's eyes to hide from. Had he made the right decision? Part of him wanted to protect her because she clearly had an effect on him, but the old habits overpowered it. Cold. Be Cold. He needed to stay away from her and get rid of her as soon as possible. He hadn't ruled the underworld for eons by being uncertain.

That's why Persephone would make the perfect queen because he felt nothing for her. It was time for him to choose a wife to help him rule and the proper selection was crucial. He needed someone to help him temper his emotions which were increasingly becoming a problem, especially around Angel. And he needed someone to absorb some of his power. It was constantly draining him, the hungry darkness eating at his insides like a cancer. He thought of Zeus and Hera's marriage. It was loveless but it was full of respect and their separate strength only expanded as they combined. Gods couldn't have children, being born only of blood and death, so Zeus and Hera rarely consummated anything. They both had notorious lives outside of the marriage but the arrangement worked exactly as it should.

There was no risk of his rule being further compromised by Persephone. When he'd first met her as a human, he thought he saw a spark of something. She'd been challenging and unique, quick to anger but fair. He thought he loved her, back when he thought love was real, more than just a spell the love gods wielded with abandon. She'd made him weak back then and in his weakness, he turned her. During the year of her transition, he knew he'd made a mistake. She'd put on a show for him, pretending to be the things that drew him to her but the second she knew she'd become a goddess, she revealed her true self.

Under the guise, she was vapid and simple-minded, petty and cruel. It had hurt him then, making him feel lonelier than he'd ever felt, and desperate to wall his heart away. But now, she proved to be the best option for a loveless marriage. He'd already made too many missteps where Angel was concerned. He had to show everyone the truth, he would never let anyone have power over him.