From the Firey Depths

Chapter 10

Allana's POV

I jolted awake with the sensation of the room shaking violently. For a moment, I thought it was an earthquake until I realized it was Maleficent, shaking me awake with an almost frantic urgency. My eyes fluttered open, heavy with sleep, and I blinked at her, a mix of annoyance and confusion clouding my mind. What could possibly be so urgent that she'd disrupt my rest so rudely?

As if reading my thoughts, Maleficent rolled her eyes dramatically and let out a huff of exasperation. "I know I made a big deal about Hades and me last night, and it might seem odd this morning," she said, her voice dripping with irritation, "but he usually comes by to walk me to my first class. So if you're not up on time, it's kind of a problem."

I rubbed my eyes groggily, trying to piece together her words. Her dynamic with Hades was baffling. I understood she wanted the whole friends-with-benefits arrangement with a god who clearly knew how to please... well, in every sense. But their interactions seemed oddly intimate for a casual fling. If they didn't want rumors flying around, wouldn't it make sense to tone down their couple-like behavior? Yet, I reminded myself, I wasn't here to untangle their complicated relationship.

"Alright, cool," I shrugged, "I'm going back to bed then." I reached for my covers, only to have them yanked away by an unseen force. I looked over at Maleficent, her eyes glowing an eerie, intense green, her smirk widening with a mischievous glint.

With a snap of her fingers, her magic wrapped around one of my ankles and yanked me to the floor with a loud thud. I stared up at her from the cold, hard ground, bewildered and outraged. "What the hell was that for?" I yelled, throwing my arms up in frustration.

Maleficent's gaze was icy as she looked me up and down with a sneer. "You're a mess. You slept in your clothes from yesterday." Her tone was laced with disdain. "I refuse to have Hades come in here thinking I have a peasant as a roommate." I was about to shoot back a retort when she silenced me with a raised finger.

"The bathroom is through that door on the left. Take a shower now." Maleficent's tone was icy and commanding, leaving no room for debate. Her gaze bore into me, and I knew better than to challenge it. Without a word, I scrambled to my feet, making a hasty retreat to the bathroom.

Once inside, I quickly stripped off my clothes, tossing them carelessly to the floor. The instant I stepped under the scalding spray of the shower, I couldn't hold in the sigh of relief that escaped me. The steam rose in thick, swirling tendrils, enveloping me as the hot water pounded against my skin. Every drop seemed to melt away the tension that had begun to knot in my muscles, the heat seeping deep into my bones. I stood there for what felt like an eternity, letting the water cascade over me, hoping it would wash away the exhaustion and the weight of everything I was carrying. Today was bound to be another grueling day, and I needed every ounce of strength I could muster.

Finally, with much reluctance, I shut off the water and reached for a towel. Wrapping it around myself, I stepped out of the shower, my dark hair hanging in wet strands that dripped onto the cold tiles. But as I glanced around for my clothes—my only possessions in this timeline—a sudden realization hit me. They were gone.

Frustration flared, quickly morphing into anger that burned through me as quickly as it came. I stormed over to the bathroom door, gripping the handle with enough force to make the metal groan, and yanked it open. The door slammed against the wall with a resounding crash, the noise echoing in the small space. My power surged in response to my fury, wrapping around me like a fiery aura, my eyes glowing a fierce red as I stepped out. "Maleficent! Where are my clothes?" I demanded, clutching the too-short towel tightly around me, trying to hold onto some shred of dignity.