CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO

—HADES

The morphing of her features is like a twisted nightmare, her face contorting into a grotesque mask of hatred and disdain. Her screams pierce my eardrums, a cacophony of torment that echoes through my mind. The darkness closes in around me, suffocating me, making it hard to breathe.

I want to escape, to flee this place, to get away from her toxic presence. But I'm trapped, pinned down by her grip, her fingers digging deep into my flesh like talons. The pain is excruciating, but it's nothing compared to the emotional agony she's inflicting on me.

"You're not good enough," she hisses, her voice a venomous whisper in my ear. "You're a mistake. You're worse than mortals." Her words are a relentless drumbeat, eroding my self-worth, and making me feel like I'm nothing.

The poison coursing through my body is a burning fire, a searing agony that threatens to consume me. I try to remain calm, to focus on my breathing, but it's hard to think straight when my mind is being torn apart by