V. Shattered

”I know, I know, look can we talk about this later?” He stared at some paperwork on his table. “Well because I have better things to do. I have a new starter. I don't have time for this. Okay. Bye, bye.'” He hung up the phone and exhaled annoyed. 'Welcome Miss Lockwood. Thank you Sylver for helping her find her way. I will give Toru a call and let him know you are on your way.'

”Thank you, sir.” He smiled and turned to me one last time. “It was nice to meet you Miss Lockwood.” He shook my hand again and walked out of the office.

'”You're an hour early. Your uncle did tell me you were eager to learn. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to send you any directions to my office, it completely fell out of my head.” He got up from his seat and walked over to me. “You can set your things down here. I will get you a log in for the computer and get your laptop calibrated to our server.” He opened the chair for me, and I sat down. I took out my laptop and handed it to him and he placed it on his desk. “Were you able to look through the file I gave you?'”

”Yes sir. I have them right here. I found all the mistakes in the system and wrote my answers at the back of the page. I didn't get a chance to get myself an entrance card, due to nobody believing that I will be working with you.” I chuckled and he stared at me concerned.

”No worries, I will take care of it.” He walked over to his desk and picked up some papers. 'I need you to sign this form.'

”What is it?”

”Underworld is a dangerous place for a human. This is just to say that you will not leave the premises without an escort or unannounced. I promised your uncle I would take care of you, so I intend to keep that promise.” He smiled, but his face was very serious.

”Okay.” I signed the document and he took it back to his desk.

”I will get you a temporary log in for now and here's a phone so you can reach me if you need anything.” He handed me a phone, that looked to be a little bit more advanced than an iPhone and handed me a piece of paper with my log in details. Hayden walked back to his table and sat down. I began to log on and the computer began to start up, but a weird sound was echoing, and the screen went completely blank. Assuming that this was normal I proceeded to wait for it to load.

Suddenly I could smell something burning and I turned to Hayden, but too afraid to say anything, I waited for another second, before looking over to him again. This time I caught his attention and he looked over to me just in time. An explosion echoed through my ears and I felt somebody carry me away from all the smoke and shattered glass. Dust filled the room and my computer was alight like a firework. Men busted through the door, putting out the fire with extinguishers.

”Miss Lockwood? Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Hayden stood in front of me, shadowing my view of the fire.

”I'm okay.'” I said as my heart was inside my throat and I could barely breathe through the smoke. I tried to make out what happened, but I could only remember pieces. Hayden walked over to the men putting the fire out and talked to them for a second, before returning to me.

”You're bleeding.” He calmly said pulling up a chair for me to sit down and getting down on one knee in front of me. I looked down to my ripped skirt and a thick line of blood had made down my leg. I lifted my torn skirt, revealing a piece of glass wedged in my skin. I exhaled a deep breath and looked away. “Does it hurt?” Hayden asked and I shook my head, looking at him. He placed one of his hands on the side of my thigh, pulling my leg closer to him and I could barely catch my breath as my chest filled with cold air. Shivers ran down my spine as his hands ran across my leg. “I'm going to pull it out on three. Take a deep breath and hold on to the edge of the seat.” I nodded and took a deep breath, holding onto the edge of the seat. “One, two, three...”

”Ouch!” He pulled the glass from my leg and it immediately began to bleed even more. The pain ran through my body like a bullet, but I refrained from crying. He placed his hand over my cut and held it there for a moment. I felt something soft brush against my skin and as he lifted his hand my cut was completely gone with a light scar left and blood running down my leg.

”Much better.” He smiled and walked over to the bathroom, coming out with a wet towel and handing it to me.

”Thank you.” I stared at him as he nodded like it was nothing and walked over to see if the fire had been put out.

I could see several figures outside of the office, waiting to see what happened. Suddenly a slender girl with long, red hair ran through the door and hugged Hayden.

”Are you okay? What happened?” She seemed eagerly clingy and Hayden pulled her hands off himself and quietly explained what happened, before asking her to leave and take everyone else with her. She nodded and walked past me with a stern look, taking everybody else with her.

”Perhaps you should return to you room for today and get some rest. I apologise and I assure you that I will find who's responsible for such a cruel joke.” He looked angry. If that is their way of greeting me to the Underworld, I wonder what else is waiting for me. I couldn't possible cop out of my first day working with King of the Underworld, when I am no longer hurt.

”I am okay to continue sir. You've taken care of my leg, so there is no reason for me not to continue.” I smiled, but he shook his head annoyed.

”You don't have to do that. I know everyone have already warned you that I am a heartless workaholic, but I know that humans handle pain differently, with which comes shock and exhaustion. I won't think any less of your or your work if you go back to your room and rest.” I stood up ready to prove myself.

”I assure you that I am okay to continue sir.” I smiled and he nodded agreeing with my decision.

”Well you still need to go back to change, your skirt is torn.”

”Oh, that's okay.” I smiled and walked over to his table, taking a pin and pining my skirt together. “It will do for today.” I smiled as Hayden stared at me impressed

”If you say so Miss Lockwood.” He smiled and walked over to his table picking up my laptop and taking his out of a draw and walking us out of the dirty, dusty room. He led us both into the Underworld office and sat me down at a table with my laptop. He picked a flash drive from his pocket and stuck it into my laptop.

”Should be ready to go.” He sat down at his table with his laptop and continued to work, like nothing had happened. I opened the laptop, allowing it to start up as I looked around. The room looked like a normal office, but I couldn't help and imagine the number of Gods that had sat in those chairs over the century's and I was sitting there with the God of the Underworld. Me. Little tiny human.