A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone #1)

by Scarlett St. Clair

  “You do not believe me,” he said, suddenly able to speak without pause.

  “I’m afraid I do not know enough either way,” Persephone said, trying to remain as neutral as possible. She had the unsettling feeling that this man’s rage was to be feared. At her words, the strange, angry glint that had clouded his eyes disappeared, and he nodded.

  “You are wise,” he said.

  “I think I must go,” Persephone said.

  “Wait,” he called, as she started to move. “A bite from the fruit—please.”

  Persephone swallowed. Something told her not to do it, but she found herself plucking a plump, golden fruit from the tree. She approached the man, stretching her arms in an effort to keep a good distance from him. Tantalus strained his neck to reach the fleshy fruit.

  That was when something hard plowed into her legs from under the water. She lost her footing and was submerged. Before she could break the surface, she felt the man’s foot on her chest. Despite his suffering, he was strong and held her under the water while she writhed against him until she grew too weak to fight. The hold she had on her glamour slipped away, and she returned to her Divine form.

  When she stopped struggling, Tantalus removed his foot.

  That’s when Persephone moved.

  She came out of the water despite being nearly drowned and ran.

  “A goddess!” She heard Tantalus croon. “Come back, little goddess—I’ve been starved so long. I require a taste!”

  The bank of the grotto was slick, and she struggled to climb it, scraping her knees on the jagged rock. She didn’t notice the pain, desperate to get out of this place. When she made it to the dark exit, she slammed into a body, and hands clamped down on her shoulders.

  “No! Please—”

  “Persephone,” Hades said, pushing her back only a step.

  She froze, meeting his gaze. She couldn’t contain her relief.

  “Hades!” She threw her arms around him and sobbed. He was steady and strong and warm. One of his hands curled against her head and the other on her back.

  “Shh,” he soothed. His lips pressed into her hair, and she heard him ask, “What are you doing here?”

  Then the man’s horrible voice cut through the air.

  “Where are you, little bitch?”

  Hades went rigid and pulled her behind him.

  The god snapped his fingers and the column turned. Tantalus faced them now. He didn’t appear to be afraid that Hades had arrived. The god flung out his hand and Tantalus’ knees gave out, his arms pulled tight in his chains.

  “My goddess was kind to you.” Hades voice was cold and resonate. “And this is how you repay her?”

  Tantalus started to heave, and the water Persephone had given him spilled from his mouth. Hades took deliberate steps toward the prisoner, parting the water, creating a dry path straight to the man. Tantalus struggled to find his footing to relieve the pain in his arms, taking deep, shaky breaths that rattled in his chest.

  “You deserve to feel as I have felt—desperate and starved and alone!” Tantalus gritted out.

  Hades watched Tantalus for a moment, and in a flash, he lifted the man, holding him by the neck. Tantalus’ legs kicked back and forth—Hades laughed at his struggle.

  “How do you know I haven’t felt like that for centuries, mortal?” he asked.

  In an instant, Hades’ glamour melted away, and he stood, clothed in darkness.

  “You are an ignorant mortal. Before, I was merely your jailor—but now I shall be your punisher, and I think my judges were too merciful. I’ll curse you with an unquenchable hunger and thirst. I’ll even put you within reach of food and water—but everything you partake of will be fire in your throat.”

  With that, Hades dropped Tantalus. The chains pulled hard on his limbs, and he hit the stone hard. When he was able, he lifted his gaze to Hades and growled like an animal. Just as he started to lunge for the god, Hades snapped his fingers and Tantalus was gone.

  In the quiet, he turned to Persephone. She was unable to control her reaction. She took a step back, slipping on the slimy stone. Hades lunged forward and caught her, cradling her in his arms.

  “Persephone,” his voice was warm and low—a plea. “Please don’t fear me. Not you.”

  She stared up at him, unable to look away. He was beautiful and fierce and powerful, and he had deceived her.

  Persephone couldn’t hold in her tears. She broke, and Hades’ hold on her tightened. She buried her face in the crook of his neck. She wasn’t aware of when they teleported, and she didn’t look up to see where he’d taken her. She only knew that a fire was near. The heat did little to banish the cold raking her body, and when she didn’t stop shivering, Hades took her to the baths.

  She let him undress her and cradle her against him as they entered the water, but she wouldn’t look at him. He allowed the silence to go on for a while, until, she imagined, he couldn’t handle it any longer.

  “You are unwell,” he said. “Did he...hurt you?”

  She was quiet, and kept her eyes closed. When he leaned forward and kissed her forehead, she squeezed them tighter to keep the tears at bay.

  “Tell me,” he begged. “Please.”

  It was the word please that caused her to open her watery eyes.

  Finally, she said, “I know about Aphrodite, Hades.” His face changed. She’d never seen him look so shocked or so stricken. “I am no more than a game to you.”

  Now he looked angry. “I have never considered you a game, Persephone.”

  “The contract—”

  “This has nothing to do with the contract,” he all but snarled, releasing her. Persephone struggled to gain her footing in the water and shot back at him.

  “This has everything to do with the contract! Gods, I was so stupid! I let myself think you were good even with the possibility of being your prisoner.”

  “Prisoner? You would think yourself a prisoner here? Have I treated you so poorly?”

  “A kind jailor is still a jailor,” Persephone snapped.

  Hades face darkened. “If you considered me your warden, why did you fuck me?”

  “It was you who foretold this,” she said, her voice shaking. “And you were right—I did enjoy it and now that it’s done, we can move on.”

  “Move on?” he asked, his voice taking on a deadly edge. “Is that what you want?”

  “We both know it’s for the best.”

  “I’m beginning to think you don’t know anything,” he said. “I’m beginning to understand that you don’t even think for yourself.”

  Those words hurt.

  “How dare you—”

  “How dare I what, Persephone? Call out your bullshit? You act so powerless, but you’ve never made a damn decision for yourself. Will you let your mother determine who you fuck now?”

  “Shut up!”

  “Tell me what you want.” He cornered her, pinning her against the edge of the pool.

  She looked away, and ground her teeth so hard, her jaw hurt.

  “Tell me!”

  “Fuck you!” She snarled and jumped, twining her legs around his waist. She kissed him hard, their lips and teeth crashing together painfully, but neither of them stopped. Her fingers tangled into his hair, and she pulled hard, tipping his head back, kissing down his neck. They found themselves outside of the pool, on the marble walkway. Persephone pushed Hades onto his back and impaled herself on his shaft, taking him deep. The brutal movement of their bodies and breathing filled the baths. It was the most erotic thing she’d ever done. Hades moved between squeezing her breasts and gripping her thighs. Then rose into a sitting position, taking her nipples into his mouth. The sensation drew a guttural sound from Persephone’s mouth, and she squeezed Hades to her, moving harder and faster.

  “Yes,” Hades said between his teeth and then commanded, “Use me. Harder. Faster.”

  It was the only command she ever wanted to obey.

  They came together, an
d in the aftermath, Persephone rose from Hades, grabbed her clothes, and left the baths.

  Hades followed after her, naked.

  “Persephone,” he called. She kept walking, pulling on her clothes as she went.

  Hades cursed and finally caught up with her, pulling her into a nearby room—it was the throne room.

  She turned on him, pushing him away angrily. He didn’t move an inch, and instead caged her with his arms.

  “I want to know why,” she demanded. Persephone could feel something burning in her veins. It ignited deep in her belly and rushed through her like venom.

  He didn't speak.

  “Was I an easy target? Did you look at my soul and see someone who was desperate for love, for worship? Did you choose me because you knew I couldn't fulfill the terms of your bargain?

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  He was too calm.

  “Then tell me what it was!” she seethed.

  “Yes, Aphrodite and I have a contract, but the bargain I struck with you had nothing to do with it.” She crossed her arms, prepared to reject that statement when he said, “I offered you terms based on what I saw in your soul—a woman, caged by her own mind.”

  Persephone glared at him.

  “You are the one who called the contract impossible,” he said. “But you are powerful, Persephone.”

  “Do not mock me.” Her voice shook.

  “I would never.”

  The sincerity in his voice made her sick.

  “Liar.”

  His eyes darkened. “I am many things, but a liar I am not.”

  “Not a liar then, but a self-admitted deceiver,” she said.

  “I have only ever given you answers,” he said. “I have helped you reclaim your power and yet you haven't used it. I have given you a way to walk out from underneath your mother, and yet you will not claim it.”

  “How?” she demanded. “What did you do to help me?”

  “I worshipped you!” he yelled. “I gave you what your mother withheld—worshippers.”

  Persephone stood for a moment in stunned silence.

  “You mean to tell me you forced me into a contract when you could have just told me I needed worshippers to gain my powers?”

  “It's not about powers, Persephone! It’s never been about magic or illusion or glamour. It’s about confidence. It’s about believing in yourself!”

  “That's twisted, Hades—”

  “Is it?” he snapped. “Tell me, if you'd known, what would you have done? Announced your Divinity to the whole world so that you might gain a following and consequently your power?”

  She knew the answer and so did Hades.

  “No, because you’ve never been able to decide what you want because you value your mother's happiness over your own!”

  “I had freedom until you, Hades.”

  “You thought you were free before me?” he asked. “You just traded glass walls for another kind of prison when you came to New Athens.”

  “Why don’t you keep telling me how pathetic I am,” she spat.

  “That’s not what I—”

  “Isn’t it?” She cut him off. “Let me tell you what else makes me pathetic. I fell for you.” Tears stung her eyes. Hades moved to touch her, but she held out her hand. “Don’t!”

  He halted, looking far more pained than she could have ever imagined. She took a moment, waiting to speak until she was sure her voice was even.

  “What would Aphrodite have gotten if you had failed?”

  Hades swallowed and answered in a low, rough voice. “She asked that one of her heroes be returned to the living.”

  Persephone pressed her lips together and nodded. She should have known.

  “Well, you won,” she said. “I love you. Was it worth it?”

  “It wasn’t like that, Persephone!”

  She turned from him, and he called out. “You would believe Aphrodite’s words over my actions?”

  She paused at that and turned to face him. She was so angry her body vibrated. If he was trying to tell her he loved her, he needed to say it. She needed to hear the words.

  Instead, he shook his head and said, “You are your own prisoner, Persephone.”

  Something within her snapped. It was painful and moved through her veins like fire. Beneath their feet, the marble rattled. Their eyes met, and then great black vines erupted from the floor, twisting around the God of the Dead until his wrists and ankles were restrained. For a moment, they were both stunned.

  She had created life, though what rose from the floor looked far from alive. It was withered and black, not bright and beautiful. Persephone breathed heavily. Unlike before, the magic she now felt was strong. It made her body throb with a dull pain.

  Hades regarded his bound wrists, testing the restraints. When he looked at Persephone, he offered a humorless chuckle, his eyes a dull, lifeless black.

  “Well, Lady Persephone. It looks like you won.”

  CHAPTER XXV – A TOUCH OF LIFE

  Persephone didn’t remove the gold cuff until she was in the shower. She stood under a hot stream of water until it ran ice cold and then slid to the floor of the tub. When she pulled off the bracelet, the mark was gone. She’d always envisioned this moment differently. In truth, she’d imagined gaining her powers and Hades. She’d imagined having the best of both worlds.

  Instead, she had neither.

  She knew it was just a matter of time before her mother came to collect her. A sob caught in her throat, but she held it back and dragged herself out of the bathroom.

  She was her own prisoner.

  Hades was right, and the weight of his words crashed down upon her in the night, eliciting a renewed stream of tears. At some point—she didn’t know when—Lexa climbed into bed with her, drew her into her arms and held her. That’s how Persephone fell asleep.

  When she woke the next morning, Lexa was awake and watching her. Her best friend brushed her hair out of her face and asked, “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she said quietly.

  “Is it...over?”

  Persephone nodded, and forced the tears away. She was tired of crying. Her eyes were swollen, and she couldn’t breathe out of her nose.

  “I’m sorry, Persephone,” Lexa said, and bent down to hug her close.

  She shrugged. She was afraid to say anything—afraid she would cry again.

  Despite this, she felt different. She had a renewed determination to take control of her life.

  As if on cue, her phone vibrated and when she looked down, she found a message from Adonis. It read: Tick Tock.

  She’d forgotten the mortal’s deadline. She was supposed to have had his job reinstated by tomorrow. Knowing that was impossible, Persephone had no other options.

  If only she could get those photos, she thought. He’d have nothing to blackmail her with.

  “Lexa,” Persephone said. “Isn’t Jaison a programmer?”

  “Yeah...why?”

  “I have a job for him.”

  ***

  Persephone waited in the Garden of the Gods on campus. She’d chosen Hades’ garden, mostly because it offered more privacy from prying eyes and eavesdroppers.

  She spent the morning telling Lexa everything that had happened with Adonis. She asked Jaison if he could hack into the mortal’s computer and delete the photos he was using for blackmail. The amount of joy he’d gotten from the request was comical. During the hack, he uncovered a wealth of information, including Adonis’s informant.

  Persephone checked her phone. Adonis had just texted that he had arrived. When she looked up, she spotted Minthe and Adonis approaching from opposite directions—Minthe looked angry, Adonis surprised.

  They came to a stop a few feet from her.

  “What is he doing here?” Minthe snapped.

  “What's she doing here?” Adonis asked.

  “It's so I won't have to repeat myself,” she said. “I know Minthe took the photos you are blackmailing me with.”
Her phone buzzed and she checked it before adding, “Or rather, I should say, were blackmailing me with. As of this second, your devices have been hacked and the photos removed.”

  Adonis paled, and Minthe still looked angry.

  “You can't do that—it's—it's illegal!” Adonis argued.

  “Illegal like blackmail?” Persephone said. That shut him up.

  Persephone turned her attention to Minthe.

  “I suppose you’ll run and tell on me?” she asked.

  “Why would I do that?” Persephone’s question was genuine, but it only seemed to irritate Minthe further.

  “Let’s not play act, Goddess,” Minthe said. “Revenge, of course. I’m surprised you didn’t tell Hades I was the one who sent you into Tartarus.”

  “Did she just call you Goddess?” Adonis jumped in, but a glare from Minthe and Persephone had him silent again.

  “I prefer to fight my own battles,” Persephone said.

  “With what? Your words?” Minthe offered a sarcastic laugh.

  “I understand that you are jealous of me,” Persephone said. “But your anger is misplaced.”

  If anything, she should be angry with Hades, or maybe angry with herself for wasting time pining after a man who didn’t love her.

  “You understand nothing!” Minthe seethed. “All these years I stood beside him, only to wither in your shadow as he flaunted you to his whole kingdom like you were already his queen!”

  Minthe was right—she didn’t understand. She couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to dedicate your life—your love—to a person who never returned it.

  Then Minthe added in a shaky voice, “You were supposed to fall in love with him, not the other way around.”

  Persephone flinched. So, Minthe had been aware of the terms of the bargain. She wondered if Hades had told her, or if she’d been present when Aphrodite had set her terms. It made her embarrassed to think that Minthe had watched her fall in love with Hades, knowing his deception.

  “Hades doesn’t love me,” Persephone said.

  “Stupid girl.” Minthe shook her head. “If you cannot see it, then maybe you aren’t worthy of him.”

  Persephone did not like being called stupid. Anger ignited in her veins, and her fingers curled into fists. Minthe seemed amused by her frustration.