by Marie Medina
“If she doesn’t speak, how do you know?”
“When I go near her, the humming stops. If I touch her, her petals start to fall. Her leaves wither. She hates me!”
She cringed at the pain and self-loathing in his voice. She remembered it all too well. “That’s the spell. Can’t we try?”
“We? Why do you want to help me?”
“Because I care for you and you’re in pain. Persephone is older than me, and she said when she was young you used to come and try to amuse her with tricks and jokes. She said you were sweet and funny until your brief feud with Aphrodite.”
“My brief feud? She made the only girl I ever loved hate me!”
“You only loved her because of the spell attached to Eros’ arrow. Aphrodite was petty and cruel, but she would have lifted it if Daphne hadn’t refused.”
He started to say something then paused. “How is Persephone?”
She regretted giving him a chance to change the subject, but she let him do it anyway. “I have no idea. We haven’t spoken. I’m leaving her alone. Do you know what Hades has done?”
“He’s trapped her. Yeah, I heard. Maybe he’ll be the jerk of the month for a while.”
She chose her words carefully. “I don’t like what he did, but if you had Daphne, would you let her go? Would you let her out of your sight?”
“If she didn’t want to be with me, yes,” he said softly.
She hesitated, wanting to object. There had been nights he’d hated himself so much he’d clung to her all night, becoming forceful and even pleading at times if she wanted to go home. She remembered frenzied couplings when he’d been so frustrated he couldn’t lose himself in her body fast enough. She also recalled nights he’d punished himself, making her come over and over again, sending her into so much ecstasy but then refusing himself release. He’d revealed so much of himself in the way he’d touched her, and now it all made sense to her. Instead of bringing that up, she lifted her hand from his shoulder. “Do you think you would still love her if you were free of the spell of the arrow?”
He looked into her eyes. “I believe I would.”
“I want you to try. I don’t know who can help, but please try. Let me help you.”
He seemed amazed. After a moment, he reached for her hand. “You’ve shown me so much kindness with so little reason.” He leaned forward to whisper. “You’ve seen the real me and you haven’t abandoned me. I love you for that, as much as I can.” He kissed her cheek, but then he flew backwards across the grass.
Alala saw Ares standing over him. She groaned. “Ares, will you please listen to me?”
“Not until I’ve beaten him to a bloody pulp!”
She jerked Ares by the arm and pulled his face close to hers. He tried to pull away and she jerked him back again and slapped him. He was so stunned he didn’t move when she put their foreheads together. She showed him, in a few seconds, her whole conversation with Apollo. Maybe she was giving away too many of Apollo’s secrets in doing that, showing him too many of the intimate moments she’d shared with Apollo, but she wanted Ares to regret his rash action. After she released him, she glared at him furiously.
After a moment, he looked down at Apollo, then back at her. “Shit,” he mumbled.
Apollo stood up slowly. “I asked her to leave. No one can help me. There’s no point anyway.”
Ares looked at Alala. “He’s right. If he wants to do anything, only he can do it.”
She crossed her arms and turned away from him.
“You know,” Ares said, “this wouldn’t have happened if you’d told me you wanted to talk to him. I come to find you like this, and I jumped to the conclusion he sought you out. Know why? We trust each other and tell each other everything. I would have let you talk to him, Alala.”
She turned back to him, still angry at his violent reaction but knowing he was telling the truth. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I know you’re sensitive about him though. You were testy when I mentioned him the other night.”
Ares smiled wickedly. “I wanted to have sex, and his name was the first thing I heard from you. Bit of a turn off.”
“Okay, fine. Again, I’m sorry.”
Apollo stepped forward. “You two sort this out. I came here to be alone, now I’m going elsewhere to be alone. All right?”
Alala looked at Ares.
He took the hint quickly. “Yeah. Fine. Uh, sorry I did all that. I have no problem in admitting I’m still sensitive about you.”
Apollo nodded. “I understand. Your lady is very special.” He disappeared before they could say anything else.
Alala sighed.
“Are you okay?”
She smiled as he moved closer to her and put his arms around her. “I ought to make you fuck me right now to make up for that. I made him feel better, at least for a moment.”
He laughed and kissed her neck. “I’m not sure Daphne wants to see us rutting like a couple of animals.”
Her smile faded, and she turned her head to look into his eyes. “It makes me so sad. I always felt his suffering, but never pried. I didn’t feel I had the right. Now that I understand, everything he ever did makes sense. Even in sex he was conflicted and confused, wanting to open up but afraid to fully do so. I see pain in the actions I once found merely confusing or odd.”
“I know, baby.” He pulled her away from the trees. “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” she asked as he led her toward the river.
“A special place.”
She followed him down through the field to a waterfall and soon saw there was a cave behind it. A rainbow shimmered near the bottom.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I planned to bring you here tonight. That’s why seeing him made me so jealous.”
She ran her hands over his chest then moved one down to his hard cock. “You know you should never be jealous of any man.”
“Prove it, my love.”
She took his hand as they went behind the waterfall. “I certainly will.” She pulled him to her for a long kiss. “I need you to make me stop worrying.”
His free hand slid under her skirt and his fingers toyed with her panties, sliding in under them. “I think I can do that.”
She sighed as they kissed again. She’d needed him for days, but she’d been avoiding him because of her visit to Aphrodite and her plans to see Apollo. She wanted to keep Aphrodite’s secret, and despite what he’d said, she knew he wouldn’t have liked her seeing Apollo. She didn’t like him being jealous, but something about it turned her on a little. She giggled as he ripped her panties off.
“You like that?” he asked as he nibbled on her neck.
“I like you.” She opened her legs to give him better access.
He toyed with her clit, making her squirm at the pleasure. He groaned deep in his throat as they kissed again, and then he pulled her closer to the waterfall, laying her down on the cold stone. The stone immediately warmed and softened. She ran her hands over it and felt lush grass.
She raised her eyebrows.
“I want you to be comfortable. I’m not letting you up for a long time.” He lowered himself over her and pulled her top up to kiss her breasts. His tongue and teeth teased her right nipple and sent pleasure all through her body. She held his head there as his hand roamed up and down her body. He almost touched her pussy, and then moved away. He fingered her clit for a moment, and then his hand strayed down her leg.
She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his face up to hers. “You’re teasing me.”
“You love it,” he whispered heatedly as he slid two fingers into her pussy.
She gasped. “I do.” She moved against him. His fingers slid deeper into her wetness. “You know I do.”
His thumb pressed her clit gently as he looked into her eyes. “Tell me you love me.”
She stroked his face. “I love you. You know I love you.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ve never been in love with any man but you.”<
br />
He slid his fingers out and positioned himself between her legs. His cock nudged at her entrance, and she pushed forward to welcome him.
“I was a fool for so long. You were by my side the whole time, waiting to make me this happy.” He slid part of the way into her.
She gasped as he entered her. She wanted, needed all of him. Her heart raced as he stroked her face. “We’re together now,” she said as she turned her head to kiss his hand. “It’s all that matters.”
He kissed her as he slid all the way in. She gasped again as he filled her. His cock was the perfect fit. It was thick enough to stimulate her in all the right places, and long enough to hit the spot that made her explode and scream his name. Apollo had been a skilled lover, but she and Ares had been made to give each other pleasure.
“I know.” He thrust into her slowly, smiling at her reaction. “You think it’s silly, but it drove me wild when I saw him that close to you. I’m a possessive brute, I know, but you’ll have to forgive me.”
She moaned as he pushed deeper. His cock rubbed a very sensitive spot, and she held to him as her orgasm built. “I’ll forgive you for anything if you keep doing this.” She sighed when he thrust harder. “Look at me.”
He braced his arms on each side of her head and looked into her eyes. He slowed his pace, but continued to move his cock in and out of her.
“I didn’t expect you to change, and I don’t want you to.” She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer, pushing his cock as deep as it would go. He groaned as she bit his neck gently, and then looked into his eyes again. “I fell in love with the man you are. I love your passion, even when it might be a bit brutish or possessive. I’m here to give you balance, remember? I was made to complete you.”
He became perfectly still above her. “I love you. So much.”
She smiled and brought his lips to hers. “Show me.”
He pumped into her, pushing her into the grass. She tightened her pussy around his cock the way he loved, wanting all of him. He growled deep in his throat, making her giggle as he thrust harder.
“Come for me,” he whispered. “Come, my love.”
After three more strokes, she came. She shook beneath him as he continued to pleasure her. She kissed him deeply and held to him as she rode out the sweet bliss of her release. Her orgasm pulsed deep inside her, and he kept pushing her to her limits. His cock was still very hard, and her pussy was so sensitive. He smiled above her.
“I love how you feel when you come,” he said.
The smoldering look in his eyes and his insistent cock made her gasp as she came again. He knew just how to draw her pleasure out, how to stroke and caress, the right words to say.
“Mmmmm” was all she could manage as he quickened his pace. She could feel every inch of him against her heated skin. “Oh, Ares.”
He thrust twice more, and then she felt him release into her. He kissed her as he crushed her body against his. She was out of breath when he finally loosened his grip on her.
“I think you’ve made your point,” she whispered.
He rolled her over beneath him and pushed her hair aside. He trailed kisses over her back as his hands massaged her ass. “I have a few more, if you’re interested.”
She sighed as she felt her need for him building again. The problems of others could definitely wait.
* * * *
Persephone looked down at the casserole. She hoped fresh veggies would be a treat. The kitchen had been empty, so she had no idea what Hades normally ate. Hypnos said he and Thanatos rarely ate. Was Hades the same way? Apparently he had a cook, but she never seemed to be around. Hypnos explained that people from Tartarus were the servants. The present cook had cheated on her husband three times. Hypnos said the guilt of having cheated on a good man made her very attentive and accommodating. Persephone still felt troubled about Tartarus. It did seem fair, since no one stayed in Tartarus forever, but she could still see the misery in people’s faces. Hypnos explained that someone like the cook might stay in Tartarus a few decades while a murderer or child abuser stayed much longer. She wondered if such things were unchanging, if Hades would listen to her opinions on them. The idea of deciding people’s fate and changing policies excited her. She’d never been treated like an adult, even though she had lived thousands of years. If Hades still respected her the way she had once believed he did, he might be perfect for her after all.
She picked up the casserole dish and took it out to the table. She set it down, and then looked in the mirror again.
“You look beautiful.”
She turned to see Hades standing in the doorway. She hadn’t heard his voice for several days, and she had to admit it sent a little thrill through her. He wore black pants and a black button up shirt. Upon closer inspection, she could also see a black tie. She wondered if he even had a closet, or if he simply conjured the appropriate black garments for every occasion.
“Thank you. You look nice too.” She walked over to him and stood in front of him. He remained perfectly still as she stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m glad you came.”
“I’m yours to command.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
She swallowed, and then said, “Then I have a command. Please forgive me for my reaction the other day. It was very cruel. You forgave me for coming on to Hypnos, and then I reacted like a spoiled child when you only wanted us to take it slow. You’ve tried to respect me since you brought me here, and it was wrong for me to act as if you wanted nothing more than my body. I knew it wasn’t true. I just wanted to hurt you.”
He stared down at her for a long moment. “I forgave you the moment you walked out of the room. You were upset, and I promise I understand. What I did was wrong.”
“But I know it hurt your feelings. You hide them very well, but I know my words and what I did caused you pain. You panicked when you thought I wouldn’t give you a real chance.”
He looked down at the floor. “I said I forgive you, and I do. For everything. Please don’t trouble yourself.”
She shook her head. “You aren’t the same man I talked to every night.”
He looked back up at her, and she could tell that statement worried him, though he tried to hide it. “Why do you say that?”
“You seem terrified of me. The man I developed such a crush on was confident and manly. You act scared and nervous.”
He reached out to touch her, but instead he let his hand fall back by his side. “Perhaps I am.”
Persephone didn’t know what to say. Hypnos might’ve been right after all.
“Whatever you’ve made smells wonderful.”
She started to object, but since she didn’t know what she wanted to say, she let him change the subject. “Squash and zucchini casserole. Asparagus and wild rice. Some of my favorites.”
“A good choice. I like knowing things like that about you.”
She smiled and walked to the table. She’d moved two chairs to the end closest to the door. “Let’s eat then.”
He walked over to the table and pulled her chair out for her.
She sat down, suddenly feeling very conscious of how close he was. He sat down too and reached for her hand, but he didn’t say anything.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Have you forgiven me for trapping you here?”
“I don’t feel trapped.”
He squeezed her hand, and then let it go.
Persephone removed the glass lids from all the dishes, wondering if her stomach would stop flopping around and let her eat something. She certainly had her doubts.
* * * *
Hades poured two glasses of wine and carried them out to the terrace. Dinner had been wonderful. He’d liked the food, but it had meant so much more that she’d invited him to dinner and prepared everything so carefully. She’d beamed when he told her how good everything was. She looked breathtaking standing on the terrace looking up at the purple and blue sky.
>
“There are no stars, just swirls of color,” she said.
“Yes. I’m not sure what they are. They change shape all the time.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Do you miss seeing stars?”
She shrugged. “I suppose, but this is pretty. And it’s different. Everything here is different.”
“Do you like it here?”
She accepted the glass of wine. “Yes. I’ve learned so much.”
He took a sip of his wine and then put it down. “I’m glad.” He moved to stand next to her, leaning on the marble balustrade so he could face her. “What do you think of my world?”
“It’s interesting. I’d like to see how it works.”
He felt his heart rate quicken. “That would interest you?”
“Yes. Will there be another judgment soon?”
“Of those in Tartarus?”
She nodded, setting her own wine down and moving closer to him.
He tried not to let her see how her nearness affected him. “Not for another two years. I can’t change that. Would you like to come with me to meet the arriving dead? You will see how I determine where they go.”
“Could I?”
“In secret. I’d let you wear the Helm of Darkness so you wouldn’t be seen.”
“It wouldn’t be breaking any laws?”
“No. I’d only want you unseen because some might try to plead with you.”
“Oh. If I were your queen, would I have any say in these matters?”
He looked deep into her eyes. “Would it please you?”
She looked down and blushed.
He touched her shoulder. “What is it?”
“I’ve never been allowed to do anything. I plant trees, and my mother moves them. I plant roses, and she says they’re the wrong color. I’m just a blonde with nice tits and no brain to most people.”
Hades smiled. “Your breasts are beautiful, but I don’t want to hear you say things like that. I’m very impressed with you, and I don’t impress easily.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s true though. That’s how they see me.”
