Descent into Desire

by Marie Medina

  Zeus rubbed her arm slowly. “She knows you’re mad at her. She’d tell you to please you.”

  Hera made a doubtful face. “She could care less I’m angry with her.”

  “She’s not herself, and you know it. She’s very depressed.”

  “Hermes and Ares are in love with other women. Of course she’s depressed.”

  Zeus began unbuttoning her blouse. “I’d love to see you two make up. Maybe I could watch.”

  Hera giggled. “Well, gee, forgive me if her sleeping with both my sons puts me off the idea of a threesome.”

  The teasing went out of his eyes, and he pulled her closer as his hands rubbed her breasts. “There is no one like you. No one.”

  Hera didn’t know what to say. Zeus had his devoted moments, but he never said things like that. “Of course not,” she said, trying to keep her tone light.

  “Everything else, everyone else, it’s just sex.” He kissed her deeply, and then whispered in her ear, “You know that. We were made for each other.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know. I’ve been with my share of other men. And women. It’s never affected our love before.”

  He laughed and slid his hand under her skirt. “Hmmm. Some historians would disagree. I think we both have a few decimated cities to take credit for.”

  She arched toward him as he toyed with her clit. “And an army of bastards.”

  He slid his finger into her. “Some very heroic ones though.”

  She ran her hands down and found his cock. She struggled to free it from his pants, eventually worming her hand in and stroking it slowly. “Indeed. So what are we talking about? Everyone else is finding love and behaving, so now you want us to?”

  He started to fully undress her, first slipping her blouse off, and then her skirt. He kissed her breasts as he removed her bra. He removed all of his clothes before pulling her panties off. She thought he wasn’t going to answer her as he ran his hands over her body.

  “Whatever you want,” he finally said, “you can have. Whoever you want, you can have.”

  “I feel the same. Why do you feel you have to say it?”

  He pushed her back onto the bed and climbed on top of her. “I have a condition.” He parted her legs and rubbed his cock over her.

  “What?”

  “Don’t stop wanting me.”

  She ran her hands over his hips, pulling him closer and making his cock penetrate her. He closed his eyes for a moment, and then looked down at her again.

  “Have I ever?” she asked.

  He braced himself on the bed and entered her fully. “Can’t blame me for wanting to keep this,” he whispered as he thrust slowly.

  She sighed as her orgasm steadily built. She knew something had happened to make him need her this way, but she decided not to push him. In his own time, he would tell her. She held him close as they moved slowly together. She pushed all her worries away. Being fucked by the king of the gods was very consuming, as always, and she let herself be completely engulfed by him as the beat of their hearts matched the rhythm of their lovemaking.

  * * * *

  Persephone knocked on Hades’ study door. No one answered. She opened the door and peeked in to find it empty. She closed it and turned to go, only to run right into Hades. She jumped and grabbed his shoulders to brace herself.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I just returned. I came quickly when I felt you searching for me.”

  “You felt that?”

  He nodded.

  “You feel everything down here, don’t you?”

  He nodded again. “I can filter it all, but the entire Underworld is part of me.”

  Persephone thought about that. “It’s a hard thing to imagine. Hypnos tried to explain it. Your moods affecting the weather and other stuff like that.”

  “Why were you looking for me? I wanted to take you to the Elysian Fields today, but we can do anything you’d like.”

  “I wanted to see what you were up to. I was bored and didn’t feel like reading anymore. I’d love to go to the Elysian Fields with you.”

  He smiled and offered his arm. They walked down the hall.

  “Hypnos took me, but we didn’t stay long. He just showed me around.”

  “I’d like to hear what you think of it. You said you had opinions and asked if the way the Underworld works was open to discussion. It is.”

  “Things can change?”

  “We can discuss them. I will tell you when there are things I cannot change.”

  She smiled up at him. “Fair enough. I hardly know where to begin.”

  “Do you still want to see how new arrivals are judged?”

  “Yes, I would.”

  “You’ll have the chance in a few days. What did you think of what Hypnos showed you?”

  Persephone thought carefully about what she wanted to say. “I found it hard to grasp. I didn’t expect life down here to be so much like life above or life in the mortal world.”

  “The two become more and more alike with each passing day. Perhaps no one will ever cut an interstate through Mount Olympus, but our world is no longer so different from every other place on this planet.”

  She laughed. “I could just see Zeus’ face at the idea of anything being built anywhere near Mount Olympus. He’s a purist when it comes to that stuff.”

  “Zeus liked the old days more than Poseidon and I did. Perhaps that is why he was destined to rule.”

  They emerged and began walking away from the palace. The day was bright and warm. Did that mean Hades was happy? Perhaps very happy?

  “Was he? I thought all of you chose.”

  Hades was silent for a moment. “It just…happened. Zeus’ arguments with Cronus grew worse and worse, and one day the Titans left when they were tired of the warmongering and endless battles.”

  “I’ve never met any of the Titans. Aren’t they here?”

  “They were, for a time. Then they left for the mortal world.”

  “They live among mortals? How is that possible?”

  “They have powers just like ours. They aren’t all stuck being twelve feet tall.”

  “Oh. I don’t know much about them. Just what’s in mortal mythology. No one talks about them.”

  “There’s not much any of us know anymore.”

  “My mother never told me anything. Tell me about them.”

  “There’s little to tell. The Titans were the gods before us and as far as we know they existed from the beginning of this world when it was created by the original, primal gods. They, like the primal deities, imparted very little knowledge to us.”

  “Why?”

  “We don’t know. Despite Cronus’ reluctance to relinquish power to Zeus, the Titans’ departure implied it was supposed to happen.”

  “They were no longer needed? Or they wanted to go?”

  “Perhaps both.” He rubbed her hand as it rested on his forearm. “It’s our great mystery. We wonder where we came from and why we’re here, just like mortals.”

  “Then we’re more like mortals. Maybe that was meant to be. They couldn’t relate to mortals, but we can. We understand them better because of it.”

  Hades smiled. “I’ve never thought of it that way before. My mind keeps straying to things like this lately.”

  “Really? I think it’s fascinating.”

  “You do?”

  She nodded. “I like history. Any kind of history. Zeus used to tell me stories about Ares and the Amazons. He liked to tell the story of Prometheus. He’s kind of biased in his telling though.”

  “And dramatic, I’m sure. I haven’t seen Prometheus for years. The story isn’t quite as interesting as Zeus or the Greeks made it out to be.”

  “Really? Tell me.”

  Hades looked down at her. “I was once jealous of how much time you spent with Zeus. I didn’t think he was telling you stories.”

  “I loved it. He tells great stories, but I’m sure you’ll be okay at it.”

&
nbsp; He smiled again, and she was glad her teasing pleased him. Though she grew very bored when he was away, she was enjoying her stay in the Underworld. She also felt more and more happiness each time she saw him. She didn’t want to tell him that yet. It had been three weeks, and she wanted him to believe her when she said her feelings for him were growing.

  She nudged him again. “Tell me.”

  He led her to a grassy hill, and they sat down. Below them on her left was a view of the sea with Tartarus starting on one side and the Elysian Fields starting on the other. On her right the river Styx bubbled out of a hot spring to flow past the Valley of Dreams and branch off into the Acheron, the Lethe and all the other rivers that circled the Underworld and ran into the sea. She turned her attention to him, knowing that she’d enjoy the story even if it turned out to be terribly boring.

  * * * *

  Alala listened to Persephone and struggled to keep up with her. Her friend was so animated Alala could hardly believe the water in the pool wasn’t rippling. She was lying on her stomach and looking over the edge into the water as her friend told her all about the Underworld. Based on the sky behind her and the grass under her, Persephone seemed to be sitting on the edge of a lake or river. Alala had never been to the Underworld, but she’d escorted quite a few soldiers there to be taken by Thanatos in her day. Occasionally she was still called to speak on behalf of such men, but not as often as she used to be. Ares was actually somewhere in the Middle East eavesdropping on some treaty negotiations. He’d gotten tired of wedding preparations and become interested in the affair after reading a few press releases online. Alala had decided to take the opportunity to try contacting Persephone. Her friend had been gone nearly a month, and the suspense had finally gotten to her.

  “So,” Persephone went on, “Prometheus did show men how to make fire, but later was the big conflict. Apollo had Zeus’ blessing to introduce medical arts to men, but Prometheus didn’t ask permission to establish the first school.”

  “The first school?” she interrupted, wanting her friend to catch her breath. “The absolute very first one?”

  “Yes. Smart people taught their own children and rich people had tutors. Children learned in small groups, like home schooling or something. Prometheus encouraged the idea of everyone being taught basic knowledge. Math and reading and music to start with.”

  “So the Greek academies were his idea? That makes sense. Ares said he loved to read.”

  “Prometheus?”

  Alala nodded and repositioned her hands under her chin. “Yeah. Some of the Titans lived among the Amazons at one time. It’s the last time Ares saw any of them.”

  “Hades is very interested in them.”

  “The Titans? Why?”

  “Not sure. He’s been thinking about why we’re here. I am not kidding. He’s really questioning things like that. He talks about it a lot because, he says, no one else is interested. His brothers don’t care and won’t really talk about it.”

  “So besides exciting tales and exploring new worlds, how are you? I mean, the two of you?”

  Persephone smiled. “Getting there. I really like him.”

  Alala laughed. “You already liked him.”

  “Finding out his true identity was a bit of a shock.”

  “I’m sure it was. I’ll admit I was pissed when I found out, but he’s a good man.”

  “He is! I was so nervous when he brought me here. Now that seems silly.”

  “He is the god of the Underworld. The idea of him scares the shit out of some people.”

  “Even people down here who say he’s fair and just avoid being near him. I can see why he’s so lonely.”

  After a few moments of silence, Alala asked, “So you really like him? The him you know now, not the guy you talked to online?”

  Persephone nodded. “I do. And I like it here. I’m considering it.”

  “Marrying him?”

  “I think I could love him.”

  “I don’t think you have to consider anything. When your time is up, you’ll just know.”

  “Everyone always says things like that. We all have free will though!”

  “But saying something is ‘meant to be’ doesn’t negate that free will.”

  Persephone ran her hand over the grass beside her. “That’s true. I’m not crazy about the concept. To me, there’s a difference between saying you’re ‘perfect’ with someone and saying you were ‘made for’ each other. That makes sense, right?”

  Alala nodded. “It does. I understand what you’re saying. Just don’t overanalyze it. You’ll just drive yourself crazy.”

  “It still doesn’t seem—you know—real. It’s hard to believe he loves me even though everything he does shows it in some way.”

  “I didn’t believe Ares loved me, and all of you told me I was being silly.”

  “That was different. He didn’t realize he loved you until he thought he would lose you. Hades is very aware and very conscious of the fact that he loves me. Ever since our little incident, he’s been treading carefully. He’s afraid of messing up again.”

  “So now it’s just a ‘little incident,’ huh?”

  “I was so pissed when it happened, but after a few days I saw that he’d panicked and made a mistake. It was insecurity, not some need to dominate me.”

  Alala looked at her nails, trying to figure out how to ask her next question. “Anything else interesting happen?”

  Persephone blushed.

  Alala suppressed a giggle. She wanted to be very happy and enthusiastic, but she wanted her friend to feel comfortable. Persephone had always begged for details when Alala was still with Apollo, though she had respected Alala’s privacy and kept the affair a secret. She might not be so eager when it came to her own details, especially as whatever had happened would have been her first time.

  After a moment, she said, “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell. I was just curious.”

  “No, no, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell. I just wasn’t sure where to begin. I’m still a virgin, but stuff has happened.” Persephone frowned. “I think I’m still a virgin. I am until he actually…you know. Right?”

  Alala wondered what exactly had been going on. Hades had promised all of them he wouldn’t do that without Persephone’s full consent, and for him that meant she had to love him. So what had they done?

  “Yes. Until then, you might not be pure as the driven snow, but you are a virgin.”

  Persephone smiled. “You know you want to ask.”

  “Then just tell me!”

  She giggled. “Usually, he just kisses me. He lingers and his hands roam a bit, but he usually controls himself and leaves before anything happens. But a week or so ago, we sort of played a game.”

  Alala raised her eyebrows. She only had eyes for Ares, but she definitely liked games. She wondered what kinds of things might interest Hades. She imagined leather straps immediately. “What happened?”

  “We went for a walk, and we ended up at the hedge maze. I told him I’d always thought of him as a bad boy, and then said he wasn’t at all. That sparked his interest, and he decided to show me there was a bit of a bad boy underneath all the manners.”

  Alala’s interest grew. “And?”

  “He put on the Helm of Darkness and then chased me through the maze.”

  “What happened when he caught you?” She hoped Ares wouldn’t be gone too long. The story was making her miss him very much.

  Persephone blushed furiously. “Well,” she whispered. “He started touching me, and then asked me what I wanted. I told him to kiss me. And he did.” She paused and looked around before lowering her voice more. “Just not on the lips.”

  Alala giggled. “So you had an orgasm?”

  She nodded enthusiastically. “It was amazing!”

  Both girls laughed. Alala missed her friend, but she was happy because it sounded like everything was going to work out. Persephone seemed like a very willing captive, and most import
antly, she hadn’t complained once in their whole conversation.

  Persephone, even though she was older than Alala, had been very sheltered by Demeter from the day she was born. She’d always been rather naïve and spoiled because of it. She had a tendency to complain, pout, sulk, or even go into a rage if she didn’t get her way. Now she was trapped in the Underworld and unable to see her family or her friends, yet she seemed content. Hades might be perfect for her. She needed a firm hand at times, but one that loved her enough to let go at the right times. Perhaps in the end he’d be able to find that balance.

  “That’s wonderful! I hope—”

  Persephone waved her hands. “Someone’s coming. I’ll talk to you later. I don’t want anyone to hear.”

  The water cleared. Alala pushed herself up and sat next to the pool. She couldn’t wait to tell Ares the good news. She was even more eager to tell him she had an idea for a new game for them to play.

  Chapter Seven

  Hades knew he shouldn’t have been listening, but he couldn’t change that now. As he watched Persephone in the mirror, he saw Hypnos approaching her. Persephone turned and looked up at Hypnos as she quickly ended her conversation with Alala. Hades turned away from the mirror and sat at his desk. He’d been curious enough to spy on her as she talked to Alala, but he would not spy on her and Hypnos. He trusted them together.

  Hades had been pleased to hear her recounting stories he’d told her so enthusiastically, but had it been right to keep listening when she began talking about him? Probably not, but his heart had skipped a beat when she’d started telling Alala about their romp in the maze. He’d been guarding against it because he knew he would dwell on what she said too much, but he couldn’t undo it now. However, everything she’d said indicated she was happy.

  He tried to focus on that, but it soon became clear he needed a distraction. He went to a bookshelf and opened the secret panel. His study was filled with them, and each one led to a different place in the world above. Even though he might end up even more frustrated, he headed for the beach. If Demeter hadn’t dropped the temperature enough to freeze the ocean, he would probably find Poseidon very quickly.