Descent into Desire

by Marie Medina

  Zeus hefted the sword and examined it, swinging it in a circle.

  “I recognize this one,” Hephaestus said. “I made it at Hermes’ request, and he gave it to Perseus to fight Medusa.” He picked up the curved sword. “It’s made from adamant.”

  “Yes, that might do,” Ares said. He took the sword from Hephaestus and wiped the dust from its blade. He examined it for traces of blood that might impede its power as it was remade into a new blade.

  “We should combine it with this,” Hephaestus said. He held up a sickle, also made of adamant judging by the look of it.

  Zeus set Theseus’ sword down and walked over to Hephaestus. He took the sickle from him. “I remember this.” Zeus laughed.

  Ares looked at the blade, trying to remember.

  “Cronus used it to castrate his father Uranus,” Hephaestus explained. “This was before our time.”

  Ares raised his eyebrows. “Why did he do that?”

  “His mother was tired of him, I believe, and wanted her sons to take over. Cronus was the only one willing to do it, so he was the one to rule.” His expression grew dark. “I think it’s appropriate to use against Thanatos, considering his crime. Cutting his balls off would give me great pleasure.”

  Zeus nodded. “Let’s hurry. Is the forge still through here?”

  “Yes, down the stairs back here,” Ares said.

  Hephaestus followed Zeus, and Ares shut and locked the door to the weapon room and the door to the forge behind them.

  “Should we call Hades?” Ares asked.

  Zeus shook his head. “No. Not for now. Hypnos will help me.”

  Hephaestus broke the blades off each weapon easily and put them together to melt over the fire. Colorful sparks and green smoke rose as they combined. Magic had been used to forge both of them, it seemed. Ares felt antsy. He knew they were working as fast as they could, but he knew he wouldn’t have had the ability to obey his father if Alala were in danger like this. He wondered what his mother was saying to Hades. He was most likely blaming himself. Ares wanted to check on Alala, but he didn’t want to leave in case they might need him further.

  The floor and the building shook. A chill followed by intense heat rippled briefly through the air.

  “What was that?” Ares asked.

  “Demeter, I imagine,” Zeus said. “Hypnos has told her. I thought it best not to keep her in the dark.”

  “Shit.” The best he could muster at such moments was thunder, but he could only imagine how powerful the earth goddess’ grief was. She probably believed her daughter was already ravaged and possibly dead. He might not like Persephone, but it angered him to think of her meeting such a fate.

  Hephaestus worked very quickly, forming the mold with his hands. Ares saw the smoke rising from them as he worked. He’d heard that Hephaestus could melt and form metal with just his hands, but he’d never seen it done. He and his half-brother didn’t have much of a relationship. Sleeping with Aphrodite had definitely contributed to that distance. Hephaestus had always acted like it meant nothing, but Ares had always suspected Hephaestus had been falling for Aphrodite when they were together, which explained his proud denial of any feelings for her at all. Aphrodite had joked about how infatuated and possessive Hephaestus was, how many times he’d told her he loved her. Ares had laughed at the time, believing she was trying to make him jealous, but now Ares wondered if any of it had been true. Now it seemed cruel of Aphrodite to joke about such things. Thinking of Persephone and Hades had turned his thoughts this way, and he jumped when he realized Hephaestus was watching him.

  “Persephone is safe. Did you hear me?” Hephaestus said.

  “No,” Ares said. “I was thinking of Alala. Sorry.”

  In his mind, he heard Hephaestus very distinctly say, No, you weren’t. But instead of reacting, he turned back to his work and repeated what he’d apparently just told Zeus.

  “Thanatos must be using my chains to hold her. I feel her using my power. If he touched her, he’s very badly burned. Perhaps it’s a sign she’s safe from his touch.”

  “The power you just used to shape the mold?” Can he read my mind or sense my thoughts because we have the same mother? I didn’t feel it. He tried to keep his expression blank.

  Hephaestus nodded. “If she’s bound by my chains, yes. The situation is extreme. If she was afraid, she could have used my power.” He began pounding his hammer on something small. “Hopefully Thanatos won’t figure that out though.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Ares said. He looked up to see Zeus glancing between the two of them. When he didn’t look away, Ares tried to think of something to say.

  But Hephaestus spoke up. “Do you have a bow?”

  “Yes,” Ares replied. “There’s one here.” He pointed to a table off to the side.

  Hephaestus thrust six arrows at him. “These are made from the excess metal.” He then began to hammer out the blade of the sword.

  Ares stared at the arrows, and then at the sword, marveling at how fast his brother had worked. Before he could speak this time, someone knocked on the door of the weapon room. He sensed it was Hypnos, and he opened both doors for him.

  Zeus took the arrows and picked the bow up from where Ares had indicated. “Can you get the Helm of Darkness?” he asked Hypnos.

  “Yes. It’s in Persephone’s room. She was using it today.”

  “You and I are the only ones who can go. Take these.” He gave him the arrows and bow. “Wait for me outside the Chamber of Darkness. I’ll follow soon.”

  Ares felt lost. Perhaps he’d been away from the battlefield too long.

  Hephaestus handed the sword over along with a metal ball. “Throw it into the room. When it breaks, the spell will shatter Persephone’s chains. She will be able to run out of the room if you can hold Thanatos away long enough.”

  Zeus nodded and disappeared.

  Ares shook his head. “Why didn’t we ever work more closely during the great wars?”

  Hephaestus wiped the soot from his hands. “I didn’t like you. You’re mother’s favorite, and I also seem to recall you were fucking my girl.”

  At least that opened the door for him to ask. “Did you read my mind?”

  “I felt your thoughts turn to Aphrodite, and then I felt your guilt. It’s over now. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  Ares nodded. “Yes, it is over, but when Aphrodite told me Eros was my son, I was surprised a little. I’d always thought it might possibly have been you. I thought maybe you felt cheated since most people thought it was me even before she told.”

  “I didn’t care about Eros. I knew he wasn’t mine.”

  “How?”

  Hephaestus looked him in the eye. “It had been too long since we’d had sex. Our relationship was never as simple everyone thinks.”

  “But you two were still together then, right? That was when you ended things. The day Eros was conceived.”

  Hephaestus didn’t answer.

  Ares suddenly realized why Aphrodite had found Hephaestus so frustrating. “What I really wanted to say was this. When she told me Eros was my son, she also told me about you two ending. The things you said really hurt her. She’s been so upset lately I think it would mean something if you two made up. She needs friends now more than ever.”

  Hephaestus pushed the anvil over, sending the hammer flying across the floor. “I’ve been trying to make up with her for years.” He pointed his finger at Ares. “You were always in the way. But you were like the others. You only wanted to fuck her. That’s all she was to you.”

  Ares stepped forward until Hephaestus’ finger touched his chest. “I love her very much. We weren’t meant to be together, so we never fell in love. That doesn’t negate my feelings. I loved being with her. She was one of my best friends for a long time.” He saw the flames in Hephaestus’ eyes, exactly like his own. “But you…you are in love with her.”

  Hephaestus took a deep breath and backed away. “And she’d be upset if we
fought, so let’s not.” He set the anvil upright and put the hammer on the table. “Do me one favor?”

  “What?”

  “Don’t tell mother. Not yet. I want her to welcome Aphrodite as my wife, and she won’t do that now, not so soon after what Aphrodite did to you.”

  Ares closed his eyes, wondering if maybe he’d wake up when he opened them. He didn’t. “You want to marry Aphrodite?”

  “I will have no other as my wife. Perhaps I should have asked you to back off long ago, but it doesn’t matter now. You have Alala. It’s a risk telling you, but I had to tell someone, and you of all people know why it’s important not to tell Hera. Please promise.”

  Ares considered. If keeping the secret would protect Aphrodite, he’d do it, no matter how angry his mother might get when she found out. “Okay. I promise.” He shook his head. “Has anyone else noticed this whole place going mad?”

  Hephaestus smiled, which came as close to shocking Ares as his declaration had. It was something he’d never, ever seen before. “Perhaps,” Hephaestus said, “we’re becoming more like humans.”

  Ares stood alone in the forge as Hephaestus left. He hoped it would be a long time before he saw Aphrodite again. He had no idea how he’d hide what he’d learned.

  Chapter Nine

  Hades sat on Hera’s bed. Demeter was at his feet, her head in his lap, crying hysterically. They’d felt the ground beneath them tremble, and then a few moments later Demeter had burst into the room. She still hadn’t said a word. She’d hit him repeatedly with her fists, and he’d let her. He’d hardly felt it. However, the parts of his arms and chest that were visible had turned a bright pink that was now darkening to purple.

  Hera paced by her mirror. That was the most likely way they’d hear from Zeus. They wouldn’t be able to travel as they usually could from the lower parts of the Underworld. They had to be in the upper parts to appear and disappear as they normally did, so finding a pool of water or mirror might be the quickest way to report that Persephone was all right.

  Hades stroked Demeter’s hair. “I can say everything you want me to say. It’s my fault. I’m sitting here uselessly while Zeus does all the work. I should never have taken her. I was wrong to ever leave her alone and unprotected. I should’ve made Cerberus stay by her side constantly.”

  She looked up at him and punched him in the stomach. Then she sat back against the edge of the bed and pulled her legs close to her chest. She sniffed several times in her efforts to stop crying.

  Hera looked down at her sister sadly, and then met Hades’ gaze.

  He shook his head. “I can’t stay here. Surely Zeus didn’t mean for me to stay here while he goes after Thanatos.”

  “If he hasn’t sent for you, you should stay here!” Demeter said sharply. “Do something right for once.”

  “I can keep saying I’m sorry, but that undoes nothing! We were starting to understand each other when I came to talk to you a week ago. Despite that, you can’t deny you wouldn’t have given me permission to court her.”

  Demeter wiped her cheeks and rubbed her left eye before looking at him. “You’re right, but some day I would have relented. If you hadn’t gone behind my back and started influencing her, I might have agreed after only a few months, once I’d seen you were sincere.” Fresh tears started to fall. “You have no idea how much a mother wants to protect her child! You don’t understand!”

  Hera came and knelt by her. “I know how you feel, but Zeus will save her. You won’t always blame Hades for this. And Hades, you know very well he meant for you to stay here. You’re too emotional.” She poked Demeter. “So are you. This isn’t Hades’ fault.”

  Demeter gave Hera a fake smile. “So are you and Aphrodite going shopping this weekend?”

  Hera’s expression hardened, and she stood and turned away.

  “I thought not,” Demeter said. “Your ideas of right and wrong behavior never apply to you and your actions. You can be petty, but I’m supposed to be mature and act properly when my child is in danger?”

  Hades touched her shoulder. He was glad when she didn’t pull away. “Don’t fight with Hera. We’ve all fought with each other enough to fill centuries. Remember how we were before the others came? Before any of the children were born? The six of us acted liked spoiled brats.”

  “We fought back then,” Hera said. “We bickered constantly when it was just the six of us. We drove each other crazy.” She met his gaze. “We all remember, Hades. We began to grow after Aphrodite came, after Ares was born.”

  “But before the others, before we did so much in the mortal world, we never tried to hurt each other. We never hated each other.”

  “I don’t hate you, Hades,” Demeter said. “I hate myself.”

  “Demeter, don’t—” Hera began.

  “She left because she hates me! I kept her so protected she never thought anyone could hurt her. If I’d let her be normal, you wouldn’t have had to sneak around. If she’d seen the threat earlier, Thanatos couldn’t have taken her. No one had ever looked at her too harshly without feeling my wrath. Who can blame her for not realizing others might try to hurt her?”

  “You can’t take the blame for that!” Hades protested. “We don’t know what happened. She may not have had enough time to think about anything. Thanatos is very powerful.”

  “He’s insane,” Hera said. “What did he think would happen? You love her. Zeus sees her as a daughter. She’s my only niece and Demeter’s only daughter. Everyone who has power over him loves her.”

  “He wants the Underworld.”

  Hera shook her head. “He doesn’t have your powers. He couldn’t judge the dead.”

  Hades stood and began pacing. “He doesn’t see it that way. He thinks he is death. Literally. He’s not just the god of death. He believes he is death itself. Zeus and I discussed this when he rebelled before. It will be his downfall.”

  “Why?” Demeter asked.

  “He believes he cannot die.”

  “What? He can’t believe that. Even Zeus could die. Only the Fates are truly immortal.”

  “I’ve talked about it with Hypnos as well. Thanatos believes no one can kill him. He’s not afraid of being bound as Prometheus was or of being trapped in the Underworld. He’s not afraid of torture or punishment because he believes he can escape or convince someone to have mercy on him in the end.”

  The door opened, and they all turned to see Ares enter the room.

  Hades walked over to him. “What’s happening? Where are they?”

  “They left almost an hour ago. Hephaestus made a sword for Zeus to use, and he also made some arrows for Hypnos. You’ve heard nothing?”

  Hades shook his head. “What’s their plan?”

  “They didn’t take the time to explain. Freeing Persephone first of all. Getting Thanatos to leave the Chamber of Darkness may be difficult though.”

  “I wish they’d let us know what’s happening,” Demeter said.

  Ares looked at Demeter and then back at Hades. “She’s protecting herself. We think she’s been able to stop Thanatos from…uh, hurting her in any way.”

  Demeter stood up and moved toward him quickly. “What? Are you sure?”

  Ares nodded. “Thanatos has chains made by Hephaestus that no one can break. Persephone isn’t just some nymph or powerless creature. She’s a goddess. He must have bound her with those chains because Hephaestus says she could use his powers to protect herself if she were in enough danger simply because she was touching the chains. He told us he could feel her using them.”

  “She could burn him!” Hera said. “Oh yes, yes! Demeter, it is true, I swear. Hephaestus can melt any metal with his hands, and he can summon fire from nothing. If she’s doing that, he can’t put a finger on her.”

  Hades felt a glimmer of hope. He knew Zeus would save her, so his worst fears were of what she might endure until then. He watched Demeter move back to the bed. She sat down slowly and took several deep breaths. He didn’t lik
e how she was blaming herself. No one had ever approved of how protective she was of Persephone, but it wasn’t anyone else’s place to interfere. He also knew Persephone loved her mother and didn’t resent her, no matter how much she had hated all her rules and attempts to control her life.

  “How’s Alala?” Hera asked quietly.

  “She’s upset and scared. She wanted to be left alone so I came here,” Ares said.

  As Ares and his mother talked and tried to distract Demeter, Hades stared into the mirror, willing it to change and bring them good news.

  * * * *

  Aphrodite woke suddenly. Her mind was clouded because she’d been sleeping for nearly twenty-four hours. Hephaestus had called her. She snapped her fingers and went from sitting on her bed to sitting beside him on the couch in his bedroom.

  “You were sleeping deeply,” he said. “I had to call you twice.”

  “Sorry. I sleep a lot lately.”

  “Are you that unhappy?”

  As usual, she found it hard to lock on to what he was feeling. “No. I’m worried. I have a lot on my mind right now.”

  He reached for her hand and ran his fingers over it gently. “I hope you’re thinking about what we talked about, even though I hope it isn’t what’s distressing you.”

  “It’s everything. Apollo’s depression is worsening. I’m powerless though. I’m still anxious about Hades as well. I don’t want to see him hurt.”

  He squeezed her hand. “That’s another reason I called you. Persephone is in trouble.”

  “What?” Aphrodite reached out with her mind. She felt negative emotions from everyone. “Where is Persephone?” She reached out again. “Zeus. Where is Zeus? I can’t feel them at all.”

  “Thanatos has kidnapped Persephone. Zeus and Hypnos have gone to the lower parts of the Underworld to save her.”

  Aphrodite shivered. Thanatos had always given her the creeps. It wasn’t only because he was the god of death. Something deep inside him was different, different in a very bad way.

  Hephaestus put his arm around her and drew her close, and she let him. “Thanatos frightens you?”