by M. M. Kin
“You are so tense... relax.” A hand was now rubbing her back, sending more waves of Lethe's mysterious relaxing effect pulsing through her nerves. Persephone frowned and shook her head, focusing on her thoughts, finding lucidity in them when she meditated in an attempt to block the sensations of Lethe's attentions. She recalled what had happened before she went to Lethe. Yes. She was sad and angry because she had eaten seeds, and had thought to come to Lethe, to think and perhaps gain some solace from the waters. She had felt so... condemned. She was now forever tied to Hades, and might never see the surface world or her mother again.
She had wanted to forget all of that. If she was stuck down here, why not forget the surface world? But as she fought Lethe's influence, she realized that this was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Wiping her memory would not make things right. It would be easy forgetting everything that had happened up until now so Hades could have a blank slate to protect and mold into his ideal image of wife...
Persephone berated herself for that now. How could she make such a silly decision, even though she was hurt and angered in a way she hadn't thought possible. She couldn't lose any of her memory! She jerked away from Lethe, gasping and struggling against the current as she tried to reach the surface. Hands grasped at her, trying to pull her back, but she fought, kicking and struggling free. A hand reached between her legs, fingers renewing the pleasure she felt as Lethe's lips nibbled along her ear.
“You are safe here, stop fighting and just lie back...”
The younger woman ignored her, trying to shove her away. She could feel Lethe attempt to wipe her memory, focusing waves of numbing pleasure on her. Persephone remained resolute, imagining the surface world, focusing on how it felt, the warm sunlight on her skin, the grass under her feet... Lethe cannot take that away from me.
Persephone focused her inner energy, envisioning a protective field around herself. It was inspired from her experience with Styx, as a way to better protect herself against unknown dangers. She wouldn't let Hades or Lethe win!
With a short gasp, she broke the surface, paddling over to the bank and hoisting herself out of it before Lethe could grab her again. She crawled up the gray sand, the cool air of the Underworld causing her to shiver violently as goosebumps formed, the warm droplets quickly coalescing to nearly-frozen beads on her skin.
“Come back, Persephone!” Lethe wailed, her song beautiful and eerie. Her hand brushed against the younger woman's ankle, and it was so warm, providing a touch of soothing relief to the frigid atmosphere. Persephone jerked away, scuttling further up the bank.
“Go away,” she muttered fiercely, focusing on the cold and shivering as she did so. Her hair clung to her neck and back, dripping onto the sand. She had never liked cold, and ached to be toasty and comfortable, but she wasn't going to give up her memory for it! Her breath came out in steamy wisps as she wiggled her way further up the bank, trying to speak. She wanted to call for Cloe to bring her things to wear, since Lethe had stripped her entirely. To her horror, the words were frozen on her tongue as she rubbed her arms, feeling the goosebumps.
“Persephone!” She raised her head when she heard a distinctly masculine voice call out her name. Hades came within view, his cloak billowing as he closed in on her. She remained mute as his eyes moved along her body, filled with concern as they checked her for injuries. He repeated her name softly as he placed his hand on her arm, jiggling it. Her gaze met his, but still she did not speak.
He removed his cloak and scooped her up in it, wrapping her snugly as he cradled her. Upon hearing where she was, he took the shortest – and indeed fastest – route. He went the same way, teleporting to his Palace, determined to wash Lethe's water off her and make sure she was alert. She offered no resistance when he unwrapped her and lowered her into the tub, even going slack as he dunked her head under the water after telling her he was doing so. He asked her questions here and there, trying to get her to speak, but he received no responses. Her gaze was distant.
After he was satisfied that every last drop of the River of Forgetfulness were washed away, he wrapped her in a towel and carried her to the bed. The fire was larger than it usually was, sending extra heat through the room.
“Are you all right?” Hades asked as he grasped her shoulders, giving her a light shake. “Look at me, focus on me.” He touched her face, trying to get her to look at him. She kept her eyes averted, evading his roving gaze. “Please.”
He placed his head on her lap, looking up at her.
“Seph, I was so worried about you. You gave me a scare, disappearing off to Lethe. I am so glad you are well.” He took her hand, nuzzling and kissing it. She hated that the concern was so evident in his eyes and tone. Despite being a bastard, he at least showed real concern for her well-being. She wasn't about to give him any relief despite her awareness of his distress, though.
She pushed his head off her lap and turned away from him, burying her face against a pillow. She heard a sigh before his hand touched her shoulder. A quick jerk of her shoulder was her response.
“Go away,” she muttered. She was even more tired than before, and wanted to sleep so she could think of something later. No effort was made to stifle a yawn as she pulled up a blanket.
Hades could see her fatigue, so he decided to stop talking for the time being. He settled down, starting to spoon up against her only to be the recipient of an annoyed hiss and a firm shove.
“I told you to go away!”
“Duly noted.” The dejection in his tone was clear as Hades slunk off the bed and retreated from the chamber. He sat on the divan in the main room, lighting a fire there. He had always liked having a fireplace or hearth lit; it gave a bit of light and cheeriness to the Underworld. Disconsolately, he fiddled with the edge of his tunic, hating how bad he felt about what he had done. He tried to tell himself that he had done it out of love and necessity, but remembering the pain in Persephone's voice and eyes served as a harsh reminder that he had sneaked through the promise he made for her and offered her the ethereal food during her vulnerable moment.
He wanted to deny his wicked deed and assure his male pride by saying that he had simply done what was best for her, as any loving husband would. But no matter what excuse he came up with, he always just as quickly dismissed them despite his attempts to not admit his misstep.
Like Zeus, Hades never had an easy time admitting that he screwed up. However, unlike his younger brother, Hades didn't make nearly as many mistakes. That didn't make accepting his error any easier. He knew what he had to do – Persephone needed and deserved an apology. He swallowed thickly, squaring his shoulders as he stared at the dancing flames, drumming his fingers against the armrest of his chair.
o0o
Persephone stretched her arms above her head as she stirred awake. The large bed she was nestled in was now familiar to her after her time in the Underworld. She lay there quietly for several minutes, slowly coming out of the haze of slumber as she processed the events of late. There had been the euphoria of making love with Hades and the pain and rage when she realized she had eaten the seeds he gave her. A slow sigh escaped her lips as the consequences of this deed sunk in, and she stared up at the ceiling for several moments, thinking of how best to deal with this. Lethe wasn't the solution; that much she realized. Should she draw her strategy from her experience with the Styx, then?
She looked over, seeing Hades. He had climbed into bed after she succumbed to exhaustion. Sneaky prick. But at least he wasn't touching her, keeping himself – and his limbs – on one side of the bed.
She climbed out of the bed and retreated to her room. After some internal debate on what to wear, she chose an outfit of emerald green and rich, golden yellow. These colors reminded her of the surface world, and perhaps it would remind Hades as well.
The yellow fabric was woven with bright red and orange flowers along its edges, making a suitably festive touch to the garment. She swept her hair up in a simple fashion, securing it with a green
sash. Her neck and arms were bare, reflecting her decision to go au naturel.
The door to the terrace was open, so she went outside. She had eaten the seeds, but was there still some chance she might yet see her mother? Or see the living world again? Hades insisted that she was her equal, that all she had to do was embrace their relationship. She had offered her maidenhead; didn't that indicate well enough to him that she enjoyed his company? Apparently that hadn't been good enough for him.
When you give yourself to me, I will have all of you. He had said that a while ago, and his words had caused a shiver to race up her spine. He certainly had shown her that he meant it!
She drummed a random beat with her fingers on the marble railing. Even though she hadn't decided just what she would say to Hades, she was feeling very clear-headed. She would overcome this one way or another. Sensing another presence, she looked over her shoulder to see Hades.
Persephone regarded him coolly. His hair was slightly tousled, and he had thrown on a comfortable black peplos, the hems ending at his elbows and mid-calf. He looked grand in full regalia, but he looked just as good in plain garb. He was leaning against the doorpost, staring at her with an expression that illustrated a mixture of emotions, mostly melancholy. She crossed her arms loosely, waiting for him to speak.
“Persephone... I am sorry.”
She stared at him for a moment, not completely registering this information. Was he, the high and mighty Lord of the Underworld, apologizing?
“I never meant to hurt you. I am usually not such a rash person, but my actions regarding bringing you here and keeping you... I will admit, it's the first – and only time – I have ever loved anyone. I did what I thought was best, given the circumstances. Still, that is no excuse for what I did.” He took a step closer as she maintained her silence.
“You have every right to be angry. I truly am sorry.” His gaze was pleading as he looked down at her. Damnit. With the right gleam in his eyes, he could melt her heart, and she gave out a soft sigh. It was so damned hard to hold onto her anger or pain when he stared at her pleadingly. The more she tried to resist, the more she just wanted to throw her arms around him. She quickly looked away, collecting herself.
“Sephie...” Hades came closer and dropped to his knees, taking her hand. He did not bow before even mighty Zeus, ruler of the gods of Hellas. Yet here he was, on his knees before the woman he loved. “I humbly beg for forgiveness and hope that you find me worthy of it.” The regal, powerful Lord of the Dead was simply a man who had inadvertently hurt the woman he loved, and yearning for her forgiveness as he stared up at her.
Chapter XLII
o0o
Demeter glared at her niece, irritated by the way that Aphrodite flipped her honey-blond tresses over her shoulder, smoothing an invisible wrinkle out of her fine linen and gauze gown which was the same pale and rich blue of her eyes. In her ears and around her neck, were gold and blue topaz, and the jewels were worked into her girdle as well. Leave it to Aphrodite to primp and pamper herself before she took her turn in begging to stop the plight that had befallen Hellas, Demeter thought sourly.
“Come now, dear aunt. Losing a child is terrible,” Aphrodite offered in her graceful voice, shrugging her shoulders slightly. “But Kora is a queen! If Zeus thought she was in trouble, wouldn't he make Hades give her back? Despite Father's flaws, he does have a good heart.” She smiled winningly, holding out her hands in a placating gesture. All she received was a level glare.
“Look, the mortals are starving. My temples are empty. My followers call out your name.”
“Lust cannot feed people,” Demeter replied acidly. A momentary frown graced the younger goddess's features.
“Is it fair to them, or to us?”
“Was it fair to me?” the Harvest Goddess snapped as she rose to her feet, an imposing and powerful figure compared to Aphrodite's own lithe and form. “Was it fair that my daughter was stolen from me? Is it fair that I was told by Zeus that there is nothing he can do, nothing that he will do after he has so callously discarded her to the Underworld? Am I the only one who cares about something other than stupid and idle pleasures?”
“Kora is just one child. Well, I guess thanks to Hades, she is no longer a child...” Aphrodite hadn't said this out of malice, but pleasure – her own or others' – was never far from her mind. However, she realized an instant too late that she had just provoked Demeter further. A flash of rage passed through the older goddess' eyes before they suddenly narrowed, fixing on Aphrodite.
As far as anyone knew, Hades hadn't had any mate or affair in the past. His relationships with Minthe and Leuce had been discreet and the details unknown, and it was because of that that hundreds of years later, mortals would get the facts wrong and claim that Hades had cheated on his wife with these two when he became bored of his Queen.
“You...” Demeter growled. Aphrodite was known for the mischief and chaos she caused among gods and mortals alike. When she was bored, she thought nothing of using her Gift to create attraction between unlikely couples, or just one half of that couple. It was one thing that Demeter disapproved of strongly. Love, like life, was a rare gift to be cherished, and part of Aphrodite's Gift was to make those she affected believe that what they felt was genuine love rather than the truth of burning lust, infatuation, and even obsession.
“You made Hades desire Kora!” she snarled, pointing an accusing finger at her niece. Aphrodite's eyes widened in unmistakable surprise for an instant before she shook her head.
“If my Gift worked on Hades, he would have stolen a bride a long time ago,” Aphrodite replied, gazing at Demeter pleadingly. “Eros hit him with his arrows a few times, but Hades is impervious to my son's magic. And my Gift is nothing to him. This...” she gestured to herself as if showing off a valuable prize – and she certainly considered herself one – “does not even warrant a second glance from him.” The Goddess of Love pouted prettily.
“Someone who does not respond to your constant demand for attention, how fascinating. Too bad he did not snatch you away instead of my baby.” Demeter was harsh and unforgiving, budging not one inch towards her niece's cloying words or attempts at humor. Aphrodite was glad she was alone with her aunt – however enraged Demeter was – so no one could see her wilt, her face turning pale as her smile froze.
“I swear, I had nothing to do with your daughter's disappearance. And all my brothers and sisters had no involvement in it either... If you must take it out on Zeus, then surely I understand! But why punish the rest of us?”
“I am tired of not being taken seriously. I give, and give, and give! And what I value most was taken from me!” First Iasion and now Kora...
“Oh, but I do take you seriously!” Aphrodite pleaded, racking her brain for something she could use. If she sided against Demeter, her followers were lost. If she joined sides with Demeter, what did she have to lose? A pretty little smile replaced the frozen grin she had on her face, and she tapped her chin.
“I do know that I would feel terrible if someone took either of my sons away from me.” Aphrodite said as she slowly approached the Harvest Goddess. “I would be so sad and angry.”
Demeter glanced at her curiously. Had she actually managed to make a point with Aphrodite – the least sympathetic of the goddesses? Could Aphrodite use her abilities to rally more to Demeter's side? Before the Harvest Goddess could further consider the possibilities of an alliance, her niece's next words set her blood boiling again.
“I am happy to help you, Aunt. I will speak to Zeus myself. I can help rally what is left of Father's allies to your cause. No one should have to lose a child. But I take a risk in siding with you. I will need something in exchange, but oh, it is such a small favor... all I want is for you to restore Ares to his... full manhood.”
Barely containing her rage, Demeter stared at the blonde goddess, not sure whether to be shocked or appalled at such a request. Hey, why not go for both?
“That bastard tried to rape my d
aughter. He is much better off as is,” Demeter snarled.
“Has he not been punished long enough? He has not hurt anyone!” Aphrodite pleaded. She had found other lovers, yes, but honestly, Ares was the best she had ever had. She missed his roughness and passion.
“Get out. Your followers can starve for all I care,” she replied, her voice cold as the winter that had overcome much of Hellas.
“At least let me take some food...”
“Get out!” Demeter roared, her power flashing around her in an aura, rolling off her in waves as her green eyes blazed with righteous fury. “Never set foot in Eleusis again or I swear to Gaea, I will smite you.” She would never forget how she had destroyed the last piece of Ouranos. Aphrodite was a powerful – and whole – goddess, but her Gift did not compare to Demeter's own.
As if Aphrodite sensed her aunt's thoughts, she swallowed nervously and left without another word, visibly shaken when she went back to Olympus to report her failure to Zeus.
o0o
Zeus let out a low sigh as he saw Rhea and Hestia emerge through the doorway to the Council Room. Ordinarily, this room was reserved for the Council of Twelve, but in emergency situations, senior members of the clan made an appearance. Demeter's empty throne was a conspicuous sight, and Rhea glanced at it for a moment before she and Hestia took the extra seats that had been set up for them. There was enough room at the table to accommodate a dozen more deities, and the newcomers settled in comfortably before Rhea looked at her youngest child with a stern and disappointed expression on her face. None present missed it.
When it was first found out that Zeus had handed over Demeter's daughter to Hades, the reactions had been mixed, from disapproval to neutrality or acceptance, even endorsement. However, now there was not one single god on Olympus who could even be at least somewhat amicable toward the King of the Gods for what had happened due to the disastrous effects of Demeter's wrath. Poseidon, Apollo, and most of the other gods had sided with Zeus in the beginning, seeing nothing at all wrong with what he had done, but now they were fully aware of his folly and wished for him to correct it as soon as possible, by force if needed.
