Chapter 11 #3
‘You ate six pomegranate seeds from the Underworld each time you visited, so you could spend half the year with Hades and half the year with Demeter. You felt guilty about leaving her. When Hades was bound to the Underworld, you had to return here to be with him. You made a conscious decision to divide your time between them both.’
‘That must have been hard for Hades?’ I squinted at her, and she sighed in response.
‘It was, but he would agree to anything to make you happy.’ She paused for a beat. ‘A bond forged by true fate is unbreakable. It exists between you and Hades, Sephy, whether you want to admit it or not.’
After nature, books were the second best thing, so before I had to face Hades, I escaped to the library again for the next few hours.
I buried the emotions that Tee’s words elicited in me.
Now was not the time to throw a hissy fit.
I mulled over Tee’s words regarding Zeus’s relationship with Hades but also suppressed the overwhelming feelings of compassion.
The thought of seeing Hades, after discovering I was truly the Persephone—especially following that lust-filled dream—sent nerves and embarrassment slithering through my body.
But, I chastised myself; it was merely a dream.
He knew nothing of my intense attraction to him.
Then I reflected on Tee’s conversation and what Hades had done when he lost Persephone—me—but I buried those thoughts deep within the darkest recesses of my mind.
I curled up in a chair and escaped the fuck-upery that was my life as I became engrossed in a fantasy romance book.
Simos’s voice broke the spell. ‘Look at you, reading your book without a care in the world.’
‘Well, nothing cures a bad day quite like reading and escaping into make-believe. Plus, I’m at a particularly spicy part.’ I grinned at him, and his cute face flushed adorably.
‘I love a bit of spice.’ He winked at me, and I let out a splutter of laughter.
‘Tell me, Sim.’ I set the book down. ‘Do you remember Persephone from… from before?’
He shook his head. ‘Nope. I lived in Dionysus’s realm. I’ve never seen much of Olympus.’
‘So how’d you end up here?’
‘I was Dionysus’s librarian. He gifted me to Hades to manage his library.’
‘Gifted you?’ I puckered my brow. ‘Gods can’t own people.’
‘Ah, Dionysus isn’t so bad. He asked me first,’ Simos replied with a half-shrug.
‘And now you serve Hades?’
‘I don’t serve him. I work for him. Don’t believe badly of him; he’s a great boss. He cares for and protects those loyal to him. We all love him.’
‘Oh.’ I didn’t know what else to say. That statement intrigued me, along with the story Tee told me about him. He was an arrogant prick, but was he really an okay person? I shelved the thought.
‘So!’ I jumped up, probably having the best idea ever.
‘I’ve got several, though I’m not entirely certain how many “events” to attend.
Like dinners and such, I suppose.’ I threw my arms up in an “I haven’t a clue” gesture.
‘And I’m allowed an escort. I wondered’—I looked into Simos’s eyes as he studied me—‘if you might be my escort? You’d at least get to see more of Olympus. ’
He took a step back as his eyes roamed over me. ‘Like a date?’
‘No, you moron. As my friend.’
He raised his shoulders and tilted his head slightly. ‘Disappointing, but yes. I’d love to be your date.’
‘Not a date. Idiot.’
He chuckled wickedly. ‘Once you’ve gone Satyr, you never look back. We’re great lovers.’
‘Ugh. You’re grim.’
He laughed evilly, then sobered up as his gaze met mine again. ‘You’re a good person, Persephone.’
I hesitated, feeling my heart swell. ‘Thanks, Sim. And you’re a good friend.’
The time came to see Hades, and after my chat with Tee, I dressed to impress—perhaps I could persuade him to free me? He sounded like a reasonable man, after all. Plus, if I were his Persephone—that thought elicited a pleasant shudder through me—surely he’d do whatever I asked of him?
I opted for a bold, form-fitting deep blue jumpsuit featuring a sleeveless lace top tied around my neck, with silk noil trousers draping softly against my legs.
A pair of ballet pumps in the matching colour completed the look, and I was good to go.
I left my hair loose and coloured my lips with pale coral lipstick.
I left my divine blade in the room; I couldn’t risk angering Hades by threatening him again.
Not if I wanted to get the hell out of here.
As my thoughts turned to Hades, anxiety bloomed in my chest. I took a deep breath through my nose and shook out my shoulders, but tension lingered deep in my muscles.
Tee walked in and gave me an appraising look.
‘Let’s go.’ She extended her hand, and as soon as she touched me, we teleported to Hades.
I found myself in a lovely, expansive room; the walls were infused with glowing light and painted a soft gold, while plush velvet sofas and chairs encircled an immense fireplace, with sumptuous rugs giving the huge space a cosy feel.
The dining table was as black as onyx, embedded with sparkles that twinkled like scattered moondust. Enormous doors filled one wall, standing open and leading to the beautiful terrace where we had dined.
‘This room is lovely,’ I whispered as I touched the table laden with a massive vase of asphodels.
‘It’s part of Hades’ private chambers.’ My head whipped around at her words, and she let out a throaty chuckle.
‘Hades will bring you back; don’t go wandering off alone again.
’ She gave me a pointed look, and raised a finger.
‘And don’t try killing him. Have fun,’ she said, winking at me before disappearing again.
Gods and baby kittens everywhere. I was in his private chambers.
If I were Persephone, I must have been here before…
and in his bedroom. The thought made my stomach tumble, but I pushed it aside.
I wandered around the space, trailing my fingers over the furniture, when my eyes were drawn to a large screen with intricate designs etched into the metal.
As I peered behind, I saw an enormous hole in the tiled floor, filled with what appeared to be sizeable pieces of beautiful black opal.
I picked one up and rolled it between my palms, feeling the humming energy of the gem as my gaze fell upon a spectacular eight-foot rose tree—sadly, a very dead eight-foot rose tree.
‘Oh, baby! What happened?’ I whispered as I made my way towards it.
‘You happened.’ His voice made me whirl around. The ridiculously handsome, hulking form of the god of the Underworld stood relaxed, resembling some dashing hero from a sexy-as-hell romance novel—and a host of hummingbirds took flight in my belly.
Control yourself, Sephy. For fuck’s sake.
‘What do you mean?’ My throat thickened as I met his gaze.
‘When you vanished, life in the Underworld gradually dwindled too, Persephone. Including my vis vitae.’
A tangled web of emotions choked my throat as guilt dug like ice-tipped fingers.
It was my fault he was so miserable—my fault that he lost control all those years ago.
I wanted to go to him and wrap my arms around him …
comfort him. The pull in my chest was growing stronger.
Instead, I swallowed down the bitter knot of emotions and bit my lower lip as my gaze fell to the floor.
After a few beats, my eyes met his again.
‘May I?’ I pointed to the rose tree, and he inclined his chin.
‘You’ll be fine,’ I reassured as I stroked the thick trunk of the tree.
My flora magic pulsed within me, its powerful energy skittering across my skin—it surged, heady and rich through my veins.
At my touch, the tree slowly transformed; the bare branches shifted colour as glossy green leaves with toothed edges sprouted, followed by a thick array of rose buds.
The sharp thorns contrasted beautifully with the blooms as they unfurled into a mix of very full-bloom purple and red roses.
I breathed in their scent and smiled—a magical experience with delicate notes of musk, violet, and lemons.
‘I’ll never tire of seeing you do that, sweetness.
Roses were always one of your favourites.
’ His voice was hoarse. With the snap of his fingers, the screen vanished, revealing the full splendour of the tree.
‘What you have already created in the Underworld’—Hades gestured towards the windows, showcasing the plethora of colour—‘is like you bringing the promise of life back to us.’
My gaze met his again as heat invaded my cheeks.
‘I have flora magic.’
He sighed. ‘Flora magic has always been one of your gifts, among others. Your powers will grow anew while you visit the Underworld.’
The word ‘visit’ made my heart race… Hope sparked, but I squashed it before it caught fire and spread. At the thought of leaving, though, I was conflicted. Did I want to leave him? My heart squeezed at the prospect of never seeing him again.
‘Oh,’ I squeaked.
‘You are a goddess, Persephone, not a witch.’
‘Yeah, apparently. That’s what Tee said.’ I squinted up at him. In my ballet pumps, I was tiny. He was tall—so big and tall.
‘You were reborn and raised to believe you were a witch. To think I was your enemy.’
I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I kept my mouth shut.
He drew his lower lip between his teeth, and for some weird reason, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his mouth.
A heated curl in my stomach made me suck in a shaky breath.
I didn’t like this feeling at all, for a truckload of reasons.
The foremost being that he was king of death and shadows.
I might be Persephone reborn, but I wasn’t her anymore.
I was me. I pried my gaze away and focused on my clasped hands.
‘Tee mentioned your fangs are retractable. How come you’ve not hidden them from me?’ I said, lifting my gaze to him again.