Chapter Three

Meg slept for much of the first day, when she awoke early the next day she had no idea what time it was. There were no windows in the chamber, the only light came from the icy blue flames that lit the torches in each of the corners. She rubbed her shoulders feeling the roughness of goosebumps against her frozen flesh. I hoped it was a dream, she sighed to herself. Had she really sold her soul to Hades? Had that really been the only way? She contemplated trying to fool herself that the previous day had been a dream, but what was the point? Why else was she in this dark and dank chamber? She pushed herself off the flimsy straw bed and march towards the door, but it was locked and refused to budge an inch. I have to get out of here; she pressed a hand to her throat feeling suddenly claustrophobic. Her breath came out in short and desperate gasps. What if Hades forgot about her?

"Relax, I would never forget about someone as pretty as you." Hades appeared in a burst of blue flames sending Meg's already shocked nervous system into overdrive. "Megara!" The iciness of his hands on her arms made her freeze mid-scream and she looked into his yellow eyes. "I know this is a shock for you, but relax. There is nothing more irritating than a hysterical woman." He gently pushed her towards the straw bed and she fell onto her backside stunned. "Hungry?" A crude clay bowl appeared in his hands, he offered it to her and Meg peered inside.

"Oh gods!" She pushed his hand away retching; the bowl was full of plump pink worms wriggling around futilely. "Please, can I just return home?"

"I am not keeping you prisoner here Meg, this is for your own good. I explained to you yesterday if you return home now people will ask questions, your father in particular. Would you rather lie to him, or tell him the truth that the God of the Underworld owns your soul?" He sat beside her as the bowl evaporated, his touch was cold but she somehow suppressed a shudder as he rested his hand on her shoulder. "You are free to leave whenever you want, but your father will not expect you home for over a week – if at all. I am sure we could pass the time…somehow…"

"If I am free then why was the door locked?" Meg couldn't help asking.

"That was for your own protection. I did not want you to wake up and become hysterical, to think that the previous day had been a dream. Locking the door would make sure you did not run away and do yourself harm, if you would prefer I can leave the door unlocked from now on and you will be free to roam around the temple grounds. You will not find any companionship, you have seen for yourself how neglected my temple is." Meg bit her lip and stood up so she could move away from the intimidating god. She opened the door to the small room and stared out at the cold dark temple.

"What can I do? I cannot sit in here for a week," Meg rubbed her arms as Hades approached her; she was fighting back the urge to move away from him. Hades curled a tendril of her hair around his long finger and tugged at it gently.

"We could get to know each other a little better. You are in my employ after all; I should like to know you." His fingers traced down her arms and Meg pushed him away blushing.

"There is nothing to know, my father is a farmer and I am en –" She cut herself off not wanting to say the words out loud to the god.

"You think a prince will marry a farmer's daughter? Do they not normally marry princesses or have times changed that much?" Meg blushed at the sarcasm in his tone but she shot the god a cold look.

"This is different, he loves me. We were going to run away so no one could stop us; if we married and consummated it then no one could have prevented us from being together." Meg realised how foolish she sounded but she didn't care. She turned to scowl at the god and found him resting with his head against the wall; his mouth open yet his eyes were closed as he feigned sleep. "What concern is it of yours whether I marry a prince or not?" Meg snapped storming from the room and walking into the heart of the temple. She looked oppressively at the giant marble statue of the god; it was caked in dust so that the features of his face were barely distinguishable.

"You are right babe; it is no skin of my nose who you marry. Or don't." Meg looked around but couldn't see anyone there; she shuddered as she remembered the voice which had led her to the temple. Had she been too rash in her decision? Looking around the empty temple hall didn't reassure her, who in their right mind sold their soul to the God of the Underworld? Surely it is meaningless…I do not feel any different. She was sure that once she returned home to her father things would be back to normal, and she would not think of Hades or his domain. I cannot be bound to him surely? As she dwelt on the question she gasped in pain as shards of ice stabbed at her heart, she fell to her knees and bit back a cry. "You'll get used to the pain eventually; it only happens once a day or so. Just a small reminder."

"Of what?" Meg gasped frightened that her heart was about to burst from the pain.

"That I own you of course, it would not do for you to forget that you have a master." Meg felt as if she were about to cry out from the pain, but it stopped so suddenly she was half convinced that perhaps she had hallucinated it altogether. "Trust me babe, in a few years you will be thankful you made this decision. What's a little discomfort now and again? You're a woman, you should know all about that." Meg blushed fiercely and carefully climbed to her feet, she only noticed then that her clothes were torn and dirty from her travels. "I must return to the Underworld, I assume you would not like to join me?"

"No thank you," Meg's nose wrinkled in disgust at the thought of journeying down to the Underworld. "I have no intentions of spending time there."

"You will have to one day my little Megara," Hades tweaked her nose and Meg pushed him away. When I am dead maybe. "Make yourself at home," with a click of his fingers the empty torches flared into life and Meg was relieved to see the flames turn from an icy blue to a warm and deep red, filling the temple with heat. "There is a lake close by should you wish to bathe, perhaps you would be kind enough to grant me the pleasure of dining with you this evening?" Meg nodded slowly; she saw no way of being able to politely refuse him. After Hades departed she saw no point in staring at the wall, she grabbed her possessions and went in search of the lake he had mentioned.

The temple was deep in a forest, the trees were clustered together plunging it into a deep cold darkness. Meg pulled out a fresh peplos and rested it over a low hanging branch within close reach of the lake, having no other choice she set the second one she had brought next to it so that she could dry herself quickly. Very few rays of light were able to penetrate the thick branches and leaves of the trees, she did not think lying on the grass to dry naturally would do her much good. Nor did she want to hang around; she had the uncomfortable feeling that she was not alone. Would Hades be watching her? For what? He said I am not being held here, I can leave if I want. So why am I still here? She dived into the lake and swam a few lengths beneath the surface; she loved the sensation of water flowing against her skin and her long hair dancing around her elegantly. When she could hold her breath no more she swam to the surface and gulped at the air. Could she really keep this from her father? And what of Adonis? Surely he had a right to know that his wife had sold her soul. But I did it for him; he surely would not care about such a thing! And what if he did not survive? What if she had sold her soul for nought? You cannot think like that! Meg scolded herself, but she no longer felt like swimming. She finished rinsing dirt from her hair and pulled herself from the lake. Her body was heavy, she felt as if her blood had been replaced with rocks and every inch of her was weighted down.

Hades joined her for an evening meal, mercifully bringing with him fruits and meats for her to eat rather than the plump mealworms he seemed so fond off. They ate in silence, Meg too deep in thought to try and even attempt conversation whilst Hades was intently staring at his new slave. He clicked his fingers and the remains of their small feast disappeared, in its place appeared a simple pomegranate. Plump and glistening a deep glossy red in the candle light. Wordlessly he picked up the plump fruit and ran his fingernail across the tough skin, his eyes never leaving Meg's face. The red of the fruit was reflected in her amethyst eyes and he could feel something stirring inside of him. Interesting, he thought to himself. When had he last lusted after a mortal? He left such dalliances to Zeus; they were pointless and besides mortal girls irritated him. But Megara was different, even her name stirred him.

"Do you like pomegranates?" He asked casually, his fingernails were as sharp as knives and as he continued to glide it smoothly across the fruit's skin it began to cut into it. Small droplets of juice began to cluster along the cut, welling like small droplets of blood.

"Of course," Meg shrugged and forced her eyes to move from the fruit in his large hand to the yellow eyes. She suppressed a shudder at the expression in his face, as if he were devouring her with his eyes. Hades split the pomegranate with a sickening crack, it sounded as if limbs were being torn apart as he pulled the fleshy fruit into two halves. He offered Meg the larger half with a sardonic smile. She looked at the fruit apprehensively and shook her head. "I – I am full."

"You are afraid." Hades scolded her, "Do not lie to me Megara. I am a god. I know when a foolish mortal is lying to me. What are you afraid off? It is only a piece of fruit."

"If I eat that...I am bound to you."

"You are already bound to me." Hades laughed, "so what should it matter if a fruit binds you to me? I already own your soul. What more could I want?" But the tone of his voice was clear and Meg forced her hands to stay folded in her lap, stopping herself from rubbing her arms.

"The temples say that this fruit will bind people to the Underworld."

"If you eat it in the Underworld you fool. If we were in my domain and I offered this to you then yes you would be bound to the Underworld and forbidden to leave. But we are not in the Underworld, we are in my temple. Why would I want you trapped in the Underworld? You would only pine for the mortal realm and would tire me. Now. Eat." The blue flame on his head turned a deep red, almost as red as the fruit, and Meg took it suddenly frightened. She bit into the fruit, sucking out the plump seeds. They were heavy with sweetness, almost intoxicating. She could feel the juices of the fruit sliding down her chin but she didn't care, closing her eyes she pressed the fruit to her mouth and continued to suck out each of the seeds. "I expect you wish to know how long you are to serve me?" Hades asked smiling at the lustrous look in her eyes; she shook her head as if she couldn't hear him. Taking the opportunity to examine her closer Hades stood up and walked behind her. He rested his slender fingers on top of her head; her mahogany hair was thick yet silky to the touch. His fingers trailed down to her shoulders, and he smiled at the change in her body language. She was no longer relaxed; instead her shoulders tightened and hunched up as if to protect herself. She will be an interesting one.

"Forgive me," suddenly Meg was on her feet and turning to stare up at the god. Self-consciously she wiped at the juices of the fruit from her chin, "I think perhaps I should retire for the night." Her hips swayed elegantly as she walked away, Hades couldn't help but admire the sensual aura that was draped across her like a cloak. Was she truly aware of the effect she could have on men? It will come in use and I can only look forward to teaching her. He smiled to himself, let her think she would marry her prince. Let her think that once she left this temple he would have nothing more to do with her. As she reached the door to the small room she had slept in Meg suddenly looked over her shoulder at him. "What did you mean when you asked if I wanted to know how long I would serve you?"

"Do not worry about that for now my little nutmeg," Hades appeared at her side in the blink of an eye and gently cupped her chin. "We will eventually need to settle on how long you shall work for me…but first settle in with your husband-to-be. Once you are married I will seek you out, or if you prefer to seek me you will only have to come here. For now rest, spend the next few days planning your wedding."