Chapter 4
Damn, the response from you (my amazing readers) is utterly wonderful – thank you all so much for believing in this story. It wouldn't be half as good without your encouragement.
Customary shout-outs to: marzh and Grace5231973, who have continued to bless my inbox with reviews (internets kisses) and internet hugs to everyone who has followed the story or me 3
Alright, story is getting a little more "legendary" now – as in, it's probably going to start sounding a little more familiar – although I don't think I'll be popping the abduction scene yet, but I'll be building up to it.
Hades POV:
If he hadn't known it was impossible for him to be nervous, Hades would have said that there was strange and rather nauseous feeling in his stomach that could have resembled it in some way. He checked his hair and clothing one last time in the mirror, frowning as usual at the appearance within.
"Oh Hads, quit your preening. I'm sure she'll think you're very pretty." A snarky voice intruded and he turned to find Hecate standing in the doorway of his room. Her arms were folded across her chest and there was a wide smirk across her face. He scowled.
"Who?" He asked darkly, trying and failing to look as though he hadn't been preening. Hecate snorted.
"Whoever it is that has you bent out of shape." She replied saucily, walking forward to loop her arm through his and guide him to the great hall. He gazed down at her along his nose. She poked her tongue out at him and laughed at his scandalised expression.
"Oh come now Hads, live a little.' She murmured and he rolled his eyes.
"In case it hass escaped your notice Hecate, that's not really my domain." He retorted and she made a rude sound with her lips.
"Details." She said airily, waving a hand of blood red nails in the air. Hades hid his smile. Without her, he probably would have gone a little crazy in his banishment, so he really shouldn't be so gruff with her. Old habits died hard though.
"Let's get this over with then." She muttered and it was Hades turn to look amused. She rolled her golden eyes.
"Don't act like Olympians don't drive you mad as well." Hecate challenged and Hades shrugged half-heartedly.
"They all just sit pretty on top of that blasted mountain, happy to meddle with the world but never in a way that matters." It was the closest to bitter he'd ever heard her sound.
"It's the way it is Hecate." He said flatly, ignoring the way she scowled up at him.
"Always so fatalistic." She muttered darkly and he raised an eyebrow.
"Just realistic." He returned, whirling them away to Olympus and smirking as she squawked in protest. She staggered slightly as they arrived. He assisted her upright and she slapped him lightly on the shoulder.
"If I've chipped a nail..." She threatened and he laughed.
"Fates forbid." He teased and she smirked. They walked in amiable silence to the gates of Olympus. Both of them drew the eye of others. In their matching clothes of deep black they were a rather striking contrast to the assembled explosion of colour, but where Hecate raised either interest or arousal, Hades always drew distaste at best or repulsion at worst.
"Ignore them." Hecate whispered, her mouth barely moving.
"Who?" He replied just as quietly. She sighed, un-looping her arm from his and patted it gently.
"Try to have some fun and stop hiding behind pillars. It is your niece's birth day after all." She reminded him, as though he could possibly forget. He smiled thinly and bowed mockingly to her. She rolled her eyes, walking off in the direction of the bar. He was found himself a pillar to not hide behind, spotting Hephaestus speaking with Ares of all people. They made eye contact across the room and Hades nodded in greeting. The blacksmith nodded back calmly, setting his usually slouched shoulders straight. Within the span of a blink, his whole demeanor seemed to change and he even seemed to dwarf the mighty God of War beside him. Hades thought back on the night he'd brought Persephone's message to him, and the many nights that had come since, where they'd shared stories over a bottle of the best Cretan wine. He'd become rather fond of his nephew, but when he'd advised him to try and tackle his demons more directly, sizing up Areas hadn't exactly been what he'd meant. He wished him luck regardless.
The ceremony progressed as expected. Demeter and Persephone arrived last, were ushered up onto the dais, and Zeus brought forward a large goblet, filled with the fabled ambrosia. After repeatin the Oath of Godhood, that she would uphold her duties and forsake mortality for the higher purpose of universal servititude, Persephone was permitted to drink from the cup. Hades felt proud as she drained the goblet, then dabbed delicately at a small drop that tried to escape down her chin. A hot flash of desire flooded him as he realised he wanted to be the one to dab it away. He wrestled with that dangerous, unhealthy thought. He left in search of a strong drink, pouring himself a healthy dose of red wine before slipping back to shelter (not hide) behind his pillar.
"Uncle Hades," He froze as her sweet voice reached him. Slowly turning on his heel, he fought to keep his face neutral as Persephone wove her way through the crowd towards him, politely accepting people's congratulations as she brushed past. Some even attempted to follow her, until they saw her destination.
"Persephone," He said hoarsely, draining the glass and abandoning it as she approached. His Persephone smiled brightly, her shining green eyes illuminating from within. Up close he could see that she had truly blossomed with the coming of her majority. The long limbs that had given her grief as a youngster now drew the eye and mind to places no decent person should acknowledge. Her hair had grown into a fiery mane that fell past her waist, even with half of it piled atop her head in delicate curls. She was finally wearing a peplus he noted, one of pure white which offset her naturally olive complexion perfectly. Seven Hells, she was beautiful. Hades wondered if he hadn't really seen it before, or hadn't wanted to. He reasoned that, for most of his interactions with her, he'd only really seen her as a child but now, as a woman and a Goddess in her own right, he wondered how long that would last.
She looked like a true goddess now, far removed from the sobbing and terrified 16 year old he's held in his arms five years ago. Hades wondered if she knew it. He went rigid as she threw her arms around him in a tight hug.
Evidently not.
"It is good to see you." She said ardently and he nodded, his eyes scanning the people closest to them, in case of eaves droppers.
"My congratulations, Persephone. You're a Goddess now." He observed with a small smirk and she blushed, casting a sheepish glance to the floor and twisting his ring around her finger. He tried not to smile even more at that.
"I don't feel like one." She admitted and he leaned in slightly.
"Can I let you in on a small secret?" He asked and she nodded, looking up at him.
"I suspect none of us do." He whispered and she laughed, drawing confused looks their way. He tried not to flinch under the weight of their attention. She noticed and looped her arm through his. Defiantly, he would have said. He tried not to think too much of it. She began to stroll with him around the perimeter of the room, waving and greeting various guests.
"I do wonder why he bothers with all this." Persephone said after a few minutes quiet and Hades had to fight to pay attention to her words, and not the warmth of her hand on his arm.
"Who?"
"My father." She said with a sigh and Hades looked to where his brother sat in his wine cups with a gaggle of men, including (as always) his lapdog of a brother Poseidon.
"You're not enjoying the party?" He asked and she sighed.
"I just don't know what to do with myself at parties. I don't have much experience with them." Hades nodded, knowing the feeling quite well. He nodded towards Zeus.
"He has always liked to show off." He said in answer to her question, trying to convince himself that his voice wasn't edged in a little bitterness. Persephone looked up at him. He smoothed his features into a polite mask.
"He is the youngest of us, technically. I supposed that's what siblings do, try to out-do each other."
Persephone sighed sadly.
"Sometimes I wished I had a sibling." She began to say but stopped as Artemis stormed past, her furious gaze on her brother Apollo. Hades felt Perspehone stiffen at the sight of him and hurried to turn her in another direction.
"Then again, maybe it was for the best that I didn't." She continued.
"I would probably be terrible at sharing."
Her voice shook slightly, even though she kept a pleasant smile on her face. Hades ached to say the right thing to take that fear away.
"Be glad you didn't." He found himself saying and Persephone looked at him strangely. He looked to his brothers and Hera. Demeter seemed to be, for once, absent from view.
"In my experience, siblings are a family you cannot choose and that brings with it certain problems. If you get along, it's fine. If not..." He trailed off, biting down on the words. He inhaled and looked to smile down at her. He was surprised to find her upturned face creased in sympathy.
"But, enough doom and gloom from me," He said, with faux brightness. She quirked a brow at him.
"It is your birth day, I'd hate to ruin it with old troubles." She laughed.
"Never." She declared, nodding politely to another minor goddess dressed in a soft baby pink chiton.
"It's refreshing to have someone speak honestly with me for once." She un-looped her arm from his, swirling slightly to face him but keeping her hands on his arm.
"It's what I like about yo-" She broke off, her cheeks flushing. Hades felt his eyes widen. Had she really been about to say she liked him?
Before he could say something at all though, a soft giggle made him turn his head to see Aphrodite approaching. Since her birth, she had always been glorious to behold but today, with another young and beautiful goddess at his side, Hades seemed to find her usually glowing blonde locks and sensuous rose-coloured mouth... lacking.
"Uncle. Sister." She said, by way of a greeting, her delicate tresses piled meticulously atop her head.
"Aphrodite." Hades returned coolly. The Goddess of Love looked between them and smirked.
"Enjoying the festivities?" She inquired, innocently. He looked down to see that Persephone's hands were still latched on his arm... and there wasn't all that much space between them either. If he hadn't been him, he would have laughed at the rather compromising picture they must have created. The younger goddess flushed even deeper and looked down at her feet. Hades however, refused to be throw off the adulterous little chit.
"Just... admiring the view." He said causally, tossing his head towards the other side of the room where Ares and Hephaestus were currently locked in an arm-wrestling contest. Aphrodite followed his gaze, her face paling when her eyes alighted on the scene.
"What in all the universe is he doing?" She muttered, re-arranging her almost indecently see-through peplus. Hades wasn't entirely sure which he she was referring to. Aphrodite whirled back to face them her usually pretty face set in a frown.
"I just wanted to pass on my congratulations to you today, Sister." She murmured tightly and Persephone dipped her head rapidly in a small curtesy.
"Thank you." She replied. As Aphrodite moved away Persephone's lips twisted into a small smile.
"I hope you enjoy the party." She called out cheekily to her half-sister, smirking when the other woman tossed her a rather cool look before storming away towards her husband and lover. Persephone let out a small giggle, a hand pressed to her lips.
"I shouldn't have said that." She said and Hades chuckled.
"Probably not, however since you're both Goddesses, I'd say you have all of eternity either to loath each other or reconcile." He teased and she slapped his arm lightly, her laughter coming more easily now. The casualness of the gesture made his heart squease rather painfully in his chest.
"I suppose you're right." She said cheerfully and he raised a brow cockily.
"I usually am." She scowled playfully at him. He chuckled. She went still, her head cocked at him as though she was remembering something. Leaning back against the pillar they'd come to, Hades looked out across the room to where Aphrodite was trying to convince the two males to stop the contest... which Hephaestus seemed to be winning. Persephone followed his gaze.
"I wager that Hephaestus wins," Hades murmured quietly. Persephone cast a glance towards him slyly.
"Wager what?" He shrugged, momentarily unsure what to bet with. Then she nodded, her eyes glittering.
"I wager... a secret."
Hades chuckled.
"Secrets can be dangerous." He warned jokingly and Persephone nodded, her green eyes serious.
"Indeed." She extended her hand. He clasped it firmly, seeing something flash behind her They watched as Ares' arm began to strain beneath the weight of his opponent. Persephone's eyes widened. A moment later, with a shout of triumph, the club-footed God of the Forge slammed the arm back on the table top. The crowd around him cheered, several men toasted and a few ladies eyed Hephaestus a little more closely than before. Aphrodite looked utterly poleaxed. She looked between the two men before her. Her husband looked at her, his dark eyes glowing with something Hades thought might be a little too open for a crowded ballroom. He turned to look at Persephone. She was staring at him in a strangely predatory way.
"So..." He faltered, clearing his throat.
"I won the wager." He said and she nodded. She leaned back against the pillar, folding her arms over her chest.
"And I owe you a secret I guess." She titled her head, as though trying to find such a thing. Then she grinned. Hades had lived long enough to recognise that particular look. He swallowed. How in all the universe was it possible to win a bet, yet still feel like he'd lost?
OOOOOOOOOOO
Persephone POV:
There had been something niggling at her all night, and as she'd passed the evening with Hades it had gotten stronger and stronger. It wasn't until he'd chuckled, openly and freely, that she realised what it was. But she had to be sure.
"You of course know that I had a friend growing up." She started, looking at her nails.
"Just the one." Hades was looking at her in puzzlement, but his silver eyes were watching her intently. He nodded.
"Well, he was the one to show me my powers." There was no surprise on his face, although his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
"Mother, you see, had avoided teaching me anything up until that point, and one day, when my friend came to visit me, he showed me how to grow things." She said slowly and Hades nodded, just as slowly. His expression now seemed rather tight on his face.
"The thing is." She continued, twisting her ring idly.
"He claimed that he was a monster, but no monster can walk unseen in broad daylight." A streak of panic flickered in those cool grey eyes. Persephone's heart quickened.
"And no monster should know how our powers work, should they Uncle?" She asked sweetly.
Hades, by contrast, looked like someone had hit him square in the solar plexis. She opened her mouth to say more but a cool finger came to rest on her lips. She looked down at that pale digit and something flared deep in the lower part of her belly. It wasn't unpleasant. In fact, Persephone found that she liked it, a lot. Shaking such thoughts away, she watched his face carefully, trying to ignore the heat on her cheeks. He, thankfully, seemed to be warring with himself, rather than noticing her blushes. Persephone watched as Hades reached an internal decision.
"Come with me." He said finally. He peeled himself off the pillar and stalked away through the crowd. Hours of drinking and revelry had made people rather dozy, but they still parted before him like an ocean. As Persephone followed discreetly, she wondered idly what she was missing. Why had she never once felt the fear or distaste that others so clearly felt for her Uncle? They ended up on a quiet balcony overseeing a small garden. The moon was streaming through a small curtain of cloud, throwing everything into a playful mess of light and shadow. Hades was standing by at the arc of the balcony railing, his back to the door. Persephone walked quietly to his side. She rested her hip against the railing, staring up into her monster's face for the first time.
"Hello, my friend." She said and Hades mouth twitched. Persephone sighed.
"Why? Why did you hide from me for so long?" She asked and Hades sighed, his handsome face conflicted.
"At first," He said, his voice no louder than a whisper.
"I was worried I would scare you, I frighten most small children so the first time I was worried I'd send you hurtling through the forest, scared out of your wits, and over a cliff somewhere." Persephone snorted in amusement. Hades looked at her sideways, his face a perfect picture of sheepishness. Persephone realised that he must have been very young when they drank the ambrosia after their battle of Thessaly. He looked only a little older than her – and it was only his eyes that gave him away.
"And later?" She demanded and Hades chuckled, that smooth, dark chuckle that she now remembered so well from her childhood. Even as she stood there, Persephone struggled to believe that her monster and her beloved Hades were one and the same. She was waiting for the dream to end, for her mother's voice rousing her from sleep to go prepare for her birth day celebration.
"Later, I was a coward." He admitted, staring up at the sky. She faltered to hear him say it.
"I thought you didn't trust me." She said and Hades nodded, his face agonised.
"And you cannot imagine how often in the last ten years I've regretted not telling you." She processed this, then let a smile stretch across her lips.
"You're smiling?" He asked, incredulous.
"You kept your promise." She said simply and he snorted.
"So easily pleased." He remarked and she slapped him lightly on the arm.
"I'll have you know, it was awful living without my friend." She said, letting a little of her sadness seep into the admission.
"I'm sure the nymphs were perfect company." He said, and it took her a moment to realise he was trying to joke with her. She fought to keep her face perfectly blank.
"As were the ghosts, I'm sure." She retorted seriously, turning to face the garden. They were silent for about half a second, then Persephone let out a loud snort as the absurdity of it all finally hit her. Hades shocked expression broke the dam entirely and she started howling with laughter. After a moment he started to laugh as well; his broad chest shook with deep, rolling waves of mirth that she wished she could hear every day. She wiped at her eyes, feeling fat tears rolling down her cheeks. Her stomach ached from laughter and she was glad to see Hades face was, for the first time since she'd met him, totally relaxed. It made him look even younger, and so very handsome.
Stop it! A shrill little voice in her mind snapped and she had to cough to cover the jolt that ran through her body. Hades hand came to rest on her back as he leaned over in concern. She waved him away, unthinkingly. He retracted instantly, his face flashing with hurt. She cursed herself. Of course he would take even a minor 'no' as a rejection, when had anyone offered him any different? She drew closer and weaved her arms around his waist, ignoring his slight flinch. She realised, with a sudden shock, that the fear she usually associated with men was non-existent in his presence. She hadn't forgotten, no, she doubted she would ever forget, but her heart wasn't in her throat like it would have been. It was racing, but in a... good way? She looked up at him with a gentle smile.
"You're still really tall." She said, to break the ice more than anything and Hades quirked a brow at her.
"I just remember 'my monster' being really tall." She said lamely and he chortled, tentatively placing a hand around her shoulders. She leaned into him.
"Do you think I could come visit you? In the Underworld, I mean?" She asked and Hades stiffened.
"I mean, if I'm overstepping I understand, I just thought-" She stammered to a halt, trying to untangle herself and feeling her cheeks practically light on fire. She stopped as Hades placed a hand under her chin, tilting her face to his. His face was probably the most startled it had been all evening, and that was saying something.
"You would like to visit?" He asked quietly and, in that moment, Persephone realised how terribly alone he must be. It was the same loneliness she, who had grown up entirely alone, could understand. She nodded, unable to speak. His eyes flickered with something to quick and deep for her to catch properly.
"You are always welcome in my kingdom, velanídi." Persephone smiled at the nickname. Then, she became painfully aware of the lack of distance between them. His fingers were pleasantly cool on her flushed skin and she found herself falling into a snowstorm of silver. She was pleased to see he didn't look... unaffected. His usually pale cheeks had flushed ever so slightly and his fingers trembled ever so slightly against her face. She leaned forward ever so slightly, her eyes never leaving his... then heard rushing footsteps behind them. Hades' head snapped towards the noise and he took a swift step back as, to Persephone's total surprise, Athena appeared. She pulled to a stop, taking them in with surprise.
"Good evening, Uncle." She said to Hades and he smiled thinly. Athena tossed her dark hair over a shoulder and looked to Persephone with a wink. Sensing a friend Persephone smiled broadly back.
"As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, your mother is looking everywhere for you." She said dramatically, and Persephone exhaled as she realised she'd been absent from her own party for nearly half an hour. She nodded and stepped towards her half-sister, who smiled at her and looked at Hades.
"I'm hosting a small gathering in a month or so, you're welcome to attend." She said kindly and Hades nodded, his smile becoming a little less brittle. Athena slipped her arm through Persephone's and lead her away. She looked back once to see Hades standing at the railing, staring at his hand like he'd never seen one before. Her heart swelled in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't just a little girl to him anymore.
Athena took her on a slight detour, taking a little time to congratulate her personally but also to offer her the same invitation to her gathering in a month or so. Persephone was flattered and by the time she was deposited back into her mother's arms she had the silliest expression on her face. She fell asleep that night, happier than she'd been in years.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Hephaestus POV:
He was starting to think this was an incredibly bad idea. Standing in the midst of Athena's palace, Hephaestus found him surrounded by some of the smartest beings within the divine realms... and felt extraordinarily out of place. Over by the window he saw Artemis and Hecate buried in their wine cups, laughing and trading news. In another corner, the Muses created and recited their poetry and plays, entertaining the only other males in the whole complex - Asclepius, Dionysius and , he could always get drunk with Dionysius if things got too intellectual. He ambled over to them, raising a hand in greeting as the effervescent Hermes spotted him.
"Good man, you came!" Hermes said, clapping him on the shoulder and pushing a cup of wine into his hand. Dionysius raised his own in greeting. Sombre faced Asclepius nodded to him gravely, before turning his gaze back to two of his daughters, who were pouring over some scrolls they'd borrowed from Athena's seemingly endless supply. Hephaestus sipped, catching Athena's eyes and raising a hand in greeting. She smiled.
"So, is this us then?" He asked and Hermes shrugged.
"I believe so, although I heard a rumour Hades might turn up... if we're unlucky enough." He said with a small grimace. Dionysius looked up.
"Hades is coming?" He asked, clearly intrigued. Hermes was about the reply when the unmistakable sound of whirling drifted to them from the doorway. They turned as one to see who it was.
"SEPHY!" Hermes called and Athena looked up with a delighted smile.
"Persephone, please come in." She said graciously and the younger goddess walked further into the room. As the two women embraced fondly, Hephaestus realised that it was the first time he had come face to face with Persephone. He stood and hobbled over to where the two women stood. Persephone noticed him first and a warm smile spread across her face.
"Cousin!" She murmured, moving to kiss him on the cheek. He felt himself blush a little, much to Athena's amusement. He smiled awkwardly back at the younger goddess who, unlike most new comers, didn't once glance towards his leg. He could have kissed her for that alone. She wove her arm through his and walked back towards the seating area.
"So, do you know why she's invited me?" Persephone asked and Hephaestus laughed.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." He replied and she giggled. Her green eyes were alight with mirth, and he figured his cousin was the closest thing to being made from joy as it was possible to be. Her whole body seemed to radiate positive energy, the type that made everyone around her feel just that little bit better. His wife's aura often drove people insane, either with desire or jealousy. Persephone's beauty was a softer kind.
"Maybe they're studying us." Persephone whispered conspiratorially. He sniggered.
"Not much to study with me I've afraid." He murmured and carefully lowered himself onto low lying the cushions. She remained standing for a moment, staring in wonder as the Muses finished their performance. She clapped with the rest of the room, as the nine sisters all bowed and smiled for their audience. As they dispersed she sat down beside him. Dionysius leaned across.
"You are without wine, and I will not stand for it." He said regally, offering her a glass of his finest red. Persephone thanked him and took it, nursing it gently in her hands as she gazed around the study hall in wonder. Floor to ceiling book shelves ran the length of the room. Tables, chairs and circles of soft cushions lay scattered about, illuminated by candles that seemed to hover of their own accord throughout the room. The crowning glory however was the ceiling, which was a perfect reflection of the starry sky outside. Occasionally a comet would fly overhead, drawing curious glances upwards. It was an academics paradise and Hephaestus felt a little out of place – although the wine was slowly helping with that.
"So, how did you escape, Sephy?" Hermes demanded, leaning back into the pillows and winking. He was a charming son of a bitch, Hephaestus would give him that, and yet Persephone seemed utterly oblivious. If anything his wink just made her laugh harder at him.
"I waited for her to fall asleep and snuck out." She said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. As she leaned forward to pour herself more wine, Hephaestus almost missed the wicked gleam in her eyes, which made him think there was a little more to it than that.
"But your Mother's wards, how did you get past them?"
"Trying to find a way in, Hermes?" Hephaestus asked casually, earning him a glare from the messenger God and a smile from Persephone. Oh, he could get used to those.
"Just trying to make conversation." He pouted and Persephone sniggered. Their little group spent the next hour or so in deep conversation. With the Muses practicing their various instruments or singing, Athena, Hecate and Artemis came to join them at their table of endless wine (thanks to a certain God). Hephaestus was surprised to discover that he kept up with most of what they spoke of. He had a decent knowledge of carpentry, sculpture and metalwork, which he used to his advantage during a debate about superior pottery techniques and a particularly engaging discussion on keystone placement and defining a ratio for a building's downward weight dispersion. They were just about to launch into another conversation when a familiar black whirl caught his attention. He titled his head to see none other than Hades emerge from the doorway, he signature black robes and heavy scowl perfectly in place.
"Uncle." Persephone and Athena called out in unison, making Hermes flinch and even old Asclepius look around. Hades observed them for a moment, then Hecate stood.
"It's about time, I was beginning to think you'd never show." She said, baring pearly white teeth in a wide grin. She stood with two glasses of wine, pushing on into the dark robed god's hand and stumbling back to giggle with Artemis on the floor. Hades moved slowly but deliberately to where they sat. Persephone, of all people, tried to get up to greet him but failed, stumbling on her peplus instead. She would have fallen face first into the rug, except Hades moved to catch her before she did so. Hephaestus pursed his lips in surprise as he watched his Uncle slowly and gently lower the young goddess to the floor. Who knew the King of the Underworld had a soft spot? Thankfully, or at least for Hades, only Hephaestus seemed to notice. Hermes was busy trying to drain the last of his wine, Dionysius had passed out over a nearby pouf, Asclepius was deep in conversation with his daughters on the finer points of surgical hygiene and Athena... actually, Athena had also witnessed the whole thing.
He shared a look with her across the table, to which she shrugged and smiled at her Uncle. Hades was lowering himself onto a nearby seat. The evening only declined, in some ways, from there. Having been drinking for most of the evening, most of the goddesses had curled up and fallen asleep where they lay. Hephaestus was very drunk himself, but as usual when he got this way his thoughts turned too morose to let him sleep.
"She... hic... she doesn't deserve you, you know that right, Heph?" Hephaestus looked down at a sleepy eyed Persephone. He didn't need three guesses to figure out the she his cousin was referring red-haired beauty grabbed his hand gently, pressing a soft kiss to his scarred and calloused skin.
"Aphy is a free spirit." He tried to explain.
"It would be wrong of me to try and contain her."
Even as he said it, Hephaestus wished it weren't true. To his surprise Persephone nodded seriously.
"People who love one another shouldn't hurt each other." She said seriously and Hephaestus sighed.
"She doesn't love me though." He said bitterly and drained his mug. Persephone's eyes welled with tears. Actual tears, for him?
"Then give her something to love." She said, laying a gentle hand on his arm and resting her head against his knee. Oh yes, she was definitely drunk. He sent her a thin-lipped smile.
"It's not so simple." He said sadly and she coughed.
"Nothing worth doing is simple, but if you love her as much as I suspect you do, isn't she worth the try? How in all seven hells is she supposed to love you, if you can't do it yourself?" Her words were like a hammer to an anvil. Something solid, tangible, filled with potential. He looked at her again, a small but genuine smile on his lips. His gaze met that of Hades. The other man was smiling, trying to hide it behind his glass, but for once Hephaestus didn't care. He stood suddenly. Persephone fell back onto the pillows with a small huff. She blew him a kiss and waved as he turned on his heel to leave. Athena opened an eyelid to watch him depart. Hephaestus left Athena's grotto feeling vastly more confident than he had leaving, and maybe that had been the point all along.
OOOOOOOOOOO
Hades POV:
He's never been one for parties or gatherings. In fact, the only reason he'd come at all was due to the rumour that a certain green-eyed nature goddess was amongst the exclusive guest list. Now he watched, with some amusement, as Persephone's sobriety faded with each passing moment. Hecate and Artemis were passed out together, a tangle of lithe limbs and gentle snoring. Athena had a little more decorum, arranging herself semi-decently across one of the couches. Asclepius and his daughters had left, and so had the Muses – although the seductive Erato was lingering by the door, trying to catch the eye of Dionysius. Hades sipped his wine and reclined, watching the gently twinkling stars above him. Perhaps this wasn't so bad.
"Hades," He looked down to see Persephone crouched by his feet.
"Can you take me home? I don't, hic, I don't think I'll make it alone."
He could deny her nothing. Not when, as he had realised upon her leaving at her majority, he was deeply, truly and irrevocably in love with her. He had always loved her, in some way or another, but he didn't know when exactly the love he'd felt throughout her childhood had changed into something more. Was it the first time they made eye contact? Or when he held her as she sobbed her heart out on a lonely balcony? Or maybe, it was when he held her as they laughed unabashedly in that garden a few months ago? He exhaled slowly.
"Of course, velanídi." He murmured, taking her hand and drawing her carefully to her feet. She swayed but managed to stay upright. She bent to kiss Athena's brow, thanking her for the evening. Her half-sister smiled and blew her a kiss. Hades escorted Persephone to the doorway, helped her through it, and whirled himself and his beautiful goddess "home."
Persephone looked around, her bleary eyes trying to take note of the tall trees and the gently flowing stream before her. The glade where she met with her nymphs was as close as he dared go. He watched as Persephone removed her shoes, sighing with relief as her toes curled in the moist earth. Hades gently grasped her waist and attempted to guide her across the waterway and towards the path that lead her to the cottage she shared with Demeter. Attempted was a good word, because about half way across Persephone lost her footing.
She plummeted with a gasp into the stream, taking him with her. It was absolutely freezing. In a matter of seconds, he grabbed her and waded to the shore, tossing her in a rather undignified heap onto the bank before hauling himself up as well. As he lay down beside her on the grass, regathering his breath and staring up at the distant, twinkling stars overhead, Hades tried to ignore the way the water had made Persephone's peplus cling rather unnecessarily to her body. The lightweight material revealed practically everything and the worst part was she seemed utterly oblivious to this fact and what it was doing to him.
"Fates preserve me." He muttered, running a hand over his face as she sat upright with a curse, wringing out her long tresses.
"Well, that was unexpected." She murmured and he snorted. A soft hand came to rest on his shoulder. He looked around his fingers to see her face, leaning over him in worry.
"Hades? You alright?" He nodded, straining to ignore certain bodily functions below his waist.
"You'd best run along, little one." He said roughly, flinching at the hurt in her eyes.
"I'm sorry I got you all wet." She said miserably.
"Truly, it doesn't matter." He replied tiredly, and truly it didn't. He just needed her to go, before he pounced on her and ruined that trust he'd only just managed to restore with her.
"You're angry with me."
"No. I'm not angry with you."
"But you're unhappy. I've upset you."
"No. You haven't, velanídi."
"Oh, so it's velanídi again now is it?"
He groaned.
"What do you want from me, Persephone?" He asked tiredly, finally pulling his hand away from his eyes to look her in the face. The tears he found there nearly shattered what was left of his cold, shriveled heart.
"I... I just want-" She broke herself off, wrapping her arms about herself. She was shivering, he realised. He sat up quickly, shrugging off his cloak. The top part had escaped a dunking in the water and he placed it around her shoulders, gently rubbing her arms to warm them. She leant into him, sighing softly.
"You."
He frowned.
"Pardon?" He leaned down as she looked up. Green eyes met silver and she smiled softly.
"I want you." She said clearly and, before he could say or do another thing, she rose onto her hunches and pressed her mouth to his.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
I know. I'm evil, aren't I? But who doesn't love a good cliffy? Stay tuned for the next installment of the story and don't forget to leave an CC, praise or just a friendly hello in the box below. Let me know what you think will happen next, or even what you want to happen next
Your reviews and encouragement give me life!
