Just a short chapter this time. I'm trying desperately to come up with ideas for how to bring the all-important pomegranate in. I really have no idea, but I'll keep working on it.
As for the nookie, I think I'll just slap a bigass warning on that chapter. Also, I doubt my nookie scene/s will be graphic enough to truly offend the average reader.
And so it was done. Blood ran in rivulets down her arm and dripped off her elbow, and her hand felt nerveless.
She could feel Hades' eyes on her. She looked up, and saw that he was staring at their entwined hands, and the inordinate amount of blood coming off of them.
His eyes flickered over her face.
"Come," he said, moving to cradle her arm, and leading her off the dais.
The blood in her veins seemed to turn to ice, and her legs into clay. She did not want to go anywhere alone with this man.
She turned to look for Danea's familiar face in the mass of assembled creatures, but Hades had put an arm around her waist and was leading her away.
She vaguely registered a voice, talking, and realized that it was her husband's.
Husband…
"…should have known better. Hecate's manner has always been rough. I have no powers to heal you, but I can at least bind that."
Persephone was absolutely paralyzed by fear. Where were they going? What was he going to do?
It seemed like years later when Hades nudged a set of double doors open with his boot, and led her inside.
Leading her to a chair, he retreated into another room, returning with a few strips of gauzy fabric.
To her surprise, he knelt before her and began mopping up the blood from her injury.
His hands were surprisingly dexterous, and his touch was gentle.
Persephone looked around, noticing her surroundings for the first time.
This place looked much like her room, except larger.
"Where are we?" she whispered.
Hades looked up into her eyes, the first time she'd even been able to look upon him from up close. Something about his eyes struck her instantly. Then he looked down again at his work.
"This is where I sleep, and read. It will be our bedchambers…when you wish it."
It took awhile for Persephone to register his words.
"What? When I…?"
Hades looked up at her, his face flushed. He seemed angry, or embarrassed. Perhaps both. "Do you think me some kind of monster?"
He began wrapping bandages around her hand. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet.
"You will come willingly to my side or not at all."
Persephone stared down at him wonderingly.
Perhaps her mother was wrong.
"What about you?" she motioned to his hand.
He looked up again. "I am a much older god than you, Lady. I heal much faster."
He held up his open palm, and sure enough, the cut was already beginning to close.
Aphrodite gazed into the fire, her chin resting on her hand.
"My dark and lonely friend Hades, now a married man." She said, looking over at him.
He did not look away from the fire.
"The closer I become to her, the more her rejection hurts me." He murmured, his voice throaty.
"Of course. That's the way love is, when it's unrequited. You didn't expect her to just swoon into your arms, did you?"
Hades sighed. "I've never had much practice at wooing women."
Aphrodite shrugged. "You are a genuine romantic, brother. Your nature makes up for your inexperience."
"Aphrodite, please…tell me. Tell me how to make her happy. What can I do to make her love me? How do I please her?"
She arched an eyebrow at him, partially in amusement and partially in concern.
"Goodness, brother. I'm not sure I posses all those answers."
She considered, purposefully avoiding Hades' intense stare.
"Be patient with her. Teach her about this realm, and yourself. And remember her innocence."
Hades shifted in his chair, and crossed his arms over his chest. "That is part of my concern, yes. I've never been… a woman's first lover before."
Aphrodite laughed, visibly surprising Hades.
"Well, that I can help you with."
"Oh?"
"Of course. I was innocent once, you know."
Hades snorted. "You'll ruin your reputation, speaking that way."
"It's our secret then." She laughed, and leaned forward conspiratorially.
"If only more men sought my advice, they'd make life a lot easier for themselves…"
