Chapter Eleven

Persephone sat beside a small river, a waterfall a little to her left sent rippling motions across the water's surface and for a a while she simply sat there admiring the effect. A feeling of déjà vu swept through her and she thought of a day when she had sat just like this. In a setting exactly like this. The only difference was that the sun was fake, if she looked up there was no brilliant blue sky or golden sun beating down its rays. There was a blue tint and golden light – but the eyes of a goddess were not to be fooled, Hades had tried his best to recreate the world above but he had little experience of the sun. To him it was distant memory, so distant that beyond the blue tint she could make out the cavernous stone ceiling of the Underworld. He had promised her that once she was a true Queen of the Underworld then she could perfect it…but she still wasn't sure. Could she really accept a life here?

She'd spoken to Hades about it several times, and he had admitted one small detail that changed everything. She'd never be allowed to leave. She'd be bound permanently to the Underworld. On the ground beside her lay a pomegranate, its smooth surface looked tender and deliciously inviting. After starving herself for so long Persephone was close to conceding defeat. Her mother clearly didn't care – no one had been to search for her! Surely if they had looked all over Earth they'd have realised that she had to be here. So that left only one option – no one cared. Yet Hades did…

"May I?" Persephone looked up startled to see Hades standing over her; she nodded and turned to look back into the watery depths of the river. She felt grass blades tickle her palm as they were disturbed by Hades movement. When she turned to look back at him she found him staring intently into her eyes. Slowly he picked up the pomegranate and bit into it, the fruit was so tender the juices dribbled down his chin but he ignored it and continued staring. Slowly leant over and pressed his lips to Persephone. "It would be easy Persephone." He whispered softly, "it could end now…"

It dawned on her what he meant, she could feel his tongue creeping over her lips, trying to ease them apart and slide a seed into her mouth. "No." She withdrew slowly and shook her head licking her lips. They tasted sweet and she looked at the fruit in his hand longingly. She was hungry – she didn't have to eat but she enjoyed it. The textures and different tastes of all the food…she missed experiencing though. "Not like this. Not now."

"When?"

"I don't know." She answered after a long silence. She watched as Hades bit into the pomegranate once more, her lips parted slightly as she looked at it hungrily. "Why can you eat pomegranate seeds and yet not be bound to this place?"

"I am bound to this place but by duties." Hades shrugged and looked at Persephone. His lips glistened with the juices from the fruit and he saw the look of her hunger in her eyes. Leaning over he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her in a slow yet passionate way. He tossed the pomegranate aside and pulled her towards him. Persephone put up no resistance, even as he lowered her onto the ground and began slowly undressing her. Persephone felt her eyes flutter shut; the sun beat down on Hades back making him warm to the touch, for a moment the atmosphere changed. The air felt real, the smells smelt real. With her eyes closed it almost felt like she was back on earth.

A cry of ecstasy passed her lips and she felt her nails digging into Hades's back. "It could be like this," Hades whispered into her ear his body weight pressing against her. "Why fight it?"

"I don't want to fight it." Persephone gasped as ripples of ecstasy shot through her body making her jolt as if shocked with each ripple. Her lips found His and she pressed her body as close to him as physically possible. When she fell back her chest was rising and falling in wild motions. She looked around and blushed – what had they just done? She sat up and grabbed her dress which had been thrown off in the passion; she held it close to cover herself up.

"Persephone – there's no one around." Hades reminded her sitting up and kissing her neck. He held out his hand and a pomegranate appeared. Persephone took it wordlessly and raised it to her lips. It felt smooth as it connected with her lips, her tongue rolling along the smooth curved surface. She had almost taken a bite when her eyes looked up at the sky.

"No." She said quietly throwing the fruit into the water. "I'm sorry but I can't bind myself permanently – I don't belong here Hades."

"Excuse me, my Lord?" Persephone gasped as a voice rang through the ear and she quickly covered herself up more securely with the dress. Looking up she saw a grey nymph with long white hair and clothed fully in black staring with a lost expression at Hades. "Hermes is hear to see you – he says it is urgent." With a small bow the nymph turned and sloped off.

"I can't end up like that." Persephone whispered feeling tears prick her eyes.

"You won't – she's a nymph, a dead one. She's just a soul – a shadow of her former self. You'll be alive and healthy." Hades said in a stiff voice, Persephone couldn't help but the notice the glinting panic look in his eyes. "I will see you at dinner. I hope you will join me." Kissing her swiftly on the lips Hades departed leaving Persephone alone with nothing but her thoughts. How close had she been to eating those seeds? Was it a sign? Did she deep down actually want to be bound to this place? Sighing Persephone quickly dressed herself and thought everything over. Could she give up earth forever? Never see her mother again?