Chapter Fourteen
Never before had Persephone both dreaded and anticipated the falling of the first leaf. The assumption she had, had in the Underworld about her mother becoming overbearing should she ever get free was true. Her first night back had been her only one alone so far, her mother had not believed that Hades would be content at having his wife beside him during the winter months and had set up escorts for wherever Persephone should go. She sometimes found herself longing to be back in the Underworld, at least Hades would leave her be – even if he did restrict where she could go sometimes.
But it wasn't just her overbearing mother that made her anticipate her return to the Underworld. She missed Hades. As furious as she was with him for what he had done, she found that she did love him. Her father had been right – she'd had to think about her answer. If she hadn't loved him then surely she'd have been able to say no straight away? Of course her mother argued that if she did love him she'd have been able to answer yes, but too much had happened for her to allow herself to love Hades completely. How could you love the man who had kidnapped you and forced you into a marriage? To live in a world of death when she thrived among the living. Maybe it wasn't love, but there was certainly something there.
Persephone groaned and pulled the bed cover over her head as her mother banged the door to her small cottage open. It was rude for gods to just materialise in another's dwelling, but her mother (or any of the others for that matter) didn't seem to comprehend that banging the door down and waltzing in was the same thing. "What do you think you are doing here? You're not safe Persephone!" Her mother scolded and yanked the covers off her daughter frowning in annoyance at the tell-tale tear stains on her daughter's face. "Why are you moping over that despicable god? Do you think he is in the Underworld moping after you? No! He is going around his daily business and frolicking with nymphs."
"Hades doesn't 'frolic'." Persephone jumped to her husband's defence. As angry as she was with him she couldn't help defend him whenever her mother began verbally attacking him. She could say nothing about his activities with nymphs though, who was to say he wasn't taking one, or more, to his bed? He had six months without her, and while she would live the celibate life she found it hard thinking he would follow the same path.
"It doesn't matter what he does or does not do. What are you doing here? You know I do not want you out of my sight! Get up at once and come to Olympus."
"Mother –"
"Now Persephone! Do as I say! I am your mother, you must obey me – goddess or not." Persephone glared at her mother but did as she bid. She had been right all along – she had escaped from one prison into another, she just wasn't sure which prison she would rather be free off yet.
Persephone had been right in thinking Hades would take another to his bed, he had done so almost every night since her return to the world above. But he hadn't done it out of spite. He had enjoyed the companionship. Unlike the other Gods, namely Zeus, it had been rare for him to find a bed-partner. Mortals especially were less willing to go to bed with the God of the Underworld. They never quite grasped that an invitation from Zeus was a death sentence with the jealous Hera constantly smiting them, just look at poor Semele. He smiled thinking of how she had pleaded with him to let her go back to the Mortal world. How she would do anything.
His eyes focused on the naked nymph below him, her expressionless face staring blankly up at him. Sighing he rolled off her and onto his back where he stared up at the stone ceiling of his bedchamber. "Go." He commanded the nymph feeling the anger fire up inside of him. It was just like he had told Persephone, the nymphs here were mere shadows of their former selves. They felt nothing. They were cold, horrifyingly boring and possessed no sex drive. He was better off lying alone hugging the pillow that was smothered in Persephone's scent than resting beside one of those pitiful creatures.
Rising from the bed he paced around the room not caring about his state of undress, those that served him were by now over the shock of seeing him bare. He had been restless ever since Persephone had been granted those six months of freedom. The thought he would have to spend half the year alone once more, without his beloved wife by his side, was torment. For the first few days he had drunk himself silly on ambrosia, not caring that his work had been neglected. However Zeus had been quick to pick him up on this, if only he had been as stern with Demeter as he had been with him!
I have to do something for her, something she will love. He told himself, but what? He could make glorious meadows for her to visit, but he knew what she would think – nothing would compare to the world above. Where she could enjoy the real sun beating down on her skin. But maybe it would be something? He looked at the door of his bedchamber that led to his private bathing room and smiled. He knew what he could do, she may not be overjoyed with it – but it would be a start.
The turning of the first leaf was fast approaching and Hades was becoming more excitable as the days faded past. He was almost like a mortal child except he remembered to keep his dignity in check, but only just. He knew that people realising Persephone was his weakness would lead to trouble, he would not allow them to take advantage of him – or endanger Persephone. He tuned his senses in carefully to the plantlife of the mortal world. Normally he didn't monitor such things, the death of a plant meant nothing to him – what should he care if a tree was felled? But now he took a keen interest in their lives, or at least until he had what he wanted. He smiled as he felt his powers spring out, seeking out death.