HEATING THINGS UP
He heard her took a sharp breath as he drove swiftly into her. She dug her fingers painfully into his back as he sank himself even deeper. He could feel her tightening around him and he gripped at her waist, easing the tension around her, guiding her.
God, he did not even wait for her to relax before taking her. He was half-crazy to have her, to possess her. He had never felt so utterly deprived for a long time that when he finally had her, he couldn't take it easy, he just couldn't stop.
He gently kneaded his hand into her waist as he gently guided her to follow into his movements. The gods help him but he will try to slow it down for her. But, when she suddenly raised her hips to meet each of his controlled thrusts, something just snapped out of him. He grabbed into her hair, roughly pulling unto it, illiciting a not so unpleasant moan that excited him all the more, and he shoved even deeper. Each of his thrust, more brusquely, more quickly, more tersely than the other one, devoted to only but one purpose: to reach his long deprived satisfaction.
He was rough, he was in heat, he was uncontrollable, and all because of this one woman who had long been out of his grasp. Not until now.
'Persephone,' her name ran into his lips over and over like a litany, 'Persephone.'
He was so near into the edge, just another one and he will burst, just one last and he will burn, just one...
Hades flung the covers violently about him, as if awakening from a really bad nightmare. He stared into his four-poster bed ceiling, and for a while felt a little bit disoriented.
He closed his eyes tightly, and shook his head.
This was not the first dream he had about the goddess. From the very first time she took the habit of always getting into trouble in his palace, she had already appeared in his dreams not less than a few times. But ever since the goddess took the lengths into throwing herself at him on his birthday, nearly all his sleeping visions had shifted into highly inappropriate and increasingly explicit images.
And the more he dreamt about her in his sleep, the more he avoided the goddess in his waking hours. Something which seemed to suit them both well, since Persephone had also suddenly took into the practice of turning the other way around whenever she sees him coming.
As a result, neither had ever spoken about that night, nor is he completely certain if she actually remembered everything or if she just had a few confusing memories about that night, or none at all.
But he couldn't really complain about their silent set-up. Actually, the opposite is true. He was a bit more comfortable with their ceasefire. He still couldn't find it in him to tell her that her mother had ceased her duties as a goddess in retaliation to losing the daughter. And worse, not only are humans slowly dying by the hundreds due to the growing famine, but nobody can still determine where Demeter is. It looks like what started off as two brother's contest of wills took a swift turn for the worse.
Hades was still absorbed in these thoughts a few hours later when he was already on his way into the Trivium to help the judges in handling the fates of the dead. He paused midway when he passed by the window near the hall and caught a sight down the gardens.
How the palace gardens have changed ever since he gave Persephone a free hand to do what she pleases to improve it. Where once grew only a group of nearly perfected architectured grasses and a great assemblage of poppies, now provides a display of nearly innumerable varieties of spring flowers, which only added colour and vibrance into the lawns.
But despite the hundred different colours of flowers that now surround the gardens, his eyes was immediately drawn into the goddess, lying on her back in the ground, uncaringly, with her eyes closed as she faced the sunless skies.
"Look away, Hades," a voice behind him advised.
He looked behind and saw Hecate, walking towards him, "What?"
"Just look away," Hecate repeated knowingly.
He swiftly turned around, just like someone getting caught doing something prohibited and leaned his back on the floor length window.
"So what happened between the two of you?"
Hades angled his head, only Hecate is capable of asking him a personally direct question, she'd always acted like one of his sisters who think they've got authority over him just because they're related. "I'm not certain what you mean," he denied.
She certainly didn't need any explanation, "You can't continue avoiding each other," Hecate pointed.
He didn't even make any effort to argue it.
"You're both making the situation even harder," Hecate continued unsolicitedly, "She'd developed the talent of quickly disappearing whenever you arrive, and you've certainly fallen into the habit of staring at her whenever she doesn't notice you're around."
"I don't 'stare' at her," Hades objected.
Hecate ignored him and continued, "She's been inquiring about you, you know."
Hades rubbed a hand behind his neck. That exactly has been the cause of the constant fight that sprung up so easily between Minthe and him lately. Minthe has been accusing him of not doing anything to discourage Persephone's growing curiousity and it almost always escalates into a fight.
He doesn't know why, but it always makes him rather defensive. He was hardly speaking with Persephone! He can barely stand the same breathing space with the woman and Minthe was accusing him of encouraging any sort of connection between them? He thought it rather presumptive.
Hecate looked down on the lawns below, saying, "By the looks of how she's been asking around, it wouldn't be long before she'll finally figure out what's really bothering her..."
Hades scowled at her, "What exactly are you trying to say..."
"How long are you going to keep up with this set-up, Hades?" she finally asked freely, "You can't keep both women in one place. It's been the rule of thumb since the beginning of time. Keep the mistress away from where the wife is. You can't have it both ways."
His voice fell into a deadly baritone, "Here's what you've got to understand," he said, "There is nothing between me and Persephone other than a title. And whatever is between me and Minthe will remain between us. I don't think you would find it appealing if I will discuss the extent of my relationship with her to you."
Hecate surprised him with a smile, "I understand that," she informed, "The question is, if you're women understand the limitations that you've set?" she shrugged and gazed back outside the windows, "Minthe has been having jealous rages lately she'd nearly caused Persephone harm in one or two occasions. And Persephone... well, she doesn't belong here." Hecate pointed, "But the rate with which she'd adapted into your world is quite surprising. And the rate with which she'd warmed up to us... and to you, is a bit too alarming."
"I don't see any problem with that..." he lied.
"When was the last time she'd badger you for news of her mother?" Hecate questioned.
Hades thought for a moment and then shrugged.
"Keep your women away from each other, Hades," she counselled, "They're in danger of harming each other."
"I will be sending Persephone away once we'll find Demeter..." Hades professed.
And then came another mysterious smile from Hecate, "You'd thought it'd be that easy, didn't you?"
"What?" demanded Hades again.
Hecate declined a response and instead asked, "Do you have any idea where Demeter is?"
"No." He replied bluntly.
"Well, before then, don't be too sure about Persephone going anywhere," Hecate advised and then gestured her head pointing at the goddess lying at the gardens, "I suggest you tell her what exactly is happening out there. One way or another, she will find out what has happened ever since her mother disappeared. And it's not going to be a pretty sight."
Hades crossed his arms across his chest.
"And, also..." Hecate turned her gaze at him and caught his eyes, "She knows, Hades..."
Hades' face darkened, "Know what?"
"She knows that one of the nymphs under my tutelage is your woman," Hecate informed, "She just hasn't figured out quite yet. But she's keeping tabs... she's very observant," Hecate nodded, "It's actually a sign that she's no lesser goddess. All the great Olympian Goddesses are quite territorial with their men..."
"I'm not HER 'man'...!" Hades argued.
To his chagrin, this resulted for another smile to cross Hecate's lips, "You say so," she mocked, "Just keep them away from each other, Hades. That's all I'm saying..."
Hecate straightened her shoulders, and by the same way as she'd approached him, she silently walked away.
'It's actually quite alarming how one person can stick to your mind for hours on end as if there's nothing else in the world to worry about', Persephone mused as she laid on her back at the palace garden grounds, 'And your thoughts doesn't even divert to any other topic. Not even once.'
This is getting really bad, she concluded.
It must be due to that nagging feeling of guilt she'd been carrying around after the celebration to Hades' birthday. She felt like she'd done something terribly wrong, she knew she'd done something wrong... HE obviously acts like she'd done something wrong... but...
Oh, if she can only remember what it was!
There's a big black hole in her memory and no matter how much she thought about it and try to remember what exactly happened, nothing just comes back up.
The last thing she'd remember was her and a few of the nymphs, drinking Helios' wines, laughing and playing at the game room and a distinct remembrance of seeing Hades fumingly striding into the room... After that, it was just pure... oblivion. The next thing she'd recall was waking up in her chambers with a severe case of headache that she can barely open her eyes.
Deep in thought, a long shadow suddenly blocked the sunlight away from her face, followed with a deep familiar voice, saying, "So this is your idea of a pastime?" he said, "Lying down in the garden grounds in full view of practically everyone at court."
She peeked open an eye just to see if she wasn't imagining things. Lo and behold! There he was, standing above her, his eyes looking around at the gardens and not particularly giving her any attention.
She closed her eye back, if he intends to be distant with her, she'll do it just the same.
"It's actually quite relaxing," she informed.
"I don't see anything relaxing with that," came the reply.
"That's because you haven't tried it yet," Persephone retorted.
"How sure are you with that?" he asked
This time, she knew she got him looking at her, and she opened both eyes, "Have you?"
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and answered curtly, "Whether I've tried it or not is irrelevant. If you insist on distracting the entire male population of my court while you're lying here in the gardens, I'll let you judge that for yourself." he concluded shortly and then turned on his heels, "Excuse me, I'll be taking my leave."
Persephone pushed herself up on one elbow, "You took all the lengths to walk down here just to say that?"
He glanced back at her, "Would you rather have me shout it outside my window?"
"Okay..." she pushed herself up on her full height, "What is it?"
He also turned around and faced her completely, "What is what?"
"What have I done that got you so... upset?" she asked.
The immediate scowl in his face nearly made her want to take back her question.
"This entire week you've been treating me like I've done something awfully wrong that you can't even stand to be anywhere near me. And I'm tired of feeling guilty about something I know nothing about!" she exclaimed, and then in a guilt-ridden voice continued, "Well, I have a strong feeling that I've done something wrong, I just couldn't remember what..." she admitted, "Is it Helios' wines? I know we've consumed it all, but it's just that... I felt so out of place that I can't join the feast...I mean, the eating and drinking part... and Helios' wines were the only ones that I can consume without further compromising my status here at your realm."
Her awkward admission didn't ease things out, it even seemed to have darkened his mood even more. He crossed his arms across his chest and his brows creased.
"Why is it that everything I do always ends up wrong with you?" she exclaimed.
"You don't remember anything?" he clarified.
"I tried to."
"But you don't remember anything?" he repeated.
"No," she confessed.
"Huh," he remarked as if to himself, and then slowly turned back around.
"Well, what have I done?" she insisted.
A palace guard suddenly appeared out from the corridor, "Lord Hades," he bowed curtly, "Aeceaus has requested for you..." he eyed Persephone and dropped into a low voice, "...they need you at the Trivium."
"I'm heading there," Hades informed and gestured for the guard away. He looked back at Persephone and explained, "You did not do anything wrong... It was I who misunderstood things. And for that, I'd like to apologize for any distress that was caused," he stated briskly, as if everything can be explained with just that one simple statement, "Forgive me, milady, but I believe you will have to excuse me for the moment. Duty calls."
This time, her guilt has now shifted into concern, "Hades..." she called, "Is... everything alright?"
He was thoughtful for a moment, and then announced, "Let's talk about it when I get back."
He did not wait for her reply as he walked away and disappeared along the palace hallway, leaving her rooted from where she stood.
'There's something he's been keeping from me,' she'd decided. She'd notice that for a while now. She was just waiting for him to say it to her. But he hasn't... yet. And it wasn't really reassuring.
She eased her way into the nearest fountain and sat herself on its edges. 'Well, if it's about her mother, he better say it,' her thoughts rumbled, 'If something has happened to her mother and he's been keeping it away from her, he will have a lot of explaining to do!'
She glumly dipped her fingers into the clear flowing fountain and absent-mindedly waded them over water, the feeling like silk through her fingers, when she suddenly heard a soft voice calling, as if one in the air.
"Kore?" it greeted.
She turned her head around her, but found no one near the garden vicinity.
"Kore!" it called again.
Alarmed, Persephone pushed herself up, taking one step back.
"Kore, it's me," the voice said, and suddenly a womanly figure formed itself in the clear waters of the fountain.
Persephone walked nearer and her eyes widened when she began to recognize the beautiful face that reflecting in waters, "Arethusa?" she asked.
"You remember!" the nymph smiled.
"How could I not?" she replied at the friendly nymph who was sadly turned into a river when she turned down the advances of a lesser god.
"Oh, Kore, it really is you..." Arethusa said, "I could hardly believe my eyes when I first saw you... Look at you! You've... changed."
Persephone offered a smile, "It's just the fancy dress, Arethusa..."
"No," she disagreed, "You're... different."
The goddess could not make any sense of it so she changed the issue, "How did you know I was here...?" she asked, "I'm sure you don't normally pass by thru this waters..."
"I heard it from somebody..." she replied secretively, and then her voice dropped into more of a whisper, "Kore, I'm not sure if you're aware... but there's something you ought to know..."