Amari412: I'm so glad you noticed the OUAT quotes. =') Yes it seems that Hades is in hot water, but so is Persephone. This chapter is going to be dark, but that's what Greek myth's are about.
A seductive look squarely prevented any innocent intention. Menthe stepped forward, memories of the golden chariot flashing before her eyes. The man standing before her in ebony glory, held little to no room for amusement. He was a serious god. As any elder should be. Menthe rose a dainty hand. It was her dream to touch the pale white cheek. But it wasn't meant to be. Persephone came swiftly. Her calm exterior vanished, as Menthe. In return all that was left was a pile of herbs. Mint. It was then that Hades truly let his serious guard down to smirk. Persephone truly did love him. Even if this love was brought on by jealously, it didn't matter to him.
Mint :
A punishment, or a sparing
Menthe felt tears burning her eyes. Her body left naked for all to see, she turned her head hiding away her face against a naked arm. Chuckles heated her cheeks, made her legs cross in desperation to hide away the naked flesh. No burns, nor whip marks covered her body. She'd been spared from such cruel acts. However she would take any physical pain if it would halt the emotional.
"Lord Hades forbade any harm to her. To bad. I'm sure her workable mouth would create such beautiful screams."
Tears trickled down her face. Lips curled in a bid to fight back the cry of humiliation. The naïve side of Menthe held onto some hope that Hades would come to realise, it was best that he remained with her rather than Persephone. However her raging heart told her, when he did come to collect her, it wouldn't be because the seduction potion had turned into true love.
Outside of Tartarus
Persephone woke up. A weight against her chest caused her to struggle. A cowardly cry passed her lips, thinking she was being held against her will.
"Shh, Persephone it's alright."
A gentle voice caused Persephone to glance sharply to the right with wide eyes, which resembled more of a doe than a powerful goddess. Persephone doubted herself for a moment, fearing this figure was just a trick, but at the sound of padded paws and a wet nose against her open palm, which lay over the edge of the bed, she knew that it was no trick.
"Hecate.."
Tears trickled down her face, finally allowing the sobs to pass. Hecate crouched down, stroking Persephone's cheek gently, soothing her with gentle hushing. Even her loyal companion whined pitifully rubbing his nose in a bid to help comfort the weeping queen.
"There now. Everything's alright. Its alright."
As Hecate dealt with Persephone she didn't hear the sound of the door creak as it was pushed open. The dog however did. Turning himself around sharply, heckles rising and teeth barred, he snarled angrily getting ready to pounce. Hecate turned, as Persephone wiped her eyes. All three looked towards a very sheepish lord of the Underworld. Hecate would've laughed had the situation not been so serious. Artemis who was brewing up a formula in order to help sooth the child, didn't look up. For once she was ashamed of her uncle's actions.
Hades looked at them all. He knew forgiveness would be hard to find. He just wanted to make sure that Persephone was in good hands. He still didn't understand what had happened to Persephone when she ran from the bed chamber. All he remembered was finding her in a heap, sobbing about someone wanting to take their child. About a man with burns. It was then that Hecate stood herself up, scowling at Hades as she did so.
Now standing in front of them all he couldn't even bring to speak the apologies which hung on the tip of his tongue.
Knowing Hades needed to be alone with Persephone, she walked towards Artemis. Speaking between hushed words, they both took their leave the dog following obediently behind them. Once the door was shut, the air became thick enough to be cut with a knife. Neither spoke. Both wished that what had transpired just a few hours ago was a horrible dream. The flush underneath Hades beard, along with Persephone's tearful shimmering eyes spoke for its self. Neither one of them could turn a blind eye to it.
"Why did you do it?"
The words were whispered in a harsh hiss. Hades felt his ears burn. Humiliation coursed through his body. Chewing on his inner cheek, he shook his head sharply making the room spin.
"Does it matter?"
Persephone flinched. The lump in her throat became thick. Did Hades really think that? Swallowing she forced herself to act brave. Pushing herself up to take the pressure off of her neck. Glancing towards Hades, as she focused on the numerace amount of potions on Hecate's desk, she noticed Hades shift himself around. Clearly his quick answer was does a flick. Not meant. It still hurt.
"Do you love her?"
Persephone's mouth moved without her brains consent. She didn't render herself speechless nor looked away in shame, instead she turned. Eyes boring into Hades as if trying to read his mind. The lord of the Underworld wasn't a puzzle you could break and put back together again. He had to many layers. Persephone knew in her heart she loved him, but at as she lay cradling the child inside of her, she didn't know just how well she knew her own husband.
Hades stood speechless. Hands curled. Humiliation began to eat away at his guilt. He wanted nothing more than to use his power as a defence mechanism. However as his eyes meet Persephone's he didn't see blame. Only love... It confused the lord of the Underworld. During his time of dwelling in self pity, he always blamed the ones whom he should love. But Persephone was different. She'd managed to tame his aching need for revenge. At that very moment, she was keeping him under control even while he was in hot water.
"I honestly don't know.."
Admitting that there might be feelings behind his sinful acts was enough to make his throat burn. He saw the painful twitch of Persephone's body. It was like he'd scolded her.
"You do know, your just afraid to admit it."
Placing himself down with a thud, Hades bowed his head burying his fingers into his long hair tugging it sharply at the roots. The pain didn't cease his thudding heart. It was like something was being pulled from him, blinding him of what he needed to see. Persephone watched her husband with concern. Inside she screamed for closeor. Too feel his arms wind around her, promising that it was a slip of weakness. Everything she'd learnt about Hades when growing up proved that it wasn't anything like his brothers. He didn't sleep around.
A faint gasp passed Persephone's lips, noticing that Hades was suddenly staring at her. Eyes looked more animal than man.
"Menthe.."
Persephone's eyebrows drew together in confusion. Opening her mouth to ask what was going through Hades mind, she found herself struggling to stand up as Hades marched out of the room.
Rounding corner with speed that took even Persephone by surprise, she grabbed hold of Hades wrist surprised to find that stopping him didn't result in digging her heels into the ground. Hades didn't turn to look at Persephone, instead his eyes starred ahead, as if finding the answer to their problems would be waving back at him. Standing on her tip toes Persephone, gripped hold of Hades chin in a vice grip, forcing his head to turn towards her own. Eyes clashed. Emotions poured but neither took any notice.
"Stop blaming others for your mistakes. I don't want to lose you Hades, but your making it very hard for me not to fight that feeling..."
They say that arrows and spears break flesh. That words can't hurt you. But hearing Persephone speak, feeling her drop his wrist as her eyes dropped to the ground, Hades felt like his whole world was crumbling around him. What made him sick to the stomach was that even though he wanted nothing more than to sweep Persephone into his arms, to promise love and protection to both her and their child. His lustful side longed for Menthe. It made his eyes burn with tears. He wouldn't reduce to pitiful sobbing. Wouldn't let them leave a trail through his facial hair. Instead, his mind (the potion) spoke for him.
"You know where the gates are."
No more words passed. Hades foot steps heard echoing down the halls, followed swiftly by the ripple of his cloak as he vanished through the door, muffled the sound of Persephone's aching heart and heavy breathing behind her.
Within the walls of Tartarus..
There was no gate which blocked the shades from the horror of the fiery realm. Shadows stretched across the walls. A never dying fire burnt in the centre, giving life to the stream where hands could be seen trying to grasp hold of the bank in order to pull out their wounded bodies. It never worked. They were damned to drown. Where Menthe stood chained, was the large hole which once held Adam captive. Claw marks covered the chipped walls. Clearly getting out hadn't been an easy task.
Menthe felt the hot breath against her cheek, it made her arch unwillingly against her chains. Tongue flickering out. Eyes flickered open, as she glanced towards Hades. Underneath all that armour she knew what to find, it made her eyes become glued bellow his covered waist line. The Hades before would've chuckled at such a motion, though confused and sheepish he would welcome her praise, but not this time. This time as he forced her eyes to lock onto his, Menthe could see the terror causing his pupils to dilate.
"My lord, what troubles you so?"
All fear and humiliation of being naked in front of the punished souls left her, as Hades looming body covered her own.
Hades allowed for a brief moment for his eyes to close at the feel of Menthe's bare foot running up against his inner thigh. Visions of Persephone's hurt face flashed in front of his mind, hearing her stifled sobs. Knowing that he'd caused such pain made him snap out of the manipulation Menthe placed over him.
"No. Not this time."
The snarl in Hades voice took Menthe by surprise, but not so much as when Hades grasped hold of her throat tightly, ripping her from the chains causing them to break. Scattering across the floor like fearful beetles. Hades began to smirk. If Menthe thought that was bad, she was in for a world of shock.
The gates of Hades...
Cerberus stood at the gates. All piercing red eyes focused on the small figure of their queen. Though loyal, Cerberus had a job to do. It was the sound of Persephone crying that made Cerberus lower his middle head whining pitifully in confusion. It took a lot of nudging on Cerberus's part to finally feel Persephone's hand against his wet muzzle, her other hand trying to banish away her tears.
"It's alright Cerberus.."
Persephone whispered. Cerberus tilted his right head to the side, ears twitching. Quickly scampering up he stood in front of the gate, head bowed he snarled angrily at Persephone not allowing her to leave the Underworld. Staggering backwards, Persephone felt her face heat up with terror. Cerberus could turn from a playful pup to a true blood hound. Having three mouths only made him more intimidating. Closing her eyes tightly, willing to calm down her racing her heart beat, Persephone knew that she couldn't stay in the Underworld any longer.
"I'm sorry Cerberus.."
The snarling stopped for a moment. Holding her breath, Persephone rose her hand using the abilities that both Hades and Demeter had taught her, she forced Cerberus to become frozen in a hold. A strange glowing white mist surrounded the three headed blood hound. It took everything within Persephone to not remove the power, seeing the pleading eyes staring back at her. Turning towards the gate, arm stretched out Persephone let out an ear piercing scream when her hand pressed against something warm. Not only that, it was breathing.
Eyes snapped forward. Stumbling backwards, luckily not falling over Persephone swallowed down a thick lump within her throat.
"A.. A.. dam."
She stuttered out. The man in front of her wasn't the same as before. It was only the eyes that made her know who it was. Limping forward, Adam wasn't looking towards Persephone, instead he starred greedily at her stomach like it was a pouch of coins. As his hands came towards her Persephone wanted nothing more than to flee, but much like Cerberus she was pinned by magic. Eyes grew wide. Icelos had claimed he was a mortal. Her mouth opened to speak, but all that came out was a pathetic whimper.
"Don't look so frightened. You should be glad to see me. It is you who finally gave me the power that pitiful Cronus was unable to give me."
Persephone feebly shook her head. The words made no sense. She was once a mortal, she didn't truly posses enough power to do such a thing. Even if she did she wouldn't have freed a man from Tarturas. Adam was speaking, he claimed that when Cronus was being awakened by Zeus's capture, he gained some of the magic. It was enough to awaken him to the years of torture, to once again feel the pain. But it also gave him the power to see into the future, to see Persephone coming down to the Underworld.
"... Your child, is the key to my power. I need her..."
Persephone's scream mingled with the scream of Menthe.
Back in Tartarus...
Menthe screamed in terror. Wounded. Hair covered in sweat as she began to pull herself backwards. Eyes glanced up towards Hades, seeing his heaving chest. No longer was the lust in his eyes, the magic was starting to fade. The potion failing as she too had failed her task in making him love her.
"Please my lord... Hades."
Her pleas fell on death ears. Hades rose his hand about to deliver the fatal blow, only to have himself stalled by a pale white hand.
"Hecate.."
He snarled, about to banish her but her words cut deep into his heart.
"Hades. Its Persephone. She's in trouble. You must come."
Hades looked down towards Hecate, he noticed the terror in her eyes, noticing her lips quivering. Only something so serious could scare her. Pulling himself from her grasp he moved himself forward into a fast sprint, though Hecate didn't tell him where Persephone was, something in his heart was telling him where he could find her. Instead of following Hecate watched Hades retreating back. Turning slowly towards Menthe she smirked. Hecate's body shimmered into the form of Icelos.
"You failed Menthe. Adam isn't going to be happy about that."
Looming over the cowering Icelos, his shadowed figure muffled her cries of mercy. Hades was unaware of the trick, as he ran.
"Persephone!"
To be continued in chapter 27
Honestly, I wanted nothing more than to make this a chapter so fluffy your teeth would hurt. But sadly Greek Myths are filled with broken families, corruptive foes & twisted happy endings. This was a particularly hard chapter to write, with the mixture of emotions and Hades fighting against the unknown potion coursing through his veins.
So now you know where the power has come from. Hades is broken from the spell, but not before he dealt with Menthe. Am I happy about that? A little but she was a pawn in Adam's game, not that it excesses her for the actions she committed. But anyway... Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this chapter, and hope you enjoyed it.
- Signed The Broken Ghost