The impact of the wind and roaring cracks of thunder reverberated through the apartment floors. Persephone sat in her room and read a novel by lamplight. It had been fourteen days since her kidnapping. Long enough for her to accept she wasn't going to be harmed, but also long enough for her to need more than her wandering thoughts to get her through the day.
She had studied the pile of books around the seating area by the fireplace. Classic novels from Austen to Fitzgerald. She grabbed Jane Eyre and felt a familiar kin to the young girl trapped in the orphanage. Although, unlike Jane, she didn't have much more knowledge on her captor. He was an odd keeper of the keys. He brought her food and always invited her to roam the house. Despite this, she chose to stay confined, unsure what the best move would be.
She had convinced herself that her mother would be here anyday, that the police would break down the door and finally come to rescue her. But after the first week of nothing, she began to grow weary. Everytime the door sounded it was either Hades leaving or someone coming to drop something off. Persephone would hear their muffled voices for a few minutes and then the closing of the apartment door.
The small black cat, Onyx, paid her daily visits, curling in her lap and allowing her to cuddle him. He was a sweet creature and often rubbed his back nose against her cheek.
A loud crack of thunder shattered her thought path and make her jump. The lamp light above her head turned off. A hum sounded through the apartment and Persephone looked outside her window to the city where she watched as blocks of buildings lost all electricity.
Within two minutes there was a small knock at her door.
"Are you okay?" Hades asked.
"Currently still held here against my will. Definitely not okay."
A momentary pause. "Well, other than your undeniable captivity . . . how are you? Do you have enough hay to keep warm? Is your rusted wash bucket full? Oh, and are the chains around your wrist and ankles too tight?"
"Screw you."
She could hear his laugh through the door.
"There's food downstairs," he said. "And please bring the cat, I haven't seen him in two days. He needs to eat too."
Persephone opened the door, Onyx held in her arms, purring. Hades had a flashlight that created a warm light against the side of his face.
"I've kept him fed."
He looked at the cat and rubbed a finger to his head. He nodded to her and walked downstairs. Persephone followed, Onyx still wrapped in her arms.
Hades took a drink off the counter and took a quick shot to finish it off. He then grabbed a glass decanter and poured himself another.
"I'll take one of those," Persephone stated.
Hades still held the bottle in his hand. "This?" He asked pointing to the label. "This is scotch."
She shrugged and laid the cat on the couch. "Yeah, I'll have a scotch."
Hades laughed and poured her a small glass.
"That's it?"
"Calm down. That's plenty, I swear."
She took a sip and instantly had to force herself to not spit it out. This was her first time having liquor and it tasted about the same gasoline would.
"Sit down and take it in slow, you'll hate it a little less every sip you take."
She sat down and put her feet up on his coffee table, taking in a deep breathe. She took another unbearable sip and fiddled with the glass.
"I've been meaning to talk to you," she stated. She didn't meet his eyes but instead focused on her navy sweat pants and gray pullover hoodie. Not the attire for a deep conversation focused on her freedom, but it would have to do.
"Mmhm?" he mumbled.
"It's been fourteen days since you've kidnapped me. And I now feel like I need to take matters into my own hands."
He took a sip of his drink and leaned forward resting his arms on his legs. "How do you intend to do that?"
"I have a trust fund that would cover your expenses. If you let me out of here, I can take out the money you need and pay my mothers debts."
He turned his attention to the window where rain continued to fall.
"Can I ask you a question, Persephone?"
The way he said her name sent a jolt through her body. Making her face heat. She set down the alcohol and waited.
"Do you really want to go back?"
She scoffed and readied herself for a passionate rebuke.
Hades held up his hand to signal that he wasn't finished. "I know you don't desire to be here. But do you really want to go back there? From what I heard you were under a different type of isolation. Is it true that Demeter never let you leave the island you called home?"
Perseophones breath eased. The truth of his statement giving her pasue. "It is true. But she was protecting me."
"From what? Life?"
"From people like you I assume."
He shot out a dark laugh. "I'm no saint. But before you decide to barter your trust fund away, consider if that is a life you want to run back to. I thought I knew my family. They were masters of putting on beautiful masks, but once their true identities were revealed I had to leave."
Neither of them spoke for awhile. The lights turned back on and they both lifted their eyes to the television that turned on, the Olympus news speaking about the storm that was bound to turn to freezing rain.
He reached on the side table the he was closest to and picked up a folder. It made a small smack when it hit the coffee table at her feet.
"I no longer want to keep you here against your will. I usually don't allow my business affairs to get this messy. But here we are," he nodded toward the folder. "Here are all the jobs I did for your mother. Maybe you'll reconsider once you see her true identity."