Another chapter! Nanowrimo has been kicking my butt, but I'm plugging along. Thanks to all my readers, old and new, and for all who have given love to this story.

*****Because I love and respect all of my readers, I want to issue a trigger warning for a scene of intensity in this chapter. I have put the scene in italics so that you may skip over it if you feel more comfortable doing so. Sensitive subject material is hard to include in a story and I want to respect those who may have discomfort reading it. Read at your own discretion, and there is no judgement at all to anyone who choses to skip it.*****

Zeus

Olympus was shrouded in clouds. No longer could the immortals see the pristine blue sky and the sunny beams of Helio's rays shining down on them. The air held a chill that was foreign to their realm.

That destructive imbalance on earth had reached even the perfect atmosphere of Mount Olympus.

All of the immortals were in an uproar. Anger rippled over the gods and goddesses. Resentment darkened the mood and everyone's eyes were turned to the leader of their realm.

Their leader, who had seemingly shut his eyes to the carnage below and refused to see what his inaction was directly causing.

He could not escape the harsh scrutiny that he found himself subjected to. This was not a situation that he could hide from, holed up in his home on Olympus. His troubles had followed him to his paradise, turning it cold and gray for everyone. He had to face this problem. He could not run. There was a choice to be made, and it was imperative that he make the right choice.

Or so Athena was often keen on reminding him.

He was slouched in his seat, elbow resting on the arm and his chin poised on his closed fist. Zeus gazed out at the throng of gathered immortals with disinterest. Athena was talking to them, but he was hardly listening to what she had to say. He let his attention fall away from his subjects and instead observed his surroundings.

Twelve seats lined the room. Zeus was joined by his fellow Olympians; Hera, Athena, Ares, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hermes, and the twins, Artemis and Apollo.

Three of the seats were empty.

Poseidon only came when his whims, as turbulent as the sea, carried him on the current of obedience. Today was not one of those times, it appeared, by the lack of his presence. Dinonysus would only come in the gravest of circumstances. He preferred to spend his days in a haze of hedonistic pleasures and would only come if Zeus demanded it of him.

Then there was the seat that he did not believe would ever be occupied again. It had been so long in fact, he could not clearly remember the last time he had seen the goddess it belonged to actually sit on her throne. Demeter had not touched that seat for a long time. When she was here last, t imploring for her daughter's life, Demeter had no so much as glanced at the place which belonged to her.

It had been ages since they were there at the same time. The Twelve mighty Olympians, all together on their thrones in the world of immortals, lesser gods and goddesses at their feet.

United under his power. Brought together by his will.

Those were the days he craved; when rebellion against him was feared. When his sister was not a maniacal traitor and his brother was not an impassive, love-sick fool.

Now, what did he have? A frozen wasteland of a world below with the mortals dying in droves, all because of a goddess trying to force his hand into bending to her will. Complete with a furious mob of immortals, clamoring for him to take action.

As if they were the ones who had the right to make these decisions. They did not understand the position he was in. Neither did the immortals sitting at his sides. They were all turning against him, one by one.

Hera leaned over her seat, fury at him gleaming in her forest green eyes. "You must go to the Underworld and retrieve the goddess Persephone from our brother." Her voice hissed in his ear.

"No." Zeus grumbled at his wife. "What happens in the Underworld is none of my concern. Hades can do as he pleases."

"That may be, but what happens in the world above is your concern. This plague of cold and darkness is a direct cause of what is happening in the Underworld." Hera argued hotly, strands of her chestnut hair quivering in the unpleasant chilly breeze that blew in from the open pillars.

At her other side sat Artermis, who watched the exchange with her golden eyes wide and wary.

It was Athena who spoke up next. "Listen to Hera. She is right." The goddess implored to him. "You are not being rational, Zeus."

His blue eyes glittered at her coldly, regarding her with icy silence before he gave her a dismissive wave with his hand.

"I do not have to be rational," he replied to her in a warning growl. He turned from her to glare at the immortals below him.

"Since when did any of you become god over me?" His voice boomed over the room, echoing over the marble in a fearsome cadence. All of the people gathered jumped at the mighty voice that harshly met their ears.

"I do not remember relinquishing my throne to any of you," he continued. "Enough with this. All of you will feel my wrath if you make any more demands on me. I will deal with this as I see fit."

Then, Zeus sat back in his chair and stroked his beard. A sure sign to the others that he was finished with this discussion. He let his blue eyes roam over the congregation, blocking out the sounds of their mutters and hushed complaints.

He would not relent. He would not bow before that goddess. It was ludicrous for them to think that he would roll over and submit to Demeter's demands.

Her anger would taper off eventually. Demeter would see reason. She could not keep up this charade forever. He would outlast her. He would refuse to let his power weaken for her sake.

Even if the world died at his feet.

Hades

"Lord Hades!"

The god in question released the heaviest sigh imaginable from his chest.

He was almost home. Just five more minutes and he would be out of the woods and in his palace, retreating to the privacy of his chambers. But fate had other plans for him. Hades would not have even stopped if it were not Annis' voice that he heard calling to him rather sharply.

"Yes, Annis? What is it?" Hades could not mask his displeasure. The last thing he needed right now was company. Not from Minthe. Not from anyone. By the fuming look on Annis' face as she marched over to him, Hades could tell that this conversation was going to be emotionally taxing.

Especially if she were here to talk about Persephone.

"That rapscallion Rhadamanthus is with Persephone." Annis cried with incredulity as she stormed to where Hades was standing.

Of course. That was what she wanted to talk about. He had not been wrong. Hades ignored the urge to turn on his feet and march away.

"Is that so?" He replied dryly.

"Yes!" Annis threw her hands up in the air, the picture of exasperation. She seemed not to notice his more so than usual morose mood. "He stole her away from me."

"The feeling is mutual…" Hades wanted to say. "How so?" He asked instead and the Nymph did not hesitate to dive straight into her story.

"The three of us were walking back to the palace when that sly fox suggested that we go through Asphodel instead." She explained. "Persephone agreed to it, for reasons beyond my understanding. When we got to the path, the Fields were more crowded that I had ever seen them. The souls were swarming all around us and I became separated from Persephone. But Rhadamanthus had a hold of her. By the time the crowd thinned, I had lost sight of them. They took a different path than the one I took. And I know that he did it on purpose!"

Annis was now circling Hades like an agitated hawk as she carried on with her tale. "Persephone may not know those Fields, but he does. I cannot even begin to guess which path he took, but he did this to separate me from her. He tricked her! And me!"

Annis came to a stop right in front of him, once again throwing up her arms. She let out a disgruntled noise, trying to draw Hades into her anger with her. "He gave me the slip and now he is alone with Persephone!"

The forest around them fell into a resounding silence once her words died away. He said nothing. What was there to say? Hades did not want to tell her that she was absolutely correct; that Rhadamanthus had duped her and Persephone both. What was the point in pouring more salt into the wound?

"He has been alone with her before. There is nothing to fret about." Hades said at last in a weak attempt at assurance. He was so spent. What little mental strength he had left made him useless to help her.

And Annis would have none of it. She was too wrapped up in her own woes to recognize that Hades was just as distressed as she.

"Nothing to fret about?" She challenged as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Lord Hades, with all due respect, you do know Rhadamanthus, don't you?"

His temper was stoked at her saucy reply. How had he gotten so unlucky to run into Minthe and now Annis, who was teetering on the edge of insubordination.

"What would you have me do about it, Annis?" He questioned as a low rumble of thunder growled in the hazy sky.

"I would have you go find them."

His answer was immediate.

"No."

This, she did not expect. He could tell by the way her frown fell into a mask of astonishment. Annis blinked her eyes a few times and her lips fell open in a shocked gape. "Lord Hades… why ever not?"

"Because I made a promise to her." He said as he clenched his fists at his side. "To interfere would be to break my promise."

Understanding flashed in her amber irises. For the first time, she was comprehending that Hades was distressed. She could see his deep frown and heavy brow.

"But…" Her ire simmered down as concern took over. "What if she comes to harm?"

"Is that your fear?"

"Yes, Lord Hades. That is my fear. I have a terrible sense of dread in my gut. I have not always been one to listen to my common sense, but now my deepest instinct is telling me that Persephone alone with Rhadamanthus at this moment is not right." All of her rage at Rhadamanthus melted away as she admitted her concern for the goddess they both cared for.

"I do not trust him." Annis was on the verge of tears now. "I know that you do not trust him either. Something is wrong. I can feel it. Please. Go find her."

Hades could not tell her no after this. As much as he loathed to do it…

"Very well." He muttered darkly. "Return to the palace and wait for us in the throne room."

Only a hint of her concern faded to relief.

"Thank you, Lord Hades."

He said nothing to her but instead silently brushed past her and marched back the way he came. Against his better judgement, he was going to find Persephone and Rhadamanthus. His heart was begging him not to go—finding them would only bring more pain.

Yet now he could not ignore his own nagging voice. Annis' worry stoked his own fear. It was more likely than not that they were feeding off the other's dislike and suspicion of the lesser god.

At least, Hades hoped that her hunch was mistaken.

Persephone

The kiss was gentle.

His lips moved so warmly over hers. She found her mouth moving hesitantly along with his, testing these new feelings that were flooding her senses; the closeness of his face. The softness of his mouth. His breath warming her skin. Silver strands of hair tickling her face.

The way he was now gripping her waist with his hand while his fingers slid to cup her cheek, pulling her in ever closer. In turn, she had laid her palms against his chest and let herself be drawn in.

All of these feelings were tangible. Physical. She could feel and touch and sense. But on the inside, Persephone felt nothing. Wasn't her heart supposed to be fluttering? Shouldn't this first kiss be taking her breath away? Perhaps she was doing something wrong? Persephone had never kissed a man before. As Rhadamanthus let his movements grow more bold, her thoughts raced in her mind as she tried to figure out this perplexing lack of feeling.

Was it all so new and fresh and unexpected that she was simply taking it all in at first? Would those feelings she had long heard the Nymphs gossip about come as this kiss went on? So with those thoughts in mind, Persephone allowed him to keep on going and she curiously went along with him.

She felt more than heard him sigh into the kiss. He seemed to be enjoying himself. Why could she not feel the same?

He sighed again and his grip on her waist grew tighter. Part of her wanted to rip herself out of his arms.

Why did she have that urge to stop? What was wrong with her?

Persephone tried to kiss him back but her mind wandered elsewhere.

She wondered what it would be like if this were Hades instead.

Persephone let her thoughts turn to him. She imagined him in Rhadamanthus' place. Dark hair where those pale strands fluttered around her. Big hands, warm and rough, holding onto her. A beard scratching against her skin.

His mouth moving with hers…

Persephone erased Rhadamanthus from her mind and created a vision of Hades. And then, quite unexpectedly, a feeling of something warm shot through her. Startled at the suddenness of this feeling, she breathed in sharply through her nose and then let it out in the gentlest of sighs as that warmth spread over her limbs.

Rhadamanthus must have thought that her gasp was meant for him, for he sighed more heavily than before and began to pull her waist firmly into his. He parted his mouth to deepen the kiss. His tongue grazed her bottom lip.

And she froze as he tried to go further. Her eyes flew open as she realized what this all meant.

This was all wrong.

This was not how it was supposed to be.

He was the wrong person in this place.

Perephone could not enjoy this moment with Rhadamanthus because her heart did not belong to him. Their connection stirred none of those sensations of romance or love or anything because she did not feel that way for him.

She yearned for another.

Persephone wanted this tender moment to be shared with Hades.

Guilt washed over her amidst the lingering warmth. This kiss was no longer fair to Rhadamanthus. Not at all. This kiss had to end. She knew for certain that her feelings for Rhadamanthus were not as deep as the feelings he apparently had for her.

He seemed to sense her hesitation, but he did not stop himself. In fact, his movements grew bolder. Rhadamanthus only tried to pull her in tighter and his tongue tried to slip past her lips.

It was only then that Persephone came to life.

Her lips abruptly parted from his. She gently pushed against his chest to put some distance between them. But her chin failed to escape his grasp and his fingers did not let go of her robes. Only a few inches separated them now. Persephone wished that there was more.

She did not like the way his icy eyes searched her with confused desperation.

"What is wrong?" Rhadamanthus asked without prelude and she could hear how frazzled his tone already was.

"I…" Persephone hesitated to answer. Her stomach was all twisted with nerves. How could she let him down so suddenly? "I… I cannot kiss you like this…"

Immediately, his expression hardened. "Why not? And do not insult me with lies." He demanded without skipping a beat. His change in mood was immediate and it did not bode well to her. Did his hand still on her chin grip her harder or was that just her imagination?

"Because I do not feel the same way for you… as you feel for me…" Persephone stammered reluctantly, feeling backed into a corner. She did not want to be blurting out her feelings like this. It felt wrong. She wanted to let him down gently, but he was giving her no choice.

And she was starting to become afraid of those iron eyes boring into her like daggers.

"And you just now realized this?" Rhadamanthus hissed like a snake. "As I was kissing you?" He let out a mirthless laugh. "You are a cruel little thing."

"I am so sorry… I did not know my own heart until now. Please… I did not want to hurt you, but it was unfair of me to continue… I feared it would make it worse for you when I told the truth..." Persephone felt her heart fluttering now, but instead with growing fear as he interrogated her. Why was he so angry? Had she done something wrong?

He would have none of her excuses. Those fingers holding her waist were unrelenting. She saw his cheeks redden and his jew clenched tightly. "You really are a silly goddess, aren't you?" He sneered down at her.

"What?" Persephone breathed, hardly comprehending his words from the terror creeping into her heart.

"I should have known that someone so sheltered as you would act so childish."

"I—I am sorry." How had everything gone so wrong so fast? "What would you have me do? Continue with the kiss and pretend? To let you believe in a farce? It was unfair to us both!" Persephone prayed that her pleas would strike something rational inside of him. She could understand him being upset but this reaction seemed so…

So vicious.

"Perhaps so." Rhadamanthus considered her coldly, reveling in her obvious fear. Then he gripped her harder and Persephone winced in pain.

"Is it because of him? You cannot feel for me because of him?"

"Rhadamanthus, please…" she gasped tearfully. She did not have to question who he meant.

"I lost to him, didn't I?" Her tears fell on deaf ears. That hand on her chin moved to grasp her shoulder and he shook her. Hard. Persephone whimpered, hating how pitiful she sounded. But she was afraid of him. She feared what he would do in his anger.

This man she wanted to believe was her friend—that he was harmless—was frightening her more than anyone else ever had before.

"Despite everything, he still won you over. You do not have to lie to me. I can see the answer in your eyes. Your heart belongs to him. The god of the Underworld is the one you love. Not me." Before he could give her a chance to answer, Rhadamanthus tugged possessively at her waist, pulling her roughly against him.

"Why not me?" He asked, his icy eyes wide with anger at her rejection. "Why can't I have you? Hades already has everything. Why does he need you? He can go back to Minthe. She is desperate for him. Just as I am desperate for you."

"Rhadamanthus, let me go!" Persephone hardly heard anything he was saying anymore. Panic was rising in her throat. She felt her heart threatening to pound right out of her chest. She could not break free of his grip.

She could not get away.

"Do you know what I have done to win you over?" He questioned, as if she could answer him. "You are not an easy woman to possess, my dear. I only pursued you because that scarlet-haired wench begged me to serve as a distraction while she stole Hades away."

Those words reached her.

Everything came to a halt. The silence pressed in all around them. One could have heard a feather fall to the pine-strewn forest floor. Despite her fear, his confession caught her attention. She ceased her struggling and fixed him with an incredulous gaze.

"What?" Persephone breathed, feeling the faintest hints of anger bubbling up inside of her. His words were sinking in like a poison. "What do you mean? Do you mean that Minthe came to you for help getting Hades back? And you used me to do that?"

"Yes, it is true that I was pretending at first." Rhadamanthus admitted without a whit of an apology or remorse. "But then I fell for you. I fell for you in a way that I have never fallen for another. I have lied and disobeyed and taken risks to make you mine. This proves how deeply I care for you! I have to have you. You have to be mine. And once you are mine, we can convince Hades to hand me Elysian. He cannot say no to you. If you ask him, he will give it to you. He will make me a god in my own right, as I deserve to be. Then we can rule together. You and I. Hades will be forgotten. The Underworld will be forgotten. Only we will matter to each other."

Persephone was shaking her head as she watched him blather on. He sounded lost in the throes of madness. He was unraveling. She had no idea what other schemes he had concocted, and she did not want to know.

She did not want to know who this man truly was.

But as he stared at her, waiting for her to respond, Pesephone could sense a change in the way he was holding her. His pleading made that vice-like grip on her loosen, distracted by his own desperation. Persephone took the chance and roughly ripped herself out of his arms. Silvery sheets of hair were thrown into the air from the force of her movements. She heard the distinct sound of fabric tearing as she escaped him.

He growled in frustration and tried to grab for her robes again, but Persephone lunged out of the way.

"No!" Her cry rang out over the sea of trees, bouncing off the trunks and branches. "I don't want any of that. You tried to manipulate me! You are still trying to use me." She started backing away from him.

"You proved nothing except that you are truly the scoundrel that everyone says you are." He was staring at her as if she had just slapped him across the face. Pesephone pointed an accusing finger at his shaking form. Hot, angry tears swam in her vision until he was nothing but a pale blur.

"You cannot lie to me. You cannot say that you felt nothing for me!" He snarled dangerously but he could not mask the defeat woven into his accusation. "I know that you did, but you are too blinded by your foolish love for Hades to see that."

"It is none of your concern! I would have been your friend if I could not have been anything more, but now I want nothing to do with you. I will not be lied to. I will not be a pawn in your schemes for power. This is the end, Rhadamanthus. You will not see me again." Persephone blinked the tears from her eyes and the salty drops fell down her cheeks. She could see him clearly again.

His face was murderous; contorted and twisted into something ugly. A far cry from the elegant god she thought she knew.

"This is far from the end, Seph." Rhadamanthus snarled, using her pet name mockingly. "I will have you, one way or another. And when I am through, Hades can have what is left."

His threats echoed over the woods, hanging in the tense air. Every hair on the back of her neck stood up. A new fear was creeping into her muscles, paralyzing her as it dawned on her exactly what he was saying to her and what he intended to do.

Persephone could only think of her mother; defenseless to Zeus' schemes.

A victim to his desire.

And she imagined that Zeus had looked at her mother the way Rhadamanthus was looking at her now.

She had to leave. Why could she not move?

His steely eyes flashed with a hunger that she feared to name.

Then he charged.

Persephone cried out in terror, stumbling over her robes in her haste to get away. Her feet pounded frantically over the path and she could hear Rhadamanthus hot in pursuit. But then in the midst of her fleeing, clarity struck.

An idea came to her.

She waved her hand frantically in the direction of the nearest tree. Persephone dared to look back just in time to see a low-hanging branch swiftly swing down, right into the path of her pursuer. That gnarled branch smacked him right in the face. He let out a stream of curses as he fell to the ground, clutching his face in his hands. Persephone could see red seeping through his fingers, white hair falling all around his hunched shoulders.

But she did not stop. Persephone spared another second to admire her handiwork and then tore down the path in the direction of Hades' palace.

Whatever relief she felt was horribly short lived.

"Persephone!"

His rage-filled voice echoed through the pines. She looked over shoulder to see him running after her. A nasty gash ran from chin to cheekbone. Crimson streaks ran down his pale skin and his eyes were wild with fury. Silver hair whipped around his face as he raced to close the gap between them.

She gasped in horror. How had that blow not knocked him out cold?

Persephone tried again, and this time she hoped that it would work. She waved her hand at another branch, but this time, he was ready for it. Persephone watched with increasing dread as he used whatever power of his own that he possessed. Rhadamanthus easily dodged the blow and with a wave of his hand, the branch snapped in half and fell to the ground.

She was so enraptured by horror, that she did not look where she was going. Her feet tripped over something in the path and Persephone tumbled to the dirt. She cried out in pain and fear, trying to scramble back to her feet. But it was too late. He was faster. In seconds, Rhadamanthus was on top of her. His knee pressed into her back and cruel hands were clutching her wrists. A cry of help escaped her but Rhadamanthus laughed at her. In one forceful motion, he yanked her arms and turned her on her back.

Persephone felt her shoulders press into ground as Rhadamanthus hovered above her, hair falling all around her, blocking her view of the world beyond. She could not even see. She was trapped.

"You will regret saying your choice to reject me." He growled spitefully. The man was a vision of a nightmare; his pale eyes glowing with maniacal rage and a ghoulish grimace plastered across his blood-stained face. "Nobody tells me no and then walks away without punishment. Not even you, dear one."

Persephone screamed again for help, but her pleas were heard only by the trees. She tried to struggle out of his grasp, but her wrists were bound by his fingers and he was pushing her hands into the dirt. She closed her eyes and cried out in terror once more as she felt his body crawl on top of hers.

Her mind was reeling. She could hardly think. She could hardly breathe. This could not be happening. How was this happening?

"Please!" Persephone begged but Rhadamanthus ignored her. Instead, his face fell to her neck. Persephone shuddered with disgust and tried to turn away from his detestable closeness. She opened her eyes and saw an oak tree just a few feet away. Thick, dark vines of ivy grew all over the trunk.

She gasped as another idea came to her. If she could get to those vines then maybe she could get away—

Her hands were too restricted. It was a struggle to even make the leaves shudder. All she could do was wiggle her fingers.

Would it be enough?

It had to be enough.

It had to!

This was the only way—

Persephone blocked out everything going on around her and turned her focus to those vines, willing them to grow and move.

The vines merely shook weakly.

Rhadamanthus had changed his grip; holding both of her hands in one of his while his other went down to pull at her robes.

Persephone cried out in frustration. Her fingers were stretched out to the vines, pleading and desperate. Sweat broke out on her forehead as she inwardly screamed for them to obey her urgings.

"Please—" She demanded through gritted teeth.

Then all at once, the vines obeyed. The tendrils shot out from the trunk of the tree like a dozen fingers.

Rhadamanthus did not see it coming.

Persephone watched, transfixed in awe and fear at her own power, as those viney fingers slithered around his body. His face went from feral to shocked in an instant. His eyes followed the vines as they wound around his arms and shoulders.

"What are you doing?!" He cried out in a panic as he tried to scramble to his feet. But Persephone would not let the vines relent. They wrapped around his legs like snakes and she made sure that they squeezed tight. With jerky movements, the vines roughly yanked him off of her. Persephone felt relief as his oppressive weight was lifted from her body. But she did not let the vines stop there. She hastily scrambled to her feet, heart pounding and blood rushing to her head, to throw out her arms and properly make the vines move to her urgings.

The rope-like plants tugged again. Rhadamanthus was screeching her name as they violently dragged him over the dirt and pine needles and dead leaves. Her body was shaking all over as a rush of panic and heat coursed through her like fire. She was trapped in a state of fight or flight.

And now, the fight was taking over.

She watched as his body slithered over the ground until it reached the trunk of the oak tree from which the vines were growing. She narrowed her eyes as his back slammed into the wood. Her fingers clenched. More vines grew and twisted. They joined the others, wrapping around his limbs and torso.

He was pleading with her to stop.

Just as she had pleaded with him.

Persephone released a noise that was half of an anguished cry and half a growl of frustration. Her emotions roiled dangerously inside of her. A combination of fear and fury drove her onward, ignoring his vain pleading. She made the vines grow tall, taking Rhadamanthus to the tree top. He was spitting curses at her as Persephone guided the vines to a branch high in the air.

Her power instructed the plants to bind him to the branch, face down and hair falling like ragged sheets waving in the air. The vines spread out over his prostrate limbs, tightening their hold to keep him in place with no chance of getting free. Rhadamanthus was still yelling at her. Persephone wanted it to stop. The sound of his hateful voice was daggers in her ears. One small, green leafy thing slithered out from the tangle of vines and wrapped around his jaw, closing his mouth and silencing his cursing. He could only make angry muffled noises of protest now, staring down at her with his expression furious and fearful.

The woods, once full of their screams and cries, now fell eerily silent. Persephone stared in both horror and awe at what she had done with her power that lay dormant for so long.

Power that was greater than his. There was no chance of him breaking free.

But she felt no relief yet at escaping her attacker or triumph at having saved herself. Maybe when she was safe. she could revel in her use of power.

But for now, terror still reigned in every corner of her being. The feeling of fight was vanishing each second she was still standing under the tree that was now Rhadamanthus' prison.

Flight took over.

This place was not safe.

She had to leave.

Persephone turned on her heel and fled. The woods became a blur of mist and leaves and bark as she tore down the path, blindly heading in the direction of Hades' dwelling.

Safety was there. Persephone had to get to safety. She had to be safe—

With a thud and a gasp, Perspehone ran into something solid in her path. She was so intent on getting away, she could hardly see her surroundings. All that she could see were burgundy robes.

A man's robes.

Hands reached out to grasp her arms. A deep voice was speaking to her, saying words that her harried mind could not comprehend. Perspehone ripped herself out of that grip. Whoever holding her let her go, but he did not stop speaking.

"Stop!" Persephone cried out, squeezing her eyes shut and poising to dash away from this new offender.

"Persephone?!" Yet, it was another steady but firm call of her name that pulled her from the haze of fear. Her eyes flew open and she truly comprehended who was standing in front of her.

Hades. This was Hades. Not Rhadamanthus. The wild fear ebbed away when she realized that saferty had come to her. What he was doing in the forest and why he had happened to run into her at this moment were questions far from her thoughts as she took in the sight of him, frowning and confused.

"Hades! I—I did know it was you—"

"Persephone, what happened?" She nearly missed the worry glimmering in his obsidian irises. "What is going on?"

"Rhadamthus—he—he—" She stammered, hardly able to admit what had almost been done to her.

The worry in his eyes turned to cold yet fiery anger. His eyes swept over her, considering her torn and soiled robes and the frazzled state of her hair.

"What happened?" Hades asked darkly with a voice deceptively calm. Far off in the distance, a low rumble of thunder growled. The sky grew darker as his countenance changed to the same coldly seething god she had witnessed in Acheron's temple.

"He tried to… to hurt me. He tried to hurt me but I stopped him. I escaped."

"Did he hurt you?" Hades questioned once more, searching her face with what she could only say was fear.

He was afraid for her. She did not think it could be possible that he ever feared anything.

Persephone shook her head. That wretched god had not hurt her physically but fresh wounds were opening up on her heart. Tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"I am not hurt, but I am frightened…" she tearfully confessed. Hades still looked so bewildered but he did not press her for more. Hades took a step in her direction. Close enough for her to see the strands of gray woven into his black hair. Close, but not touching her.

"Persephone… you are safe now."

That was what she needed; to know that she was safe.

And she felt herself collapse.

Persephone let out a gasping sob and without warning, fell into his arms. His chest was solid and warm but she felt him stiffen as she leaned her weight against him. His arms remained at his sides. Beneath his chest, Pesephone could hear his heart pounding madly. She knew exactly why he was hesitant to hold her. He did not want to touch her because of her own declaration months ago when she first arrived in the Underworld.

Everything had changed since then. And in this moment now, she craved his comfort. His arms around her were desperately needed.

"I know what I told you… but I do not care about that anymore. Please, Hades…" Persephone wept his name. "I need you."

Another moment of hesitation.

Then she felt him relax. A heaving sigh was released from his chest chased by a murmur of her name. Then those arms lifted to draw themselves heavily around her trembling frame.

This was the first time he had held her. Persephone found herself wishing that circumstances could have called for something far less traumatic for this first moment of closeness. But what did that honestly matter now?

"You are safe, Persephone…" Hades promised in a voice so tender, she felt as though her troubles were merely a terrible dream.

Nothing could touch her while she was here, hidden in the safety of his embrace.

Hades

Several days passed since the incident with Rhadamanthus. Hades made sure that all the care and attention went to Persephone and her well-being in those days.

Persephone was withdrawn and quiet, lost in her thoughts. Annis and the Nymphs were never far from her. They doted on her, night and day. Persephone did not need much, but he could tell that she was grateful for their company. Perhaps, that was what she needed the most; trusted friends around her that would simply be a supportive presence.

But she wanted to be with him more than anyone else.

Persephone would seek him out more often than ever before. They would take walks together in the garden or wander the corridors of his palace. He would find her waiting for him in the throne room when he returned from judging. She would sit beside him on the raised dais on which his throne sat, legs pulled to her chest and chin resting on her knees, watching him through lowered lashes as they talked quietly.

Or sometimes they would not even talk at all. She would simply find refuge in his presence. Whatever Persephone needed, Hades was eager to provide.

But whoever she was with, Persephone had yet to leave the safety of his dwelling. She feared those who were still out there; Minthe, who had disappeared once word of Rhadamanthus' actions had spread over the Underworld. And of course, she feared the man himself.

But all the while, Rhadamanthus stayed trapped in the oak tree. Hades made sure of it. He had spies of his own giving him updates on the god's whereabouts and no news was good news. Hades chose to wait to see the god until his own wrath had simmered down to a low roar, even though that beast deserved the full force of his fiery rage. He still held fast to his own set of morals and wanted to come to the god with a clear mind and deserving punishments.

Even though he had not thought of anything as of yet.

Also, it felt wickedly satisfying to let him stay in that tree and wonder about his fate.

Hades was now marching down the winding path through the trees, going to the oak where Persephone had left him. Before he left to see to this ugly task, Hades made sure that she was with trusted friends. She was accompanied by Annis and Nyx, down in the underground spring.

Cerberus trotted at his side. It was a rare moment of obedience from his normal rebellious, snarling self. The hound had hung around the dwelling, somehow sensing that something happened to his mistress. Hades allowed him to enter after Persephone begged, and he remained resolutely at her side no matter where she went or who she was with.

Now, as he walked alongside his master, Cerberus seemed to know that the purpose for their visit to these woods had something to do with defending Persephone, and he was only obeying Hades for her sake.

The oak tree came into sight. Hades spotted the leaves and pine needles strewn about. Signs of a struggle. There were two gouges in the underbrush, as if somebody had grasped at the decaying plants while being dragged.

He could not stop the smirk that spread over his face when he saw it.

She was powerful. More so than she realized. Even now with this terrible incident behind her.

But Hades did not let his smirk linger long. He could sense a pair of eyes watching his every move. Hades turned his gaze upward, to the top branches of the oak.

An interesting sight met his eyes. There, bound by ivy, was the dejected god, just where Persephone said he would be.

His hair was scraggly and wind-blown as it dangled in the air. What part of his face not covered in vines was smeared in dirt and blood. Two steely irises were locked on him, full of hate and loathing, but even those flaring emotions could not mask his terror at seeing Hades standing at the trunk of the tree.

Hades smirked again.

She told him what she had done, but seeing Rhadamthus' suffering in the flesh made him selfishly glad. After what he had done, he deserved this punishment from the one he tried to attack.

Hades walked to the trunk of the tree, silvery eyes never leaving black. Cerberus circled beneath Rhadamanthus, all three heads growling lowly. He placed his hand on the bark. The tree would obey his urgings. It would release Rhadamanthus from Persephone's power.

In a few short seconds, the vines began to unwind from around the god's torso. They unleashed him and carelessly let him fall from the branch. Rhadamanthus grunted and groaned all the way down, the other branches breaking as he came crashing back down to the earth.

He hit the ground with a painful thud. But despite the extra bruises and scratches he received as he tumbled through the branches, Rhadamanthus tried to scramble to his feet.

"Fool…" Hades was impassive as he watched his vain attempt to escape. Instead, he let his hound chase him down. Cerberus leapt into action. All three heads snarling at once as he bounded after him. It was pathetic how easily he chased him down. One of the heads snapped and got a mouthful of robes. Cerberus yanked and Rhadamanthus fell to his knees in a heap. Those monstrous paws landed on his chest and pushed the yelping man into the dirt.

At last, Hades made his moves. He took slow, somber steps all the way to where Rhadamanthus was lying on his back with a trio of jaws snapping and growling in his face. He ordered the beast to stand down. The hound slunk away reluctantly, standing a few feet away just in case Rhadamanthus had any more bright ideas to try and run.

Hades ground a foot into his chest. Anger was rippling through him and for once, he allowed himself to act on his rage. He leaned his weight into the man's chest, pushing the air out of his lungs. He was gasping for air as Hades leaned down to peer into his face. But the man would not look at him. Not now, when their faces were a mere foot apart. He chose to stare at the woods beyond, even as he struggled to breathe and his cheeks turned red.

He would not look at Hades.

"Look at me." Hades ordered in a voice that rumbled like thunder. Cerberus growled.

And still, Rhadamanthus refused to obey.

Hades did not ask again. He grabbed a fistful of that damned silver hair and forced Rhadamanthus to turn his head. He winced in pain as the greater god's grip was unrelenting but no words left his lips. His eyes were threatening to pop out of his skull as he met Hades' eye.

"Now that I have your attention…" Hades tightened his hold on his hair. "How does it feel now, you no longer being careful? How has that worked for you, Rhadamanthus?"

No response, except for a murderous glare.

Hades laughed mirthlessly. "For someone who always has something to say, you are being strangely quiet."

His cajoling did not stir any words but Hades did not care. There was nothing that this scum could say to defend himself. He peered into Rhadamanthus' face, so close that he could count those freckles on his beaky nose.

"I know everything." He hissed. Rhadamanthus widened his eyes and made a fearful grimace. "Persephone told me everything. I do not know the details of this treacherous plan that you and Minthe concocted, but it reeks of betrayal. Your partner is now in hiding. Elysian is in danger of being thrown into chaos without a god to lead it. The Judges have been overwhelmed with their duties. I have been trying to take care of everything."

He pushed his foot further into the man's chest. "Do you realize what you've done?" Hades demanded dangerously. "You have thrown my world out of balance. I do not appreciate my world being imbalanced. And you have hurt the one I care for. Out of everything you have done, harming her was the greatest offense."

Hades roughly pulled his hair. The sky darkened and thunder rolled across the clouds. A gust of wind stirred the dead leaves. Mist rippled over the ground. Trees shook in fear at the god's fury. The air itself was thick with a suffocating tension.

"I warned you." His whisper was deadly and ominous. "You fool. There were rules. Now, my wrath is yours."

Silence. Terror was sleeping into the anger. His mouth twitched and Hades swore that he saw moisture glimmering in those irises.

And still, he had no pity. Those same glimmering eyes had watched Persephone as she screamed and struggled, and he gave her no mercy. Hades merely gave his hair another rough yank.

"Get on your feet." He ordered. Cerberus was at his side in a flash, giving the god motivation to obey Hades. Rhadamanthus whimpered as he struggled to stand. His feet were barely holding his weight when Hades pulled that hair.

"Come. Tartarus is waiting for you."

Only then, did Rhadamanthus finally have something to say.

He begged. He pleaded. He cursed.

But no apology could be found in his cries.

Hades knew not what he would do to punish this insubordinate wretch. He wanted to do something that would cut deep. Not physically, but deep into his soul. Rhadamanthus needed to be hurt with something more than a rudimentary beating or unusual punishments.

His actions deserved something that would truly hurt him. But until Hades figured it out, that god would rot in Tartarus.

Still holding those silvery strands, Hades all but dragged the panicking god to the border of the Underworld with the hound of hell nipping at his heels.