***HADES***
This is first time I have laid eyes on her; I know she has to be mine. She is intelligently aware of a presence, and she looks behind herself. The sight blows my mind; those dainty features, her rose colored lips, emerald eyes, and glowing skin make her even more unresistable to me. I smile at the thought of her now as I walk towards my brother's palace. I know Hera and Zeus will nag me today about taking a wife.
How surprised they will be when I tell them I have chosen one.
Ganymede leads me to a sitting room where I find the king of the gods and his wife lounging on a couch. They do not sit inappropriately close; but I suppose that is because of Hera's broadness. I take the seat opposite, only bowing my head to my brother in recognition of his position over me.
I've never been to fond of him.
"Hades, it has been almost six months!" Hera greets me.
"Too long, sister." I tell her, not sure if I mean it or not.
"Why don't you visit more often, older brother?" Zeus enquires of me.
"I have much to do in my domain. I'm kept very busy there. I do try to visit, but-" I throw up my hands in question. "I just cannot make it."
"Then do tell us, dear Hades, have you changed your mind? Found a woman you wish to make your bride?" Hera eyes sparkle. She does love this matchmaking; I fear she is taking influence from her daughter Aphrodite.
"Ah, brother, please tell us you have found a wench to solve your unquenchable lust." Zeus lets out a laugh. "It has been long since you held a woman close, no?"
"In fact, my siblings," my eyes are dancing in revelation of this moment "I have."
Hera gasps and Zeus smiles.
"Then to tell us the name of the girl who has stolen your heart?"
My heart constricts at the thought of her-that girl I just met in the gardens.
"Your daughter, Persephone."
Zeus studies my eyes and sees I speak the truth.
"Then you shall have her." He states with a grin.
"Demeter will not like this, however. I fear you must take our daughter by force, without the knowledge of her birth mother. You will have my blessing, and my husbands. If it comes to a disgraceful end, we will state your right to her. " Hera states, and I find that I might have underestimated her intelligence.
Zeus thinks about his wife's idea.
"Yes, I believe Hera is right. Take her on the next new moon, and no one shall bear witness." He winks, meaning he will keep this secret.
"The new moon is tonight."
"Then make haste. Go with mine and Hera's blessing." I stand up, my cloak swishing around my knees.
"You have my thanks." I leave without bowing, reminding him that my power bests his. As I walk down the hall, a smile plays at my lips. Tonight, Persephone, the spring princess, will be mine.
My steps make no noise even though I wear tall black boots; a reminder of which domain I rule over. I hurry away from Olympus, excited for tonight.
***PERSEPHONE***
It's later, and I cannot sleep. So I carefully sneak out if my rooms and go down to the huge gardens, padding around aimlessly. Wait-what's that? There's a patch of pure white tulips, but in the middle of it is a bright red flower. A Narcissus, I believe. Why do I not grow these, again? I reach out and pluck the flower from the ground, and as I do so I hear a roaring noise, and see a dark chariot racing to me. I cry out but I cannot move, my joints will not listen to me, I am frozen with fear. Right before I believe I am going to be run over, the man in the chariot grasps my wrist and pulls me in. At first I wrap an arm around his shoulder and neck, grateful for his rescue. But when he takes his arm off my wrist and puts it around my waist, pulling me closer, I realize what he is doing. He is abducting me. I cry out and rear against him, and he chuckles softly, holding tightly onto me.
***HADES***
I hold Persephone close, and I know no matter how much she struggles nothing can break my iron clad grip. Ah, Zeus was right. It has been a long time since I held a woman close. But holding a resistant girl is much different than holding a lover. As she squirms, part of her dress catches on a metal part of my breastplate and the dress, the top one, rips and comes clean off. She shrieks as she is left in her slip, a form fitting white thing that makes my head spin. As we leave Olympus, she faints in my arms and I set her down on my chariot floor, and we ride through the human realm, into mine of darkness.
***PERSEPHONE***
When I wake, I'm curled in the bottom of the chariot as as my captor drives his chariot through his domain. When he sees me stir he stops the chariot. He watches me as I moan softly and attempt to rise.
"Let me help you." he puts an arm around me waist, takes my hand and lifts me slowly into a standing position. He looks down on the hand on my hip; and his thumb begins to caress my side gently. He moves his face to mine, hiding in my ear;
"Your soft smooth hips...they mold perfectly into my hands. I don't find that mere coincidence." he moves to fit me into his arms, my head pressed directly into his chest and his in my hair.
"And the way you settle so nicely into my arms?" I try to shake off his touch but he holds firm.
"Who are you?" I ask him wearily. He allows me to take a step back
then, but cups my chin and forces me to look straight into those dark, deep eyes.
"I am Hades, lord and king of the underworld." My eyes widen, but I realize it has to be true. My body begins to tremble and I feel even more uncomfortable in his grasp.
"What do you want from me?" I ask quietly. He cannot repress a smile, as he responds.
"I brought you here to make you my bride." I gasp and attempt to get his hand off my chin, but he just tightens his grip.
"Please tell me you are not being serious. I need the sun, the air, the life! I need-" the look in his eyes tells me. He means it. I break off, tears tumbling down my cheeks and on his hands.
"Ssh, Ssh," he lets my chin free and caresses my hair. I fall, back into that dark pit of unconsciousness.
So guys, I'm hoping for seven review total before I upload the next chapter.
It really helps my enthusiasm and how compelled I am to write!
Thanks, ~Skye