Chapter 19:
Embarrassing. That's the word for it.
Right now, Persephone can think of a million other things she'd rather be doing than be in this awkward situation.
It's not like she hasn't seen a naked man before…well, she hasn't, but she has seen statues of various gods in Olympus – all naked. So this really shouldn't bother her.
And honestly, after her initial shock wears off at seeing the feared Lord of the Dead in nothing but, well, nothing, she feels her nervousness begin to subside. Really, she's more embarrassed for him now than she is for herself. She keeps her eyes locked on his face – wow, it actually looks like he's shaved…a little – and from the corner of her eye she notices him start to grab a part of his robe to cover his lower bits. She sees him reach for what may be a towel located off to his side. As he does this, her eyes begin to trail down his chest, admiring the sculpted muscle there, making their way to the dark splotch on his right side.
This is the first time that she has gotten a very good look at it. The color of it is as black as midnight, its size and shape continuously changing with tendrils of black creeping across Hades' skin. She remembers touching it; the searing sensation it brought to her hand…the lingering pain of a burn mark it left.
Is this what Hecate was talking about? His 'affliction'?
"Hecate," she hears his deep voice say.
Hecate moves herself in front of Persephone. "My lord," she says, her voice sputtering with embarrassment, "I apologize for this intrusion. I was just bringing young Persephone here to relax and-"
"Hecate," Hades says, his voice slightly amused, but Hecate continues to ramble on.
"And, well, you see…I just thought it was a good idea, since the hot springs are a nice place to –"
"Hecate," Hades says again, moving closer to the both of them (when Persephone pops her head up to look over Hecate's shoulder, she notices that he's put on some sort of towel over his waist). "It's really quite alright," he finishes.
"My lord?" Hecate asks, somewhat surprised.
"Hecate really, it's okay. You just caught me at an awkward time is all." Persephone notices that he keeps his head a little down – He really is embarrassed. She feels her lips turn slightly up in a small smile - which she immediately widens despite her very conscious decision not to do so - when he lifts his head a tad and gives her a nervous smile with a corner of his mouth. Damn him! she thinks. He's always getting me with that smile of his. Or half-smile. What is wrong with me? If I had half a brain I wouldn't even be in this mess and- She begins to pout at him and she hears him give an amused snort.
"My, my Persephone," he chuckles lightly, "even after the grand show I've given you you're still upset with me?"
Persephone moves out from behind Hecate and walks up close to him, all the while resisting the urge to poke him in the chest with her finger.
"Please," she says, doing her best to put up an unimpressed tone, "I've seen grander shows from satyrs." She thinks she hears Hecate suck in a breath from behind, but whether it is in amusement or fear, she doesn't know.
"Oh now you've gone and hurt my pride, Persephone."
"Good," she says, inspecting her nails and looking off to the side. That'll serve him right-
Her train of thought cuts off when she sees his hand grip his right side; she sees him recoil his hand and hiss.
"My lord!" Hecate says, running up to him. "Have you had any of your…elixir today?"
He shakes his head 'no'. Persephone sees Hecate take out a medium sized green bottle and hand it to Hades. He drinks it immediately.
"Better, my lord?"
"Yes, Hecate," he nods. "Thank you."
"How are the headaches?"
"I'm fine, Hecate."
"Are you sure, my lord? Because-"
"I'm fine, Hecate."
"If you're certain-"
"I'm certain." He says it with so much finality and conviction that Hecate walks away and gives a small bow.
"Understood, my lord."
"Now leave me," he says. Persephone begins to turn around with Hecate towards the hallway leading out of the room.
"Not you, Persephone." She stops and turns around, feeling Hecate's presence move farther and farther away with each passing second.
He walks over to Persephone and awkwardly tries to hold the towel up on his hips. "Look," he says, running a hand through his dark hair, "I came here to relax as well. Would you…care to join me?"
Persephone looks back towards Hecate but feels her heart fall when she cannot spot her. She defiantly looks up towards Hades. "Do I have a choice?" she asks.
He sighs and turns around, taking off the towel and walking into the water. Persephone feels her cheeks heat up again and she does her best to keep from staring at his behind until his entire body is the water and she can't see a thing. He swims over to a small outcropping in the water and sits. Running his hand through his hair again, ( he's been doing that a lot – does that mean he's nervous?) he clears his throat and says, "Actions speak louder than words, Persephone. I know that. And because of that, I know that you must hate me, because my actions towards you have been utterly disgusting. For that, I am sorry." He pauses to look up and see if she is still listening. When she crosses her arms and nods for him to go on, he rubs the back of his neck and continues, "I have been put in a rather…compromising position as of late. As such, I've been forced to make decisions I normally wouldn't-"
"Like kidnapping me?" She narrows her eyes, and Hades clears his throat once again.
"Yes," he continues, "Like kidnapping you."
"Why, Hades? Why do all this? And what's with that – that thing on your side? And your late night screaming? And that 'elixir' you're constantly drinking? Just what in all of the cosmos is going on around here?"
Hades shuts his eyes and groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Peace, woman, peace! Do you always badger people with questions like this?"
"I don't know, Hades, do you always deflect and not give people answers when they ask you specific questions?" She walks over to where he is sitting and leans over him and – thank the gods – she can only clearly see the top of his chest and nothing lower, the rest of his body obscured by the constantly churning water. He turns his head to look at her, dark brows furrowing over his eyes, "Must everything turn into an argument with you?"
She grins down at him, "Of course." She stops grinning when she sees his expression turn from one of irritation to a mischievous smirk.
"Well, in that case," he says, placing his hands by her feet outside of the warm pool, "no."
She cocks her head to the side. "No?"
He immediately grabs her ankles, "You have no choice." Realization dawns on her face as she looks down at him.
"You wouldn't dare," she whispers.
He smiles up at her, a big, playful, beautiful, genuine smile that makes her forget what he's about to do. "Oh yes I would," he says as he pulls Persephone - kicking, screaming and laughing - into the pool with him.
"So what's our plan, Ares?"
Ares leans back in his bed and stares up into the ceiling. Dionysus has not left him alone since their toast, and he is beginning to feel the last bits of his patience fading.
"Plan, Dionysus? I wasn't aware we needed a plan. In fact, I was under the impression that Hades would set fire to Olympus all by himself."
Dionysus takes another sip of wine as his words begin to swirl,"Brother, brother, brother. Ofcourseweneeda plan! I mean, EVER know?"
Ares makes a disgusted noise at the back of his throat. "I think you've had too much wine, Dionysus."
He hears Dionysus make a hiccup sound, "Why, 'hic', do you, 'hic' care? Youloveconflict, so 'hic' whywould 'hic' thisbother 'hic' you?"
"BECAUSE YOU'RE ANNOYING, DAMMIT!" Ares screams. He gets off the bed and knocks Dionysus down, instantly straddling him.
"Oh yeah? Well, 'hic' nobody likes you. You're 'hic' on par 'hic' with 'hic' Hades in the 'Worst…'hic' Hated 'hic' –excuse me – Gods' department."
"WHY YOU LITTLE!" Ares raises his fist-
"Ares, shut 'hic' up. I hear 'hic' Father." Ares pauses for a moment…He hears the distinct sound of his father's voice as well as…Aphrodite? He gets up off of Dionysus and moves to press his ear towards the door, hearing bits and pieces of a muffled argument.
"Ares? Ares 'hic' whataretheysaying?"
"Shut up you damned idiot! I'm trying to listen."
Ares presses his ear close to the door and listens…
Zeus: Aphrodite, how could you do this? I told you what happened last time he fell for someone! But you just couldn't resist, could you? Now not only is Persephone missing, but so is her mother! We have to do something!
Aphrodite: I am the Goddess of Love, Zeus. All I wanted was for Hades to have someone…
Zeus: Don't think I don't know you have some sort of design on all of this- Cronus, Hades, Persephone…
Aphrodite: I'm sure I don't have the slightest idea of what you mean, Zeus.
Zeus: Of course you don't.
Aphrodite: I must admit, you mentioning Cronus does intrigue me.
Zeus: The other gods may take you for a fool, but I know better. I'll be watching you, and make no mistake, if I catch you at whatever it is you're doing, I'll banish you just like I banished Hades.
Aphrodite: Of course, Zeus. Of that I have no doubt. No if you'll excuse me, I have a rather beautiful love beginning to bloom that I must attend to.
Zeus: I'll be watching you, Aphrodite! …I'll be watching you.
"ARES!"
"WHAT?"
"What did they say?"
"Well," Ares says, laying back down on his bed, "It looks like there are more players in this game than we thought. And also-"
"Also what?"
Ares snaps his fingers at Dionysus, who is promptly sent whirling through his wall and into the adjacent room (Athena's, to be exact), "Get out of my room."
A/N: Ta-da! :D Comments, reviews, suggestions, love it, hate it, whatever – leave it in the comments box! KTHX GAUISE, YOU ARE ALL SO FRIGGIN' AWESOME!