A/N: So it's been over a year. I never wanted to be one of "those writers" who start and then never finish something, so I forced myself to crank this out today. I'm not totally happy with it, but we'll see what you think. And maybe getting this chapter out of the way will help me get on with it.
This past year so much has happened to me. Amidst everything else, my mother had major surgery, I am studying voice in Baltimore, the economy has shifted my life around behind my back, and I have lost two people close to me. My life has changed utterly in one year. I can't apologize enough for not updating, but I have been truly busy and I am truly sorry. I hope you still find it in your heart to read and review and brighten up my day.
Though she hadn't truly believed he would, the Lord of the Underworld kept his promise and did not make any more advances on her. And although she knew she should feel relieved about this, and a part of her did, it was not nearly as strong as the part of her that secretly, so secretly even she didn't know it, wished she could just see Him again.
She had barely known him before he had started staring at her from afar. She hadn't thought anything of it until the day in the unused corridor. She would glance around a room and his eyes would be fixed on her. Or she'd catch a look in a mirror, or just... feel him watching.
It had been a week since the "adventure" in the pomegranate grove. Zeus was throwing yet another party on Olympus. Demeter hadn't really wanted to go, but it was in honor of the upcoming harvest, so she relented. Persephone was instructed that she was to dress casual, but wear flowers in her hair and to be polite, but not too social and stay by her mother at all times. As usual.
So on the morning of the party, Persephone agreed to meet her mother there, and stayed behind to prepare. Wearing a knee length, simple white dress, Persephone examined the straps in the mirror. It was a thin strapped dress, but two extra, off-the-shoulder cuffed sleeves hung lightly on her upper arms, giving the dress a slightly more elegant look. Picking up several sprigs of lavender, she wove them into her hair and simply wore her hair, long and flowing, down. Trying not to even imagine that He might be there, she magicked herself to Olympus.
There was a group of muses humming in harmony just inside the door to the great ballroom chamber where the party was located. Persephone realized that she was quite late in arriving and all the other gods and goddesses were there already. No not all, He wasn't there. Though she hadn't looked all the way around the room before her mother seized her arm, she knew somehow he wasn't present. Odd, all the gods were invited, and few rarely missed a party.
Then again, he certainly wasn't like any other god she was aware of. Sighing to herself, she let her mother drag her around and show her off. Her mother was sturdy built from labor in the fields and others moved out of her way to let her make her way around, Persephone however, being so petite was forced to maneuver her way through whatever path her mother chose, all the while being dragged by her hand. As Demeter plunged through a particularly crowded cluster of immortals, Persephone stopped for a moment to get through. In that moment, several things happened.
First, Demeter's grip on her hand slipped, though she kept walking, expecting her daughter to follow.
Second, Persephone lost her balance and began to fall, not particularly noticed by the group of immortals, so wrapped up in themselves.
Third, a strong hand reached around the falling goddess' waist and pulled her to her feet... Directly against a strong, hard body that was not altogether unfamiliar.
In a moment, time seemed to slow for Persephone. Unable to help herself, she stared up... right into two black eyes, into the face that lingered in her dreams every night.
Hades did not release the young goddess in front of him. Instead, in the few moments they stared at each other, he quickly pulled her through a door to the side.
Unable or unwilling to resist, Persephone followed his lead, eyes never leaving his. They were in a small hallway, just outside the ballroom, but neither heard the muses melodic humming anymore. The dark god leaned down slowly, lowering his face to hers, while the goddess, in a trance raised hers to meet his, eyelashes fluttering low. But just as she felt the warmth of his nearness on her face, he stopped. Confused, she opened her eyes. Not hearing herself she mumbled, "What's the matter?"
He smiled a half smile and almost with regret said, "I gave my word." She blinked, then seemed to wake up. She stepped back, but he still held her hand in his, and she left it there.
She couldn't find words in that moment, but her eyes were confused and worried and lost, and the tiniest bit... disappointed? With an almost imperceptible shake of her head she lowered her eyes and started to turn away but was stopped by her hand in his.
She looked up at him again. "Let go of my hand." He smirked lightly.
"I should say the same thing." With a glance down, Persephone was horrified to realize that she had entwined her fingers with his and was the one pressing their hands together. She instantly jerked her hand back as if she had touched something painful. But before she could turn away again, he seized both her upper arms, firmly but gently, and pulled her near, whispering close to her face. "Why must you be so stubborn?"
Barely hearing his words yet again, and overwhelmed by his nearness, Persephone swallowed hard. His gaze shifted to her throat and lingered there longingly. With severely lacking energy, she put her palms on his chest and gently pushed him away. "My mother will be missing me..."
He stepped back and his face became stony, "Ah, indeed... your mother." Persephone didn't look up at him, she only hurried away, back through the doors into the hall with the rest of the gods.
The crowd of immortals had thinned as they had slowly mingled out in the gardens outside. Only Hestia, Hephaestus and Eros remained, the latter surrounded by a flurry of adoring nymphs. Persephone went over to politely greet her aunt and uncle who were conversing by the fire. Her uncle patted her head and then left she and her aunt to speak. Fortunately, her Aunt Hestia was not a demanding conversationalist, and simply sat with her by the fire, weaving a tall basket and commenting on how pretty she was growing.
After a pleasant time spent by the hearth, Persephone excused herself to find some ambrosia refreshments. As she made her way to a long golden table against the far wall, a petite nymph called Leuce approached her swiftly. "My lady, your great mother was looking for you, she requests your company in the rose gardens."
Persephone sighed, "Of course, please escort me to her." The nypmh bobbed her head and led Persephone out through a marble terrace through a the crowded mixed gardens, to the rose gardens where only a few gods were walking. She found her mother bending over a rose with a frown on her face. Excusing herself, the nymph quickly left them alone, wandering towards the far corner of the gardens.
Demeter looked up and smiled when she saw her daughter. "Ah, there you are, I was wondering where you had gotten yourself to. Also, I meant to ask before, how did the orchard blessings go last week?" Straight to the point for once.
Persephone forced a smile and said, "They went fine, I would have let you know if I'd had a–" She saw something move out of the far corner of her eye, "–a problem." Demeter wasn't phased by her hesitation, already having resumed her examination of the blue rose in front of her.
"Well, alright then, I won't be home for dinner I'll be staying the night on Olympus, this rose is quite the little scamp. Hades of all gods found it and showed it to me. You just missed him, thank goodness -- what a dark god he is. No light whatsoever..."
"Maybe you misjudge him." Persephone almost clapped a hand to her mouth as the words slipped out. Demeter straightened and leveled her eyes at her daughter.
"Do not talk back to me, girl. You know nothing of these things." Persephone lowered her head and Demeter softened. "You are still innocent and shouldn't have to think about dark things... I just want you to stay just as you are." She kissed her daughter's forehead and shooed her with her hand. "Now go play."
Persephone was already moving towards the corner where she had glimpsed movement earlier. Following her curiosity, she made her way, relatively unnoticed, over to her target.
The corner itself revealed nothing at first glance, it appeared to be a dead end, but stepping closer and looking carefully, she noticed a shift in the leaf patterns, slipping under a low vine she found a hidden pathway bathed in light, but age marked by fallen leaves and cobwebs. Following the path Persephone listened through the growing thunder. She wasn't sure why, but she had a nagging feeling that this wasn't a good idea. Still, her curiosity won out as usual and she continued on. Gradually she began to hear... noises... Slight, fast breathing, and a soft sigh. Very light and feminine. Even more curious, in her innocence, she peered around the final curve in the path and froze.
The path led to a secluded circular area with several ornate stone benches forming a semi circle in the center of the space. On the far right bench, lay Leuce. Her hair cascaded over the side of the bench and she had her eyes closed, sighing as... Hades bent down beside her and ran his hand across her cheek, leaning to kiss her neck lightly.
Persephone could not help herself, she moved slightly, and a twig snapped under her feet. Two sets of eyes snapped to up to look at her.
Persephone stood stunned. Frozen to the spot for several seconds. Then, something inside her snapped.
Stalking a few steps forward she glared at the similar looking nymph. "How dare you? You are a sworn virginal servant of my mother, yet you whore yourself to one far above your station?"
Leuce stood and stepped forward, her eyes wide as she started to plead. "Please, my lady, I–"
"You are nothing! I will not allow my mother's service to be tarnished by your filth!" The nymph began to tremble and cowered on the ground now... her palms outstretched and pleading. Persephone herself shook with rage as she glared at the nymph and raised her arm, "You will pay for forgetting your place." Slashing her arm through the air, Leuce did not even have time to scream as her arms stretched higher and her body was pulled up. Her feet sunk into the ground and spread out, while her body strained and suddenly hardened into a solid trunk, her fingers became leaves and then... the nymph was gone. A single, twisted tree stood in her place.
It began to rain lightly.
Completely drained from her outburst, Persephone collapsed against the hedge. He was there in an instant, strong arms wrapping around her ready to help her up. She jerked back, "Don't touch me!" Her yell wasn't loud, but it was enough to convey her anger. "What in Tartarus do you think you're doing?!" She screeched as he attempted to scoop her up.
"Hush, my love, you've just exhausted yourself... that was quite the overreaction." Her jaw dropped.
"Your what? Overreaction? How dare you... She... After all you said... And I..." Words failed her as her face contorted in beautiful rage, and she lashed out, kicking him in the stomach. He doubled and she scrambled free of his arms. Breathing heavily she muttered, "So stupid..."
Pulling herself up she leaned against the hedge. He had already risen, having recovered and simply stood to the side, not approaching her. "What are you playing at?" She finally said, her voice low.
"I was looking for a sign."
She snorted. "A sign of what, exactly?"
"That you felt something for me." She spun around to look at him.
"What? So you go off and start slobbering over some nymph?! Oh brilliant plan–"
He cut her off, frustration evident in his voice, "Well you didn't exactly leave me any choice did you?" She was silent. Watching him. "First you lie and deny everything your body implies. Then I can no longer approach you, and then you avoid me? Then suddenly you're enraged by the idea of me touching another who comes closest to your appearance." He stopped. "It was a last resort effort to get you to react." She bit her lip and looked at the ground, suddenly regretful.
Talking fast she began, "Well it didn't work, I was just– "
Loudly he said, "That's complete and utter deceit. You were jealous." She glared at him, meeting his gaze again.
"No... I felt deceived and..."
"And envious?"
"Ye–no!" She stammered. "You claimed some connection then I catch you with some nymph slut and... damn you." She choked then hissed a curse as tears began to slip down her cheeks. Spinning she began to run back the way she had come, but he swiftly followed and caught her arm, pulling her back against him, wrapping his arms protectively around her.
It was raining harder now.
Then, gently, he raised her chin with his hand and cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears with his thumbs... She raised her eyes to his, and her breath caught.
"I want..." She mumbled the rest into his chest.
With a look of surprise, the tall god hissed, "What did you say?"
Licking her lips and blinking twice quickly, unconsciously nervous, Persephone breathed again, "Please, kiss me." Hardly waiting for her to finish, his mouth was on hers. The passion of their previous kisses was still present and furious, but this kiss was gentler, less crushing and more rewarding. He was evidently pleased. She quivered, then sighed into his mouth and let him sweep her off her feet in his arms, one hand tangling in her lavender-strewn hair while both her arms wrapped around his neck.
When he finally pulled back to look down at her, she had her eyes half closed and her toffee hair was slightly mussed around her face. Sliding her hands from his neck to his shoulders, she blushed lightly and murmured something as she looked down at his chest. Snapping back from his silent reverie, he blinked and said, "What?"
She looked up with her round shining eyes and murmured again, "You can put me down now..."
He smirked. "Never... my lady."
A/N: Alright, I know it isn't up to my usual par, but it's a rough combination of two possible chapters I had written. I couldn't choose and they were each too weak to be on their own. I promise the next one will be better. But please review and let me know what you think. :)
A/N: As I have said before, this story is different. you may not like the characters as much as in my previous works. I'm trying to capture them as the passionate, rash, cruel, and complicated, inexplicable gods they essentially were.