Chapter Four

A women is pacing, her feet bare whilst white snow falls heavily over the land only yesterday was blossoming.

“Persephone.” it mutters. She has been missing and a terrible feeling is dominating her mother’s heart.

She needs to know she is fine. Someone took her away and she has to find who he is so she could punish him or she will make everybody pay the restless pain that is raging in her heart.

Zeus left in the middle of his discussion without explaining the reason behind his visit. He is nowhere to be found so if he doesn’t care for his precious humans, will would she? She will bring famine on this land if her daughter will not return to her.

A thunder breaks into the grey sky and a wave of unbearable sorrow washes over her as she lets out a scream that makes even the mountains scared.

Persephone startles as she jumps sited, her body covered in sweat.

Hades senses the young spirit breathing heavily but does not open his eyes. He keeps listening; if she’ll need he’ll wake and take care of her.

Persephone looks down at him and rushes to check on her clothes. Hade’s vest is still on her.

She takes a breath of relief before slipping out the one he used as a cover during the night.

Her mother is looking for her, she heard her voice in her dreams. She seems so desperate.

She has to get back before Demeter leaves every living creature to rotten and die.

Persephone, careful not to awake the God, walks towards the door on the tip of her toe. Before she could even get her hands on the handle, strong arms push her away from it.

Hades engulfs the girl into his embrace, enjoying more then he should the contact with her skin.

“It’s not safe out there, little lamb.” He mocks her and she rudely pushes him off.

“You tease me now too?” Hades grins, sinfully opening the door for the girl.

“It wasn’t my intention to get in your independent woman’s way, after you.” He even mockingly bows and she just scoffs and rushes to leave the room.

“How dares he…” she is starting to rant but a vigorous puff almost knocks her off her feet.

One of Cerberus noses is right behind the baluster staring right into her soul. The tongue patiently licks his stout before clicking his jaw, ready to eat her.

She turns on her heels ready to run inside the chambers only to find the God leaned into the doorframe staring at her amused.

“You knew he was here?” he shrugs and she finds herself being very frustrated before storming down the stairs.

Hades count to 10, then slowly and magnetically follows her. Persephone is halfway and already has no breath left, that staircase is endless. Also, the fact that Cerberus is carefully eyeing her doesn’t make her feel comfortable.

“Aren’t you afraid that Cerberus could swallow you?” She clicks her tongue as she stares at Hades in disbelief. He looks like he just got off bed, rested and painfully beautiful. Not even on of his hair looks out of place.

He surpasses her and stops only few steps further.

“Hop on.” He offers calling for the little dark cloud. Persephone though, decides against it and, collecting all the forces within her, she straightens up and finishes the staircase with her own legs, surprising the God.

Cerberus many eyes do not leave her one moment alone yet she does not pay much attention to it.

She is more concerned of the too tall God making his way down.

“So, will you let me go home?” she inquires and Hades stiffens. He reaches his hand into a bin to retrieve Cerberus food and throws at him.

“Not yet.”

“Then when?” The God of death looks deep in thoughts but Persephone does not let go. “My mother will be looking for me. Let me at least tell her where I am.”

“That is out of discussion.” She is taken aback by his harsh tone however cannot afford to let it slide. They played for too long, it is time he explains his intentions.

“I’m willing to pay my dept.”

“I don’t think you are.” He replays whilst caresses Cerberus, passing it to the left head. Whatever that dog is eating, is bloody and looks sticky

“Try me.” He dismisses her walking out of the room as if there is no other thing to say.

“Don’t you care about the people that are going to die if I don’t go back? My mother will let them starve.” Hades then allows a loud chuckle to escape his lips as he sits in his throne.

“Look at me, who am I?”

She is a little uncertain but tries to answer this odd question hesitantly “The god of death?”

“Exactly. Do you think I feel sorry for mortals when they die? Damned me, I’ll be constantly depressed if I’d mourn every single soul that parts from earth and this place would a funereal.” In addition, there goes Hades, laughing at his own jokes.

“Now tell me what am I supposed to do here all day?” She provokes him and he, even though has lots of ideas, swallows the jokes and eventually only says: “Keep me company until it is safe for you to go.”

“I’ll do what you ask, but my mother needs to know.”

“I’m sure she already knows, otherwise we would have had company. After all, haven’t you slept like a little lamb all night, have you?” again with the mockery.

“What have you done, instead? Look at me while I slept?”

“Enough with the bravery, young maid. I’m your King, after all, and you are in my house.”

“In the Underworld, you mean.” She whispers softly but enough loud for him to catch it.

“Come, I’ll show you something I deeply care about.”

“What is it? Some dead four-headed Hydra?”

As the Lord leads her into the depth of the Underworld, he does not let his sight wonder for too long before returning to her and how good she is in his gown, with his.

He escorts her to a stable made of dark marble and gold edges. A beautiful place filled with huge horses of every breeds. Some of them she has never seen.

She is wonderstruck by how, the numerous animals are all dark-furred: some blue some dark blood red.

“This is my favourite.” Hades mutters and for a moment, Persephone thinks he is talking about her but his arm reaches beyond her, pointing to a horse with long mane, very similar to the god’s hair.

“Ares gifted it to me long ago.”

“Do you get sad when they die?” she asks innocently and Hades’ yellow eyes wide as his heart aches.

“They don’t. They are immortal beasts.” She nods a little un-happy with the answer so before he could help himself his lips unravel. “But I would be if anything happened to them.”

“What’s his name?”

“Her name. She doesn’t have one.”

Persephone spins to look at him in disbelief. “How can you say something belongs to you if you don’t feel they are worth being named?” Hades thinks about it, but his mind just cannot seem to focus. His hand though, travels the little distance that divides them and lands on her forehead moving a long curl off her breast and behind her back.

Persephone blushes yet does not startle this time, pleasing the lord of death.

“You don’t own the things you love. They own you, little lamb.” He is so desperately in need of her, of any part of her being, so much so that his whole body shuts down the moment she looks away.

“I don’t know if it’s true what you say. I am no expert in the matter. Nevertheless, I believe that if you care about someone, you gonna recognize them the right name. I think it makes them happy to be given a spot inside your heart theirs only.”

“How would you like to call her then?” he gives in so attracted by her Fenix hair. He would like to sit in a garden and watch her roll into the flowers so her strands fill with them. She would be absolute lovely covered in blossoms.

“Persephone?” she proposes not knowing how fit it looks to the God to name his most beloved horse after the only other living being he has ever loved.

“Persephone it is, then.” He agrees then tenderly places his palm on her hip. “Now let’s get you washed, I have a bath arranged for you.” Persephone cannot wait to rinse and wash herself. This dark place is starting to make her feel dirty and terribly lonely. She misses her mother most of all but also craves for some sunlight desperately.

“Adromaca.” A middle age women appears holding a basket in her hands. “Take our gest to her bath chamber. I’ll be waiting for her.”

Andromaca nods and begs the young girl to follow her. She strips Hades’ gown off her tiny body and helps Persephone slide inside the square filled with water that looks more like a pool than a bath basin.

It all smells like roses and something else she does not recognize but seems familiar.

Candles are placed around the perimeter, making the place look less horrified and a little warmer. The water is clean and still vaping.

“Are you enjoying it, mistress?” Persephone nods and smiles to the women who is adoringly staring back at her. “You are making the Master very happy.”

Persephone shakes her head not offended. What else would be the reason for a God like Hades to take a living and breathing women downhere, nevertheless?

Andromaca joins her mistress inside the pool and gestures for Persephone to come closer so she can take care of her hair.

Persephone closes her eyes in perfect awe by the skilful hands of Andromaca. They just drive up and down her strands taking care of every knot and the oil she’s using is just mind-blowing. She leans into her crossed arms and enjoys this little piece of heaven.

The maiden palms slip to the tip of her curls collecting them as she massages her way up. She stops for a second as the water shifts but does not pay much attention to it. She is falling asleep anyway. Her fingertips take care of her skull; no one ever touched her with so much care and devotion, not even her own mother.

Something soft lingers over her shoulder, forcing her to awake from her dream only to find craving eyes glancing at her. She tries to startle yet her body is pressed against the tiles, her head pulled back by Hades hands in his hair so she is forced to look at him. She completely blocked by his body.

He leaves one slow peck on her neck not looking away in the process and then just grins at her. It’s like a body shaped set of marble tiles against her soft skin making her goose bumps all over while she can’t even get to breathe.

“Hello little lamb.” Hade’s whispers getting terribly drunk from her scent. Her mane smells so addictively good to him and he longs for a little taste.

“What are you doing?” she asks alarmed. “Where is Andromaca?”

“I switched places with her.” Persephone feels corned and with not much to do. “I wanted some time with you to talk about our deal.” His soothing voice is making her dizzy as if a sweet venom is poisoning her.

“Couldn’t you wait for me to finish this?” Another kiss is placed over her check as Hades’ nose snuggles under her ear, electrifying his whole body. She shouldn’t be alone with a man that isn’t her husband, this is so inappropriate.

The God decides to just distance himself before he goes any further and swims to the other side of the pool to grab one of the steins set aside for them. He fills it with kykeon and sips at it, distant.

Persephone takes this chance to climb out of it but, as soon as she manages to get her foot on the edge, the water pulls her back in and she scoffs, making Hades smile once more.

He offers the wine to her but she refuses. He drinks the whole glass and makes it disappear.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” Starts Persephone with her hands crossed over her chest making Hade very tensed.

He does not want her to hide however, she’s a maid not a prostitute and this reaction is just natural. He has no right over her, yet and must respect her desire to stay away from any men’s glare. He finds it very enduring that a mortal could resist his touch and would want to safeguard her innocence. No one has ever managed.

Therefore, he stretches out of the pool and grabs his robe, handing it to her. Persephone rushes to put it on, only to be corned by Hades again. He is so tall that she barely reaches his chest. Damn it must feel stony that jaw, she thinks.

Hades looks at the waters and back at Persephone quite annoyed.

“The water is too shallow for me.” With a quick snap, Persephone’s feet lose touch with the pavement and she has to fight to keep her head from going under.

Hades swipes her up from her armpit and she clings to him. He smells like put out fire and rainy forests, something that does not bother her.

“Well...”he begins. “I certainly remember you as a better swimmer.” He teases and she puffs in annoyance trying to unravel from his grip but the God is just not ready to let her leave him. He said he will respect her, but can’t help seeking for physical contact. He is already hurting himself enough and she doesn’t seem too bother anyway.

“What do you want?” she complains exasperate and Hades taps one of his fingers on her chin. She can feel his rings against her back as well. She can sense him on every inch of her skin, honestly.

“You..” slips from his lips before he can do anything to stop it so instead decides to add “You, to pay your dept with me. You own me your life, after all.”

“Fine, what do I have to do to call it even?”

“Stay with me here, willingly. Don’t ask about anybody else and just keep me company for a time.”

“How long?” dares to inquire the brave girl and Hades jus scrolled his shoulders.

“Until I get tired of you, which will happen very soon.” He jokes knowing in his heart that nothing would make him stop from craving for this woman.

“What am I supposed to do in the Underworld? I’m the only living person here.”

“True,” he admits sliding his palm on her lower back. “But I’m very accommodating, just stop pushing me away.”

Persephone snorts, finally setting free from his grip and swimming to the poolside to, at least, be far from him. He follows her again. There is no where she can hide from him.

Hade’s gold earrings tinkle as he rest his face on his arms right next to hers.

“I’m very lonely here. I won’t ask you to do anything you wouldn’t want to do.”

‘Do not feel pity’ for him, she tries to convince herself but fails miserably.

“Just promise you’ll tell my mother where I am and that I’ll be home soon.” He annoyingly nods and Persephone, thinking the tiring trading is finished proceed to get out of the pool but this time Hade’s hand himself pull her in.

“We need to seal the deal.” Before she can even fire back anything, his cold lips find her and the rein of his control slip from his hands. For a moment, he ravishes her, cutting the breath out of her lungs. She gasps as his wide palms captures her head in a tender yet firm hold.

He abruptly stops, panting more than she does and severely stares into her scared eyes.

“You have to kiss me back to seal the deal, otherwise it won’t work.”

Persephone’s cheeks burn as if he poured liquid flames on her. She was never touched by anyone before. She was never kissed by anyone. How could she reciprocate something she never did?

Hades though, is sure of what he is doing and muffles on the girl’s lips “I’ll guide you, just follow me.”

She barely nods as his fingers pull up her chin and a little peck is placed over her moth followed soon by another one and another one. Persephone opens up to Hades and he feels like the King of all Olympus while the naïve girl allows him to caress her intimate self. He controls himself and instead of eating her, decide to take her bite by bite. Kind kisses press over her skin whilst her hands move into his hair.

She was right, it is silk running inside the spaces of her fingers and it feels so good to be able to touch it, hold it. She wonders if anyone had the pleasure and her guts revolted at the thought.

Contrary on what you are thinking, the first to pull away is Hades himself. He is dying for more but the love he feels for her stops him from going any further. He has never been someone irrational and prey of his emotions, but the women in his grip takes out the beast inside of him. The arrogant God that wouldn’t ever take no for an answer. However, he wants Persephone and he’ll have her at her own condition.

“You are pulling at my hair.” He instead admits and Persephone immediately let go of it, deeply ashamed of herself.

In a very irrational move, lunches herself out of the water, desperate to be as far away from what she just did. Hades allows her to go, watching as the flames die the moment she distances herself from him. The way he will die if she ever leaves. Slowly and painfully.