That Fatal Kiss (5 page)

She realized she had been holding her breath and gave an irritated click of her tongue as she closed the chest. Then she noticed the table to its right, which bore all sorts of bottles and boxes. Persephone opened one to find a meticulously fashioned silver chain and pendant of shining hematite, cut and polished to resemble the crescent moon. In another lay a gleaming gold chain, meant to be worn close to the throat. Garnets dangled from it, nearly taking Persephone’s breath away with their deep fire. There were both gold and silver bracelets, arm bands, ivory and silver wands for her hair, lovely bangles, and rings set with more garnets, hematite, and also moonstones, malachite, and jasper. The goddess rose to her feet and placed a ring upon her finger, only to quickly remove it and put it away. Persephone first suspected that the garments and jewels belonged to some other female, but now rejected the notion. All that she saw matched her tastes
exactly
, from the cut of the stones to the colors of the gowns and cloaks in the chest. Obviously Hades procured the things for the express purpose of pleasing her. But how could he possibly fathom her likes so unerringly? And why did he care?

Lost in the implications of her discoveries, she wandered through the chamber, absently opening a small cupboard and finding several pairs of sandals, crafted of the finest leather. Already anticipating the result, Persephone removed her own to see if these would fit her. They did, perfectly, and proved the most delightfully comfortable things she ever placed on her feet. She easily slipped them off and put on her own sandals, making a face as the coarse straps cut into her ankles. How had she never noticed their roughness before?

Shaking her head, Persephone moved on past the foot of the bed. It occurred to her to try the massive door as she passed it but, of course, it would not yield to her. It would not have yielded to any Immortal, not even Thundering Zeus, for Hades maintained complete and absolute control over every entrance and exit to the Underworld—Persephone knew his earlier assertion had been no exaggeration. “Humph.” She kicked the door before resuming her perambulation about the room.

What could it all mean? That he cared for her comfort and happiness, enough to learn what pleased her and then obtain it for her? If so, why abduct her, why not seek her consent to marriage? These questions rambled around Persephone’s mind, vying for supremacy, until her teeth ached and she sat at the foot of the bed to calm herself. She closed her eyes, pressing her fingers against her temples to ease her pain, and immediately relived Hades’ kiss. Her breath caught once more and her stomach trembled anew. Athena might think her a fool; Artemis, some kind of whore, but at that moment Persephone desired physical union with Hades with a sharp, keening need that astounded her.

She groaned and sprawled out along the bed, bringing an arm up over her eyes, as if she could blind herself to the truth. She forced herself to put such matters out of her mind and focus, instead, on what had eluded her thus far: a plan of action.

If her mother were able to free her, all would return to normal. If not, Persephone would have to resign herself to her fate and find some way to get along with the Lord of the Underworld.

If she must be his queen, Persephone vowed to herself that she would not submit to Hades without first establishing some measure of equality. The god must not think that his true conquest of her would transpire as easily as his capture of her had.

But what to do in the meantime? He’d succinctly expressed his expectations. He wanted to mate with her, that very night, if the goddess remembered correctly. Once again, Persephone felt herself go hot and cold. But, despite her incredible attraction to him, she was not prepared to become intimate with someone she could only consider a stranger.

What if Hades pressed her? What if he tried to rape her? She abruptly sat up on the bed. Would he? The goddess thought over what little she’d experienced of him. He’d taken her but had not harmed her. He’d been gentle with her, provided for her. And there was something in the way he’d kissed her…Persephone believed he must care for her, to some extent, else he’d have already forced himself upon her. She prayed to the Fates that he cared enough not to attempt any further harm, for both their sakes.

V.

Zeus’ Palace, Mount Olympus

“YOU HELPED HIM
do this thing, did you not?” asked Athena of her father. She mentioned nothing of her suspicions to Artemis or the others, fearing to spark another battle amongst the gods. But she had to know if her assumption was correct, for only then could she hope to save her sister.

Zeus appeared to bear his daughter’s scrutiny with equanimity. “Helped who, do what thing?”

The goddess’ eyes narrowed. “Remember that I sprang from your head at my birth and I know exactly how your mind works.”

“Am I to take it that you are accusing me of something, my most beloved daughter?”

“You have allowed, nay; you have
aided
Hades in Persephone’s abduction.”

Zeus smiled, as if pleased by her cleverness.

Then Athena added, “I’m going to get her back.”

Now the King of the Gods scowled dreadfully, saying, “You will not get her back, nor will you tell Demeter, nor anyone what has happened! Persephone could ask for no better husband, and at any rate, it’s too late now. You may
not
interfere in this matter, I forbid it!” His voice rang so loudly that the Heavens began to shake. Lowering it, he continued, “If the Fates choose to give Persephone back to us, it will happen soon enough. For now we must let events transpire as they may. Do I have your oath that you will obey me in this?”

Athena drew closer to her father and knelt before him. “Why did you let him take her, Father?”

“My dear, as much as I love you, I cannot allow you to challenge me.”

“I understand,” Athena said. “But you love Persephone and Demeter, as well. Hades must have delivered some awful threat for you to agree to his scheme.”

“Be that as it may,” Zeus said, reaching for his daughter’s chin. “It has been accomplished in accordance with my will and may not now be undone.”

“Did he threaten a battle for supremacy?” she persisted.

“In a manner of speaking.”

“But Father,” Athena said, “you know that only a male born of my mother may ever wrest power away from you. Now that she is no longer a threat, I cannot fathom what you have to fear from Hades.”

Zeus smiled again. “You are so wise, my dearest. This is why I treasure you above my other children. Now you must continue to honor me by allowing Hades’ drama to play itself out to its conclusion. Swear by the Styx that you will not tell anyone the truth behind Persephone’s disappearance, or where she can be found.”

Athena hesitated, about to protest further. But then she nodded, the oath sworn by that simple gesture, and rose to her feet. She placed a kiss upon her father’s cheek and he returned it, so that she might take her leave. And though she parted from him in obedience, even the Goddess of Wisdom could not always repress the mischievous impulses within her, for she turned to say to him, “I shall see you soon, when the time comes to remedy this mess.”

Zeus allowed her the jibe, even grinned at his daughter when he answered, “I know.”

Athena was nearly gone from the chamber when Zeus recalled her to him. “Oh, Pallas…when you and your sisters were on Etna, before Persephone’s disappearance, did you notice anything…unusual?”

Her hand on the portal, Athena turned to face her father. “Unusual in what respect?”

“Oh, in any!” Zeus said cheerfully, pouring himself some nectar.

“I can’t say that I did. Why do you ask?”

“Well, it’s Hermes, you see. He says he’s been hearing some…peculiar noise about the mountain, on his travels.”

“What sort of noise?”

“He’s not quite certain…just some low rumble, now and again.”

“Hephaestus’ workshop being at Etna’s peak might account for all manner of odd sounds, surely?”

“Yes, indeed, you’re quite right.” Zeus raised his cup in a toast, which she acknowledged with a bow. “Probably nothing to worry about at all.”

VI.

Hades’ Palace, The Underworld

BY PERSEPHONE’S CALCULATIONS
the hour must have been just a little after the time of night she and her mother would prepare for sleep, but there seemed to be no such marking of time in the Underworld. Or at least, none that she would know of, for she had been locked up in Hades’ bedchamber for what seemed a very long time. She had been brought what she supposed was her evening meal, nectar and ambrosia, a short while ago. Though Persephone found the meal appealing, something made her refrain from eating it, though she could not exactly reason why. The servant who brought it to her looked alarmed when she returned and found the tray full. But she said nothing and merely took it away, leaving Persephone alone with her troubled thoughts.

Now the goddess paced the length of the bedchamber impatiently, wondering if Hades would put in an appearance. The threat of violation very much on her mind, she avoided taking her rest on his bed. Persephone walked about the room, countless times, eyeing the bed warily all the while, as if by keeping her distance from it she could also keep Hades from
her
. She gave the bed a disgruntled grimace and picked up a smooth, golden pillow. She held it close to her face and detected a delicious aroma rising from it. Momentarily distracted, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She smiled with delight at the mixture of oils and spices: cloves, definitely; sandalwood, cinnamon, and just a hint of patchouli. She took another deep breath, savoring the perfume wafting up from the pillow, until she realized the scent she drank in must be one worn by Hades. “Groaning Gaia!” she said, tossing it to the floor.

“Good evening,” said the Host of Many, who chose that moment to end Persephone’s solitude. He entered the room quietly and shut the door. Hades began untying the knots of his cloak as he regarded the pillow she’d thrown and inquired, “So, you mean to make your bed upon the floor, do you?”

Persephone looked up at him intently, wishing she could divine the thoughts lurking in the depths of his dark brown eyes. “Did you think to find me cowering in a corner like a beaten pup?”

“I had, actually.” Hades smoothly pulled off the cloak and tossed it aside, then sat at the foot of the bed and focused on the task of removing his sandals. Done, he raised his eyes, saw that her face had hardened to a glower. “That you confound me by standing there, glaring, when you are totally at my mercy, is a point in your favor, I suppose.” A smile played about his lips. “You’re beautiful when you’re angry.” He opened his massive arms wide. “Come, sit on my lap.”

Persephone’s response to that was to let her mouth drop open in sheer amazement. She made no move to obey but instead shrank away from him, until she could feel the cold wall against her back.

Hades lowered his arms but kept them extended. “You look at me as if I had taken leave of my senses. How endearing.” All traces of humor left him. “But I have given you a command which you have no choice but to obey.”

The goddess instead put more space between them, hastening to a spot near the door. Very aware of his eyes upon her, she said, “While I may have to accept you as my spouse, I do not have to accept ill-treatment.”

“Persephone,” he said, his tone deceptively civil. “You must accept whatever treatment I mete out to you.”

“That is where you are mistaken,” said Persephone, walking over to a cushioned chair and gracefully sinking into it, as though she hadn’t a care in the world.

Lips tightening, Hades rose to his feet and got to work on the upper half of his robes. His eyes fixed on hers as he spoke. “You may thank the Fates for my continued patience for I will humor you—just how am I mistaken?” The god’s brawny arms flexed as he folded the material in half, set it down, and laid his hands on his waist.

The goddess gulped as the light from the many oil lamps played lovingly along his hard, chiseled torso. And once again, Persephone turned her face away as she felt a telltale heat flood her cheeks. The intensity of her reaction to his physical presence astounded her; she had never been so vitally aware of any male before. She forced herself to concentrate. “You are mistaken in thinking I am powerless against you.”