Chapter 6

Persephone woke to the sound of scurrying and muffled voices. She grunted, blinking her eyes open and forcing herself to sit up in bed. Hades was standing in the doorway, his body blocking whomever he was talking to in the hallway. From the way his shoulders were tensed and the angry tone of his voice, Persephone could tell he wasn’t happy about something.

She stretched her arms out and flopped back down on the pillows. Whatever Hades was dealing with wasn’t her responsibility—and she was still basking in a post-orgasmic glow. She’d never slept so well before, which could partially be due to the fact that Demeter was in another realm entirely or the plentiful orgasms.

Persephone looked around, admiring the ornate bedroom. She’d stumbled into it on her first night in the Underworld and had been too preoccupied with Hades himself for the past day. It was as ornate and elaborate as the rest of the castle, everything in varying shades of black, carved from onyx or marble, and decorated with gemstones in the most innocuous places.

Hades shut the door to his bedroom with a slam, getting Persephone’s attention.

“What is it?” she hummed quietly, holding out a hand for him as he crossed the room towards her.

He’d dressed half-heartedly, wrapping a simple chiton around his broad frame and tying his hair back before answering the door.

Persephone was keen on ripping the offending fabric off his body and pulling his hair loose. Hades’s expression was grim. He took her hand and shook his head slowly.

“Zeus is here.”

A chill ran down Persephone’s spine as her happy glow evaporated, a foreboding sense of doom taking its place. Anxiety started to churn in her stomach as she squeezed her eyes shut and forced herself to take a deep breath. Hades’s broad hand cupped her cheek as she heard him drop to his knees at the bedside.

“Persephone?” he asked quietly. Persephone fluttered her eyes open. “He can’t hurt you in my realm. You know that, right?” Persephone struggled through another deep breath.

“I know,” her voice was barely a whisper, “but he and my mother—”

“I know,” Hades repeated, cursing quietly under his breath. “Undoubtedly, he’s here on her behalf.”

“Do you know what he wants?” Persephone sat up straighter, determined to no longer be bullied by the Olympians. “I have free will. They can’t demand my return to Demeter.”

“I think you’ll find that in cases like these, the Olympians—Zeus and Demeter, especially—tend to think they have purview over more than their assigned domains.” Hades stood and stormed towards a doorway, disappearing into what Persephone assumed was a closet. A ripple of power danced over the bedroom, and Hades emerged fully dressed.

For the second time that morning, Persephone found herself struggling to breathe. Hades looked even grander and more terrifying than when she’d first seen him. He was still wearing a black chiton, but it was elaborate, edged in thick silver embroidery in a meander pattern. A heavy leather belt was around his waist, clasped with a silver buckle in the shape of a human skull. The brooch at his shoulder was enormous, a cluster of onyx and rubies, and his hair extended down his back. His beard was thick, and he gripped his bident with an iron grip.

This was Hades Agesilaos—god of the Underworld, lord of riches, the eldest of the three brothers. Zeus had entered his domain, and it was clear Hades would not let him forget on whose soil he crossed.

“Subtle.” Persephone forced a smirk on her face, trying not to betray how overwhelmed she was at the sight of Hades in his finery.

Hades shrugged. “Zeus is the one with the eye for pageantry. The difference is he uses it in place of power while I have no such handicap.” Hades’s voice dropped to a growl as his expression tensed.

“Is it unusual for him to be here?” Persephone whispered. Hades nodded.

“Yes. Normally, he summons people to him. If he’s debased himself enough to come down to the Underworld, it’s for a reason.”

“Well,” Persephone sighed heavily, running her hand through her tangled hair, “what should I wear?”

Hades raised an eyebrow and studied Persephone. She grinned when she saw his eyes go dark with lust.

“Why don’t you wear what you came here in?” Hades’s voice was measured. “The moment we’re in the same room as Zeus, everything we do will be a message. It’s best for now to send one of neutrality.”

“You don’t want me to skip into your reception hall and greet Zeus dressed like a Minoan dancing girl?” Persephone chuckled, thinking of the Minoan tradition of topless dancers. Hades growled as a sudden surge of dark clouds appeared at his feet while lightning danced from the tips of his bident. The sudden outburst only caused Persephone to cackle with laughter.

“I’d gouge my brother’s eyes out,” Hades snapped. “Better yet, why don’t you wait here? Let me see what Zeus wants first.”

“It has to pertain to me,” Persephone argued, putting her hand on her hip and crossing the room to stand before Hades. “For someone who swore they didn’t see me as a child, you’re certainly acting like it if you want to keep me from the conversation.”

“I think we’ve proven by now how I think about you,” Hades raised an eyebrow, “but I will keep you from Zeus at all cost until we understand what sort of bargain he has struck with Demeter.” Hades went quiet and seemed to be deep in thought for a moment.

“In fact, yes, this is a better plan.” He nodded and gently kissed Persephone on the forehead. “You stay here, and I’ll have someone fetch you if an opportunity arises.”

Persephone opened her mouth to begin spewing her protests, but Hades was already shutting the doors to his bed chambers.

“Oh,” Persephone narrowed her eyebrows, “if that’s how you want to play it, game on.”

“How did this happen?”Hades asked no one in particular, scratching his beard as he walked towards his reception hall.

He couldn”t remember the last time Zeus visited the Underworld. As Hades approached the throne room, he realized he didn’t remember Zeus having ever visited the Underworld. Zeus had always sent a proxy or spoken through fire or smoke instead of appearing in the Underworld.

This is about as fucked up as I thought, Hades mused to himself, steeling his expression before shoving open both doors to the reception hall.

Zeus was sitting on Hades’s throne with a relaxed posture, resting his chin in his hand while he stared at all the gemstones embedded into the walls.

Yeah, be jealous, you prick. Hades couldn”t help but feel vindication at the apparent jealousy written all over Zeus”s fate. Zeus had never realized the Fates had spoken to Hades about his appointment in the Underworld long before Zeus had ever “assigned” it to Hades. Only once the dust had settled, did Zeus realize how many riches were involved in being the lord of the unseen.

Zeus wore a white chiton with a deep purple sash stretching across his chest. It was finely embroidered, clearly something made for a god, but Hades still took delight in noting Zeus”s lack of adornment and jewelry.

“Zeus.” Hades raised his voice, announcing his presence. Zeus cursed swiftly under his breath and stumbled out of Hades”s throne. “You’re in my seat.”

Zeus straightened up and brushed some of the wrinkles out of his chiton.

“Yes, well, you were taking some time.” His tone was hostile, and Hades raised an eyebrow at Zeus’s defensive posture.

“You”ll have to excuse me,” Hades’s voice was full of mock kindness as he took his time sitting down on the throne, “You didn”t feel the need to send an emissary ahead of your arrival, and we haven”t spoken in, what? Several months?” Hades forced himself to look relaxed and unbothered, even though he was boiling internally with the desire to kick Zeus out of his house without any further explanation.

“Does it matter?” Zeus mocked. “If you uphold the rules of xenia…”

“Don”t you dare bring up the sacred hospitality laws to me.” Hades berated. “The foundation of xenia relies on respect, and we all know how little respect you have for this realm. The sooner you state your purpose, the sooner you can depart. A moment for which we all hold our breath in anticipation.”

“I’d hate to see you and your subjects suffer from a lack of oxygen.” Zeus reproached, rolling his eyes dramatically.

Hades only offered Zeus a small smile.

“Everyone here is dead already, god of lightning. We can take a few hits.” Hades placed his bident across his knees and cracked his knuckles. “I’ll ask you for the second time. What brings you to the Underworld without invitation and no former notice?”

Zeus turned red with fury and embarrassment, and Hades knew he wasn”t used to being questioned.

“It would be…” Zeus paused as if he was weighing his words, “in everyone”s best interest if you returned Kore to Demeter in the mortal realm.” Zeus exhaled heavily and stared at Hades’s face, eagerly attempting to read him for any reaction. Hades was as calm and still as a statue. He shrugged, looking around the empty room except for Zeus.

“Kore, you say?”

“Kore.” Zeus deadpanned, growing more agitated. “You know exactly who I”m talking about, and trust me, now is not the time to play games.”

“You love playing games, and I would rather fall into bed with one of the Fates than trust you.”

Zeus pinched his nose and let out an angry grunt. “Hades, we have our differences, but Demeter—”

“Demeter?” Hades laughed. “You’re telling me all of this because of Demeter? Did you come down to the Underworld because of Demeter? Does she have a mattock pressed against your manhood?”

Zeus paled. “You haven”t been in the same room as Demeter in a century. You don”t know what she”s capable of.”

“I spent unfathomable amounts of time next to her in Cronus’s belly, so on the contrary, I do know what she”s capable of, and I have seen her worst,” Hades grunted, not wanting to dwell on that period of his life for a second longer than he had to.

Zeus shook his head, defiant.

“We were but children then, Hades. Demeter these days—”

“Is likely still a tyrant, but what is the worst she can do? Delay the harvest?”

“Starve the world!” Zeus bellowed, his anger finally getting the best of him. Hades sat calmly while Zeus raged on. “If she starves the world, the humans die, and if the humans die…”

“Yes, yes,” Hades waved his hand in the air, “there will be no one to bring you tribute.”

Zeus nearly turned as purple as his clothing. “I know that doesn”t matter to you since it”ll only feed your coffers of souls, but try to think of someone other than yourself for once, Hades.”

Hades was on his feet instantly, stepping down from the dais and tightening his grip on his bident. Dark, flickering smoke tendrils started curling around his weapon’s tips.

“Your lack of empathy for the mortal world and mortal women,” Hades added, “is legendary. You do not dare come to the house of the dead and tell me that we are ignorant of the state of the mortal world.” Hades had stepped forward slowly with each word until he”d backed Zeus up against the wall.

“I will tell you this, and I will tell you this one time. There is no one here by the name of Kore.” Hades pressed his bident against Zeus”s chest. If he pushed any more, he”d draw ichor.

Zeus’s anger was quickly replaced by fear, and he opened his mouth to respond, raising his hands in surrender. As soon as he opened his mouth, the throne room’s doors flew open.

Zeus and Hades turned towards the sound as Persephone waltzed into the room without a care. Her posture was relaxed, and pink petals appeared on the ground wherever her feet stepped. Most shocking, however, was her clothing—Persephone was draped in a black peplos tailored for a man. It hung off one shoulder and created an incredibly indecent effect.

She might as well have walked in naked.Hades saw red but managed to keep his temper as he refused to look at Zeus. He released his hold on the god and quickly walked towards Persephone, grabbing her wrist and tugging her to his side.

“Persephone!” Hades whispered angrily. “What the actual fuck is this?” Hades carefully angled his body to hide Persephone and his expressions from Zeus’s view.

“Indeed, what the fuck is this?” Zeus berated, storming over and grabbing Hades by the shoulder. “You said Kore wasn”t here!”

“She isn’t.” Persephone snapped. “Kore has been dead for centuries.”

“What a fucking technicality,” Zeus hissed. “You need to listen to Demeter and get your ass home immediately.” Hades spun around and, without hesitation, punched Zeus firmly across the jaw.

“You don”t tell her what to do.” Hades seethed, seeing red. His former restraint vanished when Zeus tried to push Persephone around. Zeus stumbled and nearly fell before he righted himself, rubbing his jaw as his eyes narrowed.

“I’ll forgive you that slight because, if anything, I can see now how much the girl means to you.” Zeus visibly appraised both Hades and Persephone.

Persephone opened her mouth to respond, but Hades cut her off. He looked Zeus in the eye and growled, pointing towards the door.

“We”re engaged. Fuck off.”