That Fatal Kiss (11 page)

Persephone wished she did not feel the eagerness rising up within her, the heat of need kindled in the depths of her being. But her body did betray her, nearly swept away from all good sense by the call that came from his. Only when he abruptly shifted his position and extended his body over hers, nudging her legs open with his knee, preparing to enter her, could she find her voice. She turned her face to him, opened her eyes, and saw his hovering just above hers. “Hades, I beseech you, heed my words. I am at your mercy and cannot deny you now, but if you will listen, only a moment, I have a proposition that may satisfy us both.”

Her tremulous words arrested him. Hades gritted his teeth, groaned, “Then name it quickly, before I am beyond the power of reason.”

Hope stirred within her heart and Persephone said, “Put aside the consummation of our marriage for just a bit. Let us speak plainly to each other instead, let us speak our hearts and minds, and see if we cannot come to some agreement as to how we may best advance our relations. If, at the end of our discussion, you still feel that this is the only manner in which you may please yourself, then I swear by the Styx that I will defy you no longer. I will submit to you, if you will it.”

“You would swear this by the Styx?”

Persephone closed her eyes against the thrill of his breath against her cheek, then opened them again, saying, “I do swear it.” She nodded once, to make the oath.

Hades’ gaze intent upon hers, he released a long breath. “Very well.” But he did not remove himself from her immediately, and when she squirmed another groan escaped him. The god arose carefully, pulling away until their bodies no longer touched. He willed the chains to release her while he wrapped his ivory cloak around his waist and resumed his seat in the corner. Hearing a crunching sound as he attempted to get comfortable, Hades felt around on the chair and discovered the golden bough. He eyed it curiously before tossing it to the floor.

Persephone sat up, ascertaining that she was no longer bound. Relief overwhelmed her and she thought she might collapse back onto the pillows, but she endeavored to gather her wits about her. Out of the corner of her eye, she noted the bough’s new position on the floor. She could not grasp it without attracting suspicion. Still, Hades had granted her a reprieve. Though clearly eager to claim her, he restrained himself at her request, a telling act that encouraged her. He must care for her somewhat, else he would have forced himself upon her, regardless of her cries for mercy. Perhaps she did not need the bough, at present.

HADES STRETCHED HIS
long legs in front of him, crossing them at the ankles. One hand supported his chin, while his forefinger pressed against his lips. He watched her, closely, as she rearranged herself on his bed, bringing her legs in beneath her and adjusting her gown. At the glimpse of skin he sighed, almost inaudibly. But Persephone did hear him and asked, “Are you unwell?”

Hades brought up a leg to hook his ankle over his knee. “Quite,” he snapped, then offered a slight smile to take the sting out of his tone. He was rewarded by the enchanting sight of her blush.

But the blush soon faded and the goddess’ expression grew serious. “Hades, I know about the Viewing Mirror that Hecate made for you. I wish to ask you now, when you could surely have chosen from so many others, why did you pursue
me
?”

Hades stared down at the floor. Bleeding Uranus. The girl sought to eviscerate him. The girl. The goddess. His wife. The only one he’d ever…. “You’re beautiful,” he heard himself blurt out. The King of the Dead closed his mouth, sensing that his own features had swiftly colored.

“What’s one pretty face among so many others?” he heard her ask. “Surely you saw something more, something that would drive you to such drastic measures?”

Hades uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, the better to observe the tiles on the floor. “Well, yes, I…Yes, of course.”

“Tell me.”

He clenched his hands together, then raised one to massage his forehead. The battle against Cronus had been easier to bear than this impromptu interview, certainly. The god coughed. “I suppose,” Hades began, then hesitated.

“…yes?”

“I…I admired your compassion. Your kindness.” He looked up and saw her regarding him placidly. “You bring love and light to everyone, to everything you touch.” His mouth suddenly dry, he added, “You touched
me
.”

“I beg your pardon, I most certainly did
not
.”

Hades stilled as the strangest sensation rippled within his gut. What was that? Was it…laughter? He felt the contraction of his diaphragm and knew it must be. When had he last felt the urge to laugh? Had he ever?

Persephone’s expression remained mild, expecting him to continue. Perhaps it was not the right time to exercise those forgotten muscles, just yet. Hades went on solemnly, “You’ve seen today what my world is like. I’ve only ever known darkness, with no light to warm it. Are you surprised that I would seek you out?”

The goddess did not answer. Instead, she peered into his eyes, and Hades felt as though she wordlessly implored him to bare himself further. Sensing this, he felt compelled to comply. “I think I can name the moment which decided me in my quest for you. Not long ago, I watched you at a feast on Olympus. You were all engaged in lighthearted discourse when Hephaestus, who was very late, arrived. He was covered with soot and dirt from his toil in his volcanic workshop. He’d hastened to the feast, knowing he was tardy, and had not stopped at home first to bathe. Aphrodite was the first to ridicule him for his appearance, shaming him with harsh words, and the others joined her in her mockery. I watched them lay into the pitiful thing, one by one, mercilessly.” Hades shook his head in disgust. “As the rest had their fill of abusing him, I saw you wink at Athena, who somehow knew to join you in taking a step away from the table. I had not a clue as to what you were about until I saw the shower of water come down upon them all, cleansing Hephaestus of his grime but utterly destroying the finery of the others, until he alone remained unsoiled and the rest bore the appearance of drowned cats.” Now he could not keep a broad grin from his face. “That was brilliantly executed, by the way. And brave, considering you hadn’t even spared your father. Zeus, knowing very well that you’d caused the deluge, vowed to take you to task for it, only you’d disappeared. Luckily for you, Pallas remained and persuaded him to put aside his ire. She even pulled Hephaestus to her side, though he once attempted to violate her.” He paused for breath. “Your sister possesses a fine mind, from which you have greatly benefited. The two of you share a consideration for others that is unparalleled by any Immortal. It was this single act of kindness, I’m afraid, which sealed your fate. By taking Hephaestus into your heart, you made me want to take residence there as well.”

“Then why did you not allow me the opportunity to invite you?”

Hades could scarcely credit his ears. “Would you have done so?”

“How can I answer that now? I was not made privy to your intentions, nor was I allowed to either deny or embrace them. I cannot speak for what I may have felt or done, I can only speak for what I feel now.”

A thrill of fear, mingled with dangerous hope, shot through his stomach. “And what do you feel now? Remember, you asked that I speak plainly. I entreat you to do the same.”

It was Persephone who now looked away. “The truth is that I feel many things, most contradictory, and I cannot comprehend why I am so conflicted.”

“Tell me of these inconsistencies.”

She grasped the soft blanket on the bed and twisted it. “Hades,” she began, “did you know that I wanted to wed?”

“I did. It’s why I chose to pursue you, at this time.”

“I see. Well, my mother ruled the search of a husband for me. Had there been anyone who captured my heart, there would have been no question of my actions. I would have wed him and borne my mother’s anger, if it was forthcoming, secure in the knowledge that I loved and was loved. Secure in my autonomy. Those were the issues at stake; the lack of any particularly desirable suitor and that my own mother, though she loves me dearly, did not heed my wishes to let me choose for myself. Had I known of your interest, had you come to me as a peer, acknowledging our equality as immortal gods, perhaps we could have courted, properly. Instead, your will overrode my own, leaving me without any choice. Should I accept such injustice?”

“Do you think you could yet come to choose me?”

“Have you the courage to allow for the possibility of refusal?”

“No.”

When Persephone offered him a teasing smile, he could not help but return it. But then she added, almost cautiously, “Let me offer my final argument now.”

Hades braced himself. “Go on.”

“You know that Demeter will come for me once she learns where I am. As I will continue to go without food until then, I will still have one avenue for return open to me. Don’t underestimate my mother’s power. Though she will not oppose you or Zeus directly, she will find a way to bring pressure to bear upon you both. If you truly want to keep me, your only weapon against her demand for my release would be my willingness to remain.”

“Then you think you could, someday, wish to remain?”

“Anything is possible.”

At that, the unthinkable happened. Hope called out to Hades’ entire being and the laughter he’d suppressed earlier exploded from deep within him. It was only when Persephone winced that he realized how awful and creaky it sounded.

Schooling himself, the god said, “Forgive me, I’m quite out of practice.”

“So it would seem.”

Hades gave a small smile. “Indeed.”

The goddess rose up onto her knees and comically inched her way over to the edge of the bed. Hades’ smile broadened as Persephone fumbled with the bedding, which slipped down around her. As near to him as she could get, she said, “Well, Hades, what say you? Will you acknowledge my right to choose, or will you take the craven’s path and try to bend me to your will?” Persephone softened the harsh words by smiling and extending her hand to him.

Hades leaned forward to accept her hand, congratulating himself on resisting the urge to pull her into his arms. “How can I deny you anything?”

THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE
conversation, Persephone had ruthlessly tamped down on the emotions Hades’ confession stirred within her. His careful revelations caught at her heart, prompting her to smooth the way for him with humorous responses. That Hades named as her enchantments all of the qualities she liked best about herself encouraged her. He saw her as more than a potential plaything; he saw to the core of who she was. And his features, for the moment relaxed, appeared to their greatest advantage. Until then, Persephone desired him, but now that hunger ratcheted up to a heady blaze of need.

Her pulse quickened at his touch, and it was with difficulty that she fought back a rush of longing. Still, as if guided by some greater, unseen force, Persephone rose up on her knees. Leaning forward, bringing her face closer to his, she pressed her lips softly to his. It was to have been a quick kiss, to seal the bargain they’d struck. But when she drew back, he would not let go. Hades leaned forward to reclaim her lips, put a hand on the side of her face, steadied her. And she returned his kiss, allowing his tongue to probe her, drinking in his essence just as surely as he did hers. Finally, when he grew more demanding, she pulled away again, grasping the hand that held her face. “You see?” she said, her voice quivering only slightly, “I told you that anything was possible.” She laid a hand on his chest, to keep him from pursuing her further at that moment. “Given time.”

Hades shook his head, as if to clear away some haze. “If it’s time you want, then it’s time you shall have.” He turned the palm of the hand she covered so that it pressed against hers. He brought her hand up to his lips to be kissed. “But to make that happen, I think I had better take my leave of you for the evening.” He released her and got to his feet. When he reached the door, he turned to her once more. “You’ll join me in the morning so I can show you the mirror the Witch Goddess made for me.”