Descent into Desire (11 page)

* * * *

Thanatos materialized and glared after his brother as he led Persephone away. He’d felt the desire in her heart when he touched her. Hades was a fool. She’d come here dying to be taken, and he hadn’t done it yet. Thanatos imagined for the hundredth time how sweet and tight she’d be if he took her maidenhead. He watched her hips swaying and thought about bending her over a bed and taking her from behind.

Hypnos had been forgiven for touching her, but Thanatos knew Hades would not be so understanding with him. If Thanatos got the chance to touch her, he wouldn’t let go until he found out just how sweet every part of her was, until he’d made her so completely his Hades could never take her back.

Chapter Eight

Hades stoked the fire. He heard footsteps coming down the hall. After a few moments, Persephone opened the door.

“Here you are,” she said before closing the door and walking over to him. She took his hands in hers and kissed him on the cheek. She stayed very close and looked up at him for a moment.

He squeezed her hands, and then he brought his lips to hers. She gave in to the kiss at once so he let his hands slip around her waist and pull her closer. She wound her arms around his neck and ran one hand through his hair. All he could think about was how warm and alive she felt. His brain soon filled with memories of how she’d tasted that day in the garden, the sounds she’d made when she came. He pulled away.

“That’s a very warm greeting,” he said. He withdrew from her embrace as if he’d only meant to kiss her passionately and hadn’t been thinking of spending the rest of the night making love to her over and over again.

She looked disappointed, but after a few seconds she smiled and looked at the low table between the couch and the fireplace. It had been laid out with wine, fruit, cheese and bread.

“Thought we’d have an indoor picnic,” he said quickly.

“Yes, that sounds nice.” She sat down and looked at her fingernails.

He wondered if she was embarrassed about being so bold. He knew she couldn’t possibly think he didn’t want her, but she seemed to be feeling something else besides disappointment.

“How was your afternoon?” He felt stupid asking such a vacuous question, especially since they’d become so much closer recently, but he suddenly felt awkward as he sat down next to her.

“It was nice. I did some reading.”

He nodded, unsure what to add.

Luckily, she seemed to have an idea. “I enjoyed watching this afternoon. It gave me a lot to think about.”

“Good things, I hope.”

“Yes. Hypnos and everyone else here have always told me you’re fair and just. You are. There weren’t that many people, but it gave me a good idea of how it all works. I didn’t disagree with anyone who went to Tartarus, and that’s most important.”

“So being more merciful is better than being more…judgmental?”

“Yes, I think so. No one can do evil here, right?”

“No mortal, no.”

“So you can do something evil?”

“Of course.” He wondered if that was a random thought or if it had somehow occurred to her before.

“I’d wondered. Since you judge everyone, I didn’t know if you had complete free will.”

He didn’t understand what she meant at all. “Of course I do.”

“I meant…hmmmm…you know, you have to be pure or something like that for such a task. I thought maybe it would hurt you to do something bad or maybe you couldn’t or something.” She sighed. “I’m not conveying what I mean. It’s coming out too vague.”

Hades started to understand. “No, I think I see. If I can do bad things, what’s to stop me being selfish? Or making a mistake in judging someone? I forgive a woman for something because she’s pretty, but condemn a man for the same crime?”

She nodded. “Yes! That’s what I mean.”

“I’m as likely to make a mistake as anyone, but I do think I was meant for this task.”

“I started thinking about that today. I remembered some of the things you talked about when you told me about the Titans and the days before I was born. No one else ever talks about them.”

“They are important, but I think we know all we need to know.”

“That’s a change. You didn’t feel that way the last time we talked about this. What brought this on?”

He thought carefully because he didn’t want to say something sentimental. He knew he had felt calmer the last few weeks and he had worried less, but he didn’t want to play with her emotions. Telling her she’d soothed his worries and made him happier might seem like he was putting pressure on her. Her time wasn’t even half up yet, so he wanted to be careful.

“I’ve seen how the Fates always work things out in the long run. Some things you’ve said made me start thinking more along those lines. It’s also been nice to have someone to talk to. You’re actually interested and want to hear about my thoughts and tell me your own.”

She smiled brightly. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

He smiled back at her. That had come out pretty smoothly. He’d given her a compliment that truly meant something to her. No one had ever cared about her opinions before, and he always made the effort to let her know that he did. Maybe if she thought about it more later she might see the deeper meaning behind the compliment, including all the things he hadn’t said about how happy she was making him. He didn’t just want her. He loved her
. It seemed she was finally starting to believe that, so he
wanted to tread carefully and not make more mistakes.

She picked up a bunch of grapes and started eating them. “I was also wondering something else about what I said before.”

“Yes?”

“Well, if you couldn’t make mistakes or bad choices that would mean you were right to choose me.”

She looked down at the floor as she said this. She appeared calm, but it was obvious this question was the one she really wanted answered.

“I believe I made the perfect choice.”

“Why?”

“I love you.”

“It needs to be more than that, doesn’t it?”

“No. But I do love you because of all your good qualities. They make you fit to be my queen.”

“Do they?”

“Yes. I need a queen with a keen mind and a strong will. I need someone who won’t be afraid to speak up when needed and who could and would stand up to me. I also need someone who is compassionate.”

“You’re sure I’m all those things?”

“Yes.” He wanted to reach out to her, but he waited because he didn’t know what she’d say next.

She put the grapes down and moved close to him. “Then why should we wait? I want to stay with you tonight.”

She’d just said she wanted to sleep with him. Yet his heart sank because she hadn’t said she loved him.

“Persephone, I want to make love to you the day we’re married. I want you to be in love with me.”

“I care for you very much, and I want you even more.”

“It should be the other way around. You need to be in love with me. Your feelings should be outweighing your desire. I want that. Can’t you understand?”

She ran her hand up his leg and fondled his cock through his pants. “Why touch me once then refuse to do it again? Why make me wait?”

His cock hardened the moment she touched it. He thought about how sweet she would feel as he took her for the first time. He thought of holding her close as he slowly made love to her, touching her as no other man had. He imagined feeling her come as he told her he loved her.

“You believe you’re falling in love with me?” he asked.

She trailed kisses over his cheek and then down his neck. “Yes. Please let me stay with you. At least kiss me and hold me. We don’t have to have sex.”

That was very tempting, and her pleading and her caresses were driving him wild with desire. Even if she didn’t feel everything he felt yet, she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

“If I took you to my bed, I’d be making love to you all night. I can’t, Persephone. You act as if I’m rejecting you because I want to wait. You know it isn’t true.”

She pulled away, and her face was expressionless. “I’m glad I’m making you happier. What you said earlier…I know it’s what you meant. But if we can’t be together like that I want to be alone for the rest of the night. All I want to do is touch you, so I can’t think if I stay here with you.”

She stood up, but he grabbed her hand to stop her.

“Are you angry? Please stay for a minute if you are. I’d rather talk about it.”

She pulled her hand away gently. “I’m not angry. I’m as frustrated as you are, just for slightly different reasons. Will you try to understand that as I try to understand your actions?”

“Yes. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have touched you that day in the garden. I wanted to touch you so badly, and I wanted to intrigue you, keep you guessing. I started playing a sex game and then stopped after my first turn. I’m sorry. It’s like I was leading you on. It’s unfair to you.”

“I let you touch me. You would’ve stopped if I’d objected in any way. May I go now?”

“Yes.” He felt his heart sinking. It was a feeling he was getting tired of experiencing. “Can I see you tomorrow?”

“Yes. Let me find you though.”

“Of course. Good night.”

“Good night,” she said softly as she walked to the door and left. She made the effort to close it very gently.

Something about that action made him incredibly sad. Weeks ago she would’ve stormed out and slammed the door. It was a good sign, but that in and of itself made him want her more. She was changing. She had grown and matured so much in only a month, and that made him love her more because it proved how amazing she truly was. He resisted the urge to go after her. He knew it would end with them making love, and he’d promised Zeus, Hera and Demeter as well as himself that would only happen on his wedding night.

* * * *

Persephone stopped when she heard a noise behind her in the hall. She turned but didn’t see anything.

“He’s such a fool, making such an eager girl like you wait.”

She thought she knew the voice. “Hypnos?”

She turned around again, but it wasn’t Hypnos. Thanatos stood very close to her, smiling suggestively. She was struck again by the resemblance to his brother. They were the exact same in every way, except Thanatos had jet-black hair. And she didn’t like the way he looked at her. Even when Hypnos had been kissing her and touching her that first day, there had been warmth to the desire she’d seen in his eyes. The look in Thanatos’ eyes could only be described as cold lust.

She’d never been afraid of anything before, but she felt a cold chill go over her entire body. “It’s none of your business.” Her bedroom was very close. “I’d like to be alone now, if you don’t mind.”

“I do mind, actually.”

She heard a loud bang in her bedroom. The door shook, and she heard barking and growling. She also saw chains on the door.

“Cerberus!” she called, suddenly panicking. Cerberus would only act like that if she were in danger.

Before she could move, Thanatos grabbed her.

“You’re mine now, and unlike Hades, I will follow through and make that true in every way.”

She struggled against him. “Hades! Hypnos!” She tried to kick at him, but he held her tight. “Zeus, help me!”

Then everything faded to black.

* * * *

Hades ran down the hall, colliding with Hypnos. “Where is she?”

“I don’t know. I heard her say my name. I started to go to her room because I thought she had called me. Then I heard her yell for both of us.”

Hades ran to her room faster. “She called out for Zeus. Something’s wrong.” His blood began to burn when he saw the chains on the door. They glowed bright red, and he saw the door shake as Cerberus snarled and growled on the other side, throwing his body against them.

Hades kicked the door, but it didn’t move.

“Those are Thanatos’ chains. You can’t break them.”

Hades grabbed Hypnos and walked both of them through the wall. Cerberus stopped when he saw his master, but he soon began barking again.

“What’s he playing at?” Hades asked.

“He’s taken her. It’s his way to defy you.”

“Defy me?”

“He’s stolen your queen. You’ll do anything to get her back.”

Hades balled both his hands into fists. “Including giving the Underworld to him.”

Hypnos nodded. “I thought he’d given up the scheme after Zeus warned him all those years ago. I think his jealousy made him forget that.”

“He’ll have taken her to the Chamber of Darkness. No one can enter it. He’ll pay for this.”

“But if he’s taken her there, won’t she die and be trapped there forever?”

Hades felt his heart jolt, but then he shook his head. “No. I protected her from all of it. No powers of the Underworld can affect her. I would never have brought her here if I couldn’t do that.”

A strong hand landed on his shoulder. “What have you done?”

Hades turned to Zeus, who was dressed in full armor and carrying a sword. “Thanatos has taken Persephone.”

“And you let him?” Zeus roared. The pressure of Zeus’ hand increased exponentially.

“I wasn’t quick enough. You took your time getting here.”

“I was in the mortal realm.”

“Where, at a Renaissance fair?” He could care less if Zeus threw him across the room.

Zeus brought the sword tip to Hades’ neck. “I was at a costume party, but the armor and sword are quite real. Where is she?”

Hypnos spoke up. “We believe he’ll have taken her to his inner sanctum.”

“That means it’s up to her to escape.”

“She’s a goddess,” Hypnos continued. “Can’t she protect herself?”

“She’s never had to before. What if she doesn’t know how? His powers are so unlike those of others.” Zeus kicked the bed and threw his sword down.

Hades felt his mind spinning faster and faster. He was powerless. He couldn’t save her because he couldn’t get to her. His brain filled with gruesome images of Thanatos forcing himself on her. He tried to push them away, but all he could think of was her crying out for him to help her. And he couldn’t.

“Do something!” Hades yelled. He pushed his brother. “Fucking do something!”

Zeus pushed him back. “You’re responsible for this. You left her unprotected.”

“We came as fast as we could,” Hypnos said. “Cerberus tried to protect her. If you want to place blame, it’s me you want. I knew Thanatos was jealous and wanted her for himself as much as he wants the Underworld. I of all men should know what’s in his heart, so the failure to protect her is mine.”

“It’s not your fault,” Hades said. He turned to Cerberus. “Go, Cerberus. Find your mistress and guard the door. Let no one leave the room.” He touched the wall so Cerberus could leave the way he and Hypnos had entered.

Cerberus growled and ran out of the room.

Zeus watched him go. “Will it work?”

Hades nodded. “Those chains were unbreakable, and Thanatos was lucky Cerberus was inside the room, not outside. Cerberus cannot be killed, but he could have killed Thanatos. And he would’ve done it to protect Persephone.”

Zeus stood very still. “And what happens if it comes to that? If we kill the god of death?” He seemed to be addressing this question more to Hypnos than to Hades.

Hades had no idea. “Is it possible?”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t worry about it. Persephone’s rescue is all that matters. If he can be killed, then his death couldn’t harm the world,” Hypnos said, looking at Zeus. “The cosmos balances itself in the end.”

Hypnos seemed very confident, not to mention calm, and he and Zeus appeared to be hiding something. Hades knew Hypnos’ loyalty would fall with him and Persephone, but the coldness of his statement bothered Hades. “I want to rip Thanatos’ heart out, but Hypnos, he’s your brother,” Hades said. “Wouldn’t you rather see him punished than killed? Don’t you care whether he lives or dies?”

Zeus held up his hand. “We don’t have time for this debate. I need Ares and Hephaestus. We have to think.” He grabbed Hades by the shoulders. “Go to Hera. I don’t give a fuck what you want. Go to her and stay there. Now that he’s gone this far, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill you, and you’re so upset you’d run right into it. Hypnos, go and tell Demeter. She can’t do anything, but she’ll be uncontrollable if she finds out and thinks we were hiding it. Then come back to me.”

Hypnos bowed to Zeus and left, disappearing in a swirl of white smoke.

Zeus shook Hades. “Are you listening?”

He grabbed Zeus’ arms and threw them off his own. “He knows he has little chance of winning. He’s going to take what he can, do what damage he can. She’s the only woman I could ever love. I want his head, Zeus. How can you of all people tell me to just go to Hera and wait?” He lowered his voice, trembling with rage. “She’s as close to you as any of your daughters, if not more so, and you know he’s going to rape her. How can you bear that thought?”

Zeus’ eyes flamed. “Go to Hera. Now. He will wish he’d never even looked at her when I’m done.”

Zeus disappeared in a burst of flame. Hades didn’t even flinch as the heat rushed against him. He reached out with his mind and couldn’t find Persephone. She was definitely in the Chamber of Darkness. He swore that once he got her back he would never leave her side again.