by M. M. Kin
“Thank you.” She was smiling again, apparently having her good humor restored.
o0o
When the door closed after Hades, she slipped off her clothing. Cloe appeared – the little shade always seemed to know when she was changing her clothes – to whisk away her dirty laundry. Cloe disappeared with them and before she could turn towards the tub, the shade appeared with fresh clothing and wool. And then her hair was undone, combed out, and tied her hair back in a loose bun. Oh yes. Being Queen of the Underworld... well, it did have its perks. She thought of the pomegranate and Hades's words.
Commitment to him – though it still scared her, part of her thought that it wouldn't be a bad idea. He had proved himself to be a funny, warm, caring man despite his reputation, and he had vowed eternal love. And tonight… his reaction certainly had been much better than she had expected.
The churning water soothed away her discomfort. She closed her eyes and gave out a contented murmur as her head lolled back, the bun at the base of her beck cushioning it against the hard marble.
Why don't I just agree to be your wife, Aidoneus? she asked herself with a feeling of mild amusement. But she already knew the answer.
Clearing her mind and taking a deep breath, Persephone decided to not think about any more unpleasant matters for the night. She quickly lost herself in the calming pleasure of the hot bath.
o0o
While Persephone was taking a bath, Hades reclined on the divan in front of the fireplace, idly munching on some stuffed olives. He had decided to have a quick meal tonight rather than try to entice her with another feast. If he simply eased off with the food for a few days, perhaps that would tempt her. She had a defiant streak deep within her, and he knew she didn't like being pressured. She had enough on her plate as it was and if her anger was focused on Zeus, then all the better for the God of the Underworld.
He picked at his meal, taking his time to finish it as he contemplated the current situation with Persephone.
A couple of hours passed, and he saw no sign of Persephone. When he left his bedroom, he saw that the washroom was still occupied. Stealthily he opened it – not out of a voyeuristic urge, but to make sure she was well – and smiled faintly as he saw her submerged to the top of her breasts, her eyes closed and her lips set in a faint smile. Wait, was she asleep?
He crept over to the bath and knelt down, touching her shoulders lightly. When she did not stir, he held back a quiet chuckle. She wasn't the only one who could be so lulled by the soporific atmosphere of the tub.
“Persephone.” He started rubbing her shoulders, hearing her let out a small moan as she stirred from her deep meditative state.
“Mmm... Aidoneus...” The softness of her voice as she murmured his name tugged at his heartstrings.
“I just came in here to see that you were well. It has been... a long while.”
“... Mhm.” Her head lolled back so she could look up at him, her eyes half-lidded.
“Do you wish to remain longer or would you like to go to bed?”
“I believe I am ready to retire for the night. If you would give me a few moments alone...”
He bit back a comment about unneeded modesty, and retreated to bed, settling in amidst the comfortable blankets. In due time, he heard the rustle of fabric as she slid into the bed. Almost without thinking, he pulled her in for an embrace, and she offered no resistance. His lips met her cheek as he gave her a loving nuzzle, and she giggled softly.
“What is so funny?” he whispered before placing a kiss on her temple.
“Your beard tickles.”
“Ahh.” He smiled faintly before nuzzling her, causing her to giggle again. “I will keep that in mind the next time I want to see a smile on your face.”
“Oh, you! Good night.” She rolled over and curled up.
“Mmm. Sleep well.”
o0o
Without Hades's attempts to pressure her to eat his food, as well as his taciturn understanding of her condition, Persephone was comfortable in the Underworld for the time being. She was kept happy, warm, entertained, and doted on. The truce that they had silently agreed upon served them well, and the captive goddess felt more on equal footing with her captor.
Despite the lack of physical intimacy, Persephone didn't feel ignored by him, or in disfavor because of her bleeding. They still took walks, talked, and had lessons together in the library or elsewhere. Whenever she expressed a desire to be alone, he would bow out gracefully for his own time or to attend to his duties. As much as she hated to admit it, she was beginning to genuinely care for Hades.
Love? No, she would not use that word. But if she did not feel the binding love that a wife felt, she did feel affection for him as a friend. He was fun to talk with, and his company truly was enjoyable. And whenever he did touch her – with loving kisses or chaste touches – the physical contact warmed her. It was impossible to hate one's kidnapper when he was a loving and generous host.
After several more days, Persephone noticed that the bleeding had stopped, and so had the subtler symptoms. A few more days passed, but the bleeding did not return. As she counted the days that she had had to deal with this, she also counted the ones before that, and realized with a small shock that she had been here for a moon-cycle. Had a month really passed on the surface world? With her grown appearance, Persephone looked as if she had been in the Underworld for years. Nobody could ever mistake her for a child anymore. Her breasts weren't large, but they were full and firm, and the curve of her hips complemented her slim waist. Due to her self-deprivation, her ribs and hipbones were visible against her flesh, but she was still a comely sight. Her face had lost the soft, girlish features that had frustrated her when she had been waiting for puberty to release her from the confines of a small body.
If bleeding was the price of womanhood, then she would be glad to pay in full. She had seen the admiring glances that Hades sneaked her way when he thought she wasn't paying attention. She toyed with some of her clothing and jewelry, admiring the way they looked on her.
She sat on a large rock with a smile on her face, watching as Hades threw a tree branch to Kerberos. The dog was enthusiastic about a chance to play with its master and would cheerfully catch and fetch the stick however far Hades threw it. Sometimes one head would swoop down to claim the branch, or two heads would go for it and have a friendly tug-of-war.
The Lord of the Underworld grinned as he hurled the branch, watching the hellhound bound after it. He took his duties as the god of this place seriously, but it was fun to just let go and... just play for a while. Kerberos needed the time too, to frolic and play and bound about as dogs did. Mortals assumed that any god – or creature – spent each and every waking – and sometimes slumbering – moment at their duties, always on hand to answer prayers. To them, the Judges never left their thrones, Kerberos was always a snarling monster, and all Kharon ever did was steer the ferry across the Styx. Nobody else would ever know the Lord of the Dead as a man who would 'play'.
Persephone bit back a giggle as the large dog tackled Hades to the ground. Some mortals said it was giant, and it was indeed large, but Hades was able to handle the dog easily. The top of his head was level to the dog's shoulders, but as he was already a tall man, the creature easily towered over any mortal or god and could intimidate anyone by pointing all of his heads at that person, his three mouths fixed into simultaneous snarls. But right now all he was doing was barking and growling playfully, wrestling with his master just as any ordinary dog. Persephone had to admit that Kerberos was a handsome dog. His heads and body was well-formed. His fur was black and sleek, and around each neck was a thick leather collar studded with short metal spikes.
As Hades growled back and wrestled with the dog, now playing a tug-of-war by taking one end of the branch while Kerberos tugged at the other, Persephone was reminded of Enna and playing with her cousins. Hyalos had had a dog, a handsome black-and-brown creature that guarded the chickens at night and was a good pla
ymate during the day to his master or the other children in the family.
Persephone kept telling herself that this place wasn't her home, but she was happier here than she had been ever since Father had died and Mother had taken her from Enna. She didn't want to admit it, Persephone was realizing that it was possible to find contentment here.
Chapter XXVI
o0o
The tropical garden with the waterfall was one of Persephone's favorites. She visited it often, relishing the golden sky and the lushness of her surroundings. The hue of the sky reminded her of the sun's glow, and the thick foliage and warm air helped this place feel more like the surface world. In here, amongst the exotic flowers and the breathtaking waterfall, it was easy to forget that she was a prisoner in the mighty realm of Khthonios.
But you're not treated like a prisoner, are you? Persephone sniffed a large flower with a shade of pink that she had never seen on the surface world. 'Pink' was the only color to describe it, not rose, magenta, salmon or anything else. It was neon in color, just as all of the other colors here in this particular garden, and she wondered what the mortals above would do with such vivid colors at their disposal. Would Mother enjoy such colors?
She let go of the flower, leaving it where it was to wander ahead, wiggling between the thick foliage. She was now comfortable with leaving the paths in whatever garden she chose to explore, for Cloe was always at her beck and call to lead her back should she get lost.
She was clad in a comfortable pale blue peplos, her feet bare as she had left her sandals on the path to feel the thick grass under her feet. She had used her girdle to gather some of the fabric around her middle so that her lower legs were left bare, and she could feel leaves brush against her calves and arms as she went along. Sometimes she felt a bit bored since she had nobody to play or converse with, but more often than not, she welcomed the silence and solitude.
The distant roar of the waterfall grew louder as she continued her meandering path, and the foliage thinned as she approached the pool. Her mouth felt dry, and she ran her tongue along its roof and her teeth. Water technically wasn't food, Hades argued.
So in a gesture that was almost titanic in its magnanimity, Hades declared that should she thirst, she could drink water at any time, from anywhere, and not be held to the rule about taking nourishment from the food of the dead. So with several mouthfuls of the refreshing water, she was ready to move on.
The water in the pond was so clear and cool, though it felt somewhat empty for the lack of fish or other creatures. She looked down at the stream that flowed from the large pool before she glanced up at the cascading water.
Like in many other parts of this garden, vines grew in profusion along the rock face, and they provided excellent grips for her, making her ascent enjoyable. They emerged from cracks in the rock, snaking along crevices and abutments, and before she knew it, Persephone had reached the top. She took a deep breath, placing her hands on her hips as she surveyed the scene. The waterfall was fed by a large stream, and up here there wasn't as much foliage to fill her view. But the horizon itself looked hazy, the difference between sky and vegetation blurring together.
From the outside, the gardens looked small. One would think that with the gates close together, each garden by itself was no bigger than perhaps a courtyard, or the same size as Hades's personal garden. But once she passed through any of the gates, it was like finding a whole new world. No matter how far she strayed from the path, she never saw any other walls, and then when she wanted to go back, it seemed that it took but a few steps to go back to the gate.
As she stood there at the edge of the cliff, she felt a surge of excitement as she stared down at the pool. She already knew that it was fairly deep, already having swum in it.
Here we go. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, hurling herself forward. The air surged past her skin before water splashed against her body, droplets shining in the light as they enveloped her rapidly descending form. She went slack, letting the current of the water push her forward, keeping her head submerged. Bubbles escaped from between her lips as she opened her eyes, gazing through the crystal-clear water at the pale sand lining the bottom.
Eventually, she rose to the surface. There was nothing wrong with this pool, but she wondered what it would be like to go swimming in Poseidon's domain and see the various creatures of the sea. It was somewhat disconcerting to go into any of the gardens and not hear the call of birds, or the rustle of a stray breeze, or the various sounds of woodland critters. At least she didn't have to worry about bugs, though she could not help but wonder if there were animals here in Dis somewhere. She had seen meat, milk, eggs, cheese, and honey on various occasions at Hades's table. Did this realm provide these ingredients as they were, or were there ethereal creatures that provided these food items? Hm, she would ask him later.
She climbed out of the water, her damp curls and peplos clinging to her skin. She glanced down at the fabric and shrugged before drawing out the pins and peeling the garment off her flesh. It felt good to be free of the grasping fabric, and to bare her naked flesh to the warm air. She glanced up briefly at the golden sky before she felt a tingle at the back of her neck.
She slowly turned around, seeing nobody. But her senses had never failed her.
“Hades,” she called out, placing her hands on her hips. There was a slight rustle to her right in front of her. Demurely, she threw an arm across her chest and shielded her womanhood from his view with her other hand. There was a momentary pause before the rustling came nearer, and she felt hands on her arms, tugging them gently away from her body.
“Still insist on hiding your body from me?” he asked in a light, teasing manner, his voice seeming to come from nowhere.
“Perhaps.” She grinned before pulling back.
“Not so fast, love.” She felt his hands slide along her middle to form a grip, drawing her into an embrace. She felt a bare chest, but when her hand moved lower, she felt the fabric of a kilt around his hips. It felt a bit strange exploring a man she could not see, but it was still fun. She smirked before she hooked her fingers into the waistband of the kilt where it opened or closed, and gave it a sharp tug, swiftly running the other way with a good-sized rectangle of indigo and black linen that became visible once it broke contact with Hades's body.
“Hey!” She heard his surprised laugh but continued running, disappearing among the foliage. Her mischievous bent compelled her to quickly wrap the fabric around herself. It wrapped easily around her breasts and terminated just above her knees. Take that, Hades. Sneaking up on me invisible when I'm naked. Naughty boy. But I do like that about you...
She heard rustling and footfalls behind her – the first sound of another being she had ever heard since coming to this garden – and grinned as she darted around trees and ferns.
“You will not escape me, fair maiden!” she heard him growl. She wished she had Hermes' sandals, so she could zip up ahead and elude his grip! This was almost eerily similar to her abduction from the surface world, and she frowned faintly to herself. Did Hades realize the same thing? Her long legs pumped her through what was a seeming maze of plant growth, ducking behind foliage whenever she had the chance, but he remained close at her heels.
“You do not expect me to sit and wait to be taken, do you?” she called back as she navigated her way through the tropical forest.
“It would be nice!” he shot back before reaching out, yanking the fabric from her body and tossing it aside. After a futile attempt to snatch back the fabric, she leaned forward, pumping her legs as quickly as she could. This chase went on for several more minutes before the goddess gave out a startled squeal when she felt an arm wrap around her middle. She was hoisted up in the air before she felt herself slung over his shoulder.
“Let me go!” she cried out, banging her fists against an invisible back, and heard a soft chuckle in response. She continued to wiggle around, but his grip was unshakable, and she felt him nuzzle her hip befo
re placing kisses along it, and she gave out a quiet sigh, her head lolling, her slightly damp locks swinging back and forth.
“You looked like you enjoyed that swim. I was about to join you when you came out of the water," he explained as he squeezed her.
“So you thought you would sneak up on me?” she shot back.
“When you stripped off your clothes, I could not resist.”
“Hmph,” she replied in feigned irritation. The verdant canopy above them opened up as Hades reached the waterfall, and she found herself deposited gently on the sand at the shore of the pond. A patch of blue on the pale sand drew her attention to her chiton, but before she could reach for it, it was snatched out of sight.
“You have your shadow powers and invisibility. I have nothing. That is hardly a fair battle,” Persephone said, raising her chin as she felt fingers stroke the inside of her arm.
“Perhaps it is not quite fair, but it is fun. Look at you, all rosy-cheeked,” he whispered, sliding a finger along her cheek. She gave out a soft whimper as she shivered slightly, his hand now cupping her face.
o0o
Hades smiled as he looked down at her, drawing her closer with his other arm. Her body was warm against his, and she leaned into his body as he hugged her more tightly. His free hand traveled down her face and along her shoulders. It was interesting to see her respond to his touch when he couldn't even see his own hand stroking her. When he squeezed her breast, he saw the faint, round indentations his fingertips made in her flesh, feeling her erect nipple against his palm. The soft fullness of her tit was a comfortable weight in his grip, and he pressed his palm down, rubbing her breast in a massage that had her arching into his hand.