Descent into Desire

by Marie Medina

  “Then it didn’t, but now none of us would hesitate to attempt changing his mind about something. Zeus is capable of changing too. He’s a bit slow about it.”

  “Could it work?”

  “I don’t know. The molds weren’t special. The magic added to the metal made the difference in the arrows.”

  “But that sounds like a good place to start. Find out if it’s possible and then petition Zeus. It can’t hurt. I’m sure he’d listen if he knew worrying about Apollo and Daphne was why you’ve been acting like this.”

  Aphrodite smiled and hoped it looked genuine. “It’s a good idea. I’ll see what I can find out.” She stood up and brushed sand off her clothes and legs.

  “You glad I chased you down now?” he asked as he stood up.

  “Yes. I needed someone to talk to.”

  “Anytime.”

  “Thanks.” She snapped her fingers and materialized in her living room. She slumped down on the couch. She really was concerned about Apollo, but she wasn’t optimistic about finding an answer for him and Daphne. Poseidon’s idea wasn’t bad, but she didn’t exactly want to talk to Hephaestus about working out a “happily ever after” for another couple. He’d want to know if she was considering his offer, and he might even make her saying yes a condition of his helping her in any way.

  She curled up on the couch and turned the television on, hoping something vapid enough was on to make her brain shut down for the rest of the day.

  * * * *

  Persephone sat beside Hades. She wore the Helm of Darkness so no one would see her. She wasn’t sure what to think yet. Instead of a line of people looking desolate and forlorn, she saw perfectly normal people standing in small groups talking. Hypnos brought each person up to Hades individually. The person then sat down next to Hades to answer questions. Everyone else continued talking, barely taking any note of which direction the others were being sent. The river Styx split just before the Valley of Dreams, and the Acheron flowed by a few hundred feet away from where they sat. Hypnos was taking the people to stand by two different boats. Charon sat in the first one, and thus far only one man stood by that one. Everyone else stood by the second one. The woman Hades was questioning now was talking about her husband. Hades had explained they all thought they were dreaming, but their calmness still seemed odd to her.

  Hades smiled at the blonde woman sitting next to him. “And what was your son’s name?”

  The woman smiled back, looking sad. “Adam. He was just four years old.”

  Hades nodded slowly. “Yes, that’s right. You’ll be seeing him very soon.”

  Hypnos came over and the woman stood up as if she knew they were done. He led her to the group by the second boat.

  Persephone leaned over and whispered, “Her little boy died?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why did talking about that matter?”

  “Pushing her husband away after her son’s death was the only bad thing she ever did in her life.”

  “You just know that?”

  “When I talk with them, I know everything about them. It’s not exact, but I judge them based on their reactions, more or less.”

  “So this is something I could never do?”

  Hades looked up as the next person drew near. “You’d never have my power, but if you wanted to plead for someone, I’d consider it and change my judgment if you convinced me.”

  Persephone started to reply, but the next person arrived.

  “Harold, tell me about your sister.”

  The man sat down and shrugged. “Not much to tell. She’s dead.”

  “Why?”

  “I killed her for being a greedy bitch.”

  “The money your parents left you? She wanted more?”

  He nodded and smiled. “Exactly. She thought I’d done something dishonest. I hadn’t.”

  “Since you hadn’t done anything, you were in the right. She couldn’t do anything legally.”

  “But she was buggin’ us. My wife and me. It was drivin’ us crazy.”

  “So it was a relief when you got away with it?”

  He nodded again. “Yeah. It’s been nice and quiet.”

  “That will be all.”

  Hypnos led the man to the first boat.

  “So if he’d regretted it, what would have happened?” Persephone asked.

  “He gave her sleeping pills, and she was very unhappy in her life. Some humans would say he did her a favor, so I take that into consideration. She was in fact happier dead. However, he killed his sister because she annoyed him. Even if he’d regretted it, I’d have sent him to Tartarus for ten years.”

  Persephone thought about it. Considering how long eternity was, ten years wasn’t bad. He’d probably have spent longer in jail, depending on where he’d lived. “So he’ll go to Tartarus and there he’ll feel regret?”

  “Yes. Good and evil are black and white in Tartarus. You feel guilt for anything that caused harm. You then learn.”

  “So when he sees his sister again, he’ll be sorry and apologize?”

  “Yes. And he’ll see her very soon.”

  “Why?”

  Hades looked down and sighed. “She killed their parents to get the inheritance in the first place.”

  “Oh.”

  A little boy sat down next to Hades.

  “Hi,” Hades said. “What’s your name?”

  “Jamie.”

  “Well, Jamie, of everyone who’s gone to heaven, who do you want to see the most?”

  Jamie thought. “My Nana Myrtle.” He smiled brightly. “Is she here?”

  “Yes. We’re going to take you to her right now.”

  The little boy hopped up and followed Hypnos away.

  “I guess children are easy,” Persephone said.

  “Yes. Very rarely has anyone younger than ten or eleven done anything worth judging.”

  She watched the little boy who would never grow up walk away. “How do you deal with all of this? It seems very sad.”

  “It can be hard, especially during wars or disasters when so many come at once. But once judgment is over, I forget all of it. I can recall it if I need to, but mostly I forget.”

  “But you knew that little boy’s grandmother was here?”

  “Yes. She’s been dead less than a year, plus knowledge of her came with my knowledge of him.”

  Persephone nodded. She listened and didn’t ask any more questions as the rest of the people were judged. Hypnos had been right. Hades was fair. One man had cheated on his wife, but when she’d died in a car wreck he’d regretted it. He still did. Persephone had wondered where Hades would send him, but after a moment he sent him to the Elysian Fields. He told the man his wife had been waiting for him there for five years. It seemed people who had only harmed themselves or who had already atoned for their wrongs went to the Elysian Fields, but those who had hurt others went to Tartarus.

  Hades went with Charon in the first boat, taking six people to Tartarus. The others continued to talk by the river while she sat with Hypnos.

  “What did you think?” he asked.

  She removed the Helm of Darkness and rubbed her neck. The helmet was heavier than it looked. “It seems like a great burden. I couldn’t do it. I’d second guess myself so often.”

  “If you had his knowledge, you might not think so. It might come just as easily.”

  “Maybe. I’m not sure I’d want the responsibility.”

  “How is everything else going?”

  The personal question surprised her, but in a good way. “Well, I think. He seems more relaxed.”

  “And you?”

  “I definitely feel more at home. I could be happy here. I don’t want to stay because of that though.”

  “You’ll know when the time comes.”

  Persephone thought carefully before she asked, “So what do you think about the Fates? Alala and Eris believe in them so strongly. Others never think of them. They do assign destiny, and they can see the future, bu
t how much power do they really have? Do they let us do one thing and then lead us somewhere from there? Do they do something and then let us make what we will of it?”

  Hypnos thought for a long moment. “That’s a hard question. I don’t think anyone can answer it.”

  “Well, if Hades sometimes questions where we came from and why we’re here, couldn’t he ask?”

  “The Fates won’t always answer. Or they speak in riddles like the Oracles.”

  “So we’re just as lost as humans in a way?”

  “Not quite to that extent. Not really.”

  After a moment, she asked, “So, can you marry?”

  “Yes.”

  “Would you?”

  “We’d be separated. She couldn’t live here, as you will if you marry Hades, and I can only stay away for so long.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Does it have to be? If I loved someone, I’d be happy just to have my love returned. I must return here for the darkest part of the night. It’s only four hours. I could return to her by dawn, but I do have many responsibilities.”

  “People can’t sleep without you?”

  He laughed. “They can sleep. They can’t dream.”

  “How do you do it? There are so many people.”

  “My presence in the Underworld allows people to dream. You can go a long time without dreams, but if you go too long, you’ll lose your mind. It would be irresponsible for me to stay away too long.”

  “And you can visit people in dreams?”

  “Yes. And I can do anything I want.”

  She blushed. “Yeah, you told me that.” After a moment, she asked, “Does that make you happy?”

  “I never hurt anyone. When they wake, they know I’m not real. I leave women alone if I sense they could become attached.”

  “But are you happy? What if you fell in love?”

  “I try to avoid that too. Thus far I have.”

  Persephone nodded her head slowly, but again she thought he looked sad. He always looked like that when they talked about love. “It would be interesting to get to know your brother. You’re a hard guy to understand.”

  Hypnos frowned. “As I said before, I’d avoid Thanatos if I were you. He’s been in a dark mood lately.”

  “Really? The god of death in a dark mood? Imagine that.” She laughed.

  Hypnos started to speak again, but Hades returned for the other boat and passengers. When Charon and he exited the first boat, it vanished. Hades looked at her for a moment before they left again.

  “I should take you back to the palace.”

  Persephone stood up. “I could use a nap.”

  “It’s being here. If you stayed, you’d be asleep soon enough.”

  “I’m sure I will be anyway.” She stretched and followed Hypnos. Something touched her shoulder, but she saw nothing when she turned around. She thought happily about spending the evening with Hades and talking about what she’d thought of the judgment. She smiled because she knew he’d be interested and actually listen to her thoughts. She hoped they’d end up snuggling in front of the fire. She kept thinking about how she’d felt when he made her come, and she longed for him to touch her again.

  * * * *

  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.”