Drag Me Up

by RM Virtues

  Hades surrenders to that at long last.

  “Alright,” he sighs, standing up. “I wash my hands of it. If you hear anything else, let me know, but beyond that, I put it to rest. It would be rather foolish for any of them to attack Zeus.”

  Hephaestus grips his cane and pushes himself to his feet, leaning upon it heavily. Half a smile blooms across his scarred face. “Or you.”

  Hades smiles too. “Or me.”

  After dropping Hephaestus off at the garage level, Hades rides the elevator up to the penthouse of Hotel Asphodel. He has a couple of hours before he’s due to pick up Persephone, and he plans to make the most of them. The elevator stops once more at the casino floor, and Hecate casually struts in, turning and standing beside him. They say nothing at first, but the moment she tosses him a smug look, he cracks. A quiet laugh leaves his lips as she bumps her shoulder against his.

  “Wear the scarlet tie. I believe it’s still hanging on your bedpost from last time,” she hums. “White dress shirt. Oh, and the black vest. It always makes your chest look amazing.”

  Of course she knows. Hades couldn’t hide a secret from her if he tried. And even when he tried, he always unravelled eventually without a drop of effort on her part. He doubts that will ever change.

  “Doesn’t my chest always look amazing?” he retorts.

  “Don’t make me check your ego before your first date. It’s not fair to her.”

  He pauses, looking down at his feet. “—So you approve?”

  She rolls her eyes. “I have my reservations, but I do think you deserve it.”

  “What reservations?”

  “Oh, you know, only the fact that she’s the daughter of Demeter, who puts the food on our tables and wants to eviscerate you the most in all of Khaos Falls. Nothing too profound.”

  He chuckles, placing a hand just under the back of her neck and brushing his thumb along the column with a sigh. It might be the first time he isn’t more worried than her. He doesn’t even bring up his concern regarding Demeter and a possible alliance with Tartarus.

  “I’ve considered these things,” he informs her, his voice soft.

  “I know,” she assures him. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “I know.” He turns to look at her. “I promise I’ll be the most careful.”

  She nods just as the bell dings and the doors open on her floor, right below his own. She leans up as his hand falls away and pecks his cheek.

  “Let me know you get back safe,” she demands.

  “Will do,” Hades agrees, lightly pushing her towards the doors. “Tell Thana to be vigilant.”

  She grins as she steps out, the doors immediately beginning to close. “Will do.”

  A shave, a shower, and a three-piece suit later, Hades stands before the full length mirror in his bedroom. He’s satisfied with the outcome of his tedious regimen, slipping on his shoes and putting on his cufflinks. It’s then that the nerves finally catch up to him, and he takes a few deep breaths as he stares at his reflection. It still baffles him, the fact that Persephone can make him nervous, but he’s dealing with it the best he can. He hasn’t been on a date in… well, he can’t remember the last time he’d been on a date. He just knows it’s been far too long for him to be at all well versed in the logistics of it. There is a general grasp of baseline expectations, but it ends there. The rest of this is going to be trial and error. He never thought he would be reduced to such an infantile technique.

  With twenty minutes until seven, Hades slips on his watch and heads for the door, patting Cerberus’s head on the way out.

  “Wish me luck, big guy.”

  Cerberus barks once as he walks away.

  The elevator ride down to the garage level seems far longer than it ever has. His fingers fidget with the timepiece as he walks. When was the last time he’s been this excited about anything? Extracting his keys from his pocket, he climbs into his dark SUV and brings the engine to life. He doesn’t leave the casino often, meaning he rarely ever drives, and even when he does leave, it’s usually someone else driving. However, tonight, he’d thought it best that he get behind the wheel himself, making the short trip from Asphodel to the Stoneheart Apartments.

  Truth be told, Hades isn’t sure he’s been here since walking the land with Apollo, mapping out his blueprints. Khaos Falls’ renowned architect had done most of the design in the Styx District since Hades had taken over, restoring it to its former glory and offering it some fresh glory as well, namely in the form of Asphodel. He’d certainly done wonders in this apartment building as well. Hades admires the lobby quietly, looking over the more intricate details until his attention is drawn to the arrival of the elevator. He turns just as the doors slide open, and he’s stunned into silence.

  She’s dazzling. There’s no other way to put it. If he thought he’d been impressed the first time he saw her on stage, he’d severely underestimated her abilities. It isn’t that she’d done anything over the top or outlandish. She wears a simple white dress, the light fabric reaching down just above her knee. Over that, she wears a light sweater, but she seems to glow all the same, as though the sun had reached beneath her skin and taken up residence there. Her long curls fall to one side of her face, the other side braided back tight against her scalp, and Hades struggles to pick his jaw up off of the floor. How is it that she looks both sweet and devastating all at once? Amidst all this desire to be around her, he’s never paid much attention to his desire for other things. Like touching her, feeling her breath on his skin, tracing the column of her neck with his mouth… That faint feeling of possessive want flickers like a dying flame begging to be stoked, and he forces it to the back of his mind as she smiles.

  “You’re here,” she says, lips curling as she steps out of the elevator.

  “I’m here,” he manages, his voice hollow.

  It takes him another moment to move, clearing his throat and gesturing to the door.

  “Are you ready?” he asks.

  “Are you?” she returns with a raised brow.

  He nods. “Oh, I’m ready. For sure.”

  Her smile is an image he commits to memory. “Then so am I.”

  They linger for several more extensive seconds before he offers his hand. She takes it with much more confidence than he possesses at the moment, and he leads the way back to the car. Opening her door for her, he seizes his chance to try and convey his thoughts.

  “You look amazing,” he breathes as she climbs up into the vehicle and sits down.

  She freezes, looking back at him with something indecipherable in her eyes.

  “I wish I had a better word,” he goes on, nervous.

  “Thank you,” she replies, smiling at last before leaning over and kissing his cheek. He has to lock his knees to keep them from buckling. “And you look as handsome as ever.”

  Biting his lip, he forces himself to step back and shut her door before something else fumbles from his mouth. He gives himself a moment to catch his breath as he moves around to the driver’s side, his skin tingling where her lips had touched. He really needs to pull it together.

  “You know this thing is bad for the environment, right?” she quips, patting the dash as he slides behind the wheel.

  He can’t help but smirk. “Put your seatbelt on, Persephone.”

  There are only two ways across the Styx to and from Hades’ district. The river separates it from the rest of the city, and a deep canal half as wide as the river separates it from Tartarus. There used to only be one way, but when Hermes and Dionysos carved out their niche in the Market District directly to the west, Hades gave them permission to build another bridge between the two territories. Tonight however, Hades had made special arrangements to have his private ferry cart them across the water directly into the vineyard just northeast of Asphodel. It was one of few luxuries he’d allowed himself to acquire when he first took power, and truth be told, a ride down the river every now and again does him good.

  H
e feels Persephone look over at him as he drives directly up to the water, but he says nothing. It’s no more than a few minutes before the ferry appears anyway, coming towards them. Once it docks, its ramp is extended, and he drives onto the vessel. Within minutes, it’s off again.

  The River Styx is at least a soccer field wide, and the current is strong, but the ferry had been designed to overcome that when traveling across. Many superstitions surround the river. Hades’ father always said that lost souls swam beneath the dark surface, wandering for all time. Other souls had to overcome its treacherous waters in order to make it to the afterlife. Hades doesn’t know what he believes, but he always loved the stories. He has and always will have a soft spot for lore and legends, tales passed down by word of mouth rather than pen and pad. It’s why it never bothered him much, becoming a myth. They had already been so integral to who he was to begin with.

  “So you’re this fancy?” she remarks as they exit the car and approach the railing.

  “Have you ever seen the river up close like this?” he asks instead.

  She allows herself to take it in. The sun is just setting, and the glassy surface of the water reflects the deep purples and vibrant blues. Rogue magentas reach their agile digits towards the boat, tickling the underbelly.

  “Can’t say that I have,” she finally admits.

  Her voice has softened, and she looks almost dazed. Her hand grazes his own as they both reach for the railing, and he has to dispel the need to shudder. Whatever this effect is that she has on him, it’s as strong as the current far below. He has yet to find a problem with it beyond the obvious, but distractions are far more acceptable when he’s willing to stop worrying so much about his brother’s next move.

  “Do - are there creatures living down there?” she inquires, her eyes fixed on the water.

  “Oh, yeah,” he responds, nodding. “Many.”

  “Like what?”

  “Dragons for one.”

  Her head whips in his direction with a look of brash bewilderment. He grins. It feels foreign on his face but not at all uncomfortable. Sucking her teeth, she shoves his shoulder.

  “Stop it,” she groans, shaking her head.

  His laugh is raucous, a sound so rare that even he's surprised. “You never know.”

  “I can fashion a guess.”

  He shrugs, catching his breath. “My father used to say there were. He would scare us half to death.”

  “My mother used to say it was filled with death.”

  “Yeah, my parents said so too. My mama caught us wading in once, screamed herself hoarse. We’d done it on a dare of course. Charon was already up to his waist when she caught us. I grabbed him just as the current did. It was the longest game of tug-o-war I ever played.”

  “And the last, I hope.”

  He wishes he could say yes. “Mm. Come on. We’re going to dock soon.”

  She doesn’t question him further, slipping her hand into his when he offers and following him across the deck. The simple touch invigorates him in far more ways than one, and the need to touch her more twists in his gut. All he can do is keep moving. Offering those feelings any attention might keep him from surviving the night. He must admit though. They intrigue him. No one has ever incited such things in him before. He tucks them away to be inspected at a later time.

  The lights of the waterside restaurant’s gazebo come into view, glowing like a beacon in the coming dark. The ferry docks just beside it, and no sooner do they step foot on the ground does his phone ring. His heart slows, knowing very well who it is. Digging the device out of his pocket, he sees Zeus’s name flashing across his screen like a violent cry for attention. Because of course he would choose right now to finally call his brother. Hades’ skin buzzes with agitation, but before he can decide what to do, Persephone speaks.

  “You can take it if you need to,” she urges, squeezing his hand. “I’ll wait right here.”

  He stares at the screen for a moment. Then he rejects the call and turns off his phone. Looking over at her, he smiles as he shoves it back into his pocket.

  “It’s not important right now.”

  “I know you got a lot going on though. Important matters and all.”

  He shakes his head, leaning closer to her. “At the moment, I’m with the only person who matters.”

  8

  Persephone

  Persephone has never been this nervous. Not prior to her first show or her first audition with Calliope, and honestly, she’s beginning to think that “nervous” simply doesn’t even begin to cover it. How had she gone from keeping Hades at a distance to agreeing to a date with him? A date he plans like a man who is trying to get lucky, and she can admit it. He’s done a damn good job thus far.

  Aphrodite had alternated between reprimanding her and teasing her for most of the week, but tonight, she’d put it aside and offered to help Persephone get dressed. She’d met Persephone at her apartment with several garment bags. However, Persephone had ultimately settled on her own outfit, pointing out that it was her day off and she wasn’t going to suffer through a tight dress and high heels for anyone. If Hades liked her as much as Aphrodite swore he did, he wouldn’t care. She’s still surprised that she’d been correct.

  Once she’d laid eyes on him, dressed to the nines in what she would bet was his best suit, she did feel a little bad. That went away the moment he offered her a compliment that somehow eclipsed every other she had ever received despite its simplicity. That’s saying something considering it was all Adonis ever did when they were together. She supposes that’s why though. She can expect it from others. Everything Hades has shown her thus far has been contradictory to all the stories she’d ever heard about him. In that, the compliments and the plans and the simple conversations, it all feels so genuine, so rare, so specific to her. She savors each and every one.

  And damn, does he look good in that suit.

  Their table in Dio’s vineyard has already been elegantly set for them beneath a darling gazebo, and her heart flits around in her throat as they arrive. Hades hasn’t reached for his phone since he’d seemingly turned it off, which means he’d actually turned it off. Once she sits, she removes her phone from her bag and does the same, pointedly ignoring the several texts and missed calls from Zeus she sees on the screen. She briefly wonders if he might know something about her plans tonight, but that wonder doesn’t linger long. Hades steals all of her attention without doing much of anything, and she has not a single complaint about it.

  She looks up just as a figure appears on the short stone path leading up to the main restaurant structure. Once she gets closer, Hades seems to recognize her immediately. He stands, shaking her hand when she reaches him.

  “Good evening,” she says to them both, shaking Persephone’s hand as well. “Hades, how are you?”

  “Very good,” he returns, sitting down again. “Danae, this is Persephone. She’s part of Calliope’s company. Persephone, this is Danae. She owns the restaurant.”

  Persephone gasps, standing. “It’s so good to meet you. Thank you for having us.”

  “Oh, thank you for being here,” Danae counters with a smile. “I’ve heard so much about you actually. Dio could not stop talking about you when he was here earlier. He gave me tickets to the show! He didn’t say you were the one accompanying his uncle tonight though. This is a wonderful surprise.”

  “Oh, I didn’t tell him,” Hades readily admits, and Persephone knits her brows. He says nothing further however, and Danae quickly picks up the conversation.

  “As soon as Dio told me you were coming, I prepared my most special menu, so you need not worry at all.” She sets down a leather bound menu in front of each of them. “I’ll give you a few moments to look.”

  As Hades opens his menu, Danae smiles at Persephone before reaching for the bottle submerged in a bucket of ice at the edge of the table. She uncorks it with ease before pouring each of them a glass of light colored wine. Persephone cannot pinpoint th
e smell, but it’s certainly a kind of fruit. She takes a modest sip as Danae retreats and nearly groans in content. It’s absolutely delicious.

  “Pomegranate,” Hades says softly, and when she looks up, his eyes are on her. “Dio doesn’t make much of it, but it’s my favorite. I truly think he keeps it in production for me.”

  When she doesn’t say anything, instead taking another sip, he continues.

  “I didn’t tell him I was coming with you tonight because you know how he gets. Excited and - slightly overwhelming at times. The Fates know he would have asked me a dozen questions. Truly though, I didn’t want to tell anyone. I didn’t want to risk it getting back to your mother or Zeus before we had a chance to see how this—”

  “Why Zeus?” She blurts it out before she has a chance to reconsider it.

  He sighs, but the guilt she expects to find in his face isn’t there. “My brother has a way of - snatching things out of my hand before I have a chance to enjoy them.” He wets his lips, and it’s almost as though it pains him to unveil such a thing. “I don’t want this -” He gestures between them. “To be the same. I would like to - enjoy it first, if that’s alright.”

  She eyes him warily, and she only just realizes how hard her heart is pounding in her chest. She’s paranoid. While she continues to hold that there isn’t much to tell about her current situation with Zeus, it still feels like she’s hiding something from Hades. And despite the residual suspicion that Hades is attempting to catch her in a lie or get information out of her, she can understand what he means. If Zeus were to find out that she were seeing someone— anyone at all really but especially his brother— even for one date, she has no clue how he would react. She also can’t say that she’s too keen to find out, no matter how curious her spite makes her.