Seeds: Volume Two (3 page)

     Hades smiled faintly as he saw the two women step out into the open, providing an interesting contrast to each another – one pale and dressed in black, the other one darker-skinned but dressed in a light color. Both of them looked relaxed, standing close together.

     “I suppose the other guests bored you,” Hades said to Hekate. The goddess in question just grinned and shrugged as she and Persephone walked down the small path.

     “It is not often we get a new god down here. Much less often that you choose a bride.”

     “True enough. I trust the two of you had a pleasant time together.” Hades commented. Persephone slowly nodded.

     “Doubtless you have been working on corrupting her,” Hades added as he glanced at his longtime friend.

     “Maybe.” Hekate smiled at Persephone before she looked back at Hades.

     Persephone spent a bit more time with the other gods, familiarizing herself with them. The Judges were relaxed in this setting, and she suspected that they welcomed a reprieve from the judging of souls. After so many years, it must get boring, but when she asked them if they enjoyed their work, Minos nodded.

     “It is necessary, my lady. But that does not mean we do not take satisfaction in our jobs.”

     “You could come and watch, if that would please you, Dark Queen,” Aeacus offered.

     “I would enjoy that very much, thank you,” Persephone replied. There were still plenty of things to see and learn about the Underworld, and it emboldened her that despite her youth, she was being treated with respect by the elders of this shadowed realm.

o0o

     She had been so nervous beforehand, but now Persephone felt relaxed and confident. These mysterious Underworld deities were just like anyone else when they weren't performing their assigned roles. She was sure that she had been a satisfactory hostess. She stifled a yawn, and felt a hand on her shoulder.

     “If it pleases you, you should go on and take a bath. I will be there to join you shortly,” Hades whispered. Not surprisingly, the thought of a bath with Hades sent small frissons of warmth and delight rippling through her body. She held back a low moan as she felt fingers slide up her hand and wrist, and looked down to see a shadowy hand stroking her. To be sure, Hades had a unique and exciting Gift. The last guest had just left and the dancers were returned to Elysium, and she was eager to simply turn in for the night. It had been a long day, and she looked forward to the welcoming embrace of the soothing hot-water spring.

     Hades's eyes followed her as she left the large chamber before he turned around, seeing Hekate standing next to a pillar. She was supposed to have left with the others, so he wondered why she was still here.

     “What is it, Hekate?” he asked, not wasting any time. The Goddess of the Crossroads lifted her chin and slid away from the pillar, approaching the Lord of the Dead.

     “You announced that you had a bride, but you never mentioned the fact that you had to kidnap her.”

     “Oh, did I forget that?” Hades asked dryly.

     “What of her mother? Do you think that this will go unnoticed?”

     “Demeter will have to deal with it. Her father gave his blessing,” A weak excuse, he knew. But he just had to say it. Daughters were given up all the time in marriage in Hellas. What of it?

     “Is that all you have to say?” Hekate asked incredulously, placing her hands on her hips. She had no children of her own, but she knew that mothers were a force to be reckoned with.

     “Yes,” Hades replied shortly. He had no desire to try to defend his actions, especially with his old friend, nor did he want to waste the time when Persephone was waiting for him.

     “Demeter will not rest until she has her child back.”

     “Persephone is not a child.”

     “You know very well what I mean!”

     “I do, and I have no desire to discuss this matter.”

     “You stole a girl from her mother.”

     “That is not news.”

     “You have no concern for Demeter's feelings?” Hekate pressed. Hades frowned at her. Yes, he cared for his sister. If Demeter hadn't been so hardheaded in protecting her daughter, the Lord of the Dead would have been glad to approach her for permission to court her daughter. He honestly had wanted to do the right thing, and if Ares hadn't pulled off that shitty little stunt of his, then Demeter might have been more willing to consider a suitor for her precious child. After Persephone had been nearly raped, one couldn't blame the Harvest Goddess for her protective measures. But enough was enough.

     “I will
not
discuss this matter further. And you will not try to intervene, or get anyone else to. Understand? Persephone is
mine,
” Hades growled. The temperature in the chamber suddenly dropped, and the shadows in the corners and around Hades's body were now pulsating and writhing. The Dark God's eyes were dark, so dark as to be fathomless black instead of their usual dark blue. His jaw was set in a tight line as he glared at Hekate. She had seen many things and was a strong and fearless deity, but she was taken aback by the anger and fierceness she saw in his eyes. Hades was never a god to be trifled with, and even an old and powerful goddess like herself recognized that fact.

     She hadn't thought he would respond so angrily. Heaven forbid that anybody ever try to come between Hades and his bride.

     “Yes, my lord.” Hekate lowered her head in a respectful bow before retreating, her heart pounding.

o0o

     Hades exhaled slowly, the shadows stilling and the coldness fading away. Hekate had always been perceptive, and he wondered if she had figured it out, but then, it was just as likely that Persephone had told her in a bid for escape. He shook his head slowly as he made his way to his apartments, seeing the door to the bath chamber slightly ajar, admitting faint wisps of steam into the main room. He could confront her about it. He could just remind her that she was here to stay. He could even threaten punishment if she made another bid to escape. But oh, he didn't want to hurt her!

     He closed the door behind him and stalked across the room. As he opened the smaller door all the way, he did it quietly so Persephone wouldn't hear him. She looked up anyway, already submerged in the water up to her shoulders, her hair pinned up loosely. Her eyes remained on him as he approached the edge of the gemstone-lined pool. She was sitting at the far side, her head leaned against the edge as she relaxed. The rippling and bubbling of the water distorted the rest of her body, leaving no clear detail of her form to study from this vantage.

     The Lord of the Dead wondered if he should say anything at all about the matter that Hekate had just broached. Persephone continued staring at him, her expression relaxed and pleasant. She then lifted a hand out of the water, curling a finger in a clear invitation. If she looked so at ease, why dredge up the subject that was the biggest point of conflict between them?

     “Come on in, or are you just going to stand there looking all somber? You wanted a bath, have you changed your mind?” she asked.

     “Oh no, not at all.” He smiled at her.

Chapter XXI

o0o

     Several days had passed since the banquet, and Persephone had not broached the subject of leaving the Underworld. Rather, she focused on spending time in the library and learning as much as she could, or asking him questions about this or that, particularly the Olympians. She wanted to know what to expect when she finally met her family, which was something that she determined would happen, one way or another.

     It was when he was her tutor that he was at his most avuncular demeanor, and sometimes it felt a bit odd to know that he was her uncle. Despite knowing how closely tied their family was and how many brother-sister pairs there were in Gaea's brood, she could not help but remember her mortal notions.

     With many of the things she was learning, her perspective inevitably changed.

o0o

     When Persephone woke up, Hades was already out of bed and sitting in front of the fire, deep in thought with his chin propped up on his hand. He leaned back against the divan, clad in a deep blue robe that was tied loosely, revealing his hairless chest.

     “It feels strange waking up alone. Already I have grown used to waking up beside you,” Persephone admitted as she glanced at him. He looked up at her with a small smile before he rose from his seat, stalked over to the bed with several long, smooth strides, and blanketed himself over her form. His long hair framed his face and fell on her bare shoulders in silky black rivulets.

     “It comforts me that you want my presence upon waking.” he said as he looked down at her. She smiled faintly before he leaned his head down to kiss her cheek. She let out a quiet coo of delight as he nuzzled her, burying his face against the side of her head and her rumpled locks. She arched against him, feeling the hard and warm planes of his body through the thick blanket. He groaned softly and pressed back, his need making itself known. She delighted in being able to arouse him so easily.

     She alone had this power over this sexy, handsome, powerful death-god. Death itself was mysterious, faceless. It decided when a soul would be cut off from his or her living flesh. The Greeks had a word for it,
thanatos.
Assigning it a name gave them a concrete concept to talk about, to identify. Hades was inevitably linked with this
thanatos
even though he actually had no part in people dying
, making him an especially fearsome God..

     Yet all she felt was comfort and security in his arms. She let him hug her tightly, one of his hands trailing along her face.

     “Aidoneus...” she sighed as his thumb trailed along her lips.

     “Yes.” Hades sealed her lips with a kiss.

     “There is something I would like to do today.”

     “You have but to name it.”

     “I want to see Tartarus.”

     Hades stared at her for several moments. Persephone gazed back at him calmly. After her encounter with the Fates and with Hekate, she decided to be more serious about her explorations of the Underworld. She had kept herself to the safety of the library and gardens after what had happened to her in the Styx. There had been plenty of things to do – she was never bored – but she knew she couldn't just stay in Hades's Palace forever.

     “You... are certain that is what you want?” he asked. There was concern in his tone, but he wasn't at all patronizing or condescending as many others would have been.

     “I am mindful of your warning. That is why I asked you to take me.” She could have gone by herself while Hades was off performing his godly duties, but after her encounter with Styx, she was more cautious now. She didn't want to be overwhelmed and unable to respond to her surroundings, and she knew that the tortured screams she heard the other day were but a glimpse into the hell of Tartarus. She trusted Hades to keep her safe, and to also be honest with her.

     “All right then. After breakfast, we will go.”

     Persephone sighed softly, not wishing to sit through another tantalizing meal, but Hades gazed down at her steadily.

     “I will permit you to remain in your room and amuse yourself while I eat.” Hades said in a surprise concession. She maintained a placid expression to hold back the quick grin that nearly flashed across her face, not wanting to make her relief too obvious.

     “Thank you.”

     He nodded.

o0o

     Persephone was surprised but pleased to discover that she had grown a couple more inches since the banquet. Her chest and rear end were visibly fuller even under her clothing, and she was excited to finally having a body that would match her true age. She had stopped being a child a long time ago, and if there was one reason to stay with Hades, it was that he saw and treated her as a woman. The fact that her body was finally changing was a much-welcome bonus.

     After she had chosen an outfit, she examined some of her treasures until Cloe nudged her, signaling that Hades was done with his meal and it was time to leave.

     With her destination in mind, Persephone chose a black chiton over a deep red silk tunic. On the surface world, undergarments were barely considered. Children generally wore none, and even many adults didn't wear them. But now Persephone had silk and fine linen underwear – sheaths, tunics, and finely-made undergarments that barely resembled the plain linen loincloths she had been familiar with. The rich variety of garments gave Persephone plenty of room to experiment, and she found pleasure in mixing colors sometimes. The deep red of the tunic peeked out from her chiton, which was held up by gold pins and cinched by a matching plain golden girdle. The black garment ended at her elbows, tastefully displaying her lower arms, which were free of adornment. Her hair was pinned up in a bun, swept up off her neck gracefully in a coil held by black ribbons.

     “Is Tartarus hot? Or do I need a wrap?” Persephone asked. Cloe was unable to make words, but the servant understood her commands, and found ways to answer her requests. The wispy head shook 'no', and she briefly nodded.

     As if he had read her mind, Hades was also clad in black and deep red. He was dressed regally, with a golden crown atop his dark hair, and his clothing was trimmed with gold.

     She showed no apprehension when the Lord of the Dead led her to the chariot, and climbed into it before he could offer her his hand. She held the chariot railing with calm confidence, her head lolling back against his chest in a relaxed and trusting manner. He lowered his head to nuzzle the top of her own, and felt one of her hands leave the railing to lie atop the hand that was resting over her stomach.

     The gray sky turned crimson as the chariot sped along the road. The trees reached out with clawed branches, seeming almost alive. They passed souls being led by shades, most of them struggling against the faceless spectres of Dis. Persephone noted to herself that she had yet to see a judging. She could only imagine how it must be for the mighty Judges to condemn you and know that you are to be punished for eternity.

     They crossed the bridge, heat radiating from the river to envelop them and bringing a flush to their cheeks. The thick brass doors rose before them like a monolith, its burnished face hard and cold. The design of the doors were deceptively simple, with no indication as to what horrors waited within, but a sudden, terrified wail from beyond the walls caused her to shudder.
Do I really want to see what's in there?
With firm resolve, she stared ahead, raising her chin.

     The chariot stopped, but Hades made no move to get out. The condemned souls they had passed now approached the bridge, dragged along by the silent and efficient shades. A few were silent, resigned to their fates as they were led along, but that was not the case for the majority of souls here. They screamed and pleaded with Hades, giving him all sorts of praises and lavish titles, bemoaning the injustice of their sentences, and swearing up and down on all sorts of gods that they were innocent. Even without solid flesh, she saw the fear and desperation in their eyes. She felt Hades's hand on her arm before she felt his warm breath at her ear.

     “Do not be swayed by their pleas. Their crimes in life were heinous, and the justice they escaped in their lives awaits them here. Even now they do not wish to admit their guilt.” The Lord of the Underworld did not mention the aspect of his Gift that allowed him to know this. As old as he was, he remembered the first lie ever told to him centuries ago, for it was when he first learned that his Gift enabled him to know whenever someone was lying to him.

     This aspect of his Gift allowed him to be especially astute as he judged dead souls, for he could ask specific questions and know the verity of the answers given him, or see through meaningless flattery offered to him as compliments.

     She silently nodded, watching as the heavy gates opened. There had been several blackbirds perched atop the gate, their eyes glowing balefully as the souls approached. When the gates started to open, they flew off their perch and dove at the souls, undeterred by their terrified shrieks. The screaming of the birds melded with the cries to create a harrowing symphony that caused her to shudder. As the souls were admitted, Hades flicked his reins, and the horses pulled them into Tartarus. Even as he did so, more souls were dragged down the road behind them to swell the ever-increasing numbers in this cursed region.

     Persephone let her eyes move around, seeing pits of flame here and there, and more gateways leading in different directions, lacking doors. She didn't see anyone being tortured in this open space, and the souls that had just been admitted were flung into a firepit. She wondered what the purpose was, but was quickly answered when solid forms climbed out of the flames, making various sounds of terror and pain as they sought to escape the heat.

     “These firepits create fleshy shells for the condemned souls, so that their punishment can be administered in a more... effective manner.”

     “I see.” Shades were at hand to collect the newly 'born' prisoners, and she noticed that the shades assigned to Tartarus had a reddish tint to their wispy forms, and some of them even looked solid, with well-defined boundaries to their bodies. In a few moments, she realized why.

     The more solid of Dis's servants had various features that were menacing, like clawed hands, barbed tails, or jagged maws lined with sharp and ragged teeth. Some of them even bore objects such as pitchforks, spears, whips, or other instruments of pain. The newly fleshed souls were poked and prodded by these, and ushered off through different gates.

     “What do the different gates lead to?” Persephone asked.

     “It depends on their sin. Some have let greed or sloth take over their lives. Others betrayed their family and friends. Some were so consumed with vainglory that they did evil deeds, thinking they could escape justice. All punishments are determined by the nature of the sin. Though the Judges decide which of the three realms of the dead a soul goes to, Kampe and the Furies determine these particular punishments and the shades of Tartarus mete them out as ordered.”

     “I am sure that if mortals could actually see Tartarus, it would be a good deterrent to evil behavior.” Persephone commented, already impressed, even though she knew that she had barely begun to see Hell.

     “Some of them would continue their wicked ways nonetheless. There are always those who think they can escape the consequences, however great the risk,” Hades shrugged as he stepped down from the chariot. A couple of shades came forward to attend to the horses as Persephone let Hades help her out. She was perfectly capable of doing it herself, but she had to admit, she enjoyed his chivalry.

     Suddenly, she heard a slithering sound and turned her head. Through one of the gates she saw a large and serpentine form emerge, its scales reflecting the flickering light from the firepits. The creature was massive, standing at nearly twice Hades's height, and that didn't include the length of tail winding along the stony floor. As she got a better view of this creature, she realized that it was actually a she. Though the female traits weren't very obvious, Persephone noted the difference between chest and waist, one she had only ever seen on women. The chest was covered in what appeared to be a brass breastplate, and armbands adorned the she-creature's arms, which were just as flexible as her tail and ended in clawed hands.

     The face was lacking in delicate feminine features, but there was still something about the set of lips and the shape of the face that marked this creature as a woman. Her hair was made up of a writhing mass of scaled coils, much like a Gorgon, though these coils did not terminate in snake-heads. Nevertheless, they coiled and whipped around as if with a mind of their own, and Persephone felt a shiver pass through her body as this creature cast her slitted amber eyes at her.

     “Welcome, Lord Aidoneus,” she said in a voice that was an odd mixture between a rumble and a hiss, giving her words a sibilance that Persephone had never heard before.

     “Greetings, Kampe,” Hades said as he looked up at the impressive demoness. Persephone did not miss the mutual respect that the two underworld deities held for one another, their gazes relaxed and polite as they regarded one another, no differently than any other Underworld deity might interact with Hades.