Hades and Persephone: A Fated Love Book 2

Death of Adonis

That night, Hades made love to me gently. He didn't try to defend himself or discuss the chains at the gate any further. But it was there in every caress of my hair and in the light traces on my collarbone.

I'm not a monster, he seemed to say. I have always been good to you. He was so delicate with my hips and he kissed me reverently. I didn't know whether he was apologizing or trying to remind me why I married him, but it didn't matter. I gave him everything in return.

We didn't speak when it was over, but he held me tightly in his arms as I drifted off to sleep. I didn't know it would be the last night we shared together for a year. I didn't know that in the next day, everything already fragile would crumble. But some part of me still cherished these uncomplicated moments with him. I tried not to think anymore about Adonis or what he said.

As long as love is honest, it's simple.

....................................

Hades was gone when I awoke, and the Underworld seemed dimmer without him. I hadn't realized the power his presence held until I was completely absent of it. He didn't come to dinner that night, or to bed. I waited hours for him until a new fear struck me. Had he left me alone in the Underworld?

I searched half-heartedly for him, even though I knew somehow he wouldn't be found. The rivers rushed through the silence, and I sat beside the Kokytos, listening to its screams. If I knew how to set the souls free, I would. Hades showed me this place once and promised nothing stayed trapped forever. I hoped that was true, but as the hours passed, I grew more frantic.

He wasn't in the gardens or the throne room. There were no shadows on the walls and I must have sprinted towards the gemstone cave in a daze. I collapsed to my knees.

Adonis was gone. The three days must have ended. I only hoped Aphrodite was the one to fetch him here.

"Hades," I called. "Hades, I'm frightened. Where are you?"

There was no response, and I forced myself back to our bedroom. He was either in Tartarus or he truly left the underworld without me. I wandered to the stables, a bit frightened at what I may find.

They were empty. His chariot was gone, and so was his helm. Gods.

"Persephone, you need to come with me," a voice said from behind.

I whirled around to see Hermes standing grimly before me in the stables, his hands clasped firmly behind his back. Gone was any of his flirtation, and he stood like a stone, terrified to touch me or look me in the eyes.

"What's happening?" I whispered.

"You are needed in Olympus. Hera has sent me to collect you."

I didn't know what would be worse. The idea of remaining in the Underworld by myself without a clue of what was going on, or the thought of being dragged before the gods without a clue of what was going on. Finally, I stepped forward and extended a hand.

Hermes hesitated before he took it, and as soon as he spirited us to Olympus, he pried himself away from me as if I were a disease. We were standing in Zeus's temple, and Aphrodite was laid at the altar, screaming in agony.

"What is happening?" I repeated.

"She isn't in any pain," Hera emerged from behind the pillars, staring at me with disgust. Aphrodite continued sobbing, and only when I came closer did I realize the golden locks of hair in her hands were loose. Hades's words about Morpheus rang in my mind.

Would you prefer I cut his hair? He's unusually vain, even for a god if you would believe it.

"Where is Adonis?" She screamed at me. Her words were barely intelligible and all I could see was the blond ringlets of hair, shorn in circles on the ground.

"Didn't you come to get him?" I asked softly.

"Of course I did. I told him he should go on a hunting trip until I was able to secure things with the mortals," she said.

I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean the mortals? I thought you were hiding him from the gods."

"Aphrodite has committed many foolish acts against her husband. Years ago, she was jealous of Adonis's mother and bewitched her to incest. Adonis was conceived by these vile means and she has brought shame upon her marriage," Hera scowled. Her sharp blue eyes cut to me. "As have you through this foolish affair."

"What?"

"It only took him hours to bed you," Aphrodite snarled. She looked horrid and vicious at that moment and I even recoiled. "A witness caught you in a tree together and in the dark caverns. For all I know, you probably had him in Hades's own bed."

"I-I never,"

"Enough. There will be time for judgement soon," Hera announced.

"Where is he?" I turned around in Zeus's temple, finally taking in the gravity of the situation.

Hades must have rushed to Olympus after someone told the gods I was having an affair with Adonis. Someone I could only assume was that strange nymph lurking in the caves.

"Hades will be here for you shortly. As will your mother," Hera snapped.

Thundering hooves echoed outside and I hurried to see chaos in the woods outside Artemis's temple.

"Persephone, stay—"

I didn't listen more. Something horrible was happening, and it felt like sprinting through a nightmarish vision. There was something happening in the woods. Something I needed to stop.

Madness exploded as Adonis himself burst free from the forest, his bow slung haphazardly across his bare chest. He glistened with sweat as a massive bore chased him from the thicket.

"Queen Persephone!" He gasped as he spotted me. "HELP!"

He screamed for me, terror displayed on his face as he scrambled blindly towards Artemis's temple. He shouldn't be in Olympus, let alone hunting it's beasts. What had Aphrodite done?

"No, stop!" I shouted as he neared the steps of the virgin goddess.

I rushed towards him, but a strong arm wrapped around my waist and hauled me backwards. The next moments came too quickly to comprehend. The boar gored Adonis before Artemis's temple and he collapsed in a crumpled heap on the marble steps.

And when I turned back to shout at who grabbed me, I came face to face with Hades.