The Sea Tyrant's Obsession (PJO x ROR) 18+ WTM/WTS Book 1

Persephone

(Present)
As they walked, an awkward silence settled between Percy and Persephone. The towering stone walls of the palace cast elongated shadows, while the dim greenish glow from enchanted lanterns bathed the corridor in an eerie light. Percy trailed a step behind, her gaze darting nervously over the intricate patterns etched into the floors and walls, trying to quell the unease building in her chest.

Persephone appeared completely composed. Her steps were fluid and deliberate, the hem of her emerald-green gown whispering softly against the floor. In contrast, every step Percy took seemed to echo loudly in the silence.

She desperately wanted to say something—anything—but the queen's silent presence felt like a weight pressing down on her tongue. Percy couldn't tell if Persephone was upset about her spending time with the siblings or if something deeper was at play.

At last, it was Persephone who broke the silence.

"It's strange, isn't it?" she said, her voice calm yet tinged with a faint, melancholic undertone.

Percy blinked. "What's strange?"

"Being here," Persephone replied without turning to look at her. "You're far from the home you knew, surrounded by unfamiliar faces in a realm unlike your own. All because Poseidon kidnapped you from your world."

"Yeah, that guy's a scumbag for taking me against my will, claiming to have fallen in love with me after watching my life, which I think is super creepy. But it was a good thing your husband brought me here to stay away from him. I'm just relieved I didn't have to stay with that asshole for long. I can't believe he knocked me out so cheaply before resuming our stalled fight." Percy paused. "By the way, your kids have been really welcoming."

At the mention of her children, Persephone's lips curved into a faint smile. "They do have a way of softening the harshness of this place. Each of them carries a light uniquely their own, despite the shadows they dwell in."

Percy nodded, recalling their lively breakfast and Cerberus's antics. "Yeah, they're great. It's easy to forget where I am when I'm with them."

The queen glanced sideways at Percy, her gaze sharp yet unreadable. "I'm glad they've made you feel welcome. But I must let you know, Helheim is not a place to let your guard down entirely. My husband may have saved you from Poseidon and offered you shelter in his realm, but you shouldn't completely trust him."

Percy frowned, her steps faltering slightly. "Why? He hasn't done anything to hurt me."

Persephone slowed, turning her head just enough to glance at Percy from the corner of her eye. There was a flicker of something in her expression—worry, perhaps, or maybe warning.

"That's precisely why you should be careful, Percy," Persephone said, her voice dropping to a hush. "Once Hades gets his hooks into something, he never lets go. Even when holding on becomes destructive—for you or for himself."

Her words were laced with a warning, a premonition of the depths to which the King of Helheim could sink in his pursuit of a new fixation.

Percy swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. The weight of Persephone's warning began to settle over her, and she was starting to understand the truth behind the queen's words—the real reason why Persephone wanted her company.

She hesitated. "If he saved me... what would he even want in return? What's in it for him?"

Persephone stopped walking entirely. Her gaze seemed to pierce Percy, as though deciding whether or not to share a deeper truth.

"Power, control, love," she said finally, her tone laced with bitterness. "To Hades, these are interchangeable. Be cautious, Percy. If you remain here, you may find you've given him one of these... without even realizing it."

Percy stared at the Goddess of Spring in shock.

Don't tell me she means what I think she does?!

"Come, let me show you something of mine."

Persephone led Percy through an arched doorway that opened onto a sprawling, breathtaking garden illuminated by a pale, silvery light. The outside air was cool and crisp, carrying a faint floral fragrance.

The garden stretched endlessly, a kaleidoscope of glowing flowers, vines heavy with fruit, and trees adorned with leaves that shimmered like gemstones. In the distance, waterfalls spilled from jagged rocks into pools that radiated a soft, glowing light. The entire scene felt alive, as though every petal, branch, and blade of grass pulsed with quiet energy.

"This is my personal garden," Persephone said, stepping lightly onto a pathway paved with luminescent stones. "It's one of the few places here that truly belongs to me. Hades doesn't touch it. No one does except my children because I allow them."

Percy followed, her eyes wide as she took in the vibrant beauty around her. "It's... breathtaking."

"Much better than my counterpart's garden, right?" Persephone said with a hint of humor.

The demigod nodded in agreement. "Definitely better than my aunt's. There are no petrified statues."

So, she watched my life too. I shouldn't be surprised if all the gods in this world did, Percy thought.

They continued walking through the lush garden, Percy marveling at the vibrant hues of the flowers and the soft, soothing sounds of the waterfalls. In this garden, there is a sense of calm and peacefulness.

Then they reached a particularly striking patch of flowers—brilliant blue blossoms with delicate silver veins running through the petals. As Persephone knelt down to examine one, the light from the glowing stones cast a soft glow over her features.

"These flowers... they only bloom for a short time," Persephone said, her voice low with admiration. "Their beauty is fleeting, but intense. Much like many things in Helheim."

Percy crouched down beside her, fascinated. "They're beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen flowers like these before."

"I've spent centuries cultivating this garden, ensuring every plant thrives and that nothing here feels... dead." Persephone's voice wavered slightly as she spoke the last word, but she quickly regained her composure. "This garden is one of the few places in this realm where I feel like I can breathe."

Persephone's gaze lingered on the flowers, her fingers lightly brushing over the delicate petals as if savoring the moment.

Percy followed her lead, slowly touching one of the flowers, allowing the serenity to settle over her—but it couldn't completely mask the gnawing anxiety inside.

After a few moments of Persephone explaining the different flowers in the garden, followed by some quiet contemplation, Percy and Persephone stood up. The distant sound of waterfalls blended with the soft rustling of plants, carried by the cool breeze that swept through the garden.

Percy gave one last look at the flowers, their vibrant blue petals almost glowing in the dim light. Despite the peacefulness of the place, a growing sense of unease lingered in her chest.

Persephone turned toward her, her expression serious, yet there was a softness in her gaze that hadn't been there before. "Now that I have warned you about Hades," she said quietly, her voice taking on a more urgent tone, "would you like to leave this place?"

Percy froze. She hadn't expected to be asked that.

"I..." she began, struggling for words.

"The longer Hades watched your life, the more intensely his gaze focused on you. You're a young woman, with your whole life ahead of you. I don't want you to go through what I did," the goddess continued. "I can give you a flower that will help you leave Helheim."

"I..."

Percy's heart raced as her mind spiraled into chaos. Leave? Just like that? Could I even do it?

She's warning me for a reason, Percy realized, but uncertainty clouded her resolve. Persephone's words rang in her head: Power, control, love. Could I already be caught in another god's web without knowing it?

"There's where you two are!" A voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

Percy and Persephone both turned sharply at the sound of the voice.

Standing in the path before them...was Hades.