Bride of Hades

One

I had been walking along my garden when I first met him. I was skipping down the small path that I took every day to a small creek hidden within a group of small shrubs. Mother assured me that it was quite safe to bathe and after a few times I became quite confident doing so.

I had just taken my clothes off and was splashing about the water when I heard a deep voice.

"Dear little water sprite, why is it you have no clothes?" A man was leaning against a thick oak tree, watching me in the water. He had longish hair, the color of auburn and his black eyes seemed to burn with fire.

"I am no sprite and you should not be here."

"Of course you aren't a sprite, for indeed you have clothes." He gave a mocking laugh as he held up my dress. "And how do you know I'm not supposed to be here?"

"I've never seen a man in my life, as there have not been any here. If there wasn't before, then why now?"

"Tsk, tsk. No men? I should have figured that Demeter would have done that to keep precious Persephone safe. But how lacking your education must be." His voice once again held a mocking tone but something flashed in his eyes, something that looked too much like hunger.

I didn't like the implication in his eyes. "Please give me my cloths." I no longer felt comfortable lounging in the nude, not with him there.

"And if I don't?" One auburn brow raised.

"Then- then- Then I'll scream for my Mother!" I lifted my chin defiantly but he only laughed. My previous threat sounded childish and foolish, even to my own ears.

"Mother? Why, then you must be darling little Persephone. You must know that your mother's paltry power can't possibly beat death."

My eyes widened. "Death? Then you must be Hades. But that's not possible! You rule the Underworld, why are you here?"

"Call it boredom. I wanted to see exactly who has Zeus and Poseidon in a tizzy. They mentioned how beautiful and powerful you are. I've seen the beauty, but where is the power?"

"That is none of your affair. I should be returning home now. Could you please leave and hand me my clothing?"

His smile turned predatory. "Why don't you come and get it?"

I was getting angry. Mother said that I had a temper and she struggled to teach me how to control it. I realized that showing off my power in front of this God would be a grave mistake as well. My power was currently masked by the shield permanently sheltering me from those from outside of my Mother's realm. If I let that down for even a second, Mother told me that other Gods would come and take me away.

I took a breath and counted to ten with my eyes closed. I summoned up my courage and stood up from the shielding water. I opened my eyes but kept them down cast, so I wouldn't have to see his leering eyes or mocking smile. He drew in a sharp breath and I couldn't keep my eyes from jerking to the sound. Unlike my suspicions, he wasn't leering or giving me the irritating grin.

Instead, his face was almost awestruck and I felt something flutter in my belly. I felt a flush trail up to my face and my embarrassment turned to irritation. "Well," I snapped. "Aren't you going to hand me my clothes?"

He gave a small smile that froze me. "Hold onto that fire, my little water sprite. You're going to need it." After that statement, he simply disappeared, leaving my clothes in a small heap.

I quickly dressed and left, hoping to never see him again. And yet the feeling in my chest told me that not only I would, but that I secretly wanted to as well.