Self Control

Chapter I: Conditions

The way the waves rock against my body, how the water brushes against my skin, pushing me back before pulling me in, it's amazing. Like a dream. Like being wrapped in chilled silk and rocked back and forth. Closing my eyes against the moonlight, I smile and brush my hands on the water’s surface.

Just to see what happens. The temptation, after so many years, is strong.

Breathing in deep, I slowly lower myself under the waves. When I am submerged, I let out the air in my lungs and breathe in. The water doesn't get caught in my throat like I thought it would, but enters easier than air. That shouldn't be possible. Gods can't breathe water, other than Poseidon and Dana.

"What are you doing, Persephone? Gods don't usually try to drown themselves" the masculine voice of a man I recognize well enough echoes around me as a mirage of his sun dyed blonde hair, Caribbean ocean blue eyes, and Greek bronze tanned form appears in front of me. "Why are you out of the underworld? I was under the impression that Hades requested to have you down there longer with him, to resolve your issues."

Fury builds up in me, making the water around me nearly boil. "Yes, he did. But I don't want to spend more time with my husband" I hiss out the word, shuddering and not bothering to cool my temper as the water around me does boil.

Poseidon's mirage quivers before his real body builds in front of me, pieced together by the water around him. He eyes me like he's sympathetic, like he feels sorry for me. "You could try to resolve your issues with him." He tilts his head to the side, crossing his legs so that he floats cross legged in front of me, looking like a teenager around nineteen who is looking at a lost puppy.

That pisses me off further. "I don't want to resolve my issues with Hades. He made me like this. Remember? He was jealous that Zeus wanted to give me to you even though you were married, so he asked me to come visit him down in the underworld. I went, because I was still innocent to the god’s wrath at that time. And Hades kept me down there. I had no idea how many days passed, or what was happening. I didn't even know my mother was looking for me. And I enjoyed it. Little did I know that he was fooling me. But when I found out, I already had eaten the seeds, and Hades came up with this ridiculous story that since I did, I had to stay with him. So I had to marry him. But my mother wanted me up in Olympus with her, so my time was cut in half. Thank god. But now he wants more time with me. His audacity! And now your wife, Amphitrite, she's dead, and I am still stuck with Hades. At least while she was alive, you had someone you loved." I glare wholeheartedly at the god in front of me, not caring about the flash of pain on his face after the mention of his dead wife. Hell, his son Triton is dead to. Died a few years ago in the fight when Cronus rose, and he was never resurrected. We won, but only because some new Titan named Dana resurrected most of us gods. Actually, all of us. And she saved us. After everything that's happened, that Titan is ok with the gods, accepted, and she is with Apollo. Poseidon had someone he loved, even if she's gone now. Hermes and Aries play around with Aphrodite. Hephaestus gets to call Aphrodite his wife, and he loves her no matter what she does. Hera and Zeus are working out their problems. I am the only one stuck with a man I will never love. Zeus was going to give me to Poseidon originally, because Poseidon and Hades were upset when Zeus had me with Demeter. But Poseidon had that sea witch and I was chained to Hades.

"Maybe if you tried, you would find that Hades isn't as bad as you think" Poseidon says softly, the pain still raw on his face, but he's struggling to help me. "You know I am always here to listen, Persephone, and I am here to help, but if you just spoke these things over with him, it would be better. You have been with him for a millennium. Maybe it's time to throw your pride and anger away and try for some happiness. Hades loves you. He wouldn't have gone through so much trouble to get you if he didn't."