Hades and Persephone

Chapter 13

Hades opened his eyes, not realizing he had shut them. Persephone had told Cerberus to sit. He wasn't sure what the outcome was, but it couldn't be good. Cerberus was difficult to control, even for him. He expected Persephone to have some kind of injury, her body healing herself as she scrambled away from the large dog. He was shocked at what he saw instead.

Cerberus was sitting, looking down at Persephone with all three tongues hanging out of his mouths. Her hand was on the middle head's nose. Even though Hades knew Cerberus was a vicious beast, he looked for all the world like a big softy in her hands. He smiled. She seemed to have that effect on everyone.

He walked toward them and stopped behind Persephone. "You clearly have a way with vicious beasts," he said.

Persephone simply scratched Cerberus' nose. The dog laid down on his stomach, closing his eyes in contentment. "It's nothing really. You just have to show them who's boss." She glanced back at Hades over her shoulder. "Besides, vicious beasts all have the softest hearts."

He blinked. He didn't know if she was just talking about Cerberus, or about himself as well. He felt heat rising up his neck. He passed a hand over his face, hoping to banish the telltale blush. He gave her a small smile. "I'm sure you're right. You're the only one I know who is strong enough to get past that vicious exterior."

She turned away. "That's because I myself am also vicious when I need to be."

He wondered at that. What had she done that had made herself feel vicious, or act viciously? He remembered what she had said before. That when she had heard of his heartbreak, she had made her escape. He hadn't thought much of it before, but how exactly had she escaped Demeter? He pushed the question aside. He would think about that later.

"Well, now that you've met Cerberus, what do you think?"

Persephone was scratching two noses at once now, all three of Cerberus' heads butting her gently for attention. She laughed, a smile brightening her face. "He's just a big softie. You need to play with him more!"

Hades gave a short laugh. "Yes, I probably should. But what would people say when they learned that the guard dog of the Underworld just wants a belly rub?"

"You would definitely have a lot more visitors."

He grimaced at the thought. "I don't think I can handle any more."

She chuckled. "You'd be fine."

He stepped up and patted the dog on one of his heads. Cerberus whined at all of the attention being given to him.

"You were going to let him eat me, weren't you?" Persephone asked without looking at him.

Hades cleared his throat. "No. I knew he would never eat you. Besides, as a goddess you have divine healing powers. You would be healthy and whole again in no time if he had taken a bite."

She snorted. "That's not very comforting."

"Shall we return to the palace?"

Persephone gave Cerberus one last pat on each of his heads before turning away. Hades offered her his arm, just as his mother had taught him to always do. He seemed to be the only one of his brothers who remembered his manners. The nature goddess ignored his arm, stiffly stalking back to the boat with her back straight.

"What's wrong, Persephone?" he asked, running a bit to catch up with her.

"A god should not let a goddess approach a vicious beast alone."

"But I thought you said it was fine, you didn't seem worried at all!"

She turned and glared at him. "Of course I was terrified! Did you not see the size of that thing?! Stars, Hades, you're as dense as Koalemos!" she snapped.