Pat Twice

Chapter 3

Persephone lay on her back, her hand clawing at the carpet. Please work, she silently pleaded. She stayed there, frozen in place. Apollo rolled on the ground a few feet away, moaning in pain. She watched his face go from shock to agony to rage in .02 seconds. His eyes flashed open and emitted a light as strong as the sun. Persephone shielded her eyes but couldn't see a thing.

She attempted to get to her feet, but her head still swam from the fall. She was leaning against the wall almost fully standing when a purple hand shot out and grabbed her ankle. He roughly pulled her down to the ground again. Her back slammed against the ground knocking the air out of her lungs. She couldn't see anything but could feel his hands pin her down and his body sitting on her.

"Please, Apollo! Stop," she whimpered, feeling helpless. She felt her shirt rip, her skin bare to the hot glow radiating from him. She was blinded, restrained, and completely alone.

"I don't want you, Persephone. I just want to show you what happens when you're disrespectful to a god," he hissed at her through the light. Her eyes pricked with tears. "I want to teach you a lesson you won't forget-."

Silence.

The room turned black.

Apollo's body was off of her own.

Persephone shot her eyes open, only to find complete darkness surrounding her. She sat up slowly, feeling cold suddenly.

"Hello?" She whispered into the void. She hugged her body, trying to warm herself. A small light appeared in front of her, showing her the silhouette of Apollo. His body dangling in the air above her.

"Oh Gods," she breathed, scrambling to get further back. She twisted her neck and finally saw him. The King of the Underworld had heard her call.

"Hades," she said quietly. Hades had wrapped his hand around Apollo's neck, holding him high in the air as he choked the life out of him. He's immortal, of course, but every second had to be excruciating.

Hades' eyes were a deep, violent red. His face filled with fury and pure hatred. He opened his mouth, his voice booming.

"How dare you, you small loathsome creature, harm a single hair on this perfect goddess? You are a worm, a waste of life. A cancer on Olympus. If I could kill you I would," Hades' words seethed with disgust. He was beyond rage; beyond anything Persephone could ever imagine. The look on his face was indescribable. He was ready to snap Apollo's neck right then.

Apollo clawed at Hades' hand, his face somehow becoming a deeper shade of purple in the limited lighting. Hades just held him there, his entire body rigid. His grip tightening on Apollo's neck.

"Hades, please don't," Persephone said quietly. His eyes broke from Apollo's and traveled to her. His expression softened. She looked terrified and disheveled sitting on the floor. Her shirt had been ripped, exposing her to him... to Apollo. Apollo, he thought. His anger was awakened again, and he snapped his eyes back to the god in his hand.

"You need to pay for your crimes," Hades threatened, continuing to squeeze any air from Apollo's body. Before Persephone could protest again, Apollo retaliated. His body went from a deep purple to a blinding yellow.

"Gods!" Hades roared, dropping Apollo and clutching his hand to his chest. He burnt me, Hades thought. He couldn't see anything, just heard a body slam to the ground, footsteps running, and a door opening.

"Persephone!" Hades yelled, fearing that Apollo grabbed her on the way out. He held out his uninjured hand, trying to find her. His eyes still trying to adjust from the blinding light.