My Husband: The Devil

Three-Headed Pet

I walked through my so-called new kingdom with Taehyung. He showed me a lot, introduced me to some of his most trusted dead accomplices, even offered to take me through shops. Yeah, they have shops. But honestly, the only reason why I was doing this stupid tour was to get the Cerberus saliva. "You've been quiet", Taehyung said. "Is there anything, in particular, you'd like to see?"

Now you're talking.

"Well, and this just came to me, can we see Cerberus?", I asked him. He raised his eyebrows. "You want to see Cerberus?", he asked me. "Why?" I shrugged. "I like dogs", I tell him. "And I've never seen one with three heads." So Taehyung took me by the arm and guided me along. I would've pulled away, but I didn't want to cause a scene. He came up to rowboat, but it was floating in midair, with no water surrounding it. Rowing the boat was a hooded figure, I couldn't see his face. "Charon", Taehyung said to the ferryman. "Take us to Cerberus, would you?" The supposedly Charon nodded and Taehyung climbed in. I hesitated at first but I eventually climbed in. 

The floating boat floated higher and moved forward until it came to a dark space in the Underworld. A river suddenly appeared and the boat settled on it. I looked in the river, my reflection staring back at me. Then I see a bunch of what looked like ghosts at the entrance to the Underworld. There were a lot of them. They must be the shades of the dead. Kathleen told me about them. Then I see a man with wing-footed sandals flying through the entrance back and forth. "Hermes", Taehyung says. "My other brother. He's the one who brings the dead here. Don't worry, you'll see him at our wedding." I turn my attention back to the dead and I could see they were lined up by the river. I watched as the shade bent down over the river, scooped some of the water in his hands, and drank it. His expression turned blank, and he got up and walked over to wait for the boat. "This is the River of Lethe", Taehyung said, as if reading my mind. "When the dead arrive, they must drink from this river, and when they do, they forget everything about themselves. All their hopes, fears, dreams, family, everything they've been, and who they were, all goes away." We settled at the shore, actually, it's more of like, concrete. Me and Taehyung stepped out of the boat and the shade that I saw drink from the river handed a coin to Charon. Charon took the coin and the shade hopped in. More shades drank from the river and more went into the boat. Once the boat was full, Charon went and took them away, where, I didn't know. 

Then I heard a low, husky growl. I turned slowly and Cerberus was towering directly above me. One of the heads snapped at me. Taehyung came forward and petted the middle head, and the other two calmed down. The head on the right nudged me gently. "Ree-Ha, meet Cerberus, Cerberus, meet your future queen", Taehyung said. Normally I was brave, but I was a little scared. I was definitely in no mood to be the world's largest dog biscuit. "It's okay, he won't hurt you", Taehyung said. "Unless I want him too." He smirks. I give him my deadliest stare and turn away from him. Before I could do anything else, Taehyung takes my hand and puts it on Cerberus's middle head. "Like that Ree-Ha", Taehyung says and smiles at me. I don't look at him, I just pet the dog, who was a lot more friendly than I expected. Then, what looked to be like a dead farmer, came up to Taehyung. "Ah, Askalaphos old friend!", Taehyung said to him. "What's the news on the wedding feast?" Now was my chance. While Taehyung was distracted, I took the empty vial from my dress. "Okay", I whispered to Cerberus. "One of you, open up." The right head opened its mouth, and saliva dripped from its razor-sharp teeth. I held the vial underneath it, and it filled up quickly. I snapped the vial shut and tucked it back in my dress.

And just in the nick of time. The dead farmer left and Taehyung's attention turned back to me. "Well, have you seen enough of your pet?", he said. "Because there is one last thing I need to show you." I nodded through my veil and Taehyung guided me along to someplace else. I wonder where he's taking me this time.

We came up to a tall, gold gate, that read, ELYSIAN FIELDS. The gate opened up and I could see lush green fields, surrounded by trees. Shades of the dead wandered around, laughing and playing. "This is where the good go when they die", he said. "These fields used to be empty, but, Persephone insisted that the dead should stay here. The Elysian Fields are endless, so an endless amount of the dead can stay here." He takes my hand and guides me under the shade of the tree. We sit. Suddenly, we're surrounded by flowers. But these flowers were unlike any flowers I had ever seen before. They looked like cherry blossoms, but they weren't pink, they were purple and black. Taehyung picked a handful and gave them to me. "Look upon these flowers well", Taehyung said. "For this is what your wedding bouquet will look like." I stare down at the flowers and stroke the petals. They were soft, softer than silk. 

Taehyung suddenly took my veil and pulled it from my head. "I like you better when I can see your face", he said. "It's much too beautiful to be covered." I fight the urge to smile. 

I think that deep down, like way, way, down, you might be secretly nice, I think to myself. It's a shame I have to kill you.

Taehyung stroked my cheek. I glared at him more furiously, hoping he'd take the hint and quit touching me. "Aww, don't be like that", he says playfully. "I'll be good to you.....as long as you're good to me." He winks. I finally jerked my face away from him. "What's wrong with you?", he demands. "I'm trying to be nice! Hades said you'd like me if I was nice!" I laugh sarcastically. "Yeah see, that's you", I say. "You can't be nice to anyone unless someone higher than you tells you to. Just because you're a demon, you think that you can be malicious and evil to anyone you want. And even if I wanted to marry you, and I don't, I wouldn't marry someone who would do this to me!" And I lifted my dress and showed him the disgusting flesh wound that he left in my side when he dug his heel in it only a few days ago. "And I especially wouldn't marry someone who abducts me and treats me like a prisoner!", I continue. "Because of you, I'll never see my mother again! If you really wanted to marry me, you would treat me better!" I let my dress down and I stormed away from him and back to the palace. I had the first ingredient of the demon killer potion, and I was more determined than ever to get the others.

Taehyung's POV

I watched her go. I wanted to go after her, but I just let her go. I stared at my hands. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. "She's right, brother", Hades says. "I abducted Persephone, and even I didn't treat her the way you treat Ree-Ha. If you want her to love you, you have to change your ways for her." I didn't say anything, I just stared straight ahead. I wanted Ree-Ha to be my queen more than anything. And I hated to admit it, but Hades may be right. Maybe I should try to change.....

Ree-Ha's POV

I walked into the library, where I saw Kathleen was already waiting. "Your Majesty, hello!", she says. "Thou art back early! Did you enjoy yourself?" I sat down in the chair. "No, I ran away from him", I told her. "I just couldn't stay." Kathleen sat next to me. "I understand", she says. "His Majesty is not easy to live with. But look at it this way, you will not have to live with him much longer if we continue with the potion. Did you get the saliva?" I nodded and take it out of my pocket. "Good", Kathleen said. "But we must hurry and figure out the second riddle to get the next ingredient. We both stare at the next one.

The next ingredient you seek is Persephone's weakness. It blooms only during the year of harvest, and you'll find it difficult to open. What is it?

I lean back in my chair. C'mon think, you've taken Greek Mythology before, and it's the one class you've actually paid attention in.

Then I figure it out. Persephone's weakness.....

"It's a pomegranate!", I exclaim. "It was Persephone's weakness, and she is the goddess of the pomegranate and pomegranates are difficult to open." Kathleen nodded eagerly. "Yes, I think you may be right!", she says. I leaned over the page. "Is it.....pomegranate?", I say to the page. The riddle disappears and something else takes its place. It now read, "1 pomegranate from the Garden of Persephone."

"Yes!", I say, thrilled that I was heading in the right direction. If this keeps up, I'll have all the ingredients and the potion by nightfall. "So, you just need to go to the garden of Persephone and get one of the pomegranates. But be careful, if you eat any of the pomegranates, you won't be able to leave. And you will be tempted to eat from the garden. The smell of the pomegranates is almost overwhelming. I know, because I've been in the garden before." I nodded. "Got it", I say. "I'll go the second after dinner tonight."