That Fatal Kiss (38 page)

“Agreed,” Hermes said. “I cannot credit that Persephone’s good sense would forsake her at such a crucial moment. And besides, they were not away from my watchful eyes long enough for her to have made such a binding decision. Hades must have forced the seeds through her lips and then merrily sent her along, assured that his evil intent would not be detected. Nay, she did
not
consume them of her own will.”

“I am afraid I must disagree with you, Hermes,” Athena said. “Persephone had nine days to draw her conclusion, her ingestion of the seeds was merely a confirmation of her findings. Only she and Hades may truly know how matters transpired between them below, but we have the evidence of her love for him right in front of us. Do you not see that Persephone’s proximity to Hades speaks volumes? When he appeared, she chose to remain by his side, rather than run to Demeter’s. See how he rests his arm upon her shoulders? Does she repel him? No, she nestles closer to him. When he speaks, her eyes are fixed upon him, approbation pouring forth from them. These are not the behaviors of one enslaved. Aye, Persephone did eat of the pomegranate voluntarily. It could not have been otherwise.” Now Athena turned mocking eyes to her father. “Don’t you agree?’

Zeus scowled at his favorite daughter for putting him on the spot. As the others turned their eyes to him he gave a loud cough to clear his throat and shifted in his throne. Zeus focused on Hades and Persephone for long moments before saying, “As Poseidon pointed out earlier, Persephone is not given to mild submission. She has always done exactly as she pleased, whenever she pleased, much encouraged by her mother. If Persephone desired her freedom, she would be, as Athena said, firmly planted by Demeter’s side. Instead, she melts into her husband’s…and most sickeningly, I might add.” A grin spread across Zeus’ face as Persephone, unnoticed by the others, stuck her tongue out at him. “Aye, Persephone chose to eat the seeds for love of Hades.”

“Indeed,” Apollo said, rising to his feet. All now turned to regard him and, as his and Eros’ eyes met, a violent flicker coursed between the two. Persephone groaned inwardly, remembering how Eros punished Apollo for some slight or other by making Apollo fall in love with a nymph who did not return the sentiment. All the gods remembered Apollo’s loudly voiced grievance against Eros, and some were eager to see the fair-haired Shooter take the God of Love to task. Persephone hoped Apollo would restrain himself.

“I too have loved and chased after what was not freely offered,” Apollo began. His eyes narrowed, then, at Eros, who appeared unaffected and returned the look serenely. Apollo broke the exchange by turning to Zeus and continuing, “The difference here is that Hades’ longing for her is reciprocated. Where my beloved preferred …arboreal conversion to my embrace, Persephone clearly chooses to return her husband’s. When she might reach for her mother, as my Daphne cried for her father, Persephone cleaves unto Hades instead. This is not due to witchcraft or oppression; it is a direct result of her love for him.” He gave Eros one final look. “Whether sought after or nay.” Apollo gave Persephone and Hades a tight smile before he turned back to Zeus and stated, “Let my vote be in favor of their requited love.”

Zeus cast his eyes about the throne room. “We have six ayes and three nays. Who has not yet spoken?”

“I have not,” Hera said, rising to return to her rightful place by her husband. She adjusted her lavender gown about herself primly before saying, “I have no pretty speeches to make. I have only this to say; Hades, even if he is duty-bound to Erebus, has not made one effort to commune with us. He knows not how to comport himself…” at this point, she glared at Zeus, “though in truth, those of you in the Heavens are no better. He can be no fit mate to one of us and Persephone is simply too young and inexperienced to realize that. Though I rule over Marriage, I cannot sanction this union, regardless of what your daughter thinks she wants. You have four nays.”

“You have five!” Ares declared with a shout, bounding to his feet and glaring at Hades.

Hades met his look with equal animosity. Observing that Hephaestus too glowered at Ares, Persephone sighed. She marveled that, with all of the intrigues and resentments among the gods, they ever managed to come to any sort of accord.

“As my mother says,” Ares went on, “Hades does not come to Olympus, does not dare to test his strength against me at our games, and why? Because he is the worst sort of coward. Only remember how pitifully he fought against Cronus, if one can call that fighting! More like he turned tail and fled when the battle truly began!”

“It is wondrous that you can recall such events, as you were not even in existence when they occurred,” Hades noted, his voice dangerously quiet.

Ares’ ever ready rage flared in his eyes. “I may not have been present, but I have heard of how poorly you performed those many years ago!” He looked back at the assembled gods, undaunted by the angry set of Zeus’ face. “And if that were not enough proof of his weak character, simply think on the fact that he cannot even keep what belongs to him! Can any of you honestly expect me to believe that Persephone would choose such a pathetic excuse for a god as her eternal bedmate?” He spat irreverently in Hades’ direction, adding, “And if it comes down to it, I would be happy to challenge him for her release in a true test of wills…not that he has the courage to accept!”

Hades was about to step forward to do just that when Persephone laid a restraining hand on his stomach. “Father, the vote is six in favor, five against,” she said quickly, seeing that Hermes and Apollo had also risen and that Athena was reaching for her sword. Hoping to distract them from engaging in full-scale battle, she asked, “One vote remains to be cast, whose is it?”

“Mine!” yelped Dionysus, rising gracefully to his feet. He was incredibly agile for his inebriation, and he quickly brushed past Apollo and Hermes, nudging them back down to their seats while simultaneously knocking Athena’s sword from her hand to replace it with a flask of wine. The Lord of the Vine glided over to the other side of the room and practically shoved a flask into Ares’ mouth, forcing him to sit as well.

“Where’s mine?” Apollo interrupted, feigning offense while he surreptitiously snuck Athena’s out of her hand.

Dionysus rolled his eyes. “Patience, my dear fellow! I had only the two at hand! Now, to render my verdict…” He paused for effect then strode over to stand before Persephone and Hades. “It seems to me that only one thing remains in doubt.”

“And what’s that?” Hades asked, his features nearly relaxed into amusement at the other god’s theatrics.

“Why, neither of you has yet said that you love the other!” Dionysus exclaimed, as if surprised by their inability to see what was so evident to him. “Hades?” he prompted seriously, “Do you love Persephone?”

At that, Hades’ face turned dark again. “By the Fates, can there be any doubt? You’re damned right I do; I would not have left my comfortable home to endure fools and their insults if I didn’t!”

Dionysus gave a satisfied nod and turned to Persephone. “And do you love Hades?”

“Exhaustively!” the goddess asserted with a cheeky grin, causing her husband to laugh in spite of himself.

Dionysus turned to face Zeus, spreading his hands. “There, you see? We have the only facts which truly matter. You have seven ayes, and now let us finish matters here so we may celebrate their marriage in the customary fashion, with dancing, feasting, and drinking, in the great banquet hall!”

Zeus had to shout again to be heard over the fresh round of arguments that arose. “Silence!” But he could not gain the attention of the gods and finally motioned for Hades, Persephone, and Dionysus to lower their heads as he plucked a bolt of lightning from the air. He hurled it to the middle of the room, making a crash of thunder follow it.

The room now quiet, Zeus declared, “There can be no further argument. All votes have been cast and there is nothing more to be said but that Persephone has bound herself willingly to Hades and must make her home with him evermore. And Demeter must return to her duties and cause the Earth to bear fruit and grain again.”

Demeter gave a loud cry of protest and rushed up to Zeus, wringing her hands. “No! No, I shall not! Not if my daughter is to be torn from me in this fashion!” Overcome, she whispered, “Will I never see Persephone again?”

“Demeter, I’ve no wish to cause you further anguish,” Hades said, his tone incredibly kind. She turned to him, her look hostile, even as tears poured down her face. “I would never keep you from coming to see her in Erebus, whenever you wish.” But Demeter’s face registered nothing but revulsion at the suggestion.

Hades turned to his wife and regarded her intently for a moment. So quietly that only she could hear him, he said, “You chose me.”

In spite of the sadness her mother’s tears roused in her, Persephone managed a sweet smile for her husband. “Oh, my love...do you need convincing as well?”

Hades’ lips tightened and he shook his head. Turning to Demeter once more, he continued somewhat stiffly, “In truth, it is not my aim to keep you from Persephone. I claim her for myself, yes, but…I have a proposition to make which I hope will gladden your heart and ease the concerns of those who fear for Persephone’s well-being.”

None were more intrigued by his words than his wife. Persephone felt Hades tense and raised the hand she held over his stomach to rest lightly over his heart.

Demeter eyed him doubtfully. “What is it, then?”

The Lord of the Underworld bowed his head and expelled a soundless breath. Then he looked back up at Demeter and said, “I feel that Persephone, having committed herself to me, can be permitted to visit with you a few months of each year and then return to me in due course. In that way, you may still enjoy your daughter’s company and ascertain her happiness, while I may do the same.”

The Grain Goddess stared at Hades. “How many months?” Demeter asked in hushed tones.

Hades was about to reply when Hermes exploded, “How many months?” Springing from his seat, he ran to stand directly in front of Demeter. “Madam, how can you so casually negotiate your daughter’s continued imprisonment this way?”

“Easy there, old fellow,” Dionysus crooned, laying a soothing but firm hand on Hermes’ shoulder. “It’s not a matter of negotiation. Hades has won the day and is now proving to be a very gracious victor indeed, offering to share the spoils.” With a raised brow to Persephone, he added, “If you will.”

Hermes shrugged the other god’s hand off. “It is all well for you to joke, isn’t it? I see you are firmly entrenched in Hades’ camp!”

“Hermes, please don’t interfere!” Demeter whispered.

The Messenger’s face registered his outrage. “Madam, I have done all that you asked of me, seeking no reward other than your daughter’s hand in marriage, as you promised. And now you abandon our agreement to grasp at whatever meager crumbs that bastard is prepared to toss you?”

“Mother?” Persephone asked.

“Bastard?” Hades echoed, his hand going for his sword.

“Nay, hold!” Athena commanded, joining them in the center of the room. “Hades, you must excuse your nephew’s insolence, he has been rather sorely misled.”

“Has he?” Hades asked in a hushed tone.

Persephone looked up at him and saw that Hades’ eyes were masked from her once more. Though she knew she owed him an explanation for her earlier glances at Hermes, she was irked that Hades could think her so fickle. She gave her husband a dark look. “Indeed he has!”

Remembering that the Messenger God stood before her, utterly dejected, Persephone let go of Hades so she could step closer to Hermes. “I am so very sorry for all of this. You have been a wonderful friend to me, and I do love you, very much.” Hermes, who had been looking down at the floor, raised his eyes to her then, and she hastened to add, “Only not in that way. Nor have I ever behaved in such a manner as to make you believe otherwise, have I?”

Hermes turned away. “No, you have not. I just thought that, perhaps someday…”

“Well, perhaps someday things might have been different,” Persephone offered. “But the likelihood of that, I am sorry to tell you, was not very high. And in any event, as I once told my husband, I may not speak for things which might have been, but for things as they are.”

“And the way things stand,” Hermes began unhappily, “is in Hades’ favor, then? You love him…in that way?”

Persephone forgot her irritation with Hades and resumed her place by his side. Linking her arm with his and meeting his eyes, she answered, “I do love him, in every way.” He allowed himself to thaw and reached for her free hand.

In the silence that ensued, Hermes cleared his throat, gave a jerk of his head, and quit the room.

“Hades,” began the Grain Goddess, stepping forward, “you offered me precious months with my daughter. How many will you allow?”

Zeus interjected jovially, “Yes, you did, Hades; a fine plan, and a most generous offer, I might add! Now, to keep things fair, let the number of months Persephone stays in Erebus equal the number of seeds she ate. How many were they?”

Hades’ grip on Persephone’s hand tightened painfully, and she immediately understood why. She had eaten exactly three seeds. Three. Which meant, according to Zeus, that they would have but three months together, out of every twelve.

Before Hades could answer, Persephone said, “You’re quite right, Father. Hades makes a very generous offer indeed.” She returned Hades’ squeeze, to let him know she would answer the question. For Hades was bound by the Styx to be truthful, else he’d suffer unimaginable torment. She, however, had made no oath, and was therefore free to lie like a dog by a hearth fire.

“L-let the number of m-months equal the n-n-number of seeds.” Persephone directed a brilliant smile at her parents, hoping to keep them from noting her peculiar stutter. But what she wanted to do was cry—only three months with her husband! It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t right that her grand stand for autonomy, and Hades’ kindness to her mother, be so ill rewarded.

But the duplicitous words she had ready weren’t right either. Persephone abhorred deception and felt sick for what she was about to do. The goddess opened her mouth to speak but could not. Then she felt Hades’ arms wrap around her and she raised her eyes to his, drawing immeasurable comfort from the warmth of his gaze. In it, she saw that he knew what she planned. With the gentle brush of a finger over her lips, he silently told her he would not ask it of her, did not want her to do something so alien to her nature. This, given that their mutual good depended entirely upon her, made her all the more determined to do it.