Page 83 of Tempted By Hades
“He—I mean…he didn’t force me but…” She huffed a breath. “He still wasn’t honest with me. He could have told me at some point what he really wanted me for.”
“That’s on him, sure. But maybe he was scared.” Apollo’s face turned serious. “He fell in love with you, and he was scared he would lose you—not because he wanted you there at the Sealing Ceremony, but because he was scared you would leave him forever.”
“And I did. So, he should have been honest in the first place!”
“And he wants to make amends.”
“Then why hasn’t he tried to come and talk to me?” Perhaps, there was the tiny, miniscule part of her that had hoped he would at least attempt to make amends.
“He told you he would wait for you, right? Well, he’s waiting for you. Giving you the time and space you need.”
“I—” Well, Apollo was not wrong there. She did tell Hades not to come near her, and he was just doing what she wanted.
“There’s one more thing you should know.”
“What’s that?”
“He’s given it all up.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Given what up?”
“Olympus. During the council’s final meeting, he just stood up, telling everyone that he didn’t care about who gets Olympus and left.” He tsked. “Do you know that for the last ten thousand years he’s been preparing to take Olympus? By force if he has to. He amassed a great army, made alliances with powerful allies, and stockpiled enough resources to wage a war ten times longer than the Titan War. But he gave that all up.”
Stunned, all she could ask was, “Why?”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
Persephone’s heart leapt up to her throat at the idea of seeing him again. “I can’t…he won’t want to see me.”
“You’re a fool if you think that,” he said. “Haven’t you both been miserable enough? At least talk to him so you can get some closure.”
Persephone’s logical, reasonable brain didn’t want to see him ever again. He deceived her, and she couldn’t trust him.
But her heart…it still yearned for him. That despite everything, she knew she had felt genuine love from him, and he for her. She wanted to believe him, that he had just made a mistake not telling her from the beginning. He did admit that he wasn’t honest with her from the beginning and never tried to make excuses for his behavior.
“Well?”
“I suppose…I suppose we could just talk.”
Apollo’s mouth spread into a wide smile. “Great. Why don’t you go now?”
“N-now?” She looked down at her dirty shirt and her sweats. “Should I change?”
“If you want. But I think he wouldn’t care if you showed up dressed in a sack.”
“Alright.” She supposed she should just get this over with.
Persephone materialized outside Hades’s office in the Underworld, the transition from one realm to another marked by a subtle shift in the air. The quiet hum of the Underworld surrounded her as she took a moment to compose herself. The looming presence of the palace seemed to embrace her in its eternal shadows.
With a steadying breath, she raised her hand to knock on the door, the sound echoing in the halls of the palace. The heavy door swung open, revealing the dimly lit interior of Hades’s office.
To her surprise, Hades was not present. The desk, adorned with intricate patterns and dark hues, bore no sign of recent activity. The room felt suspended in a moment of solitude as if time itself held its breath.
Persephone stepped into the office, her gaze roaming over the artifacts that adorned the shelves. She hesitated as she pondered the absence of the one who ruled this realm.
Memories surged within her like an unstoppable tide. She was enveloped in a cascade of moments—intimate whispers, stolen glances, and the warmth of shared laughter. The weight of her feelings, a profound love that transcended the realms mixed with sadness, anger, and hurt, washed over her.
Each corner of the room seemed to whisper fragments of their story, the echoes of their connection resonating in the very fabric of the Underworld. The chair she sat in held the imprint of their closeness, and the air held the lingering essence of Hades’s presence. The memories, both tender and passionate, wrapped around her like a comforting shroud.