Hades and Persephone (Part 2)

Gripping Hades’ cloak, the monstrous being stomps forward picking up speed, emerging from the shadows looming its large body over the both of us. My legs go numb, folding into my silky summer dress, falling onto the rough ground. My ocean blue eyes lock onto six feral bloodshot eyes. Eyes swirling with hatred and hunger, a hunger, I never knew could be so frightening. The monstrous beast grows, drool spills out of its three mouths lined with razor-sharp teeth. I open my mouth to let the scream rip out from the chasm of my lungs- but nothing escapes. 

“Cerberus SIT!” Hades bellows, not a moment after the words leave Hades’ mouth does the creature’s ass slams against the ground. The beast’s eyes and demeanor change instantly, bowing all three heads towards Hades’ approaching hand. Hades runs his hand through the fine black coat of hair.

“Aww did someone miss me, Cerberus?” 

Cerberus, Cerberus... where have I heard that name before. W-wait, three heads, six bloodshot eyes, black coat that blends into the shadows. Bones littering the ground causing a trail to anyone unfortunate to come face to face with Hades’... three-headed dog. A ferocious beast guarding the only exit out of this hell hole. Oh, I’m not getting out of here easily.

“What the hell are you doing on the ground?” Hades walks towards me, his cape fluttering behind him, making him look like Hercules. This causes Cerberus to glare directly into my soul. Note to self: don’t be alone with Cerberus. Stretching out his hand to help me stand back up. His green eyes seem to be glowing, his smile stretching across his face turning the feared boogie-man- into a handsome Greek god. 

“Were you scared?” I don’t realize my hand rising and settling onto his warm, soft palm. Pulling me close to his chest he whispers into my ear, even though the only person around is Cerberus. “Don’t worry Persephone, I promise you as long as you stand by my side, I won’t let any harm come to you.” 

His words don’t help my numb legs recover, and something tells me he knows. Sliding his arm to wrap around my waist, he lets his body support mine. Damn. This smug, charming god.

Shrugging away against his chest. Cerberus shifts in my peripheral vision, stumbling back, I regain what little composure I have left. Hades glances over his shoulder at the sound of his guards rushing over in perfect sync, something seems off with the way they stop just a few feet from us. Hades’ charming stature vanishes with every step he takes away from me. A frozen emptiness swells in the pit of my head, watching the back of his blonde curls bouncing. As if an invisible rope was tied around my waist pulling me to his side, I shift forward to follow beside him. Cerberus' six menacing eyes shoot invisible daggers rooting every nerve in my body in place. 

Crap this beastly dog needs a new distraction. Somehow I need to sneak past Hades, his guards, devilish soul-eating beings, and this mutt. Oh and not to mention, I need to find the exit, so far every little “landmark” looks alike. I need to try and find a map, or a way to get in contact with the surface world. It's a wishful thought but anything at this point would be a step in getting out of this dark abyss. I need to find a way to explore-

“-they couldn’t have gotten THAT FAR!” demanded Hades. “How would they KNOW she’s down here! That's-well that puts a damper on things, never mind, just send more guards patrolling the grounds.” Hades' words cut through my scurrying thoughts. Combining his fingers through his untamed curls he lets out a deep-throated growl. Hades turns around abruptly, clapping his hands in front of his face as he speaks walking over to me. “Okay! Looks like this little tour will have to be cut short. Such a pity I know, but I promise to show you more later.” Hades says cupping my hands before lifting my right hand, brushing a light kiss against my knuckles. His green eyes lock onto mine and for a second everything around us disappears. I forget where we are, I forget someone wants me dead, most importantly I forget the man behind these hypnotizing emerald green eyes. 

“My guards will be showing you to your chambers, and once I settle this little… matter we can eat and continue the tour.”

That chastise grin settles once again on his features causing my stomach to buzz alive, moving my hands back to my sides he winks. Spinning on his heels he walks away from me again. 

No.

Before I know it my body feels hot, too hot, shaking awake I leap forward reaching my fingers out to grip onto his fluttering black clock. It seems to beckon me to safety. Wrapping my fingers tightly around the fabric a low growl emits somewhere on my left, ignoring it, ignoring everything. I focus on the blackness enveloping me. Wrapping me in comfort like a child, I wrap my arms tightly around the source. Like a mother bird leaving behind its baby, I couldn’t pull myself to part with Hades. Wicked thoughts clouded my mind causing my arms to squeeze tighter. Even if the threat is him, which something in my heart tells me it's not, I feel safer if I knew where he was at all times.  

“I promise I will be back in a blink of an eye, this won’t take long, I just need to create a stronger defense. Don’t worry, I told you I won’t let any harm come to you and I meant it. Persephone, I-I care for you. You believe me, don’t you? I know of the rumors, I’ve probably started a few out of boredom but I swear to you I’m not such a beastly god.” 

W-what just came over me? I shouldn’t be hugging him, my captor! I should be quietly rejoicing in the fact I can search for a way out! Jez, just a few sly moves from this greek god and I’m acting like Aphrodites.

His warm large palms encase my petite hands, for a moment I feel I understand more about the god in front of me with a single touch than all the stories/rumors combined. I pull my arms back to my chest quickly, too quickly, my elbows come into contact with the god’s rib cage. 

“Umph, if you wanted a hug all you had to do was ask. I know I’m overly handsome with just a sprinkle of malice. Oh yes, I’m quite popular with the nymphs.” Hades brags while walking backward toward the path the guards had left. “I’m happy to see you’re warming up to me, my goddess. I won’t be long, for now, I leave you in the care of Cerburas and my loyal subject Actaeon.” Blowing a kiss on that smug grinning face he twirls around almost skipping off into the distance like a child. Popular with the nymphs. Ha please, there’s no one the nymphs like but themselves and Zeus. 

“Persephone, this way to your chambers.” I jump out of my skin, at the rough voice of Actaeon, standing just two feet behind me. Walking along the dark corridors with only a lit torch to guide us. I can’t help but notice the pieces of flesh dangling from his cheekbones. Wh-where did he come from? Eerie yellow, red, and white eyes peek out from the shadows.

I follow close behind him almost tripping on his heels while Cerburas’ thundering paws pound the ground close behind me, it’s three heads loom over me making any plans of escape futile.

Outcasts

~With her family dead, the sheriff's men after her, and a hefty bounty on her head -hope seems like a fantasy.~

The forest leaves crunch under my feet, I keep hearing his voice echoing in my ear, “just keep running, don’t stop till your safe, whatever you do, don’t ever stop running!” The last words my father ever said to me before they took him and my family away.

I don’t dare look behind my shoulder, I know they're right behind me. I can hear the dogs pounding paws against the forest floor and feel their drool at the nape of my neck. “Stop! Stop, in the name of King Richard surrender!” Tripping over crocked roots, slamming face-first into the base of an oak tree. Pushing up against the bark coughing, I struggle to catch my breath -a howl from the hounds propels my legs to move again. Reluctantly, my blistered feet protest as I push to move faster, a numbness begins to spread like fire through my body. Tears thread on my bottom lashes threatening to leave a path behind. Adrenaline courses through my body driving me forward.

Already regretting it, I glance back seeing the head of a big black beast of a dog. I swing my head just in the nick of time before running right into another tree. Stumbling over small rocks and roots scanning the forest ahead searching for a miracle -I just need a moment to breathe. A few branches above me snap, before I can see what large bird or arrows are souring toward me, the ground rushes to greet my beat red face. I stubble rolling a few feet down the steep incline. With the wind knocked out I lay motionless, the forest spins round and round, the fall amber leaves bleed together as I shut my eyes. Hunger claws at my stomach while my aching muscles scream out in pain to rest atop the moist loose, dirt.

I stumble to push myself up, my knees finally buckle. I’m forced to face the music; I can’t run anymore. I hear a soft thump echo from the ground, inches beside me, my mind races to figure out what animal could be barring its hungry curious eyes at my tiny fragile, figure. A brush of leaves alerts me to the pair of hands lifting me up onto what feels like a slate of flesh. Sweaty rough palms tug my arms against my body and the warm nap of a neck tickles against my cheek while strands of hair, brush against my radiating, beat red forehead. I grasp at any fleeting strength, to try prying my eyelids open, just long enough to focus on if I’m being saved. But it’s no use, my muscles start tingling as my limbs go numb.

A fire crackles and hisses, roasting meat penetrates my nostrils, a wool blanket itches against my bare arms. My senses slowly begin to creep upon me, cracking one eye open I can clearly make out, the insides of a cave. Holding my head in the palms of my hands, I’m alerted to a slight shuffle just a few feet to my right. I’m not alone.

“What’s your name?” A boy says running a sharp pocketknife across the end of a stick, I can see the point getting sharper with each cut. A dry gulp crawls towards my grumbling stomach. Quickly my eyes scan around for anything that could be used as a weapon. What did father always say, “if you don't have a weapon look around for any object that can take your opponent down. Don’t underestimate anyone, hunger can be enough to kill.” I slowly pat down the ground around me, my fingers trailing through the dirt like snakes as I stare daggers at the boy. He gazes back at me, and for a few painfully awkward moments were locked in a stare-down. To create a more uncomfortable moment of silence he begins to study my petite figure up and down. My fingers stop dead in their tracks.

“I won’t hurt you I promise, just tell me what your name is.” 

“Why.” 

I snap back not believing him for a second. Why should I, everyone has motives, and the last person I trust, let me down. Another moment of silence as his eyes continue to trail up and down before he lets out a chuckle. “Well, I want to know who I just rescued. I risked my life to carry you in here if the sheriff and his men were to find out I could be sharing the same fate. What if you’re a thief or worse, a murder!” Letting out a loud sigh I try to keep an authoritative stance, but with every passing second, I can feel my energy dwindling again. “I’m not a thief or a murder, my father and I were falsely accused by some neighbors.” Tears well up along my bottom lashes, fighting to hold the tears back I glance away.

“Huh, interesting. Well, last time I checked the sheriff doesn’t send that many men for a false accusation. Well, whatever keeps your little dirty secret, the less I know the better. Oh, and your welcome for saving your life.” I squint my eyes at him, I suddenly have no desire to be in his company anymore. The noose looks better than being stuck in this cave-dwelling, with his pompous ass. I peel my eyes away from his plastered chastise, grin. Looking around me I mumble a “thank you” under my breath. I can hear his light chuckle as my eyes drift back over to him.

He sits with his right shoulder pointing in my direction. He looks to be the same age as me, about 10 or 11? “My name's Charlie, now your turn.” He says smiling, I can’t help but scrunch my face in disgust.

His smile only grows, “I like you, you're different from other girls.” He blurts out. I perk up hugging my knees closer to my chest and forcing a fake smile in return, before rolling my eyes again. He just laughs it off, it seems every rude gesture I throw at him he eats it up. This only fuels me to poke at him more.

To be continued...