Page 19 of Tempted By Hades

“Persephone? Are you alright?”

Slowly, she turned around, her expression neutral. “Me? I’m fine.”

Relief poured through him. “Oh good.”

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine.” She threw the towel on the counter behind her. “Absolutely fine.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t sound fine.”

“Ha!”

“Are you angry?”

“Ha!” Her eyes blazed and her mouth pursed as her hands turned into fists at her sides.

So, she was angry. “At me?”

Her silence told him the answer to that question was an affirmative. His gut tightened at the thought that he had offended her somehow. “Tell me what I did so that I might repair things between us. Was it because I left abruptly?”

Mumbling under her breath, she turned away from him, then began to arrange and rearrange the objects on the counter.

“You know, I’m very busy, and sometimes there are emergencies I must attend to.” In his mind, he cursed Polyglotnus. “Please, will you?—”

“Just go away, Hades. I’m busy, can’t you see?”

“Busy trying to break those pots?”

She harrumphed, then spun around to face him. “Just go, okay?”

Hades tried his best to ignore that stabbing pain in his chest that seemingly appeared from nowhere. “As you wish.” Without another word, he spun on his heel and walked out of the shop, ignoring the eyes that followed him out. As soon as no one was around, he transported himself a few blocks away, appearing within the dimly lit interiors of the unnamed bar and the mellow tunes of jazz hanging in the air.

The bartender looked up from polishing a glass and greeted Hades with a nod. “Back so soon, Lord Hades?”

He nodded in acknowledgment and made his way to the bar, finding solace in the familiarity of the clandestine establishment. The cyclops poured a deep amber liquid into a crystal glass and slid it toward him.

“Special occasion or just in need of a drink?” the cyclops inquired, his single eye reflecting genuine interest.

Hades took a sip, the rich flavor momentarily distracting him from the troubles that lingered above and below. “A bit of both, I suppose,” he replied cryptically.

As he settled into one of the plush booths adorned with velvet upholstery, Hades contemplated the events that had unfolded with Persephone. Why had she been so furious? She was a goddess herself. Didn’t she know about duties and such, that one could be called away at a moment’s notice? Besides, he would not back away from their agreement, not when she’d already paid his price.

Or perhaps, did she figure out his plan?

No, it couldn’t be.

If she did, she wouldn’t have just kicked him out. She would probably tell her mother, and he would have faced the wrath of two goddesses.

No, something else was wrong. But what?

As the soft glow cast a warm hue over the bar, Hades pondered the intricate dance of fate and free will.

“Well, look who’s here again.”

Hades groaned aloud and reluctantly turned toward the source of those words.

Apollo strolled up to him, his golden laurel leaves glinting in the low light. “Bro,” he said with a charismatic smile as he slid into the seat across from Hades.

“Go away.”

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