Page 46 of Tempted By Hades

Hades shot her a warning look. “Am I not Lord of the Underworld? Should I not be able to decide who may and who may not be privy to our business.”

That seemingly shut up the Naiad.

“Aww, what’s wrong, Minthe?” Hermes said in a teasing tone. “Can’t stand it that you’re not the only beautiful woman in the room?”

Irritation poked at Hades at the compliment directed at Persephone from the other god.

“Enough distractions. Let’s get back on track,” Minthe bit out. “What’s next on our agenda?”

Hades stood up, motioned for Persephone to take a seat, then scanned the list he picked up from his desk, “I don’t recall the details of Menippe and Metioche’s agreement. What happened with them?”

Minthe spoke up. “We made a deal with them, and we need to revisit the terms. They were supposed to provide services in exchange for certain privileges in the Underworld. The specifics are in the contract.”

“Alright, let me find their record. We’ll review the agreement and ensure everything is in order. No room for oversight.” With a wave of his hand, an orb materialized in the center of his desk, radiating an otherworldly glow. Its surface seemed to be crafted from a mysterious, semi-translucent material, shimmering with shades of deep indigo and ethereal silver. Swirling patterns of energy danced within the sphere, creating a display that captivated onlookers.

As Hades focused his divine energy, the orb began to pulse with an otherworldly light,its surface revealing the images and records of Menippe and Metioche within its magical confines. The flickering illumination cast an ambient glow across the room, casting shadows on the walls of the office.

The orb hovered mid-air, and its surface pulsed with a faint luminescence, a reflection of the agreements and contracts etched within its mystical depths.

Persephone’s eyes widened with fascination. “What is this? It’s like a cosmic record book.”

Hades leaned against his desk, explaining, “It’s an agreement orb. It holds records of the pacts and deals made by the gods. Anything sealed with divine energy leaves an imprint here.”

She reached out tentatively, her fingers barely grazing the surface of the orb. It responded to her touch, flickering with a momentary display of shifting images and symbols. Persephone gasped, captivated by the visual representation of the agreements embedded within.

Hades nodded, his gaze fixed on the swirling patterns. “Each thread of light represents a different pact—the terms, the participants, and the divine energy infused within. It’s a meticulous system that ensures the integrity of agreements.”

Persephone asked, “Can you find any agreement in this, or is it like searching for a needle in a cosmic haystack?”

A wry smile played on his lips. “It requires a specific query. Let’s try Menippe and Metioche.” He focused on the orb, and the patterns began to shift, coalescing into a concentrated stream of light that wove itself into a coherent image.

The orb emitted a low hum, resonating with the energy of the past. Hades and Persephone watched as the images solidified, revealing snippets of Menippe and Metioche’s story—a tale entwined with choices made and divine agreements forged in the Upperworld.

Hades, studying the scenes unfolding, said, “The orb helps us maintain order. It’s a testament to the binding nature of divine contracts, a cosmic ledger that holds the balance of promises and consequences.”

Persephone, still captivated, murmured, “It’s both beautiful and ominous, like a celestial dance of fate.”

Hades agreed, “Indeed. The Underworld thrives on balance, and this orb ensures that balance is maintained, even in the intricacies of divine agreements.”

Minthe cast an irritated glance at Persephone as the images continued to play out in the orb. The nymph’s impatience was palpable, and she muttered under her breath, “Mortals and their fascination with every sparkly thing.”

Sensing the tension, Hermes couldn’t resist adding fuel to the fire. “You know, Minthe, it’s not every day we have such a distinguished guest in the Underworld. Maybe you could learn a thing or two about appreciating the finer aspects of divine existence.”

Minthe shot him a withering look. “Oh, spare me, Hermes. I’ve seen enough divine ‘guests’ to last me an eternity. Not all of us are starry-eyed at the sight of the unknown.”

Persephone, catching wind of the tension, tried to diffuse it with a smile. “I find the orb fascinating. It’s like a celestial history book.”

Hermes, grinning, replied, “See, Minthe, even the lady of spring appreciates a good celestial history lesson.”

Minthe rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “If you two are done making goo-goo eyes at each other, can we return to the task at hand? I’m not getting any younger.”

Hades, sensing the need to redirect their focus, nodded. “Of course. Let’s see what the orb reveals about Menippe and Metioche’s agreement.” The images within the orb continued to unfold, casting an otherworldly glow on the office, where divine tension and mortal annoyance mingled in the air.

They discussed the detailed regarding theagreements, as well as the next steps to take. Once they were done, Hades waved his hand over the orb and returned it to where it was stored. “Now, what’s next?”

The trio continued their work for the next three hours, touching on the various matters regarding the Underworld and other related business. Their to-do list was still not done, but at some point, Hermes had seemingly grown weary. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. How about lunch?” he glanced meaningfully at Persephone.

Hades gritted his teeth, tamping down the urge to banish the messenger from his realm. He reminded himself that he needed Hermes—and would still need him in the future once he booted that jackal Zeus from his throne. “Good idea. You two have a good break now.”

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