Page 37 of Tempted By Hades

“Consider this,” Hades proposed, his tone softer than usual. “Stay in the Underworld with me. A realm where you won’t be subject to the whims of Olympus or the earthly concerns of Demeter. But, to seal this choice, eat this pomegranate and let its essence bind you to my world.”

He held the fruit out, its deep red skin gleaming in the subdued light. The pomegranate seemed to pulse with an ethereal energy, a bridge between realms.

“You’re not considering this, are you Persephone?” Demeter asked. “Why would you want to be stuck in that ghastly place?”

“Stuck there?” Now that part, she didn’t realize. “You mean, I wouldn’t be able to come back to the Upperworld?”

“Of course you can,” Hades said. “But yes, you would be considered a part of the Underworld, and thus, you’ll be required to remain there for most of this year. Any days you spend away from the Underworld would be added to the time you must spend there.”

“Everything has a price, Persephone.” Demeter seethed at Hades. “You want something, don’t you? Are you doing this so you can get something from me? Or from her? What price will she have to pay in exchange?”

“She can choose to eat it or not,” he pointed out.

“But it’s a never-ending cycle,” Demeter snorted. “No wonder they have that saying, ‘Beware the sweetness of the twelve-seeded pomegranate.’”

“Twelve-seeded?” Persephone repeated.

“Representing a month of each calendar year, yes.” Hades explained. “You can only stay as long as you keep eating the seeds.”

Each month… “Wait, so if I eat only three seeds, I can stay for three months?

“Yes.”

Well, that sounded like enough time to be away from her mother.

“Persephone, you can’t be seriously contemplating this!” Demeter’s eyes turned crazed. “The Underworld is a bleak place, full of suffering and sorrow. You won’t survive a week, much less three months.”

Of course, Demeter had no idea Persephone had already been there twice now. But could she do it?

She found a sense of normalcy and joy surrounded by the tangible pleasures of mortal life. The connection to the Earth and its bounty was something she cherished, a reminder that even a goddess could take pleasure in the simple pleasures of the Upperworld.

But then she looked back at the fruit, its deep crimson skin almost glowing from within. More than that, she contemplated the hand that held the fruit—remembered the warmth of the fingers as they touched and caressed. Of Hades’s mouth as he kissed her.

Her hand reached out, fingers delicately grazing the smooth surface. A faint hum resonated through her fingertips as she touched the pomegranate. It seemed to respond to her touch, a silent invitation to explore its mysteries.

Persephone reached out and tapped the top of the pomegranate.

“No!” Demeter pleaded. “Please?—”

She blocked out her mother’s voice as the fruit gracefully unfurled, revealing a radiant glow that emanated from within. As it opened, a cascade of visions unfolded before her eyes, a glimpse into the future.

The visions danced within the lustrous glow, offering a mosaic of possibilities and paths yet to be traveled. Her pulse raced as the shadowy scenes shifted, depicting moments of joy, challenges, and unforeseen twists in the journey ahead. The pomegranate, a vessel of fate, seemed to hold the threads of destiny within its ethereal confines.

Her eyes were glued to the visions, contemplating each revelation. Her fingers traced the intricate patterns of light within the fruit. The energy from the pomegranate was like a soft hug for her senses, tempting her to explore the mysteries held within its ethereal depths. Each touch resonated with a subtle vibration, a connection to fate that unfolded before her eyes.

The scent of the pomegranate floated over to her, a subtle symphony of sweetness and allure. The fruit’s seductive essence teased her senses, creating an intoxicating force that pulled her in. She sighed and hesitated while the rich aroma, laced with the promise of the future, surrounded her.

She lifted the pomegranate to her lips and took in one seed. The first taste was a revelation—a burst of flavor that brought her to another world. Persephone stepped into the unknown, savoring the enchantment woven into the very essence of the fruit. The second one, was more subtle, but just as powerful as the first. The third somehow tasted sweeter, and the most tempting visions filled her head, encouraging her to take more.

And that’s when she stopped.

“Is that it?” she asked Hades. “It’s done?”

“Yes.”

She shut her eyes. “Then let’s go.”

The subtle shift in the air told her that they had once again transported, and Persephone steadied herself as her feet landed on the solid ground.

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