Page 48 of Tempted By Hades

The garden, a hidden sanctuary within the realm of shadows, awaited Persephone’s touch. Hades gestured toward the untouched expanse, a canvas for her creativity, where the boundaries between the divine and the natural blurred. He watched as her eyes sparkled with anticipation, and he imagined the lush greenery and vibrant flowers growing under her care.

She began to weave dreams of verdant beauty out loud. “I think I’d like roses along this pathway,” she mused, gesturing to an imaginary trail. “And over there, maybe a bed of daisies. Oh, and we can’t forget a corner for sunflowers. Their golden faces always brighten the day.”

Hades, usually accustomed to the somber tones of the Underworld, found himself captivated by Persephone’s animated vision. She spoke of flowers with names he’d rarely heard in the Underworld, and the air seemed to echo with the vibrancy of her imagination.

Her voice became a melody as her thoughts wandered, describing the various blooms that would soon grace the courtyard. It was as if the promise of a garden had unlocked a hidden wellspring of joy within her, and Hades couldn’t help but be drawn into her enthusiasm.

With each idea she shared, the courtyard transformed in their minds from a quiet space to a vibrant haven, an oasis of life amid the shadows. They continued to discuss the potential of the garden, and Hades found himself momentarily forgetting the weight of his responsibilities, immersed in the shared anticipation of something new and beautiful.

A thoughtful expression graced her features. “What do you think,” she asked, “if we plant the asphodel right in the center? I know you only wanted them in The Meadows, but a couple here might be nice. Surrounded by benches, it could be a serene spot for reflection and contemplation. A symbolic heart of the garden where souls can find solace and perhaps a touch of familiarity. Maybe even a few of the plants from the Elysian fields, and maybe…a small pond with some water from the Styx? It kind of ties the whole theme together.”

Hades didn’t know why, but he rather liked the idea. Especially having the asphodel at the center of it all. Something about having the most ordinary flower from his most ordinary realm be the crowning glory appealed to him. “It’s your garden,” he said. “You may do as you like.”

She let out a happy squeal, then clapped her hands together. “I can’t wait! In fact, I think I shall start working on it right now.”

Seeing the pure joy radiate from her sent a warm feeling through him. “I’m glad. If you don’t mind, I will leave you now and get on with my day.”

“Of course, you’re very busy.”

“And you will be as well.”

“Thank you for this, Hades…and I promise, I won’t disappoint you.”

Like she ever could. “I’ll hold you to that. Have a good day, Persephone. I shall see you later.”

With a quick nod of his head, he transported himself back to his empty office, which felt even more bare without Persephone around. Circling his desk, he sat back down in his chair. The garden was a good idea, it would distract Persephone, too, and maybe help expend some of her restless energy.

He glanced outside, stifling the urge to stand up and walk over to the window, because there was one other feature of the courtyard he hadn’t told her—right above it was the window in his office, which meant all he had to do was look down and he could see into it.

Was he mad? Maybe he was, subjecting himself to such torture. It had barely been a day since he told himself to stay away from her that he broke his vow. But he couldn’t help it. All she had to do was turn those big brown eyes on him, and he would do anything for her.

He buried his face in his hands and groaned.

Chapter 9

Persephone

As soon as Hades left, Persephone’s excitement deflated slightly. She’d been so disappointed that he’d been called away last night before she could even try her seduction moves on him. She had dressed so carefully and deliberately, conjuring up a dress that she knew would highlight her best assets. When he didn’t seem to take any of her hints during dinner, she brought it up a notch by ordering a drink with a double-entendre—or perhaps it had her frustration showing—but still, he didn’t seem to have an inkling that she wanted to reignite and restart what had happened earlier that day in his office. Then he left so abruptly, and hadn’t shown up to breakfast this morning to keep his promise to show her the garden.

Had she read him wrong? Frustrated, she had sought him out in his office, thinking he was hiding from her—and to her surprise, he truly had been busy with work. It made her feel silly, though, seeing that Naiad had sent a stab of jealousy through her chest. Minthe was so terribly lovely, with her long dark hair and her curvy body wrapped up in sophisticated clothes and pointy high heels. Persephone had felt like a country bumpkin next to her. Had she not been curious about the work they had been doing, she would have left immediately. She was glad she stayed, though, as she truly was fascinated by how Hades ran his realm. There truly was more to death than dying.

Once their work was done, however, Persephone’s displeasure rose up again as she remembered the broken promise. Still, she had been touched and mollified by his apology and his gift—first the necklace and then this amazing garden.

Speaking of which…

She had work to do.

Pushing thoughts of Hades and his gorgeous Naiad associate aside, she began to plan. She walked to the center of the courtyard, a canvas of potential spread out before her. The air in the Underworld was different—subdued yet pregnant with possibility. She pictured the garden she could create, a burst of life in the realm of shadows.

The vision of colorful flowers, lush greenery, and the sweet scent of blossoms danced in her imagination. The thought of tending to a garden, something she had enjoyed in her time in the Upperworld, brought a sense of familiarity and purpose to her new life.

She began by surveying the courtyard, gauging the energy of the space, and visualizing the arrangement of plants. Drawing upon her divine abilities, she conjured seeds of exotic flowers and plants, each carrying life’s essence. As she sowed the seeds, the barren ground gradually transformed into a canvas awaiting the brushstrokes of her creativity.

In one corner, she imagined a bed of forget-me-nots, their delicate blue petals standing out against the muted backdrop. These would be a reminder, a floral mosaic of memories for souls passing through.

Nearby, she pictured narcissus, their golden heads nodding in agreement with the fleeting moments of joy that could be found in the Underworld. The symbolism wasn’t lost on her—a promise of hope even in the darkest of places.

She mentally arranged each flower, and anticipation stirred within her. The garden would be her haven, a testament to life’s resilience even in the land of the departed. And it could bring a touch of the Upperworld’s vibrancy to the subdued corners of the Underworld.

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