Page 60 of Tempted By Hades

“Who did this to you?”

Her eyes fluttered open briefly, her lips moving. “Two of them…there were…” She went limp in his arms.

The rage inside him threatened to boil over, but he managed to calm himself down enough so he could think clearly. If any soul, daemon, or other inhabitant of the Underworld had been near or around her in the last few minutes, he would be able to tell. So, Hades delved into the recent past using his divine abilities, seeking the culprits who had led her astray. The ethereal threads of magic guided him to the presence of Theseus and Pirithous, malevolent spirits who lingered in the shadows of the Underworld. The discovery fueled the flames of his rage, knowing that these entities had played a role in endangering her.

A dark aura enveloped him as he rose to his feet, manifesting his growing wrath. Hades summoned Theseus and Pirithous, vowing that their actions would not go unanswered in the realm he ruled with an iron grip.

They materialized as ghostly apparitions, their forms reminiscent of their mortal selves. Though ethereal, they retained humanoid features with a haunting, otherworldly darkness. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent gleam, and a chilling aura surrounded them. Despite their human-like appearance, an unsettling energy clung to them, a stark reminder of the malice that defined their spirits.

Hades’s voice reverberated through the dim passages, demanding answers from them. “Why have you led her here?” he thundered, eyes ablaze with divine fury.

Theseus smirked, an unsettling grin on his spectral face. “Ah, Lord Hades, the secrets of the Underworld are as labyrinthine as the mortal realm. We merely followed the threads fate wove.”

Pirithous chimed in with a sneer, “Isn’t it fascinating how destinies intertwine? We’re but players in the grand tapestry.”

Hades’s patience waned, and his words resonated with ominous power. “Enough riddles! Speak plainly or face the consequences.”

Theseus chuckled, a haunting sound in the darkness. “Consequences? We’ve danced with the Fates, Hades. Your threats are but echoes in the void.”

With a surge of divine wrath, Hades bellowed, “So be it!” The Underworld trembled as he cast them into the abyss. “Tartarus awaits, and I will address your deeds in due time.” The spirits vanished into the abyss, leaving Hades alone with his tumultuous thoughts.

Now that he had taken care of those bastards, his next priority was Persephone.

His only priority from now on.

Hades carried her, and they materialized in his chambers. With a wave of his hand, the room and the bed had been remade and restored. He gently laid her on top of the mattress, and the obsidian sheets yielded to her form. The soft whispers of shadows played on the chamber walls, casting a dance of shapes that seemed to offer solace and protection.

Persephone slowly stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she looked around the room. The soft glow of ethereal candles illuminated the room, casting a warm ambiance. Her gaze focused on him, and recognition dawned as she met his eyes.

“Hades?” she murmured, her voice a whisper, still groggy from the recent ordeal.

He offered a small, reassuring smile, “You’re safe now, Persephone.”

She attempted to sit up and winced.

“Don’t,” he said, but with a gentleness that surprised even himself. Hades gestured for her to lie back. He extended his hand, a soft aura radiating from his fingertips as he began to heal the wounds on her hands and legs. He released a soothing energy through her, willing the pain to gradually dissipate. She watched in awe as his powers worked their magic, mending the physical toll the malevolent spirits had taken on her.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes reflecting gratitude as she met his steady gaze.

He nodded and reached for a damp towel to gently wipe away any lingering traces of dirt. Persephone allowed herself to be tended to, accepting the silent gestures that spoke louder than words.

As he meticulously cleaned away the remnants of the ordeal, the subdued lighting in the chamber highlighted the contrast between the Underworld’s usual gloom and the tenderness unfolding within the confines of his private quarters. The air, while still carrying an air of solemnity, held an undercurrent of warmth that lingered between them.

Persephone’s gaze followed Hades’s movements, and their unspoken connection deepened in that quiet moment, transcending the bounds of the divine and revealing the vulnerability that even gods could not escape.

“What happened?” she said.

“What do you remember?”

Her nose wrinkled. “I was looking for Geri. Someone gave me a note from her and…” Her expression changed. “There was someone…they led me away and…then it got d-dark and…I fell.” She shook her head. “No, I got pushed.” Her eyes widened. “Did someone try to hurt me?”

He gritted his teeth. “Yes.”

“Who?”

“It doesn’t matter.” He had contemplated telling her what Pirithous and Theseus had said, but even he couldn’t make sense of it. “I have dealt with them, and all that matters is that you’re safe.”

“Dealt with them? How?”

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