Page 95 of His in the Dark

Then she is gone. Away in Hekate’s grasp. Hekate will return on Deipnon. I will have my words with her then.

They are both gone, and it does not matter that Cerberus is here, nor the two inhabitants of the Underworld who have followed me all day in hopes of achieving this very thing.

I leave them both behind. I cannot find it within myself to speak to them. Not with this mortal blow to my chest.

It is the agony I have lived with all my life, only stronger. It is twice as bitter having known the sweetness of Persephone’s lips. I do not know how to survive the rending ache of needing to touch her and having her taken from me. My mind is unsteady and so is my footing as my kingdom falls to pieces.

Cerberus stays at my side as I move through my home without seeing any of the halls or rooms that pass me by. Nothing matters. Nothing matters but Persephone, and she is not here. The screams are muted white noise and all I can hear is the ghost of her whispering my name.

I was made to be unworthy. I wasmadeto have nothing of my own.

Somehow, I have made it to the door of my rooms. I push it open and go inside.

Moving has made no difference. Myroomsmake no difference. I do not truly own them. I will never truly own anything. I will have nothing, just as I have always had nothing, yet I will remain responsible for everything.

That was my reality until Persephone came to me. Without her, it would have been my reality forever. It would have been the same as living out my existence in the Titan’s stomach. Bleak and lonely and without joy.

I cling to the pillow to inhale her scent as the cries summon me. Praying for mercy. Death will come to all and I would feel relief.

I am at the windows before I can stop myself. I draw back my fists and hit them as hard as I can. Pain echoes through the bones in my hands.

I hit the windows again, screaming in anger. It is a satisfying sound. The walls around the windows rattle with the force of my blows.

But the windows do not break. For this was made a prison for her and it is where I rightly belong.

The Underworld will not let me out no matter how much I want to follow Persephone. I cannot leave no matter how hot my anger burns.

In my memory, I return to the mirror. Olympus is blinding. It is endless and white behind Zeus. Too bright, and purposely so. I go back to the night she was taken. Back to what Zeus said. Back to when I knew this was the only way …

3 months prior and the night Persephone casts the spell

“I will her to turn mortal,”Zeus says. I must bite my tongue to keep from tearing him apart. Turnmortal? My queen? How can he think so little of her and fear her at the same time? “I have heard the prophecy that says my offspring will be stronger than I. This is a win for both of us. I shall turn her mortal, it has already begun and shortly there will be no power left in her. She will not overpower me and she will go to you. You will make her a fine partner and King. I only need a little while longer.”

Zeus should have known there was no way to misdirect fate in this manner. If he was so concerned about his children eclipsing his power, he should never have had children at all.

A foolish thought. No one has ever been able to tell Zeus anything. He simply assumes he will bend every prophecy to his preferences without facing a single consequence.

That is not how any realm works. There is always a consequence.

I stand firm in the mirror, my jaw tight but my expression unmoving. I do not wish her a mortal. I want her. I crave her. I’ve watched her for months. She is to be a queen at my side. Zeuswishes her away and I to take her. Why harm my wife? I cannot allow it.

“I want to have Persephone forever,” I tell him.

“Forever you shall. She will be mortal. She shall perish as they do and will be sent to your realm. You need only wait a little while longer, no?”

“I don’t want her as a mortal soul in the Underworld. I want her as the Goddess she is.”

He scoffs.

Anger bristles through me. How dare he question my desire. How dare he attempt to change the perfection Persephone is.

“For what purpose?” Zeus asks with shock and humor even.

For what?What are goddesses for, but to rule? What is a goddess like Persephonefor,but to have everything her heart desires, and every possible power at her fingertips? What ismyPersephone for, if not to be worshipped as the queen she is?

“To rule beside me,” I say, barely able to keep my voice in check. Zeus already knows that I will not do his bidding without appropriate payment. Without a deal that benefitsme. But I cannot let him think he can use Persephone to control me. “She is meant for me, and she is meant to rule.”

“Very well,” says Zeus, as if it does not matter what becomes of Persephone. “She shall be a nymph very soon as her magic wanes, you won’t have to wait very long at all.” As if he is satisfied to have her out of sight and out of mind. Safely in the Underworld, where he will not have to look at her and wonder if her powers are growing stronger. “We have a deal.”

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