Hope Springs Eternal [12/19]

[omega_tau_pi_verse]

Hope Springs Eternal
Chapter 12: The Paradise Lost & Found Dept.

In which Hades and his first wife (still deceased) have a long discussion about life and love, and Hades and Persephone do a little more horizontal zorba. [contains singing]

NOTE: NSFW artwork in this chapter

 

Προμελετη Δευτερησκεψη

Leuke looked exactly as Hades had last seen her, but see-through now, a ghost. Her hair bright green as leaves with sunlight shining through... skin like soft marble, white as the bark of her tree... eyes rich pools of the deepest warmest brown ever created... and dressed in the incredibly skimpy dove-gray chitoniskos and strophion she'd loved to wear, when she wore anything at all.

She looked up at his arrival, tilted her head and smiled a familiar huge grin. Especially since he was so shocked and dumbfounded that he was, for once, totally speechless.

In her always cheery voice, she declared, "Hey, ya big lug! I wondered when you'd show up here again! Seems like you spent a lot of time at this spot, whenever you had a problem coping with life. And from what I've been viewing," she said, waving a hand toward the blue water of the pool, "of the last seven hundred years – wow, has it really been that long?– you've been a very busy boy indeed! Is this really the Hades I once knew?"

His voice stumbled up his throat and tripped over his tongue. "Leu-... Leu-..."

The ghostly dryad continued while she had a captive audience. She strolled toward him with her usual bouncy step, ponytail bobbing adorably, and eyed him from head to foot critically, grinning widely all the time. "Man, oh man, have you ever aged, baby! I can't believe it, you've actually lost some of your flame!" she giggled teasingly. He had quite a headful long ago. Reaching up to his face, her semi-solid fingers pinched his cheeks together. "And just look at those frown lines! So serious!" Then her eyes dropped appreciatively to his bare chest and arms, which she couldn't help running her hands over. "Hmm. Rest of you looks pretty much the same... Yum-my!"

His voice picked itself up and tried again. Unsuccessfully. "But how-... how-?"

"How did I get a soul?" she supplied, and he nodded. She could usually tell what he was thinking, one of her many gifts, and she smiled kindly at his bewilderment. "Interesting story behind that. But first, you'd better come sit down, hon. Relax." She took his hands and led him to the pool rim and pushed him down until he sat. Then she plopped into his lap, just as they'd done countless times during her life.

It was such a natural response he didn't even question it. But his mind was reeling. She'd been gone for so long and now... now she was back? What did it mean? What should he do? For now, he did nothing but let her talk.

"Okay, here's how it works," she began. "Human souls are, in actuality, a tiny spark of divine fire itself, thanks to the gods who created them. Meaning that humans are related, in a way, to the gods themselves, having a little fragment of immortality inside them. That knowledge is the actual fire Prometheus took to mortals, so no wonder the gods got all pissed off at him! Betcha didn't know that, didja?"

He furrowed his brow as the information grabbed his true attention. "No... I guess I didn't. I was kind of left out of the decision to make humans in the first place, remember. But how did you...?"

"It's amazing what you learn when you've been dead for a few centuries." She tilted her chin upward, smiling mysteriously. "No seriously, I learned it all not long before I died. From Hestia. Mortals have pretty much forgotten, or been made to forget, the facts. But think about it... If mere fire was all that had been stolen, Hestia, of all gods, should have been the most upset, right? But she not only took it in stride, she went on to counsel humans personally in the use of. After all they kinda need the stuff to survive. No, it was the big secret of human creation that the gods didn't want anyone to know about. At the expense of keeping you in the dark, as well. Sorry, babe. Anyway, Hestia decided it was time to pass along the information so she told me since I was the one closest to you. Naturally that was just hours before I died, go figure, so I never got the chance to tell you. But now, I can."

She continued in a lighter tone, "So, that's enough about that. On with the story of my amazing resurrection! Nymphs and satyrs, as you know, are spirits of nature itself. We come from a mystical nether-realm and are called into being by a tree, or a spring, or a meadow, or whatever. We come from earth like other nymphs come from water. Sylphs and cherubs come from air and demons from fire. We're all attuned to the place we originate from. Like demons, who have a master to call them into being, the tree or ocean is a nymph's master. And whenever – if ever – that master dies, we pretty much cease to be. When humans die however, their immortal souls travel down to the Underworld because they are attuned to their masters, the gods. And particularly," she emphasized, touching his chest with her forefinger, "to the God of Souls... You!"

Then Leuke’s voice grew more serious. "Hades, since you were given control of the Underworld and the power of death, the other gods had planned this. They gave you lordship over these souls, thereby giving you something they made from themselves. It was an honor." When his eyes widened in realization, she went on, "The other gods only made so many souls in the first place, and any new souls were created from sparks of the ones that already exist through having children. Those original souls belong to those gods, though they were given over to your care after death. Now, you are one of only a select few gods that can still create a soul, if you wish to. And remember this... even though all these older souls didn't worship you in life... you are their god now, in death."

With a soft smile, she said, "Love, you never knew how amazingly important your job is. And I'm glad to see that you're starting to understand, starting to make changes around here. Mortals hate and fear their deaths. But it's just a natural thing, they shouldn't be afraid. You should be here to help them adjust to death, give them an easier time in the Afterlife. They depend on you."

"I... never knew... never thought of it that way," he replied in a low voice. "I've never really liked humans, because of... well, silly reasons. I never thought about making my own because I didn't want more of them around. But I'm finding out they're not all bad. Some of them are actually okay."

"Yes, they are. And I'm sure they’ll be willing to help you out in this task. Things will work out, you'll see!" Then she snuggled closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Hey, baby... Miss me?"

"More than I can say." He hugged her back, wishing she was more substantial. His powers were so that the dead souls in his realm were tangible, though a bit foggy. He could grasp a soul easily and make it feel whatever he liked, be it pain or pleasure. And now it seemed that he could even create a new soul, by himself. But he couldn't make them into flesh and blood again after death. For Leuke, he wished it were possible. "My dear Leuke," he sighed into her whispery hair, "if you've been here all along, why didn't you ever come out and speak to me before?"

"Death has been, for me, like perpetual Winter, so I was just kind of snoozing away the centuries inside my tree. I guess. You know how sluggish that always made me."

He recalled how the cold season had put her into near-hibernation. Autumn had made her behavior mature, more sedate. Summer had been a time to frolic and play, full of energy. And in Springtime...

"The presence of someone new in the Underworld woke me up," Leuke grinned meaningfully, "Eternal Springtime herself, it seems."
Hades' eyes widened again. Persephone had more powers than they'd thought, and long before she'd accessed the Elysian Fields' power. She truly was destined.

"And I think you remember," the nymph continued, wriggling on his lap suggestively, "what Springtime means to me..."

"Yeah. It means you get incredibly horny and unstoppably talkative." Placing a fingertip against her feather-light lips, he grinned. "Sometimes, I wish Hermes hadn't gifted you with speech."

"Ha! You always said that!" Loving the usual old banter, she giggled, rubbing her bottom into his lap more persistently. "Of course, you always did find something fun to stick in my mouth to shut me up..."

"Yes, I remember clearly," he smiled, allowing her to continue, allowing the memories to return. Recalling all that her limber, flexible, oh-so malleable body was capable of doing, his body reacted spontaneously to the thoughts.

"Oooh, I see you do remember," she purred approvingly. "Mmm... hard as Hades, as always..."

He laughed and pushed her groping paws away from the most sensitive areas. "Enough already, you silly nympho."

"Aw, you love it! But tragically, there's little more I can do in this ghostly form," she sighed, mock-regretfully. "No matter. You're taken anyway."

He hesitated, face falling. "Taken... I'm not sure that's quite the word for what it is..."

"No?" she inquired innocently, seeing clearly the change in his eyes. "The way you're half-dressed and mussed-up, the way your body's all limp and loosened... I'd say you were taken every bit as well as you took."

Heades sighed heavily and actually removed her from his lap, setting her beside him. He hunched forward, hands clenched and jaw tight. "I shouldn't have done it. It was... too sudden, too quick..."

Leuke pursed her lips, knowing she was close to getting him to break through a barrier. "Hmm, I remember our first time was pretty quick too. But of course, you were a virgin..."

"...So was she..."

Brows arching, she grinned broadly and elbowed him. "Oooohh! Someone's been a naughty boy!"

"Don't remind me," he grumbled, hiding his eyes. She wasn't helping his guilt trip. In fact, she was giving it a map to the better restaurants and directing it to the gift shop for a postcard to mail home.

"Okaaay, I can see you're upset for some reason," the nymph considered. "She wasn't a declared official Virgin Goddess, was she? She didn't already have that magic-impenetrable-chastity-belt-thingie like Athena or Artemis, did she?" The idea always made her snicker. Those VG's were very serious about their inviolability, and had been known to kill to protect it.

"No, and I don't think she was planning on it.” He ran a hand through his somehow frazzled flames, then muttered, "Though I'm sure her mother would've loved the idea."

"All right, then, no sweat! You're so damn sexy I never understood why you didn't have girls lined up around the block, begging you for it day and night. If they'd known what a hot body you hid away underneath those baggy old clothes, they might've. I know I sure loved it!" She giggled and licked the side of his brooding face. "And I seriously doubt you had to drag this one kicking and screaming off to bed, saying, 'Oh nooo, Hades, pleeease! Anything but thaaat...!'" She put on a pseudo-tragic expression, hand to forehead, biting her lip, then batted her eyes at him coquettishly, inviting him to join the joke.

But he didn't respond with a laugh. In fact he sighed more deeply. Leuke frowned. He was being far more difficult than she'd expected. Clearly, something more serious was happening inside him. She decided to try a different tack.

"Ya know, I gotta say... from what I saw of her thoughts and yours in the pool... you both had the major hots for each other right from the start. And more..."

This information raised his head. "You can see her memories, too?"

"Yup. When you two connected through the water her thoughts merged with yours, became part of them. And since I always did read you like an open scroll, it's a piece of cake for me to access your memories."

"Greeeaat, I never could hide a damned thing from you. This is even worse." But he still managed to grin a tiny bit.

"Hey, babe," she smiled, patting his arm fondly, "I kept ya honest."

"That you did." He laughed with soft irony. He knew she'd seen already, through the pool, all the terrible deeds he'd committed after her death. The viciousness he had unleashed from that dark part of himself held in check the five hundred years she had been with him. What he'd inherited from his father had come rushing forth with a vengeance. And now he regretted almost everything. "Unfortunately, I've lost some of that honesty along the way..."

"Especially with yourself." She inhaled and said the one thing he didn't want to think. About Persephone. "You love her."

The iron chains on his heart clanked loudly, trying to fall off as he reached deep inside and attempted to pull them tighter. He was failing and he knew it. Persephone was picking the lock that held them bound. Sounding older than ancient, sadder than misery incarnate, he said, "But I shouldn't..."

Leuke frowned. He'd never shut himself off from his emotions this completely. Sure, she'd had to force them free sometimes but he'd always faced them in the long run. And he had been better off for it. She tried again. "You know, she loves you too."

This made the chains squeal in protest, straining against his stubborn grip, trying desperately to slide off his heart and be gone forever. But he couldn't do it. He wouldn't do it. Not even if it were all true. "She said that... in the heat of the moment."

"Oh, I'm sure it was hot. I'm sure you both swooned with overheated ecstasy," Leuke said sarcastically, drawing his attention back. “Look, I can see you both love each other insanely. So why the hell are you down here, instead of with her?"

"Because..." His voice was more doomed than any soul in Tartarus had ever been. "It hurts too much. I don't want to feel this way. I never wanted to love anyone again..." But then he sighed. And his voice became a song, bewildered and frightened, wishing it never had to feel anything...

It's a hopeless case
I'm too far gone
it's useless to even pretend
I've fallen and
I can't get up
I may never walk again
How did this happen
when did it start
what the hell am I going to do
How could I ever
find space in my heart
for anyone... after losing you

So that was the problem. As if Leuke hadn't guessed. She sang too, putting in her two drachmas worth.

Why do you fight
when you want to give in?
In this battle with your heart
to lose is to win

When your personal demons
have your back to the wall
trust your heart to defend you
Love will always stand tall
It will tame the dragons
hold the beast in thrall
You should know by now
how well love conquers all

Seeing his continued hesitance, she bantered with him as they'd done numerous times when she'd lived. Asking questions and demanding quick responses, giving him no time to think but only to say the first thing that came to mind.

Do you love her? ...I do
Do you admire her? She's awesome
Do you respect her? Absolutely
Do you desire her? Whoa man...
Is she special? Incredible
Is she the right one? I think so
Does she love you? ...Yes...
What's your malfunction? I DON'T KNOW!

At his frustrated shout, he leaned forward where he sat, gripping his head in both hands. His shoulders heaved with broken sighs.

Leuke fell momentarily silent, seeing the obvious confusion and pain etched in every line of his body. Compassion was always her first tactic with him, but he was fighting this a little too hard. "Okay, Hades, enough's enough. What's really eating you over this? What's so damned wrong with loving this girl?"

"For starters," he grumbled, lifting his head and glaring into empty space, "I'm fifty and she's fifteen. She's just a child..."

At this announcement, Leuke blinked, her face blank at first. Then she laughed aloud. "Are you completely bonkers? You have spent way too long around humans. Their idea of morality is rubbing off on you! You are both gods, for gods' sake! It shouldn't matter! Immortals don't age like humans, and even humans are considered fairly adult by that age. She's past fourteen years, into the second stage of life, right? Y'know, it never made any damned sense to me, a god having to wait 'til they're twenty-one before they're called 'grown-up'. But that was a Zeus-Decreed Rule, wasn't it? 'Stupid rules Dept.? See Zeus.' Maybe somebody should whack 'im over the head with a mountain and knock some sense into him. But in the meantime... Persephone doesn't act or think like a child, does she? She made up her own mind about coming here, about sleeping with you, didn't she? Then how can you insult her by considering her a child?" Leuke shook her head indignantly. "Man, I cannot believe you're using such a lame-ass excuse! For pity's sake, Hades, when did you get so moral?"

Hades frowned distastefully. "'Moral'? Hey, I do have my own ethics, you know--"

Whipping her hand through the top of his hair, fluttering the flames to get his attention, she snapped, "Aaand if you're gonna get all bent out of shape about age differences, may I remind you of my age when we met? My tree may have been over twenty-one but I was a mere three years into conscious life when you came along. And you didn't exactly check my ID at the time. So why is it different now? Just because nymphs are born looking adult doesn't mean I wasn't still a baby according to your high standards. And just because you were an incredibly late bloomer doesn't mean either of us were! Girls mature faster, anyway."

Hades held up his hands in defeat. "Okay, okay! I give up! I'm an idiot!"

"Yes, you are," she grinned, "a complete moron."

"Fine," he twisted his lips into a bit of a grin as well. "She really isn't too young in the ways that count. And she's certainly not too innocent, at least not anymore. I've been in denial about it and I know it's pointless. Age means nothing. I've just been... trying to ignore my feelings."

"Darn right. So, what's holding you back from giving her your whole heart?" Leuke knew the answer before it came.

"...You..."

Scooting closer, she touched his face gently and spoke even more so. "Love... I am dead, you know."

"Because of me..."

"No, because of a storm."

"Because," he went on, his voice small and ashamed, "I never made you immortal..."

"Oh, Hades, my love… Who says I would have accepted that?"

He looked up at her, puzzled. "Wouldn't you? But why not?"

"I was always perfectly content being what I was. Unless you've actually been a dryad, you wouldn't understand it. All of us are born with the knowledge that life may be short but it can be sweet. So we live every moment joyfully, never sure if it's the last but never dwelling on it either." Putting her tiny hand over his long-fingered giant one, she said tenderly, "I had five hundred incredible years, far longer than I could have ever expected. And I loved every day. Best of all, I got to love you... And I always will hold you in the most special place in my heart."

He clasped her ghostly hand in his, gazing into her brown eyes. He had loved her too. Past tense, he realized, as the iron chains slipped a notch unnoticed. He still cared very much for her, and felt responsible toward her. But he no longer loved only her.

"My love for you gave me my soul." She said as his eyes widened again. "See, I told you that you could do it. You made mine without even knowing it. Being together for so long your powers just kind of rubbed off on me, and built up the same kind of divine fire that humans have. I belong to you, as always." She touched her chest above her heart, then gently touched his. "When Persephone came here, whatever power she already possessed gave me the spark I needed to reawaken. So... doesn't all that count for something resembling immortality?"

He had to concede the point, nodding silently.

"But, there is still something else blocking you... isn't there?"

"Baby, I... I ran off... when you begged me to stay. I let you die alone... Alone..." He squeezed his eyes tight and the iron chains squeezed his heart tighter for a moment, like they would crush it yet again.

She closed her eyes too. It had been difficult, but he needed for her to say it was okay. And after this long it truly was okay. She opened her eyes and gazed at him tenderly. "I understand why you did it. My love, if you thought I was holding a grudge then you don't remember me very well. Yes, I died without you beside me but I was surrounded by your power every moment. That comforted me as much as having you present."

From beneath his heavy gray eyelids, a tiny trickle of moisture escaped. As much as it pained her, she knew that she was expected to ignore it, so she did. "You know, normally when a dryad dies she sleeps inside her tree until it completely deteriorates, then she returns to the elemental nether-realm. It was your power and your love that preserved my tree from decaying and kept me here instead."

He choked on his words. "Oh shit... I trapped you here..."

"No, no, you big silly! You allowed me to stay when otherwise I wouldn't have been able to. I didn't want to leave until I knew you were going to be okay without me." Now she reached up and brushed his damp cheek. "And I know you will be if you just let yourself love this goddess. You are meant to be together."

He wiped his eyes with a flick of his thumb. "So... you can forgive me?"

"My dear Hades, you did nothing wrong toward me, ever. You just need to forgive your stupid stubborn self..." And she sang again, softer and easier, knowing he was going to be fine at long last.

When the beast within you
leaves you trampled and small
just shout out her name
Love will answer the call
She's your shield and sword
the net to break your fall
She's the reason for living
True love conquers all

Accept your fate
how tough can it be
By accepting her love
you will set yourself free

...And at last... Hades felt the key turning in the rusted lock. The iron chains dissolved utterly, vanishing from his heart, as the final drop of True Love serum flowed into his veins. The warring sides of his brain signed a permanent peace treaty. He understood now.

Defeat was triumph.

He was finally free from his past. And he sang softly of the joy he now felt.

Her powers of life
make me want to live
to taste freedom again in my soul
Maybe I do have
something to give
to this goddess who makes me feel whole
My heart of darkness
so bitter and cold
has tasted her sweetness and light
Her warmth, forever
I want to enfold
so Fates... I will give up this fight

For a moment he could only sit and gaze into the air, but the look of glorious, almost painful wonder on his face made its ancient lines soften and become young again.

Leuke smiled happily upon that face, the now-aged but still familiar visage of her former husband. She had loved him completely, had seen in him what no one else bothered to look for, and it was truly their loss to miss out on it. However, she was dead now and had to let him go. And she could do it without jealousy. Unlike him, she had never been the sort to worry about such things. She was a dryad. And dryads were likely to sleep with darn near anything that came along during the mating season, species and gender notwithstanding. He'd known that, and hadn't been able to cope with the concept of infidelity, so he'd brought her to the Underworld to prevent even accidental cheating. She'd tolerated it well enough because she really loved him.

But every Springtime had been hell on them both. He'd gotten no sleep, and she'd actually had to lock herself in a room to keep from rushing out the door when he couldn't be there to personally satisfy her nearly insatiable seasonal needs. True, he was very passionate and romantic and sensual, and veeerrry good in bed... But she had needed just a little more than even a god could provide on a daily basis sometimes. Fortunately, being dead meant her libido was as much a memory as she was. Well, almost, she smiled wistfully. Such a grand enormous monster as that was hard to defeat utterly.

Hades had been a great husband. No one could ask for anyone kinder and more generous than him when he was truly in love. And Persephone was exactly what he needed in order to rediscover that sorely neglected side of himself.

Leuke smiled at him. "Now see there? Don't you feel better getting it all off your chest?"

"Yes. Much." He did indeed feel like Atlas had nothing on him. Then he inquired, his eyes hesitant, "So... are you hoping to leave the Underworld?"

She shrugged and said casually, "Nah, no big rush. I wanna stick around awhile, see how things develop. Besides, I'm in your jurisdiction since I now have a soul. It's up to you guys whether I leave or stay."

"Well, I certainly don't mind having you around again. And if you do ever decide to leave, Persephone could reincarnate you. That seems to be what her power is here. You know... I think you two would actually get along."

"Hey, she loves you for who you really are inside. I like her already." Another thought occurred, and Leuke said softly, "I'm sure she'll understand your... problem. And I don't think she'll hold it against you..."

Hades knew exactly what she referred to, and it had been plaguing him subconsciously since he'd begun to feel love again. Children. He and Leuke had actually tried for a while and failed, then had given up, joking that they were not exactly model parent material anyway. But if Persephone truly wanted to be with him, she might someday want a child. And that was something he simply couldn't give her.

Patting his hand, Leuke allowed him a few seconds to contemplate the issue, then stood and put her fists on her slender hips and mock-frowned down at him. "Okay, enough gloomy thoughts. If you're even half the man I remember...," here she leered at his body fondly with a saucy giggle, "and I can see you're every fabulous inch of that... you'll quit sitting here yakking with your dead first wife, get your sorry ass upstairs, and make love to the girl like you mean business!"

Hades smirked wryly. Just like her, to nag him to have sex. Not that he'd ever needed encouragement after the first time. But he knew she was the past, that it was over, and had been for seven centuries. Acknowledging that and forgiving himself had finally freed him.

Standing now, he approached his lovely kind-hearted amazingly faithful nymphy dead wife, leaned down to her petite ghostly green head and smacked a fond kiss on top of it. "You're right as always, my dear. I'll see you later."

"I'll be here 'til further notice," she grinned, swatting his still-gorgeous firmly-muscled barely-covered backside as he walked past her, wishing just for a second her hand was more solidly fleshed. As he departed, she called out, "And I expect juicy details, next time!"

 

Persephone had awakened, blissfully weak and slightly sore but in a very pleasant way. She stretched luxuriously and reached out for the wondrous body of her beloved. And discovered herself alone. That fact didn't completely upset her, but the fact that Hades had taken most of his clothes and not yet come back, did.

She then began to experience serious doubt and eventually fear. Had she done something horribly wrong? She knew Hades had been hesitating since they met, never once touching her in a get-to-know-you-better kind of way. He had flirted, shown concern and courtesy, and desire had been clear in his eyes. She'd been sure he felt for her the same as she did for him. And she had thrown herself at him like some hussy (as her mother would have said). Then the ultimate insult, she had discovered the power to command half his kingdom and still expected him to kiss her and just accept it.

What a fool she'd been, thinking he would care for her after such a thing. To imagine what they'd shared was anything more than a fling, simple sex to relieve the tension building between them... Well, it was just laughable. So why did such an idea make her feel like dying?

And now she huddled into the center of the bed, arms wrapped around her legs, black sheet pulled across her body. Fighting tears and desperation, she rocked back and forth, hair cascading over her shoulders, hiding, protecting. Maybe she should go home before he came back and noticed her missing...

Her entangled thoughts fell completely apart as Hades entered the room. She looked up at his half-draped body, and her heart pulsed unsteadily as fresh waves of desire coursed through it. Choking it back, she found herself unable to even turn her face away in shame. Instead she watched his every move with huge eyes, hungry for reassurance.

Hades saw the look for what it was and felt a stab of regret for taking as long as he had downstairs. But now, at least he had no more reason to hold back from her. That alone was worth the wait. "Ah, you're awake. Good. We need to talk."

Oh hell, she cringed inwardly. He's going to kick me out, tell me it was a mistake, send me home. Eyes still fixed on his face, her every thought was so visible she might as well have screamed the words.

The expression nearly killed him. But he had this planned and he was going to follow it through, slightly sadistic though it was. Feeling only marginally guilty, he sat beside her on the bed covers at a polite distance. Lowering his eyes, hands clasped together, he sighed. Then he spoke, and every word he said was true.

"Persephone, what happened between us... What I did... I did without thinking. I lost control of myself. I acted in haste, and I am truly sorry."

Eyes wide and frightened, her lip trembled as she said, "...Sorry?"

"Yes..." Then he slid closer, his face within inches of hers, voice lowered to a smooth baritone. "Next time it will be slow and very thorough, my sweet one."

"Oh!" she breathed an exclamation of surprise, pleasure, and indignation. And relief. Massive amounts of it.

"Had you worried, didn't I?" he drawled with the biggest fanged grin ever seen.

Her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed with a playful warning. "I will get you back for that, someday."

"Oh, I don't doubt it. But at this moment...," he purred, eyes heating with gentle passion, his breath breezing warmly over her bare shoulder making her shiver. "Allow me to show you the proper adulation a goddess deserves..." And he pushed her back, laying her upon the pillows.

With hands and mouth and eyes, he worshipped at tender length at her altar, poured out offerings upon her body, and she accepted, drinking them thirstily. Her mouth he kissed so deeply it stole her breath, left her gasping. Her face he graced with soft brushing of his lips that melted her soul. Her breasts he caressed tenderly, whispering his thumbs and his breath teasingly across glowing nerves. With gentle fingers and tongue he adored the flower of her body, drawing forth the honeyed nectar that truly gave him life. The heat of his body, solid muscle held in check by kindness, filled her with such a sense of pure rightness that it overflowed and spilled from her eyes. She was a shrine to his heart, a holy icon of love. She wished only to make him feel as sacred as she now did. And so she began to return the touches, to insist upon mutual idolatry, a balance of the power.

He capitulated graciously, glad to teach her the secrets, the mystic nuances of flesh, and she welcomed the knowledge, drowned herself with it. Shaking hands stroked over his arms and chest, absorbing and memorizing their strength. Heated lips kissed his neck and torso, tantalizing and savoring. Her soft body sliding across his skin as she explored and learned sent his head spinning. Her warm breath across the flame of his passion, the embrace of her sweet mouth, her soft sighs of delight at his helpless gasps nearly destroyed him. And he began to feel something truly unique and new. That he was worthy of godhood. Her lips, her hands, her body and her heart had sanctified him...

When finally desire demanded more, she lay blossomed open and ready beneath him as he entered her. Very slowly this time, penetrating by stages, watching her flushed face react to his calculated invasion. Her eyes closed helplessly, her hands clutched feverishly at the pillows, her breath grew ragged and fast. When she arched her neck and licked her lips, he smiled and lowered his head to softly kiss them both.

Now fully immersed in her sweet body, he hovered there for a long moment, enjoying the otherworldly pleasure as metaphysical images flooded his mind... the soft flower of life, cradling the hard flame of love... holy nectar, anointing the sceptre of kingship...sacred hystera, divine phallos… It was the most phenomenal thing he had ever experienced in all his ancient life. He had been forever altered, humbled and awed.

She was swimming in molten pleasure, almost lost, when the resonance of his deep voice sang through her fluid consciousness. "Persephone... sweetheart... Open your eyes. Just look at me..."

Dazzled beyond capacity by all she felt, she did as he told her, drinking in the sight of him. His powerful body poised above her... potent... commanding... his dark face gazed at her... tender... reverent... his hardness nestled inside her... pulsing... possessing... She moaned softly, eyes fluttering shut, senses overwhelmed by his presence...

He was above her... within her... all around her... Forever...

It was her complete undoing. Without even a single movement from either of them, she climaxed. Her body rocking like a ship in a hurricane, her hands gripping his taut arms for support in the storm, her throat releasing a soft howl of torrential delight and love as she drowned.

He remained posed exactly as he'd been, lifted on his arms, hips pressing into hers, riding the storm out. When her spasms finally ceased, he chuckled in amazement. "My, myyy, that was quite a reaction. I'm most flattered."

She panted shallowly, laughing as well. "Kind of... caught me by surprise."

"Also interrupted what I was going to say.”

"Sorry, won't happen again." Then she became intimately aware once more of the fact he was buried deep within her flesh, hard and alive. "Uh, well, at least not for another minute or two... What was it you--"

Her words were cut off by a gasp as he arched his back and thrust forward, surprising her again. "It'll keep for a while longer," he whispered.

He pressed his body onto hers, she wrapped her legs around him, their mouths fused together in the heat. So they forgot to speak coherent words for many long sweet moments as their bodies spoke volumes. With sighs and moans, with muscles stretching and grasping, with hearts flaming and minds floating, they drove themselves toward the edge of brilliant madness. Shattering into a million fragments, tumbling, entangling, countless flower petals caught in a blazing whirlwind. And when it finally settled, neither was sure where the one's soul ended and the other's began. And neither really minded.

Later they lay side by side, limbs entwined, a damp delicious lethargy melting into their bodies. Hades turned to face her and tilted her chin toward him with gentle fingertips against her cheek. He knew he could never be everything she might need but he would give it his damnedest try to make her happy. Softly, eyes glowing, he said, "I love you, Persephone... I love you like nothing else in this entire world... That's all I wanted to say earlier."

Trailing her fingers down his long beautiful hand, she smiled. "Oh, is that all?" But she met his eyes with soft seriousness. "I love you too, Hades. I think I was always meant to..." Snuggling closer, her head against his chest, she heard and felt his heart drumming the same beat as her own. "So... do I take it you want me to stay?"

"Only forever," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "And maybe a day or two beyond. But after that, if we find things aren't working out, we can renegotiate."

"It's a deal." She lazily took one of his fingers and waggling it by way of handshake. Then she held him tightly and they drifted again off to sleep. She had finally found the missing piece that made her whole. And nothing, not even the end of the world itself, would make her let it go.


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