Seeds: Volume Two (12 page)

     She sat on a large rock with a smile on her face, watching as Hades threw a tree branch to Kerberos. The dog was enthusiastic about a chance to play with its master and would cheerfully catch and fetch the stick however far Hades threw it. Sometimes one head would swoop down to claim the branch, or two heads would go for it and have a friendly tug-of-war.

     The Lord of the Underworld grinned as he hurled the branch, watching the hellhound bound after it. He took his duties as the god of this place seriously, but it was fun to just let go and... just
play
for a while. Kerberos needed the time too, to frolic and play and bound about like dogs did. Mortals assumed that any god – or creature – spent each and every waking – and sometimes slumbering – moment at their duties, always on hand to answer prayers. To them, the Judges never left their thrones, Kerberos was always a snarling monster, and all Kharon ever did was steer the ferry across the Styx. Nobody else would ever know the Lord of the Dead as a man who would 'play'.

     Persephone bit back a giggle as the large dog tackled Hades to the ground. Some mortals said it was giant, and it was indeed large, but Hades was able to handle the dog easily. The top of his head was level to the dog's shoulders, but as he was already a tall man. The creature easily towered over any mortal or god, and could intimidate anyone by pointing all of his heads at that person, his three mouths fixed into simultaneous snarls. But right now all he was doing was barking and growling playfully, wrestling with his master. Persephone had to admit that Kerberos was a handsome dog. His fur was black and sleek, and around each neck was a thick leather collar studded with short metal spikes.

     As Hades growled back and wrestled with the dog, now playing a tug-of-war by taking one end of the branch while Kerberos tugged at the other, Persephone was reminded of Enna and playing with her cousins. Hyalos had had a dog, a handsome black-and-brown creature that guarded the chickens at night and was a good playmate during the day to his master or the other children in the family.

     Persephone kept telling herself that this place wasn't her home, but she was happier here than she had been ever since Father had died and Mother had taken her from Enna without the slightest consideration for her daughter's feelings. But here she had a companion who treated her like an adult and clearly loved her, and this was a fun and exciting place. She
was
content here. The goddess didn't want to admit it, but deep down inside, she knew it was true.

Chapter XXVI

o0o

     The tropical garden with the waterfall was one of Persephone's favorites. She visited it often, relishing the golden sky and the lushness of her surroundings. The hue of the sky reminded her of the sun's glow, and the thick foliage and warm air helped this place feel more like the surface world. In here, amongst the exotic flowers and the breathtaking waterfall, it was easy to forget that she was a prisoner in the land of Dis.

    
But you're not treated like a prisoner, are you?
Persephone sniffed a large flower with a shade of pink that she had never seen on the surface world. 'Pink' was the only color to describe it, not rose, magenta, salmon or anything else. It was neon in color, just as all of the other colors here in this particular garden, and she wondered what the mortals above would do with such vivid colors at their disposal. Would Mother enjoy such colors?

     She let go of the flower, leaving it where it was to wander ahead, wiggling between the thick foliage. She was now comfortable with leaving the paths in whatever garden she chose to explore, for Cloe was always at her beck and call to lead her back should she get lost.

     She was clad in a comfortable pale blue peplos, her feet bare as she had left her sandals on the path to feel the thick grass under her feet. She had used her girdle to gather some of the fabric around her middle so that her lower legs were left bare, and she could feel leaves brush against her calves and arms as she went along. Sometimes she felt a bit bored since she had nobody to play or converse with, but more often than not, she welcomed the silence and solitude.

     She could meditate whenever she wanted, rather than when Mother told her to. There was no bedtime, and when she did get into Hades' bed, it wasn't always to sleep, of course. The library was one of her favorite places to go, and she was always the eager recipient of whatever knowledge Hades might impart. The fact that he didn't keep constant guard over her made her appreciate his presence all the more.

     The distant roar of the waterfall grew louder as she continued her meandering path, and the foliage thinned as she approached the pool. Her mouth felt dry, and she ran her tongue along its roof and her teeth. Water technically wasn't food, and Hades – in a gesture surprising to her – had declared that she could drink water and not worry about the rule of the food of the dead applying to her. So with several mouthfuls of the refreshing water, she was ready to move on.

     The water in the pond was so clear and cool, though it felt somewhat empty for the lack of fish or other creatures. She looked down at the stream that flowed from the large pool before she glanced up at the cascading water.

     Like in many other parts of this garden, vines grew in profusion along the rock face, and they provided excellent grips for her, making her ascent enjoyable. They emerged from cracks in the rock, snaking along crevices and abutments, and before she knew it, Persephone had reached the top. She took a deep breath, placing her hands on her hips as she surveyed the scene. The waterfall was fed by a large stream, and up here there wasn't as much foliage to fill her view. But the horizon itself looked hazy, the difference between sky and vegetation blurring together.

     From the outside, the gardens looked small. One would think that with the gates close together, each garden by itself was no bigger than perhaps a courtyard, or the same size as Hades' personal garden. But once she passed through any of the gates, it was like finding a whole new world. No matter how far she strayed from the path, she never saw any other walls, and then when she wanted to go back, it seemed that it took but a few steps to go back to the gate.

     As she stood there at the edge of the cliff, she felt a surge of excitement as she stared down at the pool. She already knew that it was fairly deep, already having swum in it.

    
Here we go.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, hurling herself forward. The air surged past her skin before water splashed against her body, droplets shining in the light as they enveloped her rapidly descending form. She went slack, letting the current of the water push her forward, keeping her head submerged. Bubbles escaped from between her lips as she opened her eyes, gazing through the crystal-clear water at the pale sand lining the bottom.

     Eventually, she rose to the surface. There was nothing wrong with this pool, but she wondered what it would be like to go swimming in Poseidon's domain and see the various creatures of the sea. Dis was devoid of animals other than Kerberos and the evil-looking blackbirds that hovered around Tartarus. It was somewhat disconcerting to go into any of the gardens and not hear the call of birds, or the rustle of a stray breeze, or the various sounds of woodland critters. At least she didn't have to worry about bugs, though she could not help but wonder if there were animals here in Dis somewhere. She had seen meat, milk, eggs, cheese, and honey on various occasions at Hades' table. Did Dis provide these ingredients as they were, or were there ethereal creatures that provided these food items? Hm, she would ask him later.

     She climbed out of the water, her damp curls and peplos clinging to her skin. She glanced down at the fabric and shrugged before drawing out the pins and peeling the garment off her flesh. For this foray she had opted out of wearing underthings, so the gown was her only worry. It felt good to be free of the grasping fabric, and to bare her naked flesh to the warm air. She glanced up briefly at the golden sky before she felt a tingle at the back of her neck.

     She slowly turned around, seeing nobody. But her senses had never failed her.

     “Hades,” she called out, placing her hands on her hips. There was a slight rustle to her right in front of her. Demurely, she threw an arm across her chest and shielded her womanhood from his view with her other hand. There was a momentary pause before the rustling came nearer, and she felt hands on her arms, tugging them gently away from her body.

     “Still insist on hiding your body from me?” he asked in a light, teasing manner, his voice seeming to come from nowhere.

     “Maybe.” She grinned before pulling back.

     “Not so fast, love.” She felt his hands slide along her middle to form a grip, drawing her into an embrace. She felt a bare chest, but when her hand moved lower, she felt the shape and cut of a kilt around his hips.  It felt a bit strange exploring a man she could not see, but it was still fun. She smirked before she hooked her fingers into the waistband of the kilt where it opened or closed, and gave it a sharp tug, swiftly running the other way with a good-sized rectangle of black linen that became visible once it broke contact with Hades' body.

     “Hey!” She heard his surprised laugh but continued running, disappearing among the foliage. Her mischievous bent compelled her to quickly wrap the fabric around herself. It was a comfortable kilt for Hades, so it wrapped easily around her breasts and terminated just above her knees.
Take that, Hades. Sneaking up on me invisibly when I'm naked. Naughty boy. But I
do
like that about you...

     She heard rustling and footfalls behind her – the first sound of another being she had ever heard since coming to this garden – and grinned as she darted around trees and ferns.

     “You will not escape me, fair maiden!” she heard him growl. She wished she had Hermes' sandals, so she could zip up ahead and elude his grip! This was almost eerily similar to her abduction from the surface world, and she frowned faintly to herself. Did Hades realize the same thing? Her long legs pumped her through what was a seeming maze of plant growth, ducking behind foliage whenever she had the chance, but he remained close at her heels.

     “You do not expect me to sit and wait to be taken, do you?” she called back as she navigated her way through the tropical forest.

     “It would be nice!” he shot back before reaching out, yanking the fabric from her body and tossing it aside. After a futile attempt to snatch back the fabric, she leaned forward, pumping her legs as quickly as she could. This chase went on for several more minutes before the goddess gave out a startled squeal when she felt an arm wrap around her middle. She was hoisted up in the air before she felt herself slung over his shoulder.

     “Let me go!” she cried out, banging her fists against an invisible back, and heard a soft chuckle in response. She continued to wiggle around, but his grip was unshakable, and she felt him nuzzle her hip before placing kisses along it, and she gave out a quiet sigh, her head lolling, her slightly damp locks swinging back and forth.

     “You looked like you enjoyed that swim. I was about to join you when you came out of the water.” he explained as he squeezed her.

     “So you thought you would sneak up on me?” she shot back.

     “When you stripped off your clothes, I could not resist.”

     “Hmph,” she replied in feigned irritation. The verdant canopy above them opened up as Hades reached the waterfall, and she found herself deposited gently on the sand at the shore of the pond. A patch of blue on the pale sand drew her attention to her chiton, but before she could reach for it, it was snatched out of sight.

     “You have your shadow powers and invisibility. I have nothing. That is hardly a fair battle,” Persephone said, raising her chin as she felt fingers stroke the inside of her arm.

     “Perhaps it is not quite fair, but it is fun. Look at you, all rosy-cheeked,” he whispered, sliding a finger along her cheek. She gave out a soft whimper as she shivered slightly, his hand now cupping her face.

     Hades smiled as he looked down at her, drawing her closer with his other arm. Her body was warm against his, and she leaned into his body as he hugged her more tightly. His free hand traveled down her face and along her shoulders. It was interesting to see her respond to his touch when he couldn't even see his own hand stroke her. When he squeezed her breast, he saw the faint, round indentations his fingertips made in her flesh, feeling her erect nipple against his palm. The soft fullness of her tit was a comfortable weight in his grip, and he pressed his palm down, rubbing her breast in a massage that had her arching into his hand.

     “Hades...” She placed her hand over his, blushing prettily as she looked down. It appeared as if she was having an inner conflict over what was happening, however minor.
Hmm. Let's remedy that, shall we?

     “Persephone...” He smirked just a bit before lowering his head to press his lips to her forehead. She did not pull away as his lips traveled down her face, and when his lips met hers, she reached up, her hand gingerly questing through the air as it sought his face. All she saw was the foliage, but she felt the definite shape of his brow, and let her fingers slide down until she was able to cup his cheek. When she felt something warm and wet slide along her lips, she realized it was his tongue, and opened her mouth, feeling his lips press against hers with fierce ardor. Seemingly of its own volition, her other arm snaked around his neck, and with his own arm around her middle, they had each other locked in a firm but loving grip.

     As she felt Hades explore her mouth, she returned the favor. The feel of his body against her own reminded her of her arousal and the fact that she had not shared any intimacy with him for nearly a week as she attempted to maintain the upper hand in her captivity. Yes, he valued her thoughts and companionship, but there was no denying the physical reaction that one of them could – and inevitably would – elicit from the other.

     Persephone broke the kiss, but slowly, her nose touching his as she felt his hands roam along her body. She knew she ought to say 'no' to any kind of touching from him as long as she remained his prisoner, but at this moment, she didn't have the heart to put up real resistance to something she enjoyed so much. Her grip around his neck loosened so she could lay back, giving him freer access to her body as his hands continued their explorations. When he pressed down or massaged a certain area, she could see the impressions that his fingers made against her skin.

     As he touched her, she reached out, groping blindly until she felt solid flesh under her hands. It was almost like a puzzle, figuring out just what part of Hades she was touching. Her right hand slid along a muscled area that she deduced to be his left upper arm, and squeezed it gently. He flexed his bicep in response, and she giggled softly.

     “Mmm,” she heard him groan before she felt the light, prickly sensation of his beard against her stomach as he placed kisses around her navel. One hand slid down to squeeze her left buttock, causing her to give out a soft little coo of surprise and pleasure.

     He delighted in the feel of the gracefully-curved planes of her body. His alert eyes did not miss the outline of her ribs or pelvic bones, but this was not the time to talk about food.

     “You are a vision of loveliness. Aphrodite herself pales before your beauty,” Hades whispered reverently.

     “Surely nobody is lovelier than the Goddess of Beauty herself.” She had always wondered what Aphrodite looked like in person, since the superbly-crafted statue of her in Hades' garden of sculptures couldn't possibly capture and illustrate the full loveliness of the beautiful Goddess.

     “Her beauty is superficial. It is beauty for beauty's sake itself. But your beauty... it is vibrant, radiant, alluring. Your eyes hold a glint of wisdom that Aphrodite lacks despite her years. Aphrodite displays her beauty as much and as often as possible. You are more reserved – and modest about it. Your beauty is a rare gift to be cherished.”