Seeds: Volume Two (28 page)

     “Oh, boohoo, who cares about your child? Your kid probably deserved to die, anyway!” he replied contemptuously. Suddenly, the old woman seemed to almost explode, her cloak billowing around her. Abas gasped and jerked back, trying to convince himself that it had been a mere illusion, a trick of the light, but Doso now suddenly towered over him, broad-shouldered, her eyes almost glowing as the hood fell away to reveal the visage of a much younger-looking woman.

     “You refuse to see how fortunate you are, and you take your unhappiness out on everybody else, Abas. Since this life dissatisfies you so, I will remedy that for you! You should be so fortunate that the Goddess of the Harvest is so willing to help you!”

     Abas felt a tight, constricting feeling around his chest, and feared for a moment that she meant to take his life away in a literal sense. But suddenly, she was even taller than before, towering over him much like the Titans of old when they had terrorized the mortals. He saw her lift her sandaled foot, and how
huge
it was!

    
Run, run, run
, he thought, snapping into panic mode as he turned and fled. Goddess of the Harvest! Gods above, he had enraged Demeter! Already he was regretting his actions – not because he had hurt her feelings or offended her, but because she was angry with him and he feared punishment above all else.

     Everything seemed so enormous! The plants towered over him, and there were walls where there shouldn't have been. He tried to comprehend just what exactly had happened, why everything had changed, why even his own vision seemed different. The colors and focus was different, and he no longer ran on two legs, but four, but he only barely registered all of this as he was so intent on fleeing the wrathful deity. His tiny heart beat at a pace far faster than that of any human being, and the capacity of his brain was focused entirely on his survival. He barely noticed when he was able to climb up the wall, and skittered up it, feeling the cool air on his scaly flesh as he reached the top. He took no time to appreciate the view that lay before him, especially since he no longer had the human capacity to see all of this clearly.

     He sped along the edge of the wall, frantically wondering what he should do, his human soul conflicting with the constraints of his new body. However, he was able to collect himself for a moment, trying to ponder his next choice of action. He needed to hide from the wrathful goddess, but where?

     A sudden screech broke the silence, and he instinctively darted forward again, his instincts telling him to
hide
, to duck for cover, because that screech certainly meant
death!

     Abas was about to scamper down the wall when a sharp, searing pain tore through his side, knocking the wind out of his lungs. He found himself torn away from his foothold and lifted through the air, flailing his small arms and legs, his tail whipping around furiously before his struggles ceased.

o0o

     In the Underworld, Persephone usually wore ankle-length clothing since it was so cool here, but today, she was clad in a chiton that ended just below her knees, and the wrap she wore terminated below her hips. She felt a bit under-dressed, but Hades had wanted her to dress this way for what he said was a surprise. Since his surprises were always fun even if some of them might be unusual, she was eager to see what it might be.

     She waited patiently in the garden, lifting her head when she heard the clip-clop of hooves. Did he mean to take her on another chariot ride? Hades came into view riding his own horse, looking striking and regal atop the intimidating creature. Even though she admired the beautiful steeds of Hades, she was also a bit frightened by them. They were the first horses she had ever seen before in her life, and if she had seen horses on the surface world, she would have noted that these hell-horses were larger and stronger than their mortal counterparts. She had never seen Hades riding a horse, and gazed up at him as the horse trotted gracefully towards her.

     “I thought that we might go for a ride,” Hades stated as he looked down at her. He looked relaxed in a knee-length dark blue tunic, his hair pulled back in a loose ponytail.

     “Where do I sit?” she shot back, though she already had a good idea of just where she would be sitting. He grinned and reached down, pulling her up onto the horse. She sat in front of him, her back against his chest as she felt his thighs squeeze her hips gently. The horse had no reins, but Hades controlled it effectively by holding onto the mane with one hand as the other arm wrapped around her middle. She felt tall at this height, and looked down at the ground.

     “Do mortals really ride horses like this?” she asked.

     “Indeed, though one has to be careful how he does it. But I have no need for a saddle or reins.” He smiled at her.

     The horse started off at an easy trot, and Persephone instinctively allowed her body to sway slightly with it, feeling safe in Hades' embrace as he led the creature through one of the garden gates. The vista that opened up before them was a grassy meadow, the sky bright and blue as an ethereal breeze blew across the blades, causing them to sway in gentle waves. As he urged the steed on faster, the wind whipped through her hair, and she gave out a delighted laugh. Hades smiled and gave her a squeeze before he pushed his horse even faster, knowing how much she enjoyed speed – their rides in his chariot evidenced that.

     It was the first time he had ever had anyone with him when he went horseback riding, and he enjoyed the sound of her laugh and the way she squeezed his arm, her warm body pressed against his. Though his steed was fast – much faster than a mortal horse – he was agile and graceful, so the ride itself was pleasant and enjoyable with a minimal amount of bouncing. It was this bit of being jolted around that added thrill to the ride, and he let out a whoop of his own that was quickly accompanied by her shriek of delight as the ebony steed bounded over a small knoll, soaring gracefully through the air.

     Persephone's heart was still pounding as the horse slowed down, and she eyed the sparkle of light reflected off waves as they came up to the shores of the Sea of Eternity. She found herself scooped up in his arms as he slid off the stallion before he spun her around, causing her loose braid to swing around.

     To her surprise, the grass was not as coarse as one might expect, but felt rather soft. The blades gave away easily when she sat down, but were also amazingly springy, making for a comfortable seat. Hades sprawled out next to her, his arms bare as he carried no cloak, and he glanced up at her fondly. She smiled back. Several meters away, the horse lowered his head to eat, casually munching on the grass as his onyx coat gleamed under the light that filled the sky despite the lack of a sun.

     As her pulse slowed to its regular pace, she tightened her wrap. The atmosphere was pleasant and the breeze was mild, but without the natural warmth that sunlight brought, this place – just like any other place in the Underworld – carried an undeniable touch of cold. She could only draw warmth from three places – fire, a hot bath, or Hades's own body. When his arms wrapped around her, she leaned against him, closing her eyes.

     They did not speak, and she simply relished his presence, snuggling against him as she felt a light kiss on her temple. His scent enveloped her – faintly earthy, though quite different from her mother's bountiful-earth smell – along with that subtle musky odor that was uniquely male. There were traces of other things she could not quite identify, things she wanted to describe but couldn't find just the right words to do so. She might describe one of these odors as an underground pool, and another trace made her think of the night air mixed with a hint of smoke. A note of sharp rawness would have been identified as ash. Hades truly was a complex and fascinating man, though she did know what he liked, and would sometimes use her knowledge to manipulate him into doing what she wanted. Although she had not yet discovered the key to him allowing her to go to the surface world...
Yet
.

     But of course, she was not going to give up. As much as she enjoyed Hades's company, she had other needs. The Lord of the Underworld was just as adept at getting her to forget these needs as she was at manipulating him, and she gave out a soft sigh as he squeezed her more tightly. She had fantasized about what it would be like to have coitus with him, to lay back and spread herself for him and let him 'take' her properly. How would it feel to be filled up by him, to feel his heated flesh deep within hers? There were times when she was tempted to just give herself up on the spot and just let Hades ravish her – and based on previous intimate experiences with him, he could do a
very
thorough job. Had she had her choice of any man she wanted, would she ever experience such emotion and passion with anyone else?

     “Aidon?” she whispered.

     “Hmm?”

     “I... there is something I would like to ask you.”

     “Certainly.”

     She opened her eyes and craned her neck to look up at him.

     “Nothing actually
grows
down here, right?”

     “Correct.”

     “Would a child grow?” she asked. Hades glanced at her, furrowing his eyebrows in curiosity.

     “Do you mean the children in Elysium? They can have the form of adults, if they want to.”

     “No, not that. I mean, the laws of nature... well, I mean, Underworld nature, they are different from those of the mortal world and I understand that, but...” She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts and word them in a way that made sense, “If I tried to plant a seed here, it would not grow. If you planted a seed, would it grow?”

     “I might be Lord of the Underworld, but even I cannot command things to grow.” he replied lightly. She shook her head.

     “No. I mean,
your
seed.”

     “My seed? Hmm?
Oh!
” His eyes widened in understanding.

     “Yes.”

     “No.” His voice was calm.

     “Hmm.” She couldn't say she was disappointed. It wasn't that she was averse to the idea of children, but she knew she wasn't ready to be a mother. And goodness, how Mother might react to her own child having a child!

     “Life cannot begin in the Underworld. It never has. The food of the dead would never nourish a child, even in your belly. Being the Lord of the Dead requires sacrifice on my part.”

     She looked down, nodding.

     “I am sorry, Persephone.”

     “Do not be. I was just... curious.” She looked back up at him before squeezing his hand reassuringly. “I will admit that I have been thinking of... intimacy with you. But I know what that leads to, so I just wanted to clarify, you know...”

     “I suppose we would have had to talk about this sooner or later, hmm?”

     “Yeah.” She stared off at the vista for several moments, and Hades watched her. She didn't seem sad or angry, but she didn't look happy, either. Not having children didn't bother him the least, but he hadn't considered how she might feel about the subject until she had brought it up just now.

     “Does that knowledge bother you?” he asked. He wondered if she would plead with him now to be allowed to return to the surface world.

     “No. I suppose I should not be surprised, given this place...” She took a slow breath. “Hey, let's go for a swim!” she said, looking at him. She had noticed the sad expression on his face, surmising that he would feel sorrowful for not having children. She would have been surprised and flattered if she had known that he was thinking of her request to go to the surface world at that moment, and was actually considering it.

     Fortunately for him, she did not know. The change of subject surprised him, but he welcomed the distraction, and smiled at her as she rose to her feet before he chased after her.

Chapter XXXV

o0o

     The Sea of Eternity turned from a dark black-blue shade into cheery degrees of bright teal and turquoise, its waves crashing on a shore of golden-silver sand that shone white under a clear sky. The horses easily sped across the water and landed on the shore, waves lapping around their hooves as they took a momentary pause. Persephone lifted her hands from the mane of the horse she was riding, and stretched her arms above her head. It had been a bit scary riding her own horse, but it was already well-trained, and merely had to follow the lead of the other horse, allowing her to ride it comfortably without having to worry about steering. She was happy to simply ride wherever Hades led her, gripping the mane of her steed as the two of them went for a delightful ride.

     In the distance, she could see other islands that were as lovely as this one. According to Hades, these islands sat at the fringes of Elysium, and held strange and wonderful secrets. Not even the residents of Elysium could come here.

     “I have not been to the Blessed Isles in many years,” Hades said as he nudged his horse into a casual pace, and Persephone's horse followed. “Long ago, I had a palace built here for my use, and I thought you would like to see it.”

     A Palace here, where it was always bright and sunny? That sounded wonderful! Lush palm trees gave way to a low whitewashed wall revealed to be the first of several terraces that climbed up to a palatial structure of clean white stone. It was considerably smaller than the one they lived in, but no less beautiful. At the bottom of the terraces was a beach with perfectly clear waters partially enclosed by a gently curving lagoon and sandbar. Here and there on the sand, exotic shells gleamed with the sheen of jewels.

     Hades dismounted his horse before helping Persephone off hers, pressing her to his body for a moment.  The horses were left on the beach as he led her up the stairs, coming to the highest terrace. The terraces were filled with a lush variety of flowers and plants. There was a hot spring to the left, surrounded by multicolored tiles and making for an inviting scene, steam rising gently off its surface. At the other side, there was a comfortable divan and a low table, so one could dine outside.

     The small Palace was airy, with high ceilings and an open layout. The back of the Palace revealed a garden that was almost like a jungle, and rather than being decorated with murals or frescoes, the walls of the interior and exterior were plain, giving the rooms a clean and open quality. The floors were tiled with different kinds of marble, some of them varying shades of cool blue with green and purple veins while others were tawny or rust with ochre and golden streaks. All of the rooms afforded splendid views of their tropical surroundings.

     A grand staircase led them up to the second floor, which offered even better vistas. A solarium – the title ironic here in a sunless land – was filled with books and comfortable furniture. Unlike the walls on the first floor, the walls up here were covered in frescoes of sea-creatures, many of which had been extinct in the mortal world for aeons. The bedchamber featured a grand four-poster bed directly in the middle of the room, sheer curtains of rich red silk hanging from all four sides to make a closed space that light would shine through to create a red aura within. Pulled off to the side were heavier velvet drapes of a darker shade.

     “You are the first person I have ever brought here,” Hades whispered into her ear, his hand on her back.

     “Mmm. I am very flattered.” The bed looked so inviting, but she also wanted to sit in that hot spring... and take a swim in the sea, and ride her horse down the beach... oh! There was so much to do!

     “You should be,” he joked. She looked ravishing in a dark blue satin chiton that terminated halfway up her calves, her hair tied by a ribbon of the same color. Her cheeks were faintly rosy from the ride on the horses. On her feet were sandals with elegant thin black straps that complemented her slender ankles. The overall image she projected was that of an elegant, relaxed, happy woman who was enjoying her time with him. Doubtless he would be sharing pleasant memories with her here...

o0o

     Persephone certainly enjoyed the luxury Hades kept her in, and the shades were efficient and quiet. Having been raised amidst others – first her family and then the nymphs – it had taken her a while to get used to all the solitude that could be gained here. There was nobody to disturb her – or Hades – and that added to the unrealness of this place. Oh, she knew very well that Dis was a real place, with its own tastes, aromas, and textures, but the lack of people other than Hades and herself in his house reminded her all the more that this was not a place for life to flourish. She appreciated the privacy, but sometimes she wished she could be surrounded by chattering, living souls. She missed playing games with the nymphs.

     She stroked the velvety ebony coat of the horse beside her, resting her cheek against his shoulder. The Sea of Eternity was beautiful, but there was no sun. She would have liked to see the sunset across the waves, and the sky darkened, its diamond stars glittering. She missed the gentle shine of the moon, and let out a quiet sigh before she leaned her face against the steed. This was a wonderful place indeed, but it was lacking in a vital aspect.

     Would Hades ever consider letting her go back to the other world? Why did he find the possibility of her returning to the surface world so distasteful? She had already made it clear that she would be happy to return to him and spend time with him. Now, how many kidnapped maidens were willing to make such concessions to their captor?

     As she stroked the horse's coat, she was reminded of the thrill of freedom she felt when riding a horse, with or without Hades. She glanced over her shoulder back at the small palace. Hades was nowhere to be seen, so on impulse, she grabbed the mane of the noble creature and hoisted herself atop it.

     She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the air rush against her face and hair as the horse shot forward. Soon enough she grew used to the rhythm, and relaxed slightly, letting her hips sway back and forth as she lightly bounced on the horse's back, her fingers forming a tight grip on the mane. There were other islands visible on the horizon and she was tempted to lead the horse over the water, but she managed to restrain herself. Hades had given her a gentle admonition to remain on this island, and to not go off it without him. She was curious, but Hades would not give her a warning without reason.

     The island had a nice variety of shoreline. There was plenty of beach, but also rocky inlets and tide pools. She would stop every once in a while to examine the iridescent shells, plucking up a couple that she especially liked and tucking them into her girdle. She knelt down to pick up a spiky murex shell, its points stretching out from the body and making for an eerie and fascinating sight. As she turned it over in her hands, examining it, she sensed Hades's presence.

     “Thought you could sneak off?” he asked, hands on his hips.

     “You did not say anything other than to not leave the island,” she replied defiantly. He smirked faintly.

     “Relax, love. I am not angry with you.”

     “I would certainly hope not.”

     “Such a mouth on you. That could be put to better use.” His smirk widened, and she blushed.

o0o

     The swirling waters of the hot spring kneaded and soothed her flesh as she sat there, the bubbling liquid reaching her chin. She had only been sitting here several minutes, and already she felt sleepy. Ever since she had come to the Underworld, she had discovered an immense love for hot baths and springs. There was nothing quite like the hard churning of heated water against one's body. Of course, it didn't hurt that Hades was also stroking her hand, and she found sweet comfort in that gesture.

     As she opened her eyes again, she saw shades moving about silently, setting down a small feast before them. The dishes were positioned so that they could eat comfortably off the ledge while sitting in the tub. Demurely, she turned her face away. The Isle of the Blessed was a lovely place, but she would not be swayed from her resolution.

     “Come, have something to eat, love. You look so pale.”

     “Lack of sunlight will do that to a person,” she replied pertly.

     “I am pale too, and you do not seem to be bothered by it,” he retorted, refusing to be put down. “But you do need to eat. You need color in these cheeks.”

     “I am not hungry.”

     “Tsk. So stubborn.” He popped an olive into his mouth.

     “Would you expect otherwise?”

     “Of course not, but there
is
such a thing as
too
stubborn.”

     “For you, perhaps,” she shot back evenly. Hades chuckled softly and shook his head.

     “I will admit, I do admire your strength of will. Very few women, or even men, have that strength.”

     “Then you simply will have to continue admiring me.” She raised her chin haughtily.

     “Ahh, but I would admire you even more once you give in to me good and proper.” He ate another olive, making a small smacking sound of approval.

     “Where would the challenge be then, after giving in to you? You want me to taste the food of the dead, and you also desire my maidenhead. If you had them, then what?”

     Hades stared at her in genuine surprise, and she blinked and stared back at him. Why should he be surprised? Hadn't she stated what he had been trying to gain all along?

     “Persephone, is that what you think? That I want to just... take your maidenhead?”

     She stared at him, neither denying nor confirming it.

     “Of course, I would love to be with you in that way. Have no doubt of that. But it is not about your maidenhead. Why would you think that?”

     Persephone quickly looked away, watching the waves crash on the sand below them. She felt his hand on her shoulder as he drew closer to her.

     “You are not a conquest. Sometimes, surrender is in fact a victory, and you would have much to gain. What I want,
need
, is you. I ache for you. It matters not whether you have your virginity. Never think that such a trifle is what I value, my dear. You are what I want, completely. The more of you I have, the more I will desire.” His voice was a velvety whisper.

     With that, Persephone felt a certain burden lifted off her shoulders. “Really? I could always expect the same passion you show me now?” she asked as she felt his lips kiss along her earlobe.

     “Forever.”

     She let out a slow exhale as he wrapped an arm around her middle, pulling her into a loose embrace. He reached with his other hand and took a silver goblet, taking several gulps from it before looking back at his lover. When he pressed his lips to her own, she tasted pomegranates. She gasped softly and started kissing him more fiercely, feeling his hands on her sides. When the taste disappeared, she quickly pulled back, blushing.

     “These kisses of yours are a powerful temptation,” she whispered.

     “Then give in,” he responded cheerfully. She grinned before scooting back, sitting at the other side of the small pool. He slid forward, about to close in on her before she darted to the left, eluding him.

     “You should know better than to try to elude me, Persephone.” His dark eyes twinkled as he reached for her. This time, he managed to grab her arm, and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

     “All I ask is for you to trust me. I love you,” Hades whispered fiercely, burying the side of his face against her hair. She closed her eyes and remained silent, letting him hold her.

o0o

     “I have not seen Abas since the day before yesterday,” the royal chef informed Metaniera. It had always been one of Abas’s jobs to deliver the vegetables he grew to the kitchen so the servants there could prepare them. Doso sat quietly in a corner, spinning some wool as Demophon dozed comfortably in his crib nearby. As she overheard this exchange, she had to bite back a smile.

     “Come to think of it, I did not see him yesterday, and the gardens have not been harvested yet. Hmm.” Metaniera frowned and rose to her seat before stalking out the room, followed by the cook. Doso chuckled softly to herself as she glanced over at Demophon.

     The Queen strode outside before going down to the courtyard. Many of the servants slept near the kitchens or dyeing room, but Abas had been given the room adjacent to the courtyard. It opened into a secluded corner of the courtyard and gave Abas one of his few delights in life due to its privacy. Of course, Metaniera could not know just how much Abas had enjoyed this little out-of-the-way chamber. She knocked firmly on its door. When no answer came, she knocked again. “Abas! Are you ill?”

     “Perhaps he is...” The chef wrinkled his face, sticking out his tongue.

     “Do not joke about such matters!” Metaniera replied firmly, though she didn't want to admit that such a matter was a possibility. She was lucky to be unaware of the fact that it had already happened. Raising the lamp with one hand, she used the other to push open the door. Within, the small, windowless chamber was messy, but showed no signs of its occupant. The musty straw was piled in one corner with a couple of blankets tossed over it. The few pieces of clothing Abas owned lay on the floor or tossed across the stool that sat in another corner of the room. Metaniera frowned as she noticed remnants of food and wine, and picked up a bottle to hear the sloshing sound inside. She sniffed the mouth of the container, dismayed to recognize the scent as one of their quality wines, reserved for banquets and other nice occasions.