His eyes bore into her. She met his gaze.
“What upset you so?” His voice was desperate. “Are you in pain? Suffering?”
“Hermes told me…” She paused. She had no desire to dabble in deception. Yet, she could not tell him. She swallowed, shaking her head.
“What?” His voice was hard, edged with threat.
Persephone remembered her promise to him. She would not break it now, no matter how difficult the truth might be. “He told me of… of your marriage.” She watched him closely.
His eyes narrowed, yet his words were a whisper. “And you weep?”
Persephone sniffed. “She was cruel to you…”
“What did Hermes tell you?”
She hesitated, her words falling heavily. “Very little. Only that you were betrayed by your brother… and… her.”
Hades face softened, or so it seemed. His eyes searched hers. “And you weep?”
She nodded. “Of course I weep. You are a good man…”
He held up his hand. “A good man? I near killed her. My brother gave her what I could not.”
She paused. “I don’t… I don’t understand.”
“No.”
“I would hear it from your lips, Hades,” she implored.
“Priska, daughter to one of the ruling mortal tribes, was offered to me, newly triumphant over the Titans. Zeus accepted the alliance.” He paused. “The lots were drawn amongst the festivities of the wedding. She went with me that night, fearful and unhappy.”
“But how…”
“She is… was mortal, Persephone.” Hades’ words stopped her, his eyes going black as he continued, “Think of those men, in the meadow. You saw what I did. What I am capable of. When I reached for her, in our marriage bed, I’d no knowledge of the new power inside of me. My hold went beyond her flesh, as it did with those villains that day. She suffered, as they did, for I had no control of my abilities, knew nothing of them... When I saw it was pain, not passion, that I inflicted upon her, I released her… before I’d managed to tear her soul free. But she feared me, and rightly so. I never touched her again.”
She shivered. She had no fondness or allegiance for this woman, but felt sympathy for this Priska nonetheless. And Hades. She met his gaze. How had he suffered? He would have felt this woman’s pain. Even if she’d managed to forgive him, as she must have done in time, would he have forgiven himself?
“I returned her to her father, determined to make the Titans’ caverns, dank and bleak as they were then, something bearable for her. It took time, to build this and to control my… gifts. Too much time for a mortal. Her father worried over the alliance he’d forged with me, with Olympus. So he sought Poseidon’s interest in my stead. Whether or not she was willing, I cannot say. But in time, she grew fond of my brother. I know nothing of how he felt or if he cared for her at all. When I returned, intending to bring her home, I learned the whole of it. As did Zeus. Poseidon was punished…”
“The horses?” she whispered. “The team that pulls your chariot?”
Hades nodded. “They were the very first of their kind, magnificent beasts, as wild as the ocean waves my brother modeled them after. They were – are – Poseidon’s greatest creation. And not an easy sacrifice to make, Persephone. Zeus knew forfeiting them, to me, would punish him more dearly than anything else.” He shrugged. “And Priska was told to return with me.”
“Was she pleased by her new home?”
“She never saw the Underworld.” His eyes drifted from hers, his face growing hard as he continued, “I do not remember her... But I cannot forget her voice.” He paused. “She would not come. She hated me… hated me for the pain I’d inflicted upon her. Because of him, Poseidon. She blamed me for their separation. To her, I sent him away.”
Persephone’s eyes filled with tears, but she said nothing. What could she say?
“Her tribe lived on the cliffs, near where Athens sits today. She threw herself from them. And by taking her own life she ensured she could not cross over.” He shrugged again. “Even in death she vowed never to be with me. She succeeded.”
Persephone could not breathe. She could not think. His words roared in her head, flooding her with agony and fury.
“She was right. Such… alliances suit my realm poorly.” He looked at her then, his features cold and unreadable.
She could listen no more. Of course he would refuse her. How could she expect anything from him now, knowing what he’d endured? Her heart convulsed. She watched him move to her, his face suddenly concerned.
“Rest easy.”