Descent into Desire (12 page)

* * * *

Persephone opened her eyes to a very dark room. Torches lined the walls. She was naked and lying on a bed. Her arms were chained over her head. She tried to break them with her mind, but it didn’t work. She tried again.

“It won’t work. They’re special, made by Hephaestus himself.”

She turned to see Thanatos come out of the shadows. He wore black leather pants and nothing else.

“You must be completely insane.” She was so shocked at what was happening she couldn’t even be scared. “Do you know what Zeus will do to you? What Hades will do if Zeus lets him have the chance?”

“Not if you protect me.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I’m willing to do what Hades will not. I’ll give you what you desire so much.” He sat on the bed, and his gaze fell on her breasts.

“I love Hades. No other man will touch me.”

“Maybe you should’ve told him that tonight then, if it’s even true. He’ll give me his crown to free you. Will you still want him when he’s no longer Lord of the Underworld?”

“Of course I will!”
I love Hades. I do. I am in love with him. Why didn’t I tell him? Why did I get angry and deny it when he pulled away from my touch? Even if he’d been doubtful, he’d have believed me in the end. We’ve grown so close, but now…

Thanatos ran his hand over her breasts. She tried to pull away, but the chains that held her were very short. His hand drifted down her stomach and then over her thighs. She squirmed to get away from him. He flipped her onto her stomach and forced his hand between her legs as he pressed his body on top of her. His rough hand scratched and chafed at her. She pushed and struggled as hard as she could, but he was too strong for her.

“You’re going to be so much fun, little one,” he whispered as his rough fingers began to work into her.

And then he screamed and jumped off her.

Persephone lay completely still. Her heart raced, and she felt tears running down her cheeks. A chill went down her spine as he thought of his body pressing hers down and his coarse fingers worming into her pussy. Her body felt very hot, but it seemed to be more than fear.

She rolled over. Thanatos glared at her from the corner. His chest was burned, the skin pink and covered in blisters. The hand that had been violating her was twisted and warped as though he’d thrust it into an open fire.

“Nice trick, you little whore.”

She felt her body grow even hotter. “You of all people should know I’m not a whore. Considering where your hand just was, you should know I’m a virgin.”

He stood and walked over to her. His skin seemed to be healing, if slowly. He reached out his other hand, and she was shocked when he ran two fingers over her breast. She heard the skin sizzle. He snatched his hand away. She looked down, amazed her own skin looked normal.

He groaned loudly. “I do enjoy a little pain with my pleasure. Perhaps not this much though.” He looked deep into her eyes. “How are you doing this?”

“I don’t want you touching me. That’s all I know.”

His eyes narrowed. “You can’t maintain it forever. You’ll weaken. I will be the first to take you.” He leaned forward. “And you will scream, my girl. Whether from pleasure or pain, I can’t say I’ll care.”

He turned abruptly and went to the door. He opened it and started to leave, but he soon fell backwards.

Persephone sat up as much as she could and craned her head to see. Cerberus stood outside the door. He tried to get in but couldn’t. He began whining frantically and pawing at the invisible barrier.

“I’m okay, Cerberus. I’m okay.” She sighed with relief. They had heard her. They knew where she was. And they would come for her.

She concentrated and a simple black dress appeared on her body. She brought her hands together. Her skin felt cool to her own touch, but she still felt hot all over. She hoped her defense was still working, as she had no real idea how she was doing it or how to control it. Was someone else protecting her, giving her a power she didn’t really possess?

Thanatos shot daggers at her with his eyes. “I think you’re more trouble than you’re worth.”

“Hades doesn’t think so. That’s why I love him.”

“He tricked you.”

“He made a mistake. He regrets it, and I forgave him.”

“He hasn’t fucked you.”

“He loves me. I’m more than a pussy and a nice pair of tits to him.”

Thanatos smirked. “If you want to believe that. That’s all any woman is.”

“Care to say that in front of Hera?”

He turned away from her and retreated around the corner. The chamber was large, but there were no mirrors so she couldn’t see what he was doing.

“You’re trapped here, aren’t you?” she called. “This is the Chamber of Darkness. Hypnos told me about it. That door’s the only way in and out, even for a god, and it’s the only place no one else can enter. They can’t come in, so they won’t let you out.”

She heard a thud, like a bottle being set down on a table. He came back around the corner carrying a drink. The liquid was completely black.

“Stop talking.”

She wanted to say “make me,” but she shifted and leaned back against the headboard instead. She didn’t know where Hades was, but she knew he would come for her.

* * * *

Ares watched as Alala ran from the room in tears. Persephone was her best friend, so she’d demanded to be told what was happening when Zeus and Hephaestus appeared in their dining room. He and Zeus had tried to reassure her, but she’d turned from both of them, mumbling incoherently.

Zeus took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Ares, I need something that will kill him.”

“Can you do that?” Ares asked.

Zeus nodded. “Trust me when I say we can. All will be explained later.”

Ares didn’t question his father. He looked around the room and thought. “We may need to make something new.”

“That’s why I needed you both. I need a new sword, but we need to make it from something old. Something that has harmed a god or at least an immortal. He’s strong, so it cannot be an ordinary weapon.”

Ares nodded. “Yes, that makes sense. We should go to the weapons room.” He led them out into the hall and up the stairs. He approached the large double doors at the end of the hall and pulled a large black key from his back pocket. He always had it with him, since many of the weapons in the room were sacred and very powerful. He turned it in the middle lock, and a succession of clicks followed as the nine interconnected locks worked their way open.

He pushed the door open and a rush of air and dust went past them. He snapped his fingers to light all the candles, as it wasn’t safe to have windows in the room. After the dust cleared and his eyes had adjusted, he led them all in.

Ares looked around. “Over here might be best.” He went to a long table and pulled back the linen covering it. Several swords lay there. Ares examined them.

He ran his hands over them. “Most of these were used in the Trojan war. Aphrodite gave this one to her son Aeneas, and he returned it when he went to the Elysian Islands. This one was used by Theseus to slay the Minotaur. Dionysus’ wife Ariadne gave it to him.”

Zeus hefted the sword and examined it, swinging it in a circle.

“I recognize this one,” Hephaestus said. “I made it at Hermes’ request, and he gave it to Perseus to fight Medusa.” He picked up the curved sword. “It’s made from adamant.”

“Yes, that might do,” Ares said. He took the sword from Hephaestus and wiped the dust from its blade. He examined it for traces of blood that might impede its power as it was remade into a new blade.

“We should combine it with this,” Hephaestus said. He held up a sickle, also made of adamant judging by the look of it.

Zeus set Theseus’ sword down and walked over to Hephaestus. He took the sickle from him. “I remember this.” Zeus laughed.

Ares looked at the blade, trying to remember.

“Cronus used it to castrate his father Uranus,” Hephaestus explained. “This was before our time.”

Ares raised his eyebrows. “Why did he do that?”

“His mother was tired of him, I believe, and wanted her sons to take over. Cronus was the only one willing to do it, so he was the one to rule.” His expression grew dark. “I think it’s appropriate to use against Thanatos, considering his crime. Cutting his balls off would give me great pleasure.”

Zeus nodded. “Let’s hurry. Is the forge still through here?”

“Yes, down the stairs back here,” Ares said.

Hephaestus followed Zeus, and Ares shut and locked the door to the weapon room and the door to the forge behind them.

“Should we call Hades?” Ares asked.

Zeus shook his head. “No. Not for now. Hypnos will help me.”

Hephaestus broke the blades off each weapon easily and put them together to melt over the fire. Colorful sparks and green smoke rose as they combined. Magic had been used to forge both of them, it seemed. Ares felt antsy. He knew they were working as fast as they could, but he knew he wouldn’t have had the ability to obey his father if Alala were in danger like this. He wondered what his mother was saying to Hades. He was most likely blaming himself. Ares wanted to check on Alala, but he didn’t want to leave in case they might need him further.

The floor and the building shook. A chill followed by intense heat rippled briefly through the air.

“What was that?” Ares asked.

“Demeter, I imagine,” Zeus said. “Hypnos has told her. I thought it best not to keep her in the dark.”

“Shit.” The best he could muster at such moments was thunder, but he could only imagine how powerful the earth goddess’ grief was. She probably believed her daughter was already ravaged and possibly dead. He might not like Persephone, but it angered him to think of her meeting such a fate.

Hephaestus worked very quickly, forming the mold with his hands. Ares saw the smoke rising from them as he worked. He’d heard that Hephaestus could melt and form metal with just his hands, but he’d never seen it done. He and his half-brother didn’t have much of a relationship. Sleeping with Aphrodite had definitely contributed to that distance. Hephaestus had always acted like it meant nothing, but Ares had always suspected Hephaestus had been falling for Aphrodite when they were together, which explained his proud denial of any feelings for her at all. Aphrodite had joked about how infatuated and possessive Hephaestus was, how many times he’d told her he loved her. Ares had laughed at the time, believing she was trying to make him jealous, but now Ares wondered if any of it had been true. Now it seemed cruel of Aphrodite to joke about such things. Thinking of Persephone and Hades had turned his thoughts this way, and he jumped when he realized Hephaestus was watching him.

“Persephone is safe. Did you hear me?” Hephaestus said.

“No,” Ares said. “I was thinking of Alala. Sorry.”

In his mind, he heard Hephaestus very distinctly say,
No, you weren’t.
But instead of reacting, he turned back to his work and repeated what he’d apparently just told Zeus.

“Thanatos must be using my chains to hold her. I feel her using my power. If he touched her, he’s very badly burned. Perhaps it’s a sign she’s safe from his touch.”

“The power you just used to shape the mold?”
Can he read my mind or sense my thoughts because we have the same mother? I didn’t feel it.
He tried to keep his expression blank.

Hephaestus nodded. “If she’s bound by my chains, yes. The situation is extreme. If she was afraid, she could have used my power.” He began pounding his hammer on something small. “Hopefully Thanatos won’t figure that out though.”

“I hope you’re right,” Ares said. He looked up to see Zeus glancing between the two of them. When he didn’t look away, Ares tried to think of something to say.

But Hephaestus spoke up. “Do you have a bow?”

“Yes,” Ares replied. “There’s one here.” He pointed to a table off to the side.

Hephaestus thrust six arrows at him. “These are made from the excess metal.” He then began to hammer out the blade of the sword.

Ares stared at the arrows, and then at the sword, marveling at how fast his brother had worked. Before he could speak this time, someone knocked on the door of the weapon room. He sensed it was Hypnos, and he opened both doors for him.

Zeus took the arrows and picked the bow up from where Ares had indicated. “Can you get the Helm of Darkness?” he asked Hypnos.

“Yes. It’s in Persephone’s room. She was using it today.”

“You and I are the only ones who can go. Take these.” He gave him the arrows and bow. “Wait for me outside the Chamber of Darkness. I’ll follow soon.”

Ares felt lost. Perhaps he’d been away from the battlefield too long.

Hephaestus handed the sword over along with a metal ball. “Throw it into the room. When it breaks, the spell will shatter Persephone’s chains. She will be able to run out of the room if you can hold Thanatos away long enough.”

Zeus nodded and disappeared.

Ares shook his head. “Why didn’t we ever work more closely during the great wars?”

Hephaestus wiped the soot from his hands. “I didn’t like you. You’re mother’s favorite, and I also seem to recall you were fucking my girl.”

At least that opened the door for him to ask. “Did you read my mind?”

“I felt your thoughts turn to Aphrodite, and then I felt your guilt. It’s over now. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Ares nodded. “Yes, it is over, but when Aphrodite told me Eros was my son, I was surprised a little. I’d always thought it might possibly have been you. I thought maybe you felt cheated since most people thought it was me even before she told.”

“I didn’t care about Eros. I knew he wasn’t mine.”

“How?”

Hephaestus looked him in the eye. “It had been too long since we’d had sex. Our relationship was never as simple everyone thinks.”

“But you two were still together then, right? That was when you ended things. The day Eros was conceived.”

Hephaestus didn’t answer.

Ares suddenly realized why Aphrodite had found Hephaestus so frustrating. “What I really wanted to say was this. When she told me Eros was my son, she also told me about you two ending. The things you said really hurt her. She’s been so upset lately I think it would mean something if you two made up. She needs friends now more than ever.”

Hephaestus pushed the anvil over, sending the hammer flying across the floor. “I’ve been trying to make up with her for years.” He pointed his finger at Ares. “You were always in the way. But you were like the others. You only wanted to fuck her. That’s all she was to you.”

Ares stepped forward until Hephaestus’ finger touched his chest. “I love her very much. We weren’t meant to be together, so we never fell in love. That doesn’t negate my feelings. I loved being with her. She was one of my best friends for a long time.” He saw the flames in Hephaestus’ eyes, exactly like his own. “But you…you are in love with her.”

Hephaestus took a deep breath and backed away. “And she’d be upset if we fought, so let’s not.” He set the anvil upright and put the hammer on the table. “Do me one favor?”

“What?”

“Don’t tell mother. Not yet. I want her to welcome Aphrodite as my wife, and she won’t do that now, not so soon after what Aphrodite did to you.”

Ares closed his eyes, wondering if maybe he’d wake up when he opened them. He didn’t. “You want to marry Aphrodite?”

“I will have no other as my wife. Perhaps I should have asked you to back off long ago, but it doesn’t matter now. You have Alala. It’s a risk telling you, but I had to tell someone, and you of all people know why it’s important not to tell Hera. Please promise.”

Ares considered. If keeping the secret would protect Aphrodite, he’d do it, no matter how angry his mother might get when she found out. “Okay. I promise.” He shook his head. “Has anyone else noticed this whole place going mad?”

Hephaestus smiled, which came as close to shocking Ares as his declaration had. It was something he’d never, ever seen before. “Perhaps,” Hephaestus said, “we’re becoming more like humans.”

Ares stood alone in the forge as Hephaestus left. He hoped it would be a long time before he saw Aphrodite again. He had no idea how he’d hide what he’d learned.