Against the Gods

Demeter couldn’t eat. She couldn’t sleep or smile or any of the simple joys taken for grant it. Her daughter, beautiful and full-of-life, was missing. Her only pleasure had been punishing that wretched nymph. She wanted pleasure so much, she would gladly give it her to her. It had been simple especially when it came to the god of love’s pride. It had just taken some rumors but soon Eros became jealous of Apollo. He pierced the god’s heart and who would happen to be there? Apollo relentlessly pursued Daphne, much to the nymph’s greatest horror. If she wanted sex, she would more than get her far amount. And Apollo was not a gentle lover by all means. Not as sadistic as Hades but he could split a woman, or man, in two.

Demeter wondered the earth. She had to find her daughter! Nothing else consumed her worried and desperate mind as she searched. She used mortal means, as well as immortal, to find Persephone. Days had passed and neither god, man nor creature would step forward. Demeter found herself weeping and weak in the ardent search for her daughter. Where could she be? Where was her beloved Persephone? Who could do such a heinous thing as taking a young girl? What could they be doing to her?

As her misery grew, her grip on the world weakened. She could care less about those mortal. Gods, one of those mortals could have her daughter! They deserved to suffer just for that. Slowly, crops began to die and wither away. The food they thrived on began to turn to ash and would not flourish. Demeter ignored her duties and searched desperately for her daughter. Nothing mattered. All Demeter wanted was Persephone back in her arms, safe and sound. And if she wasn’t in her arms, she would have nothing to do with the world.
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Persephone stirred as the darkness in her mind slowly lifted. She felt groggy and disoriented. It seemed to be a common occurrence for the last several days. The first thing she noticed was she felt like she was sleeping in a cocoon. Persephone peered through blurry eyes to find out where she was. She was lying in a vast bed of incredibly silky puce linens. A thick, down-filled violet comforter was lovingly wrapped around her. The pillow her head had been resting on could have been nothing but a cloud. She felt, for once in so long, safe and protect in the womb of her bed.

Stray curls fell over her eyes as she gazed at her surroundings. The first word that popped in her mind was ‘rich’. Everything was dark and luxuriant and just looked simply expensive. Persephone had never in her life seen such n ornate looking room such as this. It was vast and tiled in black marble. A plush wine rug stretched out almost the entire length of the room and looked as if you could lose your feet.

The walls were a dark sort of rock. To the right of the bed they were lined with beautiful, mysterious paintings. On the left were obscure, tall windows overlooking whatever lay beyond the, A large, candlelit chandelier twinkled and sparkled high above her head, nestled in the domed ceiling. The room was lined with gold candelabrums, flickering candles sending dancing shadows across the walls and filling the room was a heady aroma.

Despite herself, she was in absolute awe over the beauty of this decadent room. She eagerly jumped out of bed to explore like a child on Christmas morning. Her feet sunk into the oh-so-soft carpet. A black, satiny dress clung to her and cascaded down her legs as she stood. A towering, gold-carved mirror was nestled next to the bed and the wall. Persephone looked at herself, fingering the diamond-encrusted chocker around her neck. Her auburn curls cascaded in unruly waves down her bare shoulders. The dress looked like liquid onyx that hugged her form and enhanced her pale golden complexion. Her shapely legs were revealed through two large slits that stopped at her thigh. The dress sunk low in a rippled neck and thin straps.

Persephone scowled. She would never wear something as revealing as this negligee. The trivial thought snapped her back to reality as she realized the danger she was in. Her breath caught and she was immediately rushing across the lush carpet to gaze out at the dreary kingdom below. Oh gods. Her heart sank at the sight as the glass magically became clear. It was dark and filled with the mist white essence of mortals that passed. With misery on there pale features, they waited in long, winding lines for their judgment. Thundering noises and wails rose from below as they trudged along. Persephone pressed her open palms to her ears, trying to drown out the horrible, muffled shrieks.

She couldn’t bare it and hastily backed away. She had to escape! She had to get out of there. No telling what would happen to her is she stayed. What would Hades do? What was he planning? Goosebumps rose on her exposed flesh as chills stung at her spine. Dashing away, Persephone surveyed for an escape. Two doors, made of onyx, were on the opposite side a few feet from each other. Light, warm and welcoming, shone through a sliver underneath the door and without thinking, drawn to the light in that darkness, Persephone flung open the door.

It was a bathroom gleaming with black and gold, much like the room. But it wasn’t the gleaming black tub or the crystal chandelier that winked or the luxurious rug that caught Persephone breath in her throat and made her cheeks burn. It was Hades. Fresh from the shower, he was drying his long dark-gray hair with a black and violet towel.

His body was graceful and smoothly toned under lily-white skin, rippling as he flexed and moved. Dark tendrils of wet hair snaked around his shoulders, his strong back turned to her. She must have made a noise. She swore up and down that was made him turn. That dark hair lightly covered abdomen and sunk lower toward his inattentive penis. Her whole body was flaring with embarrassment and something else---something more potent and difficult to repress. Her knees went weak and she gulped harshly.

“Don’t be shy, Persephone. As your groom, you can touch,” Hades crooned cruelly, not making any effort to hide his naked form.

Persephone responded by slamming the door and taking off across the room to another door. The one next to the bathroom was of course of closet. Persephone did not bother to even marvel at the vastness and rushed to the last door. A hall! She relished in the beauty of that hall and took one step forward. The chocker around her neck popped and sparked and sent waves of electricity down her entire body. Persephone screamed, caught for a moment as the numbing pain coursed through her body. It took all her strength to pull away, back into the room. Frantic and confused, she tried again only to be violently shocked again by the beautiful necklace. She tired and tried to throw herself outside but she could never make it passed the threshold.

“You can try and try but the outcome is going to be the same,” a cynical but amused voice stated, very close behind her. Persephone growled under her breath and reached for the collar. Since that was what it was all it was…a collar. Her fingertips burned as she touched the diamonds and immediately gave a warning squeeze around her neck. Persephone gasped and ripped her hands away. The collar went cooled and its gripped lessened around her neck. Persephone boiled with fury. How dare he? How fucking dare he! She turned toward him. Persephone was ready to fight or hurt or maim. Anything!

“You mother fucking…” she began to threaten but her breath again caught. Why didn’t he put clothes on! Again, much to her dismay and self-hatred, she blushed. She had never seen a naked man. She was surrounded by females most of her life. And when those damned gods vied for her attention, she wasn’t the least bit interested. They wanted sex. Even surrounded by women, Persephone was aware of what their true intentions were. It seemed to be the force that actually fueled the gods. And the nymphs and goddesses talked. They gossiped and sighed over the size and state of a god, or even mortal. Persephone had no interest. She wanted to remain a virgin like Artemis.

“Language, Persephone. Unless you want pain,” Hades warned, raising his dark eyebrows mischievously.

“Shut up,” Persephone shrieked, unable to think of a snappy comeback. “Just shut up! I want to go home. I want to go home now!”

“This is your home, my beloved bride.”

“I’m not your fucking bride. Stop with that bullshit! You’re just…you are just fucking crazy!” She was trying so hard not to let her gaze fall to his lower regions as she stared and pointed at him with heavy conviction. And what did he do? What did he fucking do! He smiled. He smiled at her and moved so she could see his growing erection between his graceful legs. She was so furious as well as embarrassed. She tried to keep her breathing calm but she found it difficult. She was aflame with unyielding violent rage and something even more primitive. Persephone grabbed one of the candelabrums only to nearly fall, surprised at the weight. They were real gold and unfortunately too heavy for her to move let alone use as a weapon.

“Damnit,” she muttered under her breath. She went to reach for the next item to use, a candle, but a pale hand grabbed her wrist from behind and firmly pulled her away. Persephone struggled against Hades, more afraid of being close to his naked form than anything. An arm snaked around her waist, pinning her to his chest. His mouth brushed against her ear as he sighed heatedly. She felt him, growing harder, against her back as he swayed with her fighting his embrace.

“You’re so eager to play with fire, my love,” he purred. He scooped her, carrying her like a bride across the threshold. Persephone, to no avail, tried to get out of his arms. His face shone with dark lust and determination. Gently, like a patient lover, he laid her back into the cloudlike bed and took her wrists in his hands all the while Persephone twisted and turned and simply fought against him. She shrieked whatever profanities that she could muster.

Yet, it didn’t deter Hades. He bound her wrists to the solid gold headboard; tied by a silky scarf he had concealed somewhere. She twisted and turned and wrestled against her binds, flinging her self recklessly across the welcoming bed. Hades disappeared from her line of vision for a moment. Her heart was pounding at a furious rate. Oh gods! What did he have planned?

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