A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone Saga Book 1)

Lexa took the news that she’d been living with a goddess the last four years in strides. Her emotions ranged from feelings of betrayal to disbelief, which Persephone understood. Lexa valued truth, and she had just discovered that the person she called her best friend had been lying about a huge chunk of her identity.

“Why did you keep it from me?” Lexa asked.

“It was an agreement I made with my mom,” she said. “Plus, I wanted to know what it was like to live a normal life.”

“I get that,” ‘Lexa said. “Man, your mother is a bitch,” she said, and then hunkered down as if she expected lightning to strike her. “Will she kill me for saying that?”

“She’s too angry with me and full of hatred for Hades to even think about you,” Persephone replied.

Lexa shook her head and just stared at her best friend. They sat in the living room together. It would have felt like any other day had she not been stripped of her mother’s magic and exposed as a goddess. Luckily, Hades helped her call up a human glamour. “I can’t believe you’re the Goddess of Spring. What can you do?”

Persephone flushed. “Well, that’s the thing. I’m just now learning my powers. Up until recently, I couldn’t even feel my magic.”

“I used to want to be like the other gods,” she said. “But when my powers never developed, I just wanted to be somewhere where I was good at something.”

Lexa placed her hand on Persephone’s. “You are good at so many things, Persephone. Especially at being a goddess.”

She scoffed. “How would you know? You just found out what I was.”

“I know because you are kind and compassionate and you fight for your beliefs, but mostly, you fight for people. That’s what gods are supposed to do, and someone should remind them, because a lot of them have forgotten,” she paused. “Maybe that’s why you were born.”

Persephone wiped tears from her eyes.

“I love you, Lex.”

“I love you, too, Persephone.”

***

Persephone had a hard time sleeping in the weeks following Demeter’s threats. Her anxiety skyrocketed, and she felt even more trapped than before. If she didn’t fulfill the terms of her contract with Hades, she would be stuck in the Underworld forever. If she managed to create life, then she would become a prisoner in her mother’s greenhouse.

It was true she loved Hades, but she preferred to come and go from the Underworld as she pleased. She wanted to continue living her mortal life, graduate, and start her career in journalism. When she’d said as much to Lexa, her best friend had responded, “Just talk to him. He’s the God of the Dead, can’t he help?”

But Persephone knew talking would do no good. Hades had said over and over that the terms of the contract were not negotiable, even when facing Demeter. The choice was to fulfill the contract or not—freedom or not.

And that reality was breaking her apart.

Worse, she was using Hades’ magic, and while there were a few advantages, it was like having him around all the time. He was a constant presence, a reminder of her predicament, of how she’d spiraled out of control and found herself in love with him.

It was two weeks from graduation—and from the end of her contract with Hades.

When Persephone arrived at the Acropolis for work, she noticed something was off. Valerie was already standing behind her desk when Persephone stepped off the elevator, and stopped her to whisper before she headed to her desk. “Persephone, there’s a woman here to see you. She says she has a story on Hades.”

She almost groaned out loud. “Did you vet her?” Persephone had given Valarie a list of questions to ask anyone who called claiming they had a story about Hades. Some of the people who’d made calls or came in person to interview had only been curious mortals or undercover journalists trying to get a story.

“She seems legitimate, although I think she’s lying about her name.”

Persephone tilted her head. “Why?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. It was the way she said it. Like it was an afterthought.”

That didn’t make Persephone feel too confident. “What name?”

“Carol.”

Weird.

Then Valerie offered, “If you want someone to go with you into the interview, I can.”

“No,” Persephone said. “That’s okay. Thanks, though.”

She put her things away, grabbed coffee, scrolled quickly through her emails on her phone as she entered the room.

“So you have a story for me?” she said, looking up.

“A story? Oh, no, Lady Persephone—I have a bargain.”

Persephone froze. She knew that bright blond hair anywhere.

“Aphrodite.” Persephone’s breath left her. Why was the Goddess of Love here to see her? “What are you doing here?”

“I thought I would pay you a visit, seeing as you are close to the end of your contract with Hades.”

Persephone covered her wrist unconsciously, though the mark was hidden by a bracelet. “How do you know about that?”

Aphrodite smiled, but there was pity in her gaze. “I fear Hades has placed you in the middle of our bet.”

Persephone felt a painful twisted in her stomach, and Persephone swallowed something thick in her throat.

“Bet?” she echoed.

Aphrodite pursed her lips. “I see he has not told you.”

“You can drop the false concern, Aphrodite, and get to the point.”

The goddess’s face changed, and she became more severe and more beautiful than before. When she’d seen Aphrodite at the gala, Persephone had sensed her loneliness and sadness, but now it was clear across her face. It shocked her that Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love—the goddess who had affairs with gods and mortals alike—was lonely.

“My, my,” Aphrodite said. “You are awfully demanding. Perhaps that is why Hades likes you so much.”

Persephone’s fists clenched, and the goddess offered a small smile.

“I challenged Hades to a game of cards. It was all for fun, but he lost. My wager was that he had to make someone fall in love with him within six months,” she said.

It took a moment for what she said to sink in. Hades had a contract with Aphrodite—make someone fall in love with him.

Persephone swallowed hard.

“I must admit, I was impressed with how quickly he zeroed in on you. Not an hour after I set my terms, he lured you into a contract, and I have been observing his progress ever since.”

Persephone wanted to accuse the goddess of lying, but she knew every word Aphrodite had spoken was true.

All this time she’d been used. The weight of the truth settled on her, broke her, ruined her.

She should have never suspected Hades was capable of change. The game was life for him. It meant everything, and he would do anything to win.

Even if it broke her heart.

“I am sorry to hurt you,” Aphrodite said. “But I see now that I have truly lost.”

Persephone glared at the Goddess of Love through watery eyes.

“You do love him.”

“Why would you be sorry?” Persephone asked through her teeth. “This is what you wanted.”

The goddess shook her head. “Because…until today, I didn’t believe in love.”

***

Persephone had never wanted to choose between Demeter or Hades’ prisons. She’d wanted to find a way to be free, but given the realization she’d been used, she made a choice.

After Aphrodite vanished from the interview room, she made a split decision—she would end the bargain with Hades once and for all, and deal with the consequences later. She gathered her things, let Demetri know she needed to leave immediately, and took the bus to Nevernight.

She appeared in the Underworld, making her way across a field, heading toward a dark wall of mountains, intent on finding The Well of Reincarnation.

She should have listened to Minthe.

Gods, she never thought she’d be thinking that.

She was so angry, she couldn’t think straight, and she was happy to feel this way now—because she knew when she calmed down, all she would feel was crushing sadness.

She had given everything to Hades—her body, her heart, her dreams.

She’d been so stupid.

Charm, she rationalized. He must have charmed her.

Her thoughts quickly spiraled out of control as she recalled memories from the last six months, each one bringing more pain than the last. She couldn’t understand why Hades had gone through so much trouble to orchestrate this plan. He’d fooled her. He’d fooled so many people.

What about Sybil?

The oracle had told her their colors were intertwined. That she and Hades were meant to be together.

Perhaps she’s just a really bad oracle.

Now close to tears, she almost didn’t hear the rustling of grass beside her. Persephone turned to see movement a short distance from her. Her heart stuttered out of control, and she stumbled back, tripping on something hidden in the grass. When she fell, whatever was in the grass charged toward her.

Persephone closed her eyes and covered her face only to feel a cold, wet nose press against her hand; she opened her eyes to find one of Hades’ three dogs staring at her.

She laughed and sat up, petting Cerberus on the head, his tongue rolling out of his mouth. With a glance, she found that what she’d tripped over had been his red ball.

“Where are your brothers?” she asked, scratching behind his ear, and he responded by licking her face. Persephone pushed him away and got to her feet, scooping up the ball. “You want this?”

Cerberus sat back on his haunches but could barely stay still.

“Fetch!” Persephone threw the ball. The hound took off, and she watched him for a few moments before continuing toward the base of the mountain.

The closer she got, the ground beneath her feet became uneven, rocky, and bare. A short time later, Cerberus joined her again, ball in his mouth. He didn’t drop it at her feet but looked ahead at the mountains.

“Can you lead me to the Well of Reincarnation?” Persephone asked.

The dog looked at her and then took off.

She followed—up a steep incline and into the heart of the mountains. It was one thing to see these landforms from a distance, another to walk among them and beneath the halo of black, swirling clouds. Lightning flashed and thunder shook the earth. She continued to follow Cerberus, fearful of losing sight of the dog—or worse, that he would be hurt.

“Cerberus!” Persephone called as he disappeared around another turn in the maze. She wiped the back of her hand over her forehead, slick with sweat; it was warm in the mountains and growing hotter.

Rounding the corner, she hesitated, noticing a small stream at her feet—but this stream was fire. Unease trickled down her spine. She heard Cerberus barking ahead and jumped over the rivulet only to find the dog at the edge of a cliff where a river of raging flame roiled below. Its heat was almost unbearable, and Persephone suddenly realized where she’d wandered.

Tartarus.

This was the River Phlegethon.

“Cerberus, find a way out!” she commanded.

The dog barked as if accepting her direction and raced toward a set of stairs carved into the mountains. They were sleek and steep and disappeared into the folds above.

But they would take her higher into the mountains.

“Cerberus!”

The dog continued on, so she chased after him.

The steps led to an open cavern above. Lanterns lined the passage, but barely illuminated her feet. The tunnel provided an escape from the heat of the Phlegethon. Perhaps Cerberus was leading her to the Well of Reincarnation as she had requested.

Just as she had that thought, she came to the end of the cavern, which led to a beautiful grotto full of lush vegetation and trees heavy with golden fruit. The pool at her feet held water that glittered like stars in an inky sky.

This must be the Well of Reincarnation, she thought.

At the pool’s center, there was a stone pillar with a gold goblet at the top. Persephone wasted no time as she waded through the water to reach the cup, but with the movement of water, there came a voice.

“Help,” it rasped. “Water.”

She froze and looked around, but saw nothing.

“H-hello?” she called to the dark.

“The pillar,” the voice said.

Persephone’s heart raced as she came around the post to find a man chained to the other side of it. He was thin—literally skin stretched over bones—and his hair and beard were long, white, and matted. The manacles around his wrists were just short enough to prevent him from reaching the cup at the top of the pillar—or the low-hanging fruit just outside of reach.

She inhaled sharply at the sight of him, and when the man looked at her, his pupils appeared to be swimming in blood.

“Help,” he said again. “Water.”

“Oh, my gods.”

Persephone climbed the pillar for the goblet, filled it with water from the pool and helped the man drink.

“Careful,” she warned the faster he gulped. “You’ll be sick.”

She pulled the goblet away and the man took a few breaths, chest heaving.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Who are you?” she asked, studying his face.

“My name,” he took a breath, “is Tantalus.”

“And how long have you been here?”

“I do not remember.” Every word he spoke was slow and seemed to take all his energy. “I was cursed to be eternally deprived of nourishment.”

She wondered what he had done to be assigned such a punishment.

“I have begged daily for an audience with the lord of this realm so that I might find peace in Asphodel, but he will not hear my pleas. I have learned from my time here, I am not the same man I was all those long years ago. I swear it.”

She considered this, and despite what she’d learned about Hades today, she believed in the god’s powers. Hades knew the soul. If he felt this man had changed, he would grant him his wish to reside in Asphodel.

Persephone took a step away from Tantalus, and his eyes seemed to ignite, his teeth clenched. There it is, she realized, the darkness that Hades saw.

“You do not believe me,” he said, suddenly able to speak without pause.

“I’m afraid I don’t know enough either way,” Persephone said, trying to remain as neutral as possible. She had the unsettling feeling that this man’s rage was to be feared.

At her words, the strange, angry glint that had clouded his eyes disappeared, and he nodded. “You are wise.”

“I think I should go,” Persephone said.

“Wait,” he called as she started to move. “A bite from the fruit—please.”

Persephone swallowed. Something told her not to do it, but she found herself plucking a plump, golden fruit from the tree. She approached the man, stretching her arms in an effort to keep a good distance from him. Tantalus strained his neck to reach the fleshy fruit.

That was when something hard plowed into Persephone’s legs from under the water.

She lost her footing and was submerged. Before she could break the surface, she felt the man’s foot on her chest. Despite his suffering, he was strong and held her under the water while she writhed against him until she grew too weak to fight. The hold she had on her glamour slipped away, and she returned to her Divine form.

When she stopped struggling, Tantalus removed his foot.

That’s when Persephone moved.

She pushed her way through the water, which felt more like swimming in tar. She fell, spraying water everywhere.

“A goddess!” She heard Tantalus croon. “Come back, little goddess—I’ve been starved so long. I require a taste!”

The grotto’s bank was slick, and she struggled to climb it, scraping her knees on the jagged rock. She didn’t notice the pain, desperate to get out of this place. When she made it to the dark exit, she slammed into a body, and hands clamped down on her shoulders.

“No! Please—”

“Persephone,” Hades said, pushing her back only a step.

She froze, meeting his gaze, and at the sight of him she couldn’t contain her relief.

“Hades!” She threw her arms around him and sobbed. He was steady and strong and warm; one of his hands curled against her head and the other on her back.

“Shh.” His lips pressed into her hair. “What are you doing here?”

Then the man’s horrible voice cut through the air.

“Where are you, little bitch?”

Hades went rigid and pulled her behind him, approaching the grotto’s opening. When he snapped his fingers, the column turned so Tantalus faced them now. He didn’t appear to be afraid of Hades’ arrival.

The god flung out his hand and Tantalus’ knees gave out, his arms pulled tight in his chains.

“My goddess was kind to you.” Hades’ voice was cold and resonate. “And this is how you repay her?”

Tantalus started to heave, and the water Persephone had given him spilled from his mouth. Hades took deliberate steps toward the prisoner, parting the water, creating a dry path straight to the man. Tantalus struggled to find his footing to relieve the pain in his arms, taking deep, shaky breaths that rattled in his chest.

“You deserve to feel as I have felt—desperate and starved and alone!” Tantalus gritted out.

Hades watched Tantalus for a moment; then in a flash, he lifted the man, holding him by the neck. Tantalus’ legs kicked back and forth, and Hades laughed at his struggle.

“How do you know I haven’t felt like that for centuries, mortal?” he asked and, as he spoke, his glamour melted away. Hades stood clothed in darkness.

“You are an ignorant mortal. Before, I was merely your jailor—but now I shall be your punisher, and I think my judges were too merciful. I’ll curse you with an unquenchable hunger and thirst. I’ll even put you within reach of food and water—but everything you partake of will be fire in your throat.”

With that, Hades dropped Tantalus. The chains yanked on his limbs, and he hit the stone hard. When he was able, he lifted his gaze to Hades and growled like an animal. Just as he started to lunge for the god, Hades snapped his fingers and Tantalus was gone.

In the quiet, he turned to Persephone, and she couldn’t control her reaction. She took a step back, slipping on the slimy stone. Hades lunged forward and caught her, cradling her in his arms.

“Persephone,” his voice was warm and low—a plea. “Please don’t fear me. Not you.”

She stared up at him, unable to look away. He was beautiful and fierce and powerful—and he had deceived her.

Persephone couldn’t hold in her tears. She broke, and when Hades’ hold on her tightened, she buried her face in the crook of his neck. She wasn’t aware of when they teleported, and she didn’t look up to see where he’d taken her; she only knew that a fire was near. The heat did little to banish the cold raking her body, and when she didn’t stop shivering, Hades took her to the baths.

She let him undress her and cradle her against him as they entered the water, but she wouldn’t look at him. He allowed the silence to go on for a while, until, she imagined, he couldn’t handle it any longer.

“You are unwell,” he said. “Did he…hurt you?”

She was quiet, and kept her eyes closed, hoping that would keep her from crying.

“Tell me,” he begged. “Please.”

It was at the word please that she opened her watery eyes. “I know about Aphrodite, Hades.” His face changed at her words. She’d never seen him look so shocked or stricken. “I’m no more than a game to you.”

He scowled. “I have never considered you a game, Persephone.”

“The contract—”

“This has nothing to do with the contract,” he all but snarled, releasing her.

Persephone struggled to gain her footing in the water and shot back at him. “This has everything to do with the contract! Gods, I was so stupid! I let myself think you were good even with the possibility of being your prisoner.”

“Prisoner? You would think yourself a prisoner here? Have I treated you so poorly?”

“A kind jailor is still a jailor,” Persephone snapped.

Hades’ face darkened. “If you considered me your warden, why did you fuck me?”

“It was you who foretold this.” Her voice shook. “And you were right—I did enjoy it, and now that it’s done, we can move on.”

“Move on?” His voice took on a deadly edge. “Is that what you want?”

“We both know it’s for the best.”

“I’m beginning to think you don’t know anything,” he said. “I’m beginning to understand that you don’t even think for yourself.”

Those words pierced her like a blade to her sternum. “How dare you—”

“How dare I what, Persephone? Call out your bullshit? You act so powerless, but you’ve never made a damn decision for yourself. Will you let your mother determine who you fuck now?”

“Shut up!”

“Tell me what you want.” He cornered her, pinning her against the edge of the pool.

She looked away and ground her teeth so hard her jaw hurt.

“Tell me!”

“Fuck you!” She snarled and jumped, twining her legs around his waist. She kissed him hard, their lips and teeth crashing together painfully, but neither of them stopped. Her fingers tangled into his hair, and she pulled hard, tipping his head back, kissing down his neck. In seconds they found themselves outside the pool, on the marble walkway, and Persephone pushed Hades onto his back and impaled herself on his shaft, taking him deep.

The brutal movement of their bodies and breathing filled the baths. It was the most erotic thing she’d ever done, and as she moved, she felt a rush inside her—something separate from the heady pull of Hades’ body. She couldn’t place it, but it was awake in her veins and vibrating.

Hades reached between them, squeezing her breasts and gripping her thighs, then rose into a sitting position, taking her nipples into his mouth. The sensation drew a guttural sound from Persephone and she squeezed Hades to her, moving harder and faster.

“Yes,” Hades said between his teeth and then commanded, “Use me. Harder. Faster.”

It was the only command she ever wanted to obey.

They came together, and in the aftermath, Persephone rose from Hades, grabbed her clothes, and left the baths. Hades followed after her, naked.

“Persephone,” he called. She kept walking, pulling on her clothes as she went. Hades cursed and finally caught up with her, pulling her into a nearby room—his throne room.

She turned on him, pushing him away angrily. He didn’t move an inch, and instead caged her with his arms.

“I want to know why.” Persephone could feel something burning in her veins. It ignited deep in her belly and rushed through her like venom when he didn’t speak. “Was I an easy target? Did you look at my soul and see someone who was desperate for love, for worship? Did you choose me because you knew I couldn’t fulfill the terms of your bargain?

“It wasn’t like that.”

He was too calm.

“Then tell me what it was!” she seethed.

“Yes, Aphrodite and I have a contract, but the bargain I struck with you had nothing to do with it.” She crossed her arms, prepared to reject that statement when he added, “I offered you terms based on what I saw in your soul—a woman caged by her own mind.”

Persephone glared at him.

“You are the one who called the contract impossible,” he said. “But you are powerful, Persephone.”

“Do not mock me.” Her voice shook.

“I would never.”

The sincerity in his voice made her sick. “Liar.”

His eyes darkened. “I am many things, but a liar I am not.”

“Not a liar then, but a self-admitted deceiver.”

“I have only ever given you answers,” he said. “I have helped you reclaim your power and yet you haven’t used it. I have given you a way to walk out from underneath your mother, and yet you will not claim it.”

“How?” she demanded. “What did you do to help me?”

“I worshipped you!” he yelled. “I gave you what your mother withheld—worshippers.”

Persephone stood for a moment in stunned silence. “You mean to tell me you forced me into a contract when you could have just told me I needed worshippers to gain my powers?”

“It’s not about powers, Persephone! It’s never been about magic or illusion or glamour. It’s about confidence. It’s about believing in yourself!”

“That’s twisted, Hades—”

“Is it?” he snapped. “Tell me, if you’d known, what would you have done? Announced your Divinity to the whole world so that you might gain a following and consequently your power?” She knew the answer, and so did he. “No, you’ve never been able to decide what you want because you value your mother’s happiness over your own!”

“I had freedom until you, Hades.”

“You thought you were free before me?” he asked. “You just traded glass walls for another kind of prison when you came to New Athens.”

“Why don’t you keep telling me how pathetic I am,” she spat.

“That’s not what I—”

“Isn’t it?” she cut him off. “Let me tell you what else makes me pathetic: I fell for you.” Tears stung her eyes. Hades moved to touch her, but she held out her hand. “Don’t!”

He halted, looking far more pained than she could have ever imagined. She took a moment, waiting to speak until she was sure her voice was even. “What would Aphrodite have gotten if you had failed?”

Hades swallowed and answered in a low, rough voice, “She asked that one of her heroes be returned to the living.”

Persephone pressed her lips together and nodded. She should have known. “Well, you won. I love you. Was it worth it?”

“It wasn’t like that, Persephone!” She turned from him, and he called out. “You would believe Aphrodite’s words over my actions?”

She paused at that and turned to face him. She was so angry her body vibrated. If he was trying to tell her he loved her, he needed to say it. She needed to hear the words.

Instead, he shook his head and said, “You are your own prisoner.”

Something within her snapped. It was painful and moved through her veins like fire. Beneath their feet, the marble rattled. Their eyes met just as great black vines erupted from the floor, twisting around the God of the Dead until his wrists and ankles were restrained.

For a moment, they were both frozen, stunned.

She had created life—though what rose from the floor looked far from alive. It was withered and black, not bright and beautiful. Persephone breathed heavily; unlike before, the magic she now felt was strong. It made her body throb with a dull pain.

Hades regarded his bound wrists, testing the restraints. When he looked at Persephone, he offered a humorless chuckle, his eyes a dull, lifeless black.

“Well, Lady Persephone. It looks like you won.”