“I think I must 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 her 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 came out of the water despite being nearly drowned and ran.
“A goddess!” She heard Tantalus croon. “Come back, little goddess—I’ve been starved so long. I require a taste!”
The bank of the grotto 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. 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,” he soothed. His lips pressed into her hair, and she heard him ask, “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.
The god snapped his fingers and the column turned. Tantalus faced them now. He didn’t appear to be afraid that Hades had arrived. 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, and in a flash, he lifted the man, holding him by the neck. Tantalus’ legs kicked back and forth—Hades laughed at his struggle.
“How do you know I haven’t felt like that for centuries, mortal?” he asked.
In an instant, Hades’ glamour melted away, and he 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 pulled hard 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. She was unable to 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 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.