“You barely offered him a voice,” she said. “They were only married for a day, Hades.”
“Tragic,” he said.
She glared at him. “Are you so heartless?”
“They are not the first to have a tragic love story, Persephone, nor will they be the last, I imagine.”
“You have brought mortals back for less,” she said.
Hades looked at her. “Love is a selfish reason to bring the dead back.”
“And war isn’t?”
Hades’ eyes darkened.
“You speak of what you do not know, Goddess.”
“Tell me how you picked sides, Hades,” she said.
“I didn’t.”
“Just like you didn’t offer Orpheus another option. Would it have been relinquishing your control to offer him even a glimpse of his wife, safe and happy in the Underworld?”
“How dare you speak to Lord Hades—” Minthe began, but she stumbled when Persephone glared at her. She wished she had powers because she would turn Minthe into a plant.
“Enough.” Hades stood, and Persephone followed. “We are done here.”
“Shall I show Persephone out?” Minthe asked.
“You may call her Lady Persephone,” Hades said. “And no. We are not finished.”
Minthe did not take her dismissal well, but she left, her heels clicking against the marble as she went. Persephone watched Minthe leave until she felt Hades’ fingers under her chin. He lifted her eyes to his.
“It seems you have a lot of opinions on how I manage my realm.”
“You showed him no compassion,” she said. He looked at her for a moment but said nothing and she wondered what he was thinking. “Worse, you mocked the love he had for his wife.”
“I questioned his love. I did not mock it.”
“Who are you to question love?”
“A god, Persephone.”
She glared at him. “All of your power and you do nothing with it but hurt.” He flinched at that and she continued. “How can you be so passionate and not believe in love?”
Hades offered a humorless laugh. “Because passion doesn’t need love, darling.”
Persephone knew just as well as he did that lust fueled the passion they shared, and yet she was surprised and angered by his response. Why? He had not treated her with compassion, and she was a goddess. Perhaps she had hoped to see him moved by Orpheus’ plea as she had been. Maybe she had hoped to see a different god in the moment—one who would prove all her assumptions wrong.
And yet, it had only confirmed them.
“You are a ruthless god,” she said, and snapped her fingers, leaving Hades alone in his throne room.
CHAPTER X – TENSION
Persephone arrived at the Acropolis early on Monday. She wanted to start her article, and Hades had given her more than enough to work with during her visit to the Underworld. She was still angry with Hades for how he had treated Orpheus. She could still hear his bitter laugh at the poor man’s expression of love for his deceased wife, and it made her feel cold.
At least he had shown his true nature—and he had done so at the precise instant she had begun to think he possessed a conscience.