Persephone didn’t speak.
She was afraid. Her magic welled inside her, but she didn’t know how to use it—her wrists were bound, and she had only ever channeled her power with her hands. Even then, the best she could do was restrain Pirithous, which could backfire since she was unaware of his power.
“Pirithous, you don’t know me. How could you love me?”
“I love you! Haven’t I shown it? The hearts, the notes, the flower?”
“That’s not love. If you loved me, you wouldn’t have brought me here.”
“I brought you here because I love you, don’t you see? There are people who want to tear us apart.”
“Like Hades? I assure you he will tear you apart.”
“Don’t say his name!”
“Hades will find me.”
Pirithous moved toward her threateningly and she squeezed her eyes shut. When he didn’t touch her, she opened her eyes and found him glaring down at her. “Why him?”
Persephone searched for an answer—one that would appease him, that would make him go away.
“Because the Fates command it,” she answered.
He paled, and for a moment, she thought she might have succeeded, but then he gritted his teeth and hissed, “You’re lying!”
He knelt before her.
“Why him? Is it the sex?”
Persephone tensed, squeezing her legs together as Pirithous placed his hands on either side of the chair.
“Tell me what he does that you like; I can do better.”
“Don’t fucking touch me!” Persephone screamed, and tried to shuffle away from him, but her heels wouldn’t grip the floor. Pirithous’ fingers dug into her skin, and he pried her legs apart.
“No!”
“You’ll like it. I promise. You won’t even think about him when I am finished.”
No, she would only wish to die.
“I said no!”
She screamed, and thorns erupted around her from the ground. They created a cage, protecting Persephone from Pirithous’ advances, cutting him in the process.
He screamed.
“You won’t keep me from you!”
At first, he clawed at the wood, trying to break the branches with his bare hands. When that didn’t work, he disappeared and returned with a knife, driving it through the thorn barrier.
Persephone screamed, and the thorns thickened until they exploded in shards and splinters.
Pirithous was blow back. He landed against the wall, his body sagged to the ground, a massive stake speared his chest.
He was dead.
Persephone screamed.