The hall led us to a beautiful dining room filled with sparkling chandeliers, gleaming silver elaborate draperies and flickering candles. A long table was filled with elegant displays of food and sparkling pitchers of wine. At the far end of the table, Persephone waited, watching us as we entered.
She was beautiful. Not as beautiful as my mother, but then no one was. One of Aphrodite’s gifts was in being the epitome of beauty to every eye that beheld her. She was each person’s personal vision of perfection. There was no competing with that.
But Persephone gave her a run for her money.
She was curvy and her br**sts spilled over the top of her perfectly fitted purple satin gown. Chunky necklaces and bracelets of amethyst adorned her neck and wrists, which made her dark blue eyes appear purple. Her russet colored hair was piled on top of her head with tendrils escaping to curl around her face. She was lovely and young, although the wisdom in her eyes betrayed her age. She also had a sharpness about her. It was evident that she had seen many things throughout her life here in the Underworld.
She stood as we entered and Hades crossed the room to her side, kissing her briefly on the cheek. There was appreciation in his eyes when he appraised her appearance. It was a well-known fact that he was in love with his wife.
“My wife, Persephone,” he introduced. “Persephone, we are honored to host Harmonia, Cadmus, Ares, Aphrodite, Ortrera and her fierce Amazon warriors. I wonder what we did to receive such an honor?”
He turned his gaze back to us in question.
“Well?” he asked smoothly. “Why have we been blessed with your presence?”
He was perfectly calm as he slid Persephone’s chair in for her and then turned to us, waiting for an answer.
Aphrodite gave him one.
“You know why we’re here!” she spit in agitation. “We’re here because somewhere in this godforsaken place, you have Harmonia’s daughter. And perhaps you have the other Olympians, as well! Where have you put them?”
Hades chuckled darkly as he walked toward us.
“And why would you assume that?”
As he drew nearer, I saw the danger glittering in the depths of his dark eyes and it made me want to retreat. I innately knew that I had never been in the presence of someone as dangerous as Hades. He reminded me of a coiled up cobra, deadly and poised to strike.
“The Oracle of the Dead told us to come here,” I answered quietly, calming standing my ground even though I wanted to flee. He was dangerous on many levels. “She said that we would find all that we seek in the Underworld. But you know that, don’t you? You’ve been expecting us. Everyone here is expecting us.”
“Perhaps,” he conceded, examining me. “Am I correct in assuming that none of you will be eating from this delicious feast?”
I nodded curtly. “You are correct.”
He smiled again, a breath-taking smile. His teeth were brilliantly white in contrast with his dark hair and golden skin. I once again had to suppress my surprise. He was a beautiful man and I hadn’t been expecting that.
“Then perhaps I could have a word with you, alone?” He glanced at the rest of the group. “I’m sure Aphrodite should rest. And Persephone, perhaps you could keep the rest of our visitors entertained?”
“Of course, my love,” she nodded. “I would be happy to.”
She rose from her seat without eating and swayed toward me. But she didn’t even look at me. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Cadmus and took his arm.
“We have many lovely things in our home. I so rarely get a chance to show them off. Please, come with me.”
Cadmus looked to me, his forehead wrinkled in concern. Here in the Underworld, I wasn’t able to read his mind but I already knew what he was thinking. He didn’t want to leave me alone with Hades. And to be honest, I didn’t want him to. My heart was racing already. But I didn’t have a choice. Hades might know something about Raquel. In fact, I was fairly certain that he did. And I knew that he wouldn’t share anything if we didn’t play by his rules.
So, I sighed and nodded. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”
Cadmus stared into my eyes. “Are you certain?”
“Of course,” I answered with as much bravado as I could muster. “Hades just wants to talk to me. It’s alright.”
Persephone laughed, her voice tinkling like expensive crystal bells. “What harm could come from a conversation?”she laughed. “Truly. She will be fine.” She looped her other arm through Aphrodite’s.
“We have so much to catch up on,” Persephone murmured to my mother. “Please, tell me everything.”
She led them away and out the door. Cadmus glanced worriedly over his shoulder as they left and I smiled at him in reassurance. It was an assurance that I didn’t feel, but hopefully he didn’t know that. The Amazons trailed behind them and as the last one turned the corner, Hades turned to me.
“I’ve known for a long time that this day would come,” he confided in me, his voice like velvet. I honestly could listen to his voice forever. It was like creamy caramel drizzling over my entire body. It was that smooth. I shook my head. Why was I dwelling on that? What was wrong with me?
“You have?” I studied his handsome face. He didn’t seem worried or concerned. Like everyone else, he was simply expectant. “And now that it is here?”
“Now that it is here, I find that I do not know what to say.”
He laughed softly as he picked up my hand and turned it over to trace my birthmark with his fingers. His touch was electrifying and I wondered if it was that way for everyone or if he and I just had a strange connection. I tried to calm my breathing.
He bent his dark head to examine my mark more closely.
“This looks painful,” he said as he traced the blackened outline of the Phoenix. “Why did they do this to you?”
His eyes held sympathy and it appeared to be genuine. Every trace of danger that had been there only a few minutes ago was gone and now, he somehow seemed kind. But I knew better than to trust it. I pulled my hand away.
“I do not know,” I admitted. “But it doesn’t hurt any longer.”
He shook his head. “It is a pity that they marred even a fraction of your perfection.”
“I am not perfect.”
“That is debatable,” he replied softly and I couldn’t help but watch his perfectly formed lips as he spoke. What had he done to me? Why did I feel such a pull toward him? I had never experienced anything like it. Even with… Cadmus. My soul mate. I cleared my throat.