I leaned into Hades, but I had a little business to take care of before we got busy.
“I brought you a present,” I said, rubbing myself against him.
“I've got a big present for you,” he said, dropping the reins and was about to haul me off.
“Wait!” I shouted, causing two of the horses to rear up.
I quickly bent down to pick up the plant and hand it to Hades.
“I believe you once knew her as Minthe,” I said when Hades looked at the plant in bewilderment.
I watched him carefully as the anger ripped through me again.
“The water nymph who thought that she was more beautiful than me and you would go back to her,” I snapped at him until realisation dawned on him.
He glanced at me in shock before he looked at the small potted plant.
“You turned Minthe into a plant?” he asked, casually scratching his beard.
My ire began to fade when he didn't appear concerned about his former lover being turned into a fragrant plant. When I heard her goading words about how Hades would leave me for her and how she was far more beautiful than me, I flew into a rage before I hunted her down. My mother hadn’t taken her words kindly, but she let me deal with the situation.
“Yes, and I would do it again,” I said rebelliously as I stepped off the chariot.
“Is that right?” Hades drawled as he followed me.
The shades took the horses, and I saw Hades handing the plant to one of them, and he began to stalk me.
I kept my eyes on him but began to back away towards the Palace steps. My heart started to race as I considered my options.
“Were you jealous, Persephone?” he said, edging towards me.
There was no escape, especially when he could morph into the shadows and pop out in all manner of places.
“Maybe,” I said, tilting my chin up in defiance.
“You punished Minthe for disrespecting you as my wife and the Queen of the Underworld?” Hades said as he closed in on me.
“Yes, do you have any other former lovers who have loose and spiteful tongues?” I asked angrily.
“None that are alive,” he said as he reached me.
I relaxed at his words. Years ago, I would have baulked at the thought of turning a person into a plant. Now, I embraced the darkness within me and craved it at times. Perhaps everyone had a dark side to them.
Hades wrapped his arms around me, and we were transported into our chamber.
“I am going to fuck you so hard that you will feel me inside you for days,” he growled at me, tugging at my dress. “My vengeful Queen.”
His lips were on my neck, and the familiar feel of his lips, with his beard grazing my flesh, made me shiver with anticipation.
I was home.
Hades
My plan to surprise her was ruined because I couldn't restrain myself. I tore her pale green chiton off like an animal. This was the third cycle, and it was the same each time. My time in the Underworld was bearable because I knew Persephone would return as soon as the first autumn leaf fell to the ground.
Once her ripped dress fell to the ground, I shuffled her towards the bed until her legs hit the back of it, and she toppled over. Her plump breasts shook as she fell, the rosy pink nipples calling to me.
My compassionate, soft-hearted Goddess, who cried for the mortals’ had decimated Minthe out of jealousy. I couldn't blame her because if anyone tried to undermine my Queen, I would be just as vicious, if not more so. I wasn't too concerned about Minthe because she would live forever down here as a plant.
