A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(112)

“Let me go!” she screamed, her magic rushed forth, and vines sprouted around them.

Persephone barely had time to register her shock before Pirithous spoke. “Sleep!”

Persephone obeyed, falling into darkness.

***

When she woke, she felt as if she’d been drugged. Her vision was blurry, her head hurt, and her mouth was stuffed with a cloth and taped shut. Her hands were bound behind her back, and she sat in a hard, wooden chair that cut into her arms.

Persephone immediately tried to free herself, but the knot grew tighter. Soon, she became frantic, rocking the chair back and forth.

Then she caught sight of her surroundings and froze. There were pictures and newspaper clippings of her everywhere. Photos taken as she walked down the street, ran errands, and had lunch with her friends. Photos of her at her home, in her pajamas, and sleeping. The images were a log of her daily life. She felt sick and frantic.

“You’re awake.”

Pirithous came into view.

Persephone screamed, though her cries were muffled, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Stop, stop, stop!” he commanded. He reached forward and pulled the tape and gag from her mouth.

“It is alright, my love. I won’t hurt you.”

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped.

Pirithous jaw tightened. “It is no matter,” he said. “You will love me.”

“Fuck you,” Persephone spat.

The man shot forward, twining his fingers into her hair and pulling her head back. When she met his gaze, she noticed the color of his irises had changed from black to gold.

“You’re...a demi-god?”

A wicked smile cut across his face. “Son of Zeus.”

“Oh gods, no wonder you’re such a fucking creep.”

He jerked her hair harder and Persephone yelped, arching to lessen the tension.

“Ungrateful,” he hissed. “I’ve been protecting you.”

“You’re hurting me.”

“You think this is pain?” he asked, but he released her. “Pain is watching the woman you love fall for someone else.”

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.

“Help! Somebody help me please!” she sobbed. “Hades!”

She struggled to free herself until her gaze caught something looming overhead.

“Furies,” Persephone whispered, breathing hard from her frantic effort.

The goddesses floated; their pale bodies seemed to glow in the dark.

“Bride of Hades,” their voices echoed. “You are safe now.”

Smoke coiled in the air and all at once, Hades appeared in his Divine form. Huge and imposing, he towered over her, a void of black. He eyes, fierce and furious, met hers before he whirled toward the lifeless Pirithous.