That Fatal Kiss, page 1
THAT FATAL KISS
By
MINA LOBO
Copyright © 2013 Mina Lobo
All rights reserved.
Cover Design by Steven Novak
http://novakillustration.com
Cover Photo by Teresa Yeh
http://www.teresayeh.com/index.html
Edited by Jena O'Connor
http://practicalproofing.com
Proofread by Caren Estesen
http://carenestesen.com/
E-book Formatted by Jessica Lewis
http://authorslifesaver.com
Author Photo by Jeanette Estima
Table of Contents
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
EPILOGUE
Who’s Who and What’s What in That Fatal Kiss
Author’s Note # 1
Author’s Note #2
Acknowledgements
Thanks
Dedication
About the Author
I.
Hades’ Palace, Underworld
“I WANT YOUR daughter.”
Laughter cracked the air, a thunder across a troubled night’s sky. “By the Furies and Fates, which one?” asked Zeus, the King of the Gods.
Hades, Lord of the Underworld, cast Zeus an impatient glance as he replied, “The daughter you made with Demeter. She is the one I desire.”
Zeus lost his smile and began to pace the stark obsidian floor of Hades’ throne room, tugging his wild white beard. “You …want Persephone?”
Hades eased back into his throne. His sharp features were half cast in shadow, and where the flickering light from the nearby torches did illuminate his face, it revealed an unfolding smile. But the sensuously curved lips did not reflect warm sentiment. He raised his eyebrows in a pretense of bemusement. “Yes. I want Persephone. Is your hearing failing you in your advancing years?”
Zeus’ steps halted and he scowled. “It would behoove you to recall that you are asking me for a favor, one which, I might add, could stir up enmity with Demeter and her allies.”
“Does my hearing fail me, or did the Lord of all Gods just admit to fearing the ones under his rule?”
“You also fall under my rule. I can just as easily destroy you as not.”
Leaning forward, his long fingers curling into tight fists, Hades said, “You’re welcome to try.”
The air sizzled with sparks of anger that gathered visibly around the two gods, and Hades held Zeus’ stare without flinching. An observer might have thought Hades to be deliberately provoking Zeus to violence by his very manner, and would not have been wide of the mark. The dark-complexioned god did not show his king the deference he was due, but defiance. Hades knew that had another Immortal dared issue the challenge, Zeus’ rebuke would have been swift and uncompromising. But he also knew himself to be one of the very few beings in existence to command Zeus’ respect. And fear. No doubt, the younger god would rush to appease him.
Proving Hades right, Zeus shook his head and waved away the angry words. “Come, I’ve no wish to damage Grandmother Earth with another battle.”
“Will you aid me in this endeavor?”
“Why her? Why the daughter of Demeter?” Zeus asked.
“Why not?” Hades snapped. “Look about you, Zeus; do you not see the darkness that pervades my kingdom? Do you think it a pleasure to rule these fluttering shades, which have barely more substance than the air the mortals breathe above?”
Zeus’ stare turned penetrating. “Pleasure?”
“Somehow, I knew you would latch onto that word, the pursuit of pleasure being the thing nearest and dearest to your heart.” Hades did not trouble to keep the disdain from his voice. “Aye. Pleasure. These senseless remnants of humanity afford me little. They’ve no conversation, no understanding, no passion.” He turned away as he added gruffly, “Try mating with them.”
Zeus’ laugh boomed again. “Forgive me, Hades, I was not thinking of that.”
Hades’ face darkened with contempt. “For once.”
The Thunderer bristled at the continued insolence. “Is that all you want? Someone to assuage your lust? Is a daughter of mine to serve merely as your receptacle, is she to be nothing more than your concubine?” he cried.
“I do not want her for my concubine, but for my lawful wife.”
“Your wife!”
“Yes, confound you, my wife!”
“But why her?”
“Are you blind too, that you have to ask?”
Zeus huffed loudly through his nose but did not respond in kind. Instead, he seemed to ponder the matter before asking quietly, “What if she does not want you?”
Hades’ lips twisted. “Since when did a female’s wishes ever matter? You know the customs. If you as her father give her to me, then she is lawfully mine.”
“But why do you not court her properly, ask her if she would be your queen?”
“Court her? The way you courted your bride? Did you prostrate yourself before Hera, begging her to have you? No—You wanted her, Father Cronus was in no position to challenge you, and so you took her.”
“I had Mother Rhea’s consent.”
“And I would have yours. What is your point?”
“My point is that Demeter will not be pleased to lose her only child to the Lord of the Underworld,” said Zeus.
Hades shrugged. “She is a goddess of the Earth, a prolific creator. Surely she can have another.”
Zeus gave an angry shake of his head. “I do not wish to arouse her displeasure, as she is dear to me.”
“Then my displeasure is of no consequence? You seem to forget that I am Lord also, and that my kingdom has virtually no end. I can easily send Thanatos above ground on an extensive tour.” Hades’ words sank into the damp air with a tinny ring of malevolence. Though the God of Death brought peaceful passage from life, he was yet more terrifying to mortals than Hades himself.
“What is your meaning?”
“I mean that I can order him to fetch me every mortal alive and, within three voyages of Apollo’s chariot, you will have no one to offer you First Fruits.” Hades let Zeus absorb the enormity of the threat before adding, “Nor will you have anyone to satisfy your other appetites.”
Zeus’ heavenly blue eyes widened. “You would not.”
The corners of Hades’ lips curved wickedly.
Zeus took the bejeweled bronze seat across from Hades and availed himself of a goblet of nectar. After taking a leisurely drink, he licked his lips and his voice took on a conspiratorial tone as he spoke. “Come now, Aidoneus,” he began, emphasizing Hades’ title, “do you not see how well off you are as things stand? Whatever do you want a wife for? They’re nothing but trouble, I assure you. Mine is ever meddling in my affairs, attempting to assume for herself a place above me, defying me when she can, haranguing me when she cannot. It is truly no great pleasure to take a female to your bosom as your mate. We can alleviate the gloom of Erebus some other way, hmm? Arrange for numerous nymphs, or even mortal women, to amuse you, whenever you like, for as long as you wish. Surely, you must prefer to taste a variety of dishes rather than limit yourself to the same meal forever?”
Hades stared stonily at Zeus throughout the monologue. His tone was flat when he said, “Marriage to Hera never impeded your own illicit activities, did it? In any event, I don’t require a variety of dishes. I want only Persephone.”
“But…only think of her age, Hades!”
Hades’ look turned wary. “What of it?”
“Well, don’t you see? She reached maturity some time ago, without any masculine tempering. She’s headstrong, her willfulness eagerly encouraged by her mother. Persephone will not make for a docile or pliable wife, Hades.” Zeus laughed. “I battled Typhon, the Father of All Monsters, with greater ease than you’d war with my daughter. Nay, you surely cannot wish to spend eternity reining her in.”
“Persephone is no monstrous creature, nor is she a brood mare, awaiting her harness—”
“Ah!” Zeus’ voice rang with triumph. “And there is yet another thing!”
“What other thing?” Hades growled.
“How can you be certain that Persephone is still innocent? Unlike Athena and Artemis, who behave exactly as they ought, Persephone is—”
“Persephone is what?” Hades drew out the words with deadly softness.
Zeus almost seemed to shrink back into his seat. “W-well…there have been whispers, you know. It’s said that Persephone exhibits a great interest in pleasures of the flesh…what if she has tasted them already?”
“She has not.”
“No?”
“No. I have observed Persephone these many years and I know both her character and behavior are above reproach.”
“How can you have observed her behavior from Erebus?”
“I have my ways.”
The King of the Gods wore a look of incredulity but Hades would not, and could not, enlighten him. For he’d sworn an oath by the river Styx, which snaked throughout Erebus, to keep secret the existence of a magically crafted mirror, given him by Hecate, the Witch Goddess.
Through the Viewing Mirror, Hades could see anything he wished, simply by naming a subject. In this way, he meant to keep abreast of events in the Heavens and on Earth. Then one fateful day, the god caught sight of Persephone, and she soon became the only subject of interest to him.
The god knew that continued study of the girl was madness, for the tender-hearted female would never love him. Why would she, when she’d grown up hearing only malicious gossip about him from the others? But Hades’ heart was lost to her, and so he did follow Persephone’s every move. Well…very nearly every move. For there had, in fact, been times when he’d sought out a vision of the goddess only to have the Mirror turn gray, as if covered by some fog. When he’d questioned Hecate about it, her cryptic reply had been, “You’ll always be able to see Persephone, as long as she doesn’t mind being seen.” Hades hadn’t known what to make of these words and the Witch refused to explain them, claiming she herself had sworn an oath to keep another’s secret.
Hades had shoved aside his misgivings but, with Zeus’ words, felt them return with a vengeance. It was unheard of for well-bred females to engage in sexual congress before they married, be they human or immortal. And Persephone was the best of them all; she must still be a virgin, surely. Yet, what was she up to those times that the Viewing Mirror fogged over?
When Zeus made as if to persist in his quizzing, Hades forestalled him. “Let us dispense with this absurd debate as to Persephone’s eligibility for marriage. I have stated my case, now I must have your answer. What’s it to be?”
“And what of Demeter?”
Hades gave a biting laugh. “She is only a female, what can she possibly do to harm us?”
The younger god gave a deep sigh and his shoulders slumped. “I should have known not to come. When Hermes arrived with your missive requesting an audience, I should have known not to come.”
Narrowing his eyes at this shift in Zeus’ demeanor, Hades asked, “Then why did you?”
“Well…” Zeus rubbed his chin. “I wanted to see how…how you’d fared down here, all these years since we…” The god contemplated his drink. “It wasn’t my idea to cast lots for rule of the three kingdoms, you know.”
Hades felt his tenuous hold on his temper falter. “I remember what happened very well. I especially recall the alacrity with which you agreed that we should gamble for our domains.”
“What should we have done instead? Attempt to castrate one another, as our Father Cronus did, when he usurped Grandfather Uranus’ reign?” Zeus snorted loudly. “What a bizarre method of wresting control, separating one’s father from his balls.”
“Though not as bizarre as Cronus cannibalizing his children to maintain it,” Hades said. “Those unlucky enough to avoid consumption, that is.”
Zeus’ expression hardened. “I don’t know why Rhea saved me and not the rest of you, but thank the Fates she did, else you’d all still be in Cronus’ stomach. As would I.”
“Cronus overthrew our grandfather and we overthrew Cronus. Then you tricked me out of my rightful inheritance and here we are.” Hades shot Zeus a glare that could have immolated the god. “Now, since you’re not about to abdicate your throne, will you at least endeavor to make amends for stealing it?”
Zeus’ chest seethed, as though he battled mightily with his own temper. Then he cast his eyes to the floor. He took some moments to compose himself before asking, “You will accept my rule, once and for all, if I aid you in obtaining a wife?”
“Yes, once and for all, but not for just any wife.”
“You must have Persephone?”
Quietly expelling his unwittingly bated breath, Hades said, “Yes. I must.”
“Bleeding Uranus,” Zeus swore. He tossed back the remainder of his nectar and refilled his cup. “Well, then. There’s nothing else for it.” And, as was the way of the gods, Zeus nodded to assent to the plot. “Fine. I give you my daughter Persephone for your lawful wife.”
“I’ll take her.” Hades reached for his own cup and saluted Zeus with it. “How very good of you to oblige me.”
Zeus rolled his eyes at that and took another sip of his nectar. Regarding Hades once more, Zeus’ disgruntled expression turned to one of amazement. At the questioning sweep of Hades’ brow, Zeus said, “The smoothness of your skin astounds me. How is it that you are my senior by decades and yet you appear so much more youthful than I?”
Hades drank from his goblet and set it down with slightly more force than was necessary. “I stay out of the sun.”
II.
Mount Etna, Sicily
“COME, SISTER! YOU idler, sitting there gathering flowers, come! Join us in the hunt!” cried Artemis as she ran to Persephone and threw herself down upon the lush green meadow.
Persephone looked up from the fragrant blooms she held in her hands. “Artemis, your arrows could be put to better use.”
“How?” the platinum-haired goddess asked.
Her sister’s smile should have warned her. “By using them to slay yourself a lover, rather than a stag.”
The Huntress gasped in shock and shoved Persephone. “For shame, girl! What if your mother heard you say such things?”
Persephone’s hearty laughter shook her, causing her long golden-brown curls to sway about her bare shoulders. “Who do you think taught me to say such things?”
Artemis clicked her tongue in disgust. “Truly, how Demeter finds time to give life to the grains and fruits of the Earth in between her trysts is beyond my imagination.”
Persephone shoved Artemis playfully back as she teased, “That is simply because your virginal imagination wants—ahem—practical inspiration.”
The other goddess reached threateningly for Persephone, who jumped to her feet and emptied her basket of flowers over Artemis’ head. Persephone laughed as her sister sputtered, then yelped as the Huntress got up and reached for her quiver. Persephone let out another shriek, this of delight, and sprinted away. Her feet flew swiftly across the mountainside but still she felt Artemis close behind. Persephone noticed Athena and the daughters of Oceanus down below and thought up more mischief. She dropped to her knees, causing the Huntress to run into her and fall. The two tumbled down the mountain, white arms mingling with colorful gowns as they spun giddily together. The nymphs put a halt to their descent, laughing as they helped the goddesses to their feet.
Athena chastised her sisters, though the smile in her charismatic gray eyes belied her severity. “You’re no better than a mortal child, Persephone, making a fuss like that. How undignified.”
Persephone drew herself up haughtily, imitating the Goddess of Wisdom’s disapproving manner. “If you find me so disagreeable, perhaps I’d best take myself off.” She caught sight of the aegis-shield their father Zeus had given Athena and snatched it from her sister’s unsuspecting grasp. She took to her heels once again, calling out, “Come, catch me if you are able!”
Artemis and Athena bolted as one after their sister, leaving the Oceanides behind. They caught up with her at a pond not far away. Athena’s shield lay on the ground, as did Persephone’s gown; the goddess herself swam gracefully in the cool water. Seeing her sisters, Persephone said, “Join me, the water is lovely! Refresh yourselves!”
Grinning at her enthusiasm, they removed their own clothes to join her. Athena floated dreamily on her back, while Persephone and Artemis played at dunking each other beneath the water. When they’d swum to their hearts’ content, the goddesses took themselves back onto the grass to dry in the warmth of the solar chariot.
Supporting her head with damp arms, Persephone exhaled luxuriantly. “What a gloriously beautiful time of day it is to be upon the Earth.”
“Indeed, and why is your mother not here with you to enjoy the fruits of her labors?” asked Athena as she donned her gown.
“She’s wasting the day receiving offerings at one of her shrines, no doubt. I don’t know why she traps herself inside a musty old temple, when she could be out here, lying in this splendor with us.”
Artemis, who had also put on her simple dress, frowned down at Persephone. “For Zeus’ sake, Sister, clothe yourself. Have you no concern for your modesty?”
“Why should I fear for my modesty? There are no males here, mortal or divine.”
