much stronger than you will ever be.'
No... No, I had to be with Hades. But he was bound to Virgo, he couldn't leave. Would the Underworld turn me into a monster like him? Was that what had happened before? Hecate's story burst into my mind.
'I can sacrifice something! Something important, to save my soul,' I said quickly.
'And be as miserable as that Titan witch your whole life?' Zeus' voice was low and he was moving closer to me. 'If you let me, Persephone, I can make you so much more.'
Seven
Persephone
Zeus' magic rolled over me, the sweet scent of roses, the kiss of the breeze, the heat of his body, all consuming my rational thoughts.
'More than what?' I asked, my pulse racing. 'What can you make me?'
'Anything you want to be. A goddess without constraints, a goddess living in the light.' His words were like a caress, and I stared into his purple eyes.
'A goddess living in the light,' I repeated breathlessly. How could I live any other way? I couldn't, wouldn't spend my life in the dark. Hades' own words filtered through my mind.
'You can't keep a light this bright in the dark.'
But I couldn't live without Hades either. Confusion was pouring through me in rivers as the terrible realization began to settle over me. This was why the idea of marriage had unsettled me. This was why my head was refusing to process a future with Hades, was putting off the decision until after the Trials. Because I couldn't live in the Underworld with him. I couldn't live in the dark.
What had I done? I'd let the bond awaken, let myself fall in love with a man I couldn't be with, with a man who needed me for his soul to survive. I would destroy both of us if I left, but the thought of those rock walls, the Empusa's lair, the fiery river of Tartarus and its tortured souls, the empty, barely-lit landscape... It would take my soul, I realized, tears burning hot behind my eyes yet again. The longer I stayed in that place, the more of my soul would die. It might take a hundred years, or a thousand, but my soul would eventually be lost to the darkness.
'Persephone, let me show you the life you should live. Let me show you what you truly deserve.'
'What do I have to do?'
'Win the Trials. Prove you are worthy of a crown. And when I tell the world you will be Queen of a brand new realm, your own realm, a realm filled with light and life and nature, you must stand by my side.'
A new realm? Was he talking about the realm Hades had created and was being punished for? I gaped at Zeus, the reality of what he was saying crashing through me as Hades’ pain-filled face dominated my thoughts.
'You hate him that much?'
Zeus' smile slipped.
'You hate him enough to get the woman he loves to leave him and rule the realm he created to replace her? You cruel, cruel, vicious bastard!' I was yelling suddenly, all calm abandoning me and a rage gripping me in its place. Black vines leapt from my palms, snaking towards Zeus. 'You fear him, Zeus. You underestimated his power, and now you fear you can't control him.'
The sky god’s expression twisted, his beautiful face suddenly ugly with anger.
'He was only able to create that realm because of that Titan bitch,' he hissed. 'He's not that strong, and don't let him pretend otherwise. You could be stronger.'
'No, Zeus. I could not. And I would rather spend one day with him than an eternity without. I will be strong by his side, and I will make him stronger. And together you will be no match for us.'
Within a second he was three times his normal size, fizzing purple lightning flashing around him. Thunder crashed overhead, but my vines didn't recoil. They grew with him, whipping around me.
I wasn't scared of him. The realization buoyed me, and I pictured Hades standing behind me, his strength and love flowing into me.
'Are you threatening me, flower goddess?' boomed Zeus.
'Yes. Stay the fuck away from Hades. You've done enough.'
He laughed, a great, booming cackle.
'If I didn't respect you so much, I would smite you where you stand! You, who can just about make plants grow and throw some vines around, are trying to protect the King of the Underworld, one of the three most powerful beings in Olympus?' I opened my mouth to tell him that