“It is the same for me.” Apollo snapped his fingers and handed Hermes a tub of steaming hot butter popcorn. He snapped his fingers a second time to summon one for himself, and when he saw the girl staring at them, he asked chivalrously, “Would you like one as well, milady?”
Before the girl could answer, Hades had already snapped his fingers and thrust the tub of popcorn to her hands. “Here you go.” The idea that her first gift from a god would come from anyone but him was so infinitely detestable, Hades didn’t care if the Olympians would end up laughing at him – which they already were.
The girl shook her head, asking blankly, “What am I going to do with this?”
“Eat it,” he said irritably, “obviously.”
“But I don’t want popcorn.”
“Then it’s gone.” He snapped his fingers, and the girl jumped back when the popcorn disappeared from her hands.
“Bloody hell!”
“You curse too much,” Hades remarked.
“I can’t help it,” she exclaimed. “This is an occasion for swearing, don’t you think? One moment I’m in a library, another moment a magical door appears, a crystal key unlocks it, and then poof! I’m here!” She gestured to him. “And you’re here!”
“Me.”
“You!”
“And who am I?”
Her lips pursed.
He stalked towards her, and she slowly backed away. Not wanting to waste time chasing after her, Hades used his power to disappear—-
He heard her gasp.
A moment later, and he appeared right behind him.
She backed into him, gasped again, whirled around, saw Hades and let out a scream.
Apollo clucked his tongue, murmuring, “That’s cheating.” But his tone was more amused than anything.
Hermes only shrugged. “I would have done it sooner if it were me.”
Apollo snorted. “Yes. You probably would.”
Taking advantage of her confusion, Hades pulled her into his arms and lowering his head, he whispered into her ear, “Enough waltzing around the truth, milady. Tell me who I am.” He felt her inhale deeply at his command, and he stiffened, knowing it would—-
Her breasts rubbed against his chest, and even as she whimpered in shock, Hades’ eyes closed as lust razed his blood at the sweet, scorching-hot contact.
Opening his eyes, he looked down at her with dark eyes glittering with need, and his voice was guttural as he said, “I await your answer, milady.”
She swallowed.
“Do not even think of lying,” he warned her. “I would know if you do, even without Apollo’s help, and if you do—-” He bit her ear, causing her to jerk against him. His arms tightened around her, and he purred, “I will make sure you suffer.”
She whimpered, and the sound of it told him that she understood exactly what kind of suffering him in mind.
Licking her ear and savoring the way she shivered, he said softly, “Now milady, I will ask you one last time. Who am I?”
She answered in a trembling whisper, “The Lord of the Underworld.”
Hades stilled, and for one moment it seemed time itself had stopped as well, almost as if the Three Crones were gazing down at him with watchful eyes, their fingers paused mid-air, waiting to see which direction he would want the threads of his existence to take.
He looked down at the girl, whose bright blue eyes were filled with confusion and—-
He sucked his breath.
Desire.
Even though she was struggling to hide it, he saw it easily, and the knowledge that she desired him was as succulent as the sweetest ambrosia. It had been so long since he had last felt such sensations – this heady, drunken feeling of knowing that a girl wanted him so.
She wetted her lips, and the sight of it had him craving to bite her.
Next time, he promised himself.
But for now—-
He cupped her face. “You are correct, milady,” he said huskily. His gaze remained trained on her as he slowly lowered his head. “I am the Lord of the Underworld—-”
Panic crossed her face, and she tried shoving him away again, but this time Hades did not let go.
“—-and you are my prophesied queen.”
Hades and Persephone
A long time ago, a band of angels led by Lucifer led a revolt against God and they were cast away from Paradise. Bitter in their defeat, they sought to destroy mankind, the Maker’s most precious creation, together with the world it dwelled in.
To protect His children, God sent his own angels down to earth, three brothers whose wings were torn away to make them appear human. But in return, God granted them unparalleled powers, knowing that a long and arduous battle awaited the three.
Upon finding Lucifer and his fallen angels, the three brothers realized that their numbers were not enough. They sent their prayers to the heaven, and these were heeded the next day, with nine younger angels coming to their aid.
Stories of these battles were passed from generation to generation, taking on different names and events. For the Greeks, Lucifer and his demons came to be known as the titans, while the angels whose wings had been torn away became known as the Olympians.