She sat upon a towering throne. It was crafted from cold, hard iron and adorned with radiant garnet and onyx. All around her was the melody of harp and flute. Her posture was regal and commanding as faceless subjects mounted the steps of the dais leaving offerings of jasmine and honeysuckle at her feet. As each devotee bowed their head in reference, she touched their crown in blessing. All of those who came and gave of themselves to her would receive bountiful benediction, as she was generous and loving to those who served her. Warm sun rays cast her in an angelic glow as she smiled down on each of her attendants.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from the masses, "Long live the queen!" A figure with brown hair and green eyes lurched forward, bearing a dagger in hand.
Her heart rose to her throat as the man leapt onto the dais, cornering her. She held her breath, anticipating the sharp stab of metal into her flesh. Instead, she felt strong arms surrounding her. She had nowhere to run. In desperation, she screamed.
"Persephone!" a pained voice called her, "Persephone, dear one, please awaken!"
Hades shook the shrieking form of his beloved from her nightmare. The visions that haunted her slumber played clearly in his mind. Through Daphne's subconscious, he could see the green eyes that she could never forget.
Daphne continued to scream. Her brow was covered in a thin sheen of perspiration. Her delicate hands were clenched tightly in her cloud of hair. Still trapped in her nightmare, she writhed between the sweat-soaked bedsheets.
Hades pulled her to his chest, afraid that she might cause herself harm. He leant close to her ear and whispered loving and encouraging words, hoping to draw her from her terror.
"Persephone, my love...do not succumb to the dark shadows of the past. No one will hurt you here. Follow my voice. You are not in his grip, beloved. You are in my arms. You are safe in my arms!"
Daphne's eyes flew open as she clutched Hades' arms frantically. Hot tears streamed between their bodies as the pair held fast to one another. They heaved heavy breaths as their hearts raced to the same thunderous cadence.
"You are safe, Persephone. Breathe, my love. Breathe," Hades comforted. In the mortal realm, he had seen her wake in the night from some sort of fright. But, he had never known what. Their bond had clearly strengthened after their last coupling. The visions of her sleep had woken him. It dismayed him that her past continued to torment her in this way.
Daphne inhaled shaky breaths as she took in her surroundings. She was not sitting on any iron throne. She was not disoriented in a fraternity house. She was here, in the arms of someone who had promised to never hurt her. She stared up at the glowing ceiling and registered the warmth of the embrace she was cradled in. Her breathing steadied, but the tears continued to fall.
"I just want it to be over," she whispered hoarsely, "Why won't it stay in the past?"
Hades listened in silence. He could hear the storm of thoughts swirling in Daphne's head. She blamed herself for leaving campus in so little clothing. She blamed herself for leaving her drink unattended in a place full of predators. She blamed herself for getting into harm's way.
"It is not your fault, Persephone." He drew her form ever closer to his. He wished he could take her pain away. If he had only protected her. What purpose did he serve if he could not at least shield her fr—
"It's not your fault either, Hades," she mumbled. His thoughts were beginning to mingle with his. Between her nightmares, her thoughts, and his, Daphne thought her head might explode.
"I apologize for thinking too loudly," he said with the ghost of a wry smile.
"I guess I'll get used to that, huh?" she asked, turning to face him.
"In time, my love. It is quite new to me as well." Hades sat up, bringing his consort with him. He took note of the feverish heat of her skin. "Perhaps a bath is in order? It may calm you somewhat."
Daphne nodded as he lifted her from the bed. She rested her cheek against his chest and concentrated on the steady thrum of his heart as they entered the bathing room. Hades set her on her feet as he began to prepare the bath. Daphne covered her breasts with her arms, feeling exposed without the cover of bedsheets. Hades, on his part, seemed unabashed by his own nudity. In the brightness of the chamber, Daphne could quite clearly see the splendor of the god before her. His back was turned to her, and what a back it was. The expanse of toned muscles dimpled and rippled along his great height. Every inch of him radiated athletic strength. Daphne turned away as she recalled the ease with which he had slung her over his shoulder...
Hades turned to face her, a grin playing on his dark features.
"You are thinking quite loudly, my dear."
Daphne's eyes widened as her face grew red.
"Come," he chuckled, offering his hand. He helped her into the warm bath.
The scent of lavender and chamomile flower filled her nostrils. Hades joined her, leaving some distance between them.
"As much as I do desire to hear your thoughts on my body," he paused, "I believe we should discuss these nightmares."
Daphne said nothing. Instead, she watched the tendrils of steams as they swirled higher into the air.
"When you awake in the night, is that what you see always? That beast trying to kill you?" Hades spoke carefully. He didn't want his hatred for her attacker to frighten her. He had a dangerous temper.
"Not always," she wearied, "Sometimes, he's just there in whatever dream I'm having. Other times, I'm back in the fraternity house. It replays in my head constantly, no matter how much I try to forget it..." Her voice trailed off. She thought back to every dream those green eyes had appeared in. She used to write the nightmares down, hoping that that would somehow help her process the trauma. When they continued, she gave up trying.
"I hope that you will forgive me," he began.
"I don't blame you for what he did to me, Hades. He's a monster that I couldn't defend myself from. It's not your fault." She sank deeper into the water until it nearly reached her ears. She wanted to wash the memories away.
"Am I not the same as he?" Hades asked, more to himself than to the weary figure across from him.
Daphne watched as his expression darkened. She could feel the guilt rolling off of him.
"I hurt you," he strained, unable to meet her brown eyes. He had bound her and ravished her, even when she had protested. She had been afraid, but he had indulged his desires anyway. He could have waited, surely. He could have romanced her until she had given herself to him willingly. He was just as much of a brute as her mortal assailant.
"You're not the same," she emphasized, interrupting his self-deprecation.
"Why?" he demanded. He met her eyes with a fervent stare. "Because I brought you pleasure? Because I have waited so long for you?"
Daphne faltered. She didn't have a reason. She just felt that way. Even if Hades had wrenched her from the life she'd had...even if he had claimed her body against her will...it hadn't been out of malice. It hadn't been for his pleasure. Right?
Daphne shook her head. It didn't make sense. She should have hated him, fought him. But, try as she did, there was something about him that was earnest and caring. It was magnetic, what she felt for him. It scared her.
"Is it because we are bound to one another? Does that give me a claim to your body, to your consent?" His voice rose. The anger he had felt toward her attacker, he now felt for himself.
"Hades, I don't know!" Daphne struggled to keep the exasperation from her voice. "It's you that owes me the explanation. Aren't you as old as humanity itself? You should have the answers!" She flung her arms out in frustration, sending water over the edge of the bath and straight into Hades' face.
Daphne covered her mouth, her face coloring in embarrassment.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." Daphne watched his face, expecting to see anger.
Hades merely brushed his wet hair from his face.
"You're right. I have much to explain. It will not excuse my actions, but perhaps it will clarify my desperation." He rose suddenly from the bath. He hastily wrapped a linen around his waist and strode toward the bedchamber.
Daphne sat perplexed. Is this where she was supposed to find her answers? In the bath water?
"Are you coming?" Hades asked. Daphne wasn't sure if it was his voice or his thoughts calling her. Nonetheless, she hurriedly covered herself in a towel and followed.
She found Hades dressing quickly. He was already wearing a stormy grey chiton and copper adornments. His dark, wavy hair continued to drip as he laced his caligae.
Daphne followed suit. She donned a marigold-colored drape and hurriedly fastened it at her shoulder and waist. Using a leather zoster from the wardrobe as a hair tie, she gathered her hair into a puff high on her head. When she looked up, Hades clutched her hand and pulled her into the dark library. With a wave, Hades ignited the multitude of candles that lined the walls.
"What are we doing here?" Daphne jumped back in surprise as Hades began tearing volumes from shelves. She retreated behind a high-backed stone chair as tablets, scrolls, and thick tomes clattered to the floor. "Hades!"
The frenzied deity gathered an armful of scrolls and books. He dropped them haphazardly onto a tall granite table. He chose the oldest of the bunch, a thin slate tablet, and placed it before them.
"This is your first incarnation, a Grecian maiden from a family of farmers."
Daphne inched closer and gazed at the image delicately chiseled in stone. It was the portrait of a young girl carrying a sheath of wheat under her arms. Daphne saw no resemblance.
"It was during this lifetime that I learned that I had a consort. My parents, Cronus and Rhea, believed that I would be unable to fulfill my duties as Lord of the Underworld if I knew any sooner." Hades traced the carving with his fingertips. "I did not fully understand the nature of our relationship. Before I was even remotely close to deciphering how to bring you here, you perished from typhoid at thirteen."
"Why didn't I just become a part of the river Styx like everyone else does?" Daphne questioned.
"Because you are not like everyone else," he insisted, stopping to draw her closer to him. In his frenzy, he had forgotten how intoxicating her presence was. "Goddesses never die. No, they are reborn."
Daphne stood pressed between the cold, stone table and the Lord of the Underworld's cool chest. Despite the number of volumes surrounding them, it was clear that his thoughts were now on something other than reading.
"Focus, Hades," Daphne warned.
He sighed. "I am very focused. But, you're right. We are not finished here."
He gathered more tablets and scrolls in front of them. Daphne studied the carvings and sketches before her.
Gesturing to each volume, Hades described them all:
"This incarnation of you lived in the Andes. You were sacrificed during a famine. During this version of you," he gestured to a large, painted scroll, "you were the child of an emperor and his mistress during the Qin dynasty. You were poisoned by your uncle when he usurped the throne and murdered your father." Hades opened leather-bound journal and flipped to a well-worn page, "In this life, you were recruited as a Dahomey Amazon. You were killed in a battle against a neighboring kingdom."
Hades continued to rattle off over a dozen past lives. Daphne's past incarnations spanned the globe, ranging from the remote islands of Micronesia to the bustling city of London. As she listened, one detail stood out to her.
"Why did I always die so young?" she interrupted Hades' description of her life as the middle daughter of a Nordic merchant.
