Page 37 of The Dread Queen's Bargain

“Demeter,” Persephone said calmly, sitting on the dais beside Hades.

Hades said nothing but offered both Olympians a short nod before sitting down. Persephone and Hades’s thrones sat next to each other, in equal size and weight. It was drastically different from the tradition of a queen’s throne being smaller and placed strategically off-center and behind the king’s.

“Brother,” Zeus conjured his most charming smile, “I’ve come to you so we can come to an arrangement regarding Persephone.”

Hades’s power flared. “Persephone determines where she wants to go and who she associates with. If you have questions for her, ask her.”

Zeus floundered momentarily, taken aback by the idea of a woman holding equal power to Hades and Hades’s refusal to use Persephone as a bargaining chip.

“Hello.” Persephone waved, her smile equally vicious and sweet. “If you have a proposal for me, Zeus, I would love to hear it.”

Zeus’s shock transformed to fury, and he opened his mouth, preparing to start shouting before Demeter stepped in.

“Persephone, my daughter,” Demeter forced herself to smile but she only looked manic, “we’ve found a way to undo t-the pomegranates, the curse! We can undo the fact you are trapped here. If you only ate a few seeds, then you’re only bound to the Underworld for the duration—” Demeter stammered nervously before Persephone interrupted.

“Demeter,” Persephone rolled her eyes, “that’s not even true. Did you bother to ask any of the other gods about that? What about Hermes? Any of them would tell you that’s a lie.”

Demeter’s face drained of color.

“What?”

Persephone scoffed. “You hate the Underworld so much that you refuse to learn anything about it. I knew we could tell you anything about the Underworld, and you’d believe it. I’m here because I want to be and for no other reason.” Persephone’s tone got sharper.

Demeter started shaking her head rapidly. “No, no, that’s not going to work. The mortal world already thinks you’re trapped here f-for that time. They’re planning on leaving offerings for you in the spring…”

“Let them.” Persephone shrugged. “If that’s how they want to explain the weather, who am I to judge? Humans find solace in all sorts of stories,” Persephone smiled with fondness, “and I won’t take that from them. I do, however, refuse to spend months away from the Underworld at a time. I refuse to spend a single night away from my husband.” Persephone said the last word with particular joy, and Hades’s chest threatened to crack open with happiness.

Zeus and Demeter’s faces were a sight to behold. They cycled quickly through confusion, surprise, and anger. Zeus tossed his hands up in the air in resignation. Demeter only got angrier with every passing minute.

Zeus shook his head as clouds and lightning began to conjure around him. “I’m not getting involved in this fight anymore.”

“Zeus!” Demeter hissed, realizing he was about to leave. “You told me that you’d agree with me, that you would—”

“I don’t care.” Zeus was already dissipating. “The Fates decreed it, Demeter, and they’re married now. You should learn when to give up.”

Zeus was gone, leaving Demeter in a furious rage. She turned around and marched up the dais, pointing at Persephone.

“You little bitch!” Demeter screamed. “I was going to be the queen of Heaven! Then you had to go and ruin fucking everything because you couldn’t keep your legs shut!”

Persephone jumped to her feet and opened her mouth to answer her mother, but Hades beat her to it. He stepped in between Persephone and Demeter, conjuring a scythe made of black glass and pressing it to Demeter’s throat.

“Do you recognize this blade?” Hades’s voice was calm and cold as metal. “I’ve just pulled it from Thanatos.”

Demeter’s eyes went wide as her chest started heaving with exertion. “A god killer.”

“That’s right,” Hades growled. “It’s a god-killing blade. It’ll rip your shade from its body. Do you understand? Nod if you do.” Demeter froze, and Hades pressed the blade harder. “Nod.”

Hades forced Demeter to nod, cutting her chin and neck on the sharp edge. Ichor trickled down her neck, and Hades’s eyes became fully black. A wave of power emulated off him, manifesting as a frigid wind whipping through the hall.

“If you ever come to the Underworld again, if you ever speak to Persephone again,” Hades warned, “I’ll throw your shade in Tartarus myself. I don’t care what the Fates have to say about it. I’ll carve it from your bones and drink in celebration as I do it. I’ll rot the ground from underneath it, and every stalk of grain will join you in hell. Do you understand me?”

Demeter was shaking in fear at this point, her lips nearly blue as the temperature in the room kept dropping.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Yes, I understand, what?” Hades insisted.

“Yes, I u-understand, Lord Hades,” Demeter choked out, her eyes flicking over to where Persephone stood, unbothered and with a peaceful smile on her face.

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