5 Chapter 4 - Your Selfish Wants

I sit at the table across from Hades. Poseidon sits on Hades right side and Zeus sits at the head of the table. I look down at the breakfast Hades had a maid prepare for us. A plate full of food sits on the table next to me. . . for my mother. I begin to slowly cut my food and take a bite. The savory taste melts into my mouth making my body shiver in pleasure. I begin to speed up just a bit taking in bigger bites wanting more and more. Suddenly, I hear a pair of doors creak open and in walks my mom in her olympus clothes I'm guessing. They drape aeleound her body squeezing her torso tightly and becoming free down at her legs swaying with her stride. Before she sits down, she bows to the brothers thanking Hades for the meal and for the blessed morning. She looks at me and I feel all the anger surrounding her. I stop eating feeling uncomfortable around my mother. I scoot a bit farther from her only to realize I had gotten closer to the pervert. Im stuck in between the people I hate the most right now. Just great.

Zeus clears his throat as everyone finished there breakfast except me. The maids pick up our plates heading into the kitchen leaving us in silence for a few seconds before its sliced through like a knife by Zeus.

"Now Demeter, is this Kore Persephone your daughter?" My mother nods her head figeting her fingers on her lap.

"Why have you hidden her from everyone? Including me." She bows her head in sorrow.

"I am sorry my King, I just didnt wish to see my baby hurt." Baby?

"I'm not a baby anymore and if anything, your what hurt me! How-" Before I can finish I feel a sting shoot through my left cheek as my moms hand makes contact with my face.

"You do not speak unless spoken to. Show some respect." I shove my chair back standing straight up.

"Respect? Im an adult to and you have shown me no respect for my wishes! Im 22 and dont even know another god or goddess besides the four of you at this table!" She grabs my hand yanking me down into my seat.

"You will not cause disruption little girl." I sit back in my chair knowing she won't listen to me. ZEUs clears his throat once more preparing to speak.

"Well, what you have so 'kindly' hid from us is such a surprise that we wish to know more about her and what she is capable of." My mother quickly replies with a shaky voice.

"I-I wish to take h-her back home." Zeus smiles motioning his hand towards me.

"Her home is not the mere mortal realm. Cant you feel the power radiating off of her? Imagine how powerful her offsprings could be."

"O-offspring? Please sir-" My mom starts stuttering but is cut off by Hades.

"A goddess should be able to live her own life and choose her own choices. Even little disrespectful ones." Zeus smile at Hades then my mom and ends smiling at me.

"But, seen as how this one doesnt seem to have any respect, I think she is best left in my care for the time being while I whip her into shape." The smile he wears just shows me how much I DONT wanna know whats going on through his mind.

"My sir, please do not. I wish for her to return with me and live with me for the time being." Poseidon raises his hand cutting the tension between the two of them but only to add more tension.

"My wife is unable to produce children so I would wish for Persephone to carry a few of my children. They would be oh so powerful." Poseidon tilts his head towards me smiling. What do they think I am?!

"Persephone shall come reside at my place until she learns respect."

"But I need some children Zeus."

"My daughter needs to return home."

They all begin arguing who im going with and what ill be doing. Making anger pile up the longer I stay quiet. Before I get the chance Hades slambs his hands down on the table.

"Clearly she does not want none of your offerings!!" His voice pounds through the room.

"Why not instead of fighting for her just let her choose?" They all take it into consideration except my mother who knows she is the last god I would ever wanna be with. . . actually all of them are.

"Fine, I shall be lineant this once. You can choose from anyone in this room of who you shall belong to for the time being." I look over at Zeis in disbelief.

"How long 'the time being' sir?" He smiles and sits back in his chair.

"Until they get decide your free to go." I stand up infuriated.

"ALL OF YOU JUST WANT ME FOR YOUR SELFISH NEEDS. YOU AND POSEIDON ARE PERVERTED AND MY MOM JUST DOESNT WANT TO BE ALONE!!! ITS JUST A TRAP!" Zeus smiles looking at Hades.

"Then why not chose Hades." Hades jumps from his seat shaking his head.

"I am not a part of this!" He yells.

"Hades. . . I chose Hades." I say sourly looking at Zeus dead in the eyes. Then I realize what came through my mouth. . . oh no. . .

"Wait no-"

"Then its settled." Zues and Poseidon smile at Hades. Hades stands in disbelief with his eyebrows peaked together and his eyes wide staring at me dead in the face.

"Zeus, please recon-"

"I have made my choice Demeter. So has Persephone." He smiles over at me slyly.

"She will stay with Hades." I fall into my seat as they all begin to leave except Hades. My mom looks back at me before exiting with disgust on her face. Once the door closes notfying that they have all left the door Hades slams his fist into the table leaving cracks throughout the wood.

"Leave." He says breathing heavily.

"But-"

"JUST LEAVE. Do you know what you just put me in the middle of?!"

"Put you in the middle of?! I wasnt gonna give myself to them who would never let me go!!! Its all what you guys want!!! What abo-" His voice grows even louder catching me off guard.

"WHAT IF I WASNT THE RIGHT CHOICE HUH?! WHAT IF I HURT YOU OR NEVER LET YOU GO EITHER?! EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT?!" His words echoe through my head. No matter who I chose. . . it wouldve been bad.

"I just thought that-"

"Just leave." I look down and sit up from the table. I threw myself at him for my selfish want of freedom. . . not considering what he wanted and here I am yelling at him for them all only considering there own wants. I push through the door looking back at him sitting down at the table alone with his hands in his hair and his forehead pressed against the edge of the table.

He clearly doesnt want me here but. . . I have no where else to go. . . I close the door behind me looking for the exit of his mansion. I open the front door looking outside before and heading out. A cold breeze blows over making me shiver. I need to find somewhere to stay. . . and fast.

I walk through the city examining all the advertisements and lights. Numerous nymphs walk past me and stare at me as I pass by.

"Kore?!" I hear a familiar voice say from behind me. I turn around to be met with my best friends eyes.

"Rosetta!" We run into each others warm embrace. She drops her bag holding onto me tightly.

"What happened?! How did you get here?" She says pushing me back gently and looking me in the eyes brushing my cheek softly with her hand.

"My mom locked me in the dungeon with the titans and Hades found me. Zeus made me choose between the three brothers and my mom to look after me until they release me. I chose Hades and he doesnt seem to happy about it and yelled at me to leave. I have nowhere to go." I begin to feel stressed and helpless making tears roll down my cheek. Rosetta pulls me into a tight hug.

"I'm g-glad y-y-your okay n-now." I whisper into her ear.

"You can stay with me for the time being Kore, I'm living with my brother but I'm sure he would be fine if you joined us." I nod my head as she wipes the tears from my face.

"Now c'mon, you'll be okay." I smile pulling her back into a tight warm hug before she picks up her bag and begins showing the path to her place. Its a little away from the city and is a pretty big house. Its surrounded by a field full of crops and animals. This must be what a farm is. Makes sense for a flower nymph. We walk up to the door and Rosetta unlocks it. We're quickly met by someone a bit taller than me but he looks similar to Rosetta.

"This is Kore Persephone. Goddess of Spring. And this is my brother, Cauliflower."

"Nice to meet you Kore Persephone." He bows to me making my face rise in heat.

"Its nice to meet you too Cauliflower. No need to bow, I dont understand all that stuff." He smiles nodding his head and standing back up.

Rosetta leads me into the living room to sit while her and Cauliflower have a talk about my situation. She comes back a little after with Cauliflower and 3 cups of coffee. She hands me one and Cauliflower one while taking a seat next to me.

"You can stay as long as you help with the work." I nod my head smiling.

"Thank you so much." He shakes his head.

"No problem. Ill start showing you the work tomorrow. For today Rosetta will take you out to buy some stuff to help you feel at home."

The rest of the day Rosetta walks me through the streets and through malls looking at different clothes and such. We walk past a large building with a picture of Hades titled 'Really a King?' I stop to examine the building.

"Whats that about?" I ask pointing at the photo.

"Some are saying Hades isn't a king due to his failures in keeping a woman."

"So he is a-"

"A man whore is what they say but, no one has really seen any woman enter and exit out of his place for a few centuries now."

"So how old IS he? He only looks in his early 20's." I exclaim confused.

"Hades is around 2,650 years old. Once you reach about 25 as a god, your body does not age."

"Damn! Are you serious?" She nods her head.

"People are trying to overthrow Hades if he cannot choose a wife within the next few years." So maybe thats why he didnt want me there. . . He didnt want anymore rumors. I wish I could apolo-.

"Persephone?" A deep voice says from begin me. I look up straining my neck. The man wears a black hoodie and blue jeans with his hands in his pockets.

"Its Hades, shh." ITS HADES?! SHIT.

"I'm so sorry Hades." He quickly covers my mouth looking around to make sure no one is around us.

"I need to talk to you." He whispers. Rosetta goes to push him away but i stop her.

"About what?" I ask out of curiosity.

"I have a proposition but we need to speak somewhere more private. Come to my mansion on the hill tonight." With that he leaves trying to hide his face from everyone on the streets.

"What was that about?" Rosetta asks grabbing my shoulder gently.

"He wants to make a deal. About what, I do not know but it seems he calmed down from earlier. He wants me to meet at his mansion at sundown." She shakes her head vigorously.

"Its probably a trap or something." Is she serious?

"You have never met Hades so you cant judge him like that, its not fair." She puts her hand on her hip.

"I'm just looking out for you. You dont know him either." I nod my head then look up at his house on the mansion.

"He still hasnt released me so I dont really have a choice." She nods her head and bites her lip gently.

"Well we should get you ready." We head back to her place with the bags in hand. As she helps me pick out an outfit to wear she explains to me the different type of technologies in the underworld compared to our world. She explains a cellphone, cars, electronic advertisements, everyday utilities, a T.V. and many other things. As I pull the dress over my body it tightens around my torso and loosens at my legs flowing freely. It goes just below my knees. Black with red roses painted all over.

"Are you sure I should wear this?" I ask Rosetta while sitting down in a chair in front of her mirror.

"Yes." She pulls back my hair and clips the sides.

"There you go, my brother can drive you there. Ill see you after, okay?" I nod my head smiling and hugging Rosetta.

"Your curfew is 11 so you hsve about 4 hours, okay?" We both let out laughs and hug each other goodbye. I hop in the truck with her brother and he begins driving up to Hades place.

As he stops the car waving me goodbye. I nod my head and clear my throat as I prepare myself to knock on his front door. I raise my hand but before I knock the door opens revealing Hades with his hair combed and he smells fresh out of the shower. He stands tall ropling his shoulders back as he moves out of the doorway letting me in.

We sit on the table across from each other eating the food. He clears his throat and I can hear the nervousness he is trying so hard to hide.

"S-so uhm. . . My proposition."

"Yes."

"As you probably know by now, I've been having issues with my subjects and u-uhm. . ." He lets out a heavy sigh trying to overcome his nervousness.

"If you would be my wife, ill grant you freedom." He looks up at me. He doesnt want this, you can see it in his eyes. He looks hopeless and out of options.

"T-thats it?" He scoots closer to the table.

"We would need to be public figures and will have to. . . live together. Besides that and having to do interviews together, thats all I ask." I did lay all this down on him in the first place. . . but marrying him? I hardly know him. This seems like the only way ill get my freedom though. Thoughts flood my mind making me loose focus only to be yanked back to reality.

"I can give you a-" He begins but I cut him off.

"Yes. . . ill marry you if I get my freedom. . ." I guess its true. . . No matter where you are. The men control you.

"U-Uhm, good?" We continue to quietly eat our food and once we finish, he collects our dishes washing them.

"I thought you had maids for this?" I join him in the kitchen helping him rinse and dry the dishes. Its the least I could do.

"I prefer to make my own food and clean after myself. The maids are only for show to my brothers." Maybe he isnt as mad as I first thought. . . who am I kidding. . . he is an asshole.

I begin to search through all the cabinets putting the dishes away. I have to get on my tippy toes to reach the shelf the plates go on. I feel his chest press against my back as he reaches for the plates in my hand and easily places them on the shelf. My heart begins to beat at a faster pace catching me off guard. I look back at him and he nods his head.

"Shorty." He says chuckling.

"Hey! Big foot!" His eyes widen as he begins laughing harder and I join in.

"So uhm. . . I-ill prepare the spare bedroom for you tomorrow. . . Where are you staying?" We both take a seat on the couches across from each other in the living room.

"I'm staying with my friend Rosetta and her brother." He nods his head understanding.

"Uhm so. . . what now?"

"Arent you the one that invited me?" He nods his head nervously making me laugh.

"I can help you prepare the spare bedroom right now and I can come back another time." He nods his head and we rush up to the bedroom.

"My brothers wife use to have this room when they would argue until he found out so I might still have her stuff in the boxes in the corner over there. Does that work?"

"Oh, yeah." I open the boxes pulling out the sheets and blankets. He helps me make the bed before pulling some furniture from his basement all the way to the bedroom.

"Cant you just teleport that up here?" He really makes work harder for himself.

"Teleporting can make me more tired than just carrying the furniture up here myself." I help him push a dresser up against the wall and place a a large T.V on it. We continue moving in furniture and putting decorations up and by the time were done were exhausted.

"Ill bring you a glass of water." He says while exiting the room. I lay my back onto the bed waiting patiently feeling the drowziness numb my body. Before I know it, my eyelids have closed and darkness has clouded my vision.