Vowed to Hades (Romancing the Seas #4)

6. Persephone

PERSEPHONE

H ades returned to Persephone’s cell in a different mood. Instead of his usual arrogant smirk, his face was impassive. He barely glanced in her direction before he turned on his heel and muttered, “Follow me,” over his shoulder.

Persephone scrambled to her feet and followed him, question after question pouring into her head. But somehow, she lost her voice. Seeing this moody, silent side of Hades had her on edge.

He led her through the winding passages of the Underworld. And a familiar gloom clung to the air like a second skin.

The hairs on Persephone’s arms stood on end, she hugged herself and clamped her jaw to stop herself from shivering.

The flickering torches along the walls cast eerie, shifting shadows, but she kept her gaze forward, determined not to show her unease. The last thing she would do was give Hades the satisfaction of seeing her afraid.

She was certain that was what he wanted.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, they entered a large, darkened cavern. The air was warmer here, thick with a humid heat that sunk into her skin.

They crossed the cavern to a narrow opening. But when they stepped inside, the space opened up into something unexpectedly beautiful.

Before her lay a hidden grotto, a hot spring tucked deep within the heart of the Underworld. The water shimmered, almost glowing, with steam rising in lazy spirals toward the jagged ceiling. Black and purple flowers, their petals dark and velvety, grew in clusters along the edges of the spring, their vibrant hues injected a dash of color against the cavern’s plain stone walls.

The rocky ceiling was lined with jewels, glistening in the dim light, casting an otherworldly glow across the water.

It was a wickedly beautiful sight, something out of a dark dream.

“I thought nothing grows in the Underworld,” Persephone murmured, unable to tear her eyes away from the strange and wondrous garden before her.

Hades continued walking, his stride purposeful and unhurried. But then he paused, turning his head just enough for her to catch a glimpse of something she hadn’t expected—a smile, faint but unmistakable, curving the corner of his mouth .

“You grew those flowers, long ago,” he said, the words hanging in the air like a challenge.

Persephone frowned, confusion knotting in her chest.

More lies.

She had no memory of this place, no recollection of ever touching the soil here, let alone coaxing life from it.

Was this another one of his games? A trick to toy with her mind?

Why was this disturbed god so determined to keep lying to her?

She wanted to demand answers, to rail against the impossible, but she bit back the questions that burned on her tongue. Instead, she stepped forward, her gaze locked on the flowers as if they might somehow reveal the truth.

The warmth of the hot springs wrapped around her like a gentle embrace.

She peered into the swirling water. The glassy surface mirrored the jewels and looked like stars across a night sky. But beneath the beauty, there was an undercurrent of something darker, something that whispered of secrets buried deep within the Underworld’s depths.

Was this place real? Or just an illusion spun by Hades to keep her off balance?

Adonis had warned her of his magic.

As she reached out to touch one of the flowers, she hesitated, her fingers hovering just above the delicate petals. The air thrummed with power, ancient and untamed. What kind of magic it was, she couldn’t be sure.

Hades's presence loomed behind her, a silent reminder that nothing here was ever as it seemed. And yet, there was a strange familiarity to this place, a pull that she couldn’t quite explain.

“I don’t remember this, but why does it feel familiar?” she murmured, giving Hades a glare.

“Familiar? That’s interesting.” He gave her a strange look, as if the truth was inevitable, something that would come crashing down on her whether she wanted it to or not.

Despite her resistance, she walked around the water, inhaling the salty humid air. It was like a spa, and to her surprise, her nerves calmed.

Yes. There was definitely magic in this grotto. She only hoped she had not walked right into a trap.

If she hadn’t known any better, she would have thought that she’d been in that place a million times before to relax. As if it was her own personal hideaway from the world. And it gave her an overwhelming sense of being home.

The flowers swayed gently in the warm breeze that seemed to come from nowhere, their dark beauty both mesmerizing and unsettling.

She took a deep breath, letting the scent of the Underworld’s strange garden fill her nostrils.

Whatever this place was, whatever role she had played in its creation, she knew one thing for certain—nothing in the Underworld was without purpose. And as she stood there, surrounded by the wicked beauty of the garden, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of another one of Hades's twisted games.

But if it was a game, she intended to play it well.

With that thought, she turned to face Hades, meeting his gaze with a steely resolve of her own. “Why did you bring me here?”

His smile widened ever so slightly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “We are going on a journey. I thought you would like to bathe off the grime from that torrid cell before we go.”

The words sent a shiver down her spine, a mixture of dread and anticipation coiling within her.

This garden, this place—whether it was real or a figment of her imagination—it was a reminder that she was Hades's prisoner.

She frowned. “And I suppose you expect to watch me undress?”

She folded her arms in defense. But to her surprise, Hades's face twisted into a look of repulsion.

“You think me a pervert?”

Persephone stiffened.

Yes. That was exactly what she thought of him, but his reaction stopped her from saying the words aloud.

After a tense moment, Hades pulled out a bundle of clothes from inside his cloak.

“When you’re done, put these on. I will be waiting for you out there.” He pointed to the archway leading to the cavern.

Persephone watched as Hades vanished into the shadows, leaving her alone in the strange, wickedly beautiful grotto.

The steam rising from the water curled around her, warm and inviting, and for a moment, she hesitated.

She wondered if this was another trick. What if the pools were toxic and simply another prison? Or worse, a place to be tortured for the next millennia.

Could she trust Hades? Could she trust anything in the Underworld to not bring on death or more pain?

But the grime of the cell clung to her body, and the temptation of the hot springs was too much to resist. With a deep breath, she approached the edge of the pool, her fingers trailing through the velvety petals of the dark flowers as she went.

Persephone hesitated, glancing over her shoulder to ensure she was truly alone. The air was thick with the scent of the flowers, intoxicating and soothing all at once.

She peeled off the rough, tattered garments she’d worn since her imprisonment and slipped into the water.

To her relief, the warmth enveloped her like a soft embrace, melting away the ache in her muscles.

She sank deeper, allowing the water to cradle her as she closed her eyes, the tension in her body slowly unraveling. For a moment, she allowed herself to relax, to let go of the constant vigilance that had become second nature in this dark world.

The water lapped gently at her skin.

She slowly exhaled and ran her hands through the water. After soaking in the pleasant sensations, she opened her eyes and reached for the bar of soap Hades had left for her. It was the only light-colored object nearby, a pearlescent ivory with flecks of violet. She sniffed it and lifted her brows, surprised by its scent—coconut and lavender.

As she lathered it into her hair, it created a rich foam. Soft and luxurious. It felt almost sinful, against her scalp.

For a brief moment, she could almost forget where she was, almost forget the cold darkness that awaited her outside this haven.

Almost.

But as she let her head fall back, her hair floating around her like a strawberry-blonde halo, a vision flickered at the edge of her consciousness. She wasn’t in the grotto anymore.

She was lying in a different pool, surrounded by shadowy figures cloaked in dark robes. They stood at a distance, watching her with something akin to reverence, but there was also fear in their eyes. She could sense their trepidation, their hesitation to approach her.

A strange, unfamiliar power coursed through her veins, and she realized that she was the reason for their fear. She laughed—a cold, unrecognizable sound that sent shivers down her own spine .

The figures flinched but did not move closer, bound by some unspoken law that kept them at bay.

In her vision, she lay bare, the only thing keeping her somewhat modest were her long locks flowing over her body. And even though these strange figures were watching, she did not sense any embarrassment or fear. Instead, a ripple of giddiness shot through her and came out in the form of a delighted laugh.

Suddenly, the vision shattered, pulling her back into the present.

She jerked upright, water splashing around her as she gasped for breath.

The heat of the pool that had been so comforting now stifled her, and she struggled to calm her racing heart.

Had she fallen asleep, or had that been something more? A memory, perhaps, buried deep within her mind?

Who were those ominous cloaked men? And why were they afraid of her?

But the biggest question she had was, if that was a memory, what kind of monster was she to dangle herself like a carrot, taunting the silent watchers, and feel anything but shame?

No. Not even that.

She felt… free, powerful.

And it felt good .

Persephone shook her head, forcing the thought away as her cheeks heated.

This was surely a cruel trick after all. Hades was perverting her mind and putting doubts in her head. She couldn’t afford to let herself be haunted by dreams—or memories—that she didn’t understand. She needed to stay focused, to be ready for whatever Hades had planned next.

The sooner she assisted him on his quest, the sooner she would be reunited with Adonis and then they could go home, and all of this would be a forgotten nightmare.

She climbed out of the pool and winced as the cool air slapped her skin. She wrapped herself in the soft towel and took a deep, steadying breath.

Her gaze fell on the clothes Hades had provided: a pair of black pants, a soft gray shirt that she tucked into the waistband, and a brown leather vest. A pair of brown leather boots were sitting next to the pile.

Worried that Hades might return at any moment, she dressed quickly.

The fabric was surprisingly comfortable, the vest fitting snugly against her form.

There was something oddly familiar about these clothes, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she braided her hair back. The long strands fell neatly down her back like rope.

When she was done, she stepped out of the grotto to rejoin Hades.

He was waiting for her just outside the archway, leaning against the stone wall with a casual air that belied the intensity in his gaze. His eyes swept over her, taking in her appearance with a hint of approval she didn’t care to acknowledge.

“Feeling better?” he asked, his voice smooth, but there was an edge to it, something she couldn’t quite place.

Persephone cleared her throat, trying to push away the lingering remnants of the strange vision. “Yes,” she replied, though the word was heavy on her tongue. “Where are we going?”

Hades's smile widened, then he said one word. “Atlantis.”