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Bargain

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Chapter 8: Bargain (Hades' POV)

"What do you want in exchange?" I asked, willing to bend a little. Not bow to her. Only bend.

"I'm not interested in making bargains with Hades. You do know your reputation, don't you? You're known to be aloof, stern, heartless, cold, and a trickster. You twist situations so they fit you. You take what you want, not caring at all about others."

"That's what they say I'm like, yes. Have you seen any of those traits in me so far, Persephone?"

She fell in thought, frowning at me.

I smiled softly. "How about you just tell me what you want? I'll give it to you and you'll hand yourself to me. You'll be queen."

"I have no interest in living in the underworld."

"You don't have to. Just pop in once in a while, that's it. You can live your life here, I can live my life there. We'll just visit each other once in a while, hmm?"

She shook her head. "You—"

"What's your biggest fear, Persephone? What are you most afraid of?" I bet I can make it go away and she'll never have to face it. "Something that horrifies you? Something you never want to witness or go through."

"Death," she answered. She didn't even have to think about it. She knows what she never wants to see.

"Your own?"

"Mine and someone I love," she replied.

I stared at her for a minute before talking. "You realize that all humans die, right?"

"That doesn't mean I can't be afraid of seeing it happen."

I nodded slowly, "Fair enough. I can't save humans from dying, they can't be immortal. But you can."

Her eyes snapped up to mine, curious, intrigued, and... desperate. Is she dying from a disease or something that I don't know about? "How?" she questioned.

"By marrying you," I replied. "It'll make you immortal. It's how you can become the queen of the underworld."

She stared at me with dubiety. Of course, she's doubting everything, it's bound to happen. "You want me to marry you?!"

"Only in the underworld," I rolled my eyes. "You can lead a normal human life here and you'll never even face death. You can stop aging or continue aging, whatever you prefer."

Her eyes narrowed. "And this will work even if we don't love each other? I mean... your powers will grow and I'll become a goddess? We can add to each other's powers without loving each other?"

That's a great question. Only I don't fucking know the answer to it. So, I plan to make her love me regardless. That's my safety net. It's possible that things don't work out if she doesn't love me, so just in case, I'll make her love me regardless. That way, there's no room for error. And I'll win either way. "Only one way to find out, Angel."

She fell in thought, staring at me. She stood up, the stool screeching. "No."

"What?" I blurted out.

"No. I don't want to be immortal, I don't want to help you, I don't want to be a queen or a goddess, I want nothing to do with you. So my answer is no. Now what?" She folded her arms across her chest.

"You can easily make a bargain. You'll get everything you ever ask for."

"I ask for you to leave me alone."

I sighed, slowly standing up. "You're complicating things. And I'm sure you'll paint me to be the villain when things turn dark and I force you into it," I asserted, walking around the kitchen island and over to her, towering over her.

She's even shorter without the heels and in my shirt, she looks quite adorable, actually. "You'll force me into marrying you?"

"I'd drag you to the altar myself if I have to, Persephone. By your hair."

"I'd kill myself in the dressing room," she threatened.

"Then I'd tie you in a chair and make you wait," I smirked.

She gritted her teeth. "My answer is no, Hades. Let me go."

"My answer is no, Persephone. I won't." The doorbell rang and she spun around looking at it.

"You're not wearing pants," I reminded her.

She ran to the door, twisting the lock and pulling the door open.

Adonis stood there with two of her suitcases. "I only brought clothes. Sorry, but your other belongings can't be brought here." He put the suitcases on the floor and stuck his hand out. "Adonis."

She shook it quickly. "Help me."

"I can't. I work with him."

She glared at him, snatching her hand back.

"You should really put pants on," Adonis teased her before bringing the suitcases in.

"I don't have pants to wear!" She groaned loudly as he walked past her. She stepped out into the hallway and took one step towards the elevator, only to find her back inside the apartment again. She whined, closing the door and locking it shut, leaning against it.

Adonis took the suitcases into the room and came back out a second later. "Everything's unpacked, you're welcome," he smiled at her. He then turned to me. "Are you sure it's her?" he mumbled.

"I can hear you," Persephone scoffed. "And no. It's not me. He's got the wrong Persephone, I'm sure of it!"

"You don't know anything, so keep quiet," I said, shooting daggers at her because she's making things difficult. Too difficult.

"Why don't you try the mind control thing you do?" It's almost like compelling someone.

"It doesn't work on her," I sighed.

"You tried compelling me?!" she yelled, marching over.

"Yes. So?" I looked down at her with a bored expression.

She scoffed in disbelief and then stormed into her room, slamming the door so hard that the walls shook.

Adonis and I stood in silence, staring at the door. "Good fucking luck, man. She seems like a handful," he mumbled.

"She is," I replied. I turned to him. "What did you do with the best friend?"

"Her name's Anastasia," he scolded.

I smirked, "Someone has a crush."

"She's pretty. I even met her at your club," he mumbled, scratching the back of his head. "I compelled her. As far as she knows, Persephone's always lived here with you. She seemed worried about her best friend. I felt bad for once."

"More than a crush," I teased.

"Hades, why don't you control your situation," he glanced pointedly at the door. "And then tease me about mine, huh? What did she say?"

"She refused."

"Shocker," he scoffed.

"I'll force her," I shrugged.

He gave me a blank look. "At least try persuading her."

I leaned against the counter. "Should I make her fall in love?"

"That would be manipulation," he pointed out.

"So?" I shrugged. "I don't care." Huh. Maybe I do match my reputation of being cold-blooded, heartless, brutal, and cruel.

"What if your plan doesn't work unless she loves you, huh?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"Just go all in, Hades. Make her fall in love with you for good. And love her back. I don't believe that you spent lifetimes looking for her just because she could help your powers. There has to be some sort of emotional tether here. She's meant to be yours. You can't tell me love won't exist in a connection like that."

I stared at him in disgust. "Why are you talking like that?"

"Like what?"

"Sappy and cheesy? Stop. It freaks me out," I demanded.

"Isn't it romantic?"

"If it is, go talk to Anastasia like that. Not me, Adonis."

"Sorry," he mumbled.

Her bedroom door swung open and she walked out wearing a fresh pair of pajamas. Her own. She wore baby pink sweatpants that say 'Princess' on the left pocket and had a black, full-sleeve, cropped v-neck for a top. Her hair was thrown up in a bun with some of it plastered to the back of her neck, damp. She was taking a shower. She folded her arms across her chest, glaring at me and then looking at Adonis. "You."

"Me," he smiled.

"Aren't you the one who bumped into Anastasia?"

He nodded. "She's all right, by the way. Don't worry. You worry an awful lot about each other."

"She's all you have left and vice versa, isn't it?" I asked knowingly. "Her parents are dead and yours are alive but they're gone. Aren't I right?" I smirked.

She looked around, probably searching for something to throw at me.

"Don't even think about it, Angel. I'll catch it mid-air, I told you."

"Let me test that theory." She grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table, flinging it at me.

I caught it with one hand. "I need a warning," I chuckled.

"No." She grabbed a pillow, launching it at me.

I stopped it mid-air, letting it hover for a second before dropping it to the ground. I smirked confidently.

She grabbed the last two, throwing them at me at the same time.

I laughed as they hit me and then fell to the ground.

"I'll leave you both to it then," Adonis chipped in.

"No!" she yelled. "Take me with you, please."

"Sorry," Adonis smiled innocently and then turned around, leaving.

I lifted a hand, locking the door once he was gone. When I turned back to her, she was walking to her door.

She pushed it open and I pulled it shut with my powers. She stumbled, glaring at me over her shoulder. She tried again and I pulled it shut. "Hades!"

"Think about it, Persephone. If you don't agree, you have everything to lose. If you agree, you have nothing to lose. Nothing at all. So think about it." I walked over to her.

She spun around, leaning against the door.

"Think hard," I said, towering over her, our toes nearly touching, that's how close we were.

"I can't love you. It's impossible."

"Don't knock it till you try it, Persephone."

"You're Hades."

"And that makes me unlovable, does it?" My jaw ticked.

"No. But you're Hades and I'm Persephone. It's destined to start with hate. And it won't turn into love until you make it."

"And that's my job because?"

"Because as the story goes, Persephone fell in love with Hades because he treated her with compassion and loved her. He fell first. Not her. And you don't even want to love me, Hades. You just want a queen to strengthen your powers, no matter who it is." She's expecting real love? You've got to be kidding me.

I lifted a finger and the door opened behind her.

She stumbled but she was quick to grab my shirt and pull herself back up. She made me stumble. I grabbed her waist, steadying the both of us. She stared up at me, her eyes daring, challenging. Threatening. "I'd take you down with me," she warned.

I straightened up, bringing her up to stand straight. "And I'd bring you up with me," I replied. "If you agree." I let her go and she stepped back, watching me thoughtfully.

"You have more to lose," she pointed out.

"You have more to gain. So, I fail to see why you won't take this deal. Anyhow, I have to get to work."

"What?"

"So enjoy being trapped here all day. Remember, nobody can hear you outside even if you yell."

"What if there's a fire?"

I started heading to my room and she followed. "Then put it out," I smirked to myself, opening my closet.

"What if there's a flood? What if a pipe bursts?"

"Then fix the pipe." I pulled my shirt over my head, throwing it to the floor, and then grabbed a black button-up with black trousers, hanging them at the front.

"What if I have a heart attack?"

"Then chew on an Aspirin. The third kitchen cabinet," I smirked, tucking my thumbs into the waistband of my sweatpants and tugging them down.

She spun around and walked to her room, letting out a frustrated scream.

I chuckled to myself, heading to the shower.

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Chapter 8

Okay, that's all for today. I'm going to sleep now. it's literally almost 7:30 here and I haven't slept yet. yes, my sleeping cycle is a mess, what about it?

next chapter: trick