chapter 15- scents

Hades’ p.o.v
It was silent, too silent, I could barely contain the feeling inside me to get the answer out of him. I turned, facing him now. the look on his face made my heart pound.
“you did not… you did not … she is not one of your…” he made no move to talk.
Rage
Disbelief
Rage
Jealousy
More rage
Those were the only emotions I could possess or felt in that moment. I could not control it, before I could get a grasp of my powers, they were already at the tip on my fingers, ready to strike.
“do you think I bed every living being?” he looked at me, somewhat offended.
“every living thing that has a hole, yes” I corrected, rather seriously, still not satisfied with his response.
I took a step towards and he took a step back. “if you must know brother, no. I did not bed her, or even see her in that way”
I stared at him for a moment, just to make sure that he was not lying to me.
“fine then” I said, my powers finally being able to be controlled and put away as I was satisfied. “then why are you so invested in the matter?” I said taking a sit and pouring myself a glass of wine.
“I always want the best for you brother, so please, I can’t explain, but please, please, stay away from her, she is no good for you”
“since when do you care this much?” I smirked at him
He opened his mouth to say something I was getting bored already so I cut him off.
“I don’t really care about what you have to say brother, the only thing she owes me is her soul, it seems… precious. For some reason, I can’t seem to take it. when her soul is mine, you can have her for yourself” the last part stung him for some reason. The thought of anyone from him laying hands on her set his power on the edge again.
‘must be the fatigue’ he tried to convince himself, even though he knew that was far from what was happening.
“are you sure” he looked at me, as if he knew something that I did not.
“I have a wife Hades, not everyone is like you to look at anyone other than their fated” I kissed my teeth, trying to reign in my annoyance.
“fine then, I shall take my leave”
“thank you” I said, the exasperation heavy in my voice.
He left, leaving me in my thoughts, which comprised of a certain someone with my lips on hers
*
---
I woke up with a start
The first sensation I felt was the warmth. Her lips, a delicate caress, brush against mine, waking me up fully. I do not open my eyes immediately. I savor the touch, I move in for another, unable to help myself.

As I come fully to consciousness, another sensation reaches me, subtle yet unmistakable
Her scent
. It is not the scent of pomegranates or the rich, earthy aroma that clings to her.
There was no way I was going to admit how much I took in her scent like Dionysus drunk on ambrosia and even though I only inhaled once, I knew she was not the one.
I opened to be met with the most disappointing view and immediately felt bad for feeling that way
Persephone pulled back, her fingers lingering on my cheek, tracing the lines of my face with a tenderness that speaks of familiarity and comfort. I open my eyes and find hers, those vibrant, green depths that have ensnared me since the day I first saw her

"Good morning," she whispers, her voice a soft melody that echoes in the vastness of our chamber. Something about her this close to me felt wrong, awfully so.

"Good morning," I respond, my voice steady, betraying nothing of the thoughts that swirl beneath the surface. I reach up, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear, my touch lingering longer than necessary.

She smiled, a small, secretive smile that made me wonder what thoughts she hid behind those eyes. She leans in again, pressing another kiss to my lips, this one lingering, as if she seeks to reassure me,
“I have missed you” she said looking at me with longing in her eyes. Those words would have been believable if she was not smelling so strongly of another

Instead, I say nothing. I simply hold her closer, drawing her into an embrace that felt both comforting and possessive. She relaxes against me, her head resting on my chest, and I can feel the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against my skin.

I close my eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to focus on the scent that is uniquely hers, the one I know so well., or at least hope that i know. Yet the other fragrance lingered. I pushed the thought aside, unwilling to let it taint this moment.
There was no point in bringing it up, she was just going to do what she always did, deny it. it did not matter what evidenced I brought that she was unfaithful , she always found her way around it and I never cared enough to push her away, but now…
My mind went to Valerie that was somewhere down the halls
‘no’ I said and buried my head in her neck even though I wanted nothing more than to throw up from her scent
“I missed you too”