Free Descent into Desire by Marie Medina Page B

taken care of enough over the years to know it did make them smarter.
    He came forward a few feet and sat down again.
    She smiled. “Good.”
    There was a knock at her door, and she stood up. “Come in.”
    Hades opened the door and stepped over the threshold. “Are you ready?”
    She nodded and patted Cerberus’ head. “We are.”
    Hades held out his hand for Cerberus, and the hound walked forward to sniff it and be petted. Persephone smiled.
    “What?” Hades asked.
    She laughed. “Both of you are supposed to be scary, striking fear into mortal hearts. If they could see you now.”
    She definitely liked what she saw. Still all black, but he was at least wearing a t-shirt and jeans. He looked nice and much less formal. She held her hand out.
    He took her hand and kissed it. “Let’s go then.”
    They walked through the halls in silence. Persephone looked at all the paintings. “Who painted all of these? Are they from the mortal world?”
    “They’re duplicates of ones from the mortal world.” He pointed to a canvas covered in flames. “That one was painted by Thomas Miller.”
    “I’ve never heard of him.”
    “No one else has either. He was a lawyer. He painted for his own pleasure. No one knew about it, and after he died there was a fire. His family didn’t even know what treasures they’d lost.”
    “That’s sad.” She looked at another. “I’ve seen this one.”
    “They’re all portrayals of the Underworld. This one’s from the sixteenth century by an unknown artist. We know his name was Daniel Roper. It’s a vague interpretation of Dante’s Inferno . The swirling colors are meant to be the different parts. The Catholic Hell of Dante’s time had separate places for murderers and atheists. The middle is blue. Do you remember why?”
    She smiled. “It’s frozen. Satan is frozen in the middle of a lake.”
    He nodded. “Many of these are taken from literature. The Greeks and Romans, but also men like Dante and Milton.”
    “I like Milton.”
    “Do you?”
    “Yes. Surprised?”
    “No, of course not.” He led them out into the garden. “Did you think I would be?”
    “I suppose not, but no one’s ever talked to me about literature before you.”
    “I see. No one down here reads that much, except me.”
    “It’s the same up there. Except for Eris, no one in our world really writes either. Have you noticed that?”
    He considered this, and then nodded. “You’re right. We don’t exactly have a literary tradition.”
    “Just my luck. One way I could impress people, and it’s not relevant.”
    He gave her a slightly warning look.
    “I know, I know. People will be impressed once they get to know me.”
    He kissed her hand again. “Yes, they will. Your mother kept you hidden away. It was the main reason I didn’t feel guilty for bringing you here.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes. My plans haven’t gone too smoothly from there, but I’m working on it.”
    She squeezed his hand. She had no idea what to say to him. She tried anyway. “You’re doing fine. We had a few kinks to work out.”
    “Is that what they were? Kinks?”
    She looked up at him. “Yes. That’s exactly what they were.”
    “All right then.”
    After a few moments of silence, she took another chance. “I finally got what I wanted.”
    He seemed puzzled, but also intrigued. “I’m glad to hear that, but I’m not sure I understand.”
    “I said I expected certain things when we met. I wasn’t looking for a husband, remember? I was looking for a boyfriend.”
    Hades smiled, and she thought he blushed a bit. When he looked back into her eyes, she was sure of it.
    “You’re blushing,” she said, unable to resist teasing him.
    He shrugged. “Maybe I am. It’s good though. Very good.” He lowered his head.
    She thought quickly, not wanting him to feel she was teasing him because she thought it was silly or weird. “So are you. You’re not a bad boy at all. You’re the good guy every girl would try for if she