A Touch of Darkness

Persephone awakes, naked, in Hades’s bed. He describes the night before and his fury at Adonis, who remains alive because he has Aphrodite’s favor. They argue about Persephone’s article, and he refuses to release her from her contract in exchange for her not writing any more. He kisses her passionately before leaving in anger. She dresses and visits her garden, where she is disheartened to discover that nothing has grown; everything she touches withers. She describes her troubles to Hecate, who gives her a new perspective about the Underworld and Hades’s challenge to her to create life: Hecate suggests that this could mean having a baby, rather than growing plants. She also shows her that her duty in the Underworld is the same as the purpose she challenged Hades to “up there”: “to help mortals lead a better existence” (203).

One week passes. Demetri asks Persephone how the writing on her next article about Hades is going and gives her tickets to the Olympian Gala, asking her to cover the prestigious event during which the gods mingle with mortals. Persephone sees that the theme is Underworld, and it is a masquerade. Her desire to attend the gala conflicts with her need to hide from her mother. She tries to convince Demetri to go in her place and protests that Hades won’t even be there, but he assures her that Hades always attends the event; he simply avoids being photographed. Minthe arrives and forces Persephone into a private conversation in which she warns her against falling in love with Hades. She also reveals that the Well of Reincarnation will allow Persephone to grow life in the Underworld, thereby offering her a way to fulfill her contract and end her obligation to Hades.

Persephone is disturbed by her conversation with Minthe but returns to the Underworld. She attends to her garden before going to Asphodel, a place she frequently visits during her Underworld trips. The souls are celebrating Hades, and one of them believes that he wishes to make Persephone his queen. Children interrupt their conversation, and Persephone plays with them and Hades’s dogs, getting dirty in the process. The souls present her with a crown.

Persephone enlists Hecate’s help in designing a magical mask for the gala. Then she is taken to Hades’s private baths to clean up. He arrives, and they discuss the souls’ celebration, which he claims he is not worthy of. He joins her in the bath and apologizes for the way he treated her the last time they were together. They become intimate but before they consummate their relationship, Minthe interrupts them. Her presence reminds Persephone of her warning, and she starts to leave. Persephone claims that she does not want Hades sexually, and he calls her a liar.

That night, Persephone is too agitated to sleep. She masturbates, and Hades appears in her room, encouraging her. Afterward, however, she sees no sign of him and wonders if she hallucinated his presence. The night of the gala, Persephone and Lexa get ready together. She learns of Lexa’s newest romantic interest, a programmer named Jaison. She receives her mask from Hecate, along with a note that instructs her to wear her crown with the mask. The women head to the event, where they eventually watch the gods arrive. Hades is the exception, in keeping with his tradition of avoiding the press. Instead, Persephone sees him inside, seemingly with Minthe as his date.

Hermes finds Persephone and teases her about Hades, but she comforts her about Minthe’s presence. After dinner, Hades gives a presentation on the Halcyon Project, a charity designed to offer rehabilitation to struggling mortals. He cites Persephone as his inspiration. Sybil seeks her out after the presentation and shares that Persephone’s and Hades’s fates are intertwined. Overwhelmed, Persephone finds sanctuary in the bathroom, only to be sought out by Aphrodite. Persephone cuts their conversation short after Aphrodite calls her Hades’s muse. He intercepts Persephone as she is leaving and asks her to dance. When she tries to question him, he invites her to play a game, and they teleport to the Underworld.

Hades and Persephone play poker in his office. When Persephone wins, she asks questions about his relationship with Minthe. He admits that he and Minthe slept together once long ago. He also denies having used his powers of invisibility to spy on Persephone. When Hades wins, he undresses her. He takes her to his chambers, where she tells him he is her first lover. They have intercourse and spend the night together.

Persephone wakes before Hades and feels conflicted about the progression of their relationship. She steps onto his balcony and ruminates on her attraction to him. She feels life for the first time in the Underworld and chases it, identifying it as her magic. Hades finds her meditating, and the two have intercourse again. Over breakfast, Persephone asks to interview one of the souls who lost a bet for an article she is writing. Hades expresses his frustration that she is still writing about him.

Hades introduces Persephone to Thanatos, the divine being who is in charge of transporting souls to the afterlife. Thanatos looks at her list of souls and takes her to the Elysium Fields, the paradise portion of the Underworld that is believed to be reserved for heroes. He teaches her the truth behind Hades’s bets: He has no control over when a soul dies and is betting with the Fates, making bargains in an attempt to change a mortal’s trajectory. Those who fail are sent to Elysium, where they can heal their worldly hurts, forget their lives, and eventually reincarnate. The two discuss an upcoming celebration hosted by the Asphodel souls to honor those who are about to reincarnate. Thanatos agrees to attend, and Persephone resolves to make sure Hades is also there. She then goes to Hecate and asks for help with her newfound magic.

Persephone writes an article praising Hades’s Halcyon Project. Lexa returns from a weekend trip and tells Persephone people know she left with Hades during the gala. At New Athens News, Adonis approaches Persephone. When she rebukes him, he insults her, leading Demetri to intervene on her behalf. He fires Adonis and offers to release Persephone from her assignment, but she declines his offer. In class, girls question Persephone about a news article that claims she and Hades are dating.

Hades teleports Persephone to the Underworld, bidding her farewell until he returns from a divine gathering. He agrees to host the celebration for the reincarnating souls. Persephone goes to lunch with Lexa and Sybil before meeting Hecate to work with magic. Hecate encourages her to reflect on her feelings to free herself from negativity.