Neon Gods

Persephone thinks about her situation and the man in front of her. Hades is her best hope of escaping Olympus without endangering her sisters. She also finds him attractive. She turns the conversation back to politics, noting that Hades and Zeus seem to be rivals. Hades explains that there is now a formal treaty forbidding either party from crossing the River Styx—if Zeus tries to rescue Persephone, who left voluntarily, he risks political turmoil.

Persephone realizes that Zeus has deliberately encouraged the idea of Hades’s nonexistence to bolster his own status as a legacy titleholder. Hades reluctantly explains that Zeus killed his parents.

Persephone suggests that her presence in Hades’s life could provoke Zeus’s resentment. When Hades suggests she might find this insulting, she tells him, “a pawn between you or a pawn to be used by my mother, it’s all the same” (71). She tells him she needs his protection until her birthday in April, when she can access her trust fund. Hades professes indifference to this, but Persephone notices his concern for her injuries.

Persephone reminds him that her established image is fairly chaste and polished, so if they are publicly seen as a couple, Zeus will be particularly incensed. Hades reminds her that a fake arrangement will not work, given that Zeus routinely surveils his territory and movement, so Persephone offers a genuine sexual liaison. She pretends a casualness that she does not feel, suggesting that the political benefit should be enough for him even if he doesn’t find her attractive. Hades suggests that Persephone has never had sex, but she eventually assures him of her sexual experience. When he is still not interested, she accuses him of fetishizing the concept of “virginity,” flustering him even further.

Frustrated, Persephone reminds him that a public sexual liaison is in both of their interests, as they both want to alienate Zeus. Finally, she asks him if it is “because you think you’d be coercing me? You’re not. If I didn’t want to have sex with you, I wouldn’t offer” (76).

Persephone realizes that Hades has fallen for her public image as a sheltered innocent, and she privately relishes the idea of wrecking that narrative through a sexual relationship with him. Finally, Persephone decides to be direct, asking if he is simply not attracted to her. Just as she prepares to give up the plan, Hades comes closer, overwhelming her with his intense gaze and physicality. He tells her the terms of his bargain: They will engage in public sexual encounters for an audience in his private playroom.

Privately, Persephone is thrilled and intrigued, suggesting that they kiss as proof of their new alliance. She reflects that Hades’s cool dominance lies outside of her experience rather than his kinks. In the upper city, her reputation gives her the upper hand with her partners, and this advantage is now gone. She admits to herself, “I want this with every shadowy part of my soul I work so hard to keep locked down” (81). Hades kisses her, overwhelming her thoughts.

As he kisses Persephone, Hades struggles to keep the contact brief or perfunctory. Only the idea that he does not have Persephone’s full consent brings him to break the kiss. He watches her, believing the attraction is mutual, but resolves not to push it too far. Persephone tells him that she needs to call her sisters, and her mask of public calm goes up when Hades admits that he knows she has already spoken to them. Hades prepares to leave, wondering if he is imagining that she seems genuinely interested in his company. He realizes, somewhat regretfully, that it is enough of a daunting task to pursue a sexual alliance with someone that he is genuinely attracted to: He knows that he will secretly wish to pursue even more intimacy.

Hades arrives in his study to find his elderly advisor, Andreas, waiting for him. Andreas fears that Persephone’s presence endangers them all, but Hades assures him that his power base is far more secure. He reflects that “if ever there was a time to draw a line in the sand and dare Zeus to cross it, it’s now” (85). Hades reminds him of the treaty, but Andreas is skeptical about whether or not this will be enough to protect the lower city’s citizens. Hades welcomes forcing the rest of Olympus to truly face that he exists, as well as the true balance of power within the system.

Charon, Zeus’s chief assistant and Andreas’s grandson, arrives. Before they can complete their arrangements for increased security in the area, Zeus calls, angrily demanding that Hades return Persephone. Hades reminds him that Persephone has crossed the bridge, binding them both via the treaty, and says that soon Persephone will “hardly be the unsullied princess you’re panting after” (90). When Zeus threatens him with total destruction, Hades reminds him that he has already lost his family—this is the payback his adversary has long earned.

Alone, Persephone surveys her new wardrobe and considers her new circumstances. Her sisters are incensed with her plan to stay. She dresses, lost in anticipation of the unknown adventure that a relationship with Hades promises. He arrives, angry that she is putting shoes on her injured feet. He picks her up again despite her protests, and she is unsure how to cope with this concern, as it “feels like a hurdle I’m not sure how to get past” (94).

They arrive at a black door, and Persephone assures him once more that she is a willing sexual partner. Hades surprises her by declaring, “in that case, you need to pick a safe word” (96). This indicates that he plans to take a dominant role in their relationship but that she can stop their kink scenes with this word at any time. He insists that he only wants full and enthusiastic participation from his partners. When she teases him about his habit of carrying her despite her protests, he takes this as a sign that he has violated her boundaries. When he moves to go, Persephone assures him that she is not backing out. She chooses “pomegranate” for her safe word, an allusion to the myth of Persephone in which consumption of a pomegranate keeps the mythical goddess in the Underworld with Hades for part of the year.

They enter the room together, and Persephone is immediately amused. Though the throne is black and the wall hangings are red, the room echoes Zeus’s throne room in Dodona Tower, an assertion that Hades is a ruler in his own right. Hades seems pleased by her reaction. Persephone takes in the setup, clearly arranged for public sex and kink displays. She is surprised to see that they have no audience. Hades reminds her she is new to kink, and that he must negotiate her preferences and interests safely—their practical arrangement should also be enjoyable for her.

After that discussion concludes, Hades draws her attention with a reminder of the rules. In this room, he is addressed as “Sir” as the dominant partner, and rebellion has consequences in kink scenes. Exhilarated, Persephone realizes that she has “A choice, then. There’s no one watching now, no one to playact for” (101). Still full of curiosity about him, Persephone asks why he has chosen this method as a political and personal power ritual. Hades explains that it was only practical for his genuine sexual tastes to become part of his political image. Hades is impressed when Persephone points out this only makes him more formidable.

When she minimizes her foot injuries, tells her that he is unhappy with her proven tendency to ignore her own needs and pain, reminding her that “for the duration of this scene, it’s my body” rather than hers alone (104). He ushers her onto a stage, using lights to dim the audience area for her. He orders her to strip, taking in her lack of underwear. Hades reminds her that she will be on full view when they are in the room next: “They can look their fill, but I’m the only one who gets to touch you” (107). He gently examines her body with his fingers, overwhelming her with the attraction she feels. Hades promises her that he will soon bring her to orgasm, take care of her feet, and then give her another orgasm. He waits for consent again, and Persephone agrees.

Hades takes in Persephone again, more firmly believing that the pull between them might be mutual. He is also angry at how thin she is, implying that no one in her life has looked after her health and needs before now. She brings him back to the present, begging for release, and as she approaches orgasm, he tells her, “[L]et go, I’ve got you” (112). Hades struggles to remember that this is only the introduction to their relationship and he should not impulsively rush into more sex with her. He dresses her again, hiding his desires, knowing that Persephone will push him readily given her strong personality. Persephone proves him right, asking him for oral sex as a compromise. He tells her, “I have a word you’d do well to get used to…No” (115).

As he bandages her feet, Hades is consumed with anger at the risk Zeus took with her life and safety, telling her that real strength depends on care for her body, not the self-neglect she is prone to. She responds sarcastically, telling him she does not want a caretaker. Hades is angry that no one else in Persephone’s life seems to value her, and prepares to leave before he can be more emotionally drawn in.

Persephone reflects that Hades’s caretaking side makes her eager to rebel, and that she is overwhelmed by the apparent sexual chemistry between them. When he turns to leave, Persephone, despite her desire to appear unaffected, reminds him that he promised her more than one orgasm, assuring him that she will be much less combative if he agrees. Hades reminds her that she has not been particularly obedient and that he has no reason to believe her, as she is “making promises [she] ha[s] no intention of following through on” (121). He asks her if the others in Olympus know this side of her, and she admits, honestly, that her image is the opposite of the woman he is beginning to know.

Hades reminds her that she has choices here—that scenes can include her disobedience and its consequences if she finds the idea of compliance unappealing. She realizes that she truly has power in this arrangement. Hades promises her that he will show her what she truly wants, and when she scoffs, he tells her to strip naked and bring herself to orgasm. She agrees only if he promises to also participate, which he does. He assures her that if she submits for their public sex scene, he will ensure she’s sexually fulfilled. Afterward, Persephone is newly certain that he will let her leave freely when spring comes.

Hades cleans her up and gently embraces her, telling her that this is not romance but aftercare—consideration and gentleness shown to a partner at the conclusion of a scene. Hades engages her in conversation, curious why she has adopted such a publicly cheerful and bubbly persona. Privately, Persephone reflects that the aspects of her persona that drew Zeus to her were never meant to endure, but that they have clearly had unintended consequences.