Reversal [by TheSuperSass]

Chapter 9

Hades could not think of anyone she wanted to see less. As if it were not humiliating enough that her sisters laughed in her face upon discovering her love interest, the god of love of all people had confirmed it for them. She had never liked Aphrodite: he was overconfident, a gossip, and constantly felt the need to throw his sexuality in people's face. The encounter in Zeus' palace had only solidified her passive feelings of distaste into active dislike.

The goddess of the dead was so annoyed she almost didn't see his daughter Eros next to him. The young goddess had her wings folded back, eyeing Persephone curiously.

"Can I help you?" Hades asked curtly.

"I only came in to check on that poor innocent boy you snatched from the field," he insisted, voice dripping in mock concern. Hades internally cursed. If Aphrodite saw that, then everyone knew about it.

Persephone perked up at the mention. Aphrodite looked him up and down, undressing him with his eyes, and winked at him. Persephone shrank back behind Hades. Most would never admit it, but even other men fold Aphrodite attractive. He did not understand the context of such animosity from Hades, but didn't want to question her on it.

"Weeks later?" she challenged. "What do you want, Aphrodite?"

As he stalked towards her, Eros watched from a distance, trying to get a good look at Persephone. Hades held her ground, not flinching as Aphrodite stood just a few inches from her face.

"To see for myself. That even the judgemental queen of the dead isn't impervious to being made a hypocrite by love."

Persephone's skin prickled. She had used that word -- love -- to explain what she'd done his first morning here, but never again since. He wondered if she had changed her mind, her feelings had cooled, or if she had come to her senses. But if the god of love said so, could it still be true?

"Hypocrite?" Hades questioned with a scoff.

While they were preoccupied, Eros lithely skipped over to Persephone, staring up at him towering over her petite frame. He gave her a smile but she didn't reciprocate, too busy trying to make sense of him. She narrowed her eyes at him as she looked him over. The flower god squirmed under her scrutiny.

"How many times have you loudly expressed your scorn when your own sisters pursued a man or woman they wanted?" Aphrodite asked.

"They used "love" as an excuse for infidelity. And leaving mortals at the mercy of their jealous husbands' wrath is recklessly selfish," she answered matter-of-factly.

Aphrodite gave her a wicked smile: he had her right where he wanted her.

"Did you think your manic outburst in the field was victimless? What about taking poor Demter's only son from her?"

Persephone's head snapped up, a surge of sorrow rushing through his chest. Hades clenched her sceptre so hard that her knuckles turned white. Smug victory radiated off of Aphrodite, having proven that his domain was more powerful than even rulers of the cosmos. He turned from her to depart, Eros following behind.

"At least your sisters didn't let hundreds of mortals die for their affairs," he added under his breath.

"Excuse me?" He turned.

"You're the queen of the dead and you're telling me you didn't notice the big influx of mortals into your own realm?"

Ice ran down her back. Hades had noticed, but hadn't made sense of the source yet. More mortals than ever had died of malnutrition, but Persephone's absence couldn't possibly be the cause, she told herself. He assisted with the harvest, but his domain was only the flowers. She had held onto willful ignorance as long as she could.