TAMING APOLLO | completed

47. revelations in tartarus

"Sit down. We need to talk to you." Hades' tone is thunderous, and his usual nonchalance is replaced by a certain storminess in his eyes. He clenches his jaw at Adonis, who in my opinion is the first person I've ever met whose gaze rivals that of the Lord of the Underworld himself in power.

Poseidon briefs Adonis on everything we've just told him and while you'd expect him to be just a little shocked at the revelations, he just shrugs it off like it's nothing he hasn't heard before. "What does any of this have to do with me?" He asks, turning to Persephone in question.

Her lips quiver in response as she removes her feet off of the table and sits up properly. "Adonis. Please. You know where the sickle is. The fate of the world is in your hands. Please, my boy... where is it?"

Adonis sighs as if he's been asked the same question a million times, brushing his raven black locks aside. "I already told you. I don't know anything." Those words alone are enough for Persephone to slam her fits against the table, startling even Poseidon as Ariel and I share a surprised glance.

She wipes the tears streaming down her face as she storms out of the room, slamming the doors shut behind herself.

"See what you've done?" Hades sighs, a murderous look in his eyes as he follows after his queen, leaving the three of us alone with this Adonis fellow.

Immeasurable anger bubbles at the lining of my stomach up to my throat as I narrow my eyes at Adonis.

He made Persephone cry!

"I don't know what your problem is," before I can stop myself, the words have left my mouth but I'm on a role now and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon.

I get up from my seat, ignoring the pinching of the corset against my chest. "–but you're an asshole." His brows arch ever so slightly at my words as he crosses his arms over his chest.

"Persephone is the nicest person I've ever met and you made her cry." I point an accusational finger at him frustratedly. "You'd better go apologize to her right now or else!"

"Or else what?" My chest and my cheeks burn hot with rage at his smug retort.

There's a somewhat amused expression on his face, which angers me even more.

"... or else..." I scramble to find something good to threaten him with to no avail. My gaze darts to Ariel, who sighs and Poseidon who is watching us like we're his favourite television programme. "Or else my good friend Poseidon here will teach you a lesson."

Poseidon frowns at my words, shaking his head in defiance. "Not getting involved."

Drats!

Adonis sighs, getting up from his seat and heading towards the door. I slump back down into my seat defeatedly, but before he can close the door behind himself, he turns back around. "Tartarus."

Ariel perks up at his words. "What?"

"Your precious adamantine sickle. It's in Tartarus."

Sparing me one last curious glance, he turns away and disappears into the hallway.

The three of us soak up the silence before Ariel pushes her chair back. "I'll go tell Hades and get changed. Looks like we're going to Tartarus." She says, strutting out the room and leaving just Poseidon and I.

"Better go get changed." I murmur, pushing back my chair. Poseidon grabs onto my wrist, a strange expression on his face.

"I think it's best you stay behind." He states.

My heart sinks at his words. I shake my head, motioning to get up. "No, I'll come with you, who knows maybe I can help–"

"Gayle. I need you to stay here." His tone begins to concern me, and his downturned expression makes me think he might be hiding something from me.

"What's going on? Why don't you want me to come?" I ask.

He remains silent, clenching his jaw and looking away from me.

"Poseidon..."

He sighs, rubbing his fingers over his temples. "Remember I told you I went to see the Fates about the end of the world?" I nod, recalling his story about some form of Ragnarök on its way.

My stomach churns at his hesitancy to speak further. I don't have a good feeling about this. I have goosebumps and not the good kind.

"There's something I left out. They... well, they told me. They told me you'd sacrifice yourself, Gayle."

It feels like the world around me slows down, for a moment even my heart stops beating as I process his words. "S–sacrifice myself as in... as in die?" My heart threatens to break free from my chest as Poseidon solemnly nods in confirmation.

My brain rejects his words and I momentarily forget what he's told me, like it's some kind of fever dream. "How?"

"I don't know. That's why I want you to stay here."

He continues speaking but I can't hear a word he says, it all turns to background noise as the ringing in my ears increasing gets louder.

A part of me has always known this would be the outcome, when I saw Cyrene tucked away on her deathbed I could see myself.

I just didn't know it would come so soon.

A/N : i just recently started watching kdramas and I can't help but imagine Adonis as Lee Jong-Suk.

Who do you guys imagine? What do you think about Adonis?

Also, would you guys like a bonus chapter of Ariel and Poseidon's journey to Tartarus?