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Time has been, for as long as Vi recalls, the sole constant in her life. Fast or slow, it continues to pass and press onward.
Yet, until recently, she could not fathom her purpose ever-broadening, that her existence as a deity would expand beyond that of the ruler of the underworld, the caretaker of souls for all eternity.
She yearns for light. For the polar opposite of that which everyone seems so desperate to categorise her as. Dark and cruel. Or to be frank, her heart demands it.
This longing is something that even she has never been able to make sense of. No number of perfectly curvaceous women sauntering into her bedroom late at night sates this desire or even so much as scratches the surface.
But then, one day, she lays eyes on her. Caitlyn Kirraman. The Goddess of spring. Formally known as, Persephone. Suddenly, all at once, it makes sense.
Being a creature of habit has never been Vi’s style, especially when she steps foot on the surface. Any expected actions will only serve to increase the likelihood of lesser Gods acting out, taking it upon themselves to seize an opportunity to take her on in order to make a name for themselves. It never changes.
Despite this, she finds herself standing in Nyseion, at the threshold to one of their many plains for the third time in less than a week. The location itself is nothing to get excited about. Just a whole bunch of plants, trees, and small beasts if she is honest.
But beyond the forest, there lay a field of lavender, all freshly planted and thriving brilliantly despite their juvenile, week-old roots.
Caitlyn’s touch is magic.
One wave of her delicate fingers and slowly each carefully sown seed gracefully twists and sways, making its way through the soil and glides up towards the sky. Peplums of petals fall freely, cascading one after another as each flower reaches maturity at a pace that rivals the worst of lovers.
But it all has a cost, as is always the way.
For every flower that springs forth from the fertile soil beneath her feet, the Goddess grows wearier. Her energy visibly saps a little with each perfectly delicate bud that comes to full bloom before Vi’s eyes.
Today is no exception. Her beautiful yet visibly tired eyes gaze lovingly at a perfectly splayed bush of lavender as she crouches before it. Her long, flowy, white dress flutters in the wind as it brushes past her, Zeus himself caressing her tender features in silent admiration of his child.
It is clear that what she needs more than anything is to rest. To give her fragile form a chance to recover its strength before she proceeds to push herself too far. Vi might not have spoken to her, but somehow, she knows better than to expect that Caitlyn will do such a thing. Words don’t need to be exchanged between the pair for her to understand some of the complexities that make up Caitlyn.
By watching her struggle through her fatigue while the hot Grecian sun beams down upon her as she works, it is evident that she is stubborn. A perfectionist too, always ensuring that every petal is perfectly fluffed out before moving on to the next seedling.
All the deities Vi knows on a personal level are almost the exact the opposite. Minimal effort for the maximum reward, it is practically their battle cry. For if there is a corner that can be cut, they will surely explore it. Unless of course, Zeus or Hera is watching.
Beyond this, there is Caitlyn’s undoubtable kindness. The way her features soften, worry consuming her as she comes face to face with injured animals lingering near the edge of the forest. It is remarkable and almost as if she cannot help but tend to them. Instead of restraining herself, she scrambles to aid each and every one of them, using her delicate stamina to breathe life back into their feeble bodies.
Deities, for the most part, have been numb to the suffering of other lifeforms for as long as Vi cares to recall. Instead, they press on with their duties in order to keep the timeline and life of all living creatures moving forward. It is, after all, the point of their existence.
Compassion. Love. Both are reserved exclusively for their own kind. Every other life is outside of their control and as such, falls into her brother, Zeus’ domain. Their lives are what he wishes them to be, or so he constantly reminds them.
Caitlyn is bolder than most to go against him.
The Goddess of spring has no business dabbling in sparing lives. Going against what Zeus preaches is an act of defiance. A punishable one at that. Her power cannot rival his in the event that his wrath rains down upon her. Yet despite knowing this, she still does as she feels is right at every turn, or so it at least appears.
A soft tugging sensation erupts at the corners of Vi’s lips, her right hand instinctively traces across her mouth. At first, she pauses, silently taken back by the unusual feeling. It feels so foreign and yet at the same time, part of her can’t help but feel comforted by it due to the unquestionable cause.
“It’s her,” Vi breathes, lips curling into a full-fledged smile beneath her hand. Then suddenly, it hits her. I almost forgot this feeling. Something as simple as a smile, she muses, dragging her hand from her mouth.
A smile. Something so simple in the eyes of the gods and goddesses that gleefully dwell in Mount Olympus, but what reason does the God of the Underworld have to smile? Truth be told, she cannot recall what may have been the last cause for such a simple gesture. At minimum, it must have been millennia.
Mind racing, Vi rests against the nearest tree trunk, safely tucked away in the dark folds of the forest, careful to stay out of sight. The thought of Caitlyn spotting her is beyond horrifying. Countless scenarios have played out in the theatre of her mind, none of which are something she seeks to see unfold as a hellish reality.
Yet, despite this, an unsettling warmness flutters deep in her chest. A heat so uncomfortable that even her, the God of the dead, ruler of the underworld; a dimension that harbours a blistering heat that rivals that of the sun itself feels rattled.
Exhaling heavily, Vi turns, fingertips weaving through her hair, the curve of her back pressed against the tree. “What is this feeling?” she grumbles under her breath as she glances back through the forest, eyes locking instantly on Caitlyn. “What is she doing to me? Did she get one of the others to use their powers on me? This cannot be her own doing.”
She slides her hands down her face before letting them fall freely, balled into loose fists at her sides. Gaze softening, she feels her shoulders relax as she watches Caitlyn glide her hands over a long row of lavender, water droplets cascading from her fingertips as she slowly makes her way towards the edge of the forest.
“What is it about you?” Vi’s voice drawls, a look of awe encapsulating her as the words tumble carelessly from her lips.
Heat rises in the back of Vi’s throat as her lips part ever so slightly as she watches in silent admiration. Nothing overly notable ever seems to occur as she watches her from the shadows. But watching the slender spring goddess’ ample bosom bounce in perfect synchronicity as she floats down the dirt path is not a sight she will tire of.
Suddenly Caitlyn stops dead in her tracks. She reaches forward, nursing an unblossomed lavender bud in her palms for a brief moment, promptly dragging her palm over it, expediting its growth before uncovering her hands revealing the perfectly matured bloom.
Mouth growing dry, Vi presses her lips together tightly, swallowing hard. Caitlyn might be a goddess with an earth-based skillset, something commonly looked down upon by most deities, but there is no doubt in Vi’s mind that she is not to be underestimated.
Caitlyn gently tucks a section of her dark blue hair behind her right ear. Her gaze immediately flicks upwards, knowingly cutting through the space between them. “I know you’re there,” she calls out, straightening her back as she peers into the forest, bright eyes searching.
Inhaling sharply, Vi springs upright. How long has she known? Mind racing, she swings her head from side to side, anxiety enveloping her as she slips behind the nearest tree. Her eyes widen as she clutches at the centre of her chest, black robes knitting tightly with her fingers as her heart practically jumps out of her chest.
How long has she been aware of her presence? What made her notice? There are so many questions that desperately require answers.
Caitlyn ejects a hearty sigh. “How much longer do you plan to dwell in the shadows? Is my company that repulsive to you?” she calls out, pain that has no place lingering in her voice present in her register.
Vi presses her lips together, eyes downcast as Caitlyn’s words replaying through in her mind over and over as she stands there silently. What should be a thrilling moment, is instantly twisted into something distressing as she finds herself fixating on the air of misery present in her voice.
It doesn’t belong there.
Nothing negative should be attached to the sweet voice of the goddess she has watched for days. The woman that radiates happiness. She is the epitome of everything good in the world and is a giver of life itself, an ability sparingly given out by Zeus to those of their kind.
She is special.
On the other hand, Vi is the harbinger of death. The only thing that clings to her is misfortune and the stench of ash, as Eris, the goddess of strife and discord likes to mention at every opportunity.
Ever since Eris first made mention of the misfortunes following in Vi’s wake, all she noticed is just that. At first it plagued her thoughts for longer than she cared to admit, but now, after a considerable amount of time has passed, she can’t help but feel as if she accepts it. Time and time again she has proven the claim to be correct. Misfortune followed those she engaged with like a missile, particularly when she ventures topside.
Perhaps it is a coincidence. But when is anything a coincidence with the goddess of strife and discord? She isn’t beyond curses, in fact, she revels in them. The sheer difference in power between the two, with Vi having the upper hand means nothing to the chaos seeking deity.
Grimacing, Vi grits her teeth, squeezing her eyes closed and smacks her head back against the thick trunk of the tree over and over as she racks her mind for the next course of action. I’ve done it again, she notes bitterly. I’ve tainted her.
Time and time again, she gets too close or becomes too invested. But it is not her who pays the price. It never is.
“I can hear you breathing, or have you forgotten that Gods have been blessed with superior senses?” Caitlyn calls out from the edge of the forest. “If you are simply going to linger in the dark, so be it. But wouldn’t it be much more pleasant to spend it in good company, rather than alone in the dark and dank woods spying on me?”
Wincing, Vi rubs her face roughly. She sure is persistent, she notes as she peers around the trunk of the tree. In an instant, it feels as if Zeus himself has winded her.
The sight of Caitlyn standing in the light at the edge of the forest is beyond breathtaking. Her white chiton gown tumbling masterfully over her shoulders, wrapping across her breasts, and winding down to her hips, dragging her attention down to her sex as it spills sensually between her thighs. The train of her sheer dress whisps through the air like smoke, gliding majestically in the breeze behind her.
Swallowing hard, Vi combs a hand through her hair, anxiety clouding her senses as her veins pulse in silent anticipation. She is a vision. A heavenly body in every sense of the phrase. All at once, the concerns she held only moments earlier feel so insignificant.
One foot slips in front of the other, and the other. Before Vi knows it, she has reached the edge of the dark forest. She pauses, hesitant to take the final steps out into the light. Almost all her visits to earth were restricted to the shadows. Not due to any guidelines she has to adhere to, but simply due to her personal boundaries.
Her presence was never appreciated by mortals or deities. So staying out of sight was simply easier. Someone calling out to her, seeking her company outside of the underworld was unheard of. The sensation of Helios’ light caressing her pale skin is but a foreign memory, and as much as she hates it, she has come to accept it with time.
Taking a deep breath, Vi steps out into the sunlight, promptly waltzing past Caitlyn and stopping a short distance from her, side by side. “You caught me Cupcake,” she murmurs, cocking her head in the direction of the flush cheeked woman standing within arm’s reach. “What can I say, only in the darkness can you see the stars shine brightly.”
Inhaling sharply, Caitlyn turns to face her, eyes fluttering as her gaze rakes down the length of Vi’s body before locking daringly with her eyes. “Who would’ve thought the God of Death had such a learned nature.”
Laughing dismissively, Vi arches a brow. “Oh, that's the words of a wiser man than I. He will be born one day.”
“How do you know this then?” Caitlyn inquires, expression softening.
Vi drags her gaze across to the picturesque lavender field before her. “I am the caretaker of souls,” she explains somewhat casually, a smile gripping the edges of her lips once more. “It is my duty to know those who live, those who have passed and those who are yet to come.”
“You oversee the whole life cycle,” Caitlyn notes out loud.
Nodding, Vi flicks her head in her direction. “You could call it that,” she remarks. “But it is only Zeus and a select few, including yourself, can create life. All I know is death.”
A strange heaviness hangs from Vi’s words, guilt unlike anything she has ever felt. Being the ruler of the underworld has never been something she takes pride in. If anything, her life constantly feels like an ongoing cycle of punishment. But never once did she feel ashamed of the darkness in which she called home or the skills that were bestowed upon her. Until now that is.
Somehow, the sparkle present in Caitlyn’s eyes made her feel embarrassed. No, it is worse than embarrassment. She feels mortified. Part of her wishes to erase all of her existence. To start over fresh. Or worse, to lie in order to conceal the dark core at the essence of her being, in order to ensure Caitlyn does not become aware of that twisted facet of her personality.
But deception is not in her nature. It is beneath her.
Lips twisting, Caitlyn turns to face the lavender field as she ejects a sigh. “Creating life is the easy part. Nurturing a soul, that requires skill,” she notes calmly. “Just because you're Hades, it doesn’t mean that your work is easy. Tasks executed while shrouded in darkness are much more difficult than ones in the light of day after all.” Caitlyn lowers her gaze as a sheepish smile creeps across her lips.
Throat tightening, Vi’s heart rate quickens. Her dominant hand reaches up to her hair, combing through it at a torturously slow pace. “It’s been a while since someone called me by my proper name,” she replies shortly. “Doesn’t it worry you? Being alone with the god of the underworld.”
Caitlyn presses her lips together, thinking deeply for a moment before extending an open hand in Vi’s direction.
Eyes widening, Vi stares down at her slender hand, taken back by the gesture. Does she want to make contact?
It is difficult to even recall the last time Vi had the pleasure of feeling the warmth of another’s skin press against her own in any capacity. She drags her gaze down to her weathered palms, her gaze raking over their pale and unsightly appearance, considering the offer for a moment before dropping her hands down to her sides.
Caitlyn reaches forward, forcibly seizes one of Vi’s hands and lifting it to her face, and presses it up against her cheek. Despite her aptitude for the outdoors, her hands are perfectly smooth and unweathered.
Inhaling sharply at first, Vi’s gaze stiffens only to soften within a few short moments. Her eyes lock with the gentle stare of the heavenly woman tenderly caressing her hand. “Some say my presence brings misfortune. I should leave,” she notes out loud without thinking, half panicked by the situation she somehow found herself in. How is she so relaxed? Surely she knows what the others say about me.
“If that is what will make you most comfortable, then by all means, go ahead,” Caitlyn whispers daringly, her unshakable gaze searching Vi’s eyes for a moment before she peels her hand from her cheek. Her fingers trace across Vi’s hand before she leans forward and plants a tender kiss on a scar marking her palm.
Vi falls silent and heat washes over her as she feels the goddess’ lips press delicately against her skin. She instinctively shudders, nerves shattering in the blink of an eye. She could turn back now before things progress too far. Before Caitlyn’s infamously overprotective mother, Demeter, catches wind of their meeting. Before Zeus himself discovers how Vi feels for her.
There are so many things she could do. That she should do or at least consider if she means to continue to enjoy a peaceful existence of sorts. A life free of toxic rumours and mind games that come hand in hand with mingling with an Olympian.
Yet, nothing can possess her to leave Caitlyn’s side. The fear of starting a war or even becoming the victim of retribution due to her actions, should they be misinterpreted, is simply not enough to push her to depart and return to the underworld alone. The absence of the warm aura that radiates from Caitlyn in itself is too much to bear.
Heart quaking wildly in her chest, Vi swallows thickly. Her throat grows dry as she feels Caitlyn wrap her slender fingers around her hand, gripping it firmly and squeezing for reassurance.
Vi can feel it. The start of something.
An odd, unrecognisable sensation swells within Vi’s chest as the vibrant gaze of the woman standing opposite her flicks back up to meet her own. She knew of her, and has watched her intensely for days, but in reality, she barely knows her. To say she has scratched the surface is an understatement. Yet she knows she will do anything to protect her. To shield the precious light that radiates from her from all who seeks to taint it.
Caitlyn tugs at Vi’s hand, leading her through the sea of lavender. The heavenly scent of their blooms tickle Vi’s senses as she brushes past them. Streams of white chiton flutter through the warm breeze as Caitlyn picks up her pace, springing forth in a manner that resembles a forest nymph rejoicing after a sun shower. Everything she does is a celebration of nature; she thrives in its presence. It is almost as if they are one and the same.
Then it happens, an unmistakable smile erupts across Caitlyn’s lips as she peeks over her shoulder somewhat shyly at her. In an instant, Vi’s train of thought vanishes in its entirety. Her heart skips a beat and her mouth falls agape in disbelief of the beauty before her eyes.
Vi knows she is unworthy to be in her presence and that the darkness that shrouds her in itself is a threat to the light and love that radiates from the woman before her. She knows that in the eyes of many, she will always be deemed as undeserving of Caitlyn’s attention in any capacity.
But in the wake of Caitlyn’s smile, it hardly matters anymore. Nothing does. The only thing that does is her.
“What’s the rush, Cupcake?” Vi laughs half-heartedly, her lips curving into a soft smile.
Caitlyn stops dead in her tracks, a brow quirking upwards curiously. “Cupcake? Like one of those baked goods mortals consume?”
“Bingo,” Vi chimes as she points a finger playfully in the goddess’ direction. “I’m surprised that you knew what I meant. Didn’t think you would even be slightly interested in the culture of humans given how poorly they treat the environment you grow with so much care.” Vi pauses and huffs; “They treat everything with disregard frankly.”
Caitlyn’s gaze drifts down to their entwined fingers, her thumb tracing tenderly across the back of Vi’s hand as she loses herself deep in thought for a moment. “There is so much anger in that comment it is quite difficult to know where to begin, Violet,” she notes, dragging her gaze back up only to see a look of righteousness marking her features. “It does break my heart every time they throw their trash onto my fields and all the other thoughtless things they do, you’re right.”
Vi opens her mouth only to be silenced by Caitlyn’s free hand, the pads of her fingertips pressing gently up against her lips. Heat consumes her in an instant as she closes her mouth immediately, lashes fluttering as she listens intently.
Ejecting a sigh, Caitlyn nods knowingly. “But just because we feel this way it doesn’t mean this is entirely their fault. When Father created the humans, he did not do so without giving them faults of their own,” she notes, sliding her hand from Vi’s and proceeding to brush a section of hair behind her own ear. “We cannot expect perfection from them, or even from our kind for that matter.”
“Perfection? No, but respect seems like a reasonable expectation,” Vi counters, not bothering to dial back the frustration she feels on the matter. “They act no better than squabbling, ungrateful children.”
“Well, they basically are children. One of their lifetimes is barely a blip on our radar by comparison,” Caitlyn muses as she crouches to the ground. Strands of lavender poke at her sides for a brief moment until she descends back into their embrace, splaying the flowers in every direction around her, accentuating her lean figure.
Vi blows a section of her crimson hair out of her eyes as she stares down at Caitlyn. A content smile grips Caitlyn’s lips as she lays snug amongst the flowers she tended to so carefully, her intense gaze fixed on Vi as she extends a hand up towards her.
“I don’t want to damage them,” Vi blurts out, taken off-guard by the silent offer.
“It was not a question, Violet,” Caitlyn retorts as she springs upright, seizing Vi’s hand and promptly dragging the God of the Underworld down to the ground with her. “I can easily fix those that are flattened,” she adds as she turns on her side, her hand still linked with the flustered, dark-garbed woman beside her.
Vi turns to look at Caitlyn, her hand breaking free of her grasp and lifting to trace the curve of her cheek, eyes full of wonder. “You are all the rumours say about you and so much more, Persephone,” Vi whispers, eyes searching Caitlyn’s as her hand absentmindedly drifts down to her chin, her thumb tenderly gripping it as her attention drops to her supple lips.
Her mind is instantly riddled with questions. But most of all, it is filled with the overwhelming urge to claim her, every inch of her. Her lips would be a good start. Based on their flushed colour, she cannot help but assume they are as soft as they appeared. Plump and delicate like flower petals. She needs to be kissed. Whether that is something Caitlyn desires or something Vi projects remains to be seen.
Exhaling heavily, Vi’s gaze flicks back up to lock with Caitlyn’s eyes, drawn back to reality by the melodic sound of her voice.
“Please call me Caitlyn, only my mother and father call me by my birth name,” She whispers somewhat breathlessly.
Vi twists her lips thoughtfully. “Noted, Cupcake.”
Half smiling, Caitlyn rolls on top of Vi, straddling her waist as she leans forward, pinning one of her wrists down as she tucks a section of hair behind her ear once more. “Hades, for a ruler, you are awfully subservient,” she teases, hot breath skimming across Vi’s cheeks as she draws close.
Breath hitching in the back of her throat, Vi tries to reign in her hormones. “My level of obedience is purely dependent on the company I keep.”
“Is that so?” Caitlyn breathes, her lips hovering above Vi’s teasingly. “Who would’ve thought that the God of the underworld is actually gentle.”
Is she bating me? Vi wonders as she looks up at Caitlyn, her delectable lips barely two inches shy of her own. Heavy lashes flutter for a moment, as she watches a section of Caitlyn’s hair flutter past her ear. Taking a deep breath, she submits momentarily to the rattled yet exciting feeling swelling in her chest before her mouth tugs into a smirk.
“Who would’ve thought the innocent daughter of Zeus and Demeter is not so innocent after all?” Vi counters at last as she combs Caitlyn’s bangs behind her ear once more. “Maybe you aren’t the good and innocent girl they make you out to be, Persephone.” Her hand slips past her ear and cradles the side of Caitlyn’s face.
Caitlyn snickers softly and leans into Vi’s touch. “Is that so?” she replies, amusement clinging to her voice. “If I wasn’t due to depart tomorrow, I would challenge you on this assumption of yours.”
Heart sinking, Vi’s body stiffens as her extremities grow cold. It is as if someone sapped all remnants of happiness that were blossoming within her only moments earlier. Instead, a wilting bloom lay in its wake.
As if sensing her displeasure at the turn of events, Caitlyn ejects a sigh, gaze downcast as she peels away from Vi’s hand and rises to her feet. Her flowy white dress whips around her legs as she steps away, not a single word passing the threshold of her lips as she turns her back, instead, eying the sea of lavender before her for as far as the eye can see.
“Don’t get all soft on me,” Caitlyn teases playfully, an unplaceable fragile tone lingering in her voice. “Until a few minutes ago we were all but strangers.”
Vi chuckles darkly as she slides her knees up and leans forward, resting her head on top of them as she eyes Caitlyn carefully. “I am anything but soft. I’m responsible for the torture of more souls than I care to admit,” she reasons, heart thudding painfully in her chest as she watches the wind lap at Caitlyn’s sides, silently worshipping her heavenly curves.
Caitlyn looks over her shoulder at Vi, a soft smile enveloping her lips as she tilts her head knowingly. “But you are also in charge of guiding those who are worthy towards the light. You do not solely reside in the darkness,” she counters, streams of chiton fluttering behind her.
Among the gods, it has always been difficult to truly keep track of who manages what duties, especially with Zeus reproducing at the rate of a rabbit. Being one of the oldest, Vi should’ve commanded the respect of those that were born after her. It should’ve also meant that others understood who she is and what she does. The management of souls should be deemed important after all.
Yet somehow, throughout the centuries, her role as Hades evolved into one associated purely with punishing unsavoury souls. With it comes the expectation that she too is unkind and cruel. A negative and inaccurate spin on reality and it hurts. It shouldn’t. But it does.
“Do you really need to leave?” Vi asks, her voice void of all emotion as she stares back at her, completely numb.
It feels too soon. Too unfair.
Part of her wants to argue, to plead, to do anything that would ensure she stays right where they are in this very moment. Yet, she cannot bear to do so. For saying such selfish things would surely mar the opinion Caitlyn has of her, and that in itself is not something she can live with. The embarrassment would be unpalatable.
“I do,” Caitlyn responds, searching Vi’s emotional gaze carefully. “But time will pass quickly. I am sure of it.”
Huffing, Vi rolls her eyes dramatically, her hands slip into the depths of her trousers as she frowns and looks away. “I should steal you away, spring can wait,” she confesses, eyes flicking to look back in Caitlyn’s direction; “I’ve waited for longer than I care to admit for someone like you to appear.”
Caitlyn inhales sharply, heat engulfing her. The brazen declaration doesn’t go unnoticed despite the playful tone her companion used. “Maybe one day. But for now, spring waits for no one,” she reasons. “There will be others who seek your attention and affection. Of that I am certain.”
“And they shall not receive it,” Vi counters irritably at lightning speed, jaw clenching as she storms up to Caitlyn, hands firmly gripping her shoulders.
Caitlyn’s eyes peel wide as she stares back at Vi expectantly.
A heavy pit settles in Vi’s stomach as she winces and tears her gaze down to her feet for a moment, second-guessing her next statement. Will it come off too intense? Too bold? But what is the alternative? To be passive? Her mind screams, torn. Such a plan could risk losing Caitlyn to a misunderstanding and may come off as uncertain, something she simply isn’t. Yet by contrast, being too assertive could be off-putting.
Overthinking is insanely tiresome.
Groaning inwardly, Vi’s grip on Caitlyn’s shoulders slackens. Her hands proceed to trace down her arms, fingertips trailing delicately downwards until her hands fall freely at her side once more.
Vi raises her head, mind clear and her eyes brimming with emotion. “Say whatever you want. But from the moment I saw you, it was over for me,” She declares firmly, a hand reaching up to clutch dramatically at her chest. “ Persephone.”
Lips parting, Caitlyn stares across at Vi for long moments before nervously tracing her fingers through the tail length of her hair. “I told you not to call me that ,” she whispers, a clear attempt to show her indifference, but her voice gives her away. Her previously strong, sultry voice is shaken and riddled with emotion.
Vi seizes Caitlyn’s wrist and tugs her closer. “Make me,” Vi counters, eyes softening as her lips swiftly slot between Caitlyn’s. Heat rushes down Vi’s spine, satisfaction instantly engulfing her as she skims her lips gently against Caitlyn’s over and over, basking in the earthy taste of cinnamon that clings to her. She relaxes into the kiss, her free hand slipping down to caress Caitlyn’s neck lovingly.
Suddenly a foreign pressure presses up against her lips sending wave after wave of adrenaline coursing through her body. It was her. Caitlyn. She wants her. Or at least, in that moment she desires to kiss her back and that in itself is exhilarating. Heart rate skyrocketing, Vi sinks deeper into the kiss, moaning softly against her lover’s lips as her shoulders slacken.
All thoughts she held only moments prior have been vanquished from her mind.
All that matters is her.
Caitlyn.
Persephone.
Whatever the fuck she wants to be called. It doesn’t matter. She will agree to call her anything at this point, as long as she is hers. Even if it is only for a fleeting moment.
A whimper escapes Caitlyn as Vi breaks the kiss. A breathy, satisfied sigh flows from Vi as she presses her forehead up against Caitlyn’s.
Caitlyn’s fingers trace over her swollen lips for a moment as she tries to gather her thoughts to no avail. “What was that for?” she breathes at last, voice trembling.
Because I cannot help but desire to claim every inch of you, Vi’s mind aches to respond, and yet she cannot bring herself to do such a thing. Such a statement will likely come across as too intense and yet it is her truth.
Chest rising and falling rapidly, the urge to keep kissing Caitlyn riddles her mind as Vi’s gaze remains locked on Caitlyn’s lips. It is sinful how kissable they are and that expectant look in her eyes certainly doesn’t help matters, she notes half in agony, half in bliss. Walking the fine line between the two is quickly becoming second nature.
Caitlyn’s free hand tugs gently at Vi’s robes. Her eyes anxiously search Vi’s. “I need to know,” She urges.
“I should’ve asked,” Vi confesses earnestly. “I’m sorry…”
Caitlyn smiles warmly in response, her fingers dragging from her lips. “That does not answer my question.”
Vi pulls back and proceeds to slide her hands deep into her pockets, face turning away as she averts her gaze, embarrassed by her brash actions. It isn’t who she is. Not at all. Respect is paramount to all she stands for, and yet, when faced with her, one taste is not enough.
She is like a drug.
Her presence is all she ever desired and more. Perhaps the concept of soulmates did not only apply to humans as Zeus declared. For there is no other rationale she can concoct for such madness. To be so intoxicated by her mere existence.
Vi runs a hand up from her pocket, scratching at the nape of her neck as she looks somewhat shyly at Caitlyn.
“You might say it is foolish. Perhaps worse than that even. But my thoughts, my heart. They both scream your name,” Vi admits, pausing a moment before ejecting a hearty sigh. “All I want, is you, Persephone. All of you in every conceivable way.”
Vi turns to face Caitlyn entirely, only for her to rush forward, fingers draping across Vi’s lips as she inches closer, eyes fixed on Vi’s lips.
“Hades,” she whispers simply in response, Vi’s true name rolling off the tip of her tongue like a hallowed prayer. Breathless, wanting and full of hope. Caitlyn sighs, stroking Vi’s perfectly curved lips as she loses herself deep in thought.
Heart ablaze, Vi’s throat tightens, heat rushes up her neck and engulfs her in a haze of pink. Everything she does feels so purposeful. So what is her angle right now?
Vi opens her mouth to retort but quickly pauses. Her chest throbbing as she searches Caitlyn’s eyes for answers, but instead finds herself lost in the splendour that is her beauty.
“Shh. Don’t talk,” Caitlyn orders as she peels her fingers away. Her lips slowly inch forward and brush delicately against Vi’s. “Just relax.”
Caitlyn doesn’t have to tell Vi twice.
Before Caitlyn can elaborate, Vi’s lips rush forward, deepening Caitlyn’s gentle advances only seconds earlier. Mouths parting, their noses brush against one another as they fall back to the ground, the lavender breaking their fall.
Vi’s tongue traces the outskirts of Caitlyn’s lips for a moment before she pulls away ever so slightly. “Are you sure you want me at all?” she whispers, her dark tone dripping with vulnerability. If she is rejected right in this moment she knows it will ruin her.
“Unequivocally,” Caitlyn notes eagerly against Vi’s lips. Her hands slide up between them to cup Vi’s cheeks as she playfully bites and tugs at her lower lip. “So focus on me. Not the formalities, as much as they excite me, other things do a better job at that.”
A deep throaty growl escapes Vi as a light pain emanates from her lip. “You better come back after you leave, got it?” she orders as she proceeds to trace her hot breath down the length of her lover’s jaw and neck, goosebumps rising in her wake as she worships her lover’s creamy skin, leaving molten kisses in her wake.“Nothing can keep me from returning,” Caitlyn replies huskily, Vi’s distracting kisses fading as she peers up at the spring goddess with pleading eyes. “When this field grows old and perishes I will return to you with open arms. I would stay if I could, but Father would never approve and invoking his unsightly wrath is unwise.”
Half laughing, Vi tilts her head. “How cheesy of you,” she teases, her tone acting as a mask for her frustration. It is inarguably unfair that a man, someone outside their relationship, can prevent their happiness from flourishing and reaching its true potential in such a way.
Part of her could not help but consider the possibility of interfering and fast-tracking the process. Killing flowers is child’s play after all. But the pang of guilt she feels at such a thought was immeasurable. How could she do such a thing when Caitlyn had sewn each and every seed and fostered its growth with the utmost care? If she were to discover she tampered with things it is doubtful she would even wish to see her again. The betrayal would be too painful.
“Perhaps I should say something cruder? Will that be more to your liking?” Caitlyn counters playfully, quirking a brow as she pokes the tip of Vi’s nose with a grin.
Vi leans forward, her lips brushing teasingly against Caitlyn’s right ear. “Don’t tease me with a good time now,” she whispers. “You will give me the wrong impression.”
Caitlyn curls into her lover, her body shivering in delight as she lets loose a long drawn-out sigh of satisfaction. “Mmmm. I would never,” she coos, heavy lashes fluttering shut as she basks in what little time she has left in Vi’s presence. “I think you know exactly what I require from you at this very moment, Hades.”
Snickering, Vi traces her fingertips up the opposite side of Caitlyn’s cheek, tenderly stroking her delicate skin as she sinks into the comfort found in the nook of her neck. “Perhaps,” she teases with a grin. “I think you might need to tell me exactly what you need from me my darling, Persephone.”
“So cruel,” Caitlyn mutters as she flips Vi onto her back, straddling her torso once more.
“Who? Me? No, I’m just living up to those rumours about me,” Vi laughs as she reaches up to trace her fingertips across Caitlyn’s lips. “Want to leave me, Cupcake?”
Caitlyn snickers as she draws in close, her gaze raking from Vi’s eyes down to her scarred upper lip, settling there for good measure. “Never, Violet.”