Everything around her smelled of fire, brimstone, and death. Her eyes burned from the smoke, her skin tingling from the heat of the flames that licked at her back. The only sounds other than her screams was the cruel laughter coming from her husbands lips. Her punishment for trying to flee from him to be with Loki had been lashings. It was his personal favorite form of punishment. She could feel the flaming whip tearing the skin of her back open. Each time it had lashed across her skin, cutting her open it would heal back almost instantly. At least it had happened that way when he’d first started her beating hours ago. Or had it been days? Persephone could hardly keep track of the time through the pain. There was blood dripping down her back as she was too weak and tired to continue healing any longer. Sadly Hades couldn’t kill her, she was immortal, so all he could do was hurt her until she could no longer handle it. A particularly painful lash ripped a scream from her lips and everything started to fade. “Where is your precious Loki now?” Hades cruel voice rang through the darkness as her head connected with the cold concrete before her. Persephone jerked awake in a cold sweat, a cry of anguish on her lips. Flailing a moment she clutched the deep emerald sheet to her chest and let out a quiet sob. The bed beside her was empty and she was terrified that it all had been a dream and that she was still trapped down in Tartarus. But the scent of flowers and the familiar scent of Loki’s cologne surrounded her. With shaking legs she stumbled out of the bed and onto the balcony, letting the cool night air chill the sweat on her skin. Though there were no physical scars on her body from Hades punishment, it was something she would never be free of. With a whimper she touched the wedding band that he’d melted into her skin and shook her head. No matter what, she would never be free of him. “Oh my love...we’ll never be free of the past." Her voice was quiet as she stared at the slowly lightening sky. Loki would return soon she was sure, but hopefully by then any trace of her nightmare and her tears would be gone.
