Neon Gods

As he carries her away, Persephone tells Hades that she has realized his true motives: “you want Zeus to pay, but not at the expense of your people. And they are your people” (193). When Hades suggests her mother also commands loyalty, Persephone says Demeter is different and more self-centered. Hades reluctantly tells her of her mother’s threats to his food supply, horrifying her. Persephone argues that her preferences are not more important than the lives of innocents, but Hades assures her that he can circumvent her mother if she still wants to stay in the lower city. Persephone kisses Hades, overwhelmed by the signs of his political skill and desire to rule in the public interest, which is so unlike the life she has known before now.

They arrive in his bedroom and Hades strips her. He keeps the light off. This helps to conceal his burn scars, but it frustrates Persephone. At this point, only the reader knows the extent of the damage from the fire that killed his parents. Persephone revels in the more private intimacy, realizing, “I can’t pretend I want this solely for the benefit of our mutual reputations” (199).