That was an effective way to describe how he felt.
He was off. He had been since the night Persephone had confronted him about Leuce, and things had spiraled from there. Now he agonized, replaying every decision he’d made prior and since, and he felt ridiculous.
A horn blared as an impatient driver pulled in behind them, and Hades curled his fists at the sound.
“Apologies, Antoni,” Hades said and stepped out of his limo. As he did, he straightened his tie and turned his head toward the waiting car. The driver’s eyes widened, and he backed up into the vehicle behind him in an attempt to flee.
That was a satisfying enough punishment for Hades, and he strolled to the black doors of Bakkheia, illuminated on either side by strands of red light. The bouncers, two large satyrs, allowed Hades past with only a nod, though he knew they’d already alerted Dionysus of his presence the moment he stepped out of the car. And while he hoped that meant he wouldn’t have to go in search of the god, he had a feeling Dionysus was going to make this very difficult.
Once Hades stepped through the doorway, he was greeted by a loud and crowded club. The music was so loud, it vibrated his bones. Red laser light cut through the darkness and billows of white smoke clouded the air. It was supposed to be hypnotizing, but Hades found it suffocating. He edged along the dance floor to the stairs and headed to the second floor, where it was quieter and far more intimate. A few people leaned over small tables, talking in hushed voices, while some shared space, taking up large plush chairs to kiss and explore. Then there were some who openly fucked, the darkness unable to mask the sounds of pleasurable intercourse.
No one seemed to mind, not the exhibitionism or the voyeurism, but Hades had no intention of lingering. Being on this floor reminded him of how badly he’d wanted to comfort Persephone when he’d taken her to the Underworld. He’d wanted to touch her, kiss her, caress her. He’d wanted her to find pleasure in his arms, but he’d left instead, and now the distance between them felt like a hopelessly deep and jarring chasm.
He continued down the hall, which was wide and full of seating. A wall of windows overlooked downtown New Athens, providing a glittering backdrop for the sin that took place here.
Dionysus had a unique repertoire of powers, among them the ability to inspire madness and ecstasy, and he could apply them to myriad situations—from the murderous to the erotic. It was no surprise, given that the god was the first to create wine, a drink responsible for lowering the inhibitions of many mortals. At the root of it, Dionysus was the cause for much disruption, and he reveled in the chaos.
It was just one reason Hades preferred to keep his distance, yet here he was, seeking him out for the discord he’d caused.
He came to the third floor, reserved for private suites. The hall was dark, and doors bearing red numbers ran the length of it. There was an energy to the air that put Hades on edge, and while he knew part of it had to do with being in another god’s territory, there was something darker beneath—a desperation that called to death. He may have ruled over that realm, but it was unnerving to feel how it lingered within these walls.
Hades paused before the seventh door and entered.
Inside, the suite was dim, but Hades did not need any more light to know what was occurring before him. Dionysus relaxed in a large chair, arms stretched out over the back, while a woman knelt between his legs, working her mouth and hands over his cock. There were other people in the room too, all engaged in various sexual acts, and Dionysus’s magic hung heavy in the air, magic that had worked these mortals into a frenzy, unable to think of anything but their carnal need to fuck.
“Hades,” Dionysus said in acknowledgment, and as he nodded, the gold coiled in his hair glinted in the light.
“Dionysus.”
“Excuse the display,” he said. “Just making sure everything is in working order, given I have been plagued with dreams of castration.”
“How unfortunate,” Hades commented.
He shrugged. “I quite like the pain.”
Of course he would, Hades thought.
“I’ve been expecting you,” Dionysus said with no hitch in his voice despite the woman’s vigorous work between his legs.
Hades was not surprised. “You’ve been busy, from what I hear.”
“What have you heard?”
Hades only waited a beat before responding. “A lot,” he replied.
“From which you have made a lot of assumptions.”
Hades raised a brow. “I do not assume,” he said, though there was an element of guilt that accompanied those words as he recalled how much he assumed when it came to Persephone.
“Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“Look who’s assuming,” Hades replied. “And here I thought to give you the space to explain yourself.”
That was the first comment to break Dionysus’s cool facade. His eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers curled, then he sat up and his gaze fell to the girl, still valiantly engaged in her task.
“Leave,” he commanded.
She looked up at him and obeyed, allowing his cock to slide from her mouth. She rose, using his knees for support, and left.
“I would apologize,” Hades said, “but it does not appear she was able to hold much of your…attention.”
Dionysus’s lips flattened, and he stood to restore his appearance. He was just as tall and large as Hades. He wore a gray suit with purple accents, and his hair was long and braided.
“Usually I am not deterred by exhibitionism, but you tend to have an unnerving effect.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It isn’t,” Dionysus said flatly, navigating around entangled bodies as he made his way to the bar, where a glass of wine and a glass of whiskey already waited.
Dionysus handed over the whiskey.
“Since you’ve come for a visit, I hope you’ve brought along my eye.”
“You illegally bought the Graeae. The eye is no more yours than they are.”
“You missed the important part—bought and paid for.”
“You missed the illegal part,” Hades pointed out.
“What makes you think it was illegal?”
“Who does anything lawful on the black market?” Hades countered.
Dionysus took a sip of his wine and set it aside, watching Hades.
“I did not buy the Graeae. I bought their services. Imagine my…surprise when they arrived without their eye and no ability to do what I need.”
Hades was skeptical. “And what did you need?”