Half-blood Resources

NO smut, per se, but close enough. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Persephone was adamant about leaving. She saw no logic in forcing her to live in the mortal realm if she was to return anyway, but Hades could not bear to look at her knowing he was the cause of all her troubles. Well, most of them. Demeter was, too, a nuisance in her daughter’s life. But Hades did not care about Demeter’s feelings nor pride. All she wanted was his queen to be well. And so she would be, even if it was not by his side.

The silent one and the goddess of spring spent the rest of the night in the royal chambers where music filled the room while the infernal fire illuminated every corner of it within different colors. The precious metals on the walls glistened against the purple flame. Persephone had calmed down, and Hades’ mood followed. Being in bed with her always seemed to do the trick. The moment their bodies touched, his sorrow and pain vanished.

The dead King placed a kiss on her forehead, causing Persephone to look up. Hades didn’t stop there. He showered her with soft kisses on her lovely features. Her nose, her cheeks, forehead, and lips. Her soft ones welcomed the cold lips of the Silent one. In mere seconds, Hades’ melted onto her, his kisses became somewhat urgent, but gentle still, afraid to make things worse. The god only wanted to be with her and show her that no matter what, she would always have his heart in her hands. The Dark Lord of the Underworld was hers, for the rest of his infinite life.

Kisses turned into caresses, as fabric pooled on the floor by the large bed. Hades’ lips examined every inch of the queen’s exposed skin, worshiping it like a goddess should be. Time seemed to slow down for Hades. He was making up for the time she would be gone. Something inside him begged her not to leave, but the god knew better. She needed better. As Hades’ hands stroke her fair skin with feather-like touches, his lips found hers, passionately kissing Persephone.

The king and queen of the underworld became one as lovers were destined. He firmly believed that Persephone was his one true love. No one had come close to her, nor made him feel like she did. Life had gained a new meaning; the sun was cold compared to her. The goddess had turned his world upside down for the better and he was indeed the luckiest god. Not even Tyche was this fortunate. Hades could not fathom how he lived for eons before Persephone. It was simply dull before her light came to brighten everything up.

-o-

Later that evening, the goddess of spring was fast asleep on their bed, but Hades’ could not afford to sleep. He wanted to take it all in, for their time was now limited. The king shifted the covers, framing her delicate body as he placed a gentle kiss on top of her head. He had to walk away for a moment, to make arrangements. The God-King summoned Hermes. The messenger of the gods was one of the few beings that had free access in and out of the underworld. His nephew was sent to bring Demeter to the doorway to the underworld.

The conversation would be difficult, with both Persephone and her mother. But this already was. How could one part from the one he loves, even for the best of reasons? If Hades could die, he would die of a broken heart.

The god went back to bed, his long cold arms reached to pull the goddess into his embrace. Hades closed his eyes, enjoying the moment for as long as he could. The Silent one did not have it in him to wake her just yet. She looked so peaceful, so happy in her sleep. He simply held her as she rested, her soft skin warming him up. Was it too late to call this off? He was having second thoughts, but Hades reminded himself that she was needed up there as much as she needed the sun and life.

Soon enough, Persephone woke up. He smiled as her bright eyes looked up at him. She knew something was wrong, for the sadness was visible on his godly features. It stung. They both knew their time was up. She would return to the world of the living while Hades stayed behind, desperate for their time together. She clung to him. No words were needed, saying goodbye made it all too real. And Hades knew it would not be forever, in a few months, she would be back and rejuvenated, ready for their time as kind and queen.

Hours later, Hades kissed her forehead and smiled. “It’s time, my love.” She whined softly and stirred, clinging onto him tighter before reluctantly pulling away. The gods dressed again and shared one last kiss before he walked her all the way to the mortal entrance to the underworld, where Demeter was already waiting for her. Hades did not leave his realm but watched as his queen returned to her mother. The darkness of the cave-like entrance resembled his mood. Everything became colder, darker now that Persephone had left the Underworld.     

SEASON FINALE

Things did not improve as much as Hades needed them. His queen did seem in a better spirit with her new magical garden, but the faint grayish tone from her skin still announced the lack of sunlight and oxygen, of her mortal realm. She was happy, he could tell… Maybe Eros had been right all along. He was cursed and she was paying the highest price. Loving Hades was unnatural. It was crystal clear now. And even if the curse was real, Hades did not have it in him to seek retribution. All he wanted now was making Persephone better.Persephone had been in the Underworld far too long and the world above was suffering the consequences of it. Hades’ realm was booming as Demeter refused to allow crops to grow and spring never came. Droughts, prolonged winters, and famine. People were dying at an alarming rate. The most popular god was now Hades. His youngest brother was furious. Zeus went to Demeter, who explained that nothing would ever grow again until she had Persephone back as if she was an object for Demeter to control. The only solution to everyone’s quandaries. Persephone ought to go back. How would he even address this with the lovely goddess? She would hate him if he simply cast her away. He knew the feeling all too well. He needed a better way of fixing things, not just ripping the band-aid. As the silent one moved from the upper balcony to her luminescent garden. The sweet scent filled his lungs as he ventured in between the mushrooms and bushes. A smile crept onto his pale features that were dimly illuminated by the bright colorful sprouts. She is simply beautiful. He thought. With a heavy heart, the god kneeled next to Persephone. She smiled, looking up at him. “Look, Hades! It’s growing so beautifully.”  Her soft voice was music to his ears. I can’t do this… I can’t push her away! He needed to find another way, and he did have a plan, but seeing her part from his side, from her rightful place as Queen seemed wrong. “My dear.” Hades whispered, taking her hand on his, kissing the back of it. “Do you mind if we go on a stroll?” The goddess looked up at her skeptically. -o- A few minutes later, the two walked through the garden, examining her expert work on plants that were never meant to be. He smiled softly. “I’ve been thinking…” The male spoke softly. “I know that you have been struggling, my love. I’ve noticed that you suffer in silence when you think no one is watching.” His words became a mere whisper. The lump on his throat grew as he saw her expression. She seemed… terrified. This was hurting more than he anticipated. “No, no, don’t get me wrong.” He sighed, his head hanging low. “I don’t know what will be of me if you leave, my love.” He averted his gaze, not wanting for her to see the tears running down his cheeks. “I just want to be where you are.” Persephone forced the king to turn his head to see her. She was just as sad as he was. She lovingly kissed his tears away and smiled softly. “Then why do this? I am okay, my king!” She whispered. Was she truly clueless about how she was wasting away in the land of the dead? She had to know. He saw her conflict and effort to remain her perky self. Hades lightly pressed his cold lips against her warm ones, and as he pulled back he rose his hand, kissing the back of it one more time. “I know you want to be here.” He hoped it was true. “And I have a way for you to always come back to me.” Hades whispered. “But up there is where… you…” Every word was killing him. “belong.” Hades’ affliction was visible. His tears kept coming. He wished nothing more than for his lovely queen to thrive in their kingdom. Hades was silent for a long moment, as she spoke. She begged not to return to her mother’s clutches, afraid that Demeter would not let her come back. What she didn’t know was that his gift had not only been a garden but an anchor. If she ate the seeds of pomegranate, the goddess was bound to the underworld. It was a cheap trick to fool Demeter and Zeus, but it was his last resort. Their walk cam full circle and they found themselves back in the center where the tree stood proudly. He reached out and plucked one of the fruits. Hades cracked it open and smiled, holding the leathery red-colored berry, revealing the ruby-like seeds. His long fingers picked a few of them and handed them to the goddess. He had to be careful, for if she ate too many, her suffering would return. She could only endure so much and Hades thought six months in his realm was her limit. Each seed meant to force the consumer to remain in his world for a month, so the dark lord of the dead realm gave Persephone six seeds. “Your mother can’t say no to this. If you eat these seeds, you have to return to me.” And so she did. Persephone popped the fleshy seeds into her mouth. Now it was not up to the tantrums of his dear old sister, but to fate, and a little magic. Hades had reached his lowest point by dishonesty and deception, but he saw no alternative. The god needed Persephone as she needed the life the mortal world could provide. She was his light and warmth, his life and soul.

Love was indeed a game. Not for Hades, nor Persephone but it felt like someone was still playing a game with Hades’ heart and every second, his heart was breaking more. He hated to admit that everyone was right, himself included. He had foreseen the possible decay of a spring goddess. It took several months for her skin to become pale, for her to show significant refusal to his world.  Allowing Persephone to remain here had been a mistake. Then why did it feel so good?

The god of dead paced in the throne room. He had what he desired the most, his queen, but it needed to end and the thought of losing her again left him out of breath. The anxiety left the king in a crumbling state. Hades was falling apart once again. He refused to let it show. If she already struggled, he didn’t want to make Persephone feel worse. He needed to calm down and figure what to do, but Demeter words resonated in him. “She doesn’t belong there, and you know it.” Hades buried his face onto his hands. “Your kingdom is nothing but corpses and death.”

The silent one walked towards the onyx throne and sat down, bending as he rested his elbows on his knees. The bones on his arms sunk against the pale flesh on his legs. He continued to hide his face into his palms. Hades was in dire need of counsel, but who could he go to? Demeter was out of the question; she would simply rip Persephone from his embrace. Zeus did not care about his affairs; Poseidon was as wild as Zeus and Hecate… he rather not. With a sigh, he straightened up.

Persephone looked at him, a puzzled look on her soft features. “You keep pushing me away. What is wrong, Hades?” She spoke softly, but in a serious tone. She walked up to him as Hades got up to meet her and helped her sit. He took her hand in his and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it. “Just work.” He lied. Work. He sounded almost human. He shrugged and half smiled, resting his dark gaze on her.

Hades shook his head, pulling her up. “Come with me. I have a surprise for you.” Hades hurried, to keep her from asking once again. He hated lying to Persephone but adding to her burdens was not something he was going to do just now. Hades would toughen up and find a solution. “I’ve been working on it since your return.” He added, a goofy grin plastered on his pale long features.

The spring goddess’ interest was now peaked. “You sneaky god.” She said, her smile growing, warming his heart. “What is it?!” She sounded more excited with each word. It took a lot to hide this from Persephone as he planned and executed his surprise. It was visible from their palace, in fact, it was right next to the black building. Magic and shadows had shielded the project that could potentially help his current situation, but she needed something he could not provide.

Hades chuckled softly and with the flick oh his hand, shadows wrapped around Persephone’s godly head, covering her eyes to keep her from spoiling the surprise. The god guided her outside, to the balcony next to her royal chambers. The view was odd. He had created a staircase that was hidden by shadows that lead down to a garden. Again, Hades moved his hand, dissipating the shadows from her lovely face.

“Surprise?” Hades was nervous. In front of them, a wide garden stood proudly in front of them. The air was cool and damp. Neon bright plants glowed along a brook that wended through the middle of it. It had taken a lot from Hades and Hecate to create a garden where plants grew without the need of sunlight. Poisonous shrubs and multicolored mushrooms adorned around the main focus. In the center of the orchard was a big tree, never seen before. Round red orbs hung from its branches, perfuming the whole garden with a overwhelming sweet tart scent. Hades smiled softly as they reached the grand tree. He plucked one of the new fruits and cracked it open. Ruby pearl-like seeds filled the bright red husk. He smiled softly. “This is for you. I wanted to give you a piece of your world in ours.” The inside of this pomegranate, as they named the fruit, resembled the very jewels that made Hades so rich. But not only that. As to compensate for the flowers that could never grow there, big piles of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other precious rocks laid on the somewhat fertile ground.

Between the luminous plants and the jewels, the whole garden glistened proudly among the few petrified statues from Aunt Em’s Emporium. Hades looked down at Persephone, hoping this gesture was well received. And it was. The goddess’ expression of awe and glee made the effort worth the while. He could only do so much, as this was meant to be a place where only death thrived, but now, a few plants and the now Pomegranate tree rose proudly from the forsaken grounds.

“Hades…” She whispered. “This is … beautiful.” The goddess turned to the king and wrapped her fragile arms around her. Hades melted into the embrace as he relaxed. She liked the garden. It was not what she was used to, but a little piece of her life now resided in the Underworld. He pulled back lightly and smiled widely. He kissed the back of her hand. “THANK YOU.” She cried happily.

The two gods moved to the small veranda that overlooked the Fields of Asphodel. Hades and Persephone sat on the two smaller thrones similar to the ones in the throne room, but a small table rested in between so they could enjoy lunch in her new spot. Hades found himself forgetting his troubles for a shining moment. As long as she was happy, he was too.

Hades was nervous. As king, he deserved, to be invited to his underlings’ events and weddings, but as the god of the dead, he was often avoided in such celebrations. Where life was honored, death was not. This was the first wedding the Lord of the Underworld attended in eons. He kept fussing with his suit, his shoes, the cufflinks; anything to ease his anxiety. He could not ruin this. His presence was dark and feared, never welcomed. So this was an opportunity not to let others see what they feared the most.

It eased him to know that the bride had a connection to death. It made him feel more confident to show up. And as he looked into the mirror once more, he fixed his black bow tie and his light blue handkerchief. “Stop freaking out. It’s just a wedding. What can go wrong?” He told himself before he took a deep breath and summoned the shadows. As they fused with his godly body, he willed himself to go upwards, to where the ceremony was being performed. Hades had made it in time. He had spent a big portion of the morning changing his clothing and his overall appearance.

It had been a beautiful moment. Hades couldn’t help but smile. The union between two souls that adored each other was something he craved yet feared; but this time, it was simply delightful. The King felt a tug in his chest. The bride glowed, the groom looked presentable and the words that were spoken melted his cold heart. The scenario was perfect as he looked from a safe distance, as mild shadows danced around his feet.

He looked up at the couple, a wide smile showing on his pale features. It was a contrast to his usual self. He couldn’t help it. This was something he craved and knew that the Reyes couple deserved it more than anyone. It made him happy to know that Leyla had found her one true love. And for a moment, Hades and the bride locked gazes. His purple-colored eyes found hers and nodded as he mouthed “Congratulations, my dear friend.” After that, Hades dissolved in shadows, but the smile remained plastered on his face.

                    -o-

Life in the underworld. Who would have said such a thing existed? It was not like living in the mortal world above, but it was noticeable, as Hades’ mood and general behavior changed. He was happier, more eager to do his job. The death rate was the same. Hades was not allowed to kill, but he did oversee all the process of reaching the final resting place, the judgment, and how the different places kept the underworld balanced. The five rivers, the different palaces, and torturous corners of the dreaded land of the dead.

At dinner, the Hospitable one sat next to the goddess of Spring. Hades could not help himself and smile. It was something that he found himself doing a lot lately, scaring some of his subjects, as it rarely was seen before the arrival of the goddess. “The Underworld seems so different this time around.” She whispered. The god took her fragile hand in his and pressed a soft kiss on the back of it. "For me you are its light, its warmth; and now you are its queen and my bride." As he spoke, a golden flower crown appeared on top of her godly head.

Hades was in a good frame of mind. It was as if Helios himself was shining bright in his bleak kingdom. Persephone seemed to enjoy her time with the God of the dead too. She not only cared for him but learned to love him. The god had prayed for this since he first saw her. This is what he always envisioned. Persephone was meant to be a queen and her rightful place was by his side. There was no way back for the god. His own kingdom did not seem so bad anymore.

~o~

“COME HERE YOU LITTLE BRAT!” The voice from above was so familiar. The goddess stomped on the ground several times. “I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME, HADES. GIVE ME BACK MY CHILD!” Demeter screamed as she continued to hit the ground with the heel of her shoes. This was the way old Greeks used to if they needed to pray to Hades, though not as rude. Greeks would be on their knees, pounding either their palms or head on the ground, to get his attention. Not that Hades cared or really listened to their prayers. But it certainly this time, someone caught his attention. His dear ol’ sister was furious, again.

He sighed. Luckily, Persephone was fast asleep, and she wouldn’t hear her mother’s cries. He placed a fuzzy blanket (he had Hermes’ deliver) over her slender form and left the room. He had to deal with Demeter before she woke everyone. Hades shadow-traveled up to the mortal land. He appeared in front of the Goddess of agriculture, his arms crossed over his chest, and a murderous look on his pale features. “Nice to see you too, Demeter.”

“Cut it out, punk. Bring her to me, now.” The goddess demanded. Hades half-smiled; it was devious, dangerous. He knew that this time, he was not to blame. Persephone came with him willingly. There was no way, he was going to drag his Queen up here just because her mother was throwing yet another tantrum. Everyone knew Demeter could be a nuisance. No one said it out loud, but it was a well-known fact.

“First of all, I did nothing. She came on her own free will, Demeter.” He spoke softly. “And secondly, don’t call me punk. It does not suit you. You are a goddess for hell’s sake. Besides…” Hades tried to be polite, but the mischievous part of him wanted to rub it in everyone’s face. Persephone had chosen him, despite who he was or what he had done before.

“She doesn’t belong there, and you know it. She is a fertility goddess, Hades. Your kingdom is nothing but corpses and death.” She interrupted the god. Demeter was not wrong, though. Only a handful of things did grow down there, and nothing good. He tried to not think about it much. The Silent one did not want to believe she was a fish out of water, sort of speak. He wanted, no, he needed Persephone to be with him. Life without her, was not worth it.

“If Persephone wants to leave, she can do so. I will promise you that.” Demeter was not taking a no for an answer. Hades could feel the rage emanating from his sister. Was he like that when Persephone found him battling Eros? Was Demeter going to start a fight? He took a deep breath. “Good-bye, Demeter.”

And just like that, Hades left Demeter on her own, probably even more furious than before. Hades would regret it later, but for now, he just wanted to enjoy his time with the now Queen of the Underworld. He finally had someone to share his kingdom with.

~o~

The mismatch gods were happy, and it showed. But that did not mean that everything was going smoothly. As much as Hades hated it, he noticed something that broke his heart. His queen had spent too much time away from the warm rays of the sun, the light, and fresh air. Her skin had a strange gray tint to it. Her formidable spirit was there, but her body was not meant for the cruel coldness of his kingdom. He needed to find a way. Something to keep her alive and well. She was a goddess, Hades knew she would not perish, but this was no way of living for a fertility goddess. Demeter had been right all along.

Persephone did her best to hide it, or she was completely unaware of her physical reaction to the Underworld. The nine days that Persephone first spent in his realm did not seem to change how she looked. It occurred to him that the longer she was in this dark land, the worse it could get. Oh, how unfair. The irony! The goddess spent a few months with him, and she was already struggling.

He sat by her side as she slept once again. He placed a long hand on her side and half-smiled. He couldn’t bare to see her waste her life here, but he couldn’t make himself part from her. He shifted to face the golden walls. He placed his face in his hand, trying not to cry. This was not fair. The curse was real. He couldn’t be loved. He shouldn’t.

Her gentle touch brought him back to reality. “What’s wrong, my king?” Persephone whispered. He cleared his throat and turned to her, giving her a small smile. “Nothing, my dear. Don’t worry. How are you feeling?” The goddess claimed to be fine. This was a bittersweet moment. He had everything he ever dreamed of, but now, it was slowly falling into pieces.

Obi-Wan Kenobi did not know regret. As a Jedi Knight, he was taught to live in the moment. He didn’t dwell on the past, nor focused his life on the future for he was living now. Any attachment, even to the possible yet unknown world to come could distract him from his current duties. Of course, plans were made, as the war was yet to be won. And still, there was one thing that would haunt him for the rest of his life. The force-sensitive male could not close his eyes without seeing the Mandalorian Duchess’ final moments.

Satine Kryze succumbed to the cold clutches of death because of her relationship with Kenobi. If it hadn’t been for the love he always had felt, maybe, and just maybe, the mad Dathomirian known as Maul would never have met Satine and she would still be alive. But that way of thinking did not ease Obi-Wan’s pain. It was imperative for him to move on, but as much as he tried her words were buried on the back of his mind.

If only she had said the words, they would have been off, away from the torturous reality. However, the scenario was as grim as ever. Obi-Wan was left to remember the former Mandalore ruler only by the shared memories. The son of Stewjon half smiled, as he remembered all the times they shared. War had brought them together, so many times, as a protector and a formidable warrior. Oh, how she been right. He thought with a light-hearted chuckle. The sarcasm of a soldier who refused to see it. He had been a pawn in an endless war. In fact, he had been a General within the Grand Army of the Republic for that interminable conflict.

Still, as such, Obi-Wan always tried to keep his saber on its clasp by his hip. Obi-Wan intended to fulfill his responsibilities as a Jedi without the need of violence. The Jedi were keepers of the peace, not soldiers, yet here he was, with an armor and a weapon. He was not sure when did the world change, as this was what he had always known. Master Qui-Gon Jinn had taught him the true meaning of the Jedi, past the battles and guns and he did his best to follow in his footsteps.

It took everything in the Master Jedi to not turn in the dark side. He was a firm believer than only the weak embrace it, but in that bitter moment, his one regret was not being able to do anything to save her. He had done so multiple times in the past, why not there? Had he been weak by not confronting Maul or had he been strong enough to let fate happen? He could have used the force, or..

“Stop it, Obi-Wan” He mumbled to himself and shook his head. This was of thinking was not healthy for anyone, including a Jedi. He was strong, he was powerful and he was missing her every second. The negotiator knew better. Obi-Wan Kenobi would mourn her in his own way, from afar and silently, since attachments to anything or anyone could tip the balance of the force, within him. But he was strong enough to remain a light in the dark.

The Dark Lord of the Underworld walked to the small furniture set next to his bed in the royal chambers. As Persephone sat, Hades wanted to pinch himself. Was she really here? She was. He could feel the warmth for her skin under his pale cold hand. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, making sure that he was not imagining the goddess in his realm. She was in his private room. This gave the god a sense of peace and allowed him to recover from the previous night and that morning’s drunken daze.

Still, there was something within him that screamed for explanations. As much as it made Hades happy to have her there, he needed to understand what exactly happened the night before. All he remembered was Eros, the clashing of metal, and the lovely goddess catching him in the very act of war. It may have been one small battle, but Hades wanted it. War was the only solution to his problem, as it not only involved Eros, but as he found out later, Aphrodite, Apollo and the creatures of destiny, the Fates. Or at least he believed so. He was not sure of that fact, but if Eros had been right someone had cursed him.

Afraid of her possible aversion to his actions, Hades looked away as he asked. “What… what did I do?” He whispered. “I don’t remember much. I was… incapacitated.” He was nervous that she would pull away and run again. The hospitable one did not understand why the fertility goddess would come back to this… hell. He, too, was afraid of doing something out of impulse that would cause her to leave him again. He had not been himself lately and he was getting used to the emotional outburst, the fire, and screaming. It was not a good side of the god.

Persephone smiled a little, patting his long thin hand. “You were brave enough to fight another god for me.” Her voice was sweet and soft, almost intoxicating. “A God of Love, none the less.” She added. It had been reckless and stupid to do so. If they wanted payback, the two would know how to hurt him the most. It had been another nail in his coffin. But she seemed to enjoy it? Hades looked at her, puzzled. Did she just enjoy the fact that he almost mane another god for her? The god wanted to laugh. What was Demeter doing to this poor girl? She had yet to see the world.

“You are worth fighting for.” Hades’ thoughts from the night before came back. She was worth it all. Cowardliness had never been the answer. He was meant to fight Eros for this very reason. Yet it was different than he expected. Maybe Ares had been influencing him after all. Or it had been the war god’s child influence on Hades that made him go to such extremes.

As Persephone explained how they went back to the underworld and the ins and outs of last night, Hades was able to breath again. He had not kidnapped her, and she wanted to be by his side. Apparently, the pale god had let Eros go while he had been taken aback by Persephone’s presence. After Love boy fled, the goddess tended to Hades, making sure he was nor hurt as well. The two later shadow-traveled with the help of the Helm of Darkness to the palace, where Hades woke up and began shaking the earth to its very core.

Hades had been surprised by the story. She cared for him and his well being. The goddess had been there to pick up the pieces when he had lost his mind and sanity. She was willing to put up with a broken god with mood swings and a troubled past. He had daddy issues to say the least, he was lonely, easily angered, and so on. He was a mess…  but to her he was everything. Or that is what he gathered for the conversation. She did love the mortal realm, her plants, flowers, and whatnot, but Demeter could be… well, Demeter. Hades knew his sister enough to know that she could be overwhelming to anyone.

Soon after, Hades reopened Persephone’s chambers. The walls stood tall as the rose gold lined them. The precious metal decorated the room, as well as blood-red rubies, and amethyst rose stones popped against the pale color of the walls. Flower patterns were created, so she would have a piece of her world down in the Underworld.

While the Spring goddess checked out her private room, Hades stood in the balcony. The god looked up at the stalactite-filled cavernous ceiling that served as their sky, with some of them glistening like stars with the fires from beneath. The Phlegethon lighted the tips of the rock formations in a way that it resembled the night sky from above. Maybe dear ol’ Nyx was helping with that, as her palace was not too far from his.

Suddenly, delicate slender arms wrapped around his waist. Her floral scent filled his lungs as he breathed in. Persephone leaned onto Hades’ back. The god relaxed against the goddess and slowly turned to face her. His long arms pulled her closer, his forehead on hers as he smiled. The one genuine smile he had ever shown to anyone.

Seeing the change in Hades and the fact that she was no longer needed, Hecate dissolved into nothing, leaving the two gods alone in his chambers. Surely Hades could handle being alone with Persephone for a short time? She, without a doubt, did not want to be around for the wreckage. She had seen enough of the trouble god’s fragile state of mind. If things were to go wrong, Persephone had to figure it out. After all she was the source of Hades’ pain and misery. Certainly, the goddess could clean up after herself, no matter how young Persephone was.

The room spun. Hades’ inebriated state vanished at the sight of the goddess of spring, but that did not mean he remembered what happened the night before. The Silent one sobered up from his drunken stupor. The anger that once fueled his desire for bloodshed had disappeared. Now, all that Hades wanted was an explanation. He deserved one, after all, he had gone through so much since he met the goddess. It was the power of love that made him fall head over heels over the goddess to the point of obsession. He was not proud of it, but neither Aphrodite nor Eros would ever hear the god of dead admit that because of their influence, he almost called for war.

“How?” The rich one whispered, closing the distance between the two. When their bodies were inches apart, Hades broke down. He fell onto his knees, his pale face buried in his hands as he tried to hide the crazed look in his ghost-like features. His pain was indeed visible and haunted him to know that Persephone always seemed to be around when he was at his lowest point. He wanted to explain his actions, but words did not seem enough. He looked up, tears pooling in his eyes.

“Why would you come back? Why would you if you had the chance to escape?” His voice was barely loud enough for anyone to listen to him. He was puzzled by her presence. He had allowed her to go back to her mother, to the world above where the sun shone brought, yet she was here. Not by his hand, hopefully. He frowned. Did I? He would die if she had been trapped against her will in the inhospitable place that the Underworld was. Anger could not have blinded me this much! His thoughts ran wild. He was disgusted with himself.

“I didn’t… did I?” Hades added as his voice broke. You are worth fighting for… but I should not have met you. I was better off as a coward. His unspoken words were cold and empty. Fighting a war was not in Hades and whatever this feeling was, Hades was better off being the detached god he once was. But his heart was now beating and there was no turning back. He belonged to Persephone, whether she wanted him or not.

“My dear Hades.” The Spring Goddess’s voice was soft and sweet, almost sinful, in the right way. “You did not. I came here with you, willingly.” This was a dream. The likelihood of Persephone coming here was nonexistent. He kidnapped her, made her a prisoner, and screamed at her for reasons he dared not to remember. But she stood right in front of him, as real as he was the god of dead.

“But this place… you need better, you deserve better.” Hades was still on his knees as if to beg for her forgiveness. She closed the distance between them, kneeling. Her smile brightened up the room, his life.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel.” Her voice was music to his ears. Even when she spoke of creatures from above, for angels and demons were not relevant to the Greeks, but the Christians and Catholics and the God. It did not matter to Hades. She was there and she wanted to be so. She placed one delicate hand on his sunken cheek. She felt as warm as the midsummer sun. It sent a shiver down his back. Hades closed his eyes, leaning onto her touch. He could not help but smile. His thin lips shifted to resemble a smile, which was odd for the god.

“I was certain that my place was next to you.” Hades whispered, unable to speak louder than that. If this was a dream or another of Eros’ cruel jokes, he dared not to speak loud enough for everyone to hear him lose his mind once again. Hades’ black orbs gazed into her bright blue eyes, placing his hand over hers.

Both gods got up. With the flick of his hand, the surrounding walls were restored. The gold and silver panels rose once again, decorated with the jewels from under the world above. Sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and onyxes adorned the royal chambers of the god. If love had been as easy as it was to rebuild his place? They would not need to be reconstructed. He chuckled at his thought.

His world turned upside down in mere seconds. The sudden change gave the god vertigo. No one should go from a hundred miles per hour to zero in nanoseconds. Still, Hades was happy with such change. He was not about to complain when he had no reason to do so. “Do you mind if we hold hands?”

The god of the dead was an incident away from burning everything to the ground. Nothing made sense anymore. Hades did not know if Eros told him the truth or if this was just another one of his cruel jokes. He was the god of love, after all, he did not exactly play fair. He was ruthless, manipulative, and his father’s son. Ares was never his favorite guy, now Eros was on the not so nice gods list. But everyone was on that list, for Hades. Maybe Hecate and Thanatos, his trusted lieutenants, were the only ones he could trust. When did things get this way? All Hades wanted was peace and tranquility, now it seemed impossible.

But his mood did not improve, no matter what he did. The ever-growing exasperation and pain mixed with his heartbreak left the god in a state of unconsciousness. He became impulsive and wild. He fought Eros, destroyed half his palace, made himself a fool in front of Persephone and the sad thing was that he barely remembered anything. The god was drunk on something and not something good. Still, the agony drove him to act in ways he did not recognize. Hades began caring about what others could say about him.

For eons, he ignored the world above. Zeus, Poseidon, and his family had doomed Hades to live his eternal life in the darkness of the underworld and he learned to do so. He only had contact with the jury of the dead, the witch, and the acolyte of dead. Eventually, he would see the Olympians and others, but his closest allies were under his command, and they couldn’t exactly leave the ruler, for his wrath could fall upon them. As Hades’ thoughts ran untamed, he realized the life of a king was lonely. He had no friends, no family.

“SHIT.” Hades could feel the storm coming. His irrational belief of betrayal moved him to act in despair. He was sure that someone was to blame. Eros and Aphrodite were his first options, but the prophecies and fates would influence his life as much as Zeus’ or Nyx’s. His eyes opened wide in realization. The Fates, Apollo, the fucking love gods. Every single one of them turned their backs to the one god who minded his own business. Treachery!

Hades exploded in disgust and furor. In no time, Hecate appeared in front of the King. The recent outburst had been observed by Hecate, but this one had shaken the earth itself to the core. Hades' violent phase was growing exponentially, and the goddess needed to find a way to calm her overlord. “THEY BETRAYED ME!” Hades screamed. “THOSE…” He was red with fury. “THOSE… CURSE THEM!”  Hades began screaming insults to thin air. With each old Greek word that escaped his lips, the ground shook worse and worse. The murderous look in the Silent one’s pale features agitated Hecate. If this continued, the Underworld would be no more.

“LORD HADES!” The goddess called out, louder than the bustle around them. “HADES!” And with that, he turned, his vicious gaze fell upon her pale features. No one called him that, at least not when under his power. “THIS IS WAR.” His words were almost poisonous. “WAR, HECATE.” He repeated as the god grabbed his invisibility cap. He was readying himself for the battle to come when an angry voice distracted the god.

“STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!” The blonde goddess said firmly. “YOU are SCARING THE DOGS.” Persephone was at the entrance of the royal chambers. He blinked; the helm fell from his thin, long fingers. Hades wanted to die, and not because of his foolish action but because the confusion was giving him a migraine. What was Persephone doing there? What exactly happened last night. All he could recall from the previous evening was a flash of red. The anger had taken over and he had been intoxicated with revenge. It all had been a little fuzzy if he was being honest.

The Dark Lord of the Dead was breathless, anxious. The conflict and uncertainty of his emotions were hard to explain. He could not quite find the right words to elaborate on his misery for he had seen it often but never experienced it himself and the comparison was overwhelming. Hades was on edge, and it showed. His black sword trembled in his hand, against the love god’s neck, yet Hades did not back down. His blade still threatened Eros’ existence, if only. Immortal beings were, well, eternal. Worst case scenario would be Eros spending a few decades in Tartarus.

But the king did not want that. He did not want to exhaust himself with the sudden disappearance of another god. What he really wanted was to be with her. “WHY?” Hades screamed at Eros. “WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!” Tears ran down his pale and sickly features. The Silent one roared, his hand trembling more than before, as he tried to focus. Nothing seemed to help, and he had traveled all this way for nothing.

Hades could feel that his pain would never heal and that he would carry his open wounds for as long as he was intended to live. The emptiness and lonesomeness were meant to follow him in his immortal life as it was the price to pay for his ways of life. He was a god, a king, and yet, he did not have everything he wished for. What was it good for, if the one thing he craved for was out of his grasp? Heartache was indeed a weapon and a reason to die from. The silent one now understood the mortals who perished due to the unfortunates of love.

“It is not my doing!” Eros cried, trembling as much as the sword in the pale god’s hand. “You were cursed to never find someone to love.” He continued; his tone became high-pitched at the end. Panic rushed through Eros’ body; his wings fluttered open. His broad wingspan covered half the wall behind the god’s back. He was ready to make a swift exit, and his words were all he needed to distract Hades, as they shook him to the core.

Who or what had decided Hades had to go through this? Not only he was eaten by his own father, growing as an immortal god inside Krono’s gut; casted away by his family to remain hidden in the Underworld, and now he learned that he would never love? At least he would never find the one who could love him back. He already was deeply in love, with a goddess who could not survive his domains. Hades’ eyes blazed with fury. The purple hint in them shone with the affliction in his heart. The tormented life of Hades was destined to continue forever.

“I dare you to say that one more time, love boy!” The Underworld King roared in despair. “Tell me what I can or cannot do one more time and I shall send you to Tartarus itself!” His hand was not shaking anymore. The fiery passion behind Hades’ pain allowed him to focus on his actions. Technically, he could not kill anyone before the Fates’ decree, but he could always mane and injure. The Fields of Punishment were not meant for a god, but even Hades had trouble getting in and out of Tartarus, Eros would suffer ten-fold.

Eros opened his mouth to speak, but Hades did not allow such actions. He pressed his weapon closer to the god’s neck. The King felt like something hurtful was going to come out of Eros and he could not go through much more. He was pushing his limit as it was. A million things ran through his head, demanding his full attention, but Hades could not focus on one. All he knew was that in that very moment, he wanted payback. An eye for an eye. Retribution was not on the menu, but perhaps balancing the scale, or tip it on his favor.

A sudden discomfort distracted Hades. Eros had kneed him. He bent over as the winged acolyte reached for his bow and quiver but before he could reach that last item, Hades clashed his Stygian sword against the golden riser of the bow. The clang of the metal slamming against metal filled the room. This was war. Eros might have been born between love and war, but Hades himself was brought up in the most difficult of circumstances, and in the end, every living creature would succumb to his will as everything that lived had to die.

Power ran through Hades’ veins, fueling him for the battle that was to come. Violence was never Hades’ way, but he was no stranger to it. After all, he battled his own father after being released from within him. The Silent One’s body flickered with the infernal fire that began to emanate from the god. The flames wrapped Hades in a purple-ish blanket of heat. This had never happened in all his millennia. Then again, he had never been in love.

Even when this surprised the god, he did not let it stop him. After a few strokes of his blade against Eros’ weapon, the fire subsided and retreated to wherever it came from. And as it did, his anger lessened. The physical activities had become an exhaust vent for all his affliction. Still, he was infuriated and in much sorrow. Hades was on the winning side, for now. Maybe revenge had not been the brightest idea. The gods and goddesses of love were famous for being resentful. Still, Hades felt victory was upon him. With a devious grin, he looked up from the blackened blade. “One day you will welcome death and I will be there waiting...”

Hades moved his arms up, slashing Eros’ cheek. A drop of golden ichor ran down his cheek and Hades retreated, not in defeat but in a way of ending this quarrel. “And I shall have no mercy as you had none for me.” The richest god spoke softly. Hades was a god of few words, but when he spoke, he was direct and worth listening to.

As the king of the Underworld reached to grab his Helm of Darkness, he saw something in the corner of his eye. Hades looked up. Dread washed over him as the blackness of his gaze met the disgust in the bright blue eyes of the goddess of Spring. How long has she been there? Hades loaded himself and what he had done. For a king, he did seem to fuck up royally. “I can explain…”

His obsession with the Goddess of Spring was consuming him. As much as Hades tried to immerse himself into his work, or to forget she ever existed, he could not. The closed-up chambers near his were a constant reminder of the warmth he once felt, of how excited and hopeful he was. Today and every other day would remain the cold prison the Underworld was meant to be. The sun never shone, for a very good reason. At least not on his palace. The everlasting sun and warmth, the happiness of a well-lived life hovered over the Isle of the Blest. His palace was a wasteland… for all he cared. The fact was different. His living quarters were a royal residence of gold and silver, Stygian and obsidian. It was a majestic mansion, but it meant nothing to Hades. Fueled with anger, the god screamed to thin air. He made everything around him explode, once again. As he moved towards the golden entryway, he willed his dark sword into his hand. Someone was going to pay for his pain and in his mind, there were two naughty gods that needed to mind their own business. Aphrodite and Eros were responsible for most if not all infatuations and enamored fools. His target was the winged god that shot him with his golden arrows. “FUCK HIM” Hades mumbled as he took his helmet of invisibility and phased through the earth itself. He wanted to destroy the god just like he did with his life. In eons, he never felt such sorrow. Why would the love goddess and her child do this to him? He didn’t do anything to them, he only saw them once a year, and that was saying much. The Winter Solstice meetings didn’t last long. Hades was only doing his job and kept to himself. The one time he ventured into the mortal realm and he got infected by the love bug. “SHIT. FUCK. BY THE GODS.” He kept grumbling to himself. Hades didn’t know what was going to happen once he encountered the lover boy. The rage that filled his mind and heart kept him from thinking straight. What could he do, really? The silent one could fight Eros but what good would come out of it? The void in his chest would remain empty. Still, he thought the satisfaction of beating the winged acolyte would calm his fury.  Oh, gods. He made a gagging motion. He was turning into his awful nephew. Oh no. Gods, no. Ares could not be influencing him! The violent outburst he felt was alien to Hades. Would Ares be okay with Hades sending Eros to Tartarus for making him fall in love with Persephone? His head hurt. It was pounding with contradictory emotions. A part of him wanted to vaporize the god and goddess, anyone for that matter; another part of him wanted to prove to Persephone that he was not the monster she once saw. Doing nothing seemed pointless though. All these feelings had to go somewhere. The god fell to his knees, begging for a solution to his problems. He had to forget about the goddess. She was all he could think of. Hades needed a way to go back to his old life. Someone had to pay for this. There was no way back, just like his life would never be the same. The King got up, hold the hilt of his Stygian sword tighter, and took a deep breath. With the help of the Helm of Darkness, he traveled the world in search of Eros. It took a few days, but he managed to pinpoint the whereabouts of the god. “Gotcha.” Hades whispered, a devious smirk creeping onto his pale features. Just like a lioness, the god of dead stalked his prey. He silently, though with the helm it was impossible to be heard or seen, moved closer. Hades was analyzing, examining Eros’ every move. He seemed too calm and at ease for someone who could bring destruction upon a person, town, or village. He was just like Apollo. Selfish, self-centered, full of himself. Gods, how can they live like that!? But Hades knew it well, he was not too different from his kin. A moment later, he stood mere inches away from the winged god. He freed his black sword from his sheath and held it against Eros’ neck as he removed his helmet. His eyes shone purple as if the infernal fire flickered inside them. “You have lots to explain.” Hades tone was painfully empty. “For you have caused me a lot of pain.” Hades’ words became harsher, full of misery.

Some religion is discussed? beware???? Have fun reading.

Hades had to learn how to live without the blonde goddess. It was impossible for her to come back, after all, Demeter would never allow it. He had already proven to be the monster, gods, and mortals alike, thought he was. Kidnapping, even for the greatest of reasons was still kidnapping. He adored Persephone and he did believe she was the very reason why he had to wait. Zeus used trickery into his marriage, Poseidon would not be far behind. They were terrible husbands to their partners, as he saw again and again. Hades feared to be cut from the same cloth and decided to better immerse himself back into his work.

With that in mind, again, he went back to his duties and Lord of the dead. Things began going smoothly again. The presence of the dreaded god made the cogs in his machine to run more efficiently, as his minions dared not to face his wrath, and he had been quite moody since the Goddess of Spring left him behind. Every now and then, there would be fires or earthquakes provoked by Hades’ anger and even though most creatures would never perish, they did feel pain and spent months if not years trying to come back from Tartarus.

On one of his strolls down the crowded Fields of Asphodel, he heard something that caught his attention. Every soul, heroes, and mortals alike, would end up in the Underworld and they would be judged. It did not matter how good or bad they had been when they lived, everyone, without exception, would end up in front of the jury. Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus evaluated the dead’s actions and they would be sent to different places. Fields of Punishment for the wicked, Asphodel Meadows for those who did not prove to be good nor bad and Elysium, for the heroic and virtuous. Was it the same for Christianity? Buddhism? Maybe so, but Hades never bothered on learning that, as most, if not all souls ended up in his domain. Until now.

Maybe it was all the time he had to keep himself busy, in other words, not thinking about anything but work. Or maybe it was only plain curiosity, as he rarely ventured down to Asphodel himself. Either way, he now was curious as to what that meant. Divine winged creatures from above and infernal monsters from hell were yet other concepts that did not compute with the Lord of the Underworld, for it was not something he was accustomed to. Indeed, the Greek version of hell was his own domain and Hades learned to be okay with that, but it did not get any easier. Even his own siblings made him feel unwanted, needed but not appreciated. Death was never welcomed, but it was feared and respected.

Demons, guardian angels, heaven. What nonsense was that? Sure, the creatures that came from under the earth were mostly beings from dubious reputation, but the words made no sense to the god. Angelos meant messenger, and daemon meant something else entirely. When in history did everything get so… twisted? Maybe mortals confused the son of Ares with a demon itself? That, he could understand. Deimos was such an awful beast.

Hades began to obsess with it. It was his way to keep himself from going bonkers. Good or bad, heaven or hell, it did not matter much. Both heaven and hell were in his territories. Elysium and the Fields of Punishment were under his rule. All life after death had to go through him. The Underworld was a vast place, so why would mortals focus on it so passionately? He understood that Elysium or The Isle of Blest was what heroes would choose if they could yet mere impossible. The Judges had a say in it and they were ruthless.

So why would mortals thought that they were given the easy way by the assignation of a so-called a guardian angel in hopes that they will grow kind enough to go to heaven. Either they choose right or not. There was no way back. If a mortal were an awful human, he would surely end up in the Field of Punishment. Only those with valor and nerve would manage to get to Elysium. No one was special enough to have someone help them. There was no such thing as guardian angels….

But was it? What if Persephone had been sent to him for that very reason? He was, after all, the god that reeked of death and she was the complete opposite. What if Persephone was his guardian goddess in hopes that he would grow to be kind? He was the sweetest thing he had ever seen. Was he that awful that needed to be guided into submission? NO. No. It cannot be that. Who would dare to insult a God in that way? Hades shook his thoughts away. He was going mad with heartache.

The very next morning, Hades could feel his head about to explode. The infernal fire that illuminated his private chambers shone brightly against the precious walls causing the pain in his head to increase. He groaned, turning in his bed as if to escape the pain. The god raised his hand and the black flame flew to his hand, going off as soon as it touched his skin. Darkness once again ruled his days. This time, he didn’t mind. A hangover was worth the silence and obscurity.

The presence of another being startled the king. He opened his eyes widely, only to find his loyal hound from hell, at least one of them. The dammed dog gave Hades a look of disapproval that made him flinch. Even his own pets judge him for his previous actions. It’s piercing blue eyes shook the king to the core. How could a hound make him feel so wrong? Usually, his pets were the only joy he had left and now Sirius was giving him the stink eye for sleeping with Eris. Hades sat up, the pup straightened up, matching the god’s height.

“Don’t look at me like that!” Hades exclaimed with a hint of outrage in his tone. “I don’t owe you an explanation.” He continued his one-sided conversation with the animal. The guilt was building up, threatening to come out. Even if he wanted to apologize to the spring goddess, he couldn’t, nor he should. When Persephone left, the king of the Underworld had been cleared of any responsibilities or blame. What he did or didn’t do with anyone was his own business. He could sleep with the whole realm if he wished so… but why did he feel like he had cheated on the one he loved?

It was obvious that his feelings were not reciprocated by her. Even Sirius knew that what Hades had done the night before was out of pure jealousy, frustration and, confusion. The intimacy he sought had never existed between Eris and Hades. Sex had been an act of desire alone, as romantic feelings had not been present. The physical need to be worshiped surpassed his common sense. If he had been mentally sound, nothing would have happened. The king cursed the day he laid his dark eyes on Persephone.

Defeated, Hades reached out, holding Sirius’ nuzzle. He rested his forehead on his and sighed. “You’re right. I fucked up.” The god whispered before the infernal dog climbed onto the bed and gently rubbed its face against the god’s bare back. Hades plopped back onto the soft mattress and closed his eyes. The hell hound curled next to its master. “But what can I do? I am tired of being…. Me.” He whispered. If he was Zeus, he’d probably be lucky enough to have Persephone by his side. Zeus had Hera. Even Poseidon had Amphitrite… What did he have? A judgmental dog and a one-night stand with a dark goddess. Yippee.

Hades looked down at the dog and half smiled. Sirius seemed to have forgiven him for his awful actions, but the King under the Mountains would never learn his lesson. Hades would make several mistakes more, an infinite amount, if he was to remain immortal. After all, he did kidnap his sister’s child on a whim and the dog agreed with a small whine. “Oh for Tartarus. What am I going to do with you?” He spoke softly rubbing under the dog’s snout. He half smiled again and roughly played with Sirius.

At least he had his dogs. Cerberus, Sirius, J.P, and other hounds would always keep him company, no matter how dark their path was, the dogs from hell were loyal to their master and Hades would do anything and everything to keep them safe and sound. If his only company were to be them, he’d make the best of it. Still, it didn’t fill the void that he felt Persephone had cruelly created in his godly chest. An eye for an eye, I suppose. Hades had hurt the fertility goddess, so she was hurting him back. Is that how it is, then? Love?

That night, everything changed, again. He changed. Nothing in his life made sense now and he was looking for a way out. Of course, he could not leave his duties nor his position in the Underworld. He was bound to that place, just as Zeus was the lord of the skies. With that thought, Hades began drinking ambrosia like it was the end of days. Ambrosia, the drink of the gods, could only get them drunk after several doses. The king had lost track of time.

In the haze of ambrosia, he realized he didn’t have to suffer alone. Hades may have ripped his heart out, but his world did not have to change. He would continue doing, being, seeing, feeling, but love was out of the question. Love was not the only emotion he or any other god felt. Rage, pain, confusion; the inner conflict that Hades was experiencing was far too great to be ignored. If someone was listening for such things, it could only be one goddess, and she wasn’t too far away.

The underworld was a place where many gods, goddesses, souls, nymphs, and creatures existed. The night herself resided next to Hades. Nyx’s children were born out of darkness and chaos and one of them was chaos personified. Eris, the goddess of discord and strife felt Hades’ battling himself, again. Maybe it was the chaos in his mind, the confusion on what to do if he could not have Persephone, or simply she was curious, but Eris appeared outside Hades’ throne room as if she had been summoned.

Shadows and darkness crept from under the golden doors, transforming into a feminine body. Her smile was mischievous, enticing him to forget. “Well, hello Lord Hades.” Her sweet, poisonous voice filled the room. She walked closer to him, taking advantage of his inebriated state. “She’s would not survive your lifeless realm, you know?” The confusion within Hades amplified. Eris’ destructive tone and suggestions were targeted for the King of the Underworld to fall right into her trap. His inner conflict clouded his better judgment.

He didn’t expect what happened next. The silent one jumped out of the dark throne. He wanted to vanish her, to make her disappear with the flick of his hand, but the opposite occurred. The chaos that surrounded the goddess made Hades’ act out of pure jealousy and pain. Persephone could have any god she wanted, why couldn’t he? Hades’ long pale fingers touched her skin, his hand cupping her cheeks as he crushed his lips against her venomous ones.

Persephone was gone, out of his realm and reach. She escaped the cold grasp of his claws, and as much as he wished he could escape too, she would follow him everywhere. Hades was not going to find her on anyone else’s skin, lips nor touch. And even though he was aware of this fact, he wanted to forget her absence. He would call a truce for the two sides of his conflict to cease the fire that was burning him alive.

Hades felt sick kissing Eris while thinking of the Goddess of Spring, but he was otherwise indisposed. He couldn’t think. His impulses were too strong. Her magic was working the god in ways he had forgotten, and one thing lead to another. The god of death felt alive, once again, but this time it was empty, for the lack of a better word. Her touch, his kisses, the hunger behind the chaos was void of any emotion. Hades only wanted to find the remedy for the frigidness that originated from his broken heart.

Maybe between meaningless kisses and caresses he would find that the lonely nights were shorter, that he could fill in the blanks with someone else’s lips; but no matter how hard he tried, he could not forget Persephone. Eris’ aura and overall self lacked the spirit and energy that emanated from the goddess that stole his very essence. He couldn’t deny that she was perhaps a better fit for the lord of the Underworld. The two deities were born out of darkness. Granted that she was the daughter of Nyx while Hades was the son of the titan Kronos, they both had a touch of obscurity within them. She was more suited to rule the underworld by his side than Persephone was. Yet, something deep inside the god screamed for him to stop.

There was no redemption for the God of the Dead. Even when he did the right thing and allowed Persephone to go back to the land of the living, he could not find atonement for his actions. Hades did not want any, for that matter. He had made peace with his situation. The lord of the Underworld cared for nothing anymore. He would continue how he had been living for eon; alone and unloved. It had worked for that long, why would it have to change just because he had set his eyes on a beautiful woman? He had seen Aphrodite before, and it did not rock his world upside down. Nothing had changed now. Persephone would only be a ghost, a memory.

But things did change. His reign became harsher, colder. The god would only show himself when absolutely necessary. Only a handful of his most loyal subordinates were graced with his presence. Other than that, he had isolated himself; even more than before. Hades’ was going to perform his duties but any other part of his life had left with the goddess. He knew his duties and he would fulfill them but to live without her was pointless.

As he sat in his throne, Thanatos and Hecate were filling him in. Hundreds of dead people, heroes, and mortals alike were being judged; lives had been cut short, yadda, yadda, yadda. The king was not paying much attention at the end. Hades knew that between Thanatos, Hecate and the rest of his minions had it covered. But it was the only thing he did nowadays. He should be paying more attention to them. They were only performing their own duties.

He looked up at the sorceress and nodded. He gestured his hand and both deities left the room. Hades didn’t have the will or energy to deal with the most insignificant of tasks. All he wanted was to be left alone so he could rot like the rubbish he was. Of course, that could never happen. He had millions of souls and gods and nymphs under his command, among other things. One day. Hades thought, rubbing his temples. “One day I’ll be at peace.” 

He leaned back onto the throne and sighed. The Silent one ran his pale long fingers on the edge of his invisible cap. Maybe… He shook his head. No. He was doing so good and he did not need to torment himself with the image of the goddess. She was better without him. Sunlight shone on her face, fresh air filled her godly lungs, her smile never leaving her lovely features. At least that is what Hades imagined. He didn’t want anything more than her happiness.

But his frustration only seemed to increase. The god roared in pain. What was so special about Persephone? She was just one goddess. She wasn’t even a proper Olympian, but neither was he. He didn’t understand why he was so fixated on the Spring goddess. Her beauty was captivating, her smile could warm the entire underworld, her bright blue eyes illuminated his days and brightened his whole world, quite literally, but how could he ask the fertility goddess to be in such an inhospitable place? It was selfish and cruel… but he was selfish and cruel. He already kidnapped her once. What was so different this time around? He could as well do it again.

Hades was aware that it would now be impossible. After releasing her back to the world, Demeter would have implemented more secure ways to keep her away from the clutches of the dead god and with good reason. The Rich One grabbed the helmet again and put it on. His pale expression looked even grayer than usual; his long dark locks framed his face in a greasy manner. He then willed himself up through the shadows. The god found himself lurking in the shadows of a big ol’ tree. He saw his sister in the distance. The Goddess of Agriculture and Persephone were working away, the two making the world grow around them. It was magnificent to watch. Probably a biased opinion, but he did not get to see that in the underworld.

“I’d give anything to see you again…” He whispered, yet he couldn’t be heard because of the magic of the helm. “I love you.” Another unheard whisper. The god spent the day following them in silence. The two divine creatures. Maybe this was Redemption. They were full of life, working away, doing what they did best. This was a fucked-up redemption either way, but seeing her smile made it all worth the while.