Death's Heart
In Ancient Rome...
"I wonder, Scipio, do ya think Grandmother will tell us another Minerva story tonight?" asked a little girl, blonde hair tangled in her face.
"I hope not Minor, she always tells those ones! What about one for the gods? Like Jupiter or Neptune. Minerva is wisdom, I get that, but I'm tired of hear about this families' patron goddess. Is there nothing more to learn from the others?" the boy named Scipio said, angrily.
"Calm down, Scips. She never tells one about the same deide in a row." a young brunette girl said, rolling her violet eyes.
"Oh, stuff it Decima." Scipio muttered as the approached the recliner on which their Grandmother lay.
"Manners, Scipio, manners." said the old lady, her grey eyes flashing imperiously. "Decima Minor, run along to your mother dear, this story is only for the older children."
"Aw, please can I stay? Pretty please?" she said, eyes shining and lip in a puppy like pout.
"To bed Decima Minor." the grandmother said simply, smiling. "Else you wish to hear of the god of death himself?"
The little girl squealed in fright and dash out of the room as fast as her little legs could carry her.
"The tale tonight is of Pluto, Grandmother?" said Scipio, eyes growing wide with excitement.
"Yes libera,but perhaps through a more Grecian perspective, tonight I tell of the noble god of the underworld, Hades, proud, cunning, and mistreated by the very people who called themselves family..."
Hades POV
It was the last two days of fall in Greece, and a certain god was getting just a tad nervous. Hades could hardly stand the suspense of waiting for Persephone.
It had been 6 months since he had last seen his wife, so it was understandable that he was tense at the idea of seeing her again. Especially since the last year, their first year together, she had been less than please to have to fulfill her 6 month term in the underworld. Why, oh why did Demeter have to hate him ever so much?
This year though, he had promises from Zeus, Poseidon, Ares, and Nemesis that all of the mortals' squabbles could be dealt with after he had had winter with Persephone. He even had a deal with Aphrodite, just to be safe. Another Trojan War was not necessary, especially when he was already swamped with work.
Hades detested the fact that Persephone dreaded her now yearly visits to the underworld. He wanted her to enjoy their time together, to be eager to see him, not feel like it was an obligation.
He had made a secret promise with himself, last year, when his love live above ground. This year, these 6 months would be something Persephone would never forget, or regret.