**IMPORTANT UPDATE BELOW**
HADES
There she was.
Under the haze of dusk, Hades caught a glimpse of the slim figure wandering silently through the waving branches of the willow trees. Her fingers trailed over the soft green tendrils and a ghost of a smile formed on her bow-shaped lips.
The god of the Underworld's heart wrenched at the sight of her delight. Wrenched because he was not the one to give her any pleasure, though she had given him countless moments of joy.
She knew nothing of him, other than tales told by her father, undoubtedly riddled with bias and lies. In turn, he knew everything of her. He had heard rumors of the beautiful daughter of Demeter and Zeus, hidden away from the eyes of Olympus by her protective mother. Hushed whispers spoke that the young goddess was even more beautiful than Aphrodite and that Demeter wished to keep her safe from the lustful gods and a jealous goddess that would not take kindly to any rivals.
Persephone was her name, but he soon learned that she was called Kore by her mother and the many nymphs that were her companions.
It was by chance that he had first encountered her, accidentally finding her hiding place with no intentions of trying to discover the elusive young maiden. Yet after he did, how could he stay away?
When he first laid eyes on her, she had been bathing in a stream, surrounded by a thick grove of trees. Her features were familiar and instinct told him that this was a daughter of Zeus.
So beautiful and flawless was this maiden, Hades could not help but become wickedly entranced. He could not tear his eyes away from the sight of her. Water swished gracefully around her waist as she waded through the softly flowing stream. The maiden was unknowingly facing him, her gleaming wet hair streaming down her pale skin, covering her chest as if knowing that prying eyes were gazing on her.
It took every ounce of power he possessed not to go to Persephone, to resist the urge to touch her bare skin, to draw her body close to his. He drank her in as he watched her, burning with a long-forgotten fire deep in his bones.
Since then, he had come dozens of times to see the goddess. Hiding in secret, cloaked by the shadows that he knew so well, Hades had watched her.
They were fleeting moments for he feared being discovered by the nymphs that were constantly at Persephone's side. Hades, knowing Demeter's fiercely protective nature, believed the nymphs to be guardians of a sort, not so much friends for the young Persephone. Even worse was to be discovered by Demeter herself. To find the god of the Underworld besotted by her precious daughter would surely anger the goddess in way that Hades did not care to incur.
At least, not for the moment.
So Persephone would not know of him, not until the time was right.
This was one of the rare moments where he found the maiden goddess alone. This was one of the moments where he fought against himself to come to her, to take her as his own.
Barefooted, she delicately glided over the grass and through the grove of willow trees. Under the dimly lit twilight sky, her skin glowed like the moon. A white silk dress swirled around her smooth legs. The thin, nearly sheer fabric hung over her womanly curves, innocently and agonizingly tempting.
The goddess walked over to a small patch of narcissus flowers. She bent on one knee and plucked a blossom out of the ground. Her hair fell in long, luscious waves as she did so.
Persephone was blonde, but not the sunny blonde of Aphrodite. Rather, she was an ashen blonde, not bright and brassy but soft and demure, like twilight compared to the sunshine.
Hades always did prefer the night to the day.
How could the gods ever create anything so lovely and pure to live in such a cruel world? It was no wonder that Demeter sought to protect her, to hide her from the likes of Hades and his growing desires…
Persephone stood to her feet, the pure white petals held in her delicate hands. As she drew nearer to him, Hades felt his body give in to his mind's urges. He took a step towards the maiden, coming ever so slightly out of the shadows. If she looked up now, she would surely spot the god hiding in the shadows.
As sure as the sunrise, a quiet "snap" of a branch beneath his feet broke the calm evening atmosphere.
Hazel eyes rimmed by thick, dark lashes slowly looked up to find the source of the sudden noise. For the first time, the maiden returned her admirer's gaze. Hades stood as still as stone and, for perhaps the first time in his life, unsure of what to do next. He expected the wrath of Demeter to come raining from the sky for discovering her precious secret, but nothing happened.
Persephone did not cry out or run away in fright like a startled doe caught by a hunter.
Unafraid, Persephone studied him. Brow ever so slightly furrowed and head titled to the side, the goddess took in the sight of him. Curiosity rather than fear glimmered in her hazel eyes. A cool evening breeze blew in the air between them, lifting Persephone's soft hair in gentle waves. She still twirled the white flower in her fingers, almost as if she were also unsure of what to do.
Her eyes blinked slowly and Persephone took a hesitant step in his direction. Hades watched with bated breath as his Persephone made her way to him.
She was coming to him of her own accord.
Just a few precious feet away from him, she stopped.
"Who are you?" Her gentle voice was a like a song to Hades' ears. He could not form words of his own. Did he even want this lovely goddess to know that he was the dreaded god of the Underworld?
As she patiently awaited his answer, the god studied the goddess. Hades had never been so close to her before. Freckles decorated her bare shoulders. That he had never seen before. Her face was shaped into a perfect oval with rose tinted cheeks. He could touch her blushing skin, if he wanted to. In her foolish innocence, Persephone took a step ever closer to him. His heart raged with desire and anguish. She did not know that effect that she had on him. It was pure torture.
Yet he was far too close to giving in. All he had to do was reach out his arm and she would finally be in his grasp…
"Kore! Where are you, darling?" Came the distant trills of the nymphs.
Hades could not bring himself to slink back into the shadows. Persephone turned her head in the direction of the voices, but her nose wrinkled in displeasure. She stayed silent, not calling back to her loyal companions.
Persephone looked back to Hades, her eyes wide and a mischievous smile forming on her perfect lips.
"Please, before they find me," she whispered excitedly, leaning towards Hades. The scent of flowers and springtime wafted off her skin. "Tell me who you are. I've never seen a man before. I do not want to forget you."
It was more than Hades could bear. The closeness of this girl. Her scent. Her beauty. Her desire to know his name.
Demeter and her wrath be damned. His love for this goddess was far greater than his fear of Demeter.
"Hades," he breathed, his deep voice whispered in the dusk. "God of the Underworld."
Hazel eyes widened in slight fear and Persephone jumped back. Though he expected her to react with some apprehension at his identity, it was like a knife in his side to see his goddess fearful of him.
She opened her mouth, gathering her breath to cry out to her nymphs.
This would not do, Hades decided. He could never come back here if he were discovered. He could not go on without seeing Persephone ever again. His heart was too far entangled with the goddess.
He made his choice before Persephone could cry for help.
Hades lept fully out of the shadows. One of his strong arms circled around Persephone's waist and his other hand clamped over her mouth.
It was sinful delight to touch her skin, but Hades could not reveal in her closeness now.
The goddess struggled against his grasp, screaming beneath his fingers, but she was no match for him. Hades held onto her tighter as the ground beneath them opened up. It was a great rumbling, roaring noise that surely Zeus in Olympus would have heard. Hades did not care. Zeus had done much worse for the women he desired.
They fell beneath the earth together, dust and dirt falling around them. He felt Persephone's hot tears fall into his hands as she looked up one last time at the dusky evening sky before the earth stitched together and she fell into the Underworld with her brazen captor.
AN- Thank you guys for reading my short oneshot about Hades & Persephone. I've been obsessed with their story ever since high school. (I don't really know why i like villains and heroines together, I think I need help) Through the years I have ready so many interpretations of their story, some wonderful and some not so good, but I have never contributed one myself until now. This has been a long time coming and I'm excited to get something out there. I can absolutely expand it into a short story, and I already have ideas for what I want to have happen, but for now this will be just a oneshot.
Let me know what you guys think! Is it too short? Does the action go too quickly? Would it be better if I fleshed out this first chapter? I'm open to any constructive, respectful criticism. Thank you again for reading!
*IMPORTANT UPDATE* 5-2-16 Due to the overwhelming, epic, amazing, positive feedback I've gotten on this story, I have decided to expand this oneshot into a chapter story! I've toyed around with the idea but wasn't totally committed until I saw how much people enjoyed this first part. Thank you guys so much! I can't say when the next chapters will be up, but stay tuned and bear with me! I've got a few original stories that I'm working on (one which will be available VERY SOON) as well as being a full time mom and wife and whatnot. Hades and Persephone will return in the near future :) thank you again for the wonderful feedback on Twilight Maiden!