She awoke feeling warmer than usual. But that was ruined when her hand, in its blind search, touched only silk. Well, Hades is not one for sentiments, that much should have been obvious. She curled into herself, gripping the sheets closer, lost in thoughtless blank. What has happened- she couldn't be sure of what to feel. The only fact she knows is he loves her. But what are facts to the matter of the heart? She terribly missed her Mother and her flower garden. She inhaled deeply the smell of pomegranates. At least her powers still work in the Underworld. She shivered delicately at the thought. She is currently residing in the place of horrors, a place no self-respecting god or goddess would choose to be.

But it's not my choice! she internally griped. It was simply thrust upon her so fast, she felt dizzy. Worse yet, she wondered if she was truly married. Hera always performs the marriage ceremony for the gods. Can one be married without it? Is Hades so great and terrible that it just is because he proclaimed it? She feared the worst. Surely her father, Zeus, can free her from the clutches of his brother.

And if not, is it so bad to be the one and only bride of the only god that can rival Zeus? Is it so bad to be the bride of a man who truly loves her?

She opened her eyes and slowly sat up, wincing at the pain from her nether regions. A white dress, similar to the one she was formerly wearing, was laid out at the bottom of the bed.

Silently, she slipped it on and treaded towards the door. Almost like she was a nervous child, she followed the walls outside with her hand. Needless to say, she was petrified to be alone in the dark of the Underworld.

Endless moans and groans bounced against the walls, seeping through her soul and cooling it. She started shaking like a leaf and breathing shallowly when she still did not find any light, like she was wandering an endless cave. Tears in her eyes, she backed against the wall in frightened panic when she heard one woman scream. Slowly crouching down, she buried her face into her hands.

"H-h-hades, someone, please help," she whimpered, tears flowing freely now. "Help me please."

She flinched when someone touched her arm and looked up to see Hades.

"I was alone and there are noises," she knew she sounded senseless but still feeling bone scared, she didn't care.

When he wrapped his arms around her, she looped hers around his neck and buried her face into his chest as he started to walk. She was still crying but was utterly relieved and quietly explained, "I've never been anywhere beyond my Mother's garden and Mount Olympus. I was so scared."

"I did not think the souls would trouble you," he said it like the thought never occurred to him. Then again, the Lord of the Underworld fears nothing so why should anyone else?

He laid her down on the bed and turned to leave. She asked, "Where are you going?"

"To judge souls," he curtly replied.

"What am I to do with myself?"

"Would you like to come with me?"

She noted the black robes he donned and shuddered. It makes sense- black is for death. She had never met a mortal, let alone a dead one. "No."

He turned around to continue on his path when she called out again. "Wait; do not… leave me alone. I'll go."

She moved until she was beside him. This time he wrapped his large arms around her shoulders and they walked back through the cave halls.

As they retraced their steps through the dark caves, she cringed at the noises again and moved closer to Hades.

He paused in front of a doorway of some sorts and led her inside. Three old women hackled amongst themselves in front of three huge piles of thread. The larger one, Clotho, spun the thread on a spindle, the consistently smiling haggled-tooth one, Lachesis, held a thread and rod in her hands, while the petit one with burning eyes, Atropos, held a pair of shears in her hands. The last one scared her the most. They immediately stopped and bowed before Hades.

The larger one started in a deep voice, "My King-"

"-you wish-" continued the haggled-toothed one.

"-to see us?" finished the sweetest voiced one.

"This is my Queen, Persephone, and she will spend her time with you when she is not with me. Beware your tongues around her, Fates, or I'll cut them out," he growled.

In reverse order, the crones said as they bowed:

"Of course-"

"-as you wish-"

"-my King."

Without saying another word, he turned around and walked away. Persephone almost protested, "But I thought I was going with you!" but the words died in her throat.

The three of them set down what they were doing and slowly circled her.

"What a pretty goddess you are-" one of them said behind her and tugged at her long hair.

"-certainly pretty enough to capture my King's eye-" said the haggled-toothed one, smiling eerily at her.

"-but I wonder what has kept it there?" finished the soft voiced one.

At her horrified expression, they simultaneously laughed. "Witches of the black arts, leave me be!" Persephone started to cry.

"Sweet girl, do not forget we-"

"-are the ones-"

"-that made you."

"We are not-"

"-completely-"

"-evil."

She pointed at the petit one and gravely said, "You cannot harm me, death dealer."

"Ah" started the larger one.

"but you will-"

"wish I could," the petit one replied, a cold smile curling on her lips.

They all chuckled and the other two took hold of Persephone's arms and pulled her to a seat that had materialized in the middle.

"You're Mother-"

"must miss you-"

"terribly."

"What would you know about mothers?" Persephone eyed them suspiciously.

They all seemed hurt by this and said:

"Even we"

"as three goddesses-"

"have a mother. Surely you-"

"know of-"

"Nyx."

Persephone gasped. "You are ancient evil then!"

They simultaneously tsked at her, "Dark is not necessarily evil. Nyx is the night sky."

"I never go out at night. Mother says it's dangerous."

"And now you're here," they leered and crackled together.

The sisters took their seats again, Persephone's in a middle of the semi-circle. They continued with their chatter and respective jobs.

"This one needs-" said Lachesis to Clotho.

"-a daughter," Clotho spun a new thread.

"This one must die before he becomes tainted by-" Lachesis turned to Atropos.

"-his brother will live; he'll suffer soon enough," Atropos said as she crudely snipped the thread Lachesis handed to her.

"You can know all this?" Persephone said.

"We are the Fates, my dear," the three replied, sending a chill down her spine.

"Past-" Lachesis started.

"Present-" Clotho said.

"Future." Atropos gave a withered smirk.

Then before when Atropos said those ominous words to her… "but you will wish I could"… what will happen?

They clamored to a halt. Hades walked in and the three bowed once more. Silently, he took hold of Persephone's arm and walked out of this room.

They walked through the long dark passage until they reached the room. He threw her onto the bed and disrobed.

"W-why did you go back on what you said? I thought we were going together," she questioned as she sat up.

"If you quiver at the distant sound of the souls, I forbid you from being in front of them. I did not want the anticipation of the old crones to cause you fear," he slowly approached her.

"What a cruel way of addressing them."

"I am cruel."

"Then you would not care for my feelings," she shuddered as he knelt on the bed in front of her.

Kissing down her throat, he answered, "Just because I care for you does not mean I care for anything else."

"Hades," she gasped as he bit down on a sensitive spot. Her fingers entangled in his black curls. "Can I ask you… can you say it again?"

He pulled back and solemnly said, "I love you, Persephone."

"Why could you not ask for my hand?" she searched his eyes.

"My sister has chased off your other 'courters'. If Apollo is not deemed worthy, she would certainly try to kill me," he smiled at the thought.

She couldn't help but be a bit enchanted by that smile. She breathed, "Could you- be gentle this time?"

His eyes darkened impossibly. "No."

He ripped off her dress and dug his fingers into her flesh, one arm looped around her, the other on her thigh. He growled, "You make me crazy."

Once again, he roughly tugged her legs open. He leaned in and as his hand ran up her inner thigh, said, "Your scent is more intoxicating than wine."

He thrust a finger into her, causing her to shriek. He curled his finger inside, making her inhale sharply. As quickly as it entered, it left. He inhaled the arousal on his finger before lapping it up. For a moment he paused before completely pushing her down and thrusting inside her. She made some erotic sounds at the intensity of his passion.

"You will never leave me," he said into her ear.

At that, she tightened around him and imploded with ecstasy, calling out, "Hades!"

Several bouts of lovemaking later and the couple relaxed into each other. Persephone found herself on top of him with his arms around her.

"Hades, stay," she mumbled as she went to sleep.

He gazed at her for a long time, entranced at her light beauty, before finally falling asleep himself.