This same woman left her linen drapes open several nights later. The heat of the sun had poured down for hours and the rise of the moon had provided little relief. Thus the breeze found her again through the large square opening in the south side of her chambers.
A presence entered with the wind. Dark and heavy. Clouds flew over the moon and the floor seemed to disappear in a thick fog. He hung back in the corner almost…hesitating. It seemed insulting to think of this magnificent being as anything but decisive. But finally with the smog swirling beneath his feet he stepped, silent as a cat, to the edge of the low sleeping pallet. Two fingers reached out and ever so tenderly traced from the pale wrist up to the shoulder and down to the fringe of her white slip. She tensed almost as soon as she felt his fingers and the hand under her pillow closed around a slim, wickedly sharp dagger.
A low chuckle vibrated through the earth and she visibly relaxed. Explicably soothed by his voice.
"So strong. So perfect. Let go of your weapon fierce one. I will never harm you."
She hesitated for the briefest of moments before releasing the knife and rolling over. He towered above her bed draped in ebony robes and a hood obscured his face. She stared directly into the darkness where his face should be.
"Remove your hood."
Another chuckle and she shivered with pleasure.
"A little dangerous to be demanding things of the stranger who appeared in your room in the dead of night, don't you think small one?" But despite his threatening words he let the covering fall from his face immediately. Pale sharp features were revealed. His skin was as smooth as a limestone with bright black eyes shining out.
"Sit down."
He swirled down to the floor and now his face was just below eye level. So far she'd been holding back showing her great curiosity until she was sure she had some control in the situation, but now she curled her feet beneath her sat up very straight and asked in the calmest tone she could muster:
"Who are you?"
"I go by many names. Aidoneus, Aides, Pluto, Ditis Pater, Dis Pater, Dis, Orcus, Polydectes, Clymenus, Eubulus." He listed all these off with quickly and with ease and looked like he could continue if she asked him to. "Funny how many names they conjure up for something they don't like. However," and here he lost the slight bit of joviality he had started with "you would most likely recognize me by the name Hades."
She nodded as if she'd been expecting this.
"Wait." He said "You're not…surprised?"
"No. I've been waiting for you."