Third little One Shot of Lore Olympus Fanfiction. (These have no particular order. Or time frame.)

Summary: Persephone gets invited to a party. Her enemies and her allies are all gathered under one roof.

Bed of Wolfsbane

The floor vibrated with pulsating bass beats. The dance floor girating alongside it, pushing Persephone off to the side. She leaned against the back wall next to the punch station. Her eyes darted amongst the dark bodies, trying to find someone she knew. Anyone. But she was really scanning for a certain someone.

"Ugh. I shouldn't have come here." She whispered into her almost empty cup of punch. "I don't think she meant to invite me anyway."

The invitation arrived only earlier that morning while Artemis slept off her night time duties. Persephone's name was hand written on the card in large dark purple letters, with a curly swooping hand. It was either a trap or an attempt at reconciliation. Either way, Persephone was too nervous to go at first and was about to trash the invitation when Eros texted her.

Eros:

Hey! Did you get the invitation?

Wanna be my date? I'll make sure to get you home by bedtime. You can wear the new dress! And please, please for the love of me, some real underwear. (kissy face emoji) (cry laughter emoji)

Aphrodite's house was glitzed out and jam packed with people.

"There is too many people." Persephone scrunched her face up as Eros led her inside with his arm around her shoulder.

"It's a good size for an orgy." Eros snickered. Persephone stopped dead in her tracks and spun so fast, her hair slapped Eros in the face.

"What? Eros. . . is this . . . is this a. . ."

"No. It's just a regular party. But the look on your face was priceless." Eros grinned mischievously, then he leaned on his heels."I mean, there probably will be an orgy at the after party, but don't worry, I'll take you home before hand." His grin turned wicked. "Unless of course you wanna stay."

Persephone melted. "I'm gonna punch you."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding."

"I'm not." Persephone crossed her arms. "I will punch you."

"Someone's feisty tonight."

"I'm always feisty." Persephone brushed her hair off her shoulder.

"You sure it isn't because you're hoping to see a certain someone?"

"No, it's because I'm worried I'm going to see a certain someone."

"Oh? Who?" Eros leaned in.

"Your mother! You know, the one who is and I quote "furiously mad" at me." Persephone's eyes grew big and wide with concern.

"Don't worry about her. I'll run interference. Like you said, there's a lot of people here." Eros took her inside, dragging her by her coat. "Besides, I need someone here to keep me honest."

"What?" Persephone raised her eyebrow.

Eros sighed and scratched the nape of his neck. "If my mom sees that I've come here and not flirted with anyone or took anyone home, then. . . maybe. . . she'll let me see her."

"Eros! She'll see that you're taking me home!" Persephone whipped around again. "Do you think that's a good idea?"

Eros closed his eyes and wagged his head from side to side. "Please, just. . . scratch my back and I'll scratch yours?"

Persephone grumbled. "I'm going to get some punch."

It had been ten minutes and Eros hadn't shown up at the punch table. She thought he would follow her. Wasn't the point of her being his date was to keep him honest? How could she do that if he abandoned her.

She pulled up her phone, her finger hovering over Artemis's name. She sighed and put her phone down. She felt childish for wanting to call for help. After another minute passed by she pulled her phone up again. This time her hand hovering over the name she had been trying not to think about.

Persephone: You know what's worse than a crowded party?

Hades: What?

Persephone: I don't know. No punchline. I was hoping you could answer that.

Hades: Pushing a boulder up a hill for all eternity. That's worse.

Persephone: Fair. You gotta point.

She laughed and put her phone down. I guess it could be worse. Gods, I'm such a loser. She made herself stop before she asked if he wanted to come. Don't do this to yourself. Someone at the punch table waved at her when she looked at him, then he limped back to a chair on the wall.

"Welcome to the garden of wall flowers." Persephone smiled sadly.

Hephaestus raised his glass to her. "I'm not one for parties. Is it stuffy in here or is it just me?" He pulled at the collar on his neck. "These clothes. I don't like them. Too restrictive."

"I'm Persephone." She held out her hand. "Goddess of Spring."

He looked down at her hand, puzzled. "Hephaestus. God of Craftsmanship." He looked around nervously before shaking her hand. His hands were worn and rough, a big callus enveloping her small soft fingers. His fingernails were black. No matter how much he cleaned them, he was stained with hard manual labor.

"I love your work." Persephone smiled kindly.

"Th-thank you." He grunted then turned his attention back to his drink. "Is this a dare?" His words turned cold. "Did someone put you up to this?"

"What?" Persephone blinked. "What do you mean?"

He grunted then turned his back. "It was nice to meet you but you should leave me be."

Persephone frowned. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just trying to be nice. I'm sorry, I've been told I don't really have any personal boundaries. I just thought you could use the company. I'm bored and I don't know anyone here. I really shouldn't be here but I thought I was helping a friend." Persephone frowned.

"I'm no company for you to keep." Hephaestus hummed over his glass. "You'll only ostracize yourself."

"Eh, I'm already alone." Persephone shrugged. "Do you wanna dance?" She smiled up at him hopefully.

He grunted. A small smile cracked from his haggard expression.

Ares pressed his lips on Aphrodite's shoulder. "Great party, but it's too loud for my taste."

She smacked him off lightly and pulled away. "Not here. There's too many people."

"I know." Ares grabbed her waist. "No one will notice."

"My husbands here. He'll catch us if you keep this up." She grabbed his hand from her thigh and placed it safely on his chest.

Ignoring her, he spun Aphrodite out towards the crowd beneath them. "Wouldn't that be exciting?" He pressed up behind her. "Right here in front of everyone. Come on, don't tell me you wouldn't love that."

She sighed and couldn't control her hips as they pressed back into his.

He hummed as his hand dragged from the back of her knee to the hem of her skirt, hiking it up suddenly past her butt cheeks.

She inhaled sharply.

"You like that?" Ares whispered as he thrust closer to her and started pulling her thong out of the way. Aphrodite arched her back, then her eyes grew wide then narrowed into slits.

She growled. "How dare she." Aphrodite gripped the railing. Her veins popping through. Her eyes glowing with jealousy. "How dare she!" She growled again. "Later, Ares. I've got calls to make." She yanked her skirt down and stomped to a side room.

"Hey. Hey!" Eros waved from above. His wings spanning half the dance floor. "I've been looking for you. Oh. Hi-hi Hephaestus. Didn't know you would be here."

"It's my house." He grumbled. "Thanks for the dance, Persephone." Then he turned and walked back to his wall.

"What's his deal?" Persephone stared back at him while Eros landed lightly on his feet taking his spot beside her.

"Doesn't like me much." Eros shrugged. "Not a huge fan of his step-kids. I'm just a reminder of well. . ."

"Oh." Persephone placed a finger to her lips.

"I have good news." Eros hopped excitedly, hoovering in the air. "Guess who just came in?"

"Who?"

Eros placed his hands on both sides of her face, angling her up until she was facing his direction.

"Hades." Persephone's eyes popped open and sweat began to form under her hairline.

"Apparently, mommy wanted to apologize for her little prank."

"Oh. That's. Interesting." Persephone combed her hair and cleared her throat. "I mean. . . that would be interesting, but it's not, because I don't care."

Eros saw right through her bullshit. "Sure. Sure. So you didn't want me to tell him you were in love with him?"

"What?" Persephone blanched. "No, he can't know that."

"I didn't. But it's nice of you to finally admit it."

"Admit wh-"

"That you are smitten, starry-eyed, over the moon, head over heels, in… " Eros's eyes glowed rosey. "Love."

Persephone took in a deep breath. "I don't know about that, but okay, okay. Fine fine, just keep your voice down about it." She stared back up at Hades. His face was long as he grabbed a glass of Champagne from a passing waitress. "Um. Eros?"

"Yes." His face smushed cheek to cheek facing the same direction.

"Remember when you said 'scratch my back and I'll scratch yours?'"

"Yes." Eros grinned mischievously.

"Hi, hi!" Zeus swung his arm up around Hades shoulder. "Didn't know you were coming. Staying for the after party?" His eyes glinted.

"Ugh. No. You know how well that went last time." Hades rolled his eyes. Never again. "Aphrodite said she wanted to apologize and I wanted to hash out a few things with her as well." He checked his phone again for the millionth time. She hasn't texted back yet. Maybe she found someone else more interesting. Maybe she needed help. Maybe she just didn't care. She's probably just busy. Should he text her again?

Hades wiped his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Have you seen her?"

"Aphrodite?" Zeus scanned the crowd. "I haven't seen her at all actually. Oh. We got a pink one coming in hot. Oh, my, she is hot. And bothered. Hmm." Zeus sipped on his glass then stepped to the side out of the way.

"What do you mean?" Hades followed his eyes. Persephone was charging up the stairs, her hand clutched on Eros's shirt, dragging him behind her. He dropped his champagne glass. "Persephone." Hades eyes softened. "I-"

"Apologize." She rung Eros out in front of her, her face turned up and determined.

"Uh-" Eros hesitated, his hands held close to his chest. "But."

"No buts. Apologize." Persephone tapped her foot.

"Persephone, I'm sorry." Eros pleaded.

"Not to me. You've already apologized to me. You need to apologize to Hades. You know, the king whose car you broke into."

Eros nodded. "Alright alright, let go of me." He shimmied out of her clutches. "Hades. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. . . I shouldn't have."

"Go on." Persephone pushed.

"I shouldn't have broken into your car and put a drunk spring goddess into the back of it. It wasn't my idea. I was following orders, but that doesn't excuse me of executing them."

"And." Persephone nodded.

"And I know how busy you are and how much of an inconvenience my actions caused. I promise, I have no ill will towards you or to Persephone. Please accept my apology." He hung his head low. One eye winked at Persephone.

"Oh. Um." Hades straightened up. "It was a very reckless and disrespectful thing to do. I appreciate the apology, but it was . . ." He glanced at Persephone. "No, no trouble though. I really wasn't inconvenienced. It's Persephone who needs the apology, not I."

"Oh, don't worry. He's already made up for it." Persephone stepped forward. "We're cool." She bumped Eros's fist.

"Well, now that that's done. I," Eros stepped back. "I'll leave you to it. Dance party isn't gonna dance itself."

Hades raised his eyebrow.

Eros shrugged and laughed nervously. "Gotta go." He winked again at Persephone as he skipped out, unfolded his wings and launched back down to the dance floor.

"I'm really sorry about him." Persephone stepped a tiny scooch closer. "He means well."

"I'm surprised you aren't blisteringly mad at him." Hades tapped his toe. "I mean, that was pretty crazy."

"Yeah. It was." Persephone grinned shyly. "Crazy."

"I should probably be more upset." Hades shrugged, trying to be casual. "But, I just, for some reason, can't be mad." His lips moved closer to what some might consider a smile.

"Personally, I think the whole thing is quite silly." Persephone held her hand up. "Like I know Aphrodite was trying to. . . "shake" me up, and everyone has been acting like it was this big injustice or whatever. . . but I don't know. I- is it weird, if I said I had. . . fun?"

Hades eyebrows shot up, then he grinned widely. "No. No. It's not weird at all. Not weird at all."

Zeus tapped Poseidon's back.

"So, then after it reared its head from the depths of the trench, I lodged my trident between it's jaws, then ripped it's eyes from their sockets." Zeus slapped him repeatedly. "What?" Poseidon barked. "I'm impressing ladies, here."

"Look look look look look, you big fish." He grabbed Poseidon's cheek. "'Just nice looking' my ass."

"Wait, did, did he bring her?"

"No. But she marched up here to talk to him."

"Really?"

"Really." Zeus and Poseidon shared a glance.

"Interesting."

"Very interesting."

They slinked forward together.

"Hades!" Zeus called. "Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt."

"Sure you did." Hades sighed. "You usually do. Persephone, these are my little brothers." He gestured to where they stood gawking like children.

"Little!?" Poseidon argued. "Who are you calling little?"

"Is this the little flower you locked up in the underworld?" Zeus grabbed Persephone's hands. "You know, she's just as gorgeous as you described."

He talked about me? . . . to his brothers? Persephone turned more pink than she already was.

"Hi! Zeus. It's an honor. Hades speaks of you fondly."

"No I don't." Hades shook his head.

"Aw," Poseidon rubbed Hades hair in. "Using us to impress your lady guests? Not bad."

Hades yanked his brother's hand off. Poseidon let it roll and engulfed Persephone in a huge hug. He'd already decided he liked her.

"Trying to impress what lady guests?" Hera swung into the circle, her arm wrapped around Zeus. "Lovely to see you Hades. I'm glad you're here and who is-" Hera paused, seeing finally who the lady guest was. She shook her head, sighed, and then smiled. "Persephone. My, I didn't know you were coming. Did you. . . come alone?" She eyed Hades, displeasure in her gaze.

"Hera!" Her eyes lit up. "No. Eros invited me actually. Mostly out of pity, I think. Making up for. . . well. The last party." Persephone laughed. "Are all parties on Olympus this extravagant?" Persephone turned around and gestured to the place. Just then women unfolded down from large purple fabric, dancing in the air.

"This is actually pretty subtle." Zeus starred a second too long at the nearest dancer. He licked his lips. "Aphrodite does know how to throw a good party though. I wonder if the tigers will be making another appearance. You know what they say, come to an Aphrodite party alone, you won't be waking up in your own bed in the morning."

Hades smacked Zeus with the back of his hand. "That's not what they say."

"It's what I say." Zeus shrugged his left shoulder up. "Hera, maybe you want to take a walk in the garden. Give a certain two people some space?" He eyed Persephone and Hades knowingly. Poseidon sipped on his beer, not picking up any signals.

"Hey, asshat!" A loud voice yelled from the crowd getting closer. "There you are. Answer your damn phone, idiot! I've been trying to call your for three days."

Hades froze. All his organs sucked up into his throat. "Shit."

The beautiful underworld river nymph Minthe strode from the dance floor over to Hades. She swung her hand up into his hair and wrapped her right leg on his hip. "Hi. You wanna get out of here? It's been too long."

"Minthe." Hades found his tongue again. "I-"

"Less talking." Her hand rose up from his chest to his face, angling it down. She pulled him into a long kiss.

"Minthe." Hades leaned back. "You-don't-."

She sighed and turned toward Zeus and Hera. "Hi guys. Didn't think to invite me, huh?"

"Minthe." Hera rolled her eyes. "Always a pleasure. This isn't our party."

"No. No it's not. Sorry, I missed yours. I had better things to do."

Zeus glanced worriedly at Persephone.

Persephone stood opened mouthed, growing smaller and smaller with every passing second. Her eyes zeroed in on every place Minthe touched him. His waist. His hair. His cheek. His arm. His lips.

She closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath, but she could already feel her hair start to pull on her bobby pins with the weight of growth. Calm. She imagined that she could just turn invisible and disappear. She felt small enough in this moment that no one would notice.

She cleared her head. Of course. It's Hades. A king. She shouldn't have expected anything else. She was foolish for thinking that maybe she was special, that maybe, Hades thought of her too.

"Hi. I'm Persephone." She opened her eyes and stepped forward, reaching her hand out politely towards Minthe. Everything about her was. . . gorgeous. Stop comparing yourself. This nymph knew Hades in ways Persephone never would. Besides. What did it matter. She didn't care. Nope. Why would she care if Hades was involved with someone. They were just friends. Just friends.

Zeus and Poseidon grabbed each other. No one breathed.

Minthe looked down at her outstretched hand with disgust. "Ah." She rolled her eyes, ignoring the gesture. "So you're the little village weed that slept with Hades. I've heard of you."

"Oh." Persephone took her hand back. "Oh no. You misunderstood. I didn't- Hades never. It was just a big misunderstanding. I promise. Nothing happened. He was very kind and ever so much the gentlemen. I promise. Nothing-nothing happened." She looked up at Hades dolefully. He winced back at her. Pain in his eyes.

"'Ever so much the gentleman.'" Minthe scoffed. "Don't sweat it, girly." Minthe brushed her hair off her shoulder. "You're not his type. Besides, it's not as if the king of the underworld would ever consider a silly little flower girl from the mortal realm. I mean come on, you with Hades?" She laughed deep from her chest. "It's hysterical. Like you'd survive a full day in the underworld by Hades side."

Everyone froze.

Persephone's heart began to crack. She felt like her legs were knocked out from underneath her. Or was the ground moving up, swallowing her.

Was it true? She bit back a wallop of unmentioned fears.

Minthe continued laughing. Hera's eyes softened as she watched Persephone's face fall.

"Yes." Persephone stared at her feet. "It is quite s-silly, isn't it."

Hades closed his eyes shut, wishing he were anywhere but here. How could he fix this? Why didn't he talk to Minthe sooner. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. This was ruined. Whatever this was, it was ruined.

Persephone crossed her right arm across her torso. "I think you're wrong."

"What?" Minthe raised her eyebrow into a high arch.

Persephone's eyes widened. She didn't mean to speak that aloud. "N-nothing." She leaned on her heels. "No. Not nothing." Her hair shook out of it's braid. "I said I think you're wrong." She stared up at Minthe just long enough to see her face of disbelief, then darted back to the floor. Persephone cheeks turned red. "If you'll excuse me I just forgot that I- I just remembered that I have - I have to leave now." Persephone said with as much calm in her voice as she could muster. Then turned about, and marched down the stairs. Her hand squeezed into a fist.

"Persephone?" A voice from the dance mob called to her. She looked back to see Eros wings fly up from the mass. She shook her head, fighting back tears, and quickened her pace. The only clear path was the double doors leading out back. "Persephone?" Eros grabbed her arm.

She ripped her arm away from Eros, not able to look him in the eye, and exited into the garden. Her hair nearly getting caught in the door behind her. A looming figure watched by the door as she exited. He chugged his beer and followed the flower petals outside.

Eros let her go. He knew what a heartbreaking looked like. He clutched his own. "Psyche." He muttered under his breath and his head hung low. After a few self pitying breaths, he glanced up where the kings had been standing. His wings opened and he flew up towards them. Zeus and Poseidon were still shell shocked. Hera had her head in her hands.

"Where's mom?" Eros flapped his wings, his breath full of anger.

"Stupid. Stupid. STUPID!" Persephone cried out into the night. She paced back and forth behind a large hedge. On the other side was an ornate fountain. "Idiot!" She shook her head. "Of course. Of course. He's-he's. . . he would never - i'm just. . . just a village weed." She stopped pacing and folded onto the ground. "Mom was right. I don't belong here." She took a few steadying breaths then stood up again. "God, the way she just -" She replayed the moment of Minthe wrapping herself up around Hades. Every time it felt like the wind was getting knocked out of her. "Fuck!" She cursed into the night. She fell, timber style, onto her back, but a bed of dark purple flowers caught her. She curled up into the fetal position, digging her hand into the soil beneath her. The night sky only reminded her of Hades. "Why does it hurt so much?" She ripped up the flowers by the roots.

"Persephone?" A hand wrapped over hers.

"Eros, I really really don't-" She sat up, but it wasn't Eros holding hers. "No." She shook her head. "No. Not now."

"Hey. Come on. What did I tell you. You're my girl." He laid beside her. His shirt already unbuttoned. He pressed her hand to her chest and pushed her onto him.

"Apollo." Persephone's voice turned vicious as she got up on her knees. This was the absolute worst time for Apollo to appear.

"We can do it that way too." He grinned.

"Get off of me." Persephone hissed. "I said get off." She rose to her feet, ripping her hand out from Apollo's. "I'm NOT your girl." She stepped on his other hand, heel first.

"Ow!" Apollo's eyes narrowed. "Hey, what do you think-."

"You know, you're not the center of the universe, Apollo. I'm sure this is a newsflash for you, but not every girl thinks your hot shit."

His eyes fluttered and he began coughing. "Wh-what are you doing to me?"

"You laid down in a bed of wolfsbane with your shirt practically off, you big dumb idiot. Your heart rate is lowering. Your nervous system is slowing down. Don't worry, it won't kill you but in a few moments you'll fall unconscious." Persephone explained coldly. She sunk down to his level. "You must have me confused with someone else, because let me be very clear on this. I do not like you, Apollo. And I never have liked you. And I never will." Thorns began to grow up and around Apollo's wrist and feet, binding him to his spot. Persephone's eyes glowed with a bright yellow light. She yanked his shirt collar up so that he was kneeling in front of her. "And if you EVER touch me again, I swear on Helios that I will turn your purple skin into flower petals and pick each bloom off one by one until all your flesh is scattered into the breeze and you're exposed before everyone, burning your own muscle by the sun you carry. Do you understand?" Persephone tilted his chin up. "I said do you understand?"

Apollo's eyes widened in horror. He nodded silently.

Persephone stared daggers of hate into his eyes. With her free hand she slid in his pocket and pulled out his phone. She crushed it in her palms. The glass splintering her skin, but she didn't care. "And if you EVER pull this shit again on anyone else, please know that I have my own arsenal of every natural poison and acid and I would love to experiment on what they would do to such a pretty face." She scratched his cheek with a thorn that had wrapped around her wrist, forming bracers on her arm. "Okay, pumpkin?"

He nodded, terrified.

Persephone straightened out, letting go of Apollo who collapsed on her bed of flowers. He was immobile and unstable. Just as she said, the wolfsbane slowed down his heart so low that he fell unconscious.

She shook her hair out, careful not to graze her own skin with her bracers made of thorns. Instead of a flower crown her fingers touched a tiara made of bark and twigs. Blood from her hand dripped down her forehead. She fumed silently, ripping the bottom of her dress to make a bandage for her hand. She stormed out behind the hedge back towards the fountain. Kneeling by the water feature she dropped the broken phone into the calm water, then dipped her hand into it, letting it carry away the gold ichor. After shaking out her hand, she appraised her arms.

"That's new." She twisted her forearms. The bracers of thorns didn't hurt. She touched one of the points with the tip of her finger. "Sharp." She winced. She stared at her reflection. The girl staring back at her was wild, untamed, and savage. Nature finds a way to survive. Even weeds can live under the pressure of concrete on top of them. No one asks if nature belongs. It finds a way. It grows. It adapts. It changes.

She stared at the thorns again. Then she laughed. Deep in her belly found humor in her situation. Laughing at everything this disaster of a night turned into. Laughing at Hephaestus, laughing at Eros who kept egging her on, laughing at Hades and Apollo and Minthe, and all of it.

She sighed and turned her back on the cool stone of the fountains edge. She opened her eyes and stared right into the glowing red eyes of Hades.

She nodded, of course he would be here. Of course. Of course.

"Kore?" He started, but she shook her head at him.

"I really don't want to do this right now." She massaged her temples.

"Are you okay?" He stood up, his eyes darting back to her hand and the blood on her face.

"No." She sighed warily. "I don't want to talk to you right now. I don't want to say something I'll come to regret. Please." She held her hand up.

"I-I understand." Hades paused then returned to the bench.

"Give me a moment." She breathed.

"Take your time." Hades clasped his hands, his eyes full of concern and something else.

After a moment, Persephone stretched her head from side to side and pressed her palms up to the sky. She waltzed over to Hades and slumped in the empty spot next to him. "How long have you been sitting here?" She asked, knowing full well that an unconscious Apollo was snoozing on the other side in her bed of wolfsbane.

"Awhile." Hades said.

"Ah." She fiddled with the exposed threads of her hem. "Hades, I don't think we should see eachother again." She said slowly, not looking up to see Hades pained expression. "Listen, I don't care who you. . . associate with. But If Minthe speaks that way to me again, I can't promise I can just walk away next time."

"Please, I'm sorry about Minthe. I didn't know she was coming."

"You lied." Persephone accused, but she didn't say it with any malice. She was tired and just wanted the truth.

"I did. I'm sorry." Hades bowed his head. A beat passed. "It's over. Minthe and I. For real. It's been over for a long time but I just never could. . . I never could end it until I saw you stand up to her tonight."

Persephone laughed darkly. "I didn't stand up. I just walked out."

"No, you were very brave and I'm terribly sorry to put you in that situation."

"You didn't put me in any situation. It just. . . it is what it is." Persephone shrugged.

"You handled it with much more maturity than any goddess I know." Hades sighed. "And you shouldn't have had to."

"You're right. I shouldn't have." Persephone leaned back onto the bench.

"Can I ask you something?" Hades asked, staring at her from the side.

"Is it your personal question?" She raised her eyebrow.

"No." Hades shook his head. "Not personal."

"What then?"

"Is Apollo really knocked out on the other side of this hedge."

Persephone laughed. "So you did hear that, huh."

"It was terrifying."

"Good." Persephone grinned then her face fell and she groaned. "When he wakes up he's going to kill me."

"No. He won't." Hades shook his head. "I'll take care of him."

"I can take care of myself." Persephone glared up at him.

"I know. I know." Hades grinned. "I said I'll take care of Apollo. Congratulations. You've just joined the All Day Haters club."

"Oh, there's a club?"

"Meetings every first thursday."

"Really?" Persephone tilted her head.

"No." Hades smiled.

"Oh." She laughed. "It's getting late."

"Yeah, I should probably leave before. Well. Before the after party starts. Do-" He paused. "Do you have a ride home?"

She nodded. "Eros."

"Ah." He nodded. "So. . . you and Eros. Are you?"

"No." She shook her head. "Just friends. He's in love with a mortal and I'm trying to help him."

"I see." He nodded.

"So, you and Minthe. It's. It's really. . ."

"Over? Yes."

"And there's no one else?"

"No."

Persephone hummed.

"Did you mean it?" Hades brushed his hands across his face. "Did you mean it when you said we shouldn't see each other anymore."

"I don't know." Persephone sighed and curled her foot under her. "I'm not sure if I can trust you." Her words came out in a rush. "You-you broke my heart, Hades. I- I meant what I said to Minthe. I think she's wrong. I'm not just a silly little village girl with her dumb flowers. I'm a survivor. I can thrive anywhere I want, your side, included."

His face melted. "Oh, Kore." He hid his head into his hands. "Can. . . can I start over? Can we start over?"

Persephone laughed. "What? Want me to get drunk again and wind up in the back of your car?"

"That doesn't sound so bad." Hades smiled ruefully.

"This isn't a fairytale, Hades. This is real. We can't just wish everything didn't happen."

Hades nodded solemnly.

"But, you can take me to dinner." She looked up at him with big doe eyes. "If you ask nicely."

Eros glided over head quietly. He lost track of time. His mother was satisfied with her games tonight and agreed to let Psyche go on a couple of conditions that she would explain "at a later date" which meant when she was sober and not horny, so it might be longer than he could bare. Still, it was hopeful.

It was time to take Persephone home. Inside, the crowd was already getting handsy. He lost his shirt somewhere in the mass of bodies. He was trying to be good, truly. He spotted her, a bundle of pink. A dark blue shadow beside her. The scene below him made him pause and something wet filled his eyes. He watched as Hades pulled his car up to the back entrance, away from the hubbub and prying eyes. Hades opened the door for Persephone who glided in. His phone buzzed as the car drove out of sight.

Persephone: Thanks for the invite and for trying to wingman me. Don't worry about me. I found a ride.

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xoxo Goldie