Even though there was no sunrise or setting to mark the days or formal meals to set the passage of time for the inhabitants of the Underworld, Chronos' passage was strictly followed in the shadowy realm of Hades. Time was revered; the three Fates had their agendas and a strict agenda to follow. It wasn't known as a 'deadline' for nothing, the constraints of time on events. Even a God and King had to adhere to some timelines, in this dead kingdom. Once those three Moirae cut the thread of life they had woven, events were set in motion, a soul was severed from its corporeal home and had to go somewhere. Death was everywhere. Death kept going, as did the tick of the clock. Thanatos, Death himself, was never tardy and listened to no excuses. Every denizen of the dead knew Hades was stringent on his schedule being met.

Likewise, the Lord of the Underworld was well-used to an ordered and constant calendar. Unscheduled visitations and events that just emerged from nowhere irritated him. The Greek girl – she was a distraction, a bizarre occurrence that by all rights should not have happened. Being so ignorant as to how she appeared in his realm annoyed him further. His god-like abilities and knowledge were no use in this situation; that ate at him.

A messenger entered the Throne Room in his House, bowed low from the waist and waited in servitude until Hades nodded his assent.

"The woman," the messenger did not have a name yet to address Persephone by but Hades knew who he referred to, "is awake. Daeira is ministering to her now, my Lord and King."

"Bring her before me presently," Hades commanded softly, "but only if she is capable of walking unaided and she is not weeping from fear."

His messenger acknowledged his dictations with a further bow before departing smartly, his tailored boots clicking sharply on the black marble.

Moments later, Hades was quietly impressed to behold one of his nymph maids leading the shy maiden before his throne. She was not without courage then, to have been led through his kingdom shortly after her horrifying ordeal. Watching her closely form his seat of power Hades admired the strong flow of life in her veins, which shone out like liquid gold. He was known as the Rich One but in truth the only rare commodity he knew of was not stones or minerals, it was mortal life. Mortality shone with a vibrancy that the life-force of an immortal lacked; it was fleeting, to be sure but it was stunning to behold.

The girl stood humbly, head down and hands folded nervously, eyes dancing everywhere except for towards his seat of majesty. She was quite young, even for a mortal. The flush of her youth highlighted how naturally gorgeous she was – a sheen that ran through the fullness of her body and put a tinge of pink in her creamy skin. He admired her, both in looks and in spirit and decided that if she had the bravery to set foot in the Underworld after her plunge she deserved his consideration.

"Welcome to the House of Hades," he stated, a quiet rumble to his speech.

She glanced upwards then to be sure and began to devour the sight of him in the flesh with her wide, fawnlike eyes. Curled, blonde and brown hair the shade of burnished bronze tumbled down over her shoulders. Her rosy lips parted, her startled breathing accelerated wildly. She was stunned, evidently, but deep within those dark pupils Hades sensed a hint of steel and a fierce will. This girl – this Greek woman – was not easily cowered.

"Why am I here?" her intonation was fairly shaky but she was discernable. Famed Greek heroes – warriors clad in full armour and armed to the teeth – were known to have descended into stuttering nonsense upon catching sight of God of the Dead on his adamantine throne. Her determination brought a brief half-grin to his mouth but in a twitch it vanished.

"An excellent question," he went on, standing slowly. "I was rather hoping you would help me find an answer to it."

The girl blinked hard, twice. That had obviously not been the answer she had been expecting.

"You don't know why I'm here?" she asked in a flummoxed tone, her face almost comically contorted in confusion. But for her beauty and clear anguish, he would have chuckled at the sight. "But..?"

Hades took one stride down and stood there impressively, one foot atop his platform of regency, the other a step down towards her. Stiffly, he cut of her questioning.

"This is my realm, young mortal. I know its every corner. I know every function of every part of its sprawling mass and it is extensive. But when something or someone," he added emphasis to that last word, "breaks in from my brother's dominion, I very rarely know the cause. I just have to contend with the result. Now…" He titled his head to consider the girl as she processed his words. "Let us begin again with the simple niceties. I am Hades, ruler of the Underworld. Who are you and how did you enter my kingdom?"

The girl took a hurried step backwards before she caught herself in the act and brought herself to an uncomfortable stop. He noticed her shoulders cave inwards, inadvertently flinching at his pronouncements. But she did not cry. She did not beg for mercy. Instead, she cleared her throat.

"I am Persephone, the only daughter of the goddess Demeter, she who tends the fields and harvests. I was in Sicily when a pit just opened up underneath me and I fell into it." The truth gave her fortitude to straighten herself and face him boldly. A challenge entered those striking eyes. "And the next thing I remember is waking up in your bedchambers!"

Put like that, so direct, it sounded accusatory. Persephone bit her lip after the words escaped her, stemming more frightened words. Hades merely winced and looked upwards.

"My most sincere apologises," he told her after a moment of deliberation. "On the River Styx, I swear, I did not intend…" Although sincere, he could not bring himself to brashly put her accusation into an actual sentence; he didn't know how to do so politely. "I did not consider how it would appear…" The God shook his head. "You were in my quarters because it is both the safest and most comfortable dwelling place for one of the living. We are not equipped to house living bodies here. I thought placing you amongst the dead to recover would distress you and would have been quite inappropriate in any case. My chambers were the warmest and most private place I possess." Hades brought one hand to his chest in a gesture of earnestness and tilted his head to her. "Please forgive my oversight. Rest assured, I only wanted you to be safe here. I did not intend to cause you grief."