Persephone had tried on so many dresses she thought she would never want to look at one again, but each had been a perfect fit, each individually unique and incredible in their own way. Hades must have had help though, maybe from one of his many employee's he kept around the Underworld, because every dress had pastel coloring, or had a theme of various flowers that Persephone could name off by heart. They were beautiful and intoxicating to the eye, she almost felt she could never wear them. She was so used to the plain earth colors her mother dressed her in, all browns and greens of various colors that drowned her out. The dresses she wore almost made Persephone glow when she twirled around in them. It was amazing to say the least, and she would wear them all if she got her chance.
She packed all the dresses away in a not so tidy fashion, although she would return later to put them away right, and went out to explore the land that belonged to her husband and she guessed herself as well. Trails through the thick dark forest led to the different sections of the Underworld which Persephone trekked through without fear now.
The Elysium fields had now been turned into a large gated community, where the heroes and glamorous lived in expensive mansions and lived out the rest of eternity in their own heaven. It seemed nice to Persephone, but she never liked hanging out with the larger than life souls. She had heard all their tales and had seen their good deeds, but it reminded her too much of the aristocratic life her mother tried to breed her into. That's probably why she didn't particularly care for the cottage that lay inside waiting for her that had gone untouched for decades. She would go to the cottage but never enter, because her mother would just sweep her away chalking the whole thing up to "well you came here and now it's time to leave. I'm sure Hades won't mind."
Instead she looked for the Asphodel Meadows, where the souls of everyday people lived. She saw the opening road and found many simple houses lined up like a close community. The souls of the once living moved and walked around as if they were still alive, some smiling at her or waving at passerby's as she walked on. Golden wheat fields surrounded the land that wasn't housing the souls as Persephone watched the breeze trail through the tops of the fluffy grass like a golden blanket fluttering in the wind.
She missed this, this simple way of life. If she had been mortal, this would have been her heaven. Too long had she been so preoccupied with keeping her mother happy. In this moment, all she thought about was herself, as selfish as that may seem.
She walked through different trails, finding where souls went into Limbo and barely even glancing down where Tartarus lied. Soon she found herself back at the House of Hades, the sleek black walls glowing against the sun that was starting to set. Helios had been letting that sun rise and fall for ages now, it was a wonder he still loved his job. Persephone could still remember the horrible lie he had told her mother, saying that Hades had kidnapped her...
She hadn't fallen from grace, she had jumped...
"Yes" she had nearly whispered as she stared down at Hades who looked up at her with surprised eyes.
"Yes?" Hades had said back, his dark eyebrows popping up.
"Yes" she said right back, so sure of her decision "I never want to go back there."
"Persephone" Hades said sitting up "Your mother is searching for you. She's laid waste to the land and the fruits of the harvest are withering each day you are gone. If you stay down here, she may never stop."
"And?" Persephone said "Mortal's souls will come down here, your kingdom will just get bigger. I don't see the problem."
"The problem" Hades said looking down, trying to reason with the young goddess "Is that if there are no mortals to worship the gods, they will reek havoc on the world, including down here. There is a certain balance to everything that needs to be kept."
"Then why offer me to stay?" Persephone said confused.
Hades had no clue why he had said it. The words had fallen out of his mouth without a second thought. So long he was cast as the villain, maybe subconsciously he just wanted to be the hero...just once.
Hades took hold of Persephone's hand and felt the soft skin underneath his rough palms. He wanted her to be safe, to be happy. He could see why she wanted to flee, Demeter was not the easiest person to be around. He knew more than anyone, he had spent almost 20 years cramped in a stomach with her. But he knew the cons to the situation too.
"I'll figure something out" Hades begun "Maybe I'll talk to Zeus, get him to reconsider-"
"My lord! Persephone!" a figure yelled from above before swooping down to the couple.
Hermes, young, blonde, and charming came down before them both, his chest heaving up and down as he stared at both of them wide eyed.
"Hermes!" Persephone said suddenly tense that the young god might try to take her away at this very moment. Hermes was her friend, but who knew what was going on now a days that might make the god take drastic measures.
"My lord and lady" Hermes said looking at them both "Helios has told Almighty Zeus that you kidnapped Persephone and drug her down here not of her own free will!"
"What!" Hades said standing at full attention.
"That isn't true at all!" Persephone said standing up as well, her fists clenched tight into her dress.
"I can see that" Hermes said looking at both of them, the god wise for being so young "But that doesn't change the fact that Zeus is headed down here right now with Demeter following close behind. It will be a all out war if you do not go back with them Persephone."
"Then war it will be" Hades said looking deadly "She will only leave this place when she chooses!"
"My lord you can't go against Zeus" Hermes said getting worried.
"Watch me" Hades said turning as he headed towards his house with Persephone following close behind. She didn't know what to do, on one hand she wanted to stay with Hades, free from rules and a marriage she didn't want. But on the other, she couldn't cause unnecessary deaths and war between her families. Putting Hades in harms way sent a shiver down her spine and a ache in her heart, especially after all he had done for her. She had tasted freedom, but now it was time to grow up.
"Hades" Persephone said gently trying to grab for his hand.
He turned to her, his fury and need for bloodshed ebbing as he looked into her soft blue eyes.
"I have to go with them" Persephone said looking down "I can't have you going to war all for me. I'm not worth it. I should accept my fate and just go with Zeus and my mother."
Suddenly his soft grip grabbed her chin and lifted her eyes up to his. He stroked her cheek so gently, as if she would break if he stroked too hard.
"You are the only thing worth fighting for in my eyes" Hades said quietly "And nobody should just accept their fate. You make your own or die trying. If being with the dead has taught me anything, it is that you shouldn't give up on the things that are worth dying for."
"But" Persephone started but his fingers quieted her lips.
Suddenly something crossed over his eyes and she saw a fire sparkling in those piercing eyes.
"There is a way" he said quietly "But we have to hurry. Zeus will be down here any moment."
And with that, Persephone followed to seal her fate as she held on to the darkness's hand and disappeared into the Underworld.
"Almost ready?" a knock at the door sounded as Persephone woke up from staring at herself in the mirror. She had chosen a pale pink dress with sheer cloth that sparkled on top of a pink skirt. Small pieces of the cloth that was almost transparent against her skin made way for sleeves. She looked radiant to anyone who would glance her way, she only hoped her acting was as convincing as the way she dressed.
Slipping on some pink pumps she walked towards the door and opened it to a very suave looking Hades who suddenly stood upright and looked at her with up and down eyes.
A slow whistle escaped his lips and Persephone found herself blushing as a big smile plastered across her face.
"Do I look good husband?" she said doing a dramatic pose in the doorway.
"I think I'm not dressed well enough to be on your arm love" Hades said brushing off his jacket.
He had chosen a nice silk black suit with a dark purple undershirt that showed just a bit of his chest and neck. It was some of the latest fashion his company had come up with and he always wore something dark to any event he chose to go to. Gave the impression of intimidation, which had always been his favorite past time. But now standing in front of Persephone, he felt like he had almost dressed too darkly, her radiant glow of pink and gold shining beside him as they walked side by side down the hallway.
This was them then, the King and Queen of the Underworld, death and life walking side by side in life. Seemed almost fitting now that he thought of it that way, that they should dress completely different but yet still seem in sync.
And now, as they walked out into the world it was time to put on the show.
The King and Queen had arrived.