"Welcome! I have been waiting for the both of you!" Persephone greets with open arms gleefully.
She walks towards the awe-struck demigods gracefully with a big smile on her face, as her husband's voice spoke to her in her head.
That's right, my love. Look happy.
Pirithous, wanting to make a good first impression, steps forward with an equally big smile, while Theseus watches anxiously from behind him.
Persephone ever so gracefully gives her right hand to him, and he grasps it gently with his bulky and sinewy hand and places a soft kiss on her knuckles. She tried to look flattered by the gesture, but in truth, she hated the feeling of his lips on her soft skin. It seemed rough like scratchy wool, unlike her husband's whose lips were as soft as the silk she wore.
When Pirithous finally let go, she quickly withdrew her hand to her back and discreetly brushes off the feeling of his lips on her knuckles with the other hand. She did not want to rub it on her dress because she did not want the foul essence of him to taint the beautiful piece Hades presented her.
"I hope your trip was not too tiring," she says to them politely.
Pirithous shakes his head. "Of course not, your grace. We are trained since young to withstand even the most difficult of journeys," he says proudly.
She gives another smile as she marvels, "The both of you are certainly very brave and daring to travel to the Underworld for me."
And she thinks to herself, And are also very foolish to think Hades would let you leave this place with me so easily.
A rosy colour blooms on Pirithous' cheeks. "It is certainly an honour to hear that, your grace."
She gives him a beautiful smile before she turns to Thanatos, who stood beside Theseus silently. She tells him that he is now dismissed and he bows to his queen before walking away to the east of the palace.
Just then, her eyes finally look over to Pirithous' friend.
She knew who Theseus was. He was her half-cousin, son of Poseidon. He was the well-known Athenian hero who slayed the fearsome beast known as the Minotaur in the famous Labyrinth. He was the talk of the council of Olympus for many months when she was back in the world above.
It was then she noticed how anxious and afraid he looked. How he examined the foyer with suspicion clear in his eyes.
And then he looks at her, the suspicion getting stronger in his emerald pupils.
She looks away from him. In her thoughts, she says, Poor soul. If only you were able to convince your stupid friend.
Persephone, Hades' voice appears in her mind, Focus.
Regaining her happy façade, she turns to look at Pirithous, who still had the eager smile on his lips.
"Come. Let us begin our dinner," she announces with an air of grace.
Darling, try to look…. seductive.
At his words, she turns and looks back at Pirithous with half-lidded eyes. Daring herself, she lifts a finger and crooks it, beckoning him to follow her.
Pirithous' eyes suddenly widen in excitement, joy and, for obvious reasons, lust.
As she begins to walk to the dining room in the west of the palace, Aretha following faithfully beside her, she makes sure that her hips swayed gently and seductively. She looks behind to see if he saw it. And true enough, he did. In fact, he was ogling over it.
She felt disgusted.
Patience. It will all be over soon. Hades assures her.
She willed herself to be strong, for her husband.
Pirithous really could not believe it.
Here was Queen Persephone, the woman he had intended to abduct, giving him flirtatious looks as she walks ahead of him. She also pouted her lips and twirled her wavy dark brown locks seductively as her gorgeous eyes met his.
She made small talk with him as though he was the most interesting person in the world, and had even commented about how big and strong his muscles were.
Theseus kept on trying to convince that this was in no way a good idea, but Pirithous merely brushes it off. His best friend was starting to annoy him. This was not a bad idea. Persephone is clearly showing interest in him. To add to that, his father had told him that she was waiting for him. How could this be a bad idea?
Suddenly, after a few long minutes of walking, they stop in front of two majestic rosewood double doors. The servant girl beside Persephone moves ahead and opens it for them. Persephone thanks her graciously and informs her that she is no longer required.
The queen walks inside, her eyes looking at Pirithous again with the same lusty look. He found himself smiling again, a private smile. A smile for her.
When the three of them were inside, the servant girl closes the doors from the hallway.
Pirithous looks around at the magnificent dining room. He catches a glimpse of the table and sees many platters of mouth-watering foods.
He looks at Theseus again, who still had the same anxious look. Yet again, he ignores it and turns back to look at his future bride.
She was standing behind the chair that had its back faced to them. Then, she says, "My darling, we have guests."
A head appears and looks at them. At the same time, Theseus and Pirithous' hearts both skip a beat in unison.