The only sound that he could hear was his own breathing, as he see nothing but darkness. It didn't took him long that he realized that he had his own eyes closed. Not to mention that he was clinging to something rather tightly, he could feel something soft against his face as well as whatever it was, it was softly caressing his face.
"It's ok. You're safe now."
Persephone managed to gain enough courage to open his eyes, and blinking a few times to regain his sight. What he saw before him he wasn't prepared.
The first thing that he noticed that it was dark all around them, indicating that they're somehow underground and the closest thing to illumination was the eerie glow of the still waters. And the next thing that he noticed that it was cold.
So cold…
Colder than the ocean that he had swam in.
There was no sun…no blue sky.
Not event sound of birds or bees, the only sounds that he could hear were droplets of moisture from the dark stalactites, making him move closer to Hades for comfort. It was frightening…yet for some odd reason, it seemed beautiful to him. Persephone was in complete awe of the place, taking everything in as he looked around. All the while Hades watched with deep admiration in his eyes.
"Is this…the Underworld?" The young god finally spoke with awe. "It's more beautiful than I thought."
Hades let out a small laugh, wrapping an arm around Persephone's waist to give him more warmth. He felt the younger god tense up against his touch a bit before relaxing. Centuries dwelling in this place made him used to the cold air, however he failed to take in the account that the Upper Dweller like Persephone might not be used to the new temperature.
"You know that is the first time someone said that the Underworld is beautiful." He admitted.
The statement was true. For the longest time, everyone, both mortal and divine of above, have feared his kingdom. Even with the promise of resting within the eternal paradise that is the Elysian Fields, they are still weary. Those who had long been passed, accepted their fates until the time as come for one of them to rejoin the upper world in a new form.
But from Persephone…that really meant a lot to him.
"Although, this was only the beginning." Hades continued before leading him off of the chariot. "Come, a boat would be waiting for us."
He guided Persephone by hand towards the shore bank of the River Syx, Hades reached into his pouch to pull out a couple of drachmas in preparation. Meanwhile Persephone stood by his side as he gazed at the dark waters of the Styx.
"Is this the famous Styx that I hear about?" He spoke up, sounding ecstatic. "The river where you swear oaths to?"
Hades took the moment to look over to him and smiled fondly at him. "That's right," he responded before turning back his attention beyond the waters. "Not only that, the river is also a goddess in her own right."
"Really?!" Persephone gasped in excitement. "What does she look like? I only heard of her through stories but they're not really specific on the details."
The dark god let out a small chuckle at the enthusiasm of the younger god as soon as he spotted the tell-tale silhouette of the upcoming boat.
Right on schedule…
Persephone took notice and instinctively moved closer to Hades.
"Wh-what was that?"
Hades smiled reassuringly as he wrapped an arm around the other god's shoulders. "Don't worry, it's our ride to my kingdom."
And on cue, Charon's boat rowed up to them and halted himself with his oar.
"Ah, good to see you again, Milord," the ferryman spoke up. He raised his head a bit when he noticed that there was someone else with his sovereign. Charon cocked his head in curiosity, though he noticed that his action seemed to made the younger man (as it seemed) flinched and actually HIDE BEHIND HADES.
Hades…probably the most feared god of the Underworld, or rather in existence.
The very god whose name was forbidden upon the lips of mortals…
And this foolish boy was hiding behind him as if he alone could protect him.
Now he had seen everything.
"Milord?"
Victor cocked his head to the side, akin to how Cerberus acted whenever he comes across something curious.
"Yes?" He responded innocently.
"Why is there a boy behind you?"
"Hmm?" Gods damn that man's obliviousness! One would think he would have dipped into Lethe one time when he was here. "Oh yes! Charon, this is Persephone, my new guest and God of Spring. Persephone, this is Charon, he's the nice man who ferried the souls of the dead to my kingdom!"
The young god shyly peeked out from behind of Hades, and gave the elder a small wave.
"It's really nice to meet you, sir." His voice was meek and soft but the Ferryman could hear him just fine. The young man seemed nice so far, but judging by the look and tone of his lord, it would seem that he might have meant more than just a mere guest.
"Likewise…" Then Charon turned to Hades with a neutral stare as his lord smiled rather…happily. "This would be a bit higher than usual, milord, so it would be two obols."
Hades seemed to be more than happy to oblige as he dug through his robes and produced the payment onto the other god's almost skeletal hand. Charon received the payment and showcased his gratitude with a nod of his head. The silver-haired god turned to his young charge and took the latter's hand gently.
"Please watch your step." He cautioned him.
Persephone nodded as he carefully stepped onto the boat. That is when Charon first noticed the bouquet of daffodils in his hand, instantly it became clear. This young boy…he is the same god that his lord had been pining for all these centuries. And who would have thought that he would actually succeed in his courtship? Well, the first part anyway. He kept his silence in a respectful manner while Hades get onboard as well before pushing off of the bank to row across the still waters of Styx.
When he did, Charon noticed something off about the banks as they drifted across the water.
There upon the bank…there were small sprouts forming.
—
Normally a soul of the deceased would be utterly terrified once they have boarded upon Charon's boat. Man, woman, child, they would tremble like leaves against the wind while taking in the inky blackness that surrounds them. Even to the point of tears once they saw the gates. But Persephone (should he call him Sir Persephone?) on the other hand was leaning over the boat, staring into the water. He seemed to be taking his entire experience in stride compared to his past passengers from…who knows how long, but then again, eternity tends to make you forget. Although he seemed to be a bit afraid at first (he cannot honestly blame him) but that doesn't overshadow the fascination the way he was taking everything in.
"You have a very nice boat, Mr. Charon!" Persephone spoke up, turning to him as Charon rows.
Charon could only blink as he paused for a moment before resuming rowing. Now that was something one hasn't heard everyday.
"Thank you, Sir Persephone." He replied courteously, not knowing what to think at the moment. No one has ever spoken to him before. Much less called him "Mr. Charon", when he was just known as the Ferryman amongst the whispers of the passengers, either prefer to keep to themselves or try to find safety in huddled groups.
"Oh, please! Just Persephone, I'm not really that important anyway. I highly doubt I would get much worshippers once I achieve godhood."
Hm, polite AND humble, his Lord certainly have good taste.
"Persephone~" He heard his Lord spoke in the ever present sing-song tone. "Don't place yourself down like that, you're a child of one of the most prominent gods in existence. You should give yourself more credit."
Persephone blushed a bit before turning his attention back to his bouquet gift.
"You're too kind, Hades…" he mumbled bashfully.
Perhaps too humble, in Charon's opinion. There is some serious confidence and self-esteem issues there. He is still young, but he has plenty to learn. Every deity in existence started out differently after all.
And his Lord was no different.
"My liege…we are at the Gates." He finally spoke up.
—
Persephone then looked up and he couldn't contain his gasp, whether it was from awe or fear. Maybe it was both, either way…the very sight of the gates was enough to render him speechless. Either way, the sight of the gates were impressive beyond words. While it was frightening, there was an odd sense of beauty and elegance in a rather macabre way. It was practically a work of art in of its own, practically outshining the works of the Upperworld's sculptors when it comes to the details of each figure that seemed to take some painstaking work. There was something about this gate that seemed to have struck him in some way.
It was that familiar feeling of coming home…but at the same time, it wasn't home.
It was strange, this was the first time that he had been here. And he was only at the entrance of Hades' kingdom. Persephone only been jerked out of his stupor when the boat hit the shore, only to brace himself against the edge. He managed to keep himself from going overboard into the river or have a face full of dirt upon the shore. Hades was the first to stood up and got off board the boat before turning to help Persephone off.
The younger god took his hand gratefully as he boarded off the boat. He used one hand to smooth out the wrinkles of his half-chiton and looked over to Charon with a smile.
"Thank you for the ferry ride, Mr. Charon!" He said.
The Ferryman lifted his hood up, to reveal his face a bit so that he could show that he was returning the smile.
"No…thank you, Persephone." And with that, he pushed off of the shore and rowed out across the waters once more, disappearing into the inky blackness. Persephone watched after him before looking back to Hades, who was waiting by with a patient smile.
"He seems nice." Persephone finally spoke up, walking over to his side.
Hades just simply smiled as he took Persephone's free hand. "I think you have made his day."
The spring god tilted his head to the side in confusion. "I did?" He spoke.
"Of course. This was the first time that anyone actually had a decent conversation with him. It had been practically forever since he had one."
That alone was news to him. He knew that he only just met the man but Charon seemed like a nice man. A bit quiet and admittedly kind of scary, but he is polite. He seemed to be on good terms with Hades as well, considering their interaction when they row across the water. Not to mention possibly hard working, considered on how well-maintained his boat was.
So, who wouldn't want to talk to him, even if it was just a small chat?
"No one talked to him…?" Persephone spoke out slowly, trying to make sense of it. "I don't understand, he seems nice."
Hades let out a chuckle before giving the younger god's hand a soft squeeze. "You're too kind, you know that, Persephone?" Then he patted the smaller hand in his grip. "Come on, there's another one that I wanted you to meet!"
He then lead Persephone to the gates, giving the younger god the opportunity to admire the craftsmanship of the architecture clearly. It seemed to be taller than he thought, just about a good six meters high give or take. As they grew closer, he could make out intricate details of the intertwined bodies of both men and women that merged against the dark material, probably obsidian or jet stone. The one that caught his eye the most was the three figures that stood on the very top of the gate panels. He couldn't tell if they were a men or a women, but by the way that they are huddled together, clasping their hands as their heads bowed in prayer. Or acceptance compared to the utter despair and torment that the other figures have portrayed upon the gate.
"Wow…" was all he could utter out as they drew near the gate.
He would have watched where he was going…that is until he finally noticed the three pairs of glowing eyes staring down at him. Persephone noticed Hades stopping before him and placed himself in front.
"Hades?" He spoke up, now feeling a bit frightened.
"Stay behind me, Persephone." Hades told him, sounding a bit urgent.
Persephone was about to speak, even question on what is happening, until the sounds of growling and hissing filled his ears. That is when he saw it and his eyes widened with shock and terror.
Before him was a massive dark beast of a dog, which surprisingly had three heads that were connected to the neck. There was a mane of serpents hissing and writing from the neck to shoulders, making a makeshift nest. The serpentine tail was the finishing touch, the forked tongue flicked in and out as it slithered into view, and each eyes seemed to be trained on Persephone.
He took an instinctive step back when he saw the beast looking down at him. It was nothing like he had seen before. He had seen dogs, NORMAL sized dogs, on the Upper World, and an occasional wolf or two during night times. But this…this isn't neither a dog or wolf. This thing was in a class all on its own.
"N-Nice doggy…" He managed to utter out.
The dog -or is it dogs?- let out three sets of barks, which made Persephone jump a bit.
"Cerberus…" Hades spoke out in a calm yet stern tone, raising up a hand. "Behave yourself, boy."
However the beast, now called Cerberus, didn't listened and let out a low growl as he -or is it they?! - stride towards them. When Hades started to move back, Persephone taken it as a cue to move as well. He was starting to feel scared, this isn't what he was expecting, and he was barely at the gates! Is this…is this how it was going to end?
Can he actually die?!
He shouldn't have agreed to this!
Numerous thoughts filled his head as he slowly begin to panic, not knowing what to do. The only thing that seemed to be literally standing between him and Cerberus was Hades himself, and he didn't know if he could take something like Cerberus on by himself!
Then Cerberus let out another set of barks before charging towards them.
"No, no, NO! CERBERUS! DOWN BOY!" Hades cried out, now panicking himself and waving his arms, as if that alone would stop him. The ground shook beneath their feet at each time the large canine beast bounded towards them before making a leap. Persephone let out a shriek and instinctively closed his eyes when a bright light was shone. Then next thing he knew he was on his back upon the ground with paws against his bare chest.
This was it.
This was how he was going to be mauled and there was no way that his mother would know about it. It would be like that sinew incident with Zeus during the Titan Rebellion that he had once heard about, only gorier. He doesn't know he could be able to go back from this kind of thing…the only thing that Persephone could do was to keep his eyes shut and wait for the worst to come.
And the worst came in a form of a wet tongue upon his face.
"Wha…Huh?!"
With a burst of courage, Persephone blinked rapidly before looking up at…
A normal yet standard looking dog with the fluffiest brown fur that he had ever seen. It was panting rather excitedly with a pink tongue lolled out and fluffy tail that was wagging happily behind it. Gone was the beast with three heads and a mane of serpents and there was this dog instead. Before Persephone could even say anything else, the dog leaned in to give him a rather enthusiastic tongue bath.
"Gah! Haha…Stop it!" He begged between laughs, however he didn't know if he wanted this to stop. Although he was asking himself this one particular question.
What just happen?!
"Cerberus!" came Hades' voice, making Persephone to look over to see him looking torn from being amused or disappointed. Most likely that look was directed at the dog itself.
Persephone managed to push the dog off and sat up, though the dog didn't move away from him with its still braced upon his chest and still panting in a rather happy manner as it looked at Hades, tail still wagging to the point of thumping against the stone ground. Almost as if the creature had no idea what he was talking about. He stared at the silver-haired god at a moment before his mind placed two and two together.
"Wait, THIS is Cerberus?!" Persephone exclaimed, whipping his attention back to the dog in shock.
This adorable fluffy dog…was Cerberus, the three-headed beast from the darkest of nightmares.
The child of Typhoon and Echidna, the parents of all monsters…
IS THIS ADORABLE. FLUFFY. DOG.
Hades just smiled as he shrugged.
"But he prefers to be called Makkachin, though. Thinks it was cuter for him, and he mostly on duty in the other form. He rarely gets time to fool around in that one." Then he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Seriously though, I'm sorry about this…he never acted to anyone like this before."
And that was no lie at all. Mostly due to his role as the Gate Guardian of the Underworld. That doesn't give him any time to actually interact anyone that wasn't dead or scared shitless of him (and that was just him in real form!) Besides, there was no one in existence that Cerberus would take an immediate shine to.
That is until Persephone came along…
Makkachin let out a happy bark before turning back to Persephone and gave him a tongue bath once more. The young god let out a laugh once more, torn between pushing the dog away or let him continue it as he placed his hands upon the soft, fluffy body.
"Stop it, that tickles!" he laughed, wrapping his arms around the dog to give him a hug.
Hades smiled softly at the sight before him, leaning against a nearby rock. He watched as Persephone nuzzled into the fur while Makkachin tried his best to give his own version of a hug.
Maybe this is a good idea to bring him down here after all.
