A/N: Here's how our sweet Goddess of Springtime becomes the feared Queen of the Underworld...
Chapter 7: Reign
Hades was confused. He was…happy. How could this be possible? He won Persephone as his wife, though his own devious guile. He got his way. And he was glad that for once, something had worked in his favor. But his happiness was more than that. Being with Persephone made him happy. Seeing Persephone made him happy. Talking to Persephone made him happy. And kissing Persephone made him very, very happy. He couldn't believe it. He might actually be in love with his wife.
Persephone sat in her room, gazing into the mirror. The past few days had been a whirlwind. She and Hades spent nearly every moment together, walking through the Underworld, talking and kissing wherever they went. They continued to have separate rooms, despite being married. Hades had said he didn't want to rush her into anything, since he had basically forced her into marrying him. He was being surprisingly kind and understanding about everything. Persephone decided he should be rewarded.
Hades came to her room to collect her for the day. He slicked back his fiery hair and knocked on the door. "Good morning, Sephy-kins!"
She opened the door in a feigned huff. "Just for that, you don't get a kiss hello."
"Oh I'm so sorry, Queen Persephone. I've forgotten how touchy you get, especially in the mornings. But you also do look so cute when you're mad." He snaked his arms around her middle and pulled her close, blowing into her ear. She shuddered delicately in his grasp.
"Hades, did you decide what my regal duties shall be? You said you would come up with some sort of job for me. I can't very well sit around being pretty all the time."
"Why not?" Hades smirked.
She nudged him in annoyance. "You might like it, but I'll be bored out of my mind for half the year. I should do something to help with your work."
"Well I kinda thought about it, and if you really want, I guess you can judge the dead."
"Judge the dead?"
"Yeah I'm supposed to judge all the souls that come through here and put 'em in different places, but I never get around to it so they all just kinda float around in the River Styx. It's just so time-consuming to judge a soul when it gets ferried in," Hades groaned.
"Well who says you have to judge them right when they come through? Just keep them waiting until you're ready to do it. Or until I'm ready," she smiled. "They're dead. There's no harm."
He laughed devilishly. "You are terrible. Making souls wait for your convenience? Why didn't I think of that? It's fantastic." He gave her a quick kiss. "Congratulations babe. You now have the power to pass judgment over souls."
She kissed him and smiled brightly, a devious glint in her eye. "Thank you, husband of mine."
For the next six months, Persephone sat on her own throne each day, judging the souls that entered the Underworld. She decided when she started and when she stopped. Anyone who didn't make the cut would wait for the next day. If they weren't already dead, they would have been frightened to death. Even Hades was a bit intimidated by her iron will and piercing green gaze during her judgments. He loved it. She was even sexier, if that was possible.
Together, Hades and Persephone ruled the Underworld, equally and powerfully. With her new-found powers and duties, Persephone allowed herself to really enjoy the Underworld. And Hades enjoyed having her there. She helped in his work, and kept him from getting too hot under the collar. When he did get fired up for any reason, she could immediately calm him down. Everything about her was just…cool. The way she walked and talked and acted just made him feel so alive. Which, being the immortal king of the undead, he found rather ironic.
One night when walking her to her rooms for the night, Hades found it rather hard to leave her. Kissing her neck, he decided to seduce her.
"Goodnight, Hades," she said, half-heartedly pushing him away.
He just held on tighter, backing her into her bedroom, kissing up and down her neck and shoulders.
Persephone's breath began to come in gasps. Her defenses were starting to wane. She came to her senses and with a burst of strength, shoved him off of her. "No." She used her harsh Queen of the Dead voice.
Hades sadly stared at the ground. What was wrong with him? He was Hades, Lord of the Underworld, and should be able to take what he wanted, especially from his own wife! And yet, he was ashamed at himself for even contemplating such a thing. Persephone was unlike any other woman. She might be his wife, but he loved her. So help him, Zeus, he loved her.
He shuffled out the door in disgrace, muttering under his breath, "Right. Sorry."
"No, wait!" She ran to him. "I meant to say, not here. Let's go to your room. If that's alright."
"Really?" He looked into her eyes, making sure she meant what he hoped she meant.
"Yes. You're my husband and I'm your wife. We ought to share a room," Persephone smiled.
Hades grinned widely and scooped his queen into his arms, carrying her to his—now their—room down the hall.
A/N: Just to be safe, I've now rated this story T instead of K+. Wasn't intending to make this a sexy story, but Hades just inspires such things. ;)
