A/N:Hola people! :D Welcome to another chapter!
Shout out to the following for sending me reviews: AnimeBoyLuver004, Aranel Mirfain, Josephine, imogen321, Discobear4, musicluver9001 and NonrealityRocks. Ya'll rock my world!
I was going to end this chapter differently, but I kinda liked it the way it was. Also, I'm not using my beta anymore on this story (Sorry! :( I know. I'm a bad person.) so any errors or stuff: suck it up!
Otherwise, enjoy! :D
Aro's Point of View
Over the six months that Persephone was gone, I used my free time to study up on mythology. My favorite story held some irony; it was one of Greek origin, about the beautiful Persephone and her beloved Hades.
I was a little surprised to find out that the original title of the story was the Rape of Persephone. In my heart I knew I would never hurt my beloved, or cause harm to fall upon her. I would do what ever it took to make sure she would never have to deal with pain or sorrow.
The story was that Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. Demeter was the goddess of the harvest. Even though Persephone was the daughter of the gods, she held no place in Olympus. Instead, the young Persephone lived away from the other deities; a peaceful existence before she became the Queen of the Underworld.
When Hades first saw his Persephone, he made a vow that she would be his. His opportunity came one day as Persephone, along with her nymph companions went to pick flowers. Hades came through the ground, stealing the maiden away to the Underworld. Demeter, feeling that the nymphs should have intervened, changed them into Sirens.
Demeter, in her depression of loosing her daughter, let nothing grow. She was too busy looking for her daughter to continue her duties to the Earth. The humans began to starve and called out to their gods for help. Zeus demanded that Hades return Persephone back to her mother.
Unfortunately, the Fates ruled that any one who had eaten food or consumed drink in the Underworld was doomed to stay there for the rest of eternity. Persephone was tricked by Hades into eating pomegranate seeds, meaning that she couldn't leave.
To settle the dispute between the deities, Zeus gave Demeter another option. For four months of the year, Persephone had to be released to her mother. For four months, Persephone had to stay with Hades; the last four months were for Persephone to determine.
I wondered if the Persephone of Greece actually loved her Hades, or if she was just a figure piece in his collection. In her months of freedom, did Persephone spend her time with her mother or with Hades? Or, alternatively, did she retreat into solitude, using the time to think.
I wondered that if my Persephone was presented with the same option, would she stay with me for her free time, or would she rather travel with her companion. Did the beautiful Persephone see me as her Hades? Was I her captor, her lord of death or was I her beloved, her soul mate?
It was odd for me not being able to see into her mind, to uncover her true intentions and feelings. I was used to having my own way, to control those who were around me. Persephone was uncontrollable; she had her own way of controlling me.
On the night Persephone returned to me, I noticed she blushed and turned from me. She had even greeted me last. I could almost feel the tension in her as I held her in my arms.
I was sure that during her stay in the castle, she had been falling for me. Now, with time and distance, I was unsure about how she really felt about me. She didn't let me into her mind to give me the answers I desperately seeked.
Adding insult to injury, Persephone gave my gift to her companion. I was personally offened that she had no respect for my generosity.
She asked me if I missed her and I honestly answered. Having nothing else to say to her, I took her bags and left her standing in the dark, surrounded by my guard.
Persephone had been back in the castle for a few hours. She had retreated into her chamber, not even making an effort to try and find me.
In my depression, I locked myself in my rooms. In the silence I allowed my mind to wonder back to a happier and simpler form of existence. My back was to the wooden door, my eyes fixed on the stars. The pin pricks of light were fading with the coming of dawn; they faded away like dreams, giving way to a new day.
There was a soft tap on my door before my sister slid into my room.
"Why are you ignoring the girl?" Didyme asked. "Persephone is devastated by your actions."
Didyme closed the door behind her, walking in as if she owned my private space. She moved to my side, her eyes fixing on the stars.
"What did she expect?" I growled, my tone thick with sarcasm as I turned from the window. "She is not some queen returning to her throne. She is just another member of the guard."
"Yes, because you greet every member of the guard when they return." Didyme said, her tone thick with bitterness and sarcasm. "Persephone expected you to be a little more receptive to her arrival. She expected you to be happy to see her once again."
"Why should I wait around for her, little sister." I spat. "She doesn't love me. She doesn't even want to be here. She only returns to me out of fear."
"That is your own fault, Aro!" Didyme yelled. "You are the one who threatens her."
"How else would she be mine?"
My sister hissed in anger. "The girl may not be willing to admit it out loud, but she does have some feelings for you. No woman could be so cold that she is unable to love."
"She is not a woman. She is just another child as far as I am concerned!" I hissed in reply.
"Watch your tongue, brother. Your words may come back to hurt you." Didyme said.
She turned and stormed out of my room, presumably back to my beloved Persephone. I was left to my own devices.
In frustration, I turned back to the waking city. It was my city, waking up to another day of pastel pink skies and short, mortal lives.
I was the king of the vampires, of the dead. I was a modern day Hades, living in and ruling my own Underworld. I would not let some child take away my purpose and make me forget my duty to my brothers, my sisters, my guard and my people.
Persephone's Point of View
I had taken a long, hot shower, trying to recover from my long trip. My long hair was damp and dark, my skin pink from the warm cascades of water. I wrapped a thick, black towel around my body and headed towards the sink. Above the sink was a mirror framed by vines made out of black iron and decorated with flowers of red jewels. Using the back of my hand, I cleaned the condensed steam off of the reflective surface. With my reflection cleared, I took in my appearance.
My eyes were red from crying and my pupils were large with thirst. Around my eyes were purple bruises, another sign that I needed to hunt. My skin was flushed, just barley highlighting my new tan. My hair was darker and dead straight; once my hair dried it would be back to curls of gold caramel and chocolate.
Thick, hot tears streamed down my face as I thought about Aro. He had dismissed me for reasons unknown to me. I had offended him unintentionally, just as he had unintentionally broken my heart.
He no longer wanted me just as I discovered that I could not live without him in my life. The feeling of rejection was painful and suffocating. My tears began to build up and sobs escaped my chest as I struggled to breathe.
"Persephone?" I heard Didyme call outside my bathroom door. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." I choked out, drying my tears with the back of my hand.
"May I come in?"
I looked at my reflection, deciding that I was as presentable as I would ever be in my state.
"Sure." I whispered, drying the last of my tears on the hem of my towel.
I went to sit on the edge of the bath tub, slumped over. Didyme moved to my side and put her arms around me.
"Don't cry, child." She said. "My brother is just being difficult. Give him time and he will come to you."
"Why is he being so difficult?" I asked, trying not to cry. "I never intended to hurt him or his pride."
"Love makes men act strangely." Didyme said softly, looking me over. "Go clean up and then go speak to him."
"Do you think it'll work?" I asked.
"You have to try."
I stood outside of Aro's room. The wooden doors seemed threatening, as if they were the entrance to my doom.
I was wearing a beautiful black dress, one most of the female guards seemed to like. The dress was floor lengths with a hint of modern style in the cut. My hair was dry, lying in waves of caramel and chocolate over my shoulders.
With a deep breath, I raised my hand to the door and knocked.
"Enter." I heard Aro say for within, his voice hard and bored.
I opened the door slowly before I glided in.
Aro was standing by the window, his back to me. The sun was rising, eclipsing him from my view. His long black hair flowed into his cape and his pale skin glistened in the light, making him look like a modern Hades. If I ever doubted the power he had, all my doubts were burned away with this image.
I closed the door carefully, taking my time. Using the reserves of my courage, I walked to stand next to Aro, next to my Hades.
"It's a beautiful morning." I said softly.
My eyes focused on the glass, on Aro's reflection. His eyes were bright red, telling me that he had fed recently. His eyes never moved from the city; not even to steal a glance at my reflection.
He reached out and took my hand in his, his eyes still fixed on the city below us.
"Do you love me?" He asked softly.
I looked at him, then back at the city. He still held my hand in his, but he turned to look at me.
"You are so hard to read." He said, touching my face. "You don't understand how frustrating it is for me when I can't see your mind."
"What do you want with me, Aro Volturi?" I asked, not giving him a direct answer. "You have seen that I am defiant. You know you can't control me and that I will never obey you. I'm not like the rest of your guard. I will not worship you like a false god. You are just a power hungry, flawed vampire with nothing good to offer the world."
"Yet you love me." He replied with a smile. "You see some good in me."
"How could I not?" I whispered, my eyes filling with tears.
"Persephone." He whispered, taking my chin in between his fingers and forcing me to look into his eyes. "Stay with me."
"Only if you allow me freedom. If I can come and go as I please, then I'll stay." I bargained.
"Only if you come back to me, my love." He said.
"Always." I whispered in reply.