Sorry I've been AWOL guys. Been meaning to post this chapter for while but the last section wasn't finished. Doing Nanowrimo for another story and college, so I won't be able to update as frequently. However I'm not giving up on this story and I want to thank all of you who are still reading and favorite/followed this story. Also: I read all my comments and they make me so very happy. Thank you.

Present

"You are so ugly." Hecate groaned when she awoke to find Hermes' face less than an inch away from hers.

"Good morning beautiful." He sang, and she was even more annoyed by how delightful his voice sounded. She swatted at him until he moved away.

There was no way of knowing if it was actually morning. The room had no windows through which to see out of. It didn't even have a door. The stone walls were smooth on every face, save four or five hung torches. And in the middle of it all laid Hecate, in a humungous, silk draped four-poster bed.

Hermes curled himself around one of the posts, never taking his gaze from her as she assessed her surroundings. "I'm glad you're awake." He admitted. "It's dead boring in here without you."

Hecate sat up. She couldn't remember how she'd gotten there, or where she was before. All she knew was that she wasn't going to be trapped in a room with fucking Hermes any longer. She hopped onto all fours and began crawling toward him.

He unfurled himself from the post and backed away. "Whatever are you doing?" He asked frankly, but she didn't miss the note of fear in his voice. Good, she thought, let him be scared.

Hecate slunk down onto the floor and followed after him, pressing close until he was between her and the wall. Looking up at him through her lashes, she asked, "Where are we?"

"I can't say." He grumbled reluctantly. Hecate brought a hand up to his face and they both watched it spark up, bits of blue electricity jumping from her fingertips to her palm. Hermes gulped.

"Where are we?" She asked again.

"You're trying to get me in trouble. Sorry, no can do, love. Maybe if you'd done this earlier, you wouldn't be here." He quipped, and Hecate felt of rush of air before she realized he was gone. She spun to find him on the other side of the room.

"I could never take Hades in an all out battle." She replied, and her response shocked her. Oh yes, that's what had happened. Oh my gods. He found Perse—or whoever she is now. And the thoughts spiraled out from there, bouncing from Persephone's face to the indescribable pain of Hades' power. She looked up at Hermes and knew that he was thinking about the same thing. Her body heat spiked, and bolts of electricity began jumping off her skin.

"You slimy, three-faced, son of a blind crow, bastard! You sold me out!" She screamed. A stray bolt hit the bed and Hermes watched as the entire piece erupted into flames.

He sucked in a breath and the taste of smoke caught in his throat. "It was either this or have you cut into a hundred pieces and cast into the Aegean Sea. You should feel lucky this is all he's doing. You won't even be here that long, Cate." Hermes said.

"Don't you call me Cate, you fucking cheater." Hecate spat, marching closer, preparing to take off his head. It might not kill him but it would hurt like hell, and that's all she wanted.

"Gods, WE WERE ON A BREAK! Hypnos!" He shouted, and sped away before she could wrap her fingers around his neck. What at first seemed to be only the shadow of a man materialized into solidity before her. Hecate immediately felt herself become tired.

"I'll get you for this." She whispered, before falling into Hypnos' arms. She chuckled to herself. She sounded like the witches who'd been based off of her. And your little dog too, her mind added before succumbing to the power of Hypnos'.

Present

Hades' had Charlie drop the other two children at a human hospital. He didn't worry himself over whether they would tell what they saw—as it were, humans were adverse to believing anything they didn't see with their own eyes, and even some things they did.

Hades shifted in his chair and glanced over to the bed. His wife. They'd never made it official—never had the chance to—but that's what she was to him. Hecate was sufficiently taken care of for the moment, but her words still rung through his mind. A shadow of a woman you think you loved, but who never loved you.

Hades wasn't delusional. He was a selfish man who'd done a selfish thing. It didn't change anything that he loved her. He'd seen her in a field of anemone, a bright red dahlia tucked into the folds of her hair and a smile so heartrendingly beautiful that he felt the touch of death for the first time. He'd set upon her, like something out of a nightmare, because that was his way. And he'd seen that smile fade, seen it transform into fright, boil into anger—until her emotions disappeared entirely. But like any stupid man, he'd thought that with enough time she might reevaluate him, forgive his less than delicate introduction and take him into her heart. What a fool he was.

He'd sought to do differently this time—the Moirai were giving him one last chance, and he wouldn't squander it with hastiness. But while his patience was long, time was not. He wouldn't be able to hold Hecate forever. It was only a matter of time before she escaped or her minions came looking for her. He could handle the latter, but if the other gods took up her scent and started tracking—he'd be up to his ass in shit.

Bonnie needed to remember—everything. Hades twisted the thick, black ring on his left thumb until it glowed like molten magma, then stood and approached her sleeping form. Without preamble he placed his hand gently on her forehead and let it rest there.

Hades hadn't travelled into someone's head for a very long time. It is an odd feeling—akin to throwing off one's skin and pulling on someone else's.

138 B.C.

Persephone clung to her mother like jelly. She refused to leave Demeter's side throughout pre-dinner conversation and even after everyone was seated.

Hestia remained standing next to the great slab of marble, her hands held aloft. "Dinner is served." Everyone's goblets filled to the brim with their desired drink. Platters of peeled grapes, figs, and dried apple strips appeared next to over-sized roast birds and dripping lamb shanks. Tin bowls of goat's milk lingered next to honey-drizzled bread and pots of seasoned olive oil. Everyone plucked what they wanted from the succulent display and began eating. They engaged in polite conversation with one another and laughed at twice-told jokes—as though they weren't there to decide Persephone's fate.

"Mama." Persephone spoke under her breath, even though her dining partner Ares was sufficiently occupied watching Aphrodite suck the flavor from a sausage. Demeter inclined her head. "I swore. You know this?"

Demeter's face turned grave, but she nodded. "Worry not. You have promised, sweet one. I have not." Her hard gaze was directed at the opposite end of the table, where Hades sat next to Poseidon. Persephone glanced over to find him watching them. There intense stare-off was broken by the sound of metal ringing on metal. Hestia was standing once again.

She held her goblet aloft and looked pointedly between Hades and Persephone.

"Family—we are gathered here to express our support or opposition to the matrimony between Hades and our dear Persephone."

A quick glance around showed everyone's favored stance. Aphrodite would go with Hades, because she believed love could triumph anything. Hephaestus, as her husband, would vote with Aphrodite. Artemis and Athena believed in a woman's right to choose, so they would vote with Demeter. Dionysus with Demeter as well. Hera with Hades, because she had no warm feelings for Demeter or the daughter she'd had with Zeus. Thantos and Hypnos would go with Hades. Poseidon with Hades. Zeus—undecided. Ares with Hades. Hecate, with Demeter, obviously; along with Eos and Nemesis. Apollo with Hades—if only to drive his twin up the wall. Hermes—with Hades. Hestia—with Demeter.

Persephone did the math in her head. Even if Zeus voted with Demeter, that left them with eight and Hades with nine. She let out a breath—that actually made things easier. She would have ended up with him either way.

"We'll hear from Hades, Persephone, Demeter, and anyone who wishes to testify to the character of my brother or voice their concerns about this union. But first—let us toast. To being together. To love. To family." Hestia said, her voice ringing through the silent air and off the marble walls. Everyone lifted their glasses and drank.

Aphrodite went down instantly. Others started to follow, slamming one by one into their plates. Persephone felt sickness well up in her stomach and black began to coat the edges of her vision.

Her mother placed a gentle hand on her back. "Go into it now. I've got you. You'll be alright, my child."

Persephone looked over to Hades' end of the table to find that he was one of the last still sitting up. His body rocked and heaved, and she knew he was fighting it. After a moment her eyes drifted closed of their own accord, and she heard no more.