Chapter Ten

Hades was exhausted. Despite now knowing her daughters whereabouts Demeter had still not returned to her duties. In fact she seemed to be neglecting them all together, Zeus had promised he'd talk Demeter around but so far nothing had come from it. In the meantime Hades was spending more and more time sorting through the dead, making sure no one attempted an escape and generally keeping order in the Underworld. Some ghosts were extremely feisty; they refused to believe they were dead making it all the more worse for everyone. He barely saw Persephone, although in a way he found this a blessing. He'd not told her of what was going on; she just assumed he was giving her space to think things over. It didn't occur to her that he had too much work to do. Although that had been far from his intentions it was working, she was gradually warming up to him, they'd not shared anything more than kisses but she willingly climbed into bed with him at night and curled up beside him. That had to be a start.

However she still refused to eat, a thought that secretly made him feel ill. If Demeter got her way and Persephone was returned to her, Hades knew he'd lose her forever. Demeter could demand their marriage be annulled, but if Persephone ate the pomegranate seeds she'd be bound to the Underworld. And that would be irreversible.

"Hades?" Persephone stood by the entrance of his throne room snapping him from his thoughts. Hurriedly he rolled the scroll he'd been using to make sure that no one who shouldn't be in the Underworld was living. "Are you alright, you seem a bit...distant." He smiled faintly as he noticed her biting her lower lip nervously, her hands clasped lightly in front of her. He was winning her over, it was a slow victory but it was happening.

"I'm fine," he said gesturing for her to come forward. He took her hand and lightly brushed his lips along it. "Just work," he shrugged knowing she'd not ask anymore. "I don't suppose I can tempt you to dine with me?"

"No," Persephone shook her head, "I'll sit with you but I won't eat."

"You realise I could force you to eat?"

"Yes. But that would be breaking your word; you promised you wouldn't force me to do anything." Hades grinned in spite of himself, they both knew he'd not break his word – no matter how tempted he got. Rising to his feet he drew Persephone closer and tilted her chin up.

"If I kissed you now would you protest?" He whispered with his lips barely a centimetre away from her own. His heart actually skipped a beat as she blushed and shook her head timidly. She was still shy; timid to make the first move yet at times he knew she craved his touch. He brushed his lips against hers, softly at first and softly began to grow more tender and passionate with each passing moment. He slowly rested one hand on her hip and the other on the small of her back drawing her closer to him. Before he could begin to crave more than the kiss he pulled back and smiled faintly at her. "See, I'm not that bad." Persephone rolled her eyes and turned to walk off.

"It's strange," she said her voice sounding as if she was deep in thought.

"What's strange?" Hades asked as she sunk into silence for five minutes.

"Before you took me all I wanted was to be free of my mother, well not free but...have some space."

"Which you have now," Hades reminded her hoping that she was finally thinking more positively.

"I know but...I still don't have my freedom. I'm still bound to one place; it's just a different place. And I miss her...I never thought I'd miss her like this." Hades felt his heart twist painfully; he was doing to her exactly what her mother did.

"Persephone I..." He shook his head, "go read. Let me eat my dinner in peace, I'll come find you after to talk." He kissed her cheek gently, squeezed her shoulder and departed. He found that his appetite had disappeared by the time he reached the dining room; he merely pushed his food around with his fork rearranging it into patterns as he thought about what he would say to her. He was beginning to think part of the truth was a good idea, but how much? He forced himself to eat a little food, needing something to settle the twisting knots in his stomach.

He had to get her to eat somehow; if he could slip just a few pomegranate seeds between those luscious lips then she'd be bound to him. He wouldn't have to worry about losing her, he could own up to where she was without fear. Surely Zeus would be glad – and who cared what Demeter thought? Zeus was the God of Gods – what he said was law. If he agreed that this marriage was a good thing then Demeter would have no choice but to release her daughter. But then if he disagreed the marriage would be declared void, Hades would be separated from her – he'd most likely never see her again! He'd be banished to the Underworld for a few millenniums, and when he was finally released she'd be kept from his sight. No. He would never risk that. So what if a few more humans were brought to his domain, the more souls here meant more power for him. He would learn to cope with the workload, and once Persephone had accepted her place as Queen she could help ease the burden.

"What would make you happy?" Hades asked as he sat in his throne massaging his forehead wearily, at his feet knelt Persephone poring over a scroll. The image to an outsider would look more like a servant/master scene – not a husband and wife, it tore at his heart.

"Freedom."

"You are free –"

"No I'm not! I have you keeping me locked away down here or my mother keeping me hidden in forests –"

"Then let me rephrase my question." Hades snapped more harshly than he had intended. "What would make you happy here?" Persephone shot him a glare, he could read the look plainly in her eyes. Nothing. He stared back determined not to back down, he was rewarded as she glanced back down at the scroll.

"Warmth. Life." She said quietly. "It's too cold and dark down here, I miss the sun! I miss flowers, trees…" Tears trickled down her cheeks and she pushed herself up from the floor turning her back to him so he wouldn't see the tears.

"I can give you that." Hades said quietly. "And you could have the power to maintain it – Persephone…you could have the power to transform the Underworld, within reason." This wasn't a holiday for mortals after all, it was the afterlife. They weren't here to enjoy the scenery – only those who had performed great deeds were given that luxury.

"And all I have to do in return is accept my fate as your wife?" She said in a bitter voice.

"I thought you were trying to settle in?" Hades pointed out standing up and reaching out to take her hand.

"I'm trying! But this isn't my home!"

"Then let me make it your home!" Hades turned her around and dropped to his knees. "Persephone I am your husband – your king, your loyal servant! Please, let me make my kingdom your home. Rule by my side." He searched her eyes imploringly; several times she opened and closed her mouth. Finally all she could do was nod in a defeated way. Hades bit back a sigh; it was a start at least.