Chapter ten
PERSEPHONE'S POVPersephone steeped into the cold Underworld and looked around. It hadn't changed much, except more souls floated around if they weren't good enough to go into Elysium or whatever else was down there. She suddenly had her doubts about coming here. Sure, Apollo was an ass, but perhaps she could forgive him for what he'd done…
No. You hate that man and he hates you. That's just the way it is. Go apologize to Hades and forget about Apollo. He doesn't deserve you. And for once, she actually listened that nagging voice that ceased to shut up.
Oh what a terrible mistake that was.
HADES'S POV
He would never, in a million millennia, have ever guessed that Persephone would come back apologizing-of all things! Hades was, not for the first time, sulking on his iron throne. Even for the god of the Underworld, this was just an all time low. Pathetic even.
Hades was distraught over what he and Demeter had done. Guilt tore at his heart and he felt weak whenever he thought about Persephone. But even in the mist of all those treacherous feeling, he always felt a small thrill of desire and excitement when his thoughts drifted to Demeter and how he remembered all they had done and all they were going to do still. Yes, that's right dear reader. Hades was still going strong with Demeter, despite all the nerve racking, bone gnawing, frame shaking, guilt driven emotions that coursed through him every day. Apollo had been right, reader, that Hades did not love Persephone and how his apology would never be sincere. Of course, these facts had been said out of jealousy and hatred and Apollo had spat them to somehow hurt Persephone for making him feel that way about her. He had no way of knowing just how right he'd been…about everything.
Well, almost everything.
He had no idea that Persephone would actually accept Hades back into her life. Let's watch, shall we?
PERSEPHONE'S POV (A/N: sorry 'bout this continuing of POV changes. This is the last one for this chapter, so read on and do not leave me any reviews about how the POV changed too much. Thank you.)
She walked up to Hades's palace and vaguely recognized the two guards who we standing in front of the door…well, guarding it. She dimly remembered one of their names and that they'd died in the ocean. Yeah, ht it was. Poseidon had been having a crappy day. Harold Something, she thought.
As she got closer to the door, she could hear the two bickering and saw their features. One was tall and blond and lean, with his right arm missing. He would have been handsome had he not been dead, maimed, and bloody. The second one was much shorter then his companion but made up for it in width. He looked like an Oopa-Loopa without the orange skin.
"...Telling you, I 'idn't cheat at Scrabble! What d'ya think I stuck one of them bloody chips en me hand?" the short one was muttering (quite loudly) to his companion.
"Well, then how'd ya win? Ya suck at that game, and ya always lose, ya do. Ya 'ouldn't win a bloody match if yer bloody life depended on it!" The tall one shot back, looking irritated. Persephone forgot that they were rednecks (no offense to rednecks!) but always said the word 'bloody' in very sentence.
Oopa-Loopa looked furious. "You take that back, our else I'll cut off yer bloody head and tell the Lord to feed it to that 'og 'erberus! Then you'll 'ave ta walks 'round 'eadless and stupid!" He glared at the taller one and the other glared back.
Then, suddenly, they both burst out laughing. The taller one bent over, gasping for breath and the shorter one fell to the ground, clutching his sides and laughing so hard that tears ran down his face.
"Tha' was a good un, Harry!" The blond gasped.
"Tell me 'bout it, Rick! You walkin 'round wit no head and then fallin into tha' river, whatcha-call-it."
"Styx." Persephone said frostily, towering over the fools even though she was a head shorter then the Rick, the tall one. The two men stopped laughing and scrambled to their positions. Harry had to have some help getting back to his feet.
"L-lady Persephone!" Rick stammered. "We 'ought ya left."
"Yes, but I came back." Persephone responded coldly. "Is that a problem?"
Rick gulped and shook his head.
"Good. Now, open the damn doors and let me through. Hurry up, hurry up!" She commanded, glaring at the two.
Before they did though, Harry looked bravely up at the goddess and asked, "If ye don' mind, Yer Highness, would ya please tell us why ya left?"
Everything froze. The souls that were drifting by stopped and stared at the scene in front of them, Rick gasped at his partner's foolishness, and everything held its breath in suspense, waiting for the goddess to respond or blast them both into Tartarus.
Persephone stared stonily at Harry, her face blank and emotionless except for a flash of irritation through her eyes that was the only indication that she was angry with the pitiful mortal. "That," she answered harshly. "Is of no concern of yours human. Open the doors and be grateful I am not vaporizing you right now for even thinking of being so rude and prude to me."
Rick stayed silent. Harry was not so wise. "But why?" he persisted. "Why'd ya leave?"
"IDIOT MORTAL!" she screamed, power radiating off of her. She looked beautiful and stunning, with her black hair flying around her as she used her power to call the trees to her, her green eyes flashing, her dress swirling around her. "YOU SHALL BE THROWN INTO TARTARUS FOR SAYING THAT TO ME!"
Rick whimpered. "Ya've done it now, 'arry." Harry had the dignity to look afraid, very afraid.
"I'm sorry, Yer Highness! I 'idn't mean to say anything to disrespect you!"
"THEN YOU SHOULD'VE KEPT YOUR STUPID MOUTH SHUT YOU IMBECILE!" She boomed. Trees poured from every direction and flowers snapped at the two souls' heels. One weeping Willow lumbered forward, its limbs wilting and leaves falling from the gnarled branches. It was an old tree, older then most and had only been kept alive by Persephone who nurtured it like it was her own sick baby. Now, with Persephone gone for a few weeks, it looked like it was on death's doorstep. Persephone could here its wood creaking painfully and its heartbeat getting weak. Her own heart ached for it. She turned to it.
Trinter. She thought sadly. How are you?
Hanging on, my queen. The old tree sent back. If only by a thread.
Persephone had the ability to talk to trees if the bond was old enough. She had been taking care of Trinter for more millennia then she cared to count. It was only her magic that kept him going.
I'm sorry. She whispered the thought, her eyes growing tender for a split-second as her wrath frightened those around them.
Me too. It said. What can I do for you, my lady?
Take these two to Tartarus. They have disrespected me at the highest and I will not stand for it!
Then sit. Trinter teased. As you wish, my lady. The old tree moved forward and its roots grasped Harry and Rick, flinging them into the air and onto its branches.
"Wha' the bloody 'ell?" Harry yelled.
"Damn ya Harry!" Rick hollered. "Damn ya to the fiery pits of Tartarus!"
Persephone found them to be slightly amusing, such a shame she had to make them suffer. "You both are being dammed to the 'fiery pits of Tartarus.'" She smiled frostily. "Maybe next time around you will learn to hold your tongue and learn some respect." She watched as Trinter and his family slowly made their way to Tartarus and she felt worry and concern for the old tree.
Be careful. She thought.
Only if you will. Was the only reply she got.
She heard someone start clapping behind her and she whirled around and froze. There in front of her stood Hades in all his gloomy glory.
He hadn't changed at all, except for a few dark circles under his eyes. Persephone hoped those were caused by her and not a midnight shag with Demeter. He wore a long floor-length cape, black of course, and his muscles were ripped, as usual. She felt disappointed. A few weeks away from him and this was all he could do, a few circles under his eyes? Nothing else?
Hades grinned, if you could call it that. "So, you're back. And managed to get rid of my guards in the first five minutes." He shook his head fondly.
Persephone hid her emotions well. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. "I had to. They were rude."
"Of course, of course." Hades said softly. "So, why are you here?"
Persephone couldn't look at him because if she would, she was sure she would flee again. She breathed in deeply. She'd felt his loss in her life as an empty hole with no way of filling it. Now here was her shovel. It was time to start digging. She took another deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. "I want to come back." She answered quietly, but firmly.
Hades's eyes grew wide with shock then narrowed with suspicion. "Are you just saying that because you have some trick up your sleeve?"
Persephone looked at her dress. "What sleeve? I have none." She moved closer, her eyes clear. "I want to come back, Hades. We both made mistakes but we can fix them, I know we can! If we try, we'll be able to do this! I'll make amends with my mother and we can all go back to how our lives were before." Except…she didn't think her life would ever be the same after what happened with Apollo. There would always be those polite conversation at the meetings as both of them tried to push out the memories that pervaded their minds, those awkward silences were sure to ensue. But, she felt that if she tried, if she really did try, then everything would be okay again.
Persephone glanced up to see Hades staring at her, still skeptical. She sighed. Fine, have it your way. She thought. She slid up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her lips met his and she softly kissed him. It wasn't anywhere near howkissing Apollo had been, oh no not by a long shot. But it still felt good o kiss Hades. It felt…nice. Nice enough for now.
Hades stiffened, but slowly melted into her and kissed her back passionately, all the while thinking of Demeter as he kissed Persephone. But our goddess had no way of knowing the cruel thoughts going through that bastard's head.
For now, she thought he was all hers once again.
R&R This is not the last chapter, obviously and I will try to write more soon!