Chapter X

Persephone smiled as Gorgyra and Orphne dressed her for this evening. Tonight, her dress was blue with a silver cord and diamond broaches. Gorgyra applied her makeup as Orphne pinned her hair with sapphire pins and tied it with white ribbons. Hecate also let her wear a perfume that smelled of some kind of flower. It seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite figure it out.

"You look beautiful, my lady." said Hecate.

Persephone blushed, but then she frowned. "I wish I could stay here forever, I'm still not sure if I want to be Lord Hades' queen. I feel strange around him sometimes. I feel lightheaded and dizzy. It's not bad, but..."

"Are you in love with him?" Asked Hecate.

"I'm not sure." Persephone admitted. "I've never felt this way before."

"If you wish to stay, you only need to tell Hades. He is your husband-to-be."

"My lady," Hypos called from outside her chambers. "Lord Hades is waiting for you."

Persephone followed Hypos to the throne room where Hades was waiting for her.

Hades smiled, "My dear, I have a special place I want to show you."

Persephone didn't know what place he was talking about. She had seen all parts of the underworld and didn't know there was more. Nevertheless, she was eager to was Hades wanted her to see.

"Where are we going, my lord?

"It's a surprise."

Hades lead her outside the palace to the awaiting chariot. Persephone noticed that Hades seemed worried.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I'm fine, my dear." said Hades, "I just... have a lot on my mind."

"What happened to Tantalus?"

"He is being forced to stand in a pool of water with fruit branches growing within his reach. If he tries to drink, the water will move away, and if he tries to eat, the branches with move away. He will be eternally tormented by hunger and thirst."

A suitable punishment, thought Persephone.

After getting on the chariot, they drove through the Asphodel Fields until they got to the river Lethe. Hades took out a blindfold and wrapped it over Persephone's eyes. She guessed he really was trying to keep a surprise. She felt the chariot move forward and heard the splashing of water as they traveled over the Lethe. After a while, she thought she heard the sounds of birds chirping, then she felt a soothing breeze over her skin. Then Hades removed the blindfold. Persephone gasped. She was standing in a green meadow dotted with trees and covered in flowers. The sky shone a golden hue like the sunset on earth. Many shades where running in the fields and playing in the flowers.

"Welcome to the Elysian Fields, my dear." Said Hades.

Persephone almost forgot how to speak. She had never been told of this place, it was so beautiful. She felt like she was back on earth.

"It's beautiful!"

"It's the place where exceptionally good people and soldiers who died honorably in battle reside. When I took over as ruler of the underworld, I knew pure souls had to be rewarded for their good deeds. So I created a golden place where there is always light and happiness. There is one part I haven't completed yet. See those islands over there?"

Hades pointed to a series of small islands on the river Lethe. They were as golden as the Elysian fields, but they were unoccupied.

"What are they for?" Asked Persephone.

"I don't know," Hades answered, "I've been wondering that for over four hundred years."

Persephone's eyes caught something. It was a batch of purple flowers. Those flowers.

"Those flowers! I've seen them before! On the day you saved me."

Hades nodded, "They're called anemones or windflowers. When one of Aphrodite's lovers was killed by a wild boar, these flowers sprung up his blood. When I sent him to the Elysian Fields, the flowers came with him."

Persephone picked one of the anemones and smelled it's sweet scent. It was the same as the perfume she was wearing.

Hades smiled as he placed the flower in her hair. "Persephone, are you ready to have the honor of becoming my queen?"

Persephone blushed. She wasn't sure what to say. Down here, he allowed her to go as she pleased, and she loved her life with him. Yet, she longed to go back to earth. To see Hermes and Apollo. And to sing with her friends, the sirens. But that was nothing compared to being apart from Hades. The one who rescued her countless times. The one who gave her freedom and stood at her side.

Persephone smiled. "Yes, I would."

Hades smiled as he held her close, then he leaned forward. Persephone's heart jumped as her eyes fluttered shut...

"Persephone!"

The two jumped apart as Hermes came to a stop next to them.

Behind him were Himerope and Raidne, but Persephone was shocked. What were once normal nymphs were two bird-like beings. They had wings out from their backs, but their arms and legs had turned into eagle talons. The girls and Hermes, in turn, were surprised to see Persephone dressed in such elegant apparel with makeup.

"Persephone!" exclaimed Hermes, "You're alright!"

"Of course I'm alright, Hermes," said Persephone, "But my friends, what happened to you?"

"Your mother cursed us with these forms to we could search for you." Said Raidne.

"You mother said you were kidnapped." Added Himerope.

"No, girls," said Persephone, "He saved me. I've had a good time in his kingdom. We're getting married."

"About that," Hermes spoke up. "I have orders from Father that Persephone returns to Demeter."

"But Zeus has allowed her to stay with me for one more day." said Hades.

"But Demeter's threatening to neglect the earth if she doesn't come back."

Persephone felt the same pain she felt when she was taken to the underworld. Only it was because her mother was taking her from the man she loved.

"She can't let the earth die." said Hades, "It's her duty."

"But the earth's on the verge of destruction, and she's not afraid to finish it."

Persephone was trapped. She didn't want to leave Hades, but she couldn't let her mother stop maintaining the earth. She ran off as Hades and Hermes argued. She had to find a way to talk her mother out of her rage.

"My lady..."

Persephone turned to see a cloaked figure standing next to an almond tree in full bloom. His hood covered his face and was using a walking stick. Persephone never seen this man before, and he wasn't a shade.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"How selfish of your mother to throw a tantrum all because she thinks Lord Hades kidnapped you." said the hooded man, "You look like you could use some fruit to cheer up."

The figure offered pulled out a pomegranate from inside the cloak and split it in half, showing the many seeds inside.

"Here," He handed her a half of the pomegranate. "Have a few seeds."

Persephone took the fruit from the man and dug out six seeds. She started to put them in her mouth.

She heard a familiar voice as she swallowed the seeds. "Persephone! NO!"

Hades slapped the pomegranate away and turned on the man.

"I said to never give my bride the food of the underworld!" he roared, "How dare you disobey me!"

The hooded man laughed. "Now she can never leave this world. Without this foolish girl, Demeter has weaken the power of the gods."

Hades, Persephone, Hermes, Himerope, and Raidne were surrounded by shades. Thanatos was chained at the man's side as he removed his hood.

Sisyphus smirked. "The way is clear for the Titans!"