To Fluffykitten: haha~~ I liked the name Sasha, it's cute... (so you won't blame me for using it without asking first?)

to others, enjoy~~

Persephone visited her in her dreams every now and then. Autumn was actually looking forward to them. It felt like she had met her long lost sister or something. And that was what Persephone had said too.

'Somehow, you make me feel like I'm talking to my sister, who I think didn't actually exist, as mother had only been pregnant with me. But really, I feel so close to you. This closeness was what actually brought me to you when you are about to jump from that bridge. Very interesting...'

And frankly, Autumn felt the same way with Persephone too. As if there was something that linked them together that cannot be seen. She had liked the goddess since she met her (after her initial shock and anger when she was stopped from doing what she had wanted to do). And when they talked it was like talking to your twin or something; you kind of understand what she was going to say and vise versa. This was the first time Autumn had ever felt like it and she was certain that it will be the last.

Anyway, it was just another dream where Persephone visited Autumn when she finally asked about the 'mission' that Zeus gave her. 'So, the traitors? Have you any information on them?'

'Uh...' Autumn scratched her head and poke her tongue out with a slight embarrassed smile. 'I think that they probably are those spirits in Tartarus. I can't be certain because I didn't go there to check.'

'Why?'

'It's dangerous. Hades warned me to not go there and I will listen to him with this. He knows more than me.' Autumn shrugged and said. 'Besides, Tartarus is guarded heavily that even I may not enter.'

Persephone huffed. Autumn frowned at her frustration.

'Why do you want to know?' Why are you so frustrated?

'It appears that Zeus had been quite frustrated that I haven't told him anything. And a little birdie said that if he didn't receive any news soon he will personally come to the Underworld to have a little visit.' Persephone frowned and stared at Autumn accusingly.

'Oh.' Autumn laughed sheepishly. 'I just... didn't want to tell them anything. I mean, screw them. If they want to know something then they should just come down themselves to see what is wrong. Instead, they sent you, who sent me, to come and then they expect me to obediently report to them? Screw them.'

Persephone whistled in awe. 'Good. I know I like you very much.' She grinned with Autumn for a while. Then her expression changed into a serious one. 'But they will still come and check if you are really here or already death. And the real me being in my own perfect garden doesn't help.' She gestured to her surroundings.

'Oh! This reminds me, where are you anyway?' Autumn asked.

'My own garden, where even Mother cannot find me unless I let her. Nobody can come here unless I invite them, and only their soul can come. I quite like here, in fact. No busybodies to tell what to do. Who are they to tell me to just go to the Underworld and be friendly with a god who has... such a reputation?' Persephone looked smug, as her hands twirled around her small goblet of ambrosia.

'You do realize that you are the one who told me to come to the Underworld and be friends with Hades, right?'

'Oh, really?' Persephone perfected a mock surprised expression. Autumn glared at the goddess before they both laughed.

'Anyway, I shall try and stall Zeus with some minor details.' Autumn said and petted Persephone's hand. 'So hopefully he won't come and bother you. But before that I need to tell Hades about this 'spy' thing.'

'Why? You can just hide it from him.' Persephone swirled her drink in her goblet.

'And risk him being angry for sharing some stuff that he didn't want the others to know? No thank you. I've read enough fictions to know that that doesn't always end well.' Autumn answered. 'In fact, they always end with an argument which sometimes gets better and sometimes don't. And frankly I'm sure that if Hades and I fought we will never have the same nice relationship ever again. I don't want that.'

Persephone blinked. Then she smirked. 'Oh hoh... Is my best friend and sister in love?'

Autumn rolled her eyes. 'You knew that a long time ago, sister.'

'That I do.' Persephone smiled. 'Are you going to tell him?'

'When I decided to brave up and tell him, along with the 'spying' thing. Which I hope is soon.' Autumn admitted, sipping some ambrosia from her own goblet. It was surprising that she can actually taste it even though only her soul was here. But it was delicious, so she won't complain.

'Well, I suggest today, when you wake up. I believe that Zeus will have a letter sent your way in three days' time. But if you need time I can help you to occupy his time with something much more... enjoyable than you and Hades.' The goddess raised an eyebrow at Autumn, her face smug.

'And that is...?'

'I can convince Aphrodite to... ah! Talk to Hera about more pleasuring sex position with Zeus...'

'Eww! Don't tell me anything more than that!' Autumn scrunched her face. 'Underage, remember?' She gestured to herself. 'So do not need to think about sex right now...'

Persephone laughed. 'Of course, of course. But be sure to have something sent in Zeus' way in two days. And I suppose you should wake up now. I've set the time to move as slow as possible but sleeping for 14 hours is a bit too much.' She waved Autumn away. 'Now off you go.'

Autumn felt the familiar pull within her but she resisted it for a moment. 'Thanks, Persephy! I love you!'

'Yes, Auty, I love you too. Now go say that to your beloved Hades!' Persephone smiled at Autumn and waved her away again. This time Autumn complied to the pull.

Really, Persephone was just like a real sister to her. They fit each other's personality so well.

Autumn hesitated when she saw Hades. Sure, she knew the importance to tell Hades about Zeus and her feelings but she was not sure how to make it more acceptable. She knew that Hades was a prideful person and he will never forgive Zeus for doubting him and Autumn for accepting the offer.

But technically she didn't even help Zeus with his spying thing. She can't even go and investigate as Tartarus really sounded like Hell in Hell – very terrible. She was still afraid though. If she did it wrong, Hades would think that her feelings for him was fake and it's because of Zeus' mission for her that she came close to him. And that will be Hell for her.

She sighed, loudly. Melia heard and was worried. 'Goddess? Are you alright?'

They were having lunch, and Hades was away doing his thing. The weather was nice so Autumn decided to have her food outside in the garden and Melia followed, the nice girl she was. Autumn just finished her food and was now looking at the greens as she thought about the conversation she had with Persephone that morning (or last night).

'Goddess?'

'Oh, I'm sorry, Melia. You were saying?' Autumn turned back to her friend, blinking to clear her thoughts away so that she could concentrate on her instead of her memories.

'Are you alright, goddess?' Melia repeated, her frown more visible as she got more concerned.

Autumn nodded. 'Yeah... yeah, I think I'm fine.' She tried a smile but failed. She was so worried about what she had to do and what might happen... God, she was only sixteen... a normal teenager doesn't need to deal with these kinds of things. But then again, if she thought closely, this sounded like all those romance problem which teenage girls definitely do. But this was all so annoying...

'Goddess?!' Now Melia was really worried. Autumn had been spacing off once every few minutes!

'Ah! I'm sorry...' Autumn grimaced. 'Just, got kinda worried about something...'

'Can you share it with me, goddess? I can lead an ear for your problems even though I cannot help you solve them. It's better to share.' Melia touched Autumn's hand gently and gave her a warm smile to encourage her.

Autumn was hesitant. To tell Melia about her problem is to tell her that she is not actually Persephone.

'Please goddess, I want to help.' Melia continued. Her desperation to let her goddess be at ease was obvious in her tone.

'... okay. But first answer me this.' Autumn gestured for the girl to sit down next to her. She complied. 'If someone lied to you the whole time but it was for good, I mean, it's a white lie, will you forgive them?'

'Depends, goddess. If it's only good for them and harmful for us, then I can't forgive. But it's for both parties' good, then I maybe will.' Melia paused. 'Goddess, this is about you, isn't it?' She asked softly, looking at Autumn with her eyes betraying nothing to Autumn.

Autumn ran her fingers through her hair. 'Yeah... Actually, I'm not Persephone.' She admitted.

But to her surprise Melia didn't seem shock. In fact, she just smiled. 'Oh, goddess, is this what you are worried of? I've known that since I first met you!' She exclaimed.

'Wha...What? You... you knew?!'

'Of course. Why do you think I call you goddess instead of your supposed name 'Persephone'?' Melia smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. 'No goddess of thousands of years will act like you did, goddess. You look at magic as if you never knew them until now, and I never saw you use your powers, even for trivial things that goddesses usually use magic for. And the only time you use your power is to make a leaf wilt? Not at all the power of Persephone, the goddess of Spring. That's when I am sure that you are not Persephone.'

'Oh sweet Hades you are so clever! How old are you exactly, Melia?' Autumn was so shocked she didn't register what she had said at the beginning of the sentence.

Well, she didn't, but Melia sure did. But she didn't want to talk about that...yet.

'I am twelve when I died, but I have spent quite a long time in this realm. I have gained a lot of knowledge.' Melia said smugly as she watched the awe shining from Autumn's eyes. 'But I don't think that's what you are worried about, is it?' She asked carefully.

Autumn nodded. 'No.' She said quietly.

'Oh. Lord Hades doesn't know?' Melia asked, guessing.

Autumn shook her head as an answer. 'Much worse than that... can I tell you anything and everything and trust that you won't tell another soul without my consent?' She asked, seeking for some acceptance from her tiny friend's eyes.

'Of course. I swear upon the River Styx.' Melia said with seriousness in her eyes and tone. The atmosphere suddenly got heavy as the river was mentioned.

Autumn knew how important and true it was if somebody just swore upon the River Styx so she nodded and tell her the story of how she met Persephone, her mission, how she met Hades, and how she came to liking Hades.

xxfelicialovescatsxx

-can't type much here, mum calling to off the computer... gettin late... but I really loves cats!