In Which the Underworld Has Stars

A night sky made of obsidian stone, as dark as any night without the poison of light in the atmosphere. The darkness of the Underworld had some light in it, enough for them to see. Even the mortal souls in the fields could see in the dark underworld caves.

Hades commissioned it by Hecate.

"It will cost you," Hecate said, giving him a glare with a glow in her eyes.

"I do not care," Hades replied, his voice as calm as ever. After living a life as he had for the past few millennia, he found it difficult to be frightened or dismayed by anything. "Name your price," he said.

"I have nothing for you now," Hecate replied, her eyes darting up towards the ceiling. "But I will think of something...when I need it...a favor, perhaps." Underneath the hooded cloak that she wore, Hades could see her eyes sparkling. He didn't know what was happening in her brain, and he didn't want to know. Hecate was a mysterious goddess, even to him.

"I vow to you I will repay you when you will it." He paused. "And now...my request?"

Hecate raised her hands skywards, up towards the black black black ceiling, and closed her eyes. Hades could feel the change in the atmosphere around him, could feel Hecate working her magic, could feel the shift in the Underworld as gemstones were unearthed and brought to light.

Hades looked up towards the ceiling at the diamonds that were now exposed, cracking and shifting through the black obsidian ceiling and ashen stalactites to see them catch the light, constellations formed and mapped out. The entire Underworld was alight with the glow of stars for the first time since creation.

"I do hope Persephone will like it," Hades muttered to himself.

"Oh, trust me, your wife will like it," Hecate replied, lowering her hands and her hood. Hades saw the magic glow in her eyes, and though he did not look away, he felt the need to focus on something else. He held her gaze for a few moments before turning away.

He sought ought Persephone, who was kneeling in the gardens.

She had found the whispering flowers, and they hissed their stories and secrets to her, and she listened with a rapt ear. She heard Hades's footsteps as he slowly approached. She was looking down at the soil, and not up at the ceiling. Flowers and fruits all around the garden bloomed at her presence, and Hades saw that the gardens were more beautiful than they had ever been.

"All beauty pales in comparison to you," Hades told Persephone.

Without taking her eyes off the flowers she was growing, Persephone said, "A poetic tongue. I do love to hear you speak."

Hades stepped forward into the gardens. "Persephone, my wife," he said, extending her hand down to her. She took it, making her way onto her feet instead of kneeling on her knees.

"What is it, husband?" she asked him.

"Look up," he said.

Persephone tilted her head up and then gasped in delight. Thousands of diamonds and gemstones glittering, lighting up the underworld with their light. "Just like the stars," she whispered, awestruck.

Hades watched as she slowly took in everything, her eyes alight with joy and wonder. How beautiful she looked, Hades thought to himself. What had he ever done to be blessed by her?

"Now you will have something to look at when we are in bed," Hades whispered, putting his hand on the small of her back and pulling her in close to him.

"Indeed we will," Persephone sighed. She still gazed at the diamond stars.