Oh, wow! Look at that number! It's already 14! Well, four or five more to go then it will be all over!

No, no! Just kidding!

I just realized I didn't give much screentime for Demeter and other Upperworld inhabitants. Ugh, need to balance both the Underworld and the Upperworld. This four/five chapters ahead will cover Demeter and her search of Kore. They will feature Demophon, Poseidon—in his horse form, and also the agreement between Hades and Demeter.

If you are wondering why the heck Poseidon is there, you can search. But be warned! It's unpleasant. I think the most miserable goddess in Greek Myth is Demeter and I love her because she is a strong woman. But sometimes I don't really like how she is portrayed, though. Almost hysterical and too stupid for my taste lol. I understand her reason to protect Kore, though, knowing what kind of brothers she has. First is Zeus, then Hades, then Poseidon! Such an unlucky life!

I also understand how painful for her to lose someone important, who in the end miraculously loves the man who had kidnapped her.

Wow, it's Stockholm Syndrome no doubt, maybe the oldest Stockholm Syndrome on history. No wonder Demeter thinks that her daughter has been brainwashed. Eh, does myth count as history?

Alright, back to the chapters. If I don't stop rambling, Demeter-haters will surely curse me.

Some sources say that Hecate herself makes an appearance to Demeter and advise her to see Helios. Unfortunately, I forgot which source that is from. At any rates, I'll be following it. I hope you won't freak out later.

After the agreement and whatnot, I'll skip to three years later, approximately when Persephone is 18 years old, and then we can begin the real show. I'll throw angst moments at you and I'll make you readers angry, cry, and sad! Muahahaha!

I'll stop rambling now, so enjoy the story.

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"I will do anything to understand you. Anything."

~-0o-o0-~

Chapter 14

~ A Ruthless King ~

H/P/H/P

Hades might be more than two hundred years old, but he still had the difficulties in understanding human emotions. Love was the most difficult subject for him to digest. Much to his annoyance, love was something that he needed to win Kore's heart.

What was love? Why was it so… important? Why would anyone need love to live? Titanomachy didn't teach him about love. War had never taught him about love. There was no love in a war, only pool of blood, cries of agony, and corpses.

Why would he need love? What was it for?

He often had overheard some goddess crying about her lover to other fellow goddess, saying that he was cheating on her. The funny thing was, she still loved him.

That didn't make sense at all.

If he cheated on her, why would she kept loving him and hoping that he'd be return to her bed? Why wasting her immortal life clinging to stupid hope that was unlikely to happen? Why wouldn't she take a new lover instead as a payback?

Hades didn't understand it.

At all.

Sometimes he was stared at when he uttered something that he thought was the most logical action one should take, such as suggesting a divorce to Hera. That woman vented her anger and hate about Zeus' constant betrayal by cursing and shouting at Hades. He didn't mind to be a… venting wall, as he called it.

As soon as Hera stopped and sighed tiredly, he spoke.

…and every pairs of eyes in Olympus' garden stared at him in shock and horror.

Zeus couldn't keep himself quiet when he saw a beautiful woman, so a divorce was the most logical solution ever crossed his mind. Was his suggestion… shocking? Immoral?

Then the rumor that Hades was a sick, heartless god began to spread across Olympus.

A month later, the same accident happened. This time, it was during one of Zeus' annoying party. It wasn't Hera, but Poseidon. Drunk and smelly, he approached the eldest brother and had him in headlock.

If Poseidon was sober, Hades wouldn't hesitate to amputate his arms.

The God of the Sea hiccupped and asking a question uncomfortably loud for Hades' ears, "There y' arr, Heideeezz!" he hiccupped again, "whet's goin' on in zat Underweerd of youzz?"

Hades distanced his head away from Poseidon. He reeked of wine. "Everything is fine."

He laughed merrily, "Y're sooo lame, Brezer! Zat isn't gud! Y'need t'look fer a woman to warm yer bed!"

Hades grimaced. Several insolent goddesses had seduced him earlier, and even tried to kiss him on the lips. And now this… this bastard of a brother was prying in his private life?! That was it. Poseidon had broken Hades' already cracked patience barrier.

He'd use whatever means necessary if it meant that everyone would leave him the hell alone!

Suddenly Hades smirked. He'd just got a perfect reason for that.

Arching his brow and pretending to be as casual as ever, Hades spoke loudly for everyone to hear, "That's too bad, Poseidon. I find women displeasing and I'm not interested in any of them."

The party hall then turned dead quiet. The music ceased playing, and everyone stopped what they were doing half-way—Zeus held his cup close to his mouth, but was staring at him in shock; Hermes, who was opening his mouth to sample a delicious chicken drumstick, stopped mid-way and gaping widely at him. Even Aphrodite who was kissing with Ares broke the kiss and stared at him as if he was mad.

…the rumor that Hades was dead from the waist down began to spread throughout Olympus like a virus.

But that was the most logical solution, right? What was wrong saying such thing? And what was wrong with him suggesting Hera a divorce? Were all of these events a part of love? Then what was love? Was love to endure the pain while the other half of you was flirting with another woman?

He didn't get it.

But now he would.

Freeing himself from his past, Hades strode to the fourth floor. He needed someone who understand love to teach him. Kore was out of the question.

Hades didn't want to learn from a greenhorn who barely able to keep her mood swings in check. She was so young, so naïve, so… prone to mood swings. A second earlier she hated him and avoided him at all cost, and the next minute she was clinging to him like a daughter would to her father. That was why he hated children. They were so… hard to understand.

But was her mood swings a part of love, too? Hades frowned, thinking deeply. It seemed unlikely, but it could be. Hades dismissed the thought, however, as he didn't want to jump to conclusion.

After walking for several minutes in the labyrinthine corridors, he arrived at his destination. He was standing in front of a door with floral carvings. Pushing the gold handlebar, Hades entered the antechamber silently. Inside, there were two lions cuddling up on the thick carpet. Sneaking past the sleeping lions, he tiptoed to what it seemed like the main chamber and quietly pushed the door open.

The room was mostly painted in earthly colors. The wall was dark yellow, almost brown, and the furniture was either in dark brown color or dark gold. Hades felt like he was back on the surface.

Hades made no sound as he looked at the paintings on the wall.

Cronus smiling, Cronus eating an apple, Cronus reading a book in an armchair, Cronus was sleeping on a desk with Rhea draping a cloak over his body, Cronus and Rhea together under a tree, Cronus who was imprisoned in Tartarus…

The owner of the room, Rhea, stopped painting and turned towards him.

They both stared at each other as an awkward silence enveloped them.

Standing up, Rhea quickly covered the painting she had been working on with a cloth. Hades swore he saw Cronus' face there on the canvas…

"Wh-what are you doing here, you insolent brat? Didn't you know how to knock?" somehow he found her blushing funny and he chuckled.

"Why, I'm just concerned about my mother. Is it so wrong for me to see you?" Hades arched his eyebrow and smirked, "…and what a nice collections you have here. Do you love him that much?"

Rhea's face grew several shade darker as she stammered, "It-it-it's not what you think it is! It-it's not like I love your father or anything! I-I… I hate him! I-I-I just… have nothing to do… and I just happened to paint him! That's all!"

Hades didn't answer. It was no longer a coincidence when more than fifteen paintings in her room were all about Cronus. Talked about hating him. His mother was indeed a walking hypocrite, but Hades didn't care about that. All he cared about was to learn this thing called love and there was no better teacher than his mother.

Why Rhea, not Aphrodite? Many reasons to that. First, Hades knew Rhea's weaknesses, making it so much easier to blackmail her. Two, she lived in the Underworld, thus was subjected to his rule. He didn't tolerate any attempt of divulging personal details of his kingdom and his personal affairs. Hades felt safer that way. Three, he knew what kind of woman she was, also double the easiness to coerce her into helping him.

He casually took a stool and sat in front of her, while Rhea composed herself and returned to her usual cold personality, "Why are you here? What do you want from me?"

He let out an amused chuckle. This will be fun, he thought. "Well, I am here to learn about love."

Rhea stared at him as if he was insane, but sat down nonetheless. As she cleaned her paint tools, she murmured, "…I believe you have come to the wrong person. I am not the Goddess of Love. It is Aphrodite you should seek."

Hades leaned forwards, "What if I don't want to?"

He swore that her grip on the brush got rougher for a while. Her voice didn't betray her emotions, though, "The door is right over there. Why don't you use it?"

He smirked, "You seem like a good painter. How about I come back every day to watch you paint?"

Rhea glared daggers at him, "You wouldn't dare…"

He feigned hurt, "Oh, Mother. How could you be so cruel to me? I care so much about you. I even spare my time to visit you. Is this how you treat your beloved son?"

The ex-queen of titans flashed a sneer, "I never think of you as my beloved."

Hades stopped being nice, "Just help me won't you, you old hag? Is it so hard for you to teach me all about love?" he cursed inaudibly and then did what a king should never do–picking his nose.

"Mind your manners, Hades!" she slapped his hand and he stopped. "Learn how to ask properly and I may reconsider."

Hades stared at his mother for a long time and murmured, "Teach me about love. Please."

"Why?"

His fingers were intertwined as he stared into space. He spent quite time thinking before his thin lips formed into a small smile, "…you wouldn't understand, but there is… something inside me—burning—whenever I see her smiling. It is… pleasant. It's making me happy. It's like all my efforts are worth it, though I don't even know what efforts I am making."

"I guess that's what you call 'love'?" at this, he chuckled. More to himself, though, "I will do anything to keep it burning."

Rhea was expressionless as she listened. Little did Hades knew, some of his words were the exact copy of what Cronus used to say to her a long, long time ago. Rhea let out a small sigh. She focused her gaze on the brush she held in her hands, "You see. There is something I want…"

He clenched his fists, almost yelling to his mother when he asked, "What is it now, woman?"

"If only you could allow me to talk to him just for a night,I'll be glad to help you."

Hades scowled. He knew who his mother was referring to—Cronus. Like hell he'd do that. Releasing that monster was the same as suicide.

"What if I told this to everyone in my court?" Hades gave his mother a conspiratorial smile. "Remember, I hold the power in my kingdom."

There was no trace of fear in Rhea's eyes as she spoke, "Then I will also tell them about our bargain. Your eagerness to learn about love will definitely crush your reputation."

Hades let out an evil laugh, "Oh, Mother, how can you be so idiot? Between you and me, who will my subjects believe in? My intention is pure. I just want to understand love, and understand her. Anyone stupid enough would understand who is noble than who."

Rhea gritted her teeth and threw her brush to the ground, shouting, "Fine! Fine, you win! I will teach you about love! Happy now?! Get out of my sight! Now!"

Hades couldn't hide his sadistic smile anymore. He stood slowly, delighted to see his own mother winced, and took her soft hand. On top of her palm, he gave her a mocking goodbye kiss, "Then I will see you tomorrow night, Mother. I expect a good lesson."

Oh, Hades loved it. He loved her hateful and helpless expression as he made his way to the door. He just delivered his vengeance and obtained a willing love teacher. Perfect. Killing two birds with one stone.

The two lions, hearing Hades' footsteps, woke up from their slumbers. Both walked to Hades and rubbed their bodies against his legs, demanding attention just like a cat. As he squatted to pet them, he made no effort to hide the triumphant smile plastered on his face.

A step forward to make Persephone his…