Dear readers! I apologize for the long wait! i am trying my best to finish this story! thanks for being so patient, dont kill me please! Love you guys! Dont forget to review! :)
The young princess held her thin dress to her closely, the winds were unbearable... much worse than she could have imagined even when Zephyr, the west wind, was angry... the Underworld was in an unrestful state... something was terribly wrong. The winds blew harder as she shivered and fought to her balance as she ventured deeper and deeper into what was surely to be her doom. As she slowly made her way further into the black hell that her people had always described and the elders had warned her against, she still kept pushing on. She would do anything to win back her husband's trust and love again... and if it meant risking her life at the pleasure of the Goddess of love and beauty, she was willing still.
As the princess neared towards the sound of violent waters, a small glow appeared far away... almost seeming to guide and call to her... it warmed her somewhat to see light in such a scary and dark place as the Underworld... was it Lady Persephone's light? She so hoped that it was. Persephone, Goddess of the Spring, was her idol. She recalled the memory of meeting the beautiful Goddess...
"Your highness, I do not think the King would approve of his daughter venturing so close to the valley of the God's... no mortals should be here... this is near to Olympus... m'Lady please!"
"Oh stop being such a child! I am nine and you are an old lady... you should be much braver than I!" the young princess turned away from her servant and kept running through the beautiful meadows leading to Mount Olympus.
Just at that moment, she heard an angelic sigh not too far from her and she stopped in her tracks.
"Highness-"
"Shhh!" she put her finger to her lips in a hushing motion. She glanced around quickly and knelt far into the long grass and wildflowers.
"Oh how I wish my mother would let me go..." she heard... the voice of deity to be sure...
She peered a distance through the grass and saw the most beautiful girl she had ever seen... she looked about seventeen years old in mortal years with golden sun-kissed skin and strawberry curls flowing beautifully in the soft breeze. The girl was braiding wildflowers into a small crown but she looked distressed.
"Highness we should leave!" the old maid crawled next to the princess haphazardly... and very noisily.
The beautiful maiden looked up, "Who's there?" she seemed a little frightened, but more curious than anything.
The girl slowly revealed her hiding place in the grass as she stood and sheepishly locked her hands behind her back but peered towards where the beautiful, angelic voice had come from.
"Highness!" the old maid cried softly.
"Who are you?" the angelic voice questioned, "You look familiar to me."
The young princess looked up and stared into two glowing amber brown orbs that appeared kind but very mischievous and curious. She had appeared right in front of the two of them and stared almost longingly into the girl's eyes.
"I'm the princess of-" she paused and cocked her head curiously... "Who are you?"
The beautiful maiden was taken aback but not disturbed, "Persephone, Goddess of the Spring."
The girl's eyes widened with shock and excitement, "My people have never witnessed deity firsthand! I had always wondered if you were truly real... You are beautiful!"
Persephone smiled softly, "Thank you, young princess. You are beautiful as well, far surpassing any other mortal I have seen, watch out for Aphrodite... you may make her jealous."
She blushed, "Thank you, m'Lady..."
"Persephone!" a sharp voice called from the heavens, it seemed. It almost appeared as though Persephone rolled her beautiful eyes and sighed softly... letting her sadness affect the flowers around her which drooped down... almost dead.
"I must leave, Little Beauty. Goodbye."
As she came out of her memory, the princess was met by thousands of souls waiting in line...
"Oh!" she gasped, remembering what was required of her... to place a golden coin on her tongue for the boatman, Charon to take.
She pulled on the drab-looking cloak she was clutching and covered her face with the hood, disguising her as a mortal soul waiting to cross the Styx . Strong waves lapped at the shore, and although she couldn't see anything because of the darkness, she certainly heard it. It was so strong that it sounded as though Zeus had sent a thunderstorm to her Kingdom. She cringed every time the waves would crash into each other... it was louder than an angered ocean. She stood there for quite some time as the line behind her lengthened considerably and the line in front of her shortened... it was almost her turn, for she heard how close she was to the raging waters and the long boat scraping against the rocky shore...
There was a lantern on top of what looked like a gondola-shaped vessel which Charon rowed across the Styx. So that's what the glowing light was... she hugged herself tightly as she walked up to the cloaked figure with the staff in one hand and his other open for coins to be dropped. She silently stopped at the mysterious man and let the coin slide from her lips to his hand when she opened her mouth gently. Charon blocked her path.
"Mortal, why do you seek the Underworld? You will never return once you cross the Styx." he said warningly, but his voice sounded like sweet honey... odd...
"Please, Ferryman, I beg of you... for my love..." she tried to disguise her voice as best she could...
"Orpheus you've come again? You will not return. Leave now or die." He said coldly, the sweet honey swept out of his voice.
She was shocked... she had heard of the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, she spoke calmly with her natural voice and timbre, "No it is not he... it is I... Princess-"
Charon's body went stiff, "Princess what are you doing here? You cannot ever return to the world and kingdom you know..."
"Without my husband, I would rather spend the eternities in the Underworld. I have come to win back his love. Lady Aphrodite has promised me his love if I bring back the Box of-" she said quietly, ashamed of how she had betrayed her love and had burnt him.
The boatman was still uneasy, "Aphrodite has been after that box since she first heard of it. It now lies in the hands of my Queen... and I can assure you that you will not receive it. If a Goddess cannot... then surely a mortal cannot either."
She pulled off her hood and smiled slightly, "But for love I will try, and I will never know what could have been unless I try."
Charon shook his hooded head sadly but motioned for her to get into the boat as he pocketed the gold coin, "M'Lady... I cannot argue... I can only warn. Consider this your last but since I see that you are not giving up I will just wish you good luck."
She nodded and let Charon row her across the violent waters... it was a terribly frightening ride... the waves almost capsized the boat and she held onto the side for dear life... she was soaking wet and shivering tremendously... she needed warmth...
"Thank you Charon." she shivered as the boat stopped on the shore... a much easier landing than on the other side... the shore was softer... smaller rocks with sand. Charon helped her out of the boat and just nodded to her for good luck.
As he pushed off once the souls had exited the boat and made his way back to the other side, she turned her attention to the large pillars in front of her that rose up to the heavens it seemed... or more appropriately... a black abyss. Soft lanterns and candles floated in the air past the pillars... the souls gathered there... waiting in line once more to be judged... She took a large gulp and wrapped her arms around herself once more... her cloak had flew off of her on the boat ride so she was once again left to her flimsy dress for protection which was now stuck to her body, soaking wet. Her long ebony hair glistened wet from the candles and curled up around her face once more trying to dry in the bitter and freezing temperatures. As she neared and past the pillars, warmth started to envelope her small form and her eyes rested on underground palace before her... it was beautiful... black marble was everywhere, it was the most beautiful palace she had ever seen... and she could see her reflection in the floor as though it was a mirror...
"Oh no!" she looked at her reflection... she looked awful... "How will Lady Persephone recognize me now?" she almost cried to herself.
She was also creating a large puddle on the floor from her dripping wet hair and clothes. She led a trail of water from the shore line to the marble palace and it was extremely muddy too. Biting her lower lip in nervousness, she followed the rest of the souls... praying to the Gods that she would blend in although she knew it was a lost cause...
"You! Mortal! Who are you? How dare you come here... you've made a mess..." a loud, harsh, cold female voice resounded in the marble halls.
She looked to where the voice had come from and she saw a tall, beautiful yet harsh-looking woman standing with her hands on her hips in utter disgust. The woman was dressed in a rather revealing and almost see-thru white dress which matched her long ivory hair that dropped to her ankles. Her pale white skin that was even more deathly white than a corpse. Her lips appeared purple and dead, she looked cold and cruel.
It couldn't be Persephone... "Who... Who are you?" she shivered... barely above a whisper... she was losing her voice.
"How dare you ask me directly... as if I was on your level?" She sneered.
Echoing footsteps came from behind her as she started in a ragged cough... the cold dampness of her clothes and hair was making her sick, "I am sorry, Milady... I didn't mean to..."
The footsteps were getting closer and she could see a man's reflection behind her, strong and dark... extremely handsome too... but as handsome as her husband... She could almost picture his angelic angel face, sleeping... his golden wings sprawled out behind him lazily...
"Hecate." the man scolded.
Hecate... she remembered her... Goddess of the Crossroads... known as an evil demon-witch Goddess to the mortals. She started coughing some more but tried to hold back as the handsome man walked in front of her... facing Lady Hecate.
"Leave us, please." he whispered.
"Look at this mess, my Lord! Why is a mortal here? Do you not recall when Orpheus came? This can't happen again! Have you softened too much?"
"Silence." he said sternly but not loudly.
"Has that child blocked your mind?" she scoffed... obviously she could tell that the white Goddess did not favor Persephone.
"I said SILENCE!" He raised his voice... shaking the whole palace... like an earthquake... This regal man before her was undoubtedly Hades, King of the Underworld. His power and anger almost seemed to steam from him... it glowed and radiated from his very core...
Hecate obeyed and disappeared silently and suddenly. The Ruler of the Dead turned slowly towards her... not looking her in the eye, he was much kinder towards mortals, she could tell, yet he kept his place of higher status by not staring straight at her. She understood and was appreciative that he didn't because he was so intimidating... so powerful and masculine... it reminded her of Eros...
"Mortal, pray, what is your name?" he said sternly but softly.
She bowed to the floor not without a few coughs, "Psyche."
He hated this…Hades hated the awkwardness that now hung between him and Persephone.
He hadn't tried talking to her about the incident that had occurred days ago in the garden. She had tried to speak with him though but every time one of her handmaidens came for an audience with him he sent her away with a denied request.
Hades sat in his library gazing down at the project in front of him. It was almost complete…Cronus' skull would soon be completely restored and Hades again sensed his destiny would be crashing down on him soon.
He heard a knock at the library door. He quickly hid the skull, "Enter."
Charon entered the room and bowed his head slightly before looking at Hades. "My lord, there is a woman here. Psyche, my lord, and she requests an audience with Persephone. I didn't think she should go see her without you being present."
Hades gave Charon a questioning look before nodding his head. He stood and followed Charon towards the throne room.
When they entered Hades noticed a dark haired petit woman standing in the center of the room, shaking in fear from Hecate's overbearing presence.
"Go fetch Persephone," Hades whispered to Charon.
Once Charon exited, Hades angrily ordered Hecate out of the Courtroom. He couldn't help but notice how upset he had been for the past few days. Persephone filtered and permeated his mind with amazing fantasies of their happy marriage that he too often dreamed about, yet this angered him to the point of not wanting to see her or anyone else... he tried to fill his mind with judging the souls to block out any thoughts of Persephone. Hades slowly approached the woman. "What business do you have here in the Underworld, mortal?" What Hades really meant was 'what business did she have with Persephone' but he decided against it.
"Mortal, pray, what is your name?" he said sternly but softly.
She bowed to the floor not without a few coughs, "Psyche."
"My lord," she spoke. "I come here seeking Lady Persephone for I wish to receive a box from her. The Box of Beauty."
Hades raised a lean eyebrow at the off statement. "What need do you have of this box?"
"I wish to regain the trust and love of my husband. If I bring the Box of Beauty to Lady Aphrodite she will help me," the mortal admitted.
Hades nodded before turning his head slightly to see Charon walk in with Persephone behind him. Hades' lungs emptied of air when he saw his beautiful love. She wore a peach colored flowing gown that came down to her ankles. The dress sleeves were a little too large for her small shoulders and looked as if they were going to fell off at any moment. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck letting loose curls wrap around her face. What Hades noticed the most, though, was the skull necklace of his that still was wrapped around her neck the settled lightly on her chest. She looked absolutely stunning to Hades but something was different. Her eyes. They were sad and not full of the fire they so often held.
Hades held his hand out to her, bidding her to come stand by him. Once she was by his side, he turned to Psyche.
"Speak, mortal."
Psyche rose from her knees and gave her full attention to Persephone.
"My lady Persephone, I've come here to ask you for your Box of Beauty," Psyche finished.
"Why would you need such a thing? Your beauty doesn't need aid from such an item." Persephone questioned.
"Lady Aphrodite has said that if I bring her the box, I will be able to regain the trust and the love of the husband I miss so dearly…" Psyche paused. "Please, my lady, I love him so much. I'll do anything to get him back." Tears filled her eyes. "I'll walk through the very walls of Tartarus if it will get the box I need."
Hades' heart stung at the woman's words. Gods how he wished Persephone loved him as much as this woman loved her husband. He looked to see Persephone's own eyes glazed over with tears.
Persephone answered the woman, "I shall give you the box, my dear Psyche, for I know what it's like to love someone so much…"
Hades didn't miss the slight glance she stole in his direction.
"Come with me. I'll take you to my quarters." Persephone said as she and Psyche walked out of the room leaving Hades behind.
He thought for a moment about what Persephone had said. How he only wished he believed those words…
Psyche followed Lady Persephone as she led her through the dark walls of the Underworld. She prayed she'd be able to get the box soon and back to Lady Aphrodite before it was too late. If she lost Eros… she winced as if in physical pain, she didn't even want to imagine her life without him.
They entered a large bedchamber that Psyche guessed was Lady Persephone's.
The Goddess went to one of the black wooden dressers and pulled out a bronze case.
She turned to Psyche with it in her hands and said, "Treat this box kindly, Psyche, no matter what happens when you leave this place do not open this. Abusing its power will only make matters for you worse."
Psyche held out her hands as Lady Persephone placed the Box of Beauty in her's. "Thank you, my lady. Thank you so much."
A smile touched Lady Persephone's lips, but not her eyes. "Be careful, my dear."
"Um…my lady," Psyche spoke before she knew it, "Um…I…I can see that Lord Hades loves you dearly."
She saw Lady Persephone's back go stiff at the comment. "Yes…yes I know he does…" was all she said.
Psyche spoke again, "Does he know that you love him as well?"
Lady Persephone breathed a stuttering breath, "What place of that is yours to try to give me advice? Remember your place mortal" she said coldly. Psyche watched the wall that the young Goddess put up slowly crumbling down, Persephone looked sheepishly at Psyche, eyes lowered, "Besides, I've told him of my love but he does not believe me." A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
Psyche stepped closer to her, "My lady…then why don't you prove to him that you do love him?" Her eyes went to the skull necklace as Persephone touched it with her fingertips.
"I… I- I don't know how… he won't let me show him…" Persephone realized she was sharing too much and was getting too emotional, she straightened up and wiped her tears,
"Thank you, Psyche," *^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Hades was brought from his thoughts when Persephone and the mortal walked back into the room.
He watched as the two woman hugged before Persephone's handmaiden led the mortal out.
Hades walked over to Persephone and asked, "Did you give her what she asked for?"
Persephone looked up at him and smiled, "Yes."
Hades smiled softly before turning to face her and taking her hand, "Persephone…there is something I must tell you…"
She raised a slender eyebrow but nodded for him to continue.
He took a deep breath before replying, "I have arranged for us to be wedded tomorrow at noon …after which you will be crowned Persephone…Queen of the Underworld."
Persephone was silent for what seemed like days but was really only a few seconds, too stunned to say anything more than, "As you wish." She gave a slight curtsy before exiting, leaving a stunned Hades behind.
The moment she was out of the throne room, her thoughts turned to Psyche's advice… she would prove her love to Hades. She'd show him just how much he meant to her…And she knew exactly how to do it…
Persephone quietly opened a vine covered gate, as she entered her garden…
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