The Underworld woke up with an unnaturally dark and shady sky that seemed to show no mercy upon the hopeless souls waiting for their final and inexorable destination. The hills were barren and the strange sky was clotted with fog. A sharp wind whistled down the small stones of the paths of the Underworld, blown and tossed by a furious God.

Motionless, Hades' look appeared more serious than it always was. He was a tall black shadow with his arms folded behind his back, thinking with a confused scowl, leaving a good amount of silence in which his thoughts could echo. With his dark hair neatly arranged but with some curls that had refused to be tamed, Hades was lost in his own realm.

Since Persephone left his palace, he had had a terrible time. Her voice, her breath, her skin, her lips. Persephone was running through his mind again and again, more franticly than ever. The more he thought on it, the more he came to think that Persephone had been responding to his affections. She did allow the kiss, and by all Gods she had responded it, that was for sure. He thought of Persephone's reaction as she stroked his hand, her green eyes glinting along with his own. His heart roamed at a growing rate just with the thought of the time they had shared, how at last, after so many years of waiting, he had finally been able to touch her, to kiss her.

He felt a terrible burden on his chest, as if the time, heavy and cruel, was cracking inside his bones. Persephone was crawling through his system and into his head, harming his senses. He felt he was dying of thirst, like if he had gotten enough wine to soothe his craving for a few minutes, just to have the need returned strongest than ever because of the taste. How delightful she was, how pure, how real… He blinked with that memory, it assaulted him with such a ferocity that his lost gaze awoke suddenly.

You will have her. Zeus' voice pounded in his ears, his brain resonating. And as if his brother's words were a revelation, Hades finally knew what he had to do.


Darkness. Cold. Fear. Emptiness. But suddenly, all disappeared with the presence of a blurred figure. It was clearly a man' silhouette, tall and slim with an elegant walk. He approached slowly, as if he was a feline inspecting the stage, analysing the best way to proceed, thinking of the best way to attack his prey. Persephone's green eyes focused on him, nervous and paralyzed wherever she was standing.

Like a mirage, the dim image opened its way to discover its true appearance. It was him. The memory of their first kiss came rushing back and emotion rolled over her in waves. She embraced him while he held her back to look at her with true joy on his face. She was entire herself, free between his arms. She never felt this way before. His kiss was tentative, with the desire of more. It was nothing like the first one, and it was because she did want more than a taste. His fingers were flexed on the svelte waist of Persephone, touching her like he was a sculptor creating his art. The Dark God's blue gaze rose from his fingers, sweeping her torso to land on her face once more, a decisive and possessive glint in them. Persephone's heart was dancing like she never danced before, every touch Hades made on her body was a bliss for her skin.

Green crystalline eyes suddenly opened up to abandon that cheery dream. The young Goddess's dreams were becoming more vivid and real, as if his new current obsession had active a button in her mind. From the nightmare that tormented her to the confessions of the God of the Underworld, a single thought drifted through her brain; him.

The land had missed its flower Goddess. When Persephone returned home, the fields wore their best flower suits, the rivers were running strong and brave again, and the sun was shining with a splendorous light. Although Persephone also shone in unison with that homely landscape, something had changed in her; like if some pieces of herself had been lost along the way. I feel that our destinies are bounded. Hades deep voice roared across the two hemispheres of her brain, activating all senses without letting her rest for a moment, thoughts like waves of the sea that cannot be stopped. She had missed the sunlight and gentle wind of her home, her flowers; but after what had happened, her mind was constantly moving around him. I cannot be me without you. What did those words mean? And the kiss... her first kiss. Never had anyone kissed her, not in that way, and she had never been so attracted to anyone before.

"Wake up, my child! It is time to go. The nymphs are waiting for you downstairs!" Demeter called out. Persephone almost jumped, torn from her thoughts, but she was quick to recover. "Yes, mother."

As always, her four companions were waiting for her outside the door, with long smiles and jumps of joy, eager to go and gather flowers, again, to make crowns for the other deities. Do they never get bored? Persephone returned the grin as she grabbed her basket to spend another day with them.

The wheat fields looked as strong as ever. The nymphs ran cheerfully among the tall grass, one nymph hiding while the other tried to catch her, gripping and falling on the ground, melting the perfect golden landscape. Persephone looked and smiled at them, but the shape of her lips found a melancholy, sad smile. Few weeks ago, she would have followed the game, and actually enjoyed a good time; but now she detested that situation. She felt sorry for them, ignoring everything beyond, according to the minutes of joy at their disposal, but without longing for things beyond their possibilities.

Persephone sat down on the sand path concentrating on her bouquet as the other young nymphs were enjoying themselves. With her naked knees touching the ground, the Goddess' long white dress swept through merging with the path. Genuinely collecting and guarding her flowers, a noise beyond the trees got her eyes distracted.

Lifting swiftly her head, Persephone tried to focus on the tall trees to know the origin of that noise, failing in the attempt. She refocused on her task again, only to hear a noise again. Moved more for curiosity rather than interest, the Goddess rose lazily to see what was going on there. She wondered that maybe some curious animal was trying to gain her attention but, entering the woods, Persephone found nothing, only some butterflies resting on the trees. Ensuring that she was wasting her time, she sighted for herself and switched her direction to return with her companions, but when she turned, something finally caught her attention. In the background of that perfect photograph a fiery stream of light rose amongst the trees, red and orange heightening above the hills. Walking among the trees cautiously, she finally discovered the one thing that lurked behind the trees.

"Persephone." That voice. Hades was dressed in a black tunic perfectly cut to mould his slim and yet strong build. He was still, staring at her, with a certain look that she had never seen before in him. He seemed like an appearance, white and revealing, as if he were the protagonist of a lonely picture. Hades found Persephone's gaze and held it, almost as if he were holding her hand.

"What are you doing here, my lord?" A smile from ear to ear revealed her attempt to hide the joy of seeing him. Slowly, she approached him putting on her dress and flower crown, Persephone's cheeks brightened as she approached the dark God.

"I am here for you." He sentenced without hesitation.

She stared at him with eyes widened in contemplation, unsure if her ears had heard correctly. "Excuse me?" The young Goddess automatically stopped, stroking her hair with a confused smile.

"I am here for you. I want you to come with me. I want you to be my queen." Not having an answer, Hades reached out his arm and extended his hand, inviting Persephone to hold it.

"My Lord, I-I…" she stuttered, her gut twisting as her heart skipped a beat. The Goddess of Spring trembled, teeth chattering. Her heart pounded. She hesitantly moved her arm, a part of her was screaming to take his hand and run away with him, but the other part, her more sensible part, trembled with fear, hindering her movement as if it was a power struggle.

Hades took a step forward to approach closer to the Goddess, helping her to make his decision. When the fingertips of their hands could almost be touched, thus closing a covenant for life, Persephone reached back and turned her hand away. With that move, Hades took the lead and grabbed rapidly her arm.

No sooner he captured her arm, he lifted her into his arms, so that her legs fell side of his torso as he looked down at her, carrying her toward a black chariot that she didn't even notice it was there. Her smile faded immediately as her green eyes helplessly assessed her situation. "My Lord, please, Hades..." She cried; clamant eyes lit up with horror. Desperate, seeing that the King of the Underworld did not back down hearing her pleas, the Goddess began to weep hopelessly. A blaring scream went out of the most profound corner of her interior, seeking help although she knew it would never come.

Inevitably, the young Goddess realized that her nightmare was not a simple dream, it was a vision, a premonition. It was a warning. But it was too late now, too late to understand its meaning. They were at the point of no return, the sinking into the deepest darkness. And like the last rays of the sun, they disappeared.