What a strange couple of weeks we've all been having. I hope everyone is staying safe during this crucial time. Don't take any unnecessary risks.
As always, I would like to thank you all for supporting this story. Over 1000 reviews after six chapters. I can't begin to tell you how amazed I am. Thank you to everyone.
This chapter is a bit shorter then the last couple I have posted. I'll be honest with you all, right now, work has been crazy with the Corona Virus situation going on. I work in retail like many others, and I have never felt more tired then I have been lately. Unfortunately, that means I haven't been writing as much as I'd like. I wanted to get this chapter out to you all, but to also inform you all Part 8 might take a little longer to post with everything going on right now.
For now, I hope you all enjoy.
Naruto/Percy Jackson Crossover
Dining With Divinity
Part Vll
"I can't take it any more."
Blinking in surprise when he heard the emotionless voice, the God of the Underworld and Ruler of the Dead turned away from the reports in his hands and gazed at the figure stood across from him. The reports were the judgement rulings from the Judgement Pavillion, detailing the new arrivals to the Underworld and where the souls of the departed ended up. Looking at the stack of reports on the table beside his throne, it would take him the better part of the day to get through.
Standing in the doorway with a pair of skeletons stationed on either side, his daughter, Melinoe stood in all her frightening glory. Ruling as the Goddess of Ghosts, his daughter opted to wear an appearance straight out of a mortal's nightmares. With half of her face black and hardened like a corpse, and the other half pale and chalky, she looked like a mortal's night terror come to life. In the handful of occasions that Melinoe showed herself to a mortal in her dual form, they would either pass out from fear or suffer a full breakdown.
Most couldn't look past her frightening form, with many in their Olympian family above ground questioning her sanity. Why would a goddess who could take any form she wanted, take a form of something so hideous? Most were not kind, and though deep beneath the earth, Hades heard the whispers about his daughter. The one that always stoked his anger was the one claiming Zeus was her father, fathering Melinoe with Persephone, resulting in her appearance. Oh, how he would love to get his hands on the person who started that one.
Staring at his daughter, his eyebrow-raising on his pale face, "Explain?" It came out more like a grunt then a question.
Walking across the throne room, Melinoe stopped at the platform leading up to the throne of Hades and curtsied to her father.
"You're sulking."
Again, Hades blinked in surprised.
"Excuse me?"
"I said you're sulking." She repeated, her arms crossing in front of her, and leaned on her right leg, "Normally when Mother returns to Olympus for the Spring and the Summer, you become broody and miserable to be around. I've grown accustomed to your behaviour after all these millennia, but this year you've been worse."
Hades couldn't stop the frown appearing, "Do I need to remind you who you're speaking to, daughter?" He asked. His voice was deep, with the walls humming and shaking after each word.
Others would be too afraid to stand in Hade's presence. The Goddess of Ghosts merely scoffed. His daughter's sass was too much like Persephone's. The mother and daughter combo were two of a handful of people that didn't fall prey to the fear that the eldest son of the Titan King extruded. The only people besides them who fell in that category was his elder sister, Hestia, and naturally, his mother. The former Queen of the Titans never failed to see the good in her oldest son, and would often visit him when she decided to come out of her self-imposed exiles.
"No, father, but I have noticed a change this year. Mother's absence appears to be affecting you worse this time than in all the previous ones." Her dark eyes, which were reminiscent of freshly earthed coal gazed into his own, with the goddess taking two steps forward until she stood on the first step of the platform. "I'm not sure why, but I noticed the two of you were all lovey-dovey with each other during the last weeks of winter. Especially after Valentine's day."
"Hmm." The God of the Underworld slouched, a disgruntled hum resonating from his throat.
"So...out with it. Why are you in the dumps?" She prodded, patiently waiting for an answer.
The God of the Underworld was not one to talk about his feelings to anyone besides Persephone, but his daughter's words weren't untrue. Persephone's absence from the Underworld had been harder to accept these past weeks, and the elder god was having a difficult time not feeling his wife's presence by his side. Time with Persephone was always joyous for Hades. Granted, when they first got together the first century of their marriage had been an adjustment for the Spring Goddess. Gone was the green hills and flowery meadows she'd grown up in. In its place, she had to adjust to her new surroundings of Death and Darkness. Everything was foreign and unknown to her. If truth be told, Hades wasn't sure if Persephone could adjust to the lifestyle that came with being a resident of the Underworld.
So, instead of waiting for her to adjust, he made it easier and adjusted parts of the Underworld to help the process along. Her Garden was the first step and proved to be the best positive step he could've taken. He'd seen her eyes light up and visibly noticed the tension between them lessen. When she turned around to thank him, she gave him the first real smile he'd seen her wear. Since then, all Hades wanted to do was make her smile. His fellow Underworld deities, namely Charon, Thanatos and occasionally Hecate when she visited, had all come to accept the Spring's Goddesses presence.
Back to Melinoe's accusations, before Persephone left for Olympus, their marriage was doing good. No, better than good. They'd been doing amazing. Since they returned from the Fox's Den, Hades and Persephone had been in a bubble that neither wanted to leave. It was the best they felt in a long time. It was as if their time visiting the mortal establishment had rejuvenated their marriage, injecting fun and love into the veins of matrimony and made the weight of their godly duties as light as feathers. It was like they were connected by an invisible rope, for neither went anywhere without each other. The other god's residing within the Underworld noticed the change in their Lord and were all pleased for the positivity floating around them.
A happy Persephone led to a happy Hades. A happy Hades led to a happy Underworld and a happy Underworld was good for everyone involved.
"It's nothing," Hades said quietly, his left hand scratching against the armrest of his throne. His hand felt empty without his wife's petite one filling the void. "I feel your mother's absence more this season, that's all."
The Goddess of Ghosts said nothing but she did sympathise with her Lord and father. While she and her mother were two vastly different goddesses, the Goddess of Spring would always find the time to spend with her daughter. Persephone was an attentive mother and could hold back her enthusiasm, unlike the Goddess of the Harvest. For the first couple of centuries, Melinoe acted how a moody mortal teenager would act around their parents. She tried to shrug her off, and stick to the shadows and caves she loved so much within her home. However, Persephone was persistent. She would often say Melinoe acted like her father, being rough and cold on the outside but with a centre that was warm and cuddly. She denied it vehemently, but deep down, her mother wasn't wrong.
It wasn't just Hades who missed the presence of Persephone. The Spring Goddess has become an irreplaceable pillar in their lives.
"I miss her too."
It came out as a whisper, but Hades had heard her words.
"You do?"
"Of course." Melinoe stated in a matter of fact tone, "Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to get out of the Underworld for an afternoon."
"And go where?"
Melinoe shrugged, "No idea, but I'm sure it would be a better alternative to sulking around at home."
"I don't sulk," Hades replied, a frown washing over his face, "I brood. There's a difference."
Melinoe raised an eyebrow, "Not really. Brooding means to think deeply about something that makes you unhappy. Sulking is a form of self-pity and childishness." She told him, before tapping her chin, "Oh! I guess you embody both right now. In that case, stop brooding and sulking and get out of the Underworld for an hour, or four."
"You do remember I'm the parent here? Not to mention the divine ruler of the Underworld."
"Yes, father. So you've mentioned half a million times in the last century alone." Hades hummed his dissatisfaction but didn't voice his annoyance. Perhaps his divine daughter was correct. Maybe he did need to get out of the Underworld for a while. At least, for an afternoon. Every time he entered the master suite of his home, he felt his wife's presence. In recent years, Persephone would leave a bottle of her perfume on her dressing table. The one that smelled like primrose and tulips freshly blossomed in the spring. His wive's touch within their home was everywhere and served to make him feel lower than he already did.
Gods, he missed her.
It was during her absence that his faithfulness to their marriage would often become tested. The Oath of the Big Three that he, Zeus and Poseidon took after World War Two came at the right time. Hades was intent on ensuring his wife was the only one he shared a bed with.
"Thanatos could run the Underworld in my place for an afternoon," Hades muttered. The God of Death was his right-hand man and his trusted ally against the gods of the Greek Pantheon outside of Persephone and Melinoe. He might even say Thanatos was one of a handful of people the God of the Underworld could call his friend. He didn't care much for Olympus, though his friendship with his warmongering nephew was bizarre. Then again, War and Death went hand in hand on the battlefield.
"A reasonable choice, although I could faithfully fill in while you're away." Melinoe reasoned. Thanatos holding down the fort was a good idea but as the daughter of Hades, and having spent most of her life within its walls, she felt there was no one better qualified to look after the Underworld in her father's stead.
"Oh no," He retorted, shaking his head and gazing down at his daughter with certainty, "If I'm going to the surface world, then you're coming with me. Your mother and I talked about the idea of taking you up to the surface more often, and today seems like a good place to start. If I have to go, then so are you."
"What!?" Her voice raised a few octaves and her mouth parted into an O shape, "I have no desire to journey to the surface world! I'm needed here! I have important duties to attend to!"
A snort broke out of Hades, and saw through her words, "If you call scaring the mortals that occupy the Fields of Punishment with your entourage of ghosts, then all the more reason for you to come with me." The God of the Underworld gave his daughter a look, "You've become a creature of habit. It might do you some good to get outside every once in a while. How many times can you scare Tantalus and Sisyphus until it starts getting old? You've been doing it for centuries."
The goddess puffed out her cheeks, "This is about you and your sulking! Don't turn this around on me!"
"Brooding," Hades reiterated, "It might have started that way, but now I think this could be good for both of us. Some fresh air might do us good."
"But I-"
"No buts, this is happening. Besides, your mother would kill me if she found out you and I weren't spending time together." A wicked grin smirk washed over his face, "If your mother can handle being out of her comfort zone for six months on Olympus and forced to spend time with my airheaded sister, then you can survive a few hours in the surface world. You haven't left the Underworld in nearly a decade."
The Goddess of Ghosts tried to speak, but no words were coming out of her mouth. How did her father manage to turn this around and make it about her!
"You need to get out more, my daughter."
'This isn't happening!'
Looking through the menu provided, Hades could feel the glare coming from the other side of the table. His daughter was angry at him. The Goddess of Ghosts had sparsely spoken a word since he all but dragged his gloomy daughter out of his palace. She attempted to make a break for it and hide in one of the many caves that she had set up around the Underworld, but Hades had been faster. Treating her like she was a little goddess again, the eldest son of the Titan King threw his daughter over his shoulder and carried her away. The act was enough to shock her for a mere moment, before beginning to curse him from behind. Her protests went ignored, though he let out a grunt when she dug her knee into his shoulder. It got worse when they passed Charon, who laughed at Melinoe's expense. Even the mortal souls being ferried across the Styx pointed at them and got a kick out of her situation.
Most wouldn't have imagined the God who many referred to as 'The Silent One', 'The Rich One', or his personal favourite, 'The Father of Fear', would do such a thing. It was such a... dare he say, intimate thing and very unlike a god with the reputation he carried. However, Hades would argue that despite that reputation, he was still a father, and as much as Melinoe drove him crazy, he did love her. If Hades wanted to embarrass his daughter in front of other gods, then that was his right as a parent. He knew ole thunder thighs on Olympus did the same thing to his children when he got the chance and the same with Squid-for-brains down in Atlantis.
Embarrassment. A parent's greatest weapon against their children.
"I want to go home."
Her words made him sigh, and Hades peered over the menu to look at her. Gone was the half pale, half corpse form she wore around the Underworld. Instead, his daughter wore the look she was born with. From the day she was born, Hades marvelled at the similarities between Melinoe and Persephone. Every little detail, whether it was her nose, her chin or the shape of her eyes. They screamed Persephone. Her eyes were a mismatched pair, with a blue left eye from Persephone, and an intense black eye inherited from himself. The feature was a rarity amongst the gods, though why she hid them was a mystery to him. Her skin was pale, much like himself and her dark hair was untidy but beautiful, falling in messy ringlets from the bun it was tied in.
Her clothes were another matter entirely and couldn't have been more different from Persephone's. She wore dark jeans with rips around the knees and shins and her feet with covered in top-of-the-line converses that didn't have a spec of dirt on them. Her top half was in a black beetles t-shirt and a leather jacket that fit perfectly around her petite frame.
If he recalled, the mortal's called this being 'punk.'
He sighed and shook his head. He didn't understand kids and their angsty feelings.
"Too bad. You're staying, so you might as well have a look through the menu. It might surprise you."
"Father..." Melinoe leaned forward, "The front of the building is orange! It makes Apollo's temple look like a piece of art in comparison. Who in their right mind would paint the front of a building ORANGE!"
Hades held his hand up. He wouldn't refute the colour of the building dug into his skin. The bright colour went against everything he represented. "Believe me, Melinoe...I know."
"Then tell me why are we here?"
"Because you said I should get out of the Underworld, and this is where I want to go. I...like this place." Gods, that was hard for him to say. "The food here is top quality stuff, and the drinks aren't half bad either. Those desserts your mother and I brought home with us on Valentine's day were from here."
He gestured to the room.
When he and Persephone returned from their outing on Valentines Day, they stopped in to visit their daughter before retiring to their chambers for the evening. Melinoe had taken one bite before she devoured the portions of desserts they brought for her. The fig teacake was gone before the elder god could blink. Hades had to give her his portion, listening to her whine until he gave in.
Gods, why were the women in his life so skilled at wrapping him around their fingers.
"That was from here?"
"It was."
The Goddess of Ghosts swallowed hard, and Hades noticed her visibly relax in her seat. Maybe it wouldn't be a terrible idea to browse through the menu and see what they offered. While she wasn't a glutton, Melinoe did enjoy the odd treat here and there. The desserts her parents brought home with them had filled her necessary sugar requirements for weeks. Not to mention, the moment she walked inside the quaint little cafe, she felt her body relax as the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled her nose.
"Perhaps staying for an hour wouldn't hurt." Her curiosity was peaking, "Mother has good taste with these types of establishments. Maybe I will like it here." She picked up the menu and flicked to the first page, ignoring the frown on Hade's face.
"Your mother's taste? I'm the one who brought you here."
"Against my will, and I bet it was Mother's idea to come here. Which means, if you like it, it's only because she dragged you here in the first place, right?" There was a quip in her voice. The type that women used when they knew they were correct.
On the other side of the table, Hades kept silent and drifted back to the menu.
'Damn brat.' He thought. She had her mother's wit too. Looking at the menu, he flicked the page back to the one with the list of coffee's, 'Hmm, Amaretto flavoured coffee. How did I miss that first time round?'
The father and daughter sat in silence, ignoring the hustle and bustle from the mortals around them. It didn't look to be a busy day. Plenty of tables and booths were vacant, though plates were still half-filled and mugs were half full.
'I wonder why.' He thought, giving Melinoe a flat look. The Goddess of Ghosts had been in such a mood that her divine power started leaking from her control while they walked the streets of the West Village. Though it wasn't close to the level the God of the Underworld could exuberate from his form, it was enough to make people shake in their shoes. People on the street avoided her like the plague, running in the opposite direction. Storefronts closed their doors to keep her from walking in.
The moment Meilnoe stepped inside the Fox's Den, the room felt them appear. For once, Hades wasn't the one scaring people away. Melinoe gave the mortals, nymphs and satyrs a single cold stare before half the room got up and bolted out the door, bowing to them as they left. Knowing where the menus were kept, Hades grabbed a set before sitting down in the middle of the room.
"Mr Underhill," He heard and looked up to find the familiar blonde making his way over to the table, "I didn't think I'd be seeing you so soon! Welcome back."
"Underhill?" Melinoe mouthed, but Hades waved the question away.
The shinobi of old sensed the man coming but had been too busy keeping the clones in the kitchen occupied. Moments earlier, one of the clones succumbed to boredom decorating a carrot cake and decided to mess with one of the others. One cupcake to the back of the head was enough for an argument to break out, one which the original needed to see to himself. The last thing he needed was for a dozen clones spilling out of the kitchen to the clientele.
"Thank you," Hades nodded up at Naruto politely and shook his hand.
Pen and notepad appeared in Naruto's hands, "I see you found the menu's."
"I remember noticing where you kept them. I hope you don't mind."
The blonde shook his head, "Not at all." He looked over and found Melinoe staring up at him, an equative look on her face, "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met." He offered his hand, "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, the owner of the Fox's Den. It's nice to meet you."
She eyed him curiously. She was a bit put off when he kissed her knuckles, an action he used when meeting Persephone for the first time. "It's nice to meet you too," Melinoe replied quietly. She tilted her head. Her mismatched eyes stared into his sapphire-like ones.
"This is my daughter, Mel-" Hades started, but remembered the faux names Persephone gave them during their last visit. Thinking on his feet, Hades hoped Melinoe wouldn't be too insulted, "My daughter, Megan."
"Your daughter!?" Naruto's eyes widened and stared at Melinoe. He leaned his head back, taking in her features as his smile grew wider, "Yeah, I can see the similarities between her and Mrs Underhill. If I didn't know any better, I would have said they were sisters."
"We get that a lot," The God swept a hand through his hair, "Persephone was...young when she had Melinoe. That and good genes."
"That must be it." Hades heard, ignoring the glare Melinoe was sending his way. His daughter wasn't keen on her alias.
'Tough luck. If I have to wear the name Hank, then so can she.'
"So...where's the Mrs today?" Naruto asked, glancing away from his notepad and pen. In front of him, Hades sat with the menu in his hands, his dark eyes peering up at him from the corners. As always, Hades was dressed in an immaculate black suit, though a dark red pocket square sat in the breast pocket. A skull ring made of gold wrapped around his index finger. The ring had been a gift from his wife after their wedding anniversary. The Goddess of Spring loved her jewellery, and while Hades was happy to accommodate with his endless supply of riches at his disposal, she surprised him one year by gifting him with the ring. Despite being the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone was not into the whole skulls and darkness look, despite how much he enjoyed the way it. "Nice suit by the way. Armani?"
"Thanks and a good eye." Hades praised, "As for my wife, she is...otherwise occupied. Away on business."
"I see," the blonde replied, "When's she coming back? It would be great to see her again."
"I'm sure you are," Hades said, lacking surprise in his voice. Persephone was well-liked by most she came into contact with, "Well, you may catch a glimpse of her from time to time if you're lucky. She splits her time between our business ventures and her family. Half the year she's with me, and the rest she's with her family and their business. She works closely with her mother."
"I see." The blonde caught wind of the way Hades spoke about Persephone's mother, "Let me guess. You and your in-law's don't get along?"
The God of the Underworld snorted, as did Melinoe. The Goddess of Ghosts sat quietly and listened as her father spoke with the mortal. It was strange watching a mortal have a normal conversation with her father. The man practically invented the word fear, and this guy was none the wiser.
"That would be an understatement," Hades replied. His hand toyed with the ring on his finger, twisting it around and rubbing the face with his thumb. "Her mother despises my very existence. She holds me responsible for anything that goes wrong in her daughter's life, as well as her own."
"She sounds like a real piece of work."
"She is."
Though silent, Melinoe agreed with her father. Her relationship with the Goddess of the Seasons was non-existent. Despite her appearance resembling her beloved and favourite daughter, Demeter had never reached out to her and Melinoe was never sure why. Her feelings towards the goddess were null and void. She didn't hate her, but she didn't feel any love for her either.
"Well, my father-in-law used to be the same way. He wasn't keen on me at first. Thought his daughter could do better, but he came around over time." Naruto shared. He pictured Hiashi in his mind, wearing his famous stern scowl and Hyuga robes, "He was a tough nut, but I wore him down. Maybe your mother in law will change one day?"
"It's unlikely, but I respect your optimism," Hades said back, his dark eyes scanning Naruto's blonde ones, "I think...I'm ready to order. Meg?" He couldn't stop his lips from twitching in a smirk when his daughter huffed her annoyance.
"Yes, I think I'm ready too."
"Then...ladies first." Naruto looked at Melinoe and patiently waited for her response.
Taking a final look at the menu, the Goddess of Ghosts placed it on the table, "Do you serve breakfast food all day? Or is it strictly for mornings?"
"I do them all day."
"In that case, I'll get a stack of pancakes. Could I get half with blueberries and the other half with chocolate chips?"
"Sure." He jotted the order down, "Would you like a pot of syrup on the side?"
The dark-haired goddess nodded. The options were in the corner of the menu, and one stood out to her, "The Orange-Maple."
"You got it." Jotting it down, he finished by asking, "And what would you like to drink?"
"A coffee, please. Two sugars with cream."
"Nice and simple. I like it." He sent a smile her way, and the goddess couldn't help the edge of her lips twitch up. Across the table, Hades noticed it too and felt his lips twitch up, "And for yourself?"
His turn, Hades copied his daughter's actions by folding the menu and neatly placed it on the table, "I think I'll take the amaretto coffee." His dark eyes glanced up at the blonde, "I don't remember that on the menu last time."
"It's new. I added it the other week. So far it's been a hit with the customers."
'Naturally,' The God thought. Hades doubted anything on the menu was going to leave someone dissatisfied. If Gods like himself was pleased by what the blonde presented, then mortals were a no brainer. "With the coffee...I think I'll have the same as my daughter. Could I have maple syrup on the side please, and could I add banana's slices and bacon with my pancakes?"
The blonde nodded, "You can. Great pick."
"Thanks."
Taking their menu's, Naruto gave a short bow," I'll be back with your orders shortly."
The pair nodded and watched as the blonde got to work. Hades turned to his daughter, "Well?"
"He seems...nice. For a mortal anyway. I can see why Mother likes him."
Hades hummed, "Your Mother has a soft spot for mortals with manners and talent." He admitted, "It's not often I meet a mortal, much less a mortal man who doesn't appear bothered by my presence. Most would turn tail and run in the opposite direction. It's a refreshing feeling."
"I'm sure it is." The fear her father excluded from his powers could force mortals to have a heart attack on the spot if not controlled, "The inside is nice too. Though, it could use some darkening. Maybe black walls, or a dark purple. Some candle's replacing the lights would give it a more rustic and Victorian theme."
"One of your favourite periods if I recall. You spent many years mingling with the mortals back then."
Melinoe shrugged, "Everyone was so easy to scare back then. Ghost stories were everywhere, and victorian houses were perfect for haunting. Mortals were very gullible back then. It was my paradise." She sighed and leaned in her chair, "Victorian England was so much fun. Giving them nightmares was so easy back then and manipulating their mind to make them see things that weren't there was second nature. The mortal world got boring afterwards."
"If you behaved yourself, then you could have enjoyed it for longer. Do I need to remind you that if left to your own devices you would have exposed us." Hades reminded. A stern tone was laced in his voice, "Let's not forget about that incident with your half-brother."
Rolling her eyes, Melinoe let out a grunt, "You're never going to let that go, are you?" Her father sired a demigod during the height of the Victorian era, and the son of Hades had been a budding doctor back in the day. His talent and craft were enough to impress their father. It was rare to find a demigod son of Hades whose profession in life was saving lives, rather than taking them.
Melinoe, on the other hand, saw it as a chance to have some fun with her half-sibling. Unseen from the shadows, she slowly plucked away at his sanity and didn't understand the damage she was imposing until it was too late. To say it didn't end well would be an understatement.
"You tormented your brother's mind for years, and it twisted him into Englands most infamous killer. You got carried away, and in the end, Artemis and her hunters had to hunt him down and put an end to him before he took any more lives." The elder wrinkled his nose, "I'm not one to give credit to one of Zeus's brood, but her actions were necessary, and she was right to take action."
It didn't help that one of the women he killed had been a daughter of the Love Goddess. His interactions with Aphrodite was limited, but she'd given him an earful at that year's Winter Solstice. As annoying as she was, she did care for her children and the unjust death of one had earned him her ire for years.
"I remember." Melinoe said quietly, crossing her arms and showing signs of remorse, "I got carried away by the fear, and I didn't see what it did to him before it was too late. I've never let it happen again since then. I know not to get carried away." Her torment on the demigod was not her best moment.
She regretted her actions. She would take it back if she could. She let her fun get carried away, and it ended with lives taken and her father dragging her back to the Underworld.
Across the table, Hades nodded and clasped his hands together on the table surface. "In all fairness, compared to the bad deeds of the rest of our Olympian Family, I'd say your track record is rather good." The Gods of Olympus were far from perfect, and Hades included himself in that list. Even Persephone had moments she wasn't proud of. Some of the things the gods did to mortals, whether intentional or otherwise, were hard to imagine. In truth, the stories the world knew about them was barely scratching the surface when it came to their history with mortals, "One blip is far better than anyone else in our family, excluding Hestia of course. I'd say your slate is cleaner than most. I'm proud of you for not turning out like the rest of your Olympian cousins."
Swallowing thickly, his daughter let out a small hum. Hearing praise from her father's lips was rare, and Melinoe tried her hardest not to stare owlishly at him. Maybe it was this place? It was making her father...dare she say...sociable?
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
Adjusting herself, Melinoe sat cross-legged on the chair, something her mother frowned at when sat around the dinner table, "No reason. Though, I'm starting to think your beginning to turn sappy in your old age."
"Watch it. Otherwise, this old man will spank you in front of every mortal in this room."
"You wouldn't dare."
"I really would."
Melinoe humphed, though the edge of her mouth was tugging into a smile. Her old man could be bizarre sometimes.
Falling quiet, the goddess turned her attention to their patron and eyed the blonde as he prepared their drinks. As the Goddess of Ghosts, her divine power when it came to the Underworld was dwarfed only by her father. Her mother not so much, with Persephone's powers tied closely to the fertility of the earth. She adopted the powers of the Underworld, meanwhile, hers and her father were born with them. With her connection to the Dead, and her divinity connecting to the spirits and ghosts houses between the walls of the Underworld, she felt when the souls were ruffled. When she was above ground, and when she focused on an individual mortal, she could feel all those tied to the people who rest within the Underworld.
This man's ghosts were old. Very old.
Older than she ever sensed in a mortal before.
It was bizarre.
Melinoe hummed again, 'It's strange. Every ghost and spirit that passes through the Underworld creates a thread, an attachment that links back to me. As the goddess who looks over the domain of ghosts, I can feel the threads stemming from him that link back to the Underworld, and I can feel the threads attached to people in the Underworld. The ones they share a bond or strong feelings towards in whatever form that takes.' Her frown deepened, 'I can't put my finger on it...but the ghosts tied to him are old. Older then I've ever felt. I'd have to make a trip passed the Judgement Pavillion to find anything concrete.'
There were many levels to the area the souls of the mortals were kept and split into three sections. They were the Fields of Punishment, the Asphodel Fields and Elysium. A fourth existed and was known as the Isle of the Blessed. The number of souls that resided there was few and far between.
The Underworld was always expanding, making room for the influx of souls daily. In mortal terms, it was like a highway with new intersections forming and leading off to new area's housing souls. The further down you went, the older the souls that resided there.
Her gazed returned to her father, 'If my suspicion is correct, then Father hasn't noticed.' She made a tsk sound with her mouth and looked away from the elder god, 'Honestly. He's become complacent in these years of peace. He can't see what's right in front of him.'
There didn't appear to be any evil intent. It was the opposite. The man had been a gentleman since her arrival and put her at ease. However, the blonde man presented a mystery for the Goddess of Ghosts and Melinoe wanted to unsolved the enigma that was Naruto Uzumaki.
Putting a pin on her suspicions, Melinoe straightened up when the blonde made a beeline for them. Gently placing two cups of steaming drinks on their table, Melinoe was quick to grab the handle and bring it up to her lips, "Woah, hold on." She heard and felt Naruto lean in next to her, "It's hot, so make sure to blow on it first. I don't want you burning yourself."
Her cheeks flushed at the statement, and she didn't need to look at her father to know he was smirking. She wasn't a child!
Reigning in her embarrassment, she gave him a subtle nod, "Of course. Thank you for warning me." Smiling, Naruto left to finish up their order, while Melinoe held up a hand to her father, "Not a word."
"I didn't say anything."
"Then stop thinking too loud."
"I don't think that's a thing."
Growling, Melinoe ignored her father and did as the mortal suggested. Gently blowing on the top of her coffee, Melinoe let ou a low hum of delight as the warm liquid passed through her mouth and down her throat. Gods, that was a good cup of coffee. The goddess didn't like her coffee too strong, but the way the blonde mixed it was perfectly proportionate to how she liked it. Not too sweet, not too bitter and with the right amount of milk.
Perfect.
"That's good."
"Hmmm."
Surprised, Melinoe looked at her father, a hum of contentment reverberating from his mouth as he took a long swig of his amaretto coffee. His shoulders visibly slumped against his chair and watched as he tilted his head back and let out a sigh of relief. "I needed this," She heard him say to no one and watched as a genuine smile tugged at his lips.
'Well, I'll be.' This place did help her father relax. Not even the most qualified masseuse her mother had on standby in the Underworld could make the God of the Underworld sigh in contentment to such a degree.
It wasn't long before Melinoe felt the mortal's presence at the table again, this time with two identical plates in his hands. Lowering both to the table, Melinoe tried and failed to stop her tongue from slipping out her mouth, salivating at the pancakes like a dog with a juicy bone. They looked delicious and were stacked six pancakes high. Warm butter sat in the centre of the top pancake, with the yellow substance melting through the top layer. If Melinoe had to guess, he made them moments ago, since the chocolate from the chocolate chips were still in the process of melting. The goddess could only imagine the warm and gooey goodness that awaited her tastebuds.
'I can barely wait.'
Hades was in a similar state. Both father and daughter were eager to dig in.
They didn't have to wait long. The second Naruto turned his back, Hades and Melinoe poured each of their syrups over the top of the pancakes. Somehow, they restrained themselves until the syrup flowed on each side of the stack. Before long, they were digging their forks in their meals.
As soon as the pair felt the food hit their divine tongues, it was like fireworks going off inside their bodies. It was like their tastebuds were assaulted on every side of their being, an unrelenting wave of fluffy sweetness. Hades knew what he was in for, but Melinoe was caught off guard and couldn't stop her face from contorting into an expression of pure radiance. If one looked closely, you could see her pale skin gain a hint of colour to it, and a dust of gold spreading across her cheeks. Beneath the table, Melinoe was tapping the floor with her shoes like a dog having its chin scratched.
'Oh my god.' She thought, falling against the back of her chair while her hands continued to cut off pieces from her pancakes. 'I've never tasted anything like this before. The best chef's in the Underworld has nothing on this.' Her home had the best of the best from every profession imaginable. On many occasions, her family would pluck a soul or two with exceptional skills to bedazzle them with their talent. In her long life, the Goddess of Ghosts could answer honestly and say no mortal had ever made such a meal this amazing. It was no wonder her parents liked this place. If this was the kind of food you received every time you visited, it was no wonder it attracted such attention.
She bit her bottom lip, keeping a guttural moan from escaping her throat.
The god and goddess stayed at the Fox's Den for most of the afternoon, ordering plate after plate of the pancakes and racking up a stack big enough for the other customers to take notice. Whatever foul mood Melinoe was in when she arrived earlier that day was gone and found herself enjoying her time in the mortal world for the first time in over a century.
Hades, though his mind lingered on his wife, felt his misery subside. He was planning a future visit with his wife when she returned to Underworld in the Autumn. 'Maybe the owner could create some Halloween-styled food for us. It's Persephone's favourite holiday, so I can only imagine what kind of delicacies the mortal will create.' A bubble of excitement sparked to life in his chest, and Hades could only wish the spring and summer months would pass by quickly.
In the middle of the afternoon and making small talk between bites, Melinoe's gaze would repeatedly return to Naruto, watching him quietly as he continued his day. As impressive as his culinary skills were, her interest in the mystery that revolved around him increased.
To have such a powerful and emotional connection with the souls of the Underworld was unusual.
'Just who is this guy?'
A mystery presented itself, and Melinoe intended on finding some answers.
As always, thanks for reading everyone.
I wanted this chapter two serve two purposes. One, to bring back Hades. I loved writing Hades and Persephone, and bringing in Melinoe was something I'd been throwing around for a few weeks. I wanted to show Melinoe as a perfect combination of her parents since we only get a brief appearance from her in the Sword of Hades. I love the idea that her personality is that of a sassy teenager.
After this chapter, I want to mix it up a little. The last thing I want is for each chapter to feel the same as the last, and get repetitive.
The second purpose was to begin planting the seeds of Naruto's origins and life being revealed. Originally, Hades was going to be the one to sense something off about him but I switched to Melinoe when I started writing her. With Hades, it makes sense that things could slip through the cracks. and sometimes Melinoe is the one who picks up on things like that. Given her connection to ghosts, I like the thought that she can sense the emotional ties between the living and the dead. Sensing Naruto's emotional ties with his past loved ones, it would catch her attention. As you might suspect, we will be seeing more of her in the coming chapters.
As I said before, stay safe everyone. Please review and let me know what you thought.