Hades stood tall with a tumbler of whisky in his hand. His broad shoulders were accentuated in the tailored, black suit he wore. He had decided to attend one of Zeus' many parties that were held on Mount Olympus. There had been rumors swirling that he may move on Olympus and take over as God of Heaven and Hell, but Hades wanted to keep the rumors of an overthrow to a minimum. It was always on the god's and goddesses' minds since Hades was the eldest, and strongest, of the brothers. Regardless of that fact, Hades was more than preoccupied with the matters of the Underworld and had no intentions of overthrowing either of his brother's territories.
Hades eyed Zeus as he stood next to Hera. Zeus dressed in an overly tight, white suit and gold tie that accentuated his golden curls. Hera wore a long, trailing white gown that let her gold stilettos peek out and was cut dangerously low to expose most of her chest. They were close to the champagne fountain speaking idly with the other gods and goddesses. Everyone made sure to laugh extra loud when Zeus made a humorous remark. Hades felt he had no time for such pleasantries and indulgences and wondered why his brother was so different. Hades felt the need to be alone and wandered to the closest doorway that led to a balcony on the great mountain.
As he wandered onto the balcony, there was a beautiful view of the gibbous moon and sparkling, bright stars awaiting him. Hades was lost in thought when a small voice brought him back to reality. .
"Hello, I'm Kor-" She stopped short and stood a little taller. "Persphone, Goddess of Spring Growth." Her tanned skin almost glowed in the moonlight. Her silken, auburn hair flowing down in curly locks around the supple curves of her chest and ending at her rounded hips.
"Hades, Lord of the Underworld." Hades extended his hand to take hers. Persephone's brows furrowed and her pouty, full lips parted slightly as she moved to speak after the initial shock of meeting the king of darkness had subsided. She had met many of the other gods and goddesses, but as far as she knew, Hades never attended any of Zeus' parties. She had not expected to meet the most powerful of the brother gods.
"It's my utmost pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lord." Persephone recovered quickly and with the grace of a true queen, placed her hand in his as she curtsied low and dipped her head in respect.
"The pleasure is all mine, young goddess." Hades lifted her small hand to his lips and gently kissed it. He was not used to being so amicable and it surprised them both.
When their greeting ended Hades was able to step back and really look the young woman over. She had stopped aging around 19 or 20 Hades had speculated but wasn't sure how old she really was. She stood sheepishly staring at him, toes slightly pointed inward towards each other and one arm around her own waist protectively, modestly, which made her appear even younger. She was dressed in an exquisite but simple green dress that tied around her neck, covering her chest completely and flaring slightly at the hips as to not accentuate them too much. Hades mused that the dress did little to distract attention from her hourglass figure and wondered if she, or Demeter had picked the dress out. Hades knew Demeter had a daughter she had kept hidden away on earth, but he did not realize she was hiding such a treasure.
"Why aren't you in there, enjoying the party?" Hades gestured towards the commotion coming from the main ball room.
"I could ask you the same." Persephone smiled teasingly and Hades couldn't remember the last time someone questioned him, about anything, ever. It was annoying but a bit endearing.
"You did hear me when I said I was the Lord of the Underworld, correct?" Hades leaned against the large, marble banister and took a swig of his whisky.
"Yep." Persephone smiled wide and leaned against the same marble banister before lifting herself onto the ledge. She sat swinging her feet, her hands behind her, propping herself up so she could lean her head back and look at the stars.
"I see. Well, if you must know I detest these parties. All these parties are held so Zeus can show off and impress the others. I don't have time to stroke his fragile ego. I have more important things to do." Hades scoffed and sneered as he took another sip from his tumbler.
"Like what?" Persephone never took her deep green eyes off the stars.
"I don't have time to explain all the duties of the underworld to you. Come down and see for yourself sometime." He smirked and chuckled to himself. He knew none of the other gods or goddesses would step foot in his realm. They preferred to stay above, in the sunlight, where they could frequent their temples and have the masses flock to be blessed by them and be showered in offerings and praise. It didn't help that Hades was strongest when he was in his own realm and none of the others dared to venture where Hades ruled with absolute power.
"Ok, when would be best for you? Don't I need, like, a special coin or something to cross the River?" Persephone looked to Hades with genuine interest. Hades almost spit out the cool liquor in his mouth.
"You want to come to the underworld? Why? It's no place for a delicate flower such as yourself." Hades composed himself, running a hand through his short, shaggy black hair as he tried to brush off the young woman beside him.
"Well, you've already extended an invitation to me and it would be quite rude of you to rescind the offer now. Besides, I've seen Mount Olympus, and I've lived on earth my whole life…" She trailed off a little as she thought about how trapped she felt under Demeter's thumb but continued unfaltering. "but I've never even seen paintings of the underworld. Compared to the books I read and the paintings I've seen, I was disappointed coming here for the first time."
Persephone looked to the large windows that were letting the lights and noises of the party come through. Hades thought to himself, 'if she's disappointed with Olympus, I'm sure her stomach will turn when she sees the Underworld.' Hades suddenly realized he had already accepted that this young goddess would indeed visit him in his kingdom, and it bothered him that he was not being his usual calloused self around her.
"I suppose you're right. I surely cannot deny that I did indeed extended an offer. You called my bluff and now I will have to deal with the consequences." The corners of Hades mouth turned up forming an awkward, sideways grin. Persephone was an enchanting young woman and Hades found himself inexplicably drawn to her.
"So, how will I get ahold of you? I don't know when I can get time away, it will have to be short notice." Persephone was embarrassed that she was not able to make her own decisions as to where she could go and when she could go there. It had taken years to convince her mother to let her come to one of Zeus' many parties. Maybe she should have been begging her mother to go the Underworld instead.
"You are the goddess of flowers and things, right? Pick a narcissus flower and I will come to retrieve you, no coins involved that way." Hades couldn't believe he was going to be hosting a guest at his home, especially not the goddess of spring. 'How out of place she'll be' thought Hades.
"That sounds perfect!" Persephone seemed excited and it made Hades feel a warmth in himself that he hadn't known he could still feel.
Persephone began to scoot towards the edge of the wall to climb down. Hades noticed her awkward descent and stood to move and face Persephone. His long, slender fingers gripped her waist as she placed her hands on his shoulders to be gently lowered to the ground. Persephone's feet touched the floor, but they still remained close. Her hands slipped off his shoulders to his chest as his hands cupped her lower back. She was so small. Persephone had to tip her head back to meet his steel eyed gaze. Hades' hands wrapped all the way from side of her back to the other. He felt so protective of this fragile creature so quickly and he wondered if Aphrodite or Eros may be involved in some sick prank to make him look like a lovesick puppy. The thought was enough to make him release the enticing young woman from his enveloping arms.
Immediately clearing his throat and crossing his arms he nodded to the young woman and looked to make an escape.
"It was really nice to meet you, if you stick around make sure to save a dance for me." Persephone smiled warmly at her new acquaintance and made her way to the large glass doors that led to the ballroom. She snuck one last look at Hades over her shoulder before she slipped gracefully through the ornate doors.
'What the fuck was that?!' Hades stood almost dumbfounded as he tried to process the last 20 minutes.
Hades wasn't sure who to track down first, Aphrodite or Eros. He surmised that Eros would know either way since Aphrodite used him as her errand boy. Hades slammed the rest of his drink and set the glass on the marble banister before heading back to the party. It wasn't long before Hades spotted Eros mingling amongst the numerous guests attending. He made a B line for him and Eros choked on his martini as he saw the fiery look in Hades stone-grey eyes.
"Eros!" Hades demanded the man's attention and Eros was not willing to anger the King of the Underworld any further.
"My lord, how may I be of assistance?" Eros stood from the white, leather sofa and tried to lead Hades to a quieter spot as to not be chastised in front of the entire party. He wasn't sure what he had done but he knew the look in the god's eyes.
"If you or your mother had anything to do with tonight, I will end you." Hades' voice was colder than the steel he would use on Eros if he found him guilty in some way.
"What? No…what?" Eros was trying to piece together the reason he was being accosted. 'It must have to do with love!' Eros could be thick sometimes, but he knew the only reason Hades would assume he or his mother was involved in something nefarious would be because of attraction, love, lust, romance.
"You like someone!" Eros face almost cracked in half with the biggest cat eating grin he was physically capable of.
Hades grabbed the god by the suit jacket and discreetly shoved him into the wall. "I swear if I so much as hear my name come from your mouth and go into another's ear, I will make you wish for death. We never spoke this evening, do you understand?" Hades released him just enough to slam him against the wall once more for good measure before letting him to retreat to the party.
Hades' blood was boiling with adrenaline as he took the steps two at a time at the entrance of Olympus. He wanted to go home, to his castle, to his realm where everything was controlled by him and there were no secrets or surprises. As he descended the stairs a crack in the earth began to form and two enormous, black horses in silver armor rose from the pits. Attached was an extremely ornate silver chariot that was decorated with scenes of Hades' many great victories. It was a gawdy present from his brother that he could not refuse. Hades was far too humble to make such a monstrosity, but it was a powerful and enchanted chariot that served its purpose well. Hades made long strides and mounted the chariot like the warrior he was. Reigns in hand and anger and confusion in heart, he whipped the reigns and spurred on his ominous steeds.
Persephone stayed close to her mother the rest of the evening, though she couldn't help but to continually scan the room for him. She spoke to the other young goddesses about her plans to possibly join the ranks of eternal maidenhood. A plan her mother had made for her, she didn't know if she wanted to be an eternal maiden, but her opinions and wants carried little weight when it came to her mother. The other girls giggled about the goddesses who had tried to take their vows but were exposed as sullied women. Persephone's thoughts wandered as the other girls gossiped. She thought of him, the Lord of the Underworld. She wondered why everyone spoke in whispers about him, he seemed like a lovely person to her. She thought of him all alone in his throne room doing whatever it is he did, and her heart ached for him. She was a young goddess but not uneducated. Books were her way to connect to worlds she would never be able to be a part of. Books told her things her mother sheltered her from. The darker side of the gods and humans. She knew more than most about the gods their history and society. Their affairs and conquests. Their battles and their tragedies. Persephone knew that Zeus and Poseidon both kept lovers, she was the very product of the god's lustful affairs. She knew she had many brothers and sisters as well that were all conceived illegitimately. She had heard so many stories of the gods that were similar, but in all her precious books, she never read about Hades taking a lover or queen and she wondered why.
'How lonely he must be, and for so long!' Persephone's thoughts were interrupted by her mother.
"Come, child., it's getting late and Zeus is getting drunker, no doubt there will be some kind of incident this evening." Demeter took Persephone's hand and walked her quickly through the party, saying quick goodbyes as they made their way to their chariot.