King
Alone in his office, the red carnation in his breast pocket burning like a hungry fire, Hades reflected on how he'd gotten to this point. He'd clawed his way up from darkness, from nothing, to build his empire, and the people followed him as their king.
He gave the shades wages, gave them work, and they obeyed his every command, expanding the Underworld, strengthening its borders, and mining its riches. When intruders came, as sometimes they did, Hades was quick to secure what was his.
But the carnation was beautiful, alive, and dangerous—and so was the boy whose song it came from. Orpheus, in all his idealism and foolishness, had refused to bow to the king.
If he could not restore order, Hades knew his kingdom and all he'd worked for would fall to the poet's song.