Chapter 3 - We Finally Meet

"H-Hades? Is that you?" She said with a confused, yet endearing expression on her face. The lord of the underworld couldn't believe it himself! She was right there! Looking at him, and for once, appearing unafraid like so many others were to see him, let alone speak. "Ummm… Persephone?" He replied back.

"How do you know my name?"

"Oh! That! Hehe wellll I guess it's hard to miss a name like yours doll, I mean you are Demeter's daughter after all too!"

"And how did you know about that too?"

"I'm the god of the underworld… As one of the top gods (I mean to say THE top) I wouldn't be much of a ruler if I didn't even know about my fellow deities! Especially new ones too!"

"Oh, of course heh! I'm sorry… you're highness I-I didn't mean to disturb you, but some friends of yours told me this was a good way to meet with you."

"Please drop the formalities. I am a king but… well… it just doesn't sound right coming from you." She blushed a little and so did he; naturally colouring his flames with a slight tinge of pink amongst the blue. Hades shook his head of the thought and got back on track, "Anyway! Moving on, what do you mean by friends?" Just then Pain and Panic waved from behind in a friendly yet please don't kill us kind of way. Hades face palmed in a frustrated state, but he couldn't be too hard on them since they actually managed to bring Persephone to him. Surprisingly, he was thankful. "Ahhh I see. That was good of them, I guess."

"How come you're in the water? I didn't think pools or lakes could be ways of communicating." She brushed the surface with her finger tips, yet his face was as clear as day.

"It only works for immortals like us. We're the lucky ones with all these amazing powers, am I right!"

"Hehe yeah! I wish I knew about this sooner, then I could have easily escaped my mother's condescending lectures about the world when I can just see it for myself!"

"Well hey! Here's a thought… why not travel the world and GO to these places?"

"I would love to… but my mother wants me to be kept safe for now."

"Safe?…Or caged?" She was taken back a little by his intuition on her situation, and more than ever, felt understood. In fact, she was relieved that someone was talking to her like a normal person. Having a normal conversation, and being treated like an equal with a king too. Similarly, Hades felt like he could be natural around her. Persephone's sense of defiance against authority and belittlement.

"Look.. why exactly did you want to meet me?" He asked. Persephone didn't fully understand why herself, but she knew one thing.

"The thing is… I never got a chance to meet you back at the party. And also… I thought you were interesting."

"That's one way of putting it."

"No I don't mean it like that! It's the fact that you were just as fed up and irritated with the whole affair as I was… It made me feel like I wasn't alone in a crowded room." He looked at her with a soft glow, and a quickening of his heart again. Hades struggled to suppress its thumping and coughed to change subjects.

*Ahem* "Anyway, if you want to get to know me that badly, then I guess it wouldn't hurt to come to earth? But listen! We need to find a secure location right? I'm not exactly welcomed by others." He grabbed the back of his neck in a worried stance; full well knowing that if both were found together, the situation would be beyond awkward!

"A secure location? Hehehe sounds like a cool secret mission! I'm up for the challenge! And if anyone comes or dares say anything bad, I'll be sure to teach them a lesson! " Persephone confidently said, saluting to him as a soldier would to their officer. Suddenly, a voice could be heard calling in the distance, "Persephone!" It was Demeter. "Mother is calling me. I best get back! Meet me at the grove behind the waterfall in the Nysian Meadow… Its my own secret place and no one would find us!" She suggested. Hades agreed and just before she got up to leave, he stopped her, "Wait a sec! Here take this." He snapped his fingers and in one puff of smoke, a gold and ruby locket appeared in her hands. "Find ash from a fire and place it inside the locket, and badabing badaboom! It will summon me!" Persephone placed it insider her dress pocket and smiled contently before waving goodbye and hurrying to her mother's persistent call. Pain and Panic transformed back into their devilish forms to head back to their master with a job well done. The mortal mirror faded and so did Hades first initial thoughts of Persephone. Thinking she was just another bratty, superficial, young goddess who loved to be worshipped and make sure her hair and nails were pristine. Her goodness and sense of self shone through brighter than the sun itself. It was a massive relief to him that he found someone who felt just as out of place as he was in this whole turbulent contest of political and flamboyant godliness. For once, he gave a small but genuine smile as overlooked the river and dark caverns of his realm. Why didn't everything look bleak to him anymore? Why was there sudden colour in his vision? It started to worry him. It was a kind of fear he never experienced before. Whenever his eyes would close, it was her face that appeared. Her long hair snaked over her shoulders, her green grass eyes which sparkled as they talked, and her cotton candy pink lips that formed the most radiant smile. "Ack! Pull yourself together! What the hell are you thinking?! Just stop! I mean sure she's beautiful and kind and smart and even tough surprisingly!" He patted Cerberus's nose and sighed heavily. "Damn it… I can't seem to see her any other way. But… what's makes her stand out? There's plenty of other girls just like her after all! Ha! I'm getting WAY ahead of myself! Maybe meeting with her is not the best idea? I don't know! Night boy!" He walked to his chambers and quickly drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Or at least tried to.

The next day…

Persephone awakened before Apollo's chariot could be seen to bring the warmth and glow of the morning sun. She couldn't contain her excitement and wanted to rises as soon as possible to meet him again. In this big and wide universe, she never had any real friends, or simply someone whom she could have a meaningful conversation with. Never did she imagine that the dark lord himself would be the one! The amateur goddess inside made her feel insignificant or feeble most days. To change the world and make it a better place, having all the gods and goddesses praise her efforts would be a dream come true. But, the reality was, her power was still in its infancy. Sure, she could make flowers bloom, connect with the animals, and heal to a certain extent. However, she couldn't tame the seas, or sky, or sun, or even souls of the dead. So, Hades gesture of interest in her was more than a simple act of friendship. It was an act of appreciation. Persephone washed her face, combed her hair, and wore a long flowing dress made of roses and the finest silks. Quietly, she snuck out of the house taking only the locket and a purse containing cinders of ash from last night's fire.

"Persephone…" Her mother called out in a hushed voice. Begrudgingly, Persephone winced and turned round with an awkward smile.

"Y-Yes mother?"

"Where are you going at such an early time of the day?"

"I wanted to… to go pick the new year daisies. They're at their brightest and fullest at dawn."

"I see… Lily." Demeter called out and in one flutter a blue nymph with pale wings came by. "Yes my goddess?" She said taking a bow.

"Please go with Persephone and keep her company. Who knows what strange creatures or even men should be lurking about." Persephone internally groaned. Her mother knew exactly what she was doing and hated the thought of her precious Persephone being unguarded. And so without much of a choice she and Lily headed out towards the forest. Once out of sight, Lily was quick to notice the bizarre locket and purse she hid in her pocket. "Ok enough with the facade! What are you REALLY up to?" She asked inquisitively. Lily was a mischievous nymph who since a young age never really followed the rules, but knew when to for appearances sake. She understood Persephone's sheltered upbringing and was willing to keep her secrets from the world (a.k.a mother) to the grave like any loyal friend would do.

"Ok please don't speak or tell or know a word of this to anyone!"

"C'mon Kore! You know I never tell anyone anything! I'm here to keep whatever secrets you've got locked away!"

"Well… I'm going to meet someone."

"Really?! Who? Tell me! Is it a local mortal boy? Or a soldier who desires you after a long battle? Or maybe even-"

"Stop already! Gosh where do you get such ideas?"

"Oh I don't know? Mostly books but mostly from experience too hehehe!"

"I can't tell you who but just promise-"

"My lips are sealed. Go on then! But be back in an hours time alright?"

"Yes of course! Thank you Lily!" Persephone hurried to the waterfall, uncovering the Ivy leaves which covered the entrance to the grove. It was a beautiful little place, covered in Narcissus flowers and sunlight where a stone canopy lay in the centre.

She took the cinders and placed them inside the locket. As she closed it, a whirl of smoke and blue rose up from out of the ground and out of it Hades came.

She did not realise from up close how incredibly tall and broad he was.

"Name's Hades Lord of the Dead hi, how you do- Oh… Persephone! Geez, I didn't expect you to summon this fast."

"Uh… well I-I couldn't wait to see you again. I guess heh." She blushed, making him equally embarrassed as a tint of pink flushed the blue flames on his head.

"I'm sorry if I have disturbed you in your duties."

"Psshh! The place is pretty much dead down there! Literally! And what's a couple of hours or so right?"

"Hehehehe yeah I guess it's not really a place to live shall we say!"

"Hey now! I'm the one who gets to crack the jokes!" He exclaimed pointing his thumb towards himself proudly.

"Oh yeah! Say's who?" She retaliated back with her hands on her hips.

"Me of course! As king my word is final!" He smirked back leaning down to her.

"Hmph! And I thought you didn't like formalities hehehehe…" She laughed stretching up to look at him. Both of their faces were fairly close and realising this Persephone quickly withdrew back. "S-Sorry…" She said, Hades looked at her like a confused puppy and shook his head.

"No need to… In fact, it seems like you're too smart for you're own good."

"Heh… well glad we both have a good sense of humor then. Laughter is one of the best medicines."

"I couldn't agree more! So, Persephone-"

"Kore… You can call me Kore if you like to…" She said, twirling one of her golden curls around her finger.

"Kore… ahem… why don't you show me some of those powers ya got? Don't think I've seen a spring goddesses abilities before."

"Really? Why would it interest you?"

"Simply because… it's yours."

Persephone gasped in awe at his answer, and was surprised to believe that he truly was intrigued by her. Hades hesitantly changed his answer, "A-And because they sounded cool of course, I mean, that's really the real reason why hehehehehe… (Geez what am I saying? Why am I saying this stuff?)

"Oh right… I'd be happy to!"

They walked towards a few withered plants and through the magic of her hands a bright soft glow developed, rejuvenating the plants to their once former glory.

"Wow… I wish I could do something like that!"

"But… you're one of the three kings. I thought you had powers that could break and restore the world itself!"

"Well if you happen to find a god who can do that, then there's no hope for any of us. There are limits… yet for you to give life to things, to heal things and make them better… you're more extraordinary than you think… I bow to you." Persephone was slowly beginning to feel even more enamoured than ever thought possible with each second. Her heart grew tight and bountiful as its pulse coursed through her. She stared at him with longing and wished to speak, but didn't know what to say.

"You feeling alright? You look as if you've seen a ghost or something?"

"Huh… Oh! I'm sorry I was just, I-I don't think I'm that amazing… I can't exactly bring someone back from the dead or anything! That would be against the cosmos itself! It's only with the little things I can offer my help. Once my powers have matured, I can bring the new cycle of spring back fully just like my mother."

"Right… but do it it in you're own way kid. Make spring the way you want it to be."

He plucked a nearby flower and examined it in detail, "I don't know much about this stuff. I'll be honest in saying its all too sweet and orderly looking for my taste…" Just then the flower's petals began to turn pale, whilst the stalk turned jet black.

"Did you do that?" She asked.

"I must have. No ain't that a kick, you try to touch something pretty and then it turns all ugly! My life in a nutshell!" He was about to throw it before Persephone cried,

"Wait! Don't!" She took it from his hand carefully held it close to her chest.

"I think it's so unique and special… No other flower looks like this. It's the most beautiful flower I've ever seen." Now it was Hades turn to feel enraptured. Seeing how she appreciated the darkness made his icy heart melt, and upon noticing the way her hair shone under the rays of light, her flowery dress hugging her figure perfectly, and above all, her radiant smile. Everything about her was deemed perfect. Something, he knew he could not reach… until now.