Chapter 2:

He could have taken her, right there in the field.

It wouldn't have been so difficult. The nymph's had wandered far from her side, and in their laughing and singing would not have heard her cry of surprise.

He could have done many things to her in fact, while wearing that helm of invisibility, but something within made him hold back. Something whispered to him to wait.

He had waited so long already to find someone who stirred that lust within him as Persephone had done. He had never felt such a thing… had never desired to lavish his attentions on any other, until that moment he heard her laughter.

She had bewitched him.

He had decided as he had watched her, making the wreath of white, that he would make her his own, his lover and Queen.

It was the least he could do, especially seeing as she was Zeus' daughter. Not that Zeus particularly cared about most of his offspring, but this was a Goddess… and a gloriously perfect one at that.

Hades did not want to anger anyone; he just wanted to be with this Goddess. To hold her and love her with every fibre of his being.

Perhaps he was a little lonely, although he had never thought so. He was a busy God, his realm larger than Zeus' in many ways. He had much to do and seemingly very little time in which to do it.

He would make time for this one though.

She held on to him tightly now, a steady warmth seeping into his cool skin from her soft body. She had struggled at first. She had screamed and sobbed like a child and he had felt a pang of remorse in his breast, and had known what he had done was wrong. This thought did not last long within the Dark Lord's mind. She would thank him for his attentions one day. Why would she refuse him? He was Lord of the Dead. He was more powerful than any other she could have. Why, she should be grateful!

Her pale hand trembled as she clutched the wreath of flowers tightly to her chest. She had held onto that wreath with dear life as they flew downwards towards his world, a world soon to be her own. In fact, when she had initially fought his embrace as they had lit away as quickly as his horses could bear them, he had been surprised when one hand kept that crown tightly in its grasp and refused to let it go.

He felt the wet presence of her tears soaking through his shirt onto his chest beneath, and he pushed away any feelings of guilt that threatened to approach his heart. She was quiet now, only the occasional sniffle or whimper coming from her at all.

Hades was glad. He couldn't bear to hear her cry again. It had been strangely painful for him, and he had heard many wails of misery in his life before that moment, and he had been the cause of most of them as well.

She had also given up begging for him to let him go, after being greeted by the same answer every time she had asked previously.

'You are my beloved now, you can not leave.' That had elicited more weeping, and it had pained him, but he had not backed down. His desire for her was stronger than his sympathy.

They had come to the river Styx with out hindrance, Persephone white with fear, eyes wide and entire body trembling with it. Charon had noted her presence with obvious curiosity, the skin on his skull like face pulling back in a grotesque grin.

'Lord', he acknowledged in a breathy rasp. 'Lady.' He added with a bow of his head. Charon was no fool and knew when respect was due.

Persephone swayed uneasily, as if about to faint.

Hades gave her credit for remaining on her feet. Many older and stronger than her had quailed at the sight of the underworld laid before them in all its glory.

There was happily no more talk from his servant, or his new Lady on the journey across the stagnant waters. Waters as still as death itself. It flowed sure enough, but there had never been any outward sign of such a thing. The river looked as dead and cold as the people who huddled upon its banks, waiting for passage. And for many, waiting in vain.

Hades noted the way she sat, legs drawn up under her chin, eyes staring glassily into the water, her body shivering as if from cold. He moved closer to her as if to provide warmth, yet his presence merely drained it from her more severely. She drew into a tighter ball, shoulders hunched; face buried in her hands trying not to cry again.

The Lord of the Dead felt strangely saddened.

He stood then in the small boat; his eyes trained forward with pride as they neared his home.

'Look Persephone, at the Kingdom before you. Everything you see and more is now yours to share. You are home at last.' He announced in a sweet purr of satisfaction. Persephone looked up from his side, blinking as if in a daze before she turned her sorrowful gaze towards her new prison.

She stared long and hard upon the distant shores before she moved her line of sight down to the bottom of the boat and kept it there.

She made no move to get out of the boat when it drew up to its dock, and so Hades with a heavy sigh of annoyance, lifted her up as if she were as light as a feather and he then carried her into his kingdom with great pride and joy, and a smile on his face that would have done credit to a wolf.