Another day, another chapter down! Thank you to all who have followed this story, reviewed, favorited, and stuck with it even after the messy first chapters! I would say that we are coming to the end but I envision perhaps ten or so more chapters before the story reaches its conclusion. My goal is to have it completed by the end of 2021 and then... who knows what I'll work on next but it will feel so good to have this story completed. Here is the latest chapter, what I like to call "the family drama showdown part 2." Have fun with this and happy reading!

Persephone

The four of them were in strange company.

They made an unlikely group that traversed the terrain of the Underworld, faces grim and lips sealed shut.

Not one of them spoke a single word as they marched to the entrance of the Underworld. Hermes led the way while Hades took his place behind them all. Demeter and Persephone were between them, arms linked tightly together.

Never in her wildest dreams did Persephone ever believe that she would be coming to this part of the world with Hades. She once dreamed of walking this path with her mother, coming to rescue her and bring her home from what she once believed was a wicked place.

Now, Persephone found herself being dragged away from freedom and to the prison she had always known. Her worry that the risky plan she had made would all be for naught.

She saw her mother's jaw clenched with fury and there was a near feral gleam in her eye; one that Persephone knew all too well. Once that glint appeared, nothing would stand in Demeter's way. Persephone knew that once the four of them reached Olympus, she would stop at nothing to undo what her daughter had done.

Or rather…

What Demeter believed Hades had forced her daughter to do.

They passed beneath the willow tree on the banks of the Styx. Its tendrils swayed in the dusky air, beckoning her to come stand beneath its protectie branches and hide from her troubles. Hermes dared to glance back at Persephone as their private meeting spot became so rudely intruded on. She saw the apology written in his blue irises before he quickly looked away as Demeter glared at him. Persephone made her face unreadable as her mother instead turned her glare on her.

"What?" Persephone demanded with unshielded irritation.

"Why is he looking at you like that?" Demeter narrowed her eyes in suspicion at Persephone.

"We are friends." She answered boldly.

Demeter did not take well to that answer. That gleam in her eye turned manic. In her rage, no one was immune to her vitriol.

"Your friend? There are no friends in this world. Has the young god helped himself to you just as this one has done?" Demeter inquired viciously as she cut her glare over to Hades.

The atmosphere turned tense. Hermes kept his head resolutely pointed at the path in front of him.

"Mother!"

A deep voice from behind broke the tension.

"Enough."

The stones rattled beneath their feet while thunder growled dangerously above. Demeter looked to the sky as if waiting for a lightning strike to fall. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the dark, gathering clouds and then back at Hades.

Nothing more was said. Likely, Demeter figured that she would not have to deal with either of these gods for much longer. Silence fell over them once again, like one of the gloomy clouds that hung in the sky of the Underworld.

Persephone had seen her mother fall victim to her own temper many times before but there was something about this that felt far different from the other times. A fury raged like never before. Her anger had become unhinged. This Demeter struck a chord of fear into Persephone, but that fear made her want to push back like she herself had never done before.

Hermes did not deserve such an ugly accusation. Hades had done the kidnapping, so it was fair to assume that his actions had become more violent once she was in his realm. But Hermes was sweet and kind and innocent of any wrongdoing. Persephone did not share her mother's hatred of men. After a lifetime of never seeing a man in the flesh, and still, Persephone could not be wiped clean of that long held curiosity of the other sex. As much as Demeter tried, her friendship with the god proved that she had failed in her goal of trying to make Persephone feel the same as she did.

And that was why she had to cut Hermes with that awful accusation; to put blame where it did not belong to make herself feel better about what she saw as failure.

Persephone grumbled to herself about it as they traipsed along the path beside the gloomy Styx. Hermes led them to a spot further down where they could cross. He normally flitted over the black water with his winged sandals but the rest of them needed the assistance of something less magical. He took them to a bridge that arched gracefully over the flowing stream of water. Four pairs of feet trod over the bridge. Their footsteps made eerie echoes over the water.

It was then that her heart began to pound. She could hear the thudding in her ears. Her legs shook with a strange anticipation as she came down the steps of the bridge and placed her foot on the rocky soil of the other side of the river. She had yet to be on this side of the Underworld. This was a place she had once dreamed to be. This side of the river had once meant freedom to her. She tried to wrap her mind around the fact that she had arrived at a destination she once wanted to be, but now, this side of the river meant prison.

A part of her felt fulfilled.

A part of her felt dread.

Persephone faced the fate she had wanted and she faced the reality that now came to pass.

And all that she wanted to do was grab Hades and run with him as far away from anyone that they could go. But the hand that held her was Demeter's and she was dragging her from all that she longed to have.

Their path took them back down the river, going downstream with the flow of the current. The murky, black depths led the way until they came to dock where Charon and his boat were docked. Pale, glassy orbs did not so much as glance at the unusual party as they passed him by. Charon had no need for anything but the paltry pieces of currency that the dead would give him as their fare to pass into the Underworld. They ignored him just as he ignored them as their destination became the rock outcropping above the river.

Steps roughly hewn right into the stone made their path now and they carefully climbed to the yawning mouth of a dark cave high in the cliff. Her throat grew tighter with each step that they took. Her heartbeat deafened her to any other noises. She fixed her sights on that black abyss as it waited for them.

For so long, she wanted to run to that abyss. For so long, she wanted nothing more than to let that darkness lead her home.

So much had changed.

Now she dreaded the moment, just as much as she felt excitement for that moment to arrive.

In a matter of minutes, or perhaps hours, the stone steps led them up, up, up, until they reached the mouth of the cave and the four of them slipped into darkness.

Persephone walked beyond the threshold of the cave and expected there to be nothing but more shadows and dark, but to her surprise, she saw light. A flood of true sunlight like she had not seen in months, filling a great cavern. Crystal clear water rippled from one end of the cavern to another. A series of smooth, round stones protruded from the water, creating a natural bridge for the flightless immortal to walk over.

Stalactites hung from the cavern, glistening wet and dripping onto the glassy surface below. Persephone and company slowly and carefully made their way across the clear pool, their destination the mouth of the cave.

A giant blot of pure, white light.

Her heart was in her throat as they came to the end of the stones. Hermes led them to where the water lapped onto a gravely shore. The four of them trekked the steep climb upwards, answering the call of the beckoning light.

For the first time, Persephone felt her apprehension ease. Eagerness took a hold of her, gripping her harder than her mother's fingers wrapped around her wrist. Her sight was fixed on the entrance of the cave and even the presence of Hades behind her was lost to her excitement to stand in that beautiful light.

Upwards they climbed, tiny pebbles crunching beneath their feet, until they reached the mouth of the cave. The rays of sunlight pooled at the entrance and Persephone broke free of the group, as much as she could. She ran ahead with her mother still attached to her arm with a vice like grip. Hermes watched her with conflicting amusement and surprise. Hades hung back, keeping to the shadows of the cavern.

She raced past the entrance and tumbled into the world beyond. Her feet came to a screeching halt, pebbles skittering every which way, and tilted her face to the sky.

Light. Glorious light from the sun shone down on her. A beautiful blue sky stretched on for endless miles, dotted with fluffy white clouds for as far as the eye could see. An azure ocean filled the horizon. The thunderous sound of waves crashing against the rocky shore filled her eyes. Salty air from the spray stung her cheeks and her eyes were watering from the onslaught of light that she had not seen in ages.

All of it was a stunning array of vibrancy; colors and light and sound and smell. The Underworld lived in a soft, hazy existence. It was a place of dreamy light and muted colors; a peaceful world to reflect a peaceful end. Persephone had become so used to living in the twilight, that she had nearly forgotten what it was to live in the sun.

The last time that she had stood beneath this sky, this sun, in this world, Persephone had been a different woman entirely. Time and circumstance had changed her since Hades took her in his arms and whisked her away in a moment of weakness. The world had been a different place and Persephone had returned a changed goddess.

As much as she loved the Underworld, Persephone did miss this world of light.

Persephone turned to look behind her, past her mother and Hermes, to the tall figure lurking in the shadows. He seemed hesitant to step from the comfort of the darkness and into the pool of sunlight. But his eyes caught hers and she saw a ghost of a smile beneath his beard. She wondered what he thought of her, standing beneath the sun after seeing her in eternal dusk. The smile on his face told her all that she wanted to know.

But she was not allowed to linger for long. Demeter spotted the exchange between Hades and Persephone. She yanked her daughter's arm and barked at Hermes to keep moving along, as if he were at fault for the pause in their journey.

He rushed ahead of them in a hurry to obey her command. Their journey picked up right where they left off, as if nothing at all had dared to interrupt them. Persephone teased fate and her mother's temper by glancing behind her at the man who had finally moved out of the cave.

The shadows no longer shrouded him in their protective darkness. Rays of full sunlight beamed down on him, casting him in a bright glow. He squinted his eyes in discomfort and his mouth turned up into a comical grimace. His shoulders were tense as he moved clumsily along the rocky shore line. The light of the sun looked so unnatural on him and it was clear that being in such bright places made him uncomfortable.

But his discomfort made him endearing. Persephone smiled at him, thought he could not see from how busily he blinked his eyelids, and then turned back before her mother could see.

As her focus became the rugged landscape around her, Persephone's thoughts turned deeply inward.

The end of this journey would bring her to Olympus.

To the home of the immortals.

To the very seat of Zeus himself.

A place that she has feared far more than the rumors of the Underworld, and now she was being dragged there against her will.

Before, in his realm, Hades had protected her from the presence of her absent father. Now when they were in his domain…

Would she be as protected or would she be forced to face the man who forced her existence?

A tall mountain loomed over her. The jagged, snowy peak pierced the brilliant blue sky. A ring of soft white clouds lazily circled the highest point of the mountain. The presence of the rugged monolith of stone overtook everything else in the surrounding landscape. It was dominating and overbearing, making sure that it was known as a place of importance over all other things.

This was the very last place in existence that Persephone wanted to be. The home of Zeus exuded such a foreboding aura, it made Persephone sick to her stomach just to behold it.

And if she had these sensations of apprehension, how much more did standing here affect her mother. In a moment of pity for her, Persephone glanced at the woman who still held her so fiercely. Her eyes were fixed on that peak, wild and fearful, knowing who awaited them at the very top. Standing at the foot of this mountain would surely feel as though the entire thing was heaped upon her shoulders.

"Mother… do you truly want to do this?" Persephone asked her out of genuine concern. Demeter had come to this place twice already on her behalf. Guilt started to eat away at her. This was all being done because of her.

"Surely seeing him will not be worth the trouble. There must somehow be a way that you can see me while I live in the Underworld…"

But the expression on Demeter's face turned from frightened to frightening. A storm darkened her features and she glared incredulously at Persephone for coming close to suggesting that she would live in Hades' world.

"Saving you from the Underworld is worth all the trouble," Demeter responded grimly. "Come. Let us not delay a moment longer."

And with that, the four of them began their trek up the mountain. There was a set of stairs hewn into the rock, winding its way up the side of the steep terrain. Persephone feared that it would take them days to reach the top and she would arrive on the doorstep of Mount Olympus, tired and filthy. Hermes flitted in front of them, his feet never touching the dusty stone steps. Hades ambled behind them and each time that Persephone snuck a peek at him, his disposition grew more sour. The sun beamed down on him as if mocking his discomfort and he took each step with a slowness that seemed to her like nothing more than complete and utter dread.

The steps wound their way up the mountain and Persephone took note of how quickly they seemed to come to the top. The scenery changed from green to rocky. The once warm air held a chill that her sleeveless robes could not stave away. No more than ten minutes had gone by until they were reaching the top of the mountain. A thousand questions danced around in her mind but she thought not to ask any of them at this moment. All that she could guess for the quick journey to the top was that somehow time and distance had been warped by immortal power.

The steps leveled off, taking them through a ravine that was not too unlike the one where Persephone first encountered Cerberus. They came around the narrow bend and the ravine opened up onto a majestic sight.

Nestled in the crest of the mountaintop, there was a stunning palace carved from the purest, whitest marble. It clung so precariously close to the edge of a steep cliff, seeming as if the only power holding the structure to the mountain was the power of the gods that resided there. Clouds floated lazily by, competing with the pure white of the marble and looking dull in comparison. A deep blue sky painted the backdrop.

If Persephone had not been so terrified to be on the top of Mount Olympus, she would have been impressed by the beauty of the home of the gods.

She was not allowed to marvel at it for long. Demeter scoffed in disgust at the palace but the pallor of her face did not match the ire of her tone. Persephone could feel her mother's hand tremble as it pulled her ever onward, to the mountaintop that they both dreaded to ascend.

Hermes guided them along the pathway. Persephone took a peek at the brooding god behind them, their silent shadow that had not uttered a syllable since they left the Underworld. He kept his eyes trained on his feet and where Demeter's skin was pale, Hades' cheeks flushed a bright red. None of them were pleased with this sojourn to the mountain. This trek churned up unpleasant emotions for the three of them, and Persephone figured that Hermes being forced to witness this family affair was not so pleasing to him either.

The pathway wound along the edge of the cliff until it took them to the steps of that grand, white marble palace. Of course, she was afforded no chance to study the structure before Hermes fluttered up the steps, Demeter in tow with Persephone dragged behind her. She could feel her legs tremble with each step that she took; each step that took her closer and closer to the entrance. She wanted to rip her hand from her mother's claw and run straight back down that mountain, but there was no easy chance for escape.

The wide awning opened up before her, like a mouth waiting to devour her. Hermes guided them inside. She could hardly see past the tears that welled up in her eyes. They all ambled along a sweeping breezeway. A blue blur on her left side passed them by, which could only be the beautiful sky above the mountain. To her left was an indistinguishable mess of white and gray. Persephone could not have cared less about what the palace looked like. Being here meant that she was about to come face to face with her worst nightmare.

Zeus.

Hermes went along until they reached a pair of doors, so tall and so wide that she wondered how anyone could ever open them. Not a single one of her companions said as much, but Persephone knew that those doors led to a room of great importance. Her lips struggled to form the words-

"I do not want to go! Please—do not make me go!"

But nothing except pathetic squeaking would come out.

Demeter stared at the doors with nothing less than sheer disdain. Hades hung back, taking his usual place in the shadows. Hermes glanced back at everyone with a question and shades of terror written on his cherubic features.

"Persephone—" Demeter said her name with a sharpness that cut. "Stay here. You do not need to come inside."

That answered Hermes' question well enough but he managed to voice one of his own.

"What shall I do?"

Demeter stared down at him through narrowed eyes, considering him with unshielded suspicion. But she seemed to cool her own ire for a moment to bark an order at him.

"Stay with her," she commanded harshly. "Make sure that she does not get into any more trouble than she already is. And you—do not even think about touching her."

Hermes shook his head, curls flying around haphazardly. "I won't—"

But Demeter was finished with him. She whirled around to Hades.

"You. Come with me. Our vile brother will sort out this foolishness."

Hades sighed. Persephone felt the weight of the world in his heavy exhale.

"As you wish, sister…"

He walked past Persephone and Demeter and Hermes, up to the doors and placed his hand on the glossy, wooden surface. Hades muttered something about "after you" as he pushed the door open. Demeter set her jaw in a hard bite and then finally let go of Persephone. She rubbed her wrist where those fingers held her so tightly, trying to get the blood flowing back in her veins.

Demeter did not thank Hades for holding the door open and not one of them expected her to. Hades certainly did not. He watched his sister as she slipped through the crack in the door and to the room beyond. Hades did not linger. He did not want to temp Demeter's wrath any more than he already had. He spared Persephone a quick glance before he, too, disappeared through the doors.

They closed behind him and left Persephone and Hermes in a sort of stunned silence. Everything had happened so fast. The journey taken from the depths of the Underworld to the heights of Mount Olympus had only seemed like a blink of an eye; swift and forgettable.

Persephone felt some flickers of relief that she was banned from going beyond those doors and to the meeting of the Immortals, and yet…

Now that it had become forbidden to her…

Persephone's anxiety about the whole matter disappeared. She wanted to be in that room where the important decisions happened, pleading her case, and making sure that her mother did not ruin her independence forever.

Now, she was feeling anticipation of a new kind. Persephone began to pace back and forth in front of the closed doors, like a caged animal that could not control its fate. That was what she felt that she had been reduced to. Her bold move might all be for naught! She should break her mother's ruling and rush in there—

A voice called her name. It was soft and gentle, if not a little timid.

"Persephone?"

Persephone put a stop to her frenetic pacing long enough to look back at the god who she had forgotten was even still there.

"Come sit by me," he said as he sat down on the tiles and rested his back against the nearby wall. Hermes patted the space beside him, inviting her to come over. There was a soothing calmness to his voice that touched her harried soul, cooling the fire swelling up inside of her. It caught her attention and Persephone felt her anger deflate, leaving behind an exhausted sort of resignation.

"You are not allowed to touch me. Apparently." Persephone grumbled as she made her way over to where Hermes sat. She slid down the wall and landed beside him with a sigh.

"Believe me, I would not dare to touch you. Tempting Demeter's wrath seems like too great a risk to take," he said with a half-hearted laugh before his cherubic face grew serious. "But I would not touch you if I did not have your permission first…"

Persephone gave him a small smile and then held out her hand to him, resting it on her knee and opening her fingers in a gesture that silently asked him to accept the invitation.

"You have it. My mother simply must accept the fact that I have friends who just so happen to be men, and that they mean me no harm."

Hermes said nothing in response, but instead slowly laced his fingers through hers and a soft smile fell over his lips. His hand was warm and Persephone felt grateful to have his company. Her gratitude for his kind companionship was quickly chased by a dark cloud, reminding her what Demeter had unfairly accused him of. Her thoughts had not been given a chance to stay still for long, for she went right back to pondering what she had been while pacing in front of the doors.

"I wonder what they're talking about in there," Persephone speculated. "The gods in there get to decide my fate and I am sitting out here, letting it all happen. I should run in there. I should run in there and tell them what I want."

The excitement in her voice rose. She felt Hermes wince and Persephone realized that her grip on him had grown uncomfortably tight. Sure fingers loosened and she muttered an apology his way.

Hermes only nodded to confirm that he had heard her but his brows furrowed and those normally bright eyes grew pensive. He leaned in close to her and whispered so softly that only she could hear, as if to hide his question from the listening ears of Olympus.

"What is it that you want, Seph?"

Persephone leaned in just as he did. Anticipation made her blood rush in her veins. Her heart pounded inside of her chest and her lips formed one, single word.

"Freedom…"

Hermes' eyes went wide and his cheeks flushed red. He leaned in closer, until she saw the jewel-like facets in his irises, and now it was his turn to squeeze her hand.

"Seph?"

"Hermes."

"Was it you who ate the seeds?"

Now her heart came to a complete stop. Persephone felt as though the wind were knocked out of her lungs. The question rang around in her head like a bell that echoed endlessly.

"What do you mean?"

"I want to know… was it you who ate them? On your own?" The last three words were said with such a hush, Persephone could barely hear him at all. But when they reached her ears and the implication sank in, she gasped.

"Why-why would you think that?" Persephone tried to sound as if she were not panicking, but the stammer told Hermes all that he needed to know. He had not expected her to cave so easily. She could tell by the surprise on his face that he just as quickly recovered.

"I know Hades," Hermes said as he eased his grip and some of the redness faded from his cheeks. "I have known him for so long and he is not the monster that everyone believes him to be. I do not think he would have forced you or tricked you to do such a thing if that was not what you truly wanted… he is a good and honorable immortal. And you told me… your feelings for him. Your feelings for the Underworld. Eating the seeds and binding yourself to his world forever… is that freedom to you?"

He did not inquire with a shade of judgement, instead merely presenting his question with genuine curiosity. But the tears that blurred her vision and the rush of heat that crept into her cheeks came regardless. She returned his grasp, holding onto him as the room started to spin.

How did Hermes see past her and Hades' façade, seeing straight into their intentions and desires?

And why did it feel like the weight of the world had lifted off her shoulders to have someone understand that Hades was not cruel and that she was not insane?

"It is—" She choked out, unable to hold back the flood of emotion that washed over her. "I wanted to claim that freedom for myself. I ate the seeds. Hades took the fall to spare me of my mother's wrath. Please… do not tell a soul what I have done."

"I promise, I will not say a word." Hermes assured her. "Your secret is safe with me."

With that simple promise, he reached out and used his thumb to wipe away a tear that escaped to trail down her flushed face. That gesture drew a teary little giggle out of her followed by her lips turning up in a small smile. She scooted closer to Hermes until she was close enough to lean her head on his shoulder.

It was a comfort, if a tiny one, to have at least one person on her side. Hades of course was her ally in this whole affair, but to have someone on the outside, not a subject of Hades or a resident of the Underworld but rather a god of Olympus, gave Persephone some flickers of hope.

"Thank you for being my friend," Persephone said as she settled in with her head on his shoulder. "Thank you for trying to help me when I asked, and for giving me news of the world above when I was left in the dark. I am grateful for you, Hermes."

He hummed in contentment and she felt him nuzzle her hair with his lips, placing a kiss on the top of her head before resting his chin in her locks.

"I am glad to be your friend, Seph," he said warmly as he stroked her hand with his thumb. "You and I will always be friends, if you would like."

Despite the battle that was surely raging behind those closed doors, Persephone felt at ease. The closeness with a friend was something that she was still getting used to, especially shared closeness with a man.

This intimacy of friendship was soft and warm and so unlike the heat she shared with Hades. And Persephone was enchanted by it. She did not know that something like this could exist, and it soothed a part of her worried mind that so desperately needed calm.

Surely, her actions would be upheld. She would not be separated from Hades forever.

Fate spoke to her and a sense of calm assurance promised that those six seeds would bind her to the darkness.

All would be well. She moved in closer and let out a sigh. Their connection felt nearly familial and Persephone wondered how she and Hermes were entwined on the twisted family tree that belonged to the gods and goddesses. Even so, friend or family, she was glad for his companionship.

"I would like that… I would like that very much…"

Hades

The arguing had reached a fever pitch. His forehead pounded with a headache as if it were being beaten with a rock, over and over again. Everyone shrieked and shouted and spat over one another in a wild cacophony of absurd chaos.

The only two who remained silent were Hades himself and the gods of gods. Zeus sat slumped on his throne, glaring at the assembly with stony annoyance. He had completely removed himself from the situation and let his subjects squabble amongst themselves.

But from the red tint of his cheeks and the way his jaw was set, Hades could tell that his brother was coming close to losing his patience.

Hades himself had been reduced to silence only after several vicious commands from Demeter to stay quiet. So he fell into a sulking stance that was not terribly unlike the one Zeus had taken. He sat upon a throne that had been gathering dust for a millennia. This seat meant for him he all but abandoned long ago, when Zeus made clear his place in the hierarchy of the gods.

Unwelcome. Unwanted. Feared. Detested.

And when Hades realized what sort of a ruler Zeus was making himself out to be, he wanted nothing to do with the affairs of the immortals. He fled Olympus and retreated to the safety of his world. Now that he had made an unlikely return and he made his presence amongst his peers known, it seemed as if nothing had changed.

He was still being ignored by them while they bickering about what to do with his world and a goddess that had made herself an irreparable part of the Underworld. He felt his patience slipping away. Demeter's command for his silence be damned—he could not just sit here and let them decide his fate!

As the situation currently stood, Demeter threatened to let the world fall back into chaos if Persephone was to be taken from her for a second time and that was what had the rest of the immortals in a frenzy.

Every one of them was present; even the elusive gods such as himself. He found Poseidon shaking his head from time to time, fixing his older brother with an expression that wavered between pity and "I warned you about this."

Yet Poseidon stayed mostly quiet, only interjecting here and there. It was Aries who had proven to be one of the louder voices, particularly in allowing Persephone to stay in the Underworld. Demeter threatening to plunge the world back into death and misery had elected a rather heated response from him.

"Nobody wants that to happen—that was the whole reason that Zeus went to the Underworld in the first place!" He argued hotly, though Hades could tell that his anger stemmed from exasperation.

"But that wretched being over there—" Demeter pointed at Hades as if her finger were a knife, "—decided to take matters into his own hands and keep my daughter as his plaything!"

Aries shook his head. "That hardly sounds like something Hades would do…" he muttered in obvious doubt at this claim.

Demeter fumed at his dismissive attitude. Her face turned red and she gripped the edges of her chair until her knuckles turned white.

"And what of her kidnapping?! Does that sound like something he would do either, Aries? You can never know the true heart of a man and what he has done to my Persephone shows what a monster he truly is!"

The god regarded her with a steely judgement. He was not moved by her outburst but instead dug his heels in and turned the tables on her.

"And by letting the world fall into disarray and the crops die and the mortals perish shows what sort of a monster that you are," he answered with barely restrained disdain.

Demeter jumped out of her chair, as if she were about to attack the god. "Shut up! I did that to save my little girl—my Kore—"

Athena cut Demeter off before she could delve any further into a tirade.

"Both of you, stop with the bickering!"

The goddess of Wisdom spoke with an authority that would not be ignored. Demeter pursed her lips shut and glared at Aries. The god in turn just slumped back in his chair, burly arms crossed tightly over his chest, and he rolled his eyes but respected Athena's command and stayed quiet.

Athena also stood up from her chair and walked to the middle of the room, standing before all the gathered Immortals to address them as one.

"Of course we do not want to let Demeter spread chaos once again. Though I do believe that she understands the serious consequences she will face from Zeus if she does…" Athena flickered her brightly gleaming eyes over at Demeter, shades of distrust in her gaze. "We must take her threats to heart."

Hades could not stand to remain silent for a second longer. He, too, rose out of his seat to plead his case to the Immortals.

"But the Underworld will fall into chaos if Persephone is forcibly taken from it. And if my world falls, then what of yours?" He questioned the dozen wary eyes that watched him. "Are you willing to take that risk? It seems as though you can stop Demeter from making good on her threats, but can the chaos of broken balance be stopped if that is the path that we chose here today?"

More than a few voices murmured their agreement with him; Aries and Poseidon being a few of those voices and Hades felt some sort of relief at having their support. But Demeter did not take kindly at all to having her threats challenged. She whirled around on the spot to see each and every one of them who were siding with Hades, before whirling back around to her brother.

"I told you to stay quiet—"

"I will not stay quiet. I am through with your demands and commands. You are trying to defend your daughter, which you have every right to do. I am defending the Underworld—a creation of my own hands; just as much my child as Persephone is yours. I have a right to voice my concerns. Do not silence me any longer."

Demeter gaped at him for a breath of a second, shocked that he pushed back. But her shock melted away as her anger took precedence. She marched up to him while the others watched eagerly, bloodthirsty for more scandal. Demeter stood toe to toe with Hades and tilted her face to glare up at him.

"You have no rights," she declared hatefully. "You forfeited your rights the second you stole Persephone away from her rightful home."

Athena was losing her patience. Hades could tell by the way she sighed. She quickly pushed herself between the siblings, likely in fear that the argument would come to blows. The goddess stood nearly as tall as Hades and her size intimidated Demeter enough for her to take a few steps back. She placed her hand on Hades' chest; a gesture meant to soothe his ire, yet to also keep him at bay. Athena pointed at Demeter, who watched the other goddess warily.

"Demeter, you should have had your rights forfeited the second you caused a massive death toll amongst the mortals," Athena chided. "Neither of you have moral ground to stand on. But we have no choice but to settle the matter, lest all that we know falls into chaos. Zeus—surely you have something to add to the discussion."

Now every single eye in the room was fixed on the god of gods. They had nearly forgotten that he existed, he had stayed so silent throughout the arguing. After Athena addressed him however, Zeus could no longer ignore the matter at hand. He held an air of boredom as his vivid blue gaze looked over Athena. He raised a brow and it nearly disappeared into his brilliant, white hairline.

"Indeed I do, Athena," he replied lazily, or so it seemed to Hades.

Athena widened her eyes and Hades saw some scarlet rise in her cheeks. "You are free to speak your piece at any point you would like!"

"There is a clear solution to the problem and the lot of you are too dense and too busy arguing to see the obvious answer."

Athena bit her lip. Hades could feel her hand shaking.

"Why don't you enlighten us on what this obvious answer is," she requested in short, clipped tones.

Zeus answered her with an inquiry of his own. "How many seeds did the goddess eat?"

Demeter glowered at her brother but she was the one who answered him. "Six. She ate six seeds."

Zeus sat up straighter in his throne. He started to claim his authority over the room, at long last. His voice boomed over the tiles, echoing in a way that none of them could easily ignore.

"Very well," he began in that thunderous tone. "For every seed that the goddess consumed, she will stay in the Underworld for that many months. Six seeds. Six months. Then, for the remainder of the year, the goddess will live with her mother in the land of the living. Her time between the worlds will be divided. Hades, do you believe that this compromise will help maintain the balance of your world that you apparently care so much about?"

His question directed at Hades was abrupt and it took him a moment to catch up and realize that he was being addressed.

"It—it might be enough," he stammered in disbelief. Could it be that a compromise might be made? How has he been too thick to see it himself? "The promise of her return will right the wrongs that her leaving will create."

As much as he loathed that Zeus was the one to see what he could not, Hades could not help the excitement he felt at the prospect of never losing Persephone—

And that she would get what she wanted. Her home and the Underworld—

"No. No! I will not agree to this!" Demeter's cry pierced the hope that started to build. "There should be no compromise when my daughter's well-being is threatened!"

In seconds, the sunny sky turned dark. The thunder rumbled above them. Now it was Zeus who erupted from his throne. His eyes flashed like lightning and his hair gleamed like fire beneath the darkened sky.

"This is not just about her!" He roared. "This is about all of us! You must bend the knee and put aside your stubborn pride! This is my ruling and you will abide by it, or I shall see to it that you face serious consequences, just as Athena warned."

Athena let go of Hades to instead stand beside Demeter. She grabbed her shoulders and helped keep her standing. Everyone could see how her legs shook as Zeus stood over her, losing his temper.

But they all underestimated how the woman was made from iron. Despite her visible trembling, Demeter did not let him intimidate her soul.

"Fine—" she snarled and shivered. "Then I will make those months of her absence a misery for us all. The world will be cold. The fields will be barren. I will make everyone suffer until she returns to me."

"Demeter, do not test me," Zeus growled threateningly. "You have tested me time and again with this nonsense. Hades—"

"Yes?" Hades replied quickly, feeling foolish for not wanting the fuming Zeus to turn on him.

"You are forbidden to leave the Underworld while the goddess is with her mother. It seems as though Demeter is willing to test my patience, so I do not need your presence in the world above to add kindling to the fire. Stay in your realm when she is away. Surely there are others to occupy yourself with when the goddess is away. Do you understand?"

Hades took his time to answer. With this arrangement, he would not be losing the love of his life forever… he would only be losing her temporarily. Those six months without her would be agony. Of course he would be tempted to sneak away whenever he missed her. Zeus did not understand that there was nobody else. There would never be anyone else ever again. But if he did not agree to these terms, then he might lose her forever.

"Yes." He said at long last.

The sky did not seem so dark anymore but the atmosphere of the room remained heavy. Demeter had taken to staring at Hades, silent accusations of all sorts thrown at him but his agreement to stay away seemed to settle her down.

Somewhat.

"Fine then," Zeus sat back down on his throne. "The goddesses' time in the world above begins now, since she is already here. I am sick of hearing about this goddess. There will be no talk of her again after this day. The issue has been settled. I beg of you all, do not bother me with her again. Are we all in agreement?"

A mutter of agreement rippled over the room. Demeter made no noise at all but stared at the crowd with varying shades of hate and disappointment.

Satisfied that his orders would be obeyed, Zeus dismissed them all with a regal wave of his hand and settled back into the chair as if the whole ordeal had thoroughly exhausted him.

Persephone

They had heard the yelling.

They had seen the skies grow cloudy.

They had witnessed the heavens flash with lightning.

What had happened in that room, they questioned each other a hundred times. They were no longer sitting on the floor. Their nerves had been shot to pieces once they heard the shouts of Zeus and sitting on the floor would not do. Persephone was clinging to Hermes with a grip that nearly took off his fingers. His normally sunny disposition had grown darker than she ever saw it before. He looked ten years older with his jaw clenched and a frown decorating his features. Even his blond hair seemed duller and his eyes gray instead of blue as he stared at the closed doors.

Persephone cowered at his side, fearful of hearing that angry voice yelling. This was the first she had ever heard of her father's voice, and of course her first experience was having to hear his fury.

"What did he say?" Persephone said, plastered against his side as if he would protect her from Zeus. "

"I could not tell… but it is quiet now," he spoke lowly, sounding like the shadow of Hermes.

But before either of them could question again what had happened behind the closed doors, they burst open with a crash. Persephone jumped and clung tighter to Hermes. She expected to see Zeus come storming out and rush over to her, to punish her for her actions and the actions of Hades.

Who she saw instead was her mother, red faced and tears streaming down her cheeks and hair flying out behind her in a flurry. Following closely in her footsteps was Hades. The doors behind the two slammed shut, giving Persephone a quick glimpse of the room beyond. She thought that she spotted a large throne and a figure with white hair sitting on it, but it was merely a second that the room was visible before the doors closed.

She switched her focus not to her mother, clearly upset, but to Hades. His skin was pale but his eyes were full of a hopeful gleam. Persephone gasped and she let go of Hermes. Her feet started to move towards Hades. All else but him had been forgotten.

Did that expression on his face mean that they had won? Was Persephone not going to be ripped away from the Underworld?

But before they could reach each other, Demeter reached her first.

She caught her in that hard grip and immediately started to push her backwards.

"Mother?" Persephone gasped as she was forcibly dragged away. "Mother, what is going on?"

The hopefulness on Hades' face fell. His skin grew paler. He stopped in his tracks and reached out for her, calling her name softly. But Demeter only pulled harder, pulling her down the breezeway and back to where they came from.

"Mother!" Persephone struggled to get away. "Please! What is happening?"

Hermes ran up to stand next to Hades. He watched the scene between mother and daughter, helpless and confused. Persephone's cries at her mother grew louder and louder the further she was pulled from Hades. Panic started to take over. Had they failed? Had her actions been for nothing?

"Stop struggling!" Demeter hissed as she wrangled her daughter towards the exit. "You are coming with me. We are going home. Now."

"What?! No!"

"Come."

The look of longing on Hades' face made her heart shatter. She started to weep in earnest at the uncertainty of her fate which she had tried so hard to take control of.

"Mother, let me say goodbye!" Persephone pleaded.

"No."

And with that, Persephone was reduced to uncontrollable sobbing as she was taken once more, against her will, to an uncertain fate that was not of her choosing.