Chapter 23

Hades

I tried to check in on Persephone every day, just for a few minutes. Oh, I followed Aphrodite's advice and stayed away, but I just needed to reassure myself that she was safe.

I wished that I could take her in my arms and tell her I would give her the world to make her happy. I wished she would look at me with the same admiration that she had when I first knew her, before I had destroyed what little feelings she might have had for me. Aphrodite had confirmed my feeling that, maybe, Persephone and I could eventually be happy together. I wished that we were there now. I didn't even know if that day would ever come. So in the meantime, I just watched.

Persephone would be upset if she caught me, I knew. I wore my Helm of Darkness to avoid detection. She never knew I was there, and I still got to see her.

She was happy. Or, at least, I hoped she was. I suppose that it could have been described as more of a determined not-sadness. She did smile once, however. She smiled as she pruned the pomegranate tree. It was the only plant in the whole garden that had been doing well before. Thanks to Persephone's efforts, it was flourishing now. There were even deep red fruits growing among the leaves.

At first I was worried that I had made the wrong choice in showing her this place. I was afraid that it would make her homesick and try to escape again. I wasn't sure that she would survive if she did. I soon realized that my fears were unfounded. It wasn't that she said or acted any different that led to my realization, it was because she looked different.

The Underworld has a strange effect on people's physical appearance sometimes. I, for instance, had much paler skin than before - unnaturally pale really - I had gotten taller and leaner, my eyes had become much darker, and I suddenly had a remarkably good glare.

For Persephone, I had already noticed a few things. She had a taller, more stately appearance. She was losing the shy air she had about her. Her voice had a lower pitch, and, more strikingly, her hair was darkening. It had faded from the shining gold to a rich chestnut. I was fascinated to see if it would get darker, or if anything else would happen.

I had observed over the years that the people that the Underworld changes the most are the ones that have started to accept their role in the Underworld. Might as she tried to fight against it, Persephone was starting to look at the Underworld as her home. It hopefully wouldn't be too long before the change was complete.

She was also, I noticed one day, wearing the necklace I had given her. Sometimes, as she would pause in her work, she would finger the chain absentmindedly.

I will admit that the pomegranate tree being in the garden was not by accident. I quickly saw that she was not going to eat anything that I or Aspasia offered her. I hoped that she would trust the work of her own hands and perhaps eat some of the fruit. Throughout the days that I watched her, she never did.

Once, however, she did pick up one of the fruits and held it to her nose. She breathed in the scent, as if she were imagining how it might taste. My heartbeat quickened for a moment, but she placed it down with a sigh. She had a stronger will than I had thought.

As strong as her will was, the rest of her was getting weaker by the day.

One day, I noticed her swaying on her feet under the pomegranate tree, then she fainted. I immediately threw off my Helm and rushed to her side.