An underwater beach. Persephone had never seen the ocean before much less been beneath it. The enormous shell she rode in descended lower and lower to the dancing lights coming from the bottom of the sea. Pure wonder lit her eyes. She could reach out and touch the water, yet she sat dry in an air bubble. All manner of underwater creatures swam and danced around her. They performed and entertained the guests that idly made their way to the feast held at Poseidon's palace. Persephone had never seen fish so big or anything on land that had eight legs. Merpeople swam besides the coaches asking if the asking the guests if they had everything they needed. When they came to Persephone's ride, the elegantly dressed servant of the water asked if she needed any refreshment or if she was comfortable.
"I'm fine, thank you, and quite comfortable." She settled deeper into the plush blue seat. The merman smiled at her and bowed before swimming up the next shell. Eros and Comus sat with her, Eros taking up the entire opposite seat with his great wings. He leaned back and crossed his legs at that knee. Every few seconds his wings rustled, and tiny water droplets flew around him.
"I wish you would stop doing that," Comus complained. "You'll make all the dye run out of my new toga, and it took me hours to do my sweet little flower's hair." He turned to her and readjusted a curl or two.
Eros waved his hand casually. "It did not take you hours to do Persephone's hair; she did most of it herself. Besides, the water weighs down my wings. I can't help it." He shook them directly at Comus and laughed.
"The water doesn't hurt your feathers?" Persephone asked him.
"Not really," Eros answered. "But it takes an eternity to dry them out. If it hadn't been for sneaking you out tonight, I don't know if I'd have come at all."
Persephone was grateful that Eros had come with them. He and Comus came to Demeter's temple and found Persephone in her bedroom. She wasn't locked in her room, per se, but priests and nymphs had been set on patrol to ensure that she didn't leave the temple. Comus had stood watch and distracted the nymphs that passed while Eros flew up, helped her find something to wear, and flew her down behind the building. Persephone never realized how close she'd been to the ocean. It was equally amazing to find hippocamp-drawn seashells waiting to take them to the underwater palace.
"You'd really miss Triton's birthday? He's our friend."
Eros opened one eye and smirked. "More your friend than mine, turtledove. He usually doesn't come up, and I usually don't go down. Still, if you think he's wonderful, then I agree with your judgment."
"I didn't say he was wonderful," Persephone protested, feeling herself turn pink.
"Stop teasing our little wildflower," Comus pouted. "Don't listen to him. He's jealous that the spotlight is off him tonight." Eros rolled his eyes and winked at her.
A carpet of woven seaweed waited for them at the entrance to the party, and lines of dolphins spinning and performing all sorts of different tricks welcomed them inside. Persephone stayed close to her escorts until they were through the entryway and in the large audience chamber. Comus pointed to Triton waving and greeting guests from the bottom of the dais, the three thrones behind him filled with all sorts of gifts. Comus took Persephone's hand and all but dragged her to the front of the room with Eros closing the distance behind them. The crowd thinned a bit the closer they came to the platform, but it was enough for Triton to find them. He jumped to the ground and ran straight for Persephone, scooping her in his arms and twirling her around.
"Water Lily, you made it!" He kissed her cheek. "You're here. I'm so happy to see you." Triton did not let go of her hands.
"I'm glad I could make it. If it weren't for these two heroes, I'd have missed the party."
"Comus, a hero?" Triton barked a laugh. "That's hilarious."
"I'll have you know that I stood guard to ensure that the fair goddess moved stealthily away from her mother's tower," Comus huffed. "It was a difficult job."
"Yes, so full of peril." Triton hugged Persephone again. "But, I will give you credit due to you. After all, you two risked the wrath of Demeter to bring our lotus blossom to the feast. Do enjoy yourself, sweet girl. I will look for you after I am finished greeting my guests. Watch out for my father, though," Triton warned them. "He's already drunk and has one of your father's endless chalices." He pointed at Comus.
"I'll tell my darling father to cut him off."
"No, that will make it worse. Just keep your distance. My mother can handle him." With one last kiss to Persephone's cheek, Triton let her go and turned towards the crowd forming behind him. Before Persephone made it too far away, Triton turned and called after her. When she turned, his smile was mischievous. "Say hello to my uncle when you see him. He's around here somewhere."
Persephone blushed and turned to hide in the crook of Eros' wing. She heard Triton's laughter and curled the feathers tighter around her.
"What's all this about?" Eros kept his wings closed around them.
"Hades is here," Persephone whispered.
Eros looked around the room and then hunched back down. "I don't see him. Why does it matter if he's here?"
Persephone blushed again. "Hades and I met at my presentation at court," she explained. "I told him about it, and ever since he won't let me live it down."
"You just met each other at court. Why is it surprising you've met each other?"
Persephone shook her head. "It wasn't at court necessarily, or the feast. Do you remember when my mother came for me? She took me back to this room and told me to cover back up." She sighed. "I didn't go back to the party; instead, I ran out to a courtyard and cried, and Hades found me there. We were together alone for a while."
Eros' eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want anyone else to know. Triton figured it out after Hades and I came back to the feast one after the other. Now he thinks I'm going to marry him or something."
"Well," Eros said quietly, "it would be fun having a queen for a best friend."
Persephone's cheeks turned red, and she turned away from him. "We've only met once, and do you think my mother would let me marry him, or anyone for that matter? He's the king of the Underworld."
"You're letting this ruin your fun, little flower." Eros kissed her forehead. "So what if Hades is here? Say hello to him or don't, but you'll give yourself worry lines if you're not careful." He patted her cheek. "I'm going to a drink. Want one?"
"Just a small one. My mother doesn't need to know I was drinking as well as sneaking out." She smiled.
She never saw him, but he watched her all night. Hades was not surprised to see the rebellious little flower at her friend's birthday party. His nephew had made it quite clear that Persephone was invited come famine or flood; if her mother ever knew that the goddess of spring was down here, Triton would get both.
Her winged escort left her at the same time Hades thought he'd say hello, but winged sandals replaced angelic feathers. Hermes and Apollo flanked her on both sides, Hermes offering her a silver chalice. Hades sank back into the shadows, watching the little rosebud take an unsure sip before Hermes tilted the cup higher. She sputtered and tried to pull the drink away. Anger was beginning to burn inside Hades' chest, but he kept his distance. The shadows around him blackened further, hiding his presence.
He watched a full chalice replace the empty one, and when this one came away from her lips, she staggered. Strong arms held her in place, but her head lolled to the side, and her knees failed her. Her two companions laughed, placing a hand around her shoulders and steered her through a partially blocked door behind the pillars. Hades stalked the shadows around the perimeter of the room and slid through the same door as the lady Persephone. He followed the inebriated laughter down the corridor and through a small courtyard. He caught a glimpse of Apollo's glow moving through the far cloisters and followed.
He waited until they veered down a second hall and through a tired-looking door. Hades heard her struggling to keep the two villains at bay. He leaned down and saw them through the keyhole. Persephone lay sprawled on her back on a threadbare blanket. Apollo held her wrists above her head, and she was kicking ferociously at Hermes while his hands moved up her thighs and pushed her skirt higher on her leg. She grunted and opened her mouth to scream, but Apollo clamped one of his hands over her mouth.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Apollo warned her.
The smolder turned to full inferno while he watched the poor creature struggle. He whispered something through the door, and Persephone fell still, as if asleep. The two gods stopped and looked at each other in confusion.
"What did you do?" Hermes demanded.
"Me? What makes you think I did anything?"
"You must have covered her nose, stupid. Look, she's unconscious now."
Apollo shrugged. "Makes this a lot easier, doesn't it?"
"Does it?"
The God of the Underworld had to duck to enter the tiny chamber. His voice resonated through the small room and made the very stones shake. Hermes and Apollo turned together so quickly that their heads collided, and they both fell backward. Hades looked from the crumpled gods on the floor to the soft, sleeping form on the old sofa and then back to the gods. He did not speak.
"Highness—" Hermes began but was cut off by the raw fury in Hade's voice.
"Silence, maggot," Hades breathed. "How dare you attempt to defile her? She is a goddess." Hermes started to speak again but stopped when Hades' eyes flashed red. "Tell me why I should not rip the sorry excuses of manhood from your bodies and leave you here as slaves for the masters?"
"Your Majesty!" Apollo cried and flung himself at the king's feet. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He repeated this until his voice died.
"We were just…I mean…We were only going to—"
"Rape her?" Hades finished Hermes' thought. "Force yourself upon her? Ruin her?" Hades turned away from them. "I may be the King of the Dead, but do you think my anger is greater than that of her mother's?"
The two young gods turned whiter than any spirit and looked at each other. Both, it seemed, had forgotten about Persephone's mother and the damage she would do if she ever found out who had done this to her daughter.
"You think I am angry," Hades chuckled. "I am a calm sea compared to the storm Demeter can create. He looked down at the sleeping figure still on the bed. "Leave here," he demanded. "And pray that I forget what I saw."
"You won't tell, will you?" Apollo asked.
"Is Heaven's protégée afraid of being caught?" Hades sneered. "You should be, especially with Demeter being one of the Sacred Twelve."
"He's right," Hermes whispered. "What are we going to do? What will we say?"
"I'm leaving, just as he told us to." Apollo crawled to the door and threw himself through the frame.
"What about her?" Hermes pointed to Persephone.
"She is in my charge now," Hades said, "and no longer your concern. Not that her safety was ever a concern to you was it?" His eyes darkened. "Now go."
The two young deities were gone when Persephone woke up. She did not wake entirely but instead stayed in a dreamlike trance as Hades lifted her from the sorry excuse of a bed. He carried her back down the hallway and hailed a nymph just outside the audience chamber. The pale creature looked confusedly from the unconscious spring goddess to the glowering king of the Underworld. She did not stay long enough to hear Hades' command again. Hades watched a pair of glistening wings work their way across the party until they stopped in front of the shaded entryway.
"Eros, here."
Eros snapped around and jumped into the shadows. "Hades?" He asked, but then caught sight of Persephone. "What happened?"
"I need your help. We must get Persephone home before Demeter finds her gone."
"Is she alright?" Eros asked.
Hades nodded. "She is asleep, but I cannot keep her that way for long. I found her with those two dogs before they hurt her."
"Who?" Eros asked. "Who tried to hurt Persephone?"
Eros' alabaster skin turned to fire the more Hades told him. "Where did they get off to?" he demanded.
Hades shook his head. "I don't care at the moment." Persephone stirred in his arms. "I'm more concerned about the rage her mother will create if she is not home soon."
"Take her to the entrance hall. I'll meet you there, but I have to find someone first." Eros was gone before Hades could question him.
By the time Hades had made it to the entrance, undetected Eros and Comus were waiting with a small seashell carriage and two hippocamps. Hades placed Persephone in the giant shell and lowered her to her side. Comus threw a cloak over her and turned back to Eros.
"What happened to her?"
"I'll tell you on the way back," Eros said, "but we need to get her back Demeter now."
"But what happened?" Comus demanded again. "And what does he have to do with anything?"
Eros held his arms between Comus and Hades. "He's helping. He'll make our excuses to Triton while we leave with Persephone, but we have to go. Please, Comus," Eros urged, "we need to get her home before she wakes up." Comus started to argue again, but Eros stopped him. He made Comus get in the carriage and jumped in behind him. "Thank you," Eros told Hades as the hippocamps lurched forward.
"Keep her safe," Hades answered. "Please."
Eros nodded, and the shell carriage turned, making its way towards the surface. Hades watched it grow smaller and smaller before breaking the surface. He ordered his chariot brought and made ready to retreat to his undergrown kingdom. He stepped up and took hold of the reins, but as he adjusted his cloak, something small and white fell out of the folds. His eyes widened in rare amazement when he realized it was a tiny, perfectly formed tulip. It looked so out of place in his enormous hand, and yet he felt an overwhelming source of urgency to protect it from harm. Hades looked up where the carriage had disappeared on land and stared at the spot in silence. Secretly, he felt sorry that the poor child would grow up so inexperienced and naïve. Still, he silently promised her that he would be there to ward off trouble should she ever decide to leave her sanctuary.