Hades glanced up from his study desk as though someone had startled him. He blinked in the gloom, checking that his senses were giving him the correct information. A Lampade, one of the servants who attended to those who entered Elysium, bowed to him as he stood.
"She is here," Hades muttered as an explanation and the Lampade grinned. He did not need to say anything further; the servant bent to his papers and began to tidy the Lord of the Underworld's room.
Hades called forth the darkness and bade let it swallow him until he vanished to reappear beside Cerberus. The gargantuan three-headed dog barked in greeting to its master and its red glowing eyes fixed on him with affection. But Hades did not have time for a quiet word for his guard dog. He stood, ramrod straight and leaning forward, his eyes piercing through the doorway of his realm intently, just waiting, waiting…
There was a flash of astounding white light and the trio emerged, grinning. On the left was Hermes, who appeared to be halfway through a witty remark. His mouth was quirked into a smile and his caduceus tapped his thigh to emphasise his point. On the right was Hecate, the insufferable necromancer and goddess of spirits and magics. She already had her vivid eyes on Hades and a wicked smile touching her lips.
But all Hades had eyes for was the beautiful, regal figure of his wife in between the two. Persephone seemed to glow as she found her husband's longing gaze.
"I'm ho…" Persephone started to get through the word 'home' but Hades had already materialised in front of her, his arms locked desperately around her body, his lips cutting off hers from finishing the sentences as he gave her long, lingering, fierce kisses. She leant into him, pressed her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Hades got lost in the sensation of her for a long time. When they finally leant apart to breathe Hades stared at his love, his Persephone and let all of the devotion and adoration he had for her show. He'd missed her terribly, every minute of every day.
"I'm home," she said simply and he heard the unspoken I have missed you too.
Hermes snorted, bowed low and theatrically and then disappeared, no doubt being called elsewhere. Hecate blew the couple a kiss before wrapping herself in black smoke and likewise leaving the couple to themselves.
Hades swept his wife up into his arms and revelled in her closeness. Breathless, panting, Persephone smiled and cuddled him closer. So much bliss poured through him and he just got to hold her there against his body. Hades stared at her and would not let anything break the moment for a long, long time.
"You'd think it would get easier," Persephone murmured against his cheek. "It doesn't."
"No," Hades sighed. He remembered the two Greek warriors stuck fast to their golden thrones and a sobering truth hit him – everything could be taken away at any time.
But not right now, he thought happily. Right now she is here, she is mine and we are reunited.
"Even working doesn't really take my mind off missing you," Persephone admitted, her sweet voice close to his ear. She nuzzled closer and his heart raced.
"I have seen the fruitions of your labours in my brothers' realm," Hades admitted, smiling with pride that his wife had already done such a staggering amount of good for his realm. Persephone not only made him the happiest, most besotted being he had ever met but was also a huge asset to his kingdom. She was perfect.
Hades sat right on the riverbank with Persephone still clutched in his arms. Cerberus's ears flicked as his master cuddled Persephone close so that the Queen and King of the Underworld had their foreheads pressed together, seated on the ground. Persephone shifted into Hades's lap, the golden tresses of her gown falling over his armour. He smiled into her eyes.
"Never have so many Shades been awarded the eternal respite of Elysium and a home with those they cherish on the Isle of the Blessed. Never have so many of the living respected the dead," Hades whispered his pride and joy. "You and your mother and Hecate have begun an entirely new practise that gives closure and comfort to the living." He watched his praise light her up and realised that she had done all of it for him. It was humbling.
"We should move to places more comfortable," Hades suggested. Persephone tightened her grasp around his neck and a challenge entered her wonderful dark eyes.
"I'm not moving. You'll have to shift both of us," she teased lightly.
Hades grinned and the next moment they had travelled through shadow to his chambers. They fell sideways onto his bed and Persephone laughed.
"What is so amusing?" Hades asked, his hands idly making their way down her back in a way that made her shiver with delight.
"I have to get this dress off… Before you tear it otherwise… Hecate will be furious!" Persephone had to cut her sentence into bits; her husbands' antics were making her rather breathless and the laughter wasn't helping. Hades was just about to help her with this when there was an urgent knocking from outside his chambers.
They wouldn't dare disturb unless it was frightfully important, Hades realised. He stifled his annoyance and hugged Persephone close.
"I am so sorry love…"
"See what's happened," she told him. Hades loved that she knew it was urgent. There was no annoyance in her face, only concern.
Hades reluctantly removed himself from their embrace and strode to the door. When opened, he beheld a startled hamadryade who bent extremely low into a bow.
"Apologies, my liege," the servant gasped. "But there seems to be a disturbance in Tartarus. It lies beyond Phylegethon, my Lord. We are not sure what is going on."
Hades nodded, grim-faced. "I shall see to it immediately. Have my chariot prepared."
"My Lord," the servant bowed and scurried off. Fear made the immortal dash away. Hades turned to find Persephone waiting for an explanation. Everything about the way she looked made him ache with need.
Why do these things happen the night I am reunited with my wife?
Hades stored the fuming aside to deal with later. He was a king, his duty was clear. Something was not right in Tartarus.
Hades summoned his sword, the rest of his armour and his Helmet of Invisibility. They fell onto his form, materialising out of the darkness instantly. Persephone's eyes widened in concern as she saw the heavy armament he was undertaking.
"There is a disturbance in Tartarus I must see to," Hades told her in a calm voice. "I hopefully shan't be long there."
"What's wrong?" Persephone stood and moved to him, her expression beseeching. "Why are you frightened?"
Hades grimaced. "Tartarus is full of the condemned. It is a dangerous place. I have fortified it well. There should not be a disturbance issuing from its depths. With any luck, it is nothing of concern."
He glimpsed the fear on his wife's face and tried to placate her. Her gently cupped her face and stroked her hair. "I will be fine. There is nothing in my realm I cannot handle. I will come safely back to your side as soon as I have dealt with this."
"Let me come with you," Persephone asked.
Hades shook his head sadly. "It is too volatile for a new immortal, love. I have neglected in your education of the divine powers and although I can protect you, it may distract me from my duty." Persephone bit her lip and Hades reassured her. "Whilst I am gone, Daeira should begin to instruct you in the ways of utilising your new divine gifts so that should the need arise, you can accompany me down to Tartarus in future."
"Sorry," Persephone said, her face downcast at the news that she would be no help. Hades kissed her.
"Do not be sorry," he told her, staring deeply into her eyes to convince her of what he said. "It is my fault. I should have set some study for you whilst you were in the sun. I did not and that is not any of your doing. Besides…" Hades heard the rumbling of feet outside and knew his chariot was ready for the descent. "Tartarus is not a pleasant place for anyone, myself included. I seldom enter it. It is a confusing, tormented place. You should only accompany me when you have to and not a moment sooner. I would spare you seeing the eternal punishments unfolding within unless the need is dire."
"I won't be afraid of any part of our realm, Hades." His wife's stubborn courage reared up and Persephone stood straighter. "I know my duty. I will see Tartarus and the justice within. But I will study before then, so I am not a hindrance."
"You are never a hindrance, my love," Hades stressed. "I will always need you."
Persephone planted a kiss on Hades's cheek which he returned by pressing his mouth against her and relishing the taste of her tongue.
"See you soon," she quipped when he let her go, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Very soon," he promised, before smartly walking out of the door to where his chariot stood waiting. Servants handed him the reins and he shook them, getting the horses ready, checking that his Helmet was close by. Hades fumed internally the entire time.
Why now? Why do the fiery pits seek to ruin my time with my Queen on the eve of her return? It is ridiculous. Five hundred seasons and not a whisper and now there is a disturbance? Hades despised the timing.
He barked a command at his horses and they began to move swiftly, tugging his almighty chariot into the air. He glanced back at his House and spied Persephone standing anxiously with Daeira close at hand, watching his ascent.
That is where I should be, he thought glumly. In there with her.
But Hades merely sighed and let the reins loose, giving the horses their heads to speed him off towards the flaming River Phlegethon. The hooves of his great steeds did not falter as they leapt through the burning waters of fire that would never be quenched.
Towards the mouth of the pits of Tartarus were the Fields of Punishment. Hades glimpsed some of the doomed souls who were not considered enough of a threat to merit the restrictions of Tartarus and its full hellish confinements but was each punished in a different way. Theseus and his companion were still stuck to their golden thrones before a banquet of ashes that looked like a brilliant feast. The two men were silent, morbid and wishing that they had never got so drunk and stupid. Some lost souls wandered about in these fields, miserable and lost. But further beyond, like a sudden back hole in the gloomiest pit of the world, loomed Tartarus.
Over this enormous span where the earth simply dropped away into an abyss that no one, immortal or mortal, could fathom the depth of were the gates of Tartarus. Deceptively flimsy looking with the appearance of many layers of bronze poles laid one on top of the other to cover the gigantic hole, the gates of Tartarus were the most unbreakable objects in existence. And if this was not enough to ensure that nothing ever stepped foot outside of Tartarus, either side of these gates were guarded by the Hekatonkheir giants. These hundred-handed wardens, faithful since the days of the Titan War, stood unblinkingly on duty. Hades brought his chariot low over the nearest giant and addressed him from in the air.
The giants nodded their deference to the God of the Dead and the one on the east side called out.
"There be sounds issuing from the gates, milord," the giant explained. His wide, muscular body turned and several dozen of his hundred hands gestured to the bronze-coloured gate. "Take a listen. Be it the titans that rage inside or the tormented?"
Hades steered closer and once near he heard what had the giants so worried. Through his seemingly impenetrable gates he heard, very softly, voices murmuring. He shouldn't have been able to hear anything. And what was more worrying still was that whoever was talking sounded excited. They were holding in amusement and speaking animatedly. The inmates should not have been able to discern another's presence. Hades frowned, growing concerned.
"When did you first hear this?" Hades enquired of his guards.
"Moments ago," the giant answered promptly. "I stand nigh on millennia at my post, milord. I never hear that which be coming forth now until almost minutes by the strikes of Chronos, Lord of Time."
Hades nodded as he ingested this information.
"I shall be entering," Hades told his guards. They nodded, not having expected anything else.
Hades led the horses forward cautiously, slipping his Helmet of Invisibility on as he neared. He reached the gate and touched it with one hand and then, in one quick motion, he leapt from the seat of the chariot and simply plunged through the gate as though it was the surface of a deep, dark pool. The horses nickered and made to bolt in fright but the giants soothed them and held Hades's reins in their many hands. They exchanged glances as the God of the Underworld completely vanished from side on the other side of the gates of Tartarus.