Persephone's POV
I wake up to the sound of an opening door. I sit bolt upright, but not to be greeted with the dreaded figure of hades, but only two young women; shades.
"We're sorry to startle you milady." The taller one states clearly, only to be pinched by the other.
"Who are you?" I ask out of curiosity.
Again the taller speaks "I am Doriana, and this is Anne. We're your servants."
"Hades sent you?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"To help get you ready for your meeting with him today."
Hades POV
"Thanatos, if you were the goddess of spring, where in the underworld would you go?"
I hate to ask him this but, it is necessary. He gives me a quizzical look.
" If I were the goddess of spring, I wouldn't BE in the underworld." He replies.
"You are completely unhelpful."
"I would go to the Elysian Fields." He offers.
"Thank you!" I call over my shoulder as I run off, realizing the time.
Persephone's POV
"What about this one?" Anne offers, holding up a green bejeweled gown.
"No!" I yell. It joins the pile of rejected clothing on the bed. At last she pulls out a long flowing light blue dress and an indigo cape decorated with sapphires.
"Milady, this is the last one." I have managed to reject every dress in the closet. So, I relent and nod in agreement. I put the dress on quickly and hope to escape without them noticing my hair. I pull the hood halfway up before Doriana stops me.
"Oh no you don't. You've forgotten your hair!" I inwardly groan.
"Dori!" I am already friends with these two. I look to Anne for help, but she shrugs and laughs.
"One of these days I'm going to cut it all off." I threaten.
We settle with on a simple princess braid for my long brown hair. When dori is done I flip the hood up again, only to have it yanked down. I slip on black sandals and turn towards the door. Anne and Doriana see my anxious face. Anne touches my arm.
"Hades is a good man, Sephy."
"How can you say that?" I yell turning towards them. "He kidnaped me!"
"Lord hades saved us from a terrible fate in Tartarus." She said quietly,
"Wha..?"
"Yes. Both me and dori were destined for Tartarus, had he not intervened."
I'm speechless. I had no idea.
"We must get you to hades." Dori interrupts. We walk off.
As we arrive, hades dismisses dori and Anne. He smiles softly at me. I do not return the gesture.
"We're going to the Elysian Fields." He says taking my hand. I have to admit, it is beautiful. Trees are hung with glowing flowers and everything is a strange color; trees are bare with a dark black bark, grass is deep green, flowers are a translucent blue. I don't want hades to think I have any interest in his lands, but I do explore a little. I wrap a vine of little flowers around my head creating a crown. He smiles at this and motions for me to follow. Under what looks like a willow tree, I sit on a swing, and he sits against the trunk. I almost like it here.
"Persephone, I wonder, did you ever see the books I left you?"
"Yes." I answer stiffly. His attempt at conversation dies.
"I'll be right back." He disappears. I'm glad to be alone. I begin to swing faster and higher until it feels like I'm flying. I even let myself laugh, quietly of course, should anyone be near. Then I remember hades could come back any moment and I stop the swing immediately. Soon after he reappears, a pomegranate in hands. I look at him with complete disbelief.
"I only thought you might be hungry." And I am, but...
"I'm not an idiot hades," I spit out the word like its a curse "If I eat that I'll be stuck here forever, and I have every intention of leaving once I get the chance." The hope in his eyes falls, as the pomegranate from his hand does. A tear travels down my cheek and I look away. He puts his hand on my face tilting my head to look at him. Gently kissing my forehead he smiles sadly, and once again, I find myself alone in my room.