AN: I'm gonna make a progress report for my readers-I've made a rough draft up to chapter 7 so expect regular updates till then…chapters 8-12 are already outlined I plan to make 13 or 15 chapters

The Magnificent Winter

"Raindrops in thy eye; expresses the sadness of thy soul."
Source Unknown

I can see them.

And they don't mind.

The winds of Elysium grew colder and the light slowly dimmed.

I mind.

They were focused, enjoying themselves.

Never before has Hades felt the same vigor as when he was with Minthe. Not even with Persephone.

And she, she was happy. All her desires are being fulfilled.

And slowly, very slowly, she will have it all.

She will have him. All of him.

Marpessa was walking slowly in the halls of Asphodel, contemplating. Her mistress was coming back soon and she had to prepare.

However, that was the least of her problems. Her master was up to something. She knew it. He had an unusual sparkle in his eyes and he was enthusiastic about his work. After everything has been done, he would go straight to someplace Marpessa didn't know and he would wake up the next day as energetic as ever; subtly, but energetic nevertheless.

Even without her majesty?

Marpessa had to ponder on this. Her master was usually stale when lady Persephone is gone. He has been different these past few days.

And, Lady Hecate arrived at the palace the other day, asking for Hades. He wasn't there. Lady Hecate looked a little distressed. And nothing simple would make a seasoned goddess like her look distressed.

But Marpessa put it all aside. Surely, she thought, Lord Hades was not a fool to repeat the same mistake.

And so she looked. The mistress of Elysium looked into her realm. Her eyes were the butterflies and her ears were the wind.

She looked into it. She tried to listen. She tried to prevent blind rage from consuming her again. All the vicious thoughts and the hurtful words will have to be set aside. Just so she could see. Just so she could know why.

And then it struck her - with a pain that tore her apart. He was happy with her. He found fulfillment, an eagerness she might have not been able to give.

He was smiling. And she was the same. They were both happy.

They were locked in a passionate embrace, lost in themselves behind the bushes where they thought no one could see.

But she saw. And that day, the leaves had mourned, the light dimmed, the wind grew cold. The songs of the birds were never as before. They were now songs of lamentation. The shades looked up to the makeshift sky as they felt their queen's presence in the breeze. That day, Elysium mourned.

And it will mourn for the days to come.

And still, they did not notice, locked in the same passionate embrace.

She let it go. She was scared. She could never confront him, she was afraid of the answer. Have all the love faded through the years? Have years of routine bored him? Has she not given enough?

She cannot ask him. Somehow she knew. All the unanswered questions would have to remain as they are.

That day when she came back, Marpessa was appalled. This cannot be happening. This wasn't her mistress.

Her mistress was a warm, cheerful and radiant, not this lifeless and sad goddess. She was still as beautiful but entirely different.

Her fears were confirmed then. Lord Hades had done it this time.

"Hades."

"My love."

"Do you have to tell me something?"

They were sitting at the throne room, passing time. Hades was reading a book while Persephone looked bored.

"What do I have to tell you?"

"Is there nothing? Nothing at all?"

"My love, if something is bothering you then you only have to tell me."

It's bothering me that you have a paramour and you are trying to hide it.

"There is nothing."

"Alright."

Hades went back to reading as Persephone suppressed the tears.

He can no longer hide it. Persephone was asking questions.

She might already know.

He had to tell her. He was his wife after all.

And yet, I am doing this.

Their room was of a magnificent architecture; fit for a monarch. She was so enthusiastic when she saw it. She took care of the design herself. It would be their room, where they shared everything. Somehow, right now, it felt to her that it was tainted.

"My love."

"Yes."

"I will have to tell you something."

Persephone's back was facing him. She knew what was about to come and she was ready.

"Then go on Hades."

"I….I…"

"What you have to say will not be much of a surprise. I promise."

"I have a ….nymph. I met her when you were away and…and I took her in."

Persephone didn't say anything, motioning for Hades to go on.

"My love…forgive me…I do love you.."

But?

"…but she is already part of my life."

Persephone knew this was coming and she anticipated the pain but nobody told her that it would be as painful, as heart-wrenching and as heavy as this. She wanted to let all the tears flow, to look at him and beg him to let this woman go.

Instead, she looked at him, face passive and voice steely.

"What is her name?"

"Minthe, a naiad."

"I shall see her tomorrow and discuss arrangements."

Hades looked concerned as he looked at her.

"Persephone…"

"Hades, goodnight. I will go to the library, I just remembered something."

With that, she walked out, turned the magnificent door handle and slowly walked out.

Hades' brows furrowed.

I'm sorry.

When Persephone arrived at the library, she sat on a chair and cried.

That winter was a magnificent one. It was unlike any winter they have ever seen. The mortals gazed in awe as droplets of light scarlet snow, the color of cherry blossoms, fell down from the sky. The sky was bleeding beautifully, they say. The scarlet snow covered the mountaintops and the tree branches and the children played and the adults joined in the fun.

It was a winter of a different sort. It was divine. Demeter wondered as she looked from Mt. Olympus. Her snow was different. It has to be her daughter.

For a while the people rejoiced, for this winter was more beautiful than any other season in history. Then when the spring never came, they wondered and their eyes grew in horror as the sun refused to melt the scarlet snow.

The Lady of Spring is embittered, they say. And so they offered everything they could. But the winter raged on with the same magnificent color and the people started to grow weak, the crops did not grow and the earth was frozen.

The magnificent winter became a long and deadly one.

Next Chapter Preview (The Darkest Woman):

"Your Majesty," Minthe bowed before Persephone then looked at Hades with a smile playing in her lips," your majesty."

Persephone looked like she was suppressing a bout of anger.

"And your name is?" Persephone asked the naiad, beginning the brutal and hurtful conversation.

"Minthe, my lady."

"Where are you from?"

"I am from Mt. Mintha at the southern land of Elis."

"How did you meet my husband?"

And when Persephone asked, she said the word husband through gritted teeth.

"It is of my own accord, my lady. Up where the entrance of the Underworld is visible to the Upper world, I have waited then I have seen Lord Hades."