AN: this chapter is a single scene, I have thought about merging this with another chapter but the next chapter is long and to add this would make this part of the next chapter slightly out of place….you'll see a first glimpse of how Persephone will deal with this thing with Minthe...

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The Darkest Woman

So dear I love him, that with him all deaths I could endure, without him live no life. John Milton

She was as beautiful as ever. She was the only goddess, no, the only living creature he has seen with cherry streaked hair. Her skin was white as ivory, her eyes as green and beautiful as emeralds. Everything, from her high cheekbones, perfectly shaped jaws, pink cheeks, luscious lips, high and petite nose to the shape of her face, was perfect.

She reminded everyone of a flower in the bloom: lively, radiant and colorful. Now she was just a piece of magnificent jewelry: just as beautiful, without the life.

The darkest woman she was, embodiment of the darkness of the Underworld, of the land of the dead.

Never before had Marpessa seen her queen as she was now. The nymph walked in, looking innocent, making Marpessa's blood boil.

That conniving woman!

She was an embarrassment to her mistress' name, the insolent naiad that dared go against her queen. If Marpessa could do something, anything, she would've done it. But she cannot have done anything, and she cursed herself for it. Turning her attention back to the scene beforehand, she listened intently to their conversation.

"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."

For a moment, Persephone met Marpessa eye and smiled sadly but it was quickly gone. She was about to ask another question when something beyond the halls caught her attention. Hades looked in the same direction.

"Lady Hecate!"

Hecate looked at Persephone and smiled.

"You have started without me my lady."

Persephone stepped down from her throne to greet Hecate cordially. Marpessa saw a genuine warm smile from her mistress followed by eyes of pleading. Please help me, it said.

Hecate smiled at the young queen.

"Hecate, it is nice of you to join us."

Hecate looked toward the direction of the voice. It was Hades. She smiled slightly then her brows furrowed. She looked at Persephone again.

"Don't worry, I will help you," she whispered and then Persephone reluctantly let go of her hand as she went back to her throne and Hecate stood aside, eyeing the nymph as she too gestured to greet her.

Persephone averted back her passive disposition.

"Why?"

Her brows furrowed for a moment.

"Why Ha…I mean, What has caught your attention?"

"Pardon me, my lady?"

Persephone looked at Hecate. Hecate took a deep breath. It was time to step in.

"Hades, forgive me for interrupting."

Hades gave a nod.

"She meant, child, what is it with Hades that has caught your attention enough to pursue him? Am I right?"

She then looked at Persephone. The queen nodded.

"He is dark and mysterious my lady and I find that irresistible."

Persephone grabbed the sides of her throne to silence her raging emotions.

Hecate looked at Persephone.

"Do you know that what you did is presumptuous child?" Hecate asked.

The smiling and calm face of Minthe suddenly changed to a look of distaste.

"What do you mean, my lady?" She said with biting sarcasm.

"Insolence in my realm!"

Everyone was shocked as Persephone raised her voice. Hecate looked at her, Marpessa and Hades. All three with looks of both panic and shock.

"You shall behave accordingly in my presence and in the presence of those you should respect! You are obliged to respect us. The impudence you have done is enough. When you are asked, answer and emotions that should be kept shall be kept. Do not behave so freely, young nymph, you are before your superiors."

Persephone sat down.

"I am sorry, continue."

"As I was saying," Hecate continued after recovering, "you are aware that your actions were audacious?"

"I am."

Minthe answered, more carefully now, as she was surprised and a little scared of the outburst.

"The arrangements now." Hades said.

Persephone looked at Hades with disappointment but said, "Yes."

"Adelphe."

The scribe bowed and then took out his quill to take down what will be agreed upon.

"First," Persephone started, "I want you to keep out of my sight as much as possible."

Hades looked at Persephone but let her continue.

"You will not join us in meals."

"Yes, my lady," Minthe said.

"How about her quarters, Persephone?"

Persephone slowly turned her head to look at Hades.

"What do you mean? Shall she not sleep with the servants?"

"No, it will be better to give her a personal chamber."

Persephone raised a perfectly arched brow.

"Is that so?"

And slowly, grudgingly, she thought of a suitable room.

"Then she shall take one of the guest rooms."

"Yes, my lady," Minthe replied.

"You will not interfere in matters of governing and other decisions. Our chamber," Persephone looked directly at Hades," is off-limits."

"You shall have a personal servant, of course," Hades interfered.

Persephone, and this time, Hecate, looked at Hades with questioning looks.

"Is that not too much, Hades?" Persephone asked.

"That will be appropriate, my queen; harlots work like that," Hecate cut in, emphasizing the insulting term by slightly raising her voice.

Minthe glared at Hecate with pure loathing as Persephone had a smile tugging on her lips.

"Child, you have forgotten yourself," she said to Minthe.

Minthe immediately reverted to a more composed look.

"Hecate," Hades hissed.

Hecate looked at Hades," What?"

Hades did not reply.

"The usual restricted places are still restricted of course and you shall adhere to the laws of the Underworld," Persephone finished.

"And my territory will not welcome you either. That is unless you have a fetish for danger," Hecate added.

"Is there anything else?" Hades asked.

"Nothing else," replied Persephone.

"Adelphe?"

The scribe nodded, "I have taken them all down, your majesties."

"Good," Persephone said then looked at Minthe," the first rule will be in effect now."

Minthe understood as she walked out of the room.

"I shall go now Hades," Persephone said as she was walking down her throne and approached Hecate.

"Hecate, why don't you join me for a walk?"

"Sure, my queen."

"Very well then, Marpessa, let us go."

Marpessa followed her mistress, leaving Hades alone inside the throne room.

Mt. Mintha is a mountain found in Elis, Southern Greece; they also say she was a nymph of Kokytos (cocytus)-this is according to Oppian, Halieutica 3.485

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Please review , I want all the opinions I can get….next chapters are really difficult to write, I have to make them work…but worry not, because this story is my first priority

Next Chapter Preview (The Bound Obsession):

There she was, brushing her long blonde hair with a comb of wrought iron and opals.

"Do I look beautiful Adelpha?"

"Yes, my lady," the servant replied.

Minthe looked at herself, admiring. She looked at every angle of her face.

"Do I look like a queen?"

The young servant, wiser than she looks, replied, "You look like a goddess my lady."

Minthe, too busy looking at herself, didn't seem to notice that it was a safe answer.

"Tell me, Adelpha, how is the queen, what does she like, what does she do?"

"I do not work directly for the queen my lady; I cannot answer your questions."

Minthe frowned a bit then she smiled mischievously.

"Adelpha, get me a dress of silk and diamonds."

I will show this queen how a queen should be.

"Yes," she continued,"a dress of such beauty: as white as the heavens, as beautiful as snow, as glorious as the flowing seas."

The servant just meekly nodded.

"I need it by the end of this week, when the queen returns."

"Yes, lady."

Yes, when this queen returns, she thought with scorn.

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