AN:thank you all for being so patient with me and this story…I hope I get more reviews for this chapter and just so you'd know, I'm not willing to let Hades off the hook that easily –evil grin here-

So I hope you enjoy and please review! and yep, I changed my penname

Shadowy Silence

Spiteful words can hurt your feelings but silence breaks your heart. Author Unknown

Demeter looked at her daughter's pale and tear-stained face as she ran her hand through her lovely tresses.

"How can I be so blind not to see," she whispered. "I could have helped you, at least comfort you through your pain."

Persephone's frail body stirred as her brows creased.

She must be dreaming.

When tears, started to fall from her eyes, Demeter checked to see if she woke up but her steady breathing showed she was asleep.

Rest my child, let your heart rest.

Hades walked back and forth, unsure if he was going to enter their chamber or not.

Our chamber, he thought, the chamber whose sanctity I so easily disregarded.

After a few minutes of restless pacing, he finally decided to go in. He lifted his hand to make the quietest of knocks upon the great door. He pushed it open as he heard the goddess of grain's soft voice telling him to enter.

He walked in to see Demeter caressing her daughter. She never looked at him, she just continued to stroke Persephone's face.

"I still think of you as a monster," she said, her voice cracked.

"I am," he replied firmly.

"Of course you are," she said, slowly turning her head to look at him, "but she does not think so."

"I know," he replied, his voice grave.

"And I know I cannot help her like this; because the one she needs and wants is you."

Demeter's hands shook, strain was written all over her face. Her voice was hesitant but her stare never faltered.

"I will not try to take her away because I know she would choose to stay here with you even after everything."

Hades did not look away, he did not even reply. He dared not justify his actions for all the condemning tone Demeter was using.

"I will leave now."

She stood up, slowly walked towards the door. As she was about to push them open, she paused to hesitate but after a short contemplation, continued to go and walk away. Hades did not look at her as she left, he did not stop her because he knew, everything was his responsibility. He had to make things right.

It is quiet. It is too quiet.

Where is all the laughter?

He dared not answer his question for he knew the answer: It was long gone. It faded away the moment he tried to satisfy his cravings, his carnal desires. It was gone the very first time such madness overtook him.

I am a monster.

Of course, he knew he was. It was his entire fault. He has taken her away from her home without her consent and forced her to live the dark and stale life in his realm.

She did not even hate me.

If anything, she loved him. She gave him a chance and learned to love him. No other being could be so kind. She has sacrificed everything to be with him. She dared the wrath of the gods as she decided to stay with him.

Yet, this is how I repaid all that.

And the saddest part was that it was over. It was all done. There was no use trying to take everything back. She was hurt more than anything and he had insulted her in the worst possible way.

And still, she loves me, he thought with remorse.

I do not deserve such a love.

He was not really sure why he did it. But the first time he saw Minthe, he knew she was special. He took her and took pleasure in having her. And with that, he almost took pleasure in hurting her. He did not even think of giving Minthe up. He was so drawn to her because she was gentle and carefree. She took away his problems.

But that day at Elysium, he saw Minthe's usually innocent orbs glint in mischief as she spoke words that are too deplorable for someone such as her. That was when he knew, he would never do any one of those things Minthe said. He can never banish Persephone from his halls; he could never make Minthe his Queen.

He was yet to act but Persephone in her blind rage poured out years of suppressed hurt and wrath towards Minthe and he did not help Minthe because he knew that to help her would have drastic implications. He tried to plead but Persephone could not be stopped.

I still love her.

Of course, he did.

Persephone woke up to the shining sun.

Elysium, she thought, as her sun made gentle rays of heat and light fall over her face. She took a look around her and discovered that she was in her room, their room. And some pain and memories rushed back to her.

Minthe is gone, she thought.

But she was not happy.

Hades is long gone, she thought as she clutched on the sheets. Things will never be the same again.

She stood up and walked to the window, letting the morning air freshen her.

"Hades."

The Dark Lord faced the source of the voice.

"Hecate."

"I am not here to denounce you Hades."

Hades nodded in understanding. Hecate was never one to condemn and brood over things past. Hecate was a goddess of actions. With Hecate, it was always solutions.

"I am here to tell you that if you ask for her forgiveness, she eventually will. She is willing to forget

everything given enough time."

"Will she?"

"You know she will Hades."

"I am despicable. How will she ever forgive me?"

"Do not think so low of her. Her heart has endured, it still does but she cannot stay angry for long, especially not at you."

"Why is that," Hades asked with a humorless laugh.

"You have chosen her yourself. You know how pure her heart is and you know that she loves you too much."

"I know," he said, voice softer and his eyes more gentle.

Silence.

Silence reigns over the Underworld. It was not a hollow silence that simply restricted sound. It was not an awkward silence that simply caused turmoil.

The silence was deep and sad and heavy.

No cheer could penetrate the silence; no laugh could break the spell.

The grass of Asphodel swayed in silence. Elysium even stood still and quiet.

The shades did not even dare make a sound.

Silence reigned all over. Thick silence filled every crack and crevice in the Underworld. It was the deafening silence that could only be caused by intense emotions.

Silence. No sound could interrupt the silence.

He walked in only to see her sitting up; idly playing with the pomegranate she was supposed to be eating.

"Persephone," he said softly, "why do you not eat your food?"

Persephone looked at him briefly then eventually turned away.

"I am not hungry," she answered quietly.

Hades took a step forward, hesitating. He did not know how she would react to close contact. But he risked it for he knew he had to exert all efforts. She was slightly stunned as he sat down beside her, picked up her food and broke it in half.

"Here, have a bite," he offered.

She slowly took the fruit and made a small bite. She did not taste anything because the gaze Hades was giving her was too intense. Hades moved closer.

When his face was mere inch away from hers, she fidgeted. "You should not be too close," she said, uncomfortable at their close proximity.

"Can I not touch my wife?"

If Persephone could not stop herself, she would have held him close. But she was too hurt and still too bewildered to be forgiving him.

"You had no problem touching another," she said, tone slightly accusing and slightly awkward.

Hades moved to make more distance between them and sighed.

"Persephone, I am sorry."

Persephone looked at him, her tears threatening to fall again.

"I do not know how I should reply to that. Can you leave for now?"

Hades took Persephone's empty hand and squeezed-affectionately, gently. He nodded and walked away quietly.

"Let me read to you."

"You do not need to do that."

"I wish to do it."

Persephone sighed as Hades sat down and read aloud a few verses.

"Hades," she said after an hour, "let me sleep."

It was Hades' turn to sigh as he closed the book he was reading and stood up to tuck Persephone in.

"Don't," Persephone said as Hades pulled the blanket over her, "I can do it by myself."

Hades walked back to his former seat as he watched his wife's back as she slept.

"Do you want to go for a walk?"

"No."

"Even if it was in the upper world?"

Persephone looked at Hades, eyes questioning.

"Do not invite me like I am her. Do not take me to one of your strolls up there."

She did not shout but her words came through as painful as if she did.

"Then forgive me. I did not think you would take it like that."

"Please leave me."

I try but nothing is enough.

But he knows he does not have the right to give up and she had every right to make him suffer.

Forgive me my love.

AN: sorry if it's a bit short but no notes for this chapter! yay!