Persephone went to her chambers as quickly as possible. She opened its golden knob and shut the door; she was very pale and sweaty. She did not know how to react with the situation that she put herself into, but she certainly did not want to be her mother's prisoner forever. She sat on her bed, and contemplated for a few minutes. Persephone was tangling her fingers on her hair, when her mother knocked.
"Kore? Persephone?" in her mother's worried voice. "Oh, dear…" She could also hear her mother's whispers.
"I… I need some time to think, mother. Sorry for my abrasive actions."
There was a long pause before Demeter replied. "Well, if that's what you need." Her mother sighed and surrendered. She went down the stairs but stopped for a moment, then continued again.
Persephone waited until she could not hear her mother's footsteps anymore. She stood up, bit her lip, and went over to her cabinet. Her hand was shaking violently and her breathing was heavy.
"Oh, I am not so sure about this plan… but I will go with what my mind tells me." she changed her night dress and wore an empire cut, beige colored drape which had loose sleeves. She reached out on the very corner of her cabinet, what seemed to be a velvety black hooded kappa and wore it.
What is that girl up to? Hades watches afar. He has been watching her for a whole day now, and that's a record. His longest last time was just at least five hours, but there was something about this certain day that made Hades stay longer than he should.
The light in Persephone's room was slowly fading, and Hades thought that she was just going to sleep but then he thought that that would not be possible because… well, no one really sleeps wearing drapes and a kappa.
A rope was tossed from Persephone's window and a figure appeared with it. Persephone went down through the window. Good thing her room was at the back and she need not bother about hiding. She gradually went down and her foot supported her weight by making some friction on the wall so she would carefully land. When she was on the ground already, she looked sideways and cleaned her dress once more.
What is she doing? Where is she headed to?
As Persephone starts walking away from the house, Hades followed her.
Thank you, my nymph friends, you have taught me a lot while my mother deprives me of the knowledge that is essential to me.
Persephone slowly creeps out of their garden and shoos the fireflies that were following her. She pauses for a moment and Hades wonders what she is doing.
"Now, now, if I remember clearly, the dryads told me that the pier going to Athens is at north… and north is…" Persephone pouts her lips and slowly studies her surrounding, and pointed her fingers to her right. She continues her walking. She put the hood of her kappa up and covered herself even more. It was a breezy night, and one could say that it was not the best time to escape.
"If I continue walking with this pace, it will take me two days to get to the pier!" she whispers to herself. "But then, we have no horse so nor any mode of transportation… Oh dear."
This is the time.
"I have horses and a carriage too." The breeze grew stronger as a deep voice speaks.
Persephone suddenly stops and shudders.
Whoa.. "Who is there?!"
Seconds had already passed, but there was still no reply. The beating of Persephone's heart calmed and she muttered something about imagining things or being delusional. She continued her walking but was more cautious and constantly looked sideways or sometimes at the back, but not always at her front. And because of this, she bumped into something, she would've suspected that it was a tree except that it was not as hard as one and had clothing on.
Oh dear gods, it's my mother! She was afraid to look up.
"Hello there, Persephone."
It's the deep voice! She looked up and saw a man, tall, dark man with dark hair and pale skin. The moon's light did nothing to brighten up his face.
Persephone was utterly terrified, she did not know who he was and her mother warned her constantly about strangers, what's worse is that he knows her name and she does not know him. She took a few steps back in a bit of a hurry and tripped herself. The hood of her kappa fell down and she could see him clearer than before.
He holds a helmet, dark clothing… could it be? He is…
"Come." He took her hand and helped her stand up, she was thinking of escaping him, but he carried her before she could do so. He raised his head and black horses carrying a carriage appeared from nowhere.
Where is he carrying me? What is this feeling? I cannot move nor speak!
Hades went up to the carriage and put Persephone down on one of its cushions. He raised his right hand and the ground opened. The horses neighed and ran towards the dark hole and Persephone braced herself for something dreadful. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her, it was not cold, but it was not warm either. It was not exactly dark, but there was no light. It was a void feeling, and she cannot properly describe it. She was afraid… so to comfort herself, she closed her eyes.
"Do not be alarmed." That was the last statement Persephone heard before she fell into a light sleep with tears staining her cheeks. Hades could see the sparkles on her face, and it hurt him. The kind of hurt where your throat dries up, your stomach turns over, and you sweat profusely. Good thing he is the Lord of the Dead, and he easily masks himself with apathy.
They arrived half an hour later and Persephone slightly wakes up, but she did not want to open her eyes, wishing that all of it was just a dream. She could feel Hades' strong arms carrying her once more. She did not protest, not that she liked it, but she couldn't. She was limp all over and she did not know why. She fell asleep again and closed her eyes once more.
Hades put her down on the bed and took a few steps back; he studies her face and wished that he could touch her… But his vow restrains him to do so, a vow that he will not touch her unless she wishes it.
"Such a beautiful face…" he speaks in a low voice. "I will give the world to you, Persephone, if it meant that I can have your love."