The place was dark, the air was gloomy. It could've been happier, but the person inside refused to be. Persephone was curled up in the corner of the room, near the door to her closet. She had a blank face, but it was obvious that it was worn out from crying. There were stains in her now pale cheeks, and her eyes were puffy. Her beautiful gray eyes, that changed color depending on the light, were now paler, sadder, and darker. She recalled the memory of what happened three hours earlier.

oOo

"You're going to be my wife." Hades said in a nonchalant tone.

Persephone was left there aghast, eyes wide open, fists clenched tightly, cheeks paling and her temples were dripping with sweat. Hades wondered if he stunned her that's why she can't move. He wanted to touch her, to see if she's okay, but he hesitated. Finally, Persephone suddenly sat in the bed, without uttering anything. That was a signal for Hades to know that she's okay, and so he went out of her room.

Before Persephone could say anything, Hades was already out of the door. She was obviously petrified with what he said, so petrified that she could not say anything at all. Tears were now falling; she was getting some sense at last. After a few seconds of violent crying, she grabbed a pillow then shouted in the air (but she was obviously shouting at Hades)

"Why?!", as she throws the pillow towards the door.

What Persephone didn't know was that Hades was still behind that door. Holding his chest and looking at the floor.

oOo

In that dark corner of the room, Persephone was still curled up, thinking deeply of what to do next. She was tired from crying, and she was tired of this place. She was of course, a non-judgmental person, but she hated it here.

"I should get a hold of myself." She stated firmly. She stood up, went to the mirror and looked at herself.

"These robes are dirty, my hair is dirty, my skin is dirty, and my face is dirty! I should wash."

She headed for the bathroom. Wow, she thought. The bathroom was actually more beautiful than what Hades pictured it to be. It was practically sparkling in every inch. She removed her dirty clothes, searched for a place to put it, and finally found a basket near the sink. There was a small pool in there, bubbling, like a spring.

She tested the waters, dipped the tip of her feet to see if it was okay. It was… Perfect. Lukewarm waters and you feel as if you're bathing in a natural spring. She marveled at the sight of it all. She knew deep down inside, that if marrying the Rich One was inevitable, she would really, really like this certain place as a hideaway.

After vigorous scrubbing, and straightening the tangles on her hair, she went out of the pool and grabbed a towel hanging on an elevated rock. Persephone went out of the bathroom and went to the closet. It wasn't just ANY closet; Hades was obviously not good at describing things. It was a walk-in closet with heaps and heaps of clothes. She walked inside, turned her head left and right, and found a nude colored peach dress. The draping was perfectly done. She liked it, it was simple and classy, plus, it was great for her body.

She walked towards the mirror and looked at herself. There I am.

oOo

Persephone had to wait for more or less ten hours to do what she thinks she has to do. There was no knowing of the time in the Underworld, so she had to count. By this time, it would've been ten or eleven in the evening. She has been planning this for hours now, and turning back was not an option. She did not know the place, obviously, but she thinks she'll find a way or another.

She opened the giant doors of her room, thank the gods they did not lock her. When she went out of the room, she looked left and right to the hallways, it was dark, so she could not see anything. She reached out for a candle on a table near the door inside her room. When she took it out, she saw the vastness of the hallway. Enormous Corinthian pillars, and black carpets bordering the floors. The roof itself was a masterpiece, a story drawn by the Muses.

Kore would have been easily distracted by these features, but her strong heart overcame this. She put the candle back inside the room, put the hood of her kappa up, and slowly closed the door. She did not know what direction she should go, but going right seems to always work. She headed right and stealthily walked. Thank Zeus there were windows which lead to a small indoor garden, the night light came from Asphodel, she saw things a little bit clearer than before.

She walked and walked, into what seemed like an endless hallway. After some time, she stumbled upon a vast room, probably the entrance halls of Hades' palace. She immediately knew that if this was the grand halls, then there should be a door out. She searched for it, and searched, and after wandering with the colossal pillars, she finally found a door, one to match the pillars themselves. She wondered how she'd get out; certainly she had no muscles to move a door like that.

She actually thought for a quarter of a second that she cannot escape, but she saw two windows beside the door. She tried to climb; it was two and a half meters above the floor. Good thing the walls were made of adobe, so it was easier for her to step up because there were cavities. She finally got out of the palace, and she thought that it would be easier an easier navigating outside, she was obviously wrong.

She landed on a courtyard of black marble, with a pool on the middle. The pool looked like an abyss; for it had no ripples and it did not shine. There was a statue in the middle of the pool, and a fine one at that. It was Hades, holding his helmet of invisibility on his left hand, and on the right he held Cerberus. Persephone became even colder than she was. She went down on a hundred steps of stairs and when she got down, vast plains greeted her.

There were no trees, no dust, and no wind. Mist was covering most of the ground and even with her good sight, she can't really make out anything, there was no telling of the direction. There were no stars to guide her this time. When she looked at her left, there was an enormous mountain bordering something. There was a faint light on the top. There must be a town beyond those mountains. When she looked at it, she felt a bit happy.

"A town? Here in the Underworld? Impossible." Persephone suddenly scolded herself. "It must be the home of the heroes, the sea nymphs say. El- eh.. Elo- Ela- Elasyon? Or something like that. But I will not go there, if I do, I am one with the dead, and I'm still here in the Underworld."

Persephone decided to go straight. She thought that it would be a short travel before she can find the river Styx, if she was there, it would be easier to sort things out, but as it seems, the walk lasted for hours. She sat down several times that she lost count. Finally, a promising sight appeared to her. She could hear water on shores, and the creaking and rippling of it. She ran and ran, and the great Styx appeared to her.

"So now my lady, how do you plan to cross Styx with no money?" a dark voice suddenly uttered these words. Persephone shuddered, she was terrified and in those moments, all hopes were lost. A great figure appeared in the mist, and showed himself to Persephone. It was obviously the Lord of the Dead, Hades.

"You! Get me out of here at once!" Persephone spat out.

"Do you not fear me, Kore?" Hades said tauntingly. "mortals and gods alike fear me."

"Why should I fear you?! You are a god and I am a goddess. Death cannot touch us and you say if I fear you? Why should I? You cannot harm me, and even if you can, nothing will happen!" Persephone shouts in Hades' face, blinded by her rage at his taunting.

I like her courage, she is the right one. Hades just smiled at her and made a few steps closer towards her. Persephone hissed when he came nearer, and Hades' heart was amused.

"Why do you laugh at me Lord of the dead? Do you enjoy tormenting a young goddess like me? Let me go!"

"Even if I did let you go, I'm going back to my former question, how would you cross river Styx? Swim it? You would be sick for weeks and even gallons of Ambrosia cannot heal you that fast if you dare swim Styx's waters."

"It would be better than being wed to you!" Now this, this pierced Hades to the heart. But he could not just leave her behind, his heart swelled every inch for her. He sighed when she said these painful words, but that was already done.

"Now, now, Persephone, come back to the palace, you must be hungry."

Persephone did not listen to him; instead, in a fit of fury, she headed to the banks of that great river Styx. Hades quickly ran after her, but it was too late, for her feet already touched the waters of Styx and half her energy escaped her. She fainted and was dismayed. As for Hades, he was delighted to carry her back to his palace and take care of her himself.

Author's note: enjoy and reviews are appreciated! :)