Chapter 21:

The walls of the cavern are lit with glowing fauna of different colors; as Hades lightly brushes his hands along the damp walls, small glowing mushrooms erupt from the trails his fingers leave. His breath comes out in puffs of mist.

He's anxious.

When he finally reaches the main chamber of the cavern, he bows low.

"Good day, ladies."

"Ah, Lord Hades. What brings the Rich One here?"

"Moirae," he says. "I wish to know my fate."

"Oh, but Hades," Clotho says, never taking her eyes off her work, "surely Hecate told you that we no longer have power over - nor can we discern – your fate."

Hades can feel the words sinking in. "…I control my destiny…." But how is that possible?

"My Lord Hades," the other two sisters join in, "you are the master of your fate."

He pauses, thinking."What of Olympus, then? Do you see its future?"

The three sisters shake their heads. "The path of Olympus is obstructed," Lachesis says.

Hades frowns. "Obstructed? Obstructed by what?"

"Shouldn't it be obvious, dear one? It is obstructed," they say in unison, "by you."

After spending a few hours in the hot spring, Persephone finally managed to pry herself out of the water. Putting on a fresh set of clothes, she decided that if she was not able to leave the palace, she might as well explore it, and she knew just where to look first -Hades' private study.

Hecate had told her earlier in the morning that besides his bed chamber, Hades' study was his most personal room, and that she should not, under any circumstances, go in there without his permission. Naturally, Persephone decided that invading his private study was the first thing she would do once she was sure he was out of the castle. And, after hearing nothing but her own soft breathing, she was quite sure he had left. It took her hours of backtracking and getting lost, but she finally managed to find the place.

Now stepping into the room, she feels a bit disappointed at what she finds. It's just a normal room, she muses.
She's about to leave when her eye catches a glint of something. She walks over to the dark mahogany desk in the corner of the room and sees a small golden ring, enlaced with several precious gems. As Persephone moves to pick it up, she notices that there's a letter underneath it, its paper yellowed and frayed. Parts of it are burned and illegible. She leans down to the letter and reads it:

[Illegible]

My love, please leave the city. I cannot keep Zeus at bay for much longer, and I know he wishes to harm you. Zeus will know if I try to find you in the city.

[Illegible]

Get to the front of the forest and I will meet you. Wait for me there – I will find you, and Zeus will no longer be able to harm you. You need to leave as soon as you can.

I [illegible] you, please be safe.

-H

Persephone stares at the letter for a very long time, different scenarios racing in her mind. After reading it over and over and examining the ring, she knows one thing is for sure: Hades had a wife. But why have I never heard of that? No one's ever said he'd been married before…Not even Hecate.

She starts when a shade appears in front of her.

"Lord Hades does not appreciate snooping in his private study," the shade says.

Persephone laughs nervously. "I wasn't snooping. I got…lost."

The shade looks at her for a long moment, unblinking. Finally, it says, "It is time for dinner."

"Wait wh-what? Oh, of course. Dinner. Where is the dining hall?"

"This way, my lady. Follow me."

Despite being slightly embarrassed at getting caught, Persephone grins to herself. Time to get some questions answered.

When she walks into the dining hall, she sees Hades lounging on several luxurious pillows and staring directly at the ceiling; absent-mindedly plucking grapes into his mouth.

"Something interesting up there, Hades?" Persephone asks.

He grimaces and takes a small drink of his elixir. "Not really," he replies, his eyes still glued to the ceiling. "Sit, dinner will be here in a moment."

Persephone lays back on one of the pillows and allows herself to relax as a comfortable silence settles between the two.

After about ten minutes, when the food is finally brought out, he looks at her.

"You look very beautiful tonight, Persephone…Thank you for joining me."

Persephone feels her cheeks heat up at his compliment. "I'm only here for answers," she says.

He smiles at her. "Of course," he says, taking a sip of wine. "Ask away."

She grabs a small handful of grapes and slowly (and, Hades notices, rather sensuously) plucks one into her mouth, trying to think of the first question to ask him.

She doesn't notice that his eyes dart to her lips and linger there as she eats the grapes.

Hades feels his mouth go dry at the sight, despite the wine. What in the world is she doing? he wonders.

"Who taught you to eat like that?" he asks.

"Eat like what?" she asks innocently. Her big green eyes look back up at him, and he relaxes because he's pretty sure she's not trying to toy with him on purpose.

Or at least he thinks he's sure.

"Ne-never mind," he huffs. He takes another sip of wine to calm his nerves. "Ask your questions, my lady."

After about a minute more of Persephone toying with the grapes – with Hades looking intensely at a small splotch on the bronze floor – she finally decides on her first question.

"What is that mark on your side?"

He looks back up at her, icy blue eyes intense and focused. "A curse."

She matches the intensity of his gaze. "Where did you get it?"

"Tartarus."

"How?"

" I was wounded."

Here comes the first big question. Persephone readies herself.

"Who gave it to you?"

Hades looks at her,really looks at her for the first time since she's been in the Underworld, and his eyes tell her that she isn't going to like the answer.

"My father," he states simply.

"Cronus."

"The one and only."

Persephone feels her mind reeling at the thought. Cronus? But, how? How is that even possible?

"…Is Cronus gaining power? I thought Zeus destroyed him with his own scythe…"

Hades gives her a small smile. "Not completely, though that should have been expected. Gods and Titans never truly die, Persephone. What's your next question?"

Persephone pauses, the both of them not realizing she inching closer to Hades. This is getting interesting, she thinks.

"So you're in pain because of the curse." He nods. "And the elixir Hecate gives you helps you with the pain." Another nod.

"Would you like to ask me anything else?" He hopes she says no. He breaks off a piece of ambrosia and nibbles on it – he finds that talking about his father has ruined his appetite.

Not wasting any time, Persephone asks, "Why are you banned from Olympus?"

Now that nearly makes Hades jump out of his skin, almost causing him to spill his wine all over himself.

"That's a rather long story, Persephone." And I don't want to tell it, he thinks.

Persephone glares at him, and if looks could kill – and if he could die – he's sure he'd be swimming in the Acheron. "You swore on the River Styx. Even a man such as you wouldn't break such an oath."

Now it's Hades' turn to glare. " 'A man such as me?'" Am I only a horrible monster in your eyes?

She crosses her arms. "Answer the question, Hades"

Deciding to give her only the bare-minimum details unless asked for more, he tells her, "I went to war against Zeus."

"Why?"

Hades' eyes move back to the floor. He doesn't want to answer her. He doesn't , but he knows he has to. He can't break a sworn oath.

"He…took someone precious from me. I wanted revenge." His wife, Persephone thinks.

Persephone narrows her eyes in thought. "Doesn't Poseidon always try to take over Olympus? Why hasn't he been banned?"

Hades almost laughs at that. "He never gets very far."

"Your wife, Hades, what was her name?"

"I see you were snooping in my study," his voice sounds irritated, but around his eyes are crinkles that betray amusement. She sees him shut his eyes and softly smile. "Her name was Calliope…I was never able to make her my wife. Your father took her from me before I could."

"…You loved her." He nods slowly.

"Very much," he says, taking another sip of wine. He suddenly feels very tired. He lies fully on his back and closes his eyes.

"Hades."

"Hmmmmm?" He's rubbing his side through his clothes, though the pain is rather dull at the moment. In fact, he hardly feels it at all.

"Thank you for being honest." He feels her lightly run her fingers through his hair; feels her lips on his cheek by the corner of his mouth. She giggles at the scratchy sensation of his short beard on her lips and notices one of his hands lightly grab her wrist.

"Stay," he sleepily says. "Stay here with… me."

Persephone looks down at him, his eyes slightly closed and his breathing soft, his face serene and showing no signs of pain.

"…Alright Hades… I'll stay." She sees the corners of his lips turn up as she lays her head down on his chest. She snuggles further into him and feels one of his arms drape around her

"I love the sound of your heartbeat," she whispers, thinking he's fully asleep.

"I love…you…" he replies.

Persephone's eyes dart to his face. "What?" she asks. "What did you say, Hades?"

He doesn't answer, but his arm around her tightens. She can tell he really has fallen asleep, though; she can see the rapid movement underneath his eyelids and his steady breathing. He probably meant something else, Persephone decides, laying her head back down on his chest and falling asleep to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

A/N: LOOK AT THE FLUFFINESS! LOOK AT IT! :D Enjoy the fluff gaize, I know I hardly ever give you any. I hope this made you all d'awwwww. Updates are not going to be this frequent, but I already had this chapter laid out sooooo yeah. But anyways, I hope y'all enjoyed it. Leave comments as always.

-Inkspot