I'm dedicating this chapter to my wonderful reviewers who keep on commending the unusual structure of this story.

Leone returns!

If anyone was to ask me of the nature of my relationship with Persephone, they would always meet with the same reply. She was my niece, the daughter of my favorite brother, the child of the earth goddess, Demeter. That was all she was to me, nothing less and certainly nothing more. And whatever was spoken above these lines, were no more but conceived lies.

I did not see her regularly but ever since our encounter in the fields, I met her more often than any of the other gods. Whenever I give in to my urges to visit the surface, she would—by chance or by fate— be within the area. Time had withered away my bitterness of her parentage. And though I did not necessarily like her, I at least, owed her my civility. She would curtsey and I would bow. And the both of us would pay our respects to one another without ever really knowing if they were sincere or not.

Leone was now terribly old. And I knew he was nearing the end of his mortal days. I tried my best to ease his sufferings—whenever he coughed loudly, I would avert my eyes away from him. He knew just as well as I did that he was no longer in the best of health. His system was failing him and neither of us was willing to speak of the obvious. We still followed our routine of walking over the fields during dawn—and regardless of how much I discouraged or threatened him—he continued to be obstinate about the whole agenda.

"Let me enjoy the small luxuries of the surface, milord for I know that there would be a new world waiting for me on the morrow."

How could I bring myself to stop him after he said something like that? I did not wish to preserve his life. In truth, I wanted to take him away with me—if it would exempt him from the pain and sufferings of a dying man. Leone would hate me for sure if I was ever to act on the idea though. He was one of those strange souls who would rather live till the time fate had allotted for them than take the easy way out. I despised his stubbornness but couldn't help but admire his resolve to live life to its final hour. Being a god I could never understand the value of time—I had my doubts if any immortal could—we of infinite days and innumerable years could never truly comprehend the human fear of time running out.

"How are you, Lord Hades?"

Normally, I would simply answer fine and ask him the same question. The circumstances didn't allow me to do that though. I didn't want to know how he was doing. I knew he was in great affliction. I did not need a personal account of it from him. I didn't want to hear it.

"I'm fine—same to as yesterday and hardly changed, today. I cannot ask more and I doubt I'll do so in the near future."

"That is how you feel at present, sire." Leone looked far into the horizons of the endless hills. "But it is too soon to say what your opinion will be on the morrow or the day after."

"I know my feelings will be the same regardless of time and circumstance. I am the master of my fate, Leone."

"It is still too soon to say, sire." Leone said with a smile. "And as for fate, sire. Well—I do not believe we have any right to judge that—gods or humans."

I did not entirely understand what he meant. Sometimes, we gods could be foolish creatures. That even I, who had lived for centuries still found myself lost in the words of dying man. I looked at him and saw that though he was indeed up for a jest or two—he was serious by what he meant. He wanted me to comprehend and share his thoughts but even he knew that was impossible.

Because I am the Lord of the Underworld

The ruler of the Styx, not merely a prince but a king in my own right. I was darkness, personified. I was death in its truest form. Slow and creeping, always existent, always feared. I felt the cold breeze beneath my dark robes. Leone did not stir. Instead, he eyed me like an odd object worn out of its place. I wondered what caught his attention and turned to where his eyes were directed.

And there, I saw the walking Persephone.

She was wearing a white dress and was walking barefooted. On her hair was a sunflower. In her arm was a basket of wild blooms. She approached and curtseyed. I nodded and bowed back. She talked shortly to Leone and greeted me amicably. There was nothing out of place. There was nothing unexpected. And yet Leone beamed at me as she left—with a smile ever so genuine that I could not help but wonder on the meaning behind it.

Thank you for reading and do stay in tune. =)

With love,
Ms. Reen