The soft rustle of silk reaches my ears, as I stand ever hopeful beside the laden banquet table amidst the dark elegance of my throne room.

I have chosen each course with care. Dishes of roasted meats sit beside platters of the choicest fruits.

Delicacies from every corner of the earth rest on trays worth a hundred kingdoms, beside loaves of bread still warm and golden brown.

At the center of the long table stand silver flagons of rich wine, beside goblets of the finest crystal.

And I know that she will not partake of one morsel of bread, or the smallest mouthful of wine.

For she like all immortals knows the laws of my realm, one which humanity is taught from the cradle.

To eat the food of the dead is to sentence yourself to darkness, to know forever the realm of shadows I have commanded since the dawn of the world.

I have enjoyed my duties as lord of the dead, done my best to render justice and reward those deserving of Elysium.

I possess all the riches of he earth, wield power beyond many of my kin and am intimately acquainted with the darkest shadows of the night.

In many ways I prefer my kingdom to the chaos on Olympus, where my brethren squabble over trivialities and seek pleasure in the mortal world.

Until recently I was content.

And then I saw her.

So innocent and beautiful, an immortal maiden untouched by the pettiness and curse of indifference to which my brethren are so often subjected.

And I wanted to bring her to my kingdom, so that her bright presence might for a time hold back the darkest shadows of my realm.

And within the core of my being something was born as I looked upon her face, a desire so consuming that it drove me to carefully plan her abduction, to choose a moment when she would be out from under the watchful gaze of her mother.

I did not then realize the cost to her soul, and to her power which is drawn from the rich and complex song of life.

For she is a child of the earth, and in my realm she is far from the warmth and life she needs to sustain her essence.

Yet that did not keep me from abducting her, making her the unwilling queen of my realm and my bride.

All I saw was her beauty and grace, and a joy which my world has never felt.

I did not think then, of what would come to pass because of my rash act.

As I set course after course before Persephone, I know that more souls have entered my realm; are even now being guided across the river Styx to discover their eternal destinies.

And though some are here due to old age, or illness, or the implacable hand of war, many more are taking that dark journey because of the agony of slow death by starvation.

They come from all corners of the earth, men and women whose spirits bear the marks of cruel and unnecessary death.

One thing sets this growing throng apart from the countless souls given into my care by the Moirae.

The children.

I have never seen so many young souls enter my realm so swiftly. They come in an endless procession, bright spirits who were meant for so much more, each destiny brutally severed by the touch of death.

And it is because of me.

Oh yes I know all too well the cause of so much starvation. Even in this realm, I feel the echoes of Demeter's grief and fury, hear her proclamation that nothing will flourish on the earth until her beloved Persephone is returned to her embrace.

And still I want to keep her, to show her the dark glories of my realm in the hope that she might return my affections.

My eyes meet Persephone's across the laden table, and I smile at her choice of jewels.

Even now she defies me, by wearing the symbols of her mother's strength and sphere of influence.

I had each jewel crafted for her, shaped some of them by strength of will and the careful use of power.

Such is my right as lord of all the earth's riches.

Two hours pass before she rises to return to her chamber.

At least this meal has not been silent, like the first ones where she consented to join me, only to sit in cool indifference to every attempt I made to set her at ease.

She still daily requests her freedom, and I refuse in the hope that in time she might return my love.

The faint stirring of power catches my interest, and I cast my senses outward until I find its source.

Once again Persephone is calling for her mother's aid, but unlike other occasions her strength is greatly diminished.

Wearily I return to my duties, knowing that my choices and desires have led me to this moment of decision.

The weight of pointless deaths lies heavy upon me, and yet I cannot bring myself to return this goddess who has restored something I have thought lost to me for eternity.

Hope.

The hope that through her my kingdom's glory might not reflect only death's terror, but the joy, mystery and utter contentment which awaits those who have lived with honor.

My resolve hardens as more souls are brought before my throne for judgment.

Not unless Zeus commands me will I grant Demeter's petition.

This I swear upon the sacred waters of the Styx.

Note from the authoress: I've decided to make this story into a series of 1 chapter tales from perspectives of different characters from classical mythology.

Sorry to anyone who was hoping for another retelling of Hades and Persephone.

I will finish telling their tale of course, through other chief characters from the legend before moving on to other characters I'm interested in exploring.

Thanks to the people who have reviewed so far, I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

Updates will probably be slow in coming, so if you find yourself waiting a while for the next chapter, check out my other tales of Greek mythology on my page.

As always feedback is welcome.

Thanks for reading.