Chapter One:

Hours later, Ileana returned to the large home that belonged to her 'master'. With a deep breath, she entered through the back entrance and into the kitchen, quickly returning to her work. Only an hour later did she bowed her head to her 'master' as she brought him a tray with tea and cake for him in his study.

"I heard that you went out of the house again today, Ileana… Where did you go…?" He asked in a soft but cold voice, making her gulp from the slight panic that was slowly building inside of her.

"I… I only went to town to get some supplies for desert tonight, m-master. W-we were running low on cream and butter so I went and bought some more with the money that I get working in the kitchen." She quickly replied, stuttering as she spoke. Luckily, she did buy some more to bake with since she made sure that there was something to use as an excuse for leaving without permission.

"You didn't inform me of this… Do you remember what I told you that I'd do if you didn't tell me if you needed something…?" He asked, now rising from his seat and starting to walk towards her, causing her to panic and start to back away from him in small steps.

"B-but…! But you were s-so busy and I… I needed them q-quickly…!"

'What should I do?! If he's really going to do what he promised he wouldn't do, then I'll be in serious trouble! Should I call for him like Lady Pandora said…? But what if…? What if she was only playing a joke on me? No, she was definitely serious.' She thought to herself as she tried to run from the elder man, only being grabbed and yanked away from the only entrance into the room and pinned onto the desk.

"This is all your fault that you're going to be punished, Ileana… You should know better then to break the rules I gave you!" He explained as he tried to rip the top of her uniform, slapping her across the face when she tried to stop him and bringing tears to her eyes while he began his onslaught of punishment upon her.

"L-lord H… H-Hades!" She cried out at the top of her lungs, tears clinging to the corners of her eyes for a moment until they began to roll down her cheeks. As her master was about to slap her again for calling out for someone else, he was suddenly sent flying into the wall across the room while Ileana stared in shock at what just happened.

"It seems that you don't understand when a young lady doesn't wish to be with you, sir…" A silky voice spoke out, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin when a pair of arms gently wrapped around her in a lovingly protective manner.

"And you shouldn't make her cry either… Especially when that young lady is someone who is highly important and that I have been looking for." The young man said with a gentle smile, softly tilting Ileana's head up and wiping away her tears.

Her heart nearly stopped at the man that was being so gentle to her. He had hair of silk-like ebony that framed his face but cascaded down his back while his eyes were a delicate shade of light sea blue. Such a heavenly person was looking at her, saving her from the torment that she had been living.

"A-are… Are you Lord H-Hades…?" She asked in almost a whisper, in fear that all this was in her head instead of reality. With a soft chuckle and a feather like kiss on her forehead, he nodded.

"You called for me so I came to save you, Ileana… Pandora told me that you were troubled with your current living arrangements but I didn't know that you would be abused when I arrived. It's a shame that this brute most likely bruised your beautiful face…" He explained, gazing at her features and examining her carefully.

"And she was right about you… You are the maiden I've been looking for." Right when he seemed like he was about to kiss Ileana, her master ripped her out of the young teens arms, glaring at him.

"Don't you DARE touch MY slave! I have every right to do as I please with her since I paid for her life!" Just with those words, the young man who called himself Hades summoned out a canvas as well as a paint brush that had a suspicious red liquid on the end of it, painting an image of her master quickly. When he finished the painting, he smiled as he walked over to Ileana while her master fell stone cold dead on the floor, frightening her to where she let out a shriek of terror right then.

"Now you have nothing to worry about, my dear. He'll never bother you any more. Your life is now your own again, my dove…" He stated with a gentle smile, cradling her in his arms as she trembled with fear.

"You may either call me Hades or Alone since that was once my name as well… Either name is my own." Hades spoke softly into her ear, his breath tickling her skin and making her blush faintly.

"I… I can…? And wh-what exactly did you mean by looking for?" With his gentle smile, he cupped her cheek as he looked directly into her bi-colored eyes.

"It's simple really… The reason why I was looking for you was because of who you are. Ileana… You are the reincarnate of Persephone, my queen and wife. Your eyes mark you as well as your soul. The cosmos that you emit is that of my loving goddess." Before she could say anything in reply, Hades pressed his lips against hers, causing her to melt against him. When he pulled away, he smiled warmly at how flustered she was before taking her into his arms and walking off.

"Now, let us go home, Ileana. You need to rest after all that you've dealt with all these years." Ileana didn't complain as he carried her away, now curling her arms over his shoulders as she laid her head against him, glad that she wasn't just dreaming all of this. Tears still glided over her skin as she closed her eyes, listening to his heart beat in his chest as she drifted off to sleep.

Without knowing just how long she had been asleep, Ileana yawned and looked about the room in surprise.

"I… Am I dreaming…?" She murmured to no one as she couldn't believe the enormous elegant room that she awoke in, now getting to her feet and looking around in astonishment.

"Wh-where am I…?"

"You're in the castle of Hades, Lady Ileana…" A dark silky voice replied, turning the maiden's attention towards the woman she met earlier that day who was kneeling a slight distance away from her.

"L-Lady Pandora…! I didn't expect to see you here."

"You don't have to address me so formally, my lady. You are of higher importance than I am." She stated, gently smiling as she now stood and was walking towards her.

"Now then, let's get you in proper attire since you are to be introduced to the specters so that they know you are to be carefully watched out for and protected when danger rises unless you are with Lord Hades." Pandora said as she took Ileana's hand and led her over to a large armoire, taking an elegant lavender silver dress from within and looked at her with a smile. The expression on Ileana's face was of utter shock at looking at the gown, taking a step away and shaking her head.

"I…! I can't wear such a beautiful dress! My status is that of a…!"

"Of a goddess. The queen of the Underworld… A dress like this pales in comparison to you, my lady." Just her words stunned the young maiden, allowing Pandora to easily redress her as well as decorate her as a proper queen and goddess.

"There, you're ready." She finally stated, pulling a large mirror before her and revealing an enchanting sight. Ileana stared at her reflection, noticing every little detail. A delicate silver circlet was placed slightly beneath her hair line, bands of silver wrapped around her arms while glittering jewels decorated her as they seemed to be attached to her hair while a silver cincher was also decorating her with a few gems encrusted into the precious metal. Not only that, but she also had a soft amount of makeup touching to her fair ivory white skin.

"Is… Is that really m-me…?" She murmured to no one, faintly touching her cheek as she gazed at the reflection. With a giggle, Pandora bowed before her and took Ileana's hands in her own.

"You're now ready to be received by the court… Lady Persephone…" Without an answer, the dark woman pulled her along and led her towards a throne like room. She seemed in a daze as she looked about the halls and room, almost having her heart leap into her throat when she saw her savior sitting upon a throne of ebony.

With a simple yet graceful movement, he rose from his throne and began to walk towards her. His dark hair swaying with each step he took, gently taking her hands in his and looking over her features while Pandora knelt before them.

"Ileana, you look radiant." Hades told her in a soft toned voice before placing a kiss on her lips, once again causing her to flush over as well as melt against him. Just that single action from him made her like putty in his hands. As he pulled away from the kiss, Hades led her over to the throne, sitting her down on his lap while the specters there still knelt before him and the throne. They were now all murmuring about these actions, only stopping when he raised a hand to silence them.

"I would like to introduce to all of my court Ileana, the vessel of my loving wife. No one is to harm her and if anything were to happen to my dear maiden, I will make sure that the specter who was responsible for that will be highly punished." He spoke clearly to the armor clad warriors before turning to her once again, gazing into her eyes and making her skin deeply flustered.

"If you wish, you may add something as well to what I just said. They listen to orders most of the time." He stated, allowing her the chance to stand up if she wished but she stayed in his lap, shaking her head about it and laid her head against his shoulder, causing him to chuckle a little.

"A shy one, aren't you…?" In reply, she nodded and closed her eyes as she could hear his heart beating again.

"I… I'm not a very outspoken person, Lord Hades…" Ileana answered him, her voice faint from shyness as well as still feeling sleepy for some reason.