Despite her charm,Hades had noticed a change in Persephone. Her calm and confident poise in conversation was disturbed by her constant looking behind her. A rosy flush burned her cheeks now and then as she quickly returned eye contact to the person she chatted to.

Earlier Persephone maintained a distance from her mother but now she remained close by. Hades could see distance in her eyes as if her mind were somewhere else but he couldn't tell if she were happy or upset in that moment. She was a walking mystery and he could keep his eyes off her.

"May I sit here?" Aphrodite appeared before Hades, blocking his view of Persephone (much to his annoyance). With a curt nod, Hades watched as Aphrodite took the seat opposite him but immediately returned his attention to the beautiful goddess.

"Enjoying the view?" She smirked as Hades sipped from his goblet, his eyes focused on the young goddess as she laughed at a joke Artemis had told her.

Briefly, he flicked his eyes over to Aphrodite. "No offence, but did I not reject you the last time we spoke?" He raised an eyebrow, wondering if she remembered their little talk when he visited her palace all those years ago.

She shifted, huffing irritably, her clingy red dress creased as she crossed her legs causing crumpled lines to diagonally slide from her breast to her opposite sides' hip. "I wasn't talking about that." She leaned forward. "I came here to discuss your muse."

Rolling his eyes, Hades replied, "what are you talking about?"

"Demeter's daughter, Persephone," she said, wearing unreadable expression. "That's who you've been staring for hours now!"

Hades was speechless. A silence filled the gap between them as Aphrodite's unblinking eyes watched Hade's try to reply and fail.

"What is there to talk about?" He finally mumbled.

Leaning back, Aphrodite's smile faded and she sighed, turning slightly to glimpse the Spring Goddess. Working the fields more than usual lately had tinted Persephone's skin to a golden glow. She could see why so many Gods were falling for her.

Although Hades admired her appearance and saw Persephone above all beauty (even the Goddess before him was no match in his eyes) he was also attracted to the young Goddesses natural curiosity and charm. The twinkle in her eyes told him that there were millions of thoughts to be read and desires to be told.

"From what I hear," Aphrodite interrupted his thoughts, "many have asked for her hand."

Hades was immediately apprehensive, "and who would they be?" He scowled as he stared down Aphrodite. His euphoria for the night was greatly disturbed by this woman.

A grin passed over her face like a shadow for a brief second; she had all the power here and she could see the longer she took to reply, the more Hades squirmed.

"Who do you think?"

Hades' eyes were growing cold with jealousy and worry. Narrowing his eyes at her briefly, he scanned the room as if he could find hoards of men proposing to Persephone.

No luck.

Aphrodite chuckled. "Maybe you should see her when Apollo's around."

"I have. She seemed uninterested." He waved off, his drink forgotten now as he looked at Aphrodite blankly.

"Completely?"

Hades fell silent at that.

Persephone would often blush at Apollo's affection so was she completely uninterested or did she like him?

"She'll marry one day..." Aphrodite added bitterly. "We're all expected to."

Drinking deeply, he wiped at his mouth before rasping "look around," he waved, "do you see anyone faithful?"

Frowning, Aphrodite asked "what are you implying?"

"You and Hepheastus? Does he know about Ares?" He smirked, but his mind had been on a different thought.

"We don't discuss it," she said curtly. The way she glanced around and stared at her nails told Hades that they did in fact discuss such a thing. "Anyway, are you worried she'll choose Apollo no matter what happens?"

The bitter loop hole he was imaging suddenly caved in on itself like an avalanche hurls itself off the mountain. He was at a loss for words. It hadn't occurred to him that he might have competition. He was also aware of Apollo's advantage; Hades and Persephone hadn't actually met yet. As soon as she'd suggested Persephone marrying another, he had of her taking Hades as her lover. Now he could think clearly, the roles could be reversed.

"I hope you had nothing to do with this," Hades snapped, suddenly aggravated by his new realisation and new information.

Aphrodite simply smirked; remaining silent on the matter. Instead she followed Hades gaze to watch Persephone. "You forget my position; love has always been a tricky job but I am the only one who understands it."

She smiled sympathetically at the man before her, his infatuation was taking over him. Hades now had a weakness; she could only hope he didn't let anyone use that against him.

"All I wanted to say was make your move."

Persephone was worn out. She moved more sluggishly, her eyelids were growing heavy and yawns kept interrupting her chatter.

All she desired was her bed at that moment. To just collapse on something soft was all she could think about and the more her head spun, the more she wanted to collapse. She wobbled slightly on her feet and her eyes struggled to stay open.

Giving her daughter a sideways glance, Demeter decided to send Persephone to her bed.

Persephone quietly thanked her, placing her glass on the side with a muted clang (the loud music and chatter was so overwhelming it made all that was quiet now silent). She could feel her mother's eyes burning into the back of her head as she left the party to wander the dimly lit hallways of the palace.

Her drowsiness made appreciation for the ornate decorations and smooth walls impossible. When she awoke, Persephone was able to take in the palace's regal beauty and the many tapestries that hung the walls.

Some of Athena's guests were to stay the night – given that some lived far from Athens and had children to care for.

As Demeter and Persephone lived in Enna, Athena offered them each a room for the night. Athena had already showed them where they'd be staying as part of their conversation earlier in the evening when the sky was bright. It was pitch black outside now, with stars twinkling like sequins in the blanket of the night.

Sighing, Persephone dragged her feet till she reached a staircase, pulling herself up each step to reach yet another corridor. The stone walls emitting cold on her skin. She hugged herself for warmth as she walked on shaky feet. The noise of the party echoing in the distance behind her as fresh wave of silence washed over her exhausted body.

As she tried to find her way around, Persephone thought back to the night's events; Apollo's kiss in particular (which, unfortunately, stood out the most).

It was okay for a first kiss, she admitted to herself but it was completely unwelcome. Apollo had done nothing but ogle her body for the past few years. At first, Persephone enjoyed the attention; it was new and exciting, but after a year, her attitude changed. His advances were annoying. Apollo could not take a hint.

Look at all the other romances, she thought bitterly.

Maybe is Apollo had been more interested in her rather than looking her up and down like a hungry wolf, she might have liked him? Most likely not but Persephone had only her mother to talk to. Which was nice but she craved a different set of friends.

Persephone snapped from her thoughts when someone coughed behind her. Whirling around, Persephone broke out in a grin when she saw Hermes sheepishly smiling back at her.

Their friendship went way back to when Persephone was an infant. Hermes was the first to call Persephone by her real name (the name she preferred). After Apollo's advances were waited on by her naïve self, Hermes distanced himself. Tonight almost felt like a reunion.

Persephone leapt forward for a hug, almost knocking Hermes clean off his feet, with new-found energy, the floorboards creaking with such sudden movements. Hermes was a few inches shorter than her, his face flushed from ambrosia, so Persephone crouched slightly when she hugged him.

It took only a few seconds for Hermes to find his balance and start chuckling, "I've missed you too, Kore."

She polled back, scowling (though Hermes saw a smile struggling to break free). "Don't call me that!" She playfully slapped his arm.

"Hey," he raised his hands, a stupid grin plastered on his face. "Not my fault your mother named you twice.

"A technicality," she waved her hand lazily in dismissal. It was Zeus who'd apparently been adamant that his daughter be named Persephone. It was the only thing he'd ever done for her. Persephone had suspected that that was why her mother called her Kore instead. She'd always preferred 'Persephone' to 'Kore.'

Hermes walked Persephone to her room as they both filled each other in on what they'd missed over the years. Hermes had more to say than Persephone, seeing as she'd been locked away in Enna her whole life.

Once they'd reached her door, she unlocked it – with the key Athena had given her when showing her and Demeter around - and stepped inside, not turning away from her friend. Both Both felt like it was only yesterday they were both giggling in Enna.

"Hermes," she began. Persephone wanted to tell someone (and who better than Hermes?) and it was on the tip of her tongue but...

"Goodnight," she breathed, deciding against it (he was a messenger after all).

Smiling, Hermes quickly grabbed her hand and raised it briefly to his lips, "Goodnight, Kore," he stuck his tongue out and left.

Clambering into bed, Persephone was a hurricane. The evening had been filled with excitement (she'd finally made it out of Enna), a kiss and friendship.

Simultaneously, Persephone's spirits were uplifted and being dragged down by the memory of Apollo's lips assaulting her mouth. His rough tongue sliding over her own. She shivered.

She didn't even know what to feel. Anger? Definitely. Guilt? Maybe. Pity? She was unsure.

At least she and Hermes found each other again. She felt herself smile as she lay back on her bed. Staring at the ceiling, Persephone decided it would be best to avoid Apollo at all costs. If his harassment was his only aim then so be it. She wasn't going to put up with it any longer.

Sorry I left you hanging! I finally managed to type this one up. Hopefully, the next chapter wont take too long...

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