"She said what?!" Hades growled in disbelief.

"Sire, perhaps you'd best calm-"

"I am calm!" He roared. "Away with you," he waved off Philip who floated through a doorway to his right.

Persephone, if she had any sense, would have met him at dinner: he'd planned to explain everything. Calmly, he picked up his goblet, filled with wine, sipped deeply. He tried to collect himself. He would see her tomorrow anyway. He'd search for her if he had to.

But his frown deepened as he thought about her; the way she looked at Apollo, her smile when she was on land... the way she screamed and beat him upon entering the Underworld. Why couldn't she look at him the way she looked at Apollo..?

Slamming the cup onto the table, (so hard the glass parts shattered, spraying the table and slitting his knuckles) he flung himself from the table and almost ran up to Persephone's room. It was only down the hall from his own so soon he was pounding on the door of the small goddess.

Persephone's heart quickened when three loud knocks slammed on her door. "W-who is it?" She called out innocently, using the bed as a shield.

"You know damn well who it is!" Hades yelled through the barrier.

Persephone bit her lip deciding on whether to open her door or not. "What do you want?" She asked with confidence, knowing full well that she could stop him from hurting her if that was his intention. She didn't sit around all day in the palace like most thought.

There was a moment of hesitation from behind the door, Persephone braced herself, hands read and by the door.

"What I want?!" He questioned aloud, "I want you! But right now, I want to talk sense into you!"

With that, Persephone raised an eyebrow and swung open the door. Hades momentarily stumbled, surprise flashing in his eyes for a second before he returned to his furious state. "So," Persephone turned and walked to the middle of the room, opening her arms as if to invite him in further, "What is this sense you want to talk me into?"

Before he could speak, she waved her hands, sending sharp thorns to scatter across the door. Each thorn, there were about eight, were floating (under Persephone's control as her hand was pointed at him in a claw-like manner) inches away from Hades face. "You better hope I wont regret opening my door. You already dragged me down to this hell-hole, literally a hell-hole! And now, you want me to speak to you like this? Well, go ahead!" She looked at him rather smugly, knowing he was scared (the look on his face said it all) but she also found herself liking how impressed he seemed to be with her power.

"I wasn't implying you hadn't any sense," Hades began, his voice now calm and quiet, not taking his eyes of a particularly sharp thorn close to his eye. "What I'm saying is that you're in the Underworld now... and you're probably confused about this new situation. Coming to dinner politely would have given you a chance for me to explain everything." Taking his chances, his eyes slid in her direction, watching as her eyes narrowed then widened; watchful of this stranger.

With a flick of her wrist, the thorns scattered to the floor. "Go ahead. Explain." She said curtly, standing still, her eyes staring at him; concentrating on his every move. This was a man capable of breaking the earth and snatching her away from her home. She wasn't going to waste any time on mercy if he made any move.

Hades stepped into her room. The place had been decorated just as he'd wanted it. For her. Flowers were carved into the wooden arch over the door, painted white, with a silver shine (it reminded him of her magic), the wood of the four-poster bed remained it's dark oak colour but had also had a fine craftsmen touch on it; vines and flowers spiraling to the top. The curtains were green with red, yellow, pink and blue plants stitched into it. The walls were a light blue, the ceiling had been painted to look like the day sky from above (he was sure she'd miss it). Her personal bathroom was behind the door opposite him. Everything she'd need, he had catered for, ready to be his bride.

"When I first saw you, I couldn't help but think 'there's a girl who knows what she wants.' You were in the forest at the time. Suddenly I saw you and," did he dare say it? "Well, naturally, I thought you were beautiful." The pink tinting her cheeks had not gone unnoticed by him and he smirked. "Your eyes, Persephone are full of life and curiosity that people lose... especially here where there isn't any life-"

"Hecate's alive," she butted in, her arms now crossed.

He blinked. He couldn't remember the last time someone dared interrupt him. He liked her spirit; she sure would be a fine queen. "Yes, she is alive. She'll tend to your health if you ever need it-"

"Get on with your story!" Persephone snapped, her voice growing louder with each word. She was tired and didn't care about what she needed here. She wasn't staying here anyway.

"Okay, my bride..." his tongue dripped with the last word; rolling it off his tongue as he bathed in satisfaction at her expression. The smug goddess was now wide-eyed and open mouthed with shock. He couldn't stand to be interrupted so much with her impatience.

"Bride?" she muttered.

"I brought you here to be my queen... Persephone, I do love you... I know you wont feel the same way," e bent his head, he hadn't accepted this but he knew there was no chance in hell of her loving him back now. "But, can you risk going back home, with everyone knowing you were taken by me to the Underworld and given back unmarried?"

Her expression changed in a heart beat. No longer the doe-eyed young girl, but now viscous lioness. "excuse me?" Her voice had shifted to dangerously quiet. "Do you think I care what people back home think of me?" She spat, her claws ready. Hades edged backwards. He wasn't afraid necessarily but wary. She'd scratched his face before, she'd do it again.

"Every single god and goddess there is has fucked someone or even rumored to have and they are never judged. What makes you think that I'll be singled out?"

Quietly, he replied, his fingers on the archway, ready to leave, "because, my lady, each promiscuous god has been married before they did those things."

He was right to be wary. Persephone hurled her hands around her, conjuring the abandoned thorns that pelted themselves at Hades face. Each sharp jab was only on his face. Blood leaked from each stab. Persephone's face held only loathing; her face flushed, teeth bared and nostrils flaring: if she could, she would have killed him right then and there. She was angry enough to do so.

A/N: Go ahead. Be honest. Review!