"Ah!" Hades yelped, his eyes squinted shut, clasping at the sides of the chair. "She really dug them in."
"I take it" Hecate said as she plucked another thorn from his face and placed it in the basin on the table, each one covered in Hades' blood, "dinner didn't go well."
A servant at Hades head dabbed at the slits in his face as he tried to calm his breathing. In all honesty, he felt like crying. The love of his life hated him; despised him; hurt him. Tears pricked the back of his eyes but he swallowed them down. He didn't want to cry around Hecate. Or anyone for that matter.
"We didn't have dinner." He grunted, pushing himself upright. They were in his room. His room wasn't as ornate as Persephone's but he did make sure to have a red plush chair beside him, dark wood for the bed and archways. But white walls instead of Persephone's blue. And black curtains with red trimming. "She refused. I came up to talk to her and she understood that she was to be my wife and... she didn't take it very well."
"Hades..." Hecate perched herself on the table in front of him, the servant picked up the bowl of warm watered down blood and thorns and was dismissed. "Please tell me you kept your temper?"
"...I may have been a little angry," Hades mumbled. He was ashamed of himself. He knew he had no right to be angry at Persephone. "I do regret my actions were a little out of line. I'll admit that. I had no right."
"Next time, you go and talk to her calmly. Have a real conversation," Hecate got up to leave, "oh, and start off with a door between you. Just in case."
Hades smiled, lying down on his bed. Persephone's room was just down the hall. He could go now and talk to her. Though he was sure she'd be asleep now. He decided that in the morning he would explain himself properly to the young maiden. Ask if she needed anything. Maybe they could even talk about …. things. He didn't know much about Persephone except she liked nature. And anyone knew that.
Maybe she'd like some flowers? He thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep, the scars on his face healing into bloodstained slits.
Persephone had other plans.
She waited till the mumbles from Hades room had gone quiet and, as she peaked through her door, witnessed Hecate leave for her own room. Persephone slipped out, slowly closing the door behind her. She prayed none of her movements would wake Hades as she crept passed his door; the floor didn't creak so she trusted the fates were in her favour.
Persephone didn't know how late it was. She didn't even know where she was: she'd entered a darker corridor after getting lost trying to find the dinner hall (for she thought that would lead her to the exit). Winds slithered across her skin, moving her hair this way and that. It seemed to grow harder against her as she walked forward; a slit ahead of her shedding light: was this home? Her way out?
She hadn't changed her dress since Hades left. The length was ill-suited for her task and the absence of sleeves (as well as chest) made her all the more colder. Goosebumps rose up her arms and shoulders.
The light got closer with each step. She reached out in front of her – her other arm was desperately hugging her waist for warmth – the light was blindingly bright. She squinted.
Almost there...
Persephone lunged forward, piercing through the light, stepping inside. But there was no inside. The feeling of achievement was lost before it began as dread electrified her veins.
Persephone fell.
Hades awoke with a start. Grunting, he called at "What? Who is it?"
The knocking stopped. A timid yet urgent voice called out "Persephone's missing!"
That was enough for him to leap up from his bed, grab his bident. Yanking the door open he looked down at a shocked servant. The servant was accustomed to Hades always appearing sensible and clean but jagged scratches (although healing) scarred his face, he had not bothered to change his clothes either.
"What do you mean she is missing?" He asked, his eyes searching down the corridor as if expecting to see her there. "SPEAK!" His eyes stared down the poor servant.
She jumped, "Oh, me and her chamber maids were bringing her food up... as she wasn't at dinner. When we opened her door, she was nowhere to be seen."
"How long ago was this?!"
"Oh, well, we just looked... so not long?" She floated over to the rest of the servants; staring into the distance, eyes glazed over as usual.
"HECATE" Hades screamed, "MINOS, RADAMANTHUS... ANYONE!"
The servant jumped and scurried off to its friends as Hades bounded further into the corridor; eyes frantically searching.
"Hecate already knew when the servants told her; she's searching the basement and floor up from hers."
Hades turned on his heel, his trident hitting the ground beside him with a clang.
Radamanthus appeared an old man at first glance. If it wasn't for his muscular build you'd dismiss him as frail and weak. He had white hair and beard, wrinkles at his mouth and eyes. Minos was the same except his hair contained more grey; he also wasn't as care-free as Radamanthus seemed sometimes. But cross either of them and you'd learn your lesson. Although Hades was far more powerful; being a god.
Radamanthus raised an eyebrow at Hades change in behaviour, he let it go. After all, his guest was missing.
"Minos is searching the left side of the palace... I'm about to search the right. The servants cover everything else." Radamanthus then proceeded to walk past Hades to continue his mission.
Hades stuck out his arm, blocking Radamanthus. "What if she's not in the palace...?"
He frowned. He'd never seen Hades act like this. So worried and... scared. It made him uneasy. "She can't have gone there. The entry way to those places is blocked off." Before walking away, he added, "and Charon can't let her on his boat!"
With that, he left.
A/N: I realise it's been over a year since I began writing this story... and Persephone's only just arrived in the Underworld (Hades really is a slow mover). Hope you enjoy it! Please give reviews!