Disclaimer: An infant is killed later in this chapter, and it is implied that it will be eaten. If this sort of content will offend you, I suggest you skip that part or move on entirely. Thanks.

Six

Day 16

Hecate brushed dirt from the stone altar in front of her, her fingers gently wiping away the years of disuse. Her heart felt heavy, as the pads of her fingers felt the familiar runic engravings that she had done herself. The entire altar was in a state of disrepair, the stones broken beneath her feet. Grass grew between them, almost all the way to her knees.

She looked out at the mountaintop with sadness. When had her people given up on her? When had her faithful following of witches stopped believing in the magic of the land? True, she had been gone for many months, but it was no longer than she was usually away. She had told the leader of the all-female tribe that she would return, and she had, only to find stagnation where there had once been life.

Kyrillos stood beside her, nudging her hand with his head. She let her fingers play over his ears, smoothing his fur away from his eyes. "What is wrong with the world, love?" She asked, looking down at him. "It seems each year, I fade more into legend. I think that some day, I will no longer leave the Underworld, and will instead remain a goddess of dead beliefs."

"Oh, I don't think that will happen," A voice said. "There will always be witches who will need you."

Hecate jumped, slapping her hand to her chest. Her heart raced beneath her palm. She stomped her foot, planting her hands on her hips. "Damn it, Hades! If you keep doing that, I'm going to stop talking to you!"

The voice came through the fade again. "I have to talk to you somehow!"

"You could announce yourself, you know." She sighed, shaking her head. "But it's no use talking to you, is it? You never listen to me anyways."

"But I have! This time, anyways…" He cleared his throat. "I did it, Hecate."

She frowned. "Did what, exactly?"

"I did what you said! I begrudgingly cleaned myself up, and I believe the two of us have actually made progress. We agreed to start over, especially after last night…"

It took Hecate a moment to realize what he was talking about. "Oh, you and Persephone. What happened last night?"

"She tried to kill me. That, however, is beside the point. I did what you said, and she has actually conceded to be my Queen."

Hecate frowned. "Am I mistaken, or did you just say she tried to kill you?"

"Beside the point." His voice was tense.

Ah. Sensitive topic, Hecate thought. Moving forward... "Hades, this is wonderful! You have made progress indeed!" She clapped her hands, smiling widely for her absent friend. "When shall the two of you be married?" There was a silence, and Hecate realized her mistake. Her mouth formed a delicate 'o' of surprise, and she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Hades. I should have realized…"

"Yes," He interrupted. "She has agreed to be my Queen for the time being, but she has not yet chosen to become my wife. Still," His voice raised an octave, and it was full of hope. "I believe that we've reached a milestone. And who knows what may happen now?"

"Yes," Hecate said softly. "Who knows?"

"Well," Hades replied promptly. "I must go. I have many things to attend to, now that Persephone is truly staying." There was a brief pause. "I see your sadness, Hecate, and I will say this: do not despair. Light can always spring from darkness, you'll see. When can I expect you back?"

Hecate looked over her shoulder, at the broken altar. "Perhaps earlier than usual, dear friend. I find myself with much less to do here in the Land of the Living. There is just one more thing I must do, before I return, but I should be there soon. Within the month, I expect."

"Excellent! I shall see you then. Goodbye, Dark Lady."

"Farewell, Lord."

Hecate stood still, waiting until Hades' presence faded completely. Then she looked up at the sky. It had turned a solid white while the two of them had been talking, and it was covered with thick clouds. A frigid wind blew by, tossing Hecate's hair about her face. She shivered, holding her arms tightly around herself. She walked to the edge of the mountaintop, looking down. Through a chilly fog, she could not see the village of witches that had once been proud to serve her.

Swiftly changing into an owl, she took to the windy skies, and dived down through the mystery surrounding all she had known.

Day 21

As I walked to the window for perhaps the third time that morning, I could feel Hades' eyes upon my back. I'm not sure why I kept going and looking out; nothing beyond the stone walls of Hades' hall ever changed. But I had nothing better to occupy myself with, so I stood for the third time and crossed the throne room to the window.

The stone felt good beneath my hands. It gave me something solid to cling to, and reminded me that I was indeed still alive. Sometimes, I wasn't sure. Sometimes I would forget, and have to take deep breaths, and remind myself that there was someone waiting for me on the other side. Like now. I closed my eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath, digging my nails into the sill of the window until it hurt. Slowly, I let out the breath, relaxing my tense body.

Tense. That was the word for it. Since I had agreed to become queen, things between Hades and I had been undoubtedly tense. I had begrudgingly agreed to start over with him, with a clean slate, but it was so hard to forget the events that had brought us together. And neither of us quite knew where we stood in terms of mannerisms and speech. Most often, we simply avoided one another entirely. It made things easier, for the both of us.

But then there were the times when we had to be together, like now. Each day, Hades held court in the throne room. More often than not, the Judges would come, having what seemed like a score of new problems every day. Other times, souls would come, and would ask things of Hades, or they would come seeking news. I did not enjoy seeing the souls who wandered in; they frightened me. Not all of them had the usual mournful voices, but every single one of them had the piercing, bottomless stare that seemed to go on for eons. They made me nervous. During those times, it was my duty, as Queen, to sit beside His Dark Majesty and pretend to be interested. It wasn't easy.

"You seem distracted, Persephone," Hades remarked conversationally. From somewhere distantly in the Hall, there was the sound of a great door being shut.

I opened my eyes, but didn't turn away from my place at the window. "Do I?"

He sighed quietly. "Come here. I'd like to show you something." There were footsteps behind me, and I tensed, before realizing he was walking away from where I stood.

I stared out at the gray landscape for just one more second, before heaving a tiny sigh of my own and turning away. He was standing on the other side of the room, his back to me. He was staring at something on the wall. I walked to him with my hands clasped in front of me, my head down. I stood beside him, but not close enough to suggest we had anything resembling trust.

"Look at this map."

Tentatively, I looked up. So that's what he was staring at so avidly. I frowned, leaning closer to inspect the landscapes that had been painted upon the vellum. At the very top, it said STYGIA. In the bottom left corner, I could clearly see the Hall. To the right of that was the Asphodel Meadows, where the dead are sent. In the very center of the map was the crossroads, where Hecate's altar was located. Beyond that, in the upper right corner was Elysion: the place where the Elysian Fields and Islands were located, where heroes of men and the virtuous dead rested.

I frowned, and pointed to the upper left hand corner. All that I could see there was blackness. "What's that?"

"The lair of Erebus. He is not to be bothered."

"Oh." I chanced a glance at Hades. I blushed as I realized he was no longer staring at the map, but at me. "Why did you show me this?"

Something that may have been a smile ghosted upon his lips for the merest second. "Persephone, I am not blind. I can see the tedium that the Hall brings you. You need not spend all of your time here, you know." He tapped the map with one long finger. "You may venture out into this world. I only ask that you do not cross the borders of Stygia."

I raised an eyebrow. "And what if I should cross the borders?"

His face became grave. "There are far more terrifying creatures dwelling here than me, and you will find all of them beyond our borders. I simply ask that you remain here, for your own safety."

Something worse than Hades? I almost shuddered in front of him, but checked myself at the last moment. Instead, I nodded. "I won't. I promise." To my surprise, I found myself smiling. I couldn't help it; I was allowed to leave the Hall! Finally, time away from that dreadful place, and Hades' boring courtiers. I couldn't wait.

I hurried to the archway leading from the throne room as quickly as I could while still remaining dignified. Before I left, I stopped. Turning slowly, I looked back at Hades. He was looking at the floor with a bemused expression, his thoughts further than I could follow.

I cleared my throat. "Hades?"

His black eyes rose to my level. "Yes, my dear?"

I bowed my head respectfully. "Thank you."

He nodded curtly, gesturing for me to leave. That was good enough for me.

I didn't hear the sad sigh that he emitted as I left the throne room, running out into the weak light of the Underworld.

Day 27

Often I wondered what it would be like to be a mortal. How each moment would be so precious, because time itself would be against me. How it would feel to actually live throughout the days and months that passed, without simply buzzing through them like a bee; there in one instant, and gone in the next. How it would feel for any one of my actions to actually mean something.

There was absolutely nothing to do in the Underworld. Hades had forbidden me from traveling beyond the borders of Stygia, the place just beyond the Gates. Each day, longing for some sort of comfort, I would leave the Hall and go for walks around the permitted area. But there was nothing for me to do but stare around at the bleak landscape, wishing I was anywhere but there. What could I have done? Visited any of the resting places of the dead? And do what with them, exactly? Talk to them? Dull. Go bother Erebus? Even worse, as he was rarely there. Go to the crossroads? Never. The Judges held court there, and I saw enough of them already.

So, what? What was I to do, to fill the endless days? What could I do but go down to the River Styx and sit with Cerberus? In the days that passed, we became great friends. Really, he wasn't as terrifying as he seemed. Truly, he was just a large puppy. Most days, I would sit beside him in the black sand, stroking all three of his heads in turn and watching the waters of hate roar by.

On those days, I would try not to stare each time Charon would drop someone off, but it was hard not to. Besides the obvious reason that he was ferrying souls across from the Land of the Living, he was also an oddity that captured my interest. He never spoke, at least, not to me, and I once got a glimpse of his face. To my horror, I discovered it was skeletal. After that, I lowered my gaze and left him alone.

Other times, secret times, I would wander the barren land and do the one thing that I was certain would make Hades angry. I grew things. It was much more difficult than above, in the Land of the Living, but after the first few times, I found myself to be even more adept at it than before. As I was in the Land of the Dead, creating life took much more effort, but it gave me something to keep my mind off my predicament and it gave me something to do while the days flew by.

At first, it was just simple flowers. After all, who wants to see the same boring hills every day? I was tired of their colorless faces. So first, I made daisies, in every bright color I could think of. Then came carnations, in explosive reds and yellows. After that I grew soft purple violets; vivid orange tulips; dainty white lilies; bubbly pink chrysanthemums. The only flower I refused to grow was narcissus. It wasn't because my feelings had changed for the flower, but because many of them grew already, especially by the River Styx. It had something to do with the border between the two Lands being thinnest there.

As I secretly grew flowers one day, I conceived the idea that changed everything. I wanted a place to go, a place where I could be reminded of my life above. I needed a place where I could lay and braid my hair and sing songs that my mother had once taught me. I needed a sanctuary where I could go in the hours when I wasn't needed at the Hall. I decided to create myself a meadow; it would be something that Hades could never take from me.

I made it beyond the Asphodel Meadows, just on the border of Stygia there. I rose trees from nothing but gray dirt and ashes, I grew green grass that was soft to the touch, and I created a small pool of water, full of floating water lilies. Among the grass I placed daffodils that made me smile each time I laid eyes upon them. I could not change the windless air, or the gray sky, but I could have color and beauty at my fingertips, just as it had been in the Land of the Living.

And so, each day, I would sit in my meadow and weave daisy chains and tell myself stories. Each afternoon I would leave my fragrant friends, and I would brush the grass and the petals from my peplos, and I would return to that cold fortress and endure another night of dreams, wishing things were different.

Day 28

Hades knew, without even watching Persephone, that she had become great friends with Cerberus. He could feel it each day through the connection the two of them shared, heart to heart. He could feel the joy that was Cerberus', when she arrived to spend time with him. It thrummed upon the line, straight into Hades' heart like an arrow. He closed his fists tightly, and reminded himself not to blame Cerberus. It was not the dog's fault that Persephone loved him, and not Hades.

But it did feel good to pretend that the warm happiness in his heart was his own. He could close his eyes, and feel the tresses of Persephone's midnight hair slipping through his fingers. He could smell the scent of her rain-kissed skin, and could see the secret, shy smile she shared with him. Only him.

But then he was reminded she did not belong to him. Neither did the jubilation that he felt in his heart. Yes, they had been adjusting well to their lives together, but nothing was as Hades wanted it to be. She did not trust him, and did not wish to know him further. She did not want to love him, it was as plain as that.

Hades closed his eyes, shaking his head. Thrice-damned fool, he thought. Envious of a dog.

Oh, how the mighty had fallen.

Day 32

The endless walks in the middle of the day made my feet hurt, but they were welcome. It gave me a chance to get away from that empty Hall, and from Hades' sad eyes.

Instead of walking towards the Asphodel Meadows, towards the meadow I had made myself, I decided upon another route. Why should I limit myself? Why should I walk the same path every day? I decided instead, after visiting Cerberus, to investigate the crossroads. I reminded myself to keep out of sight of the annoying Judges, and made up my mind, bustling down the dirt road that led away from Hades' hall.

There didn't seem to be any change in the weather there. The sky was a constant gray, and I looked up at it apprehensively. Often I wondered if it would rain, but so far, it hadn't. Just dismal gray tones, folding in over one another, cascading against my eyes like living sorrow. It seemed there was no escape; my meadow was the only place I could truly find solace.

But today I was venturing away. My curiosity had gotten the better of me, and so I braved the black and white world to see what the crossroads were really like.

The further I traveled down the road, the darker it seemed to become. Shivering, I wrapped my arms around myself tightly, and pressed on. Soon, braziers began to line the road, but instead of the usual purple fire, these held flickering blue flames. They gave the entire area an eerie, ghost-like appearance, and I felt a trickle of fear slip down my spine. I should not have come, I thought to myself. I should not have come this way.

The road seemed to stretch on and on. Finally, just when I thought I might turn back, I saw something up ahead. I squinted; what was it? It was moving as I was. I hastened my steps, until I came close enough to see what it really was. When it slid into focus, I gasped.

It was a person, or a spirit of a person. It was a young woman. There was a haze over her, a shiny white veil that seemed to hang over her like gauze. It made her shimmer with movement, and her white hair (which could have been any color in life) blew around her head, despite the lack of wind. She turned at the sound of my gasp. Her eyes were a glimmering silver as if she was blind, and so devoid of any emotion that I felt my heart plummet into my stomach from just staring at her. Clumsily, she curtsied. "My Queen," She mumbled; her voice held an echo.

There were more like her. I could see them, walking ahead of the two of us. They wandered down the road, their bodies glowing like fire-bugs. They traveled on and on, until they faded from sight, and I realized they were all making their way to the crossroads, to receive their final judgment.

The woman was still staring at me. I opened my mouth to say something, but no words would come out. I did the one thing that my mind had been screaming to do since it had become darker. Body shaking with horror, I turned and I ran. I ran until the air around me was no longer black, and I ran until I couldn't see any more of the spirits down the road. I ran until my lungs burned, and my legs trembled with the effort to hold me up. And even then, I kept going. I kept going until I literally almost plunged headfirst into the River Acheron.

I slowed to a halt, my toes digging into the mushy black sands there. My arms wind-milled, and I fell backwards. I lay on the bank of the river, stunned, for a long while. I remained there until my heartbeat slowed to a normal pace, until I could breathe without pain, and until the sky stopped spinning above me. The water in front of me was comforting, surprisingly; it churned and bubbled as it sped along, and I sat up, feeling much better.

I turned my head to the left, and gazed at the stout walls surrounding the Hall. I was behind it, and I could see that even less attention had been given to the landscape as the entrance had. I sighed, shaking my head and looking back at the water. Though I was capable of breathing again, my mind was whirling. Death was a terrifying prospect, and I heartily - and silently - thanked Zeus and my mother for my immortality.

I leaned forward to inspect my reflection in the shallow waters. My hair was still black, but that wasn't what caught my attention. I was pale, and my face appeared drawn. When I had lived above with my mother, my skin had been a delightful gold from my days spent in the sun. Now it was a waxy white, and my eyes seemed bruised. All of me seemed bruised, I noticed. I sighed again. If Hades saw me, he'd bother me for the rest of the day, worrying. Still, there was no way to avoid it, so…

I stopped. Frowned. Leaned closer. Was I imagining things, or had I just seen my mother's face flicker over mine? Could it be? Or was my hopeful mind playing tricks upon me? My heart skipped a beat, racing through my chest like it had never even slowed. No, I wasn't seeing things! There it was again! "Mother?" I whispered, daring to even ask.

Suddenly, the water stilled until it became as smooth as glass. Turning from a dark black, color spread over the surface: light blues and brazen golds, until I realized I was seeing a field beneath a stretch of sky. My mother was there, dancing in the field. To my surprise, she was laughing. Laughing and singing. My frown deepened. She rarely did either of those. She only sang if I asked, and she only laughed if I did something truly funny. Never did she do any of those things without me, so why…?

Suddenly, she spoke. "Oh, I'm so happy I've gotten all of my work done," She trilled cheerfully. "I simply don't know what to do with myself! I have so much time to myself, now that Persephone is gone." My heart plummeted into my feet, but she kept going. "What a bother that girl was! I am so much happier now that she's gone. Why couldn't she see before what a burden she was to me?" As if she knew I was watching upon the surface of the water, she stopped and looked up, her face angled towards me. Her words were dark and serious. "I hope she never comes back."

"No!" I cried, leaping to my feet. It couldn't be true! Was this what she had always secretly thought of me? A child she had never wanted, and a burden that hindered her every move? She was glad I was gone! I had heard her myself; she didn't want me to come back. She was happier without me. My heart broke into several pieces, and I began crying. "Mother!" I called to her, but she couldn't hear me. She resumed singing, her smile stretching on for miles like that breathtaking sky. With a sob, I grabbed a handful of gray rocks and threw them at the surface of the water. The image shattered, and I turned and ran back towards the hall, tears streaming down my face.

I ran up the steps, and down the hall, sobbing as I went. When I reached my room, I flung myself inside and slammed the door behind me. I fell upon the bed and wept, my cries muffled by the fabric of my pillow.

Not long after, there was a knock upon the door. "Persephone?" It was Hades. No doubt he had heard the echoes of my tears. I ignored him, and kept crying.

There was a second knock. "Persephone, what's happened? What is the matter?"

"Go away!" I cried, my voice wet and thick.

Through the door, I could hear his sigh. "Persephone, I'd like to help, if I can…"

I sat up. That gave me an idea. I wiped the tears off of my cheeks with the backs of my hands, and went to the door. Sniffling, I tentatively opened it. He was standing there on the other side, not so imposing; rather, he looked alarmed and unsure at the same time.

"What is the matter?" He asked again.

I opened the door wider, inviting him inside. He followed me in wordlessly, and I sat down on the edge of the bed as he closed the door. I looked down at the ground, wringing my hands in my lap. I hadn't given myself much time to think, and now I was suddenly nervous.

"Persephone?"

Just do it, I thought to myself. Your mother is happier without you. You have nothing left up there anyways. I rose to my feet, and walked over to him. I offered him my hands, but he didn't take them. He appeared confused, as if he didn't know what I was doing. I took a deep breath. Against my will, more tears splattered down my cheeks. "Hades, I want you to have me."

He stared at me, his black eyes unblinking, his entire body motionless. He said nothing, only watched the trail of a single tear as it dripped off the edge of my jaw and disappeared somewhere on the floor. Finally, he shook his head, and said with a small, disbelieving laugh, "What?"

I grabbed his arm. It was the first time that I had ever willingly touched him, and he flinched. His skin was cold, but not to the point where I was uncomfortable. It warmed under my fingers. "It's not a laughing matter!" I exclaimed, wiping my face once more with my free hand. "Do it, Hades. I'm offering you my body."

"And I am respectfully declining," He said tersely, pulling his arm out of my grasp.

Now it was my turn to stare. "What?" It had occurred to me that he would refuse.

"You heard me. You are tired. You're not thinking clearly. You don't know what you're asking." He turned to leave. I grabbed his muscular shoulder, and yanked him back towards me. His black eyes were wide with shock.

"What is the matter with you?" I asked, angry. "Consummate it. Make me your bride. I will no longer offer you any resistance. Take me."

A whistle of cold breath escaped through his clenched teeth. "No."

"Why not?"

"I would not have you like this!" He looked away. "I know what it is you saw in the River Acheron, Persephone. I am the lord here, and I know everything that goes on."

"Then why will you see me suffer? I am giving myself to you, Hades!"

"And I refuse!" He shouted.

I backed away from him, glaring at him. Anger was burning deep in my belly, and I wanted to hit something. Why wouldn't he just take me, and get it over with? My mother was happy with my absence, and so there was no longer any reason for me to return to the Land of the Living. So why wouldn't just make me his bride, so I could live out my life in the darkness, blissfully ignorant of my former life?

"So that's it, then," I remarked bitterly, drawing my eyes up towards him. "You would only steal me away, like a coward."

I expected him to be angry, to strike me and forbid me from ever saying such things again. He didn't. Instead, he nodded. "Yes. Like a coward. But I cannot walk upon the Land of the Living."

I licked my lips. "You stole me for a reason, then, did you not?"

"I did."

"And what was that reason?"

"I love you!" Hades snapped. "I did from the moment I saw you, and I always will. And if your next question is why, know now: it's because I am a fool."

I ignored his last statement. "You desired me. You saw me there, picking flowers with the nymphs, and you felt lust for my body." I stared at him defiantly, daring him to disagree. I was disappointed.

"Yes, I did. I still do." He sighed, as if he were patiently explaining things to a child. "It's because I love you."

"Then take me!" Madly, I reached for the pins holding my peplos; there was one at each shoulder. I yanked at them, trying to loose the fabric.

Hades lunged forward and grabbed my wrists. "Stop it, Persephone! You are out of your mind!"

"And if I am?" I shot back. "Was this not your intention?" I jerked away from him, trying to pull out of his strong grip, but it was impossible. His nails dug into my skin, and if I hadn't been frantic, I might have felt the pain.

"No!" He yelled.

"Do you desire me?" I snarled. I could see myself reflected in his eyes, and didn't immediately recognize myself. My hair was billowing about wildly, and my eyes were flashing; I seemed possessed by fury.

Hades' eyes changed, and became full of regret. "Yes."

"Would you have me? Would you marry me, and claim the body given the consent you seek?"

"Given the consent, yes."

"Fool!" I cried, thrashing about wildly in his arms. "You have the consent; now do it!"

In a flash, he swung out with one hand and struck me. It stung viciously for just a second, before dulling to a throb. I immediately stopped, putting a hand to my cheek. It was warm. My heart was hammering wildly, and as I gazed around, I suddenly felt very weak, my head light. I blinked several times, trying to clear my mind. What had just happened?

"Now," Hades said calmly, his voice low. He dropped my other wrist; I let my arm swing to my side limply. "Calm yourself. I know what it is you saw the waters of Acheron. You believe this vision to be true. But that is where you are mistaken." He sighed, taking me by the wrist, and gently guiding me back towards my bed. He sat me down. "The River Acheron is filled with the waters of pain and sorrow. It reacted to you - after all, you are the Queen - and it showed you what would cause your heart the most sorrow. That is not what has come to pass, but merely your own fears reflected against you."

"She does love me?" I asked softly, my voice hoarse. "She wants me back?"

"Fiercely."

I slanted a glance at him through the curtains of my ebony hair. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"

He sighed. "I have seen her, Persephone." He held up a hand as I opened my mouth excitedly. "No, I will not tell you how, and no, you are not permitted to see her yourself. It doesn't work that way."

A silence descended over us. I sniffled several times, before finally tucking a strand of my hair behind one ear so I could see him clearly. He was looking off somewhere distant, somewhere I couldn't see. I briefly wondered what it was he saw - before he turned his gaze back on me. I watched, frozen, as he raised his hand. His fingers lightly grazed the skin of my cheek, touching the mark he had caused. I closed my eyes, surprised at how nice it felt to have his cool skin upon my warm cheek. And then just like that, I felt his presence lift from the bed. By the time I had opened my eyes, he was gone, the door shutting quietly behind him. I raised my hand back to my cheek, certain that I had just imagined the touch.

I laid down on my bed, curling up tight against the blankets. I couldn't even begin to describe what had happened. Instead, I made a note in my head to stay far, far away from the River Acheron, and to not believe everything that I see. I was just beginning to ponder Hades' unusual actions - and how embarrassing it would be to face him the next day - when I slipped off into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.

Just one thought followed me into slumber: if Hades claimed my mother "fiercely wanted me back", why wouldn't he just return me to her arms?

"Ah…" There was a cackling from somewhere to Hades' right. He turned slowly, his eyes falling upon the fluid form of Lamia, as her scaled tail slithered out of the cave behind her. "To what do I owe this dark pleasure, my lord?"

Immediately after the altercation with Persephone, Hades had gone to his room and broken more furniture. He was furious and frustrated; no matter what he did, she did not trust him. No matter what he said or did for her, she still remained aloof and distant. No matter what, it seemed as if everything would always come back to her mother. Would she ever forget the life she had once lived? Could she not be satisfied with the life he was offering her? Hades knew then that this went beyond him. He needed advice from someone outside the walls of his Hall. Then he had donned his himation and his infamous Helm of Darkness, procured an offering, and had swiftly left the Hall. He had traveled for hours into the deep swamps of the Underworld, before reaching Lamia's home. He needed guidance, and he knew her cursed eyes could see more than just the realm around them.

Once, perhaps she had been beautiful. Before she had fallen in love with Zeus, and incurred the wrath of his wife, Hera, anyways. Hera had cursed Lamia, and killed the children she had borne of Zeus. Grief-stricken and alone, the poor woman was cast out. Hades had taken pity on her, and had offered her a place in his realm. Not long after, Zeus took pity on Lamia as well, and gave her a gift of removable eyes, so she could finally rest without having to see the dreadful burden the Queen of the Gods had bestowed upon her.

The ghost of her beauty still lingered upon her torso and face. Her high-cheekbones were still elegant, and her eyes were still large and blue (they were pretty when they were in their rightful place, inside her head). But her skin had turned a dull gray, and she looked more hollow than beautiful. There were lines around her blackened lips, and her hair had long since become lank. She slithered towards him, raising herself up on the serpentine tail that she had been given by Hera.

"Lamia," Hades said quietly. "I come for your wisdom."

She smiled grimly. Her teeth were pointed, and stained with blood. "I live to serve you, my lord. Have you brought an offering?"

Hades stoically raised the brown sack that he held in one hand. As he did, whatever was inside squirmed. A muffled wail rang out across the barren swamp. Lamia's eyes lit up with delight. She took the bag, reaching inside. With one clawed hand, she pulled out a baby by its leg. It writhed in her grasp, its face puckered in pain and annoyance. It cried louder. She frowned as she held it up higher to inspect it, noticing its spindly limbs and small, newborn body.

"A petty morsel," She remarked out loud. Catching the way Hades' expression darkened, she added, "But one that is more than sufficient. I thank thee, O Gracious Lord."

He nodded, watching as she slid the babe back into the bag. It squealed, kicking its legs more fiercely. He watched, eyes dull with indifference, as she grabbed its round head through the fabric and twisted its neck. The snap was small, barely that of one stepping on a twig. It stopped screaming, and it certainly stopped moving. Satisfied, Lamia turned her attention towards Hades, curling her tail around the motionless sack. Her piercing blue eyes returned to him.

"How may I assist you?"

"I will be blunt with you, Lamia." He said, tucking his himation closer around him. "I intend to make Persephone my bride, but her thoughts are constantly turned to the mother she has left behind, and the life I stole her away from. I find it tiring. What can I do to expel these thoughts from her mind?"

"You want her to be your bride?" Lamia shrugged. "Just take her. Spill her virginal blood and claim her. You are a God, Hades. No one shall trouble you. You answer only to one, and he certainly has no room to object. We all know of his conquests." Her eyes flashed at the mention of Zeus.

Hades stared. She had grown cold and cruel in her monstrosity. With her beauty, it seemed her humanity had left as well. He shook his head. "I could not even attempt it." She's just a girl.

Lamia shrugged once more. She didn't care. "Fine. I have another way, an alternative. You most likely will not like this one, either." She didn't make him wait long. "Your annual Walk of the Dead is swiftly approaching, lord." At his look of surprise, she laughed mirthlessly. "I may be a recluse, but I know this land and its events. On the Walk, simply take her with you. When you visit Hypnos in his cave, trick her into drinking from the River Lethe that flows through it. She will then forget everything she has ever known, except being your Queen here in the Underworld."

Hades pondered her suggestion. It was true, that if she drank from the River Lethe, she would forget everything. Then he could be there, to conveniently fill in the blanks of her life. Then all she would know was being his, and she would become his wife, in more than just title. It was actually a sound plan. Hades cursed himself; why hadn't he thought of it before?

"The idea has merit," Hades admitted. "I will attempt it." He bowed graciously. "I thank you, Lamia, for your advice."

She gripped the brown sack tightly, holding it up in response. "And I thank you, lord. Farewell."

He nodded curtly at her, before donning his helmet of invisibility once more and speeding back towards the Hall. He had much planning to do, because what Lamia had said was true: the Walk of the Dead was on his doorstep. He hadn't even remembered, having been too engrossed with his pursuing Persephone. Now, he was doubly preoccupied. Plans and schemes hung over his head like clouds, and a dozen different things he had to do flashed in his mind. One thought kept his mind particularly busy as he returned to the Hall:

How am I going to convince Persephone to journey with me across the whole of the Underworld, alone?

I'm so sorry for the long wait! Anyways, here it is. Longest chapter I've ever written, I think. For those of you who don't know, Lamia (or the lamia, as she's sometimes known as a type of mythological creature) eats children. I guess that is sort of blazingly obvious, but I thought I'd state it anyways. Anyways, if you're wondering what the Walk of the Dead is, you'll find out in the next chapter, which I'll hopefully have up much sooner than this one!