Yeah! I kept my promise! I feel so proud. Hey! And not only did I keep my promise, I've made the longest chapter yet! Such good work! I've only ignored every other chore and piece of homework to write this, but hey, it was so worth it!

Anyway I hope y'all enjoy the chapter! :)

As soon as Persephone's head fell back, Apollo was thrown backwards by and unseen force. He cursed as he saw that his nose started to bleed. He looked up and his eyes went wide with fear. He almost vomited.

Hades's eyes burned with such a fury, that Apollo thought he would catch on fire right then and there. But what Hades had in mind for him was much worse. Hades blinked and Apollo's limbs were bound with chains, eyes blindfolded, and then gagged. Apollo tried to yell for help but that caused the gag to get tighter.

Hades then turned to his wife. Oh Persephone! He ran and knelt down to her unconscious body. Wordlessly he untied her now bruised wrists and the gag in her mouth. He swiped his black cape of and covered her bruised body.

Thanatos! I need you here right now! Hades yelled in his mind.

Hades! What's wrong?

I'll explain later. I just need you to get to the pond near Olympus. Now!

Give me one minute. The connection disabled.

He looked upon his beloved wife, finally taking in the complete view of her face. A black and blue bruise covered half of her flawless face. Tears started to form in his eyes at the sight of her, but they burned away when he thought of what he would do to Apollo.

Thanatos appeared out of thin air and walked towards the tall figure of Hades. "What happened brother?!" He called taking in the view of Apollo's bound body and the limp figure of his queen in Hades's arms.

"Apollo happened. Again."

Thanatos's eyes almost burned as much as Hades's did as he turned to look at the disgusting creature. "I need you," Hades continued. "to take him to the dungeons for now. I will take care of Persephone and then I'll come and deal with him."

Thanatos nodded. "Understood."

With that Hades vanished with his hurt queen in his arms.

Persephone woke with a jump and a gasp. She was laid on a bed in a room she didn't recognize at the moment. She looked around wildly in the dark room and saw a figure beside her and screamed.

"Persephone!" Hades ran to capture her in his loving arms but she screamed even more and flailed around. Hades pulled back when she hit his chest and met her eyes.

Her eyes were wide and full of tears and fear. Hades felt like he just took a blow to the stomach at the look of pain in her eyes.

She clung to his cloak around her body and finally realized it was her Hades.

"Oh Hades!" She screamed and threw herself into his arms. Instantly pain shot through her chest and she cried out in pain.

Hades pulled back and took her face in his hands. "What hurts?"

She paused trying to catch her breath. "My chest." She finally breathed out.

Hades looked at her with nothing but love in his eyes. Sad love and concern, but still. "May I take a look?" Persephone clung to his cloak tighter around her and inched back from him. It was the most painful thing he'd ever experience, watching his love back away from him in fear. "Persephone, it's okay. You're safe here. I just want to take care of you. Let me see. Please." She noticed that he spoke to her in the same way he did when they first met.

Finally she nodded, loosening her grip on his cloak. He gently laid her back on their pillows and slowly pulled away the cloak, exposing her black and blue breasts.

She waited for him to say something, anything, but he didn't. He remained perfectly silent beside her. She then felt something wet hit the center of her chest. She lifted up her head whispering, "Hades?" He replied in a sniff and she realized he was crying.

"Oh Persephone I'm so sorry. I should have never let you go back up there. I'll never forgive myself!" He paused taking in deep and sobbing breaths. "I thought I lost you."

She sat up and brought her hands to his cheeks. "Never say that." She whispered. "This was not your fault. This was His doing." She shuttered at the thought of Apollo. "We never knew this would happen. Hades, if it wasn't for you he would have done so much more to me. You saved me." She brushed away the tears on his cheeks as new tears fell down hers. She shivered in the cold room. "Here," Hades said pulling his black shirt overhead. "Take this."

She gave him a weak smile and slipped it over her head, relishing in the warmth that his body had given it. Hades reluctantly rose from the bed, causing Persephone to call out. "Where are you going?" she panicked.

"I'm just going to start the fire, love. Then I will grab some lotion from the bathroom for you." He cooed over his shoulder.

"Lotion?"

"It will make you skin heal immediately. You may still be sore, but the rest will be gone."

"Oh, alright." She watched his shirtless form lean over starting the fire, but tears ran down her face as she started to sob.

He immediately rushed over to her. "Flower? It's going to be alright. Soon. "

"It was so close, Hades. If I hadn't gone there, this wouldn't have happened. Or what if I didn't call out to you?! I would still be there, suffering that awful fate!" Persephone leaned into his arms, shaking violently with her sobs.

"You're here now. No one can get to you here. You're safe." His heart beat and cool skin soothed her. He pulled her closer to him, caressing her back in soothing patterns. They both sat there like that for a while, both crying silently.

Hades pulled back and held her face ever so gently. The back of his hand caressed bruised skin. She noticed the slight pain in her cheek and knew she had a nasty bruise there. She pulled away, new tears running down.

"I don't want you to see me this way." She choked out.

"What?" He asked taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"I'm damaged Hades. I don't want you to see me like this, damaged." She brought up her hands to hide her face from him, ashamed.

He pulled her hands away, careful about her wrists, and whispered. "You are not damaged. You are beautiful in every way that a person can be. You are smart, clever, funny, sweet, caring, graceful, Patient, and beautiful in every way. There is so much that you are, but damaged is not one of them. He is damaged. His heart and eternal soul is damaged for doing such a thing to you and he will be punished greatly for his crimes. I promise you that!"

He gently pulled her into a sweet kiss mixed with both of their salty tears. When they finally broke away, the tears had stopped falling and he caressed her once more before rising to get the lotion he had promised.

When he had it in front of her he said, "Now this may sting or burn a little but its okay." He didn't take his eyes away from her own. She just nodded and laid back down on the bed lifting his shirt up as she did. He poured the bottle out into his hands and brushed his hands against her smooth skin. She inhaled sharply at the sudden touch, trying not to inch away from him. He is Hades! She thought. He is Not Apollo! Hades is helping me heal! He loves me; there is nothing to fear from him! She repeated these thoughts in her head over and over, making sure not to make him feel bad by shying away from his touch.

He finished her chest and pulled his shirt down over her. He gave her a faint smile and finished rubbing the lotion over her face and then her wrists.

"There," He said clearing his throat. "All done."

She returned his smile, "Thank you Hades. For Everything." She pulled the rest of her torn dress from her body and threw it away from the bed. Nothing covering her except for his shirt and her small undergarment.

"You're welcome, my sweet, precious flower."

Exhaustion hit her suddenly and she started to feel her eyes droop down. Hades kissed her on the forehead and started to leave the room and go to her old one. He figured that she didn't want to sleep with him tonight. She probably wanted to be alone for a while.

But he stopped dead in his tracks when she called out to him in a panicked voice. "Hades! Where are you going?"

He turned and saw her sitting straight up and wide awake. "I just thought you would want me to leave. That you probably don't want us to share a bed tonight."

She shook her head wildly. "No! No, no, please. Stay with me. I'm scared." She started to tremble.

Hades strode to where she was sitting on the bed and pulled her into his arms. "You're safe here. No one can get you."

She scooted over for him on the bed and gestured for him to lie down. He did as he was told. She snaked her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest, listening to his steady heart beat. He slowly laid is arms around her protectively holding her to him.

"I love you Hades." She said sleepily.

"I love you too, Persephone."

Persephone didn't sleep well that night. Every hour it seemed that she would wake up screaming, covered in sweat. And each time, Hades was there pulling her safely into his arms, whispering sweet words into her ear and telling her she was safe. After a few moments, she would fall back to sleep, but only to repeat the horrible process and nightmares of Apollo.

Each nightmare was a little different but they always involved her and Apollo. Occasionally Hades was in them too, but that made them worse.

In one of the worse ones, Apollo was about to rape her and then Hades appeared. She called out for him to save her, but her only chuckled and watched as she writhed in pain.

This was the reason Hades didn't sleep that night. He stayed awake all night, caressing her back and hair. Each time she woke up, he was there to calm her down and whisper to her until she fell back to sleep.

When a respectable time to get up approached, Hades stirred. He tried to move from her grasp, without waking her up, but he failed.

Her eyes lazily lifted open. "Hades? Where are you going?" Even though she was tired, she was still very much alarmed.

"I need to go talk to Thanatos and See Apollo."

Persephone sat up immediately, wide awake now. "He's here?!"

Hades nodded. "He's in the dungeon. He will pay heavily for his crimes." Hades saw the look of fear on her face. "Don't worry, flower. He can never get you here." Hades paused. "He will be questioned, judged, and then… Tortured."

Persephone didn't hide the shudder that worked its way up her spine when he said tortured in that way.

Hades saw this. "Are you frightened of me?"

She shook her head. "No. I'm afraid for Apollo. As much as I despise and fear him, I also know you. It hasn't gone unnoticed the way you protect and look at me. I know you love me, more than anything. You are the type of person who will go to great lengths to protect the person you love. And that, is the reason I fear for Him."

Hades smirked. "You are very wise to say such things." He caressed her hand and brought it to his lips. "And you are very right." Hades set down her hand and moved to stroke her face. "I will send for Ariel to keep you company while I'm gone."

Oh Ariel! Persephone thought. I haven't seen her in such a long while.

"I know." Hades replied to her thought. "It will take me a long while to deal with all the matters that follow him." Hades said referring to Apollo. "We aren't done dealing with him just yet. He is still a god and I can't keep him down here forever, as much as I wish I could. I will have to talk to Zeus and see from there. There will probably be a trial. And we will all have to attend."

Persephone looked down into her lap. "I don't want to see him." Persephone croaked out. "I don't ever want to go back up there either!"

Hades took her face in his hands and kissed her lightly. "I know." He whispered. "But it may be inevitable. You're the main person he has affected; we will all want your entire side of the story before we give him a punishment." She nodded silently. "As for going back up there, we'll see what we can do."

"Thank you Hades. I can never repay you for all that yo have done for me."

Hades shook his head. "Every day that you love me, is more than enough payment." He kissed her sweetly. And after that he left to go to the dungeons.

Oh the things he would do to Apollo.

A timid knock came to Persephone's door. Despite her being only in Hades's shirt and her small undergarment, she called them in.

"Ariel!" Persephone beamed when the small redhead appeared through the door. Ariel's whole face lit up when she saw Persephone and ran to her and tackled her in a hug.

"Oh, Persephone I missed you so much!" Ariel sobbed into Persephone's shoulder.

Persephone teared up and patted Ariel on the back. "I've missed you too. It's been so lonely without you to talk to."

"I feel the same!" When Ariel pulled back Persephone noticed a ring on her finger.

"Oh my goodness, Ariel! Did Daniel propose?" Persephone took Ariel's hand and inspected the beautiful diamond ring.

Ariel beamed. "Yes he did! That was why he wanted to take me out like I told you a few weeks ago. He took me to a place in the Asphodel fields that looked a lot like earth. Or more specifically, A forest on the earth that I used to spend a lot of my free time in. I have no idea how he managed that, but he said that he just looked all over the underworld for the perfect place, and when he found it, he said that it just screamed "me"!"

"Oh Ariel, that's wonderful!"

"It is."

"When is the wedding?"

Ariel smiled sheepishly. "We haven't decided yet, but I wanted to wait until you got back from the upper world. I would like you to be my maid of honor."

Persephone burst out laughing.

"What? What is it? Have I offended you?" Ariel questioned.

"No Ariel. It's just the irony! I'll be your maid for once."

Ariel joined her in laughter. "Yeah, I guess you're right!"

After a few moments of laughter, Ariel stopped. "Wait? Why are you back from the upper world? Hades said that you wouldn't be back until six months have passed, but it's only been two weeks. What happened?"

Persephone's face grew sullen. "Hades didn't tell you?"

Ariel shook her head. "All I know is that he left yesterday in a hurry, and he came into my room a while ago and told me to come see you. I didn't even know you were back. He seemed quite serious though. I haven't seen an expression on his face quite like that before. It scared me to tell the truth."

Persephone looked down, then at the fire that was still going since last night when Hades had lit it. "Remember when I first got here? The first time we met and you had asked what had happened to me?"

Ariel nodded her head slowly eyeing Persephone suspiciously.

"Well, last night, Apollo attacked me again." Ariel's eyes went wide and her breathing picked up its pace. "Apollo almost raped me!" The sentence burst out of Persephone and she began to shake and tears slid down her face. Ariel gathered Persephone into her arms in a surprisingly strong embrace. "I called out for Hades," Persephone continued. "He came and rescued me right on time. I had passed out and next thing I know, I'm in here and Hades is with me. I knew nothing more had happened to me, because my skirt was still holding on to me. Hades saved me once again." She stopped and took in a deep, shaky breath. "Apollo is in the dungeons being questioned by Hades and Thanatos right now. He didn't want me to be alone right now so when he left he got you to keep me company." Persephone pulled back from Ariel and wiped her eyes with Hades's shirt. I think I'll sleep in this shirt forever. Persephone thought.

"Oh, Persephone! I'm so sorry! I never wanted anything like this to happen to you. I wish things like these never happen."

Persephone nodded. "Me too. But I trust Hades and what he is doing down there. Apollo is definitely learning his lesson."

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Hades put down the whip that he used on the creature's bare back that was chained against the wall, and wiped the sweat from his brow. Normally he had someone else do the torture, but this was personal.

"Now I will ask you again." Hades's voice was strong and threatening. "Why?"

Apollo make a cracking sound with his voice, barely audible. "Answer me! Or you will suffer even more!" Hades boomed.

"I did it because I wanted her! I watched her ever since she was young, and I wanted her!"

"She still is young!" Hades roared. "She is only sixteen years old!"

"Nonetheless, I wanted her. And I've been waiting oh so patiently. You got a whack at her, I want my turn."

Hades took a metal bar that was leaning up against the wall, and struck Apollo on the back. Hard! "Don't you ever talk about her that way! You hear me! Ever!" Apollo cried out in pain at the blow. He was sure that he was bleeding a lot and thought that he might have a broken bone.

Hades, reading his thoughts said, "Oh, you'll have much more than a broken bone and a few cuts. You'll be begging to have a minor fate such as Prometheus's, yours will be much worse."

Apollo visibly shuttered at the sound of Hades's voice and the threat within it.

"She once told me that Demeter knew of your plans, that she planned them with you. Is that true?" Hades asked examining other torture tools hanging on the damp stone wall.

Apollo hesitated before answering, "Yes."

Hades snapped his head towards Apollo. "I can tell when people are lying." His eyes were turning into a dark abyss when he looked at Apollo. "I suggest you tell the complete truth before answering me again." Hades picked up what looked like a fire poker and stuck it into the lit furnace on the wall to the left of him.

Apollo looked at the weapon and stuttered. "N-N-NO! She did know. She and I planned it ever since Persephone was born!" He let out a blood curling scream when the now red fire poker met his left ribs making a sizzling sound. The smell of burned flesh filled the room.

"Never use her name! You are not worthy for her name to escape your mouth! Each time you say her name from now on, you will be burned, or worse." Hades walked back over to the furnace and set the poker in the flames.

Apollo let out a cry. "O-Okay."

Hades gestured to the air. "Continue."

Apollo swallowed, his throat was burning and begging for water. "Well, like I said. Ever since… She… was born, Demeter and I planned for it."

"Planned for what?" Hades had no patience for this thing in front of him.

"For me to marry Persephone!"

Hades burned his right ribs and kept the poker on there for five seconds longer than the last time. Apollo let out an agonizing scream that Hades was sure that the people and the upper world could hear.

"For me to marry her! For me to marry her!" Apollo had tears running down his face and his bare torso. His tears, sweat, and blood all met around his feet in a pool.

Hades took the rod from his side and placed it back in the furnace.

"Tell me exactly what you did the night Persephone ran away from you."

"I took her into the gardens like Demeter and I had planned. I told her about myself and complemented her. I told her that she would have a fine place, being my wife. She got scarred and ran off. I chased after her. I tried to calm her down..." Hades placed the poker on Apollo's back, and after a few moments took it off.

"Liar! Tell the truth!" Hades roared.

"I was trying to take her to have sex with her!"

"You were trying to rape her!"

"Yes!" Apollo admitted. Hades stabbed the poker into the middle of Apollo's back, piecing the skin and burning it all.

"Did Demeter know of this?!"

"NO! She didn't! I did all of that one my own! She has no idea of my intentions!"

Hades took out the poker and stabbed it into another area of Apollo's back. Apollo screamed and cried to be given mercy.

"Did you give her mercy?! Did you?! You tried to rape her, twice, and left her with severe bruising each time! You showed her no mercy, therefore, you will get none."

Apollo let out choking sobs and begged to just be killed.

"You know as gods we cannot be killed." Hades replied coldly. "Not without potions at least, which I have. But, like I said, you shall have no mercy."

It was a few hours later when Thanatos had come to collect Hades, saying that the prisoner had had enough, and that the original guard will take his place on the torture. Hades made the guard promise to not let Apollo get a moments rest from the pain, and not allowed time for his body to heal completely. The guard happily obliged and said that anyone that tried to inflict pain upon the queen deserves the worst punishment imaginable. With that Hades and Thanatos left the guard to deal with Apollo.

"Brother, we will soon get news of asking where Persephone and Apollo are. What will we reply?"

"The truth. Persephone is down he to be protected and that Apollo is in the dungeons. They will ask why and want to see them both, that will be when we tell the entire truth about what has happened."

Thanatos nodded. "You should go and see Lady Persephone. As much as she may like Ariel, she loves you and will want to spend time with you."

Hades smiled. "You're right. Thank you brother." Hades patted Thanatos on the shoulder, and started to walk off in the direction of his and Persephone's chambers.

"But please Hades," Hades stopped and braced himself for one of Thanatos's crude remarks that he wasn't in the mood for. "Do take a bath. I do not think Queen Persephone will appreciate the smell of burned skin and death."

Hades, relieved, nodded and walked away.

Half an hour later, Hades, freshly bathed and now smelling of scented oils instead of decay, walked into his and Persephone's bed chambers.

"Hello Ariel," Hades started. "I'm sure you enjoyed you visit with Persephone." His eyes sparkled when they met his queen's.

Ariel, taking her cue, stood up from the comfy chairs that she and Persephone had migrated too, answered him. "Oh yes! We've had a wonderful time talking and catching up." She turned to Persephone. "Now if you'll excuse me, Daniel will be wondering where I've been." Ariel looked at Persephone with a question in her eyes. Persephone nodded knowing full well of what the question was. Could she tell Daniel of what has happened? Yes.

Ariel shut the bedroom door behind her quietly, leaving them to talk in private.

Persephone wasted no time in asking her question. "How was it? The dungeon, I mean. What did you find out?" Persephone knew better than to ask what did you do to him.

Hades sighed, sat on the space on the couch next to her, taking her small hand into his. "Your mother was not aware of the extent of his actions. She did intend for you to marry him, ever since your birth. Demeter only wanted a nice husband for you. But Apollo only wanted you for one thing." Hades eyes grew dark and distant.

Persephone, trying to lighten up the mood of the room before it had settled in, spoke up. "Well Demeter should be very happy. I have a more than nice husband. My husband is smart, cunning, clever, athletic, loving, handsome, gentle, protective, passionate, patient, thoughtful, caring, sexy, a great lover, and so much more that I can't even keep up with."

Hades smiled and turned towards her. "I should meet this guy."

Persephone nodded. "I think you'd like him. You two have a lot of the same interests."

Hades cocked his head. "Like what?"

She smiled suggestively. "Like me, for one."

Hades scooted closer to her, taking her into his arms. "You have no idea how interested I am in you."

She smiled and took him into a passionate kiss and only came up when the needed air. They looked into each other's loving eyes reflecting the glow of the fire next to them and instantly felt nothing but desire.

Persephone knew that Hades wasn't going to take charge with what had happened the night before, so this was all her. This was her show.

You can touch me Hades. I'm not afraid. I want you to.

In response he placed his hands on her the small of her back, trying to get her closer to him.

She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him on top of her, both of them now lying on the couch.

Are you sure about this? Hades paused in his movements.

Certain. Came her response.

He leaned down and connected their lips in the passionate kiss caressing her back and moving the fabric of his shirt, which she was still wearing, around. She draped her bare legs around his hips, lifting herself up to meet him.

Hades let out a low groan. You have no idea how much I've wanted and miss this.

Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea. Persephone started tugging at his shirt helplessly, willing it to come off. She felt him smile on top of her lips and he set her down momentarily to take his shirt off, exposing the beautiful, chiseled features of his chest.

"I did mention how sexy my husband is right?" Persephone winked.

Hades picked her up bridal style and tossed her gently onto their bed. As he got next to her and pulled her on top of him, he replied. "I think it might have come up."

"Good. Because that is a very nice perk to having him as my husband." She bent her head down and kissed him deeply.

"Have I ever told you about my queen?" Hades asked when they broke the kiss.

"She might have come up once or twice." She smiled sneakily.

"Well I'll tell you again, just to be sure you know. She is also very smart, loving, passionate, caring, and beautiful. But she is also very brave, kind, understanding, and…" Persephone then took off his shirt, exposing her good as new beasts to him. Hades's eyes widened with appreciation. "Sexy." Hades finished, his breathing now coming out rugged.

She tilted her head forward and laughed taking in his lips again. "She sounds wonderful."

"Oh, she is." Hades rasped. This was just what Hades needed to finish off the day. Nothing but hate and torture had filled the better part of it, but now, nothing but love and passion finished it off.

Hades and Persephone woke to a hurried knock at their door. Persephone moaned in protest to having to get up so Hades, black hair a tangled mess, slipped on his robe to answer the knock.

Ariel looked wide eyed on the other side. "Ariel? What's the matter? Why do you come here at this hour?" Hades asked yawning.

"It's Zeus, my King. He has come with urgent matters about the whereabouts of Queen Persephone and… Apollo." Ariel looked absolutely terrified, and for good reason too. Nobody ever came down here on their own accord unless they really wanted or had to. Zeus always found a way around coming and sent someone else, but him being here? This was not good.

Hades, now immediately awake, replied. "Give us half an hour."

Ariel nodded and hurried away down the corridor that led to the grand court room, leaving Hades shutting the door behind her.

Hades turned to his sleeping flower. "Persephone?"

She moaned in reply.

"We have to rise and get ready. Dress in something serious and formal."

Hades never told her what to wear so she sat up, pulling the sheet around her. "What? Why?"

"It's time." He replied tugging his black trousers on.

"You'll have to elaborate. Time for what?"

He looked her dead in the eye.

"The trial."

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN! Well we are indeed getting VERY close to the end! :( Only one or two chapters left and then, because I'm wonderful, I will add an epilogue that will be leading to my next Greek mythology story! It will be about Hades's and Persephone's daughter, Macaria, and the one and only THANATOS! =D you're all so welcome! I don't intend it to be that long, but then again, I didn't intend this one to go on so long either. :/ Oh well! Do y'all think that Apollo deserves more for what he did to Persephone? I think so.

LOL! Anyway thanks for reading, and hopefully enjoying, this chapter! Please review, follow, and favorite! If you've already done that then you get a gold star! I make no promises as to when the next chapter will come out. Thank you all again, and I'll talk to y'all next time!

Bye! :)