XI

Hades heard a soft knock on his door in the middle of the night, waking up from his slumber. He was a light sleeper, anything could awaken him. It was trait he picked up when he and the other Gods were at war with the Titans.

One could never be too safe.

"Yes?" He muttered groggily as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He rolled his eyes wondering who would want to meet with him at such an hour.

"Lord Hades?" He heard the soft voice of Persephone travel from his door, making him narrow his eyes and sit up quickly. "M-may I enter?" She questioned.

Hades eyes widened. He looked down at his naked body and quickly robed himself in a long black chiton frock before clearing his throat. "Yes." He said finally.

The door opened slightly and he could make out the faint silhouette of Persephone. The closer she got to him, the more he noted her appearance. She was wearing the same light frock she wore earlier. Her skin looked especially pink from heat, and her hair was damp.

He could every outline of her body from beneath her frock. And slowly he felt a rush of blood flow down to his lower abdomen. . .

He quickly covered himself with his think blankets.

"What can I do for you Persephone?" He asked.

"I had a night terror." She said hesitantly.

Hades furrowed his brows. "Sorry?" That was odd. He knew that she had grew accustomed to the dwellings in the Underworld. Why had this become such an issue?

"I had a night terror." She said again looking at him with a raised brow. "C-could I s-st-stay with you?" She asked.

"Come again?" Now was not the right time.

To his surprise the Persephone before him had begun to smile.

"Persephone?" He questioned knitting his brows together.

Something was not right. Suddenly, he could hear muffled sounds. They didn't come from one certain direction, it was a sound he heard all around him.

The giggling continued, and soon Persephone began to laugh as well.

"Persephone what is going on?"

The laughing continued.

Hades woke up in start and he narrowed his eyes. It was dream. A stupid dream. Damn that Morpheus.

He heard the familiar sound of laughter again. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes trying to understand what was happening. Furiously, he pulled the covers back and robed himself before angrily stomping out of his bedroom and his own quarters.

"Will you shut up?" Hades growled as he narrowed his eyes at the two fuzzy figures he could see from the top of the balcony railings outside his bedroom.

"Sorry Lord Hades." He heard Persephone say.

He narrowed his eyes before him and saw Persephone and Morpheus below, right by the stairs that lead to his private quarters. "What are you still doing up?"

"Oh!" Persephone blushed giving off a cheeky smile. "I err- may have had another cup of coffee. . ."She muttered as she twiddled with her fingers.

" Lovely. Persephone, regardless of how tired you become in the morning I'm taking you back home. " He said. "Now go to sleep." He turned to Morpheus, "And you best stay out of my head." He said darkly.

"As you wish." Morpheus said sarcastically as he bowed causing Hades to roll his eyes.

"Oh Lord Hades, doesn't Morpheus have such a fascinating job?" Persephone blurted out. "I mean, he knows what everyone dreams of, and he can chose what kind of dream one can have!" She said excitedly.

It was hard for Hades not to smile, even though he was still in a fowl, grumpy mood.

"I even got to see what Eros was dreaming about!" She giggled. "He's been having nightmares about you Lord Hades." She sang.

"Nightmares?"

"Oh yes! Something to do with one of his arrows." She shrugged. "That's one part I don't understand though." She muttered.

"Hm." Hades knew what the problem was.

"We were just about to see what you were dreaming of!" She blurted out.

Hades stiffened.

"Persephone! Ugh you idiot." Morpheus muttered as he palmed himself in the face. He walked off down the corridor and muttered to himself incoherently

"You didn't perhaps see what I was dreaming about, right?" He asked her, his eyes turned cold making Persephone unconsciously take a few steps back

"N-no. I-I mean w-were going to." She felt her face flush, and she began to wilt once more causing a tug to form on Hades lips. "I-I sup-suppose I should get to bed now." She said softly before running off with a trail of petals following behind her.

Hades shook his head and wandered back into his chamber. He would deal with Morpheus in the morning.

"I think we should give up." Apollo was the first one to break the silence among his siblings. The three of them turned to him with pure shock etched across their faces.

"What are you blabbering about." Artemis snapped. Apollo looked taken aback and shrugged.

"Look, I'm just trying to sound realistic. We've been at this all night. I've ridden my chariot twice around country."

"What makes you think she'd stay in Greece?" Athena asked darkly. "Her captor obviously took her somewhere far away."

"What makes you think she's been kidnapped?" Hermes snapped as he narrowed his eyes at Athena who rolled her eyes.

"It makes logical sense Hermes. Open your stupid eyes and look at the signs."

"She could have left on her own you know." Artemis added. "I mean, she may have grown tired of Demeter smothering her."

"Oh so no-"

They all began to argue. Fatigue had taken over their minds causing them to become ever so stressed. It seemed to them that the only reason to rid themselves of such stress was to argue among one another.

"Okay. Okay!" Hermes shouted causing the pandemonium to die down as three sets of eyes were now finally on him.

"We can't give up so quickly. It's only been a night! We have to keep looking. This is Kore we're talking about! None of us any vendetta against her. Who knows what happening to her right now? We're a family. The least we can do is find her." He said sternly.

Apollo pursed his lips. "I suppose I could travel down further. I heard Demeter babble about Phoenicia." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'll go with him." Artemis said. "Someone needs to keep an eye on him."

"Fine. Sounds good."

"I suppose I could talk some of the mortals in other cities too. See if they've seen anything odd." Athena added.

"I'm going to see meet with Lord Poseidon and Lord Hades." Hermes said.

"Why?" Apollo asked.

"To tell them that she's missing. I can tell the nymphs too. More people would be looking for her and with the connections Lord Poseidon and Lord Hades have she'll be found in no time." Hermes explained.

"That's the one genius idea you've had all night!" Apollo cried.

"If its so genius why didn't he come up with it before?" Athena smirked.

Hermes sighed. "You know you've always been like this! Why can't you just accept the fact that I ma-"

"C'mon." Artemis muttered as she pulled on Apollos sleeve. "They'll be at this all night." She gestured towards Hermes and Athena who were still shouting at each other.

"Ready to share a chariot with me all night Artemis?" Apollo teased his sister.

"Shut up. The less we talk, the odds of us bickering like them will be low."

"You must be very tired."

Hades knocked on Persephone's door the following morning. He didn't get much sleep after his encounter with Morpheus and Persephone. In fact he had even gone to Hecate for a sleeping potion to help with the insomniac behavior but that didn't help him much. So, he pulled an all-nighter and spent his time in his study finishing up paperwork. No matter, he would get his rest once he returned Persephone back to her mother.

Despite Hades dislike for the parental figure Persephone found him to be, he was grateful enough for the fact that she did enjoy her time in the Underworld. He couldn't imagine what he would do if she didn't, even if she would only stay for a short while.

No matter, he figured he could always admire her from afar, or visit her every once in a blue moon. Hades even thought it'd be possible for her to venture down in the Underworld herself to pay him and the others a visit.

"Persephone!" Hades called again, knocking on her door once more. He rolled his eyes. He was growing to be impatient, the faster she returned home the better it'd be for the both of them.

He called for her maid. "See what's taking her." He instructed. The servant girl nodded and slipped into the chamber quietly, and came back out just as fast as she went in.

"Err- she's asleep Mi'Lord." The servant girl explained timidly.

Hades sighed. "I knew this would happen!" He muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.

"Would you like for me to awaken her?" She asked.

"No. Let her sleep." He mumbled before walking off.

As much as he wanted to be mad at her, he couldn't. Though Hades did admit to raising his voice at her on more than one occasion, he had never been truly furious at her.

Her behavior, yes. Her, no.

Hades stopped his tracks and narrowed his eyes. He could feel the presence of another living soul within the Underworld.

Someone was here.

Hermes was exhausted. He spent quite a chunk of his energy arguing with Athena, and trying to explain to explain to Poseidon the urgency of why he needed his help to try and find Persephone.

Poseidon was a laid back God in nature, much like Zeus. If it weren't for Amphitrite and her her sense of logic, he figured he would've been there for hours.

He sighed in relief once he made it past Cerberus. Despite him entering and leaving the Underworld thousands of times, Cerberus never seemed to understand that Hermes meant no harm. The dog terrified him. And, Hermes had reason to believe that the only reason why Cerberus chased and barked after him was because Lord Hades knew how much he feared him too.

He could never understand how anyone could form a liking to such a beast.

He flew across the river and caught gaze of few of the Nymphs who were out and about grazing by the hot fiery river. They waved him over and giggled and without realizing Hermes began to chase after them. . .

"Stop it Hermes!" He snapped to himself. "Stay focused. You can talk to them later."

Although Hermes always had a soft spot for Persephone, there was always something about the Nymphs of Underworld that drew him in. It made him wonder how any man in the Underworld could have such restraint for them.

Hermes entered into the Palace and was greeted by Minos, one of the judges who was in his way to the throne room.

"I need to speak with Lord Hades." Hermes said taking out of breath.

"Okay. Go speak with him." Minos muttered.

"Aren't you going to take me to him?"

"That's not my job, Hermes." He said coldly before leaving him alone.

" Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. . ." Hermes muttered to himself as he stomped around the Palace looking for Lord Hades. "No respect. Idiots."

"What's that Hermes?" Hermes face fell and turned red with embarrassment and fear as he turned around to face an amused looking Hades, with one of his smirks plastered over his lips.

"N-nothing Lo-lord Hades." He stammered.

"Hm. I see you've had another run in with Cerberus." He noted as he raised his brow. He gazed over a disheveled and exasperated looking Hermes.

Ugh. He so knew. Hermes thought. "Yup." He answered.

"What do you want Hermes? I'm busy." Hades said breaking the sudden silence.

"Don't look that busy to me." Hermes muttered.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing Lord Hades." Hermes said quickly. "I've come to talk with you about a very serious matter." He began.

"Hermes I don't consider helping you get back at Apollo for the prank he pulled years ago as a serious matter."

Hermes turned red. "It was an embarrassment Lord Hades! And I know full well that if you were in my shoes you would have thrown him into the depths of Tartarus." He cried.

"Not likely. See I'm too clever, and I would have seen such a thing coming from centuries away."

"Ugh. No. That's not it." Focus Hermes. "It's about Kore you see." He began.

This caught Hades attention and her narrowed his dark orbs at Hermes. "What about Persephone?" He asked.

"Kore." Hermes corrected.

"Persephone."

"Her mother named her Kore." Hermes added.

"The fates named her Persephone." Hermes grimaced.

"Well, its not a very nice name, is it?"

Hades scoffed. "It's better than being called 'maiden'." He retorted.

"It's a very n- why do you care anyways?" Hades features softened for a moment and he looked slightly taken aback.

"I don't."

"I think you do." Hermes said cheekily.

"Hermes. Just tell me what the problem is." Hades snapped.

"Oh yes!" Hermes regained his composure. "She's missing you see. Demeter's awfully upset and Zeus won't do squat. They've searched everywhere but no one knows where she is." Hades listened attentively.

"And in what way does this concern me?" Hades asked.

"Well I was hoping you'd assist in the search." Hermes asked hesitantly.

"I'd love to Hermes. But I'm rather busy."

"Oh that's fine! I could ask Hecate or the Nymphs." Hermes said as he began to head off, but he was pulled back by Hades who a had firm grip on this toga.

"That won't be necessary." Hades said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well I'm sure she'll turn up soon."

"She's been missing for two days!"

Hades shrugged. "Maybe she needed to clear her head." He suggested.

"Not likely. Doesn't sound like her. . ."

Hades sighed. "Fine Hermes." He muttered.

"Thank you Lord Hades!" Hermes began to fly off.

"Oi!" Hades called causing Hermes to sigh and turn back once again. "How's Demeter?" He asked sincerely. He needed to know what sort of state she was in, he needed to assure himself that she was okay.

"Oh." Hermes rubbed the back of his neck. "Not too good. She's exhausted and just, depressed really." He explained just before he left the palace for good.

"I see." His eyes softened. As much as he longed for Persephone to stay down here with him, he knew Demeter needed her much more than he did.

But, it would all be over soon. Persephone and Demeter would be reunited and Demeter would no longer feel such sorrow.

Hades began to walk towards his study but stopped when he heard a familiar tread of bare feet tapping along the tiles.

"Was that Hermes?" He heard Persephone ask in a tired tone as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Err-yes." He watched as her eyes widened and a smile spread across her lips.

"Oh you should have asked him to stay a while! I could have met with him." Hades rolled his eyes.

"He's busy Persephone."

"Oh." She waved her hand passively. "He's never too busy for me." Hades winced. "I could have showed him around!"

"He's been here many times Persephone." He muttered.

She shrugged. "It's the thought that counts. You should call him. I wanna meet with him."

Hades raised a brow. "As I recall you didn't want to be around him during the party."

Persephone blushed and but her bottom lip. "Oh well, that was different. He apologized."

"For what?"

"Huh?"

"What did he apologize for?" He asked slowly and he noted how flustered she became.

"Uh, well, it doesn't matter." She said passively as Hades shook his head.

"Very well. You can meet with him just as soon as I take you back to your mother." He explained.

Persephone's eyes widened and she laughed. "Oh I almost forgot! Just a moment I want to get ready!" She said before running off.

"Lord Zeus." Hades muttered.

"Hermes!" Hermes had managed to make a quick pit stop to meet with the Nymphs before he left the Underworld.

"Hello Agatha." Hermes said greeting one of the magenta colored Nymphs, she was a favorite of his.

"What are you doing down here?" By now, more Nymphs were slowly coming around to hear the conversation. Majority of them appreciated the company Hermes had to offer.

"Oh well, I had to ask Hades for some help." He said coolly.

"Help with what?" A pale blue nymph asked with her brows raised in interest.

"Someone's gone missing."

"Who?"

"Persephone." He explained. "She's been gone for two days and everyone's on edge over at Olympus." He added.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Agatha asked flirtatiously as she fiddled with the seams of Hermes'toga causing him to turn bright red, making the other Nymphs snicker.

"We-well I-I m-ean you co-uld help find her."

"Alright."

"That'd be a big help."

"Hm." A mint colored nymph pondered as he pushed through the crowd. "I've never heard of any Persephone." She said as she twirled a lock of hair.

"It's cause her mother smothers her." He muttered. "She doesn't really get out much." He added.

"Well whose daughter is she?" Asked another Nymph.

"Demeter's."

"And what does she look like, Hermes?" The mint colored nymph asked.

"I don't see how it would matter."

"We've never seen her before! How else are we gonna know who she is?"

"Oh yeah." He blushed again and rubbed the back of his neck. "Didn't think of that. Well. She has tan skin, green eyes, auburn hair-" the more Hermes talked, the bigger the smirk on the mint colored nymph grew.

She knew exactly who Persephone was, where she was, how she got here, and why she was here.

Lord Hades would regret the day he fed them the waters of Lethe.

Persephone sighed. She waited by the entrance of the palace and as far away from the fountain as she could. She had her arms crossed over her chest and her foot tapping impatiently against the obsidian tiles. Hades was late, and Charon was no where in sight which meant that even if she wanted to leave on her own, she couldn't. She thought about swimming, but knew that was a reality that would never happen. Too many things would go wrong, and Lord Hades would have her head.

"Ugh. Lord Hades." She cried. She shrugged her shoulders and decided to head outside in the palace grounds.

Persephone walked around the Palace grounds twice, focusing on the rivers. They were different to the ones she was used to seeing above, but this difference was the sole reason why she found them so interesting. Unfortunately for her, they were hard to see. Thick clouds of fog were the norm around her, and she assumed the fog was thicker today because of how early it really was.

"Hey!" Persephone stopped in her tracks and looked around her cautiously. Had she really heard someone? The voice sounded so unfamiliar. "Hello?" She heard the voice call again. "Ugh I know you can hear me." Now, they were annoyed.

"Err- hello?" Persephone said looking around her. she couldn't see anyone!

"That's more like it."

"W-where are you?"" She stammered.

"Oh just gimme a minute." She said passively.

"Okay." Persephone said nonchalantly before finally sitting down on the cold hard ground. She pulled her knees up to chest and waited.

"Hello again." Persephone turned to see a light green looking nymph with the most mesmerizing light blue eyes she had ever seen. The more Persephone gawked at her beauty, the bigger the smirk on the Nymphs luscious lips grew. "It's rude to stare." She said placing one of her slender hands on her curvaceous hip.

"Oh err- I- uh sorry." Persephone stammered.

"Oh you are just adorable! What are you doing out here all by yourself?" She asked innocently.

"I'm just waiting for Lord Hades." Persephone said with a shrug.

"Oh." She scoffed. "You'll be waiting here all day. He won't show."

Persephone raised her brow. "Why do you say that?"

"All he does is work."

"It's cause he has a realm to run." Persephone said as if it were the most obvious thing.

"That's no excuse to keep a lady waiting." She grabbed Persephone's hand and pulled her up. "Follow me."

Persephone stopped in her tracks for a moment and looked back at the castle, and then down at her hand.

"What's the matter?" Persephone but her bottom lip and pulled her hand back.

"I can't go with you." She muttered.

The nymph raised her brow. "Why?"

"I have to leave. I was just waiting for Lord Hades and if he comes when I'm not around- I just don't think it's a good idea."

"It's okay we'll let him know."

"No he won't like it." Persephone added.

"I don't see how any of this concerns him." The nymph stated haughtily. "C'mon."

Persephone but her bottom lip before she followed the mysterious nymph into the thick fog. She'd be back before Lord Hades would even miss her absence. Besides, he was the one that was keeping her waiting.

"I never got your name." Persephone said after a long train of silence.

"Minthe." She answered with a smirk.