Hades POV

Elsa looked pointedly ahead as I led her to my palace. Frankly, it was a little impressive that her expression was unchanged the whole way through, what with all the skulls and the three-headed dog. Maybe she was a queen. She certainly walked like one. I sure know how to pick them.

"Here's your room, my little flower," I said, gesturing toward a door. Elsa stepped inside and turned to face me.

"I suppose you'll-" She slammed the door in my face.

Elsa POV

I squeezed the frozen doorknob with cold fingers. It shattered, and the hinges started to frost over. My stoic mask melted and I waited, panting, until I heard Hades' footsteps retreating. I sank to the floor and sat with my back to it. It was a familiar position. I guess some things never change.

All the progress I'd made seemed to vanish in an instant. I was afraid if I got too scared I would hurt someone, and even if Hades deserved it, someone else might get caught in the crossfire. They always do. Of course, the fear that I would get scared just made it worse, and the only thing I could do was what I'd worked so hard to get free of- I had to hide my feelings away.

I laid my head against the cool door, willing its coldness to seep inside me. I squeezed my eyes shut and concentrated on taking deep, slow breaths.

Focus on the positives. Don't think about him. The most positive thing, as always, was Anna. She would already be on her way to find me. But what if she finds Hades? My eyes snapped open and I looked out the window of my room, half expecting to find her here already. Anna wouldn't back down, and I didn't want her crossing paths with Hades. If he touched her I, I wouldn't be responsible for what happened next.

Anger was better than fear. With anger came control. I stood up and examined my room. It didn't seem to fit in with Hades' castle. Dark purple blankets with black trim covered a stone-framed bed. There was a rug with a man's face on it on the floor. When I rifled through the wardrobe, I found a few wispy dresses. A vase filled with dry flowers decorated the windowsill, and there was a dartboard on the wall. The rest of the furniture- a nightstand, a chaise longue, and a stone coffee table- was bare.

I looked out the window and tried to formulate a plan. I knew Anna would come eventually, but it would be optimal to get out before she did, so she wouldn't be in any danger. Hades called his kingdom the "Underworld", and the only figures I saw outside the window were some wispy, translucent shapes. They looked like ghosts from an old bedtime story.

That's what they are. I held my hands to my mouth and shuddered. This was where Greek souls went. Hades wasn't exaggerating. He really was the ruler of death. Whether he was a god I couldn't say, but I knew he wasn't mine.

The fear started creeping up again, and I shifted my thoughts to more productive channels. Obviously the Underworld was deep underground. I'd have to dig if I wanted out, and I had no idea how long that would take. Hades seemed to have no problem getting in and out. My best bet, as disgusting as it was, was to spend time with him and learn more. I straightened my dress and gathered my courage.

A knock at my door startled me, and I whirled around. It sounded oddly low, like Hades was on his stomach.

"Miss Elsa?" the voice definitely wasn't Hades. It was ridiculously gruff and scratchy, like its owner was constantly gargling. It also sounded close to the ground. Maybe it was a dwarf.

"Yes?" I said in my most imperious voice.

"The supreme ruler of the Underworld and most intelligent of the gods requests your company for dinner," it said. I knew it was a good idea, but I couldn't do it yet. I wasn't ready to leave my safe little room and be with anyone else.

"I am most grieved to say I shall not be coming," I said. The voice whispered something, and another, higher voice joined in.

"I knew she'd say that," the first one said.

"What are we gonna tell Hades?" the second one said.

"What are you gonna tell Hades," the first one said. I heard something scuttling down the hall.

"Hey!" the second voice said. There was a pause. "Uh... supreme ruler and all that stuff Hades also asks if you shall require anything?"

"Gloves!" I shouted before I could stop myself. "I shall require gloves."