A/N: Many thanks for your reviews! I'm glad that people seem to like this story and how I've portrayed the characters. This chapter is super short, I'm sorry for that, but I liked this piece better on its own than in with another chapter. I hope you at least enjoy this glimpse into what others think of Persephone.

Chapter 5: Conversations at the Door

In the meanwhile, there was a flurry of whispers right outside the door.

"What do you think of her?" Thanatos asked, keeping his voice down to avoid detection.

"It's hard to tell, she was pretty traumatized," Hecate answered in the same low tone.

"He's serious about this one. You should have seen his face when you took the girl," Thanatos said grimly.

"I know, I saw when I came out of the room. Do you think it's just because he found her in a vulnerable moment, or is there more to it?" Hecate wondered.

"I don't know, but I've never seen him this defensive over someone."

"That could go either way; he probably feels guilty over bringing her down here, and he's sympathetic to what happened to her."

"What did happen to her?"

Hecate pursed her lips in anger. "It wasn't rape, but it wasn't for lack of trying. She was lucky to get away."

"And fall right into his arms. You don't suppose it was a set up?"

"Those injuries are real. It's not just physical, mentally she's pretty torn up as well. You can't fake something like that."

"I really hope this is genuine."

"I know, imagine if they're in love?"

"Already? Do you think that's possible?"

"For what it's worth, she didn't seem frightened. At least not of being here. She might be a little man-wary though, and who could blame her? She's mostly in shock right now."

"He's worried she won't be attracted to him, or will choose him for the wrong reasons."

"She's got to be better than that nymph," Hecate snorted.

"Minthe never stood a chance," Thanatos agreed.

"And she would have been a terrible queen. For what it's worth, this girl said please and thank you, once I got her talking."

Thantos sighed. "That's another thing he's worried about. She's too young. He has to think of her as a woman, not a girl."

"She is a woman, just a very young one, and unsure of herself."

"If she's too docile, she'll never stand up for herself. He'll be miserable trying to make her happy."

"If she didn't have a spark in her, she would have never gotten away. Give her time before you write her off completely."

"I don't hear anything, do you suppose we should go in now?"

Hecate grinned evilly. "What if they're…?" She waggled her eyebrows.

Thanatos recoiled. "Seriously?"

She laughed. "That's not the kind of energy I sense in there right now, though there were a couple moments…"

"Is it only physical for him?"

"I suspect it's deeper. And for the record, it wasn't only from him. Give me a minute, and I'll see what's happening in there. Her room is ready now, and we'll know whether we should step in or not." She began making gestures as if pulling something from the air. Purple-black energy gathered around her hands. She framed a section of the door with her fingers and an image appeared as if a window had grown there. She picked up the image and studied it. Her face softened.

"Aww…" she said softly. Thanatos looked over her shoulder. Persephone was sleeping on the couch, draped over Hades' lap. There was a look of tender wonder on his face.

"Damn," Thanatos sighed. "He's lost already. If this goes bad…"

"It will go really bad," Hecate confirmed. "Still…"

"Still…" Thanatos agreed. "I think we should leave them."

"I agree. Who knows what the next few days will bring? We should give them this moment." Hecate banished the image, and exchanged a long look with Thanatos. Both of them had the best of hopes for their lord, but feared the outcome if things went sour. It was out of their hands though. Their dreams for Hades rested in the hands of the sleeping maiden.