Despite growing familiar to that chilled world, she had never been so cold. She wished she could linger for a hot sun embrace and a hotter bath, but nothing could stop her from fixing all the troubles her mother had caused because of her. Ever since Hades' revelation that Demeter was devastating the earth, the young Goddess had existed in a perpetual state of fear for her mother and, most of all, for her husband.
With firm feet, the Goddess got out of the carriage and walked across the short distance, standing at the edge of the field. Green eyes glanced at the sunless sky, her hands clasped in a desperate attempt to settle down her nerves. Persephone wandered about her return. Demeter would be exultant, triumphant for the results of her wrath and eager to punish Hades for what he did. The nymphs, eager to spend time with her again… Everyone would be jubilant except her.
She would have liked to think of different scenarios to her return, but the certainty that it would be so, depressed her even more. She was a Queen. That was her life before Hades, and she was unwilling to return to that. She gave a frustrated sight, tired of feeling guilty for all that was happening, for all the damage done, for having to leave her husband.
Demeter would not believe her feelings. She would accuse Hades of having deceived her, of having blurred her mind with his powers. But that was not true. Hades, the Dark God, the supposed merciless and vicious King of the Underworld had finally brought light into her life, her world, her soul. He did not steal her; he did save her. She had fallen in love with him, and that love was changing her. But could she be different?
She could be strong. She had to be strong. Not for her but for them. The new life Hades had given her was all she cared about; he was all she ever wanted, the only thing that was real. Whether she was destined to face Demeter or not, she was not about to make things easier for her mother; if Demeter truly thought herself the owner of Persephone's life, she'd have to fight her own daughter. She was no longer a child.
Outside, like the darkest wind the night can produce, the night was suddenly bright despite the dark clouds. The Queen of the Underworld lifted her head, closing her eyes, catching a familiar aroma… Hades' essence. Like the air around her and the ground underfoot. Narrowing her green eyes with confusion, Persephone twisted around only to see her dark husband appearing in a mist of shadow formed in his awake. Catching her breath, Persephone jumped into him locking her arms around his neck, so tight that he choked. Shaking slightly, Persephone could feel how her heart struggled against her chest, her fingernails nailing his back to confirm his presence. Dipping her head with relief, she inhaled his scent and thanked all Gods for delivering herself, even for a second, from that suffering she was enduring.
"I thought you said you wouldn't come." She mumbled, her head already resting on his shoulder.
"I know." He answered, kissing her. It was a soft kiss that caressed her lips and soul, making her relax a little, exhaling contentedly. She moved her soft hands to hold his cold face, caressing his sharp features. She kissed him back, she needed to keep kissing him. "Don't go." He begged between her kisses. "Please." He hissed, his heat falling down searching for her eyes, listing in his mind the emotions he was finding in her bright eyes.
"Hades." She groaned.
"I know, I know." He smiled softly; a sad smile that only made Persephone's decision even harder. He doubted she could comprehend how much her part from his side was devastating him. The love and devotion he felt for her was a warm and wonderful sensation in his chest. "Sorry, I can't help myself. Now you see why I didn't want to come in the first place."
"This will be over soon." She said to convince herself, rather than for him. "I never planned any of this." She swallowed and caught his blue eyes. "But I don't regret anything. I care about you and I don't want us to be separated, but there is nothing I can do about it."
Hades tensed his jaw. Time was bitter and selfish and won't slow down, no matter how hard he begged for it. "Hm.." He frowned, uncertain of what to say. "Two months, Persephone." He paused and released a long breath. "If you don't come back in two months, I will intervene." He said to her, like talking to a child.
"Right!" She groused, breaking free of his arms, putting some distance between them. "I know it is difficult for you, but for me too…" She paused. "I know it sounds crazy but I realize now that I do lo-".
A stroke of light interrupted the blonde Goddess, making the Underworld shine with its momentary glow. She looked up, feeling small and insignificant in the face of that immensity. The low light and the sky painted with dark clouds that covered the Underworld were replaced by another lighter and more blurred sky, by a kind of bright mist that wounded the eyes that tried to look at the sky; embellishing the landscape with a strange light.
Taking a deep breath, Hades took a hand to her face, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear with a thoughtful look. "Well, it's time." He mused while Hermes descended from the other Realm.
The messenger of the Gods landed elegantly, making a light bow and professing a radiant smile to the Goddess of flowers. "Lord Hades." He began. "I'm here at the request of Persephone, to accompany her back to her realm."
"Hermes." Hades said, offering him a polite greeting. "My wife" he declared realising that he never called Persephone this way in front of anybody, "will travel with you. And I require you to escort her here after she is done with your Realm. She is the Queen of the Underworld, and her Realm needs her." He smiled down at her, caught up in the beauty of the moment to give an instant of rare hesitation, if only to capture the image in his mind.
Answering for her friend, Persephone quickly stepped in and kissed her husband. "I promise you we are going to be okay. Let me deal with my mother. I will find a solution. I love her and she loves me, and when I explain what you mean to me, I know she will reconsider." She mumbled into her husband's shoulder, hugging him tightly, praying for those words to come true.
"Sure, my love." A soft smile came across Hades' face. "Now go. Hermes is waiting." He said while he kissed her, holding her face in his hands, making the kiss last, desperately trying to make it last longer.
Their lips finally parted and Persephone joined Hermes, grabbing his arm with a loving gesture, lightly supporting her head on his naked shoulder, the two golden Gods shining like a single star.
"Are you ready?" He asked quietly, giving the young Goddess a concerned glance.
"Yes…" She hesitated. "I guess." She smiled at Hermes back, preparing herself for the impending journey.
With a slight touch of his feet, Hermes jumped and started to fly above the field, gradually gaining height. Holding hands, the two Gods flew away from the dark Underworld, preparing themselves for the pressure change between kingdoms.
"I love you." Hades sighed sadly for himself before his black aura appeared, making him vanish.
Persephone looked down to take the last look of what had been her home for the last months, searching for her husband's face. But he was no longer there, and that made her feel an inexplicable emptiness.
Notes:
I know it's been ages…I've been super busy sorry my lovely readers. All I can do is promise that this fanfic will be finished, this I swear it! 😊 But it's just going to take time… good things come to those who wait no? jeje
Read and review! Take care!
