𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 ➤ 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆

vi. a rocky start

It had to be a terrible dream. It just had to!

Persephone slowly opened her eyes, expecting to be back home, lying on her bed and recovering from a nightmare.

Fear filled her eyes as she looked around. She had no idea where she was, but it was a chilly, rocky, and shadowy place.

"Why is it so cold?" she shivered, rubbing her crossed arms for warmth.

A vast stone palace with my tholoses and towers was perched atop a small hill, its balconies lit by oil lamps. There were people – whom Persephone assumed were its servants or inhabitants – walking through the corridors with smiles on their faces.

Quite surprising for a dusky place.

"Where am I –"

When she looked up, she was startled by a giant black three-headed dog with a wagging tail, seemingly eager to play with her.

"Nice dog, please do not hurt me..." she whimpered, attempting to move away. Persephone was so terrified that she was slow to realize she was about to fall off the cliff she was standing on. She yelped as she started to lose her balance.

That is until someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to his chest, saving her from falling below. The stranger's grip was strong, he must've been the same person who pulled her into his grip as he took her away.

Naturally, Persephone would've said thank
you, but before she could, she was locking
eyes with the stranger.

There was an undeniable quality about him, something in his countenance that captivated Persephone's gaze in an instant.

He could be one of the older, married minor gods, and thus not on Demeter's list of potential suitors to turn down.

His face was pure perfection. He might have even put the most handsome of the gods to shame. He had a sharp jawline, cheekbones, and a straight nose. His skin was pale; it appeared that he had never seen the sun before. His eyes were strangely intense and stunning, an icy green that glowed, and his hair was thick and pitch black. He wore black silk robes and a braided gold crown, and he was as tall as Zeus and Poseidon.

Persephone wondered if this god had the power to take away the beautiful young goddesses and nymphs from Zeus' sons for good.

He was staring at her, his eyes wide and emotional, as if he was afraid of losing her.

She must have been lost in his eyes for an eternity before he broke the silence and asked, "Are you OK?"

Persephone, breaking away from the trance, escaped from his grasp, nearly shoving his helm– or crown, or whatever it was, off his head and she backed away, still terrified.

Her eyebrows drew together. "Who," she asked,
"are you?"

"I am Hades," he said, sending chills down her spine. "King of the Underworld."

Persephone's face turned pale.

"Hades? Your name is Hades?"

The dark-haired man drew back, unnerved by her direct question and the rather intense look in her eyes. "Yes."

She whispered. "Not Zeus' brother."

His face slid into a slight frown. "The very one."

Persephone staggered back a step. She suddenly felt physically ill, as she tried to process what she heard.