Persephone and Hades

The Balcony - Chapter 6

I lead her over to the edge of the balcony, looking over the divider between this place and the world down there; the human world. There are flickers of light here and there in the darkness below, flames from human fires. She leans over and looks down in fascination. I put my arm around her waist, not touching her but resting my palm on the stone divider. If anything happens I want to make sure she doesn't fall.

"What's down there?" She asks, looking at me with wide curious eyes.

"What do you mean sweetheart? It's the human world." Her eyes catch mine before they look away, a blush colouring her cheeks and she backs up, her back gently grazing my hand before I pull away. I'm making her nervous.

She looks back over the edge, and I hear her murmur, "I've never seen it before." Her hands reach forward for the divider before she leans further forward for a better view and my hand automatically moves once more toward her but now to her waist. She glances at me and the colour on her cheeks darkens at our contact. I grin at her innocence, it only makes me want to move closer to her but she steps back, breaking contact.

My eyes trace across her figure. The curve of her breasts, the way her pink dress fits her form, revealing enough to attract my attention but not exposing herself. I look up to find I'm making her uncomfortable, her face is facing the side and her arms reach down, attempting to cover her chest. 

Look at me darling. The words are spoken in my head and I urge her to return my gaze, to look me in the eyes. She licks her lips and bites on her lower lip before her soft brown eyes come up to my own grey ones. Who could she be? I've never seen her before and how is it that she's never seen the human world? Any creature at this event is all too familiar with the human world.

Turning around to face the divider once more, she lays her hands on the alabaster railing. This time I keep my distance, taking a sip out of my half empty wine glass that still in my one hand. A distraction, something to lighten the mood and I drink less because I'm parched and more to quench the thirst I have for her.

"So which god are you?" I nearly choke on my remaining wine at her question.

"Which god am I? You don't know who I am?" She looks anxious and I sound so self-important I cringe, but it's not often someone asks me that, in fact I don't think anyone has ever asked me that. The Big Bad King of Hell, the Ruler of the Underworld, Hades. There aren't a lot of people who don't know my title. I mean I don't boast being as popular as Zeus or Poseidon but I hold a decent amount of power that's not normally undermined.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." Her voice sounds small and worried. "My mother is very protective and I don't get out much so I'm not too familiar with many of the gods."

"No, no, it's fine, I'm not offended, " I say, still choking on the drink. "I'm Ha-"

"Persephone!" My darling shifts her head in the direction of the voice and I instantly recognize it as Demeter's.

She looks back at me with sadness, her voice almost a whisper, "I have to go, my mother's calling me." She turns to leave and I'm about to follow after her to protest her departure when suddenly she turns around again, walks toward me, at first with slow hesitant steps before quickening her pace. I smell roses and before I can think anything else, she puts her palm on my chest to steady herself, then going on her tip toes, kisses me on the cheek. My eyes go wide in disbelief and the moment is over. 

"Thank you for tonight," she whispers before running into the crowd and out of my sight.

*I wonder what will happen now? I'm literally writing this as I go along so who knows what could happen. Hope you guys like it so far!