Hades and Persephone (Greek Mythology Retelling)

Warmth

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Days passed in the Underworld, and still no liberation. But the need for liberation slowly began to disappear from her mind, and she began to focus more on the wonders of the Underworld. The Underworld became more like home, and when she thought about it, she felt warm (despite the freezing cold temperature.) And every day, she became closer to Hades. Her disgust with him melted away into something more. She felt the need to be with him more often and talk to him. Persephone realized that there was more to him than what she thought. He was gentle, hospitable, and respectable. He always talked to her about whatever they pleased, and she grew to look forward to their time together. He never pushed her to do something she never wanted to do, and he was always wary around her. She felt safer around him, but she was still uneasy. 

The only thing he insisted she do was eat. As everyday passed, she became weaker, but she still refused to eat. She insisted that she was content, but Hades knew that she was troubled. It was on the fourth day that his suggestion became a demand.

"You must eat." he insisted. His grey eyes were filled with worry, he didn't want this for her. He held a pomegranate out towards her. "Please."

Persephone took the pomegranate out of his hand, ready to take a bite out of the fragrant fruit. But she remembered her mother's reminder. She set the fruit down and shook her head.

"No." she said.

She put the pomegranate in her pocket of her dress. He shook his head and sat down next to her on the ground and faced her. She saw worry had creased his features. Did he care this much about me? 

"I know you want me to, but I just can't face the fact that my future would be bound to this place, to you. I love it here, it's like a dream. But.." she stopped.

"Go on." he said

"But I miss the sun. I miss spring. And my mother." She almost felt guilty for missing her mother. But that's what she felt, she couldn't deny this part of her that needed to be in the human world. Yet the thought of leaving this new home of hers hurt her too.  Hades heaved a heavy sigh and looked at the ground.

"Then go." he said.

"What?" she said, shocked.

He didn't look at her.

"Then go. You're sick, you won't eat. And I can't bear to watch you suffer. I'll take you back to the world above, to your mother. And then you can be happy again. That's all I want for you. Your happiness."

She was shocked at this offer. Finally, the liberation she had been hoping for! But, why did her heart sink at this news? She was supposed to be happy.

"Persephone?" he asked, awaiting an answer.

She looked into his eyes. She knew it would pain him to watch her leave, but she could leave. She would leave.

"Yes." she answered.

Hades broke eye contact with her and looked at the ground.

"I'll escort you out then." he said, "Come."

He lead her out of the Underworld with Cerberus at their ankles. They talked as if was their last time seeing each other. With each step, Persephone's heart grew heavier. She knew that she was doing the right thing, but something inside of her knew that something would be missing with him. As they turned a corner, a bright light shone through the entrance of the cave. Hades stopped.

"We're here."

Persephone looked at him, but he just stared at the ground. They stood in silence. Cerberus whined.

"Oh, Cerberus." she said sweetly.

She knelt down and stroked each of the dogs three heads. Cerberus whined even louder. Somehow he knew she was leaving them. 

"I have to go," she said to the dog. 

Then she looked up at Hades. "I'm sorry." she said. Hades looked up at her.

"It's fine, you should do what you feel is right. " he said sadly, "We'll miss you. Me and Cerberus. You can come to the Underworld at anytime you wish, what's mine is yours. Here, your cup will never be empty. You will always have a shoulder to cry on. You will always be welcome here."

Persephone turned away from him, she didn't want him to see her cry. She didn't want to leave them. She knew she couldn't. She wanted to leave but she couldn't move. She put her hands in her pocket, when she felt the pomegranate. It wasn't hers, it was the Underworld's. The world that she couldn't be apart of. Unless...

She looked at the world of the living one last time. She turned towards Hades and ran to him. She grabbed his pale hand and held it in her sun-kissed one. Green and gray eyes met.

"I'm not going anywhere." she said. "Not without you."

She raised the crimson colored fruit to her lips and took a bite.

After that, she was never cold again.