Hades

letters

Stella

I cast a quick glance at Lucinda when Hades stalked off.

Her eyes were wide open. "Okay, it's official, I've got no idea what's gotten to him now."

I shrugged and tried to swallow the granola and yogurt. It felt nauseating in my mouth.

"But I guess he's got a lot of work to do?" Lucinda asked. "Hey, are you going with him today?"

I shook my head and swallowed, drinking the remainder of the orange juice in my glass. "I'll, uhm, go for a walk in the castle and find you for lunch." I said and stood.

"Otherwise, use the globe."

"Yeah, thanks," I said.

"Also, Stella? You look really pretty."

I smiled. "Thank you." I said. "It's all on you."

She beamed, and I left the kitchen.

The tiny globe was in the pocket of my jacket. I went up the stairs, back to my room where I found a hair band, so I could pull my hair up in a ponytail.

Hades seemed to have left the castle. I didn't care for it.

I ascended the stairs to the second and then the third floor. After I'd met Persephone I hadn't had a change to explore.

I went from deserted room to deserted room. Half the rooms were furnished as bedrooms. Why had I been given the one I had?

I found myself in yet another bedroom on the third floor. It had an elaborate bed, which seemed to be cut out for some high-standing person. The posters on the four poster bed were cut into detailed flower patterns.

An odd feeling settled in my stomach. Had this been Persephone's room once?

I left the room. The room next to it was also a bedroom. The bed a little less intricate. The general theme in the room was a deep red. It felt like a womb in a way. But not in the creepy way, just in a slightly weird way.

I found a dining room with room for like, a hundred people. It was crazy big. The table wasn't set, but all the chairs were positioned as if someone would sit on them.

I let that room and decided to go against Hades' wish and visit the attic.

The castle had too many floors. I was breathless when I reached the top floor. A ladder was placed, leading to a hatch. I ascended the ladder and pushed open the hatch.

There was no work going on in the roof.

I climbed into the attic. There were windows, making the room light. I wasn't one to easily scare off, but I wouldn't want to be up here in darkness.

Old furniture was pushed up against the walls. A mattress covered the floor. It was made. Like, linen was stretched across it, black linen, along with a comforter and a pillow. It seemed as if someone had been here recently?

I didn't plan to ask Hades.

I went to a dresser, only to find that no clothes were in it. A shitload of letters were in the top drawer.

I picked up the first one, glancing back towards the trapdoor, before flipping the envelope.

In elaborate handwriting it said Hades.

Maybe I was snooping, but I needed to do something! And also, he'd said that he'd ensured I wouldn't be able to see things I shouldn't, so.

I opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.