King's Queen ✔

Chapter 29: Rebirth

Persephone strode through the halls that were dimly lit and empty to the point where even the slightest clink of her heels sounded terribly loud. But that didn't bother her as much as what Mono had just thrown at her, she was clouded by the thoughts of Kore. Persephone was instructed to pray to an entity that was manifested from devastating hatred and rage.

Persephone didn't realize when she reached Hades court, but strangely it was also empty. She looked around the massive chamber but no one was found. All the guards, witches and even the polite ghosts had vanished. The underworld was tranquil and as quiet as night is on Earth, but where was everyone she wondered.

Persephone strode to the gates and even Cerberus had not returned to his station, she quickly returned to her bedroom and found it vacant again. She was starting to get worried, when suddenly, the door creaked open behind her and Hades sauntered inside.

"Is everything alright?" She asked him hurriedly.

Hades frowned. "Of course," he answered. "Why, what's wrong?"

"Well, I passed by the court and no one was there," she said. "The halls are all empty and the ghosts aren't even around. Where is everyone? Why isn't anyone at their posts? And where's Cerberus?"

Hades chuckled. "Slow down," he tenderly rubbed her shoulders and eased her down on the couch next to him. "Everyone is probably busy with their duties."

"But they're missing from their usual spots," said Persephone.

Hades stammered. "They are attending to the north side of the realm."

"Everyone is on the north side," Persephone grew suspicious of Hades when he nodded. "You're a terrible liar," she remarked.

Hades scarlet eyes glimmered. "No, I'm a great liar," he rebuked. "I just can't lie to you."

Persephone grinned. "And you're such a flirt," she kissed his cheek.

Hades leaned back on the seat with that graceful confidence oozing out of him. "What did Mono tell you?"

"He told me about another goddess that went through something similar as me," she told him. "And that I have to pray to Kore if I want to meet her again."

Hades cut to the chase. "Will you?" He asked. "Pray to her, I mean."

"I'm not sure how I will do that," she gravely told him. "I'm completely ignorant of Kore. I have no idea what she is thinking or how she feels about me."

"I think that's a good thing," shared Hades.

Persephone gave him a perplexed look. "When was ignorance ever a good thing?"

"When you pray to Kore you won't know how she'll react," he explained. "You are going to her with no expectations what-so-ever, that'll prepare you to stay open-minded and observant. Which is what you want if you desire to understand Kore."

Persephone's body slumped against the seat and was engulfed with a warmth, she felt her mind quiet down and her heart eased. Hades reassured her whilst no one could even begin to understand what she was going through right now. Without him around her, she couldn't feel safer and more at home.

Hades had this way to close the entire world and lock them up in a completely different space full of peace and light.

"I really needed to hear that," she whispered.

Hades pushed a strand of her hair back and gazed deeply into her eyes. "You'll be fine," he assured her. "Besides if Kore gives you any trouble, I'm sure I can handle her."