From The Outside In

Trees in the underworld

Persephone whirled around to find the source of the voice. Once again she found herself looking at the tall dark figure of the stranger. Her immediate curiosity at how this could be happening was replaced with a different feeling Persephone couldn't quite place. Her breath caught in her chest as he walked closer to her, stopping only when he was mere inches away.

"It's you." She breathed, looking up into his dark features. "How did you find me? How am I here?"

"I had to finish our conversation." He smiled. His voice was a deep baritone. The rich sound of it sent a tingle down Persephone's spine.

It was becoming hard for her to keep her thoughts together while he was standing so close. However she managed to find her voice. "I...I still don't understand how...how this is possible." She stuttered.

"Well, I pulled a few strings with an acquaintance of mine. All of this is real, but you're only experiencing it in a dream." He said gesturing around the hall, taking a step back. Then he held his hand out to her. "Here, let me show you."

Persephone's heart drummed a frantic beat in her chest. She had never held a man's hand before. She remembered how warm his hands were on her waist. But as she reached out to take it, her hand slipped through his like smoke. She felt her heart drop involuntarily.

"So then it is a dream." She said looking down at her hand as it rematerialized. The look of it was quite disconcerting.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean it's not real." he said in a low voice. Again he stepped closer to her.

The gesture sent her mind into a fog again. He was so close it was hard to think properly. She couldn't help staring at him. His dark robes fastened at one shoulder which meant that she saw a good portion of his chest. His bronze skin was clean and his muscles were well toned. It wasn't until now that she realized that there was a difference since she saw him last. This time he was clean shaven. So, he had cleaned up for her. Persephone privately thought that she was glad that she hadn't changed into her night dress before falling asleep.

"In any case," she said, trying to come up with something to break the silence. Say something, she chided herself. "I didn't get a chance to ask you your name." His eyes held hers with a burning intensity. She managed to look down at his chest again. "I would like to know more about you. It seems so foolish of me not to have asked before."

There was another pause. His hand, though he couldn't touch her, hovered at her chin as if to pull her face up. She obliged without thinking.

"My name is Hades." He said in a low whisper.

His face seemed to be searching hers. Persephone knew that he was waiting for her to recognize him. But the name seemed only vaguely familiar. "It's good to finally be properly introduced, Hades. I'm Persephone. I guess I'll try not to run into you seeing as you won't be able to catch me this time." She said, grinning shyly.

A smile spread across his face. His already handsome features seemed to grow even more attractive if it was possible. This did nothing for Persephone's slipping composure. He even let out a low chuckle.

"I suppose I'll have to work on that just in case you find yourself in need of further assistance." He smiled. He paused for a moment, raising his hand. "As a matter of fact, we might be able to remedy this problem." His hand was raised as if to touch her cheek. "Tell me if you feel anything."

Persephone closed her eyes to help control her rising emotions. If her heart was racing before it was nothing compared to how it hammered now. However, as she tried to relax she began to feel a warmth on her cheek. The scent of pine seemed to fill her nostrils again. She hadn't realized that the smell was missing before.