Hades

“Seriously, you nymph! Stay still” you teased Hoshi as he fidgeted with his bow and arrow of hearts. You were trying to fix his hair how his mother liked it like she had asked of you. There was to be a banquet later, and everyone needed to look their best.
“This is boring!” he sighed.
“Your mother, as well as my mother, are expecting us to look our best for today. I would hate to make your mother mad. Aphrodite’s anger is only second to Hera.” you told him, yanking his hair none too gently. He was getting on your nerves.
“Fair point,” Hoshi nodded.
“You know you get filthy running around with the god of war all afternoon. You can’t see Zeus with dirt under your fingernails” You continued to baby him.
“But Minghao is my friend! He and Jun were…”
“Causing mischief, probably. I can hardly trust Hermes and Ares to be good role models for you” you cut him off shaking your head as you addressed the other two boys by their titles instead of their names.
“There. Finished. Please try to stay indoors at least until tomorrow” you told him as he stood, bow in hand.
“No promises” he said, as he ran out of the room, finally happy to be done with getting ready. You stood and walked to sit in front of your vanity, ready to make yourself presentable when your mother, Demeter walked in.
“Afternoon, mother” you told her glancing at her reflection in the mirror behind you.
“Why are you not ready yet, Persephone?” she asked.
“I was getting the cupid boy ready. Aphrodite had asked me to.” You clarified. Your mother nodded.
“It is best to appease Aphrodite” she agreed. You said no more, as she wandered around your room, filing you in on gossip.
“All nine muses will be there tonight. It is so rare to see them all in one place” you nodded, not really listening to what she had to say. Why would you care who was and wasn’t attending tonight?
“I heard that Apollo will be at the gathering tonight” your mother said as she ran her hands over the curtains and tapestries that hung in your room. She changed them regularly, never feeling like her home in Olympus was complete and to her liking.
“Thank you for the warning. I will be sure to avoid him” you spoke, not looking up from your vanity. Your mother saw you roll your eyes in your reflection.
“You cannot decline a wedding proposal from a god. One as respected as Apollo, even” she said as she walked over.
“I do not like Apollo in that way. We grew up together and to see him romantically would be…” you trailed off, unsure of how to make your mother understand why you hated how Apollo had chosen to marry you.
“He keeps hounding me for your hand.” She took a comb and began brushing your hair. You said no more, and sighed. Your mother had been pushing you to become Apollo’s wife for a while, and you were growing weary of talking her out of it. You were getting exhausted.
“The gifts he presents would make you weak with how wonderful they are” she added, smiling.
“The thought of marrying him makes my stomach weak” you said under your breath as you mother wandered away to pick out a dress for you to wear. She walked back over as your sister, Despoena entered.
“You aren’t ready yet? Don’t you want to be there early and see the gods arrive? They say it is quite a spectacle when the gods get together, all wanting to show off to each other” she pounced onto your bed, excitedly. Your mother walked over and fixed the pillows that Despoena had dislodged from their perfect position. You got dressed in a hurry to make your sister happy. She had been waiting for this night for a while.
While you walked with her to the front grounds of Olympus to view all the god’s elaborate arrivals, she held onto your hand, but still managed to twitter about.
“Poseidon is rumored to leave the sea and come to the party tonight. He hasn’t left the oceans in hundreds of years” she said.
“Dionysus too. They say he gathers donkeys to pull his chariot into the court” she giggled at this. You smiled.
“Apollo will be there as well” she nudged your shoulder as you and her arrived at the edge of Olympus. There were already quite a number of your young friends ready to watch as well. They all sat about the soft grass on a hill that looked over the canyons and seas of the earth.
“And you can help me avoid him” you added.
“Avoiding the sun god? There is no possible way” Hoshi, still with bow and arrows across his back, told you as he took a seat next to you and Despoena.
“Avoiding the sun god is like avoiding the sun itself…” you bantered.
“Nearly impossible!” Despoena said as she closed her eyes as the sun warmed up her face.
“Foolish girl, avoiding the sun is easy. Wait until nightfall” you shook your head. Hoshi chuckled.
Looking down you saw a left in the earth far to the north.
“And what of the god of the underworld? Is he welcome?” you asked, staring at the dark crevice in the earth you had been warned never to venture near. It was a place you were told you would never come back from. Dark and cold, it was not a place fit for a fair goddess.
“Hades? I haven’t heard. No one speaks of him if they don’t have too…” your sister shrugged as she seated herself on the grass.
As the gods arrived in the fanciest ways imaginable, you and your friends were in awe. It was very exciting, having never seen so many gods in one place at one time.
As you and Despoena entered the banquet hall where the party for the gods was being held, you and her wandered around hand in hand. There was so much to see and so much excitement going on at once.
The god of war was relaying great tales of heroes he protected. Aphrodite was giving advice on wooing men, much to the delight of the giggling girls that gathered around her feet. Smells of fine ambrosia filled your nostrils. The muses were entertaining everyone with sweet songs and poetry, when your eyes fell on someone playing the lyre for them.
“Oh dear” you said, pulling Despoena in another direction. She looked to the area you were pulling her away from, and smiled.
“Avoiding him already? He is occupied with the muses” she tried pulling you back in Apollo’s direction.
“Let him continue to be occupied” you pulled her once more, while hiding your face.
“But he plays such wonderful music” she said, looking like she was stricken with cupids bow itself. You looked around, noticing this wasn’t possible; Hoshi wasn’t anywhere nearby.
“He has a lot of wonderful qualities, but he bores me. I can only listen to poetry and the lyre so often.”
“He raises the sun. That has to keep your attention” Despoena shook her head at how picky you were being.
“Which is the same every morning.” You and her wandered to the other end of the hall where Zeus sat, chatting with his brother, Poseidon. They were crowded by many other lesser gods and goddesses and your arrival went largely unnoticed.
You allowed your eyes to graze across the people in the room. You nodded to a few of them you knew as your sister searched the room for a handsome man she could flirt with.
As you glanced over Zeus and Poseidon, your eyes fell on a man that was sitting on Zeus’ other side. He looked bored as he looked at the crowd, but his eyes were unfocused.
“Who is that? Next to Zeus?” you asked your sister in a low voice.
“Poseidon? The god of the seas?” you rolled your eyes as she said this.
“No, I know who that is. I mean the other god on Zeus’ right” you said, unable to look away.
“That is the god of the underworld. Hades” she said. You turned and looked at her.
“How do you know who everyone is?” you asked her.
“Same way mother does” she shrugged, not giving you a complete answer.
Seungcheol, with the title of Hades, felt bored as he sat next to Zeus. He and Poseidon were conversing about something that wasn’t of interest to him. His judges of the underworld sat close by, and were beginning to notice their ruler’s boredom.
“Should you eat something to pass the time?” Jeonghan asked Seungcheol.
“We could call for the muses to entertain you” Joshua added.
“No, thank you. I will just count the minutes until I can return home” Seungcheol said, smiling at his judges. He went back to scanning the room absentmindedly, when his eyes fell on you. He squinted his eyes, something he did when he saw something of interest. Jeonghan noticed this, and followed his gaze.
“Persephone” he spoke to Seungcheol, who turned to look at him questioningly.
“What?” he asked.
“The name of the maiden you stare at. Persephone.” Jeonghan clarified a second time. Seungcheol nodded, and continued to watch you, saying no more.
Zeus had overheard and turned to his brother.
“Hades, do you have eyes for Demeter’s fair daughter?” Zeus began teasing.
“I haven’t seen her before. I wouldn’t think that means I have eyes for her” Seungcheol denied.
“Cupid must be nearby” Poseidon teased, adding to the conversation.
“No, I see him flirting with Melpomene. Good luck, cupid.” Zeus said, spotting Hoshi in the crowd.
“Do not get too attached. Persephone has been wooed by the sun god himself” Zeus added.
“I can understand why” Seungcheol tried to brush off as he continued to watch you. Hearing you had been promised to someone else dampened his mood even more.
If you were oblivious to Seungcheol staring at you, your sister was not.
“Hades seems to have taken a liking to you” she whispered. You turned and caught Seungcheol looking at you. He quickly looked away, having been seen.
“I’m sure he is staring at a lot of women in this room.” You didn’t think too much into this. You looked back to Seungcheol once more, and indeed caught him staring at you again. Your sister giggled.
“Cupid is playing a dangerous game” she added.
“I know. Everyone knows Melpomene isn’t the type to be flirted with so openly” you were watching Hoshi’s failing attempt at getting the muse’s attention.
“I don’t mean him, silly. I mean Hades” she was looking back at him once more.
“Hades should have no interest in me. My own mother brings forth life to the flora of the earth. The god of the underworld could see nothing appealing about me because of this” you disagreed with your sister, but she was not listening anymore. She was distracted by her own interest in someone nearby.
The rest of the night, you were growing curios. Nearly every time you looked at hades, you caught him staring at you as well. This was beginning to make you wonder what he could see in you that he found appealing. Maybe he didn’t know who you were?
Growing bored, you excused yourself from your sister, who hardly noticed. She was enraptured with Hephaestus. You rolled your eyes as you exited the hall away from all the other bodies. Looking for a moment alone, you walked to where you knew a large balcony was situated that gave you a wonderful view of the skies at night.
You rounded the corner, and stopped dead when you saw the balcony already occupied.
“Sorry, I wasn’t aware someone was here already” you became cautious when you noticed the person out here was Hades.
“If you will excuse me” you bowed yourself out, but his words caught you.
“There are plenty of stars for the both of us” he said, leaning on the balcony. You walked slowly over, not wanting to be rude and ignore his invitation. You stood a few paces away from him and looked at your hands folded on the railing in front of yourself.
“Enjoying yourself?” Seungcheol asked after a moment, having watched you be embarrassed by intruding.
“Enough” you sent him a smile.
“Are you?” you asked.
“Enough” he teased.
“Does the god of the underworld not find this party to his liking?” you asked, feeling warmed up to Seungcheol to continue conversing.
“We don’t hold many parties in the underworld” he said, facing you.
“I would think not” you chuckled as you and he fell into silence, unsure of what else to say.
“Can you see the stars form where you live, Hades?” you addressed him, looking up into the sky.
“We have the best view, but please, don’t call me Hades.” he shook his head at the title you called him by.
“Why not?”
“Call me Seungcheol. Hades is too proper” he, too, looked at the stars above the two of you.
“Seungcheol. Nice to meet you.”
“You as well, Persephone” he took you aback, knowing your name.
“How do you know who I am?” you asked.
“Zeus told me.” He said simply.
“Of course” you nodded.
As the night wore on, you and Seungcheol remained on the balcony. He was much more interesting to talk to than anyone in the party.
“What do you do in the underworld? I know you rule over the dead, but I don’t really understand what that means” you asked, standing side by side.
“I make judgements on whether someone gets cursed or rewarded in the afterlife. I have been told I am too soft, but it is a lot of pressure knowing I condemned someone to a fate for the rest of eternity.” He explained. You nodded your understanding.
“I was told to stay away from you, but you seem like a fair god” you admitted.
“My reputation never catches many friends” he smiled.
Despoena had come searching for you. She peaked out the doorway onto the balcony when she heard voices. She fall back and hid behind the wall, when she saw it was you and Seungcheol, looking rather cozy with each other.
“There you are! Your mother asked me to…” Hoshi rounded the corner but was pulled into hiding as well by Despoena.
“Why are we hiding?” he asked.
“I don’t want my sister to see us” she said, peering out once more at you. She wished she could make out what you were saying as she saw you laugh and smile at Seungcheol.
“But why are we whispering?” Hoshi asked as he tried to take a peak, but was pulled back by Despoena.
“So my sister doesn’t hear us. This isn’t your doing is it?” she asked, suddenly suspicious.
“Is what my doing?” Hoshi raised his voice, unsure of what was even going on.
“Hush! Never mind! You don’t have the power to get those two to fall in love” she shook her head.
“I would too!” Hoshi began arguing. Despoena rolled her eyes, and left her hiding spot, ready to return to the party with Hoshi.
When the party was coming to a close, the sun was cresting the horizon.
“Apollo is telling us to call it a night” Seungcheol said as you and he watched the chariot pull the sun into view.
“It appears so” you agreed, not ready for the night to end.
“I suppose I will see you at the next party” you and Seungcheol walked back inside together. You were constantly surprised at how calm and sweet he seemed, only ever assuming he was unkind.
“Of course” he kissed your cheek, trying to be sneaky, but your sister has a knack for seeing everything. She rushed to your side and pulled you away.
“Mother needs you!” she shouted in your ear, as you tried to protest. Despoena rushed you away from Seungcheol as you waved good bye to him over your shoulder.
She herded you towards your chambers as the guests began filing out. Many of them looked tired and worn out from being up all night. You, however, could’ve stayed up for endless hours.
“What are you thinking about?” your sister asked as you and her retreated to your chambers for the night.
“Nothing” you lied.
“Is it of Hades?” she teased, lowering her voice.
“Hardly.” You lied once more. She was your sister; she could see right through you but did not press the issue.
Months went by and you could not get Seungcheol off of your mind. Apollo was becoming relentless in his pursuits, and it made you want to be his wife even less. You didn’t dare tell anyone, not even Despoena, what was truly in your heart.
When the weather was becoming warmer, you were out walking away from your home. You were not paying attention to where you were walking, being followed by your maidens and your sister. They were picking flowers and singing, as the birds chirped and the cool river flowed next to you.
Stopping for a break around later afternoon, a few of your friends placed their feet in the stream. The rest took to making wreaths of flowers that they would place on their heads. You were ready to walk some more and enjoy the fresh air.
“Here. This purple suits you” Despoena walked over and placed a flower wreath on your head. You smiled and accepted her gift before continuing to walk from the group. Your hands ran through the tall grasses as you walked up a hill. There were white flowers surrounding you and their aroma was enchanting.
Seungcheol was out for a stroll as well, away from the underworld. He walked up a hill, wrapped in his own thoughts when he spotted you. He stopped, not wanting to be seen, as he watched you. You were smelling the flowers that fluttered in the breeze around you.
Looking up, you were startled when you saw Seungcheol standing there at the bottom of the hill. Smiling, you called him out, letting him know you could see him.
“What brings the god of the underworld to such a wonderful hillside?” you asked him. He began to slowly walk up the hill, stopping a few yards from you, before answering.
“Is the god of the underworld unable to enjoy the beauty this world has to offer?” he asked, looking down at a white flower.
“Your title makes you not seem the type” you admitted, bending once more to smell the flowers. He smiled and nodded. He couldn’t help but watch as the breeze lightly fluttered your hair.
Nearby, unaware to you, a group of men were drawn to the singing and laughter of your sister and your maidens. Pirithous and his men were on horseback, riding in the direction, when they passed you along the hillside.
Pirithous was immediately loathe to leave you behind as you stood with your back to him. He couldn’t see Seungcheol on the other side of the hill from his vantage point.
“You men can follow the rest of the voices. I will take this one home with me” he told his men as he dismounted his horse and headed in your direction, trying his best to be quiet. If Pirithous had stopped to think, he would’ve heard you conversing with someone, but his eyes were set on the prize.
At the last moment, Seungcheol saw Pirithous sneaking over the crest of the hill. Being a good judge of character, he saw nothing but evil intent in his eyes. Thinking quickly, Seungcheol grabbed you before Pirithous could. He pulled you behind himself, as Pirithous drew closer but stopped when he knew he had been spotted.
“What brings you here, mortal? These are the lands of the gods” Seungcheol addressed him.
“The singing of maidens. It calls to my men and me” Pirithous admitted, smiling. He was not aware that he was addressing Hades as he spoke.
“Release this one, or I’ll fight you for her” Pirithous added. Seungcheol smiled, as you poked your head out from behind him. He opened his mouth to say something when you beat him to it.
“How dare you think you can just lay claim to any woman you see! Do you knew my mother is Demeter, and I daresay, thinking you can woo me into being your wife would make you delirious” you said from Seungcheol who was still trying to block you from view. This was difficult as you kept trying to push past him. He could hardly hold back a smile at how brash you were.
“Your mother is a goddess you say? Then I must have you as my wife” Pirithous was taken over by greed. The daughter of a goddess such as Demeter would bring him a great amount of riches and respect.
He called for his men, who had surrounded the hill where you had been standing. They had given up on their quest to find your sister and her maidens, when they saw Pirithous engaged with you and Seungcheol.
Your sister watched from the shade of the trees. She only saw you being restrained by Seungcheol. She watched in confusion, unable to hear what was going on.
Back on the hill, Pirithous and his men were closing in. Seungcheol was thinking quickly about what to do to get you out of there safe.
There seemed to be only one option, and it was bound to lead to trouble.
You looked around, noticing the men closing in. You held onto Seungcheol’s hand, feeling nervous.
“What do we do?” you asked him.
“There is only one thing I can do” he turned to face you.
“Ever been to Erebus?” he asked, dropping his voice.
“The underworld? Of course not” you shook your head, wondering why this was the time for him to ask this.
“I hope you’ll like it there” he said and pulled you around the waist as the ground opened up below the two of you. Looking down, you saw a staircase that was leading into darkness. You opened your mouth to argue but, Seungcheol was already grasping you by the hand leading you quickly down the stairs, as the ground began to close up behind the two of you.
Despoena shrieked from her hiding spot and covered her mouth. She ran home followed by her maidens who were all in shock from what had just happened.
Barging into your mother’s room, Despoena ran to her and collapsed.
“Mother! Persephone! She has been taken” Despoena cried.
“Taken? What do you mean?” Demeter asked turning to face Despoena who fell at her feet.
“Who took her?” Demeter asked, feeling worried and scared.
“Hades” Despoena managed to croak out. Demeter looked shocked at this information.
“Persephone had been promised to Apollo. Who does Hades think he is, just kidnapping her like some whore?” She said and stood up. She marched out the door, ready to pay a visit to Zeus for help.

Continuing to follow Seungcheol into his court of the underworld, he allowed you to walk after running for so long. The dark tunnel that you had ran down opened up into a large chamber that was surprisingly well lit. The ceiling was tall and the architecture rivaled the beauty of Olympus itself, in your opinion.
“Is this… the underworld?” you asked in surprise. Realizing he was still holding onto your hand, Seungcheol let go before answering.
“Yes. This is Erebus.” He said walking you through this large hall. He allowed you to take your time, observing all you could. He watched, and couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter, as you stood out against the contrast of the stone underworld around him.
As you were running your hands over a solid gray column, Joshua rounded a corner ready to address Seungcheol.
“There are judgements to be paid out! You know we have busy day, and you decide to…” he trailed off when he looked up and saw you, standing in the hall of the underworld. He froze, and stared for a moment, before turning to Seungcheol.
“Is there a reason Demeter’s daughter is in the underworld?” he asked, getting right to the point.
“I had no choice but to bring her here, or she would’ve been kidnapped.” He explained.
“You kidnap her, to save her from being kidnapped?” Joshua spelled out. A bad feeling in his stomach was growing.
“He didn’t kidnap me. I chose to come here with him willingly” you spoke up, defending Seungcheol for some reason. Joshua looked from you to Seungcheol and back, processing what was said.
“Does Demeter know?” Joshua asked after a moment.
“She will shortly” you shook your head.
“I plan to return you…” Seungcheol explained.
“I am not ready to be returned! It isn’t every day you get to explore Erebus” you said, walking past Seungcheol and into the next room. He and Joshua exchanged looks and Seungcheol shrugged. How could he force you to do something you didn’t want to do?
This second room was a smaller chamber, and held a throne in the center. Seungcheol followed you, amused by your interest in the domain he was ruler over.
“I don’t think you should be exploring! The sooner you return home, the better” Joshua followed you and Seungcheol but his protests were falling on deaf ears.
“Is that the river Styx?” you asked, walking behind the throne and seeing a wide dark river flowing in the back of the room.
“It is.” Seungcheol nodded as he walked to stand next to you.
“If we were to walk to the room over there, you would see the boat man awaiting souls to be charted across the waters. Provided that they pay him, of course” Seungcheol explained as he pointed to a large black door that stood to the right of the throne.
“Can I see?” you asked. Seungcheol smiled but shook his head.
“Dead mortals only” he said, walking in the other direction.
“What else can I see while I am down here?” you asked, following him out of this small throne room and into what appeared to be a sitting room.
“There isn’t anything that is different here than back in Olympus for you. We have kitchens and libraries, and bedrooms…”
“Let me see the library” you asked. Seungcheol smiled. Joshua followed, not really sure if he was needed, but ready to send for an escort when you were ready to be sent home. He was hoping that would be very soon.
“After you” Seungcheol opened a large black door that was on the right side of the sitting room. This lead to the library, and he followed you inside. He was happy that you were enjoying the underworld so much.

Meanwhile, Zeus was listening to what Demeter was telling him. He rubbed his chin with thought as she relayed what Despoena had told her.
“Why would Hades kidnap Persephone? What could he want with her?” he asked.
“What do any men want with a beautiful woman?” you mother spoke, angry that Zeus was not believing her.
“He doesn’t seem the type to kidnap someone. Especially when he knows they have been promised to another…”
“All the more reason he would kidnap her! He wants her for himself but cannot have her” Demeter’s tempter was rising.
“Hades has few things in life that make him happy. If he chooses to take Persephone as a wife, than I cannot stop him. Apollo can be appeased with another maiden, don’t worry about that”
“I refuse to allow my daughter to be married to the ruler of the underworld! Stepping aside and allowing that to happen is allowing her to die!” Demeter shouted. Zeus waved off her anger.
“You are being unreasonable” Zeus spoke. He was ready to continue this conversation, but Demeter had had enough. She marched out of the meeting with Zeus, taken over by her grief at losing you.
“You haven’t see unreasonable” she said as the door closed behind her.

In the library, you and Seungcheol were walking among the shelves of books. There were so many you hadn’t seen.
“How did you collect all of these?” you asked as he followed behind you, answering all your questions.
“I have had plenty of time. Joshua collected most of them. I cannot take the credit”
“It is a great collection” you praised Joshua as he continued to follow behind the two of you. He nodded, but still said nothing more.
The next room was a small office. Joshua excused himself as you took a seat on a small comfortable chair in the room. Seungcheol walked to his desk and sat down behind it.
“Are you ready to go home yet?” he asked, mixed between wanting you to leave and wanting you to stay.
“Of course not!” you said shaking your head.
“Demeter will be wondering what you have gotten into. I can imagine she is worried. Not to mention Apollo will be wondering where his bride is” as he said this, you scoffed.
“I am not Apollo’s bride” you said, defiantly.
“I was told you had been agreed to him”
“You heard false. I have not agreed to be his wife. Even though my mother insists” Seungcheol was happy to hear this, but he tried to suppress that feeling. He had no right to feel any emotions for you whatsoever.
“This place is so interesting! I want to stay here until I knew for certain that my mother calls for me” you spoke. Seungcheol shook his head, thinking this was a bad idea.
“You can’t just stay here as long as you want. Your mother will never forgive me. She will think I am keeping you hostage.”
“And I will tell her that is untrue when I return, but not now” you stood up once more, ready to be shown around the underworld some more. Seungcheol had apprehensive feelings about this, but decided to make the best of the situation. He was surely never going to get alone time with you like this ever again.

The next day, Zeus was called to look over the lands of the earth below Olympus. He sighed as he saw the crops drying up and dying.
“Demeter” he shook his head and turned quickly. He called for his chariot, ready to have a talk with your mother.

You wandered around the bed chambers of Seungcheol’s home. If you were going to be staying here, he wanted to make sure you were comfortable.
“This room is beautiful!” you said as he opened the door to the large room. It was mostly stone and gray, but the furniture and fabrics in the room were a deep green color. The bed was large, and the canopy over it matched the green of the sheets. You walked over to it and as at down on the end of it. Seungcheol remained by the door, watching you.
“I get to sleep here tonight? This room is fit for a queen” you gazed around it in awe.
“I am relieved to hear you say that. It is the queen’s chambers” he informed you.
“Where is your queen?” you asked, wondering why the room was empty.
“Haven’t chosen one yet” he admitted.
“Lucky goddess who gets to live here” you shook your head and smiled at him. He looked down, but smiled proudly that you had approved of his kingdom.
“Seungcheol, I need to talk to you” Joshua had arrived once more. Seungcheol excused himself, allowing you to make yourself comfortable.
“What is it?” Seungcheol asked, as soon as the chamber doors had closed.
“It isn’t wise to allow her to stay here” Joshua said. He walked with Seungcheol in the direction of Jeonghan’s office. Joshua knew Jeonghan could talk some seen into Seungcheol.
Jeonghan was sitting at his desk, feet up on the top of it. He read a book, and didn’t look up as the door opened. Seungcheol took a seat on a couch in the room, putting his feet up on a table, while Joshua walked to Jeonghan and began filling him in on what was happening.
Jeonghan held up a hand before Joshua got too far.
“Feet off my table” he pointed at Seungcheol, who smiled and removed his feet from the top of the coffee table.
“Who is here?” Jeonghan asked, turning back to face Joshua, asking him to continue.
“Persephone” Joshua said, feeling exasperated.
“Demeter’s daughter? But why?” he asked, looking from Joshua to Seungcheol. He was unsure if he should feel worried yet.
“Kidnapped!” Joshua said. He was like a younger brother tattling to his father on something his older sibling did wrong. Jeonghan looked to Seungcheol.
“It was either be kidnapped by me, or kidnaped by some mortal. I plan to return her as soon as possible”
“Why haven’t you returned her already?” Jeonghan asked.
“She refuses to leave” Seungcheol said. Jeonghan and Joshua remained silent as this sank in. Jeonghan smiled shaking his head.
“Refuses to leave? You are the god of the underworld, yet when Demeter’s daughter refuses to leave, you don’t make her?” he asked, finally closing his book and laying it on his desk. Seungcheol shrugged as Joshua continued.
“I will send a messenger on your orders to Demeter, letting her know her daughter is safe and will be retuned once her field trip is over” Joshua said, ready to leave the room.
“One important thing we must remember…” Jeonghan held up a hand before Joshua had reached the door. Seungcheol was standing, ready to follow behind him but stopped ready to listen to what Jeonghan has to say.
“She cannot eat anything while she is here” he said. Seungcheol turned to face him.
“I know” Seungcheol nodded, knowing this would bind you to the underworld for good.

Unaware to the god of Erebus and his judges, you had left the queen’s chambers. There was so much to see that you wanted to explore as much as possible before your mother called you home. This could be any moment.
You wandered through another sitting room that lead to a small dining room. There was water placed in a glass decanter on the table. Feeling thirsty, you poured yourself a glass and drank some.
Looking around, you realized you were very hungry. There was a bowl of pomegranates sitting on a small table next to a chair. You wandered over and took a handful, munching on them slowly as you walked to the next room.

Zeus was pleading with your mother at that very moment.
“Demeter, the people are dying of hunger! You cannot let this drought, this plague, last!” he told her. She looked unmoving.
“I am dying of my daughter bring kidnapped! Yet you do nothing to help me” she said in sheer in moving anger.
“I will talk to Hades about her return, but please, let the people have food” he pleaded once more.
“They will have food when my daughter is returned.” Demeter spoke. Zeus saw his was the only way and left without another word. He was going to request to speak with Seungcheol immediately.

Seungcheol was wandering through his home, searching for you. He found himself in the small dining room where he usually took his breakfast. Noticing the decanter of water had been moved, his heart began beating. You couldn’t have drank some water…
He continued to walk, making his way to the next room when he stopped in his tracks. He noticed a bowl of pomegranates that were sitting on his desk were missing.
“Oh no” he said continuing to the next room.
There he found you sitting in a chair in the kitchens. You were watching as the kitchen staff ran here and there preparing an elaborate dinner for that evening. Seungcheol smiled, but it was quickly removed from his face when he saw the bowl that was in your hands. You placed it on the table in front of you as he walked over. He grabbed the bowl and stared at it. Nearly one third of the pomegranates were missing.
He looked from the bowl to you, and back.
“Did you eat these?” he asked urgently.
“Yes. I was hungry” you shrugged. He placed the bowl down and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked worried.
“What is wrong?” you asked, taking a step towards him.
“You were supposed to eat anything here” he said walking out of the kitchens being pursued by you, waiting for an explanation.
“Why not? If I was going to stay here, I was bound to get hungry” you reasoned, defending yourself. He stopped in his tracks in the next room and turned to face you.
“You weren’t supposed to stay here!” he said, studying your face.
“Why shouldn’t I have eaten those pomegranates?” you asked, crossing your arms. Seungcheol wasn’t making any sense to you.
“Eating something here means you cannot leave. You are tied to the underworld. Forever” Seungcheol spoke bluntly. Hs words hit you like you had been punched in the stomach. You sank into the nearest chair, digesting what he had just told you.
You were enjoying the underworld, but to live here forever was something you hadn’t signed up for. What of your mother and sister?
“I should’ve told you” Seungcheol shook his head and felt guilty.
Seungcheol was reaching out to confront you, when Jeonghan entered.
“Zeus calls for you” he told Seungcheol. He nodded and turned to exit the room with Jeonghan.
“Shouldn’t she come to? It will appease Zeus to see she is unharmed” Jeonghan motioned to you. Seungcheol leveled with him, and licked his lips before answering. He shook his head.
“She cannot leave” he said simply.
“She needs to, or does she still refuse?” Jeonghan half smiled as he said this, but when he saw the look on Seungcheol’s face, his smile faded. The realization hit him of what Seungcheol must mean about you not leaving.
“Pomegranates” Seungcheol spoke, before exiting the room. Jeonghan looked to you one last time as he followed Seungcheol out.

Entering the meeting hall at Zeus’ palace, Seungcheol saw Zeus sitting at a long table, smiling. He stood and walked over to Seungcheol greeting him by using his proper title.
“Hades! It hasn’t been that long since you visited Olympus to see me!”
“You called for me?” Seungcheol said, taking a seat at the other end of the table.
“You know why” Zeus said, waving servants over to bring them wine.
“Persephone. You wish her to be returned to her mother. I can assure you that was my intent…” Seungcheol began explaining what has transpired, when Zeus cut him off.
“She needs to be returned. Her mother, goddess of agriculture, is not living up to her title. There is hunger running rampant all through the earth because of Demeter’s unhappiness” Seungcheol, looked up at Zeus in surprise as he said this.
“She refuses to allow the crops to grow until Persephone is returned. I think that can be arranged as soon as possible. I can send Hermes to receive her.” Seungcheol looked at the table top in front of himself and placed down the goblet of wine he had been drinking from. This made things much more complicated.
“I’m surprised that you didn’t bring Persephone with you when you came here. I could’ve sent her to Demeter myself”
“Again, that was my intent” Seungcheol agreed, but a heavy silence hang in the air as he searched for the right words to not anger Zeus.
“Well, why isn’t she here?” Zeus pressed the issue. He was growing anxious.
“She cannot return.” Seungcheol began, looking Zeus in the eyes. He seemed confused so Seungcheol continued.
“She ate pomegranates. She cannot leave the underworld” Seungcheol was blunt. Zeus digested the information and leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his chin in thought.
“How careless of you!” he yelled at Seungcheol.
“I had no part in this!” Seungcheol defended himself.
“You have turned your back on Demeter, and Apollo, and all the people of the earth who will starve to death!” Zeus continued.
“I had no part in her getting food! I had every intention of returning her, brother, do not think I would steal someone else’s wife!” Seungcheol yelled, trying to break through to his brother. It finally worked. Zeus anger left his face as he shook his head.
“Demeter will not be happy to hear this” he said, taking a long sip of wine.

Back in the underworld, you were getting used to your new home. Unaware of the plague that your mother had cast onto the earth, you found yourself spending lots of time with Seungcheol. You found him to be caring and just, almost to a fault.
“You are too kind. You have the power to curse or reward those that arrive here, yet you hardly curse anyone. Even if they have earned it” you told him over dinner the next night.
“Think of how awful it would be to be condemned to a cursed existence for eternity. Even if someone had not been a decent person, I feel I wouldn’t be a decent god if I didn’t weigh on the end of leniency.”
“Leniency is one thing, but you are a giant pushover when it comes to humans” you shook your head. Taking some food off of your plate, you held out your hand as a giant three headed dog gently reached over and took the drumstick you were offering him. The other two heads watched as the head in the middle got to eat the drumstick.
“You are going to spoil Cerberus like that. I never used to feed him from the table, and there he sits, begging for food off of your plate” Seungcheol shook his head, watching his giant dog’s whimpering eyes as he waited for more food.
“Oh hush. He is a good boy” he scratched behind the far left head’s ears. His tail wagged in happiness.
After dinner, Seungcheol was accompanying you to your chamber. You were still living in the queen’s chambers, and he decided this should be where you stayed, since you were bound to be stuck here forever.
“Something on your mind?” he asked, noticing that you hadn’t said much, which was very unlike you.
“I was thinking, I don’t need to stay in the queens’ chambers. I mean, they will need to be used by your queen sometime won’t they? If you ever plan on choosing a queen that is…” you asked as you reached the door.
“Have you been talking with Jeonghan? He keeps saying I need to pick a queen, and it seems as though his words are coming from your lips” Seungcheol asked. You blushed and looked away.
“You have caught me” you admitted.
“You’re blushing” Seungcheol called you out, as he reached forward and gently caressed your cheek. You looked up at him, admiring him for the fair ruler he had turned out to be. Seungcheol fidgeted, shifting his weight from one foot to the next.
“How should I go about asking someone if they would want to be queen of the underworld?” he asked, taking a step closer to you.
“Aren’t you supposed to present her with gifts before you ask her to be your queen?” you relayed what had been done in the past. Apollo had asked for your hand by giving your mother a horse with tail and mane made of fire.
“What are some gifts you would like, just as an example, if you were to be queen here” he asked. You looked to your feet.
“A bowl of pomegranates” you said as you turned away from him and entered your room. You closed the door behind you, and smiled. You were excited and was hoping Seungcheol was soon to ask you to be the queen of the underworld.

Demeter, however, was not going to leave this alone. You were her daughter and she wanted you back. Zeus was not any help.
Seeing she needed to place things into her owns hands, Demeter decided to pay the underworld a visit. She climbed to the cleft in the earth where the entrance to Seungcheol’s’ kingdom was. She walked right in and asked the servants to speak to Seungcheol.
You and he had been sitting in the small sitting area, chatting and laughing, when Joshua entered the room.
“Seungcheol, Demeter is here to see you” he said, looking from youth Seungcheol.
“My mother? What does she want?” you asked, standing up, ready to face your mother.
“Can you not think of any reason why she is here?” Seungcheol asked, placing a hand on your shoulder.
“Let me talk to her” you turned to face Seungcheol. He and Joshua looked at each other.
“She is your mother. I don’t see why you can’t” Seungcheol agreed, although he felt apprehensive. He didn’t appreciate anyone waltzing into his kingdom unannounced.
You walked to the entrance hall and saw you mother standing there, looking angry. Her anger melted as she saw you and you ran to her.
“Persephone! Are you hurt? You look thin. Have they been treating you well?” she asked and held you at arm’s length to look you over.
“Mother, I am fine!” you told her. She wasn’t listening, and held onto your wrist tightly.
“How dare you steal my daughter away from me? I swear that you will never see her again because of your actions!” she yelled at Seungcheol who had followed you into the room.
You tried to interject on Seungcheol’s behalf but your mother was not listening.
“Come with me. Back to Olympus, where you belong” Demeter turned to you and tried to all you along behind herself back the way she had come. You tried to not let her pull you along, but she was very persistent.
“Mother, I can’t return to Olympus” you tried to free yourself, but she would not release your wrist.
“Of course you can! It is your home” she said. She stopped pulling you as you finally wrenched your wrist free. You back stepped slowly to Seungcheol. your mother froze when she saw this.
“Whatever he has don’t to fool you into staying here…” she began trying to reason with you.
“Mother, he didn’t fool me! I chose to stay here” you admitted. You walked until you standing next to Seungcheol and held his hand. He tried to not look surprised at this gesture.
“You chose to stay here?” your mother asked. She didn’t look like she believed you one bit.
“I want to stay here” you said once more.
“You are prepared to have everyone on earth die, so you can remain here?” she added. You didn’t know what she meant by this.
“What are you talking about?” you asked.
“Your mother caused a famine on earth. People are dying of hunger because of her grief about you being gone” Seungcheol informed you. You stared at your mother, when you heard this news.
“How could you?” you asked.
“As gods, we protect the earth, not destroy it” you said, looking hurt.
“There has to be something I can do” you shook your head. You turned to face Seungcheol as you thought things over.
“I must talk to Zeus” you spoke.
“I can talk to him” Seungcheol nodded. He turned to face Demeter, and addressed her.
“We can ask Zeus if there can be a compromise in this” he said. She nodded, but there was something she was holding back behind her eyes.

Zeus agreed to meet with Seungcheol and Demeter. Seeing the only way for there to be any resolve was to have you spend the warm months with your mother and cold months in Erebus.
“This has to be the agreement. The warm months are arriving soon, so take Persephone to the entrance to Erebus and I will send the sun god for her. When the cold months return, you can pick Persephone up at the entrance where you left her” Zeus outlined.
“Agreed?” he asked, waiting for both parties to agree. Seungcheol agreed, seeing no way out of it, and was surprised when Demeter agreed readily as well. Something wasn’t adding up.

That night, when Seungcheol returned, he arrived at the door to your bedchamber and knocked.
“Seungcheol? It is late. Why are you here?” you asked, answering the door, half asleep.
“We have reached an agreement.” He began as you moved out of the way, allowing him to step inside and continue talking.
“With my mother?” you asked in surprise, taking a seat on a green couch. Seungcheol took a seat next to you, taking a deep breath before he outlined the plan.
“You are to go back to Olympus with your mother tomorrow. Apollo will come to escort you home…” you cut across his angrily after hearing his words. You sprang from your seat and began pacing. Seungcheol smiled as he watched your temper get the better of you.
“I refuse. I don’t want to return to Olympus! Erebus is my home now, and I don’t want to leave you” you added this last part without meaning for Seungcheol to hear it. You turned to see him smiling.
“Will you let me finish before you become unreasonable?” he asked, still smiling. Your brow furrowed in annoyance.
“Unreasonable? You agreed to remove me from my home and you call me unreasonable?” you asked, facing him and not sitting down. Seungcheol shook his head and grabbed you hand, yanking you down to sit on his lap. You were shocked into silence by his actions.
“Now, let me finish” he said tapping your nose lightly.
“The warm months you will live in Olympus with your mother. When the cold months arrive, you will return here” he concluded.
“Oh” you said, looking down at the floor.
“I guess that will have to do” you shrugged.
“We have no other choice. If you hadn’t eaten something here, your mother could take you back indefinitely” he added, as his arms wrapped around your waist as you still sat on his lap.
“And don’t worry…” he began, leaning in towards your lips.
“I will miss you too” he said as he pulled you close and kissed you zealously for the first time. He was determined to make the most of his last night with you, and you felt the same.

The next morning, you woke up. You got dressed, waiting for the time when you would be called at the sun god’s arrival. Hearing knock at the door, you walked over and opened it. Feeling sad, you were not ready to leave.
As the door opened, you saw no one was there. You looked around as you stepped out of your room and kicked something on the floor.
Looking down, you saw a bowl of pomegranates sat there. Smiling, you bent over and picked up the few that had fallen out of the bowl when you kicked it.
“Hades?” you asked at the seemingly empty corridor. Seungcheol poked his head around the corner.
“Addressing me by my title instead of my name? Have I done something wrong?” he asked. You stood holding the bowl of pomegranates and pelted him with one as he got closer.
“I almost thought you weren’t going to say good bye to me” you said, pelting him with one more pomegranate.
“Is asking you to be my queen not enough?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around your waist and lifted you off your feet.
“Or was last night not a satisfactory good bye”? He added in a low voice so that only you could hear. You opened your mouth to respond but was cut off when Joshua entered the corridor.
“Apollo has just arrived. He seems impatient” Joshua told you.
“He can wait. I have to say good bye to my king” you said kissing Seungcheol slowly. Joshua averted his eyes, but as the minutes ticked on, he cleared his throat.
“Alright! I’m coming” you said and you broke away from Seungcheol.
“See you in a few months” you smiled. He nodded, and you tried to not look sad as you turned and followed Joshua to the entrance of Erebus.
You saw Apollo in his chariot looking angered. His horses pawed the ground and looked bored. He didn’t even look at you as you bid farewell to Joshua and climbed onto the golden chariot. Before you were ready, he told his horses to get moving and they obliged, causing you to nearly fall off back into the underworld.
You had to hold on in order to not be thrown off the back of the chariot that now rose high into the clouds.
You didn’t know what to say to Apollo, but the anger was radiating off of him. Silence, you figured, was going to be your best option. As he flew, you noticed you didn’t seem to be heading in the direction of Olympus.
“Apollo, where re we going? Aren’t I going to see my mother?” you asked
“Your mother and I have reached our own agreement” he told you in a voice as cold as ice.
“What agreement?” you asked, feeling betrayed already.
“You are to become my wife and live in my kingdom. To think we would willingly let you return to the underworld is insane” he added as his kingdom drew near.
“How dare you!” you shouted hitting him in his board shoulder with your fist. This did nothing but make him angrier. With one hand he threw you to the floor of the chariot, causing you to bang your head and black out.
You awoke in a large golden room. It was blinding when you opened your eyes. There were servants waiting by to get you water or food whenever needed. You sat up in your plush bed and looked around.
“She wakes. Go tell Apollo” you heard whispered orders from on servant to another.
“Do not get Apollo! I do not wish to see him!” you spoke up loudly. They fell silent as the door to your room opened.
“Why not? I am your husband. You cannot refuse to see me” Apollo spoke as he sauntered in and looked important.
“I refuse to be your wife.” You said, not rising from the bed. Apollo waved the servants out. He walked to the end of the bed and faced you, looking like none of his anger has surpassed.
“Your mother and I already agreed. It is done” he spoke, shaking his head at how foolish you were being. You stood up out of the bed and walked around the room away from him. He slowly pursued you.
“You say it is done, but how can you have a wife that lives with Hades half the year?” you asked, rounding a couch as Apollo followed you slowly. He reminded you of a cat following a trapped mouse.
“We never intended to follow that agreement” he closed the distance between the two of you, placing himself between you and the door, the only exit.
“That is dishonest! You foul man!” you spat.
“Calling me foul after spending all that time in the underworld? I think you have no sense left”
“Seungcheol is far better of a man than you are. He honored the agreement!” you shouted as Apollo grabbed your arm. Your words made him angrier.
“The king of the underworld hardly has a place among gods!” he shouted as he dragged you by your arm to the bed. You struggled but his strength made it impossible for you to escape.
He threw you onto the bed and you kicked out at him, making sure he would not pin you there. You feared what he might do if he was able to. He grabbed your ankle as you kicked and got onto the bed, bringing himself next to you as you tried to roll away.
“Perhaps I should be plainer…” you spoke as you tried to roll away, making it onto your stomach before Apollo was on top of you. You were breathing heavy and still tried to struggle free as you smiled. You felt his legs on either side of you, not allowing you to roll to the left or right anymore.
“I promised myself to the god of the underworld” Apollo stopped fighting and was off of you in an instant. He backed away and stared at you in disbelief. You scrambled off of the bed and faced him. Your breathing was still heavy from having struggled so much.
“Get out!” he shouted and pointed at you. Needing no second bidding, you exited quickly past him and out the door.
You walked weekly down the corridor and into a clearing. You were at the gates of Apollo’s kingdom when they opened suddenly.
You stopped dead when you saw your mother standing there. As she walked towards you she smiled, happy to see you there to greet her. Reaching out to hug you, the corners of her mouth fell when you dodged her.
“How could you trick me like this?” you asked her, backing away.
“I am not the one that has tricked you” she said, reaching for you one more.
“You tricked me and Seungcheol. We agreed that I will remain here half the year, yet you promised me to Apollo?” you asked. Her smile returned, and she looked at you like you were a small child.
“You are fooled into thinking the underworld is where you belong. It isn’t! You being in Olympus”
“I belong in Erebus” you told her walking towards the gates one more.
“I returned here for you, not Apollo, and this is how you repay me?” you asked reaching the entrance and turning one more. Your anger was rising.
“I will have you know, Apollo refuses to have me as his wife” you started, causing your mother to look at your curiously.
“There should be no reason why he would refuse…” your mother shook her head.
“Or is there?” she asked, as it dawned on her why Apollo would not want the girl he has been pursuing for so long any longer.
“I am returning to where I have chosen to be a queen” you turned and exited, only for your mother to grab you by the shoulder and turn you around. She slapped you across the face hard.
“You will do no such thing! I am dragging you back to Olympus this instant!” she said reaching for you but you ducked. There was a smile on your face.
“Did Zeus not explain why this agreement would work so well?” you began. Your mother seemed lost for words.
“Pomegranates” you said. Your mother looked confused so you explained more.
“I ate pomegranates in Erebus. I have no choice but to return each year. I am bound to that place” you smiled, knowing you shared information your mother had been previously unaware of.
“If you would like to enjoy time with your daughter, then yes, we can return to Olympus. If you choose to continue trying to trick the queen of the underworld, I will leave now. I don’t care what happens to the people of earth anymore” you shrugged and exited the gates.
“I will meet them all in the end either way” you smiled as you gazed down in the dark cleft of the earth fondly. You were excited to return home soon.

1. one shot