"Hades," Persephone murmured into the darkness of her inner chamber. "I know you're there." She sat up, golden hair spilling from her shoulders at the movement and peered into the thick darkness. The hot force in her chest pulled her sweet eyes to the sudden figure beside her bed, swathed in shadows.

"Hades," her voice was thick with affection; Persephone reached out to touch his hand, fingers trailing to the silver helmet he was holding. Just the touch of her fingers against his skin sent fire up her arm. "Still playing with Cyclopes' gift."

Hades said nothing, just set the helmet down on her pillow and sat beside her, black eyes intent. Persephone smiled at him, letting him settle his opal and silver circlet in her shimmering hair. "Soon, my love, you will be my Queen."

"And I will make a wonderful Queen," Persephone kissed him lightly, relishing his taste of fire and darkness. When she broke away, Hades gave her a crooked smile, a rare one at that.

"Meet me in the Enna plains, my love, and I'll place you on my throne," Hades purred, nuzzling her neck. "In three days time." His voice was below a whisper now, and harsh.

Persephone brought her hands up and caressed his neck. "I will be there, my love, nothing in Olympus could stop me."

Persephone walked slowly across the meadows of Enna, holding a lone red flower in her hand. The tips of the flowers across Enna bowed in the wind, pulling at the hem of Persephone's black gown. Demeter had disapproved of the dress, but Persephone had insisted she didn't want to get a golden gown dirty, and her mother relented. But then again, Demeter always believed her daughter.

Behind her Leucippe followed closely, concerned for her close friend. They had not yet reached the black pit where Hades had promised to meet them, but that wasn't the problem on Leucippe's mind. Demeter was at home with Zeus, so she would not interrupt their gathering. But Demeter was still the source of her worry.

Persephone sought out the black pit, where the people gathered to pray to Hades, and smiled into the red flower. Today Hades was going to take her into his arms and whisk her away, with Helios as their witness. She was going to be a Queen – and Demeter could not reach her. The soft, blood red petals soothed another smile onto her lips. The Goddess of the Nether World, wife to Hades. Even the name stirred the fire of love in her chest.

Leucippe smiled at the young, smitten Goddess. "Persephone, I am glad this has worked in your favor. I know Hades is infamous for avoiding Olympus. I will miss you terribly while you are in the nether lands. Do promise to visit, my dear friend."

"Oh, Leucippe, you are not coming with me?" Persephone frowned into the flower petals. "I had expected your presence…"

Leucippe shook her head sadly, pale hair fluttering in a wind. "There are no meadows in the nether world, my dear Persephone. I could not live there."

"But I shall insist meadows be made. And I shall be with you, Leucippe," Persephone pleaded, "please, my dear Leucippe, reconsider. Until Demeter calms, there will be no meadows here. I could not see you whither away so, Leucippe."

"I know, my dear, but it must be so."

"Must it be so?" Persephone repeated in a sad, twisted way. "Then so it shall be. I shall never understand you, dear friend."

"And I shall never understand your love of Hades. Your father owns the sky, your mother the world – and you desire the nether lands."

"It is one of the places Demeter can not reach – nor Zeus. It is Hades' land, and I will make it my own. He fills me with love, Leucippe." Persephone touched a pale, slender hand to her throat. "I find it beautiful, for all there are no meadows. I shall find much to do there," she smiled, golden eyes warming on the figure walking out of the black pit.

"I wish you luck, Persephone," Leucippe whispered to her close friend, looking at Hades with a slight shudder.

He was tall, like his elder brothers, and slender. Unlike Zeus and Poseidon, he didn't resort to brute force when resolving a problem, he was calculating and cold. His eyes were chips of obsidian, and his hair was as black as a raven's wing, or Cerberus' fur. It was wind blown by the journey upwards and some errant strands hung in his face, accenting the pale skin. Leucippe could see where Persephone's physical desire came from – Hades was handsome, and pulled rank with Zeus. A ringlet of silver entwined with opals rested in his hair, glimmering eerily.

"Leimoniad Leucippe," Hades greeted, voice sliding like hot, dark velvet over their skin. "Goddess Persephone." Persephone went to him, closing her arms around his neck and kissing him, having to stand on her tip toes to do so.

Leucippe watched with a sad smile as Hades returned the kiss deeply. Zeus will not be happy his younger brother has taken his daughter as his wife and Queen – but, then, Demeter will be furious. Leucippe's gaze followed Persephone as she took the opal circlet and placed it in her own hair, laughing at Hades' tender smile. He really was in love with her. I don't envy the wrath of Zeus, however.

Golden hair supported the black and silver circlet and Hades laughed, readjusting it slightly, then lightly brushing away some golden stands of hair. "Persephone, my Queen, say your goodbyes."

Persephone turned to Leucippe and the Leimoniad could see tears in her eyes. "Will you not come with me, my dear?"

Leucippe shook her head gently, smiling a sad, sad smile. "No, Persephone. I will miss you."

"Oh, my stubborn friend," Persephone enveloped her in a soul wrenching hug. "I shall miss you, too. Survive, Leucippe. I'm begging you."

"Go," Leucippe said gruffly, untangling herself from Persephone and taking a step back. "Take your Queen, Hades, and treat her well."

Hades raised one eyebrow at her, and then laughed – a dark roll of thunder that sent goose bumps up her arms. "Of course, Leimoniad. Farewell." And he took Persephone's hand and they vanished.

Persephone had dropped her red flower, Leucippe noted, stooping to pick it up. She held it for a moment, unsure what to do with it. The thorns lacing up the side looked exceptionally hurtful, so Leucippe gently placed it in the center of the black pit, and turned away.

"Master," Charon rasped, pushing his ferry up against the river bank. "What brings you to the river Acheron?" His stony, muscled forearms flexed, shifting his double headed hammer from one hand to the other as he surveyed Persephone.

She was smiling in contentment, leaning her head on Hades' shoulder, looking across the silvery blue water of Acheron. Charon saw the black circlet twined in her hair, and understood immediately, folding his great wings against his back and bowing low. "Goddess Persephone."

"Charon," she returned, voice deep sunlight. Her golden eyes remained on the opposite shore shrouded in cold, weary mist that encroached on the water itself. "Acheron is a welcomed sight after the journey down, Hades."

"I thought you might like the water," Hades admitted softly, looking hard at Charon. "Your Queen desires a ride along the river."

"As the Mistress commands," Charon bowed deeply and shuffled back onto his ferry, a rickety old boat. "You will be coming too, Master?"

"A King always accompanies his Queen," Persephone mused, stepping onto the boat and relishing the movement of the harsh water beneath her.

"As he should, as he should," Charon bobbed his head in agreement, as Persephone settled at the back, and Hades took a seat beside her. "Where do my Masters wish to go? If I might recommend north, there will be less of the dead gathering there."

"I wish to go south," Persephone said softly, golden eyes sharp.

Hades nodded and Charon shrugged, shoving off the river bank. "Will you miss Leucippe terribly," Hades asked, concerned.

"I shall visit her once Demeter is taken care of," Persephone said with a small, secretive smile. She forced him to put his arm around her and sighed in contentment. "I shall love it here."

The waves rocked the boat gently as Charon carefully kept out of the swift current. "Tell me, Charon, who were your parents?"

"Erebus and Nyx, Goddess," Charon said immediately.

"So then Hypnos and Thanatos are your brothers," Persephone said absently, looking at the shore. Pale figures were clustered there, holding oboluses and watching in horror as their new God passed in Charon's ferry.

"Yes," Charon replied shortly.

Persephone smiled at his large, hard looking wings. "I see. So tell me the rivers again, Hades. I am fascinated with their origins."

"Acheron, the river of sadness," Hades lifted his hand and gracefully included the dead, silvery water and misted shore in one gesture. "Cocytus, the river of lamentation. Lethe, river of forgetfulness. Phlegethon," he was cut by Persephone.

"The river of fire," she murmured into his black garb. "And Styx… the river of hate."

"Yes," Hades watched some dead cluster, their features not yet dimmed by death. "Has there been a war, Charon?"

"Yes, Master," Charon answered. "A widespread war."

"Ah," Hades let the subject drop, deciding not to concern himself with Zeus' troubles. Zeus is going to hate him soon enough, he didn't need to bring it along any faster. Instead, he turned to Persephone, "Thanatos and Hypnos are waiting at the altar. They will wed us when we return to them."

"Then we should not delay," Persephone said lightly, "take us back, Charon. I can see you know Acheron well, my new friend."

"Yes."

"I would be pleased if you would repeat this incident later. Acheron has a soothing effect on me, I fear. Sadness…what a peaceful river." Persephone looked around at the misted bank. "I shall be glad, however, not the step on that bank."

Charon laughed lightly at that, "you are a wise Goddess. Zeus, however, is not as wise as I would hope."

"He went over there?" Persephone asked sharply.

"Oh, he tried to," Charon shrugged his massive shoulders, wings rippling. "Acheron didn't like that very much. No one goes over there except Hades."

"That's enough, Charon," Hades said.

"Yes, Master."

He had turned the ferry and they were almost at the point where they had started. "Shall I take you straight to the gates, Master?"

"That will be acceptable," Hades said softly, watching the feisty silver water. Reaching over the edge of the ferry, he let his fingers touch the surface. Coldness immediately numbed his fingers and small ripples dragged after his finger tips.

"Is the water cold," Persephone wondered aloud, looking to her love.

"It is… sad." Hades frowned at the answer, and cupped a bit of the water in his palm, raising it towards Persephone. She cupped her hands under his and gasped as the numbing water trickled through his fingers.

Tears shimmered in her eyes and immediately Hades clasped her hands, warming them in his. "Calm down, my love," he whispered. "I am sorry."

"All those feelings…don't worry, Hades, I shall be fine." Persephone flashed him the smile that had made him fall in love with her, and ducked her head to rest it on his shoulder again. "I am sorry to have worried you."

Hades said nothing, but watched Charon direct the small ferry to the gaping hole in the mist covered bank, leading into a cavern with shallow water. Persephone pulled away, gazing over the side at the shimmering black ground beneath the water. "How beautiful," she murmured softly, catching her hair before it dragged in the water.

The boat rocked up against the stone bank and Charon bowed. "We have arrived, Masters."

A deep growl echoed around the chamber, and Cerberus lumbered forward, three pairs of beady red eyes fixed on Persephone. "Halt, Cerberus! You exist to serve Goddess Persephone, as you live to serve me. She has reigning authority equal to mine."

Persephone looked at him, completely shocked. That meant she pulled rank with Zeus, as well as Hades, and Demeter was below her. A lazy smile crossed her face as she looked at Cerberus. A huge, three headed beast in midnight fur, it was the spawn of Typhon and Echidna, with a serpent tail. It growled again, but not threateningly.

Persephone stepped forward daringly and ran her hand through its thick fur, marveling at its softness. Even standing, she only reached up to the beast's chest, its three heads looking down at her. "Didn't Eurytheus…"

"We do not speak of that here," Hades said with a dark amusement in his voice when Cerberus whined.

"I see."

"Come, Persephone, Thanatos and Hypnos await us." Hades took her hand, leading her though the doorway behind Cerberus. They had entered a black plain, void of any dead, with thick, spiraling branches of dead trees punctuating the grey sky. The harshness of it all made Persephone gasp in awe. Hades looked worriedly at her, "does it displease you?"

"No, it is wonderful," Persephone breathed, allowing Hades to pull her further into the nether lands. In the distance, a ribbon of silver snaked off, dark clouds hovering over the banks and pouring down relentless rain. Styx, Persephone realized, watching lightning snake through the clouds. Something screamed.

The sounded made pride rise in her chest and she smiled delightfully at Hades. "I will have much to do here."

Hades returned a crooked smile and he pulled her to a slippery, black stone staircase leading downwards. Persephone's light footsteps were muffled by the swishing of her black gown. They reached a black chamber down below, and she recognized the brothers of Charon immediately, waiting patiently by the Ebony Throne.

The twins resembled their older brother Charon in one way, their height. Other than that, and Thanatos' wings, they were completely different. Thanatos and Hypnos had glossy, wavy black hair and deep set blue eyes. Thanatos had broad wings that stretched from his shoulder blades, and held an inversed torch in his left hand. He was the personification of death, and his brother was the personification of sleep. Hypnos wore no clothes, Persephone noted with a raised eyebrow, and sleek wings sprouted from his temples, reminding her of the wings on Hermes' sandals.

Thanatos and Hypnos bowed deeply, Hypnos' dark colored skin rippling with underlying muscle. He did have a nice body, Persephone laughed to herself, stealing a glance at Hades, her love. Hades was looking at Thanatos.

"You must share a pomegranate with Hades, Goddess, to assure you are bound to the Nether Lands. Then Hades may take you himself and make you his Queen." He held out his hand. A small pomegranate rested in his palm, tantalizing.

Hades watched with apprehension as Persephone stepped towards Thanatos, and glanced at Hypnos. She took the fruit delicately into her own hand and pressed the fruit to her lips, teeth sinking in. Gingerly, she ate the whole fruit, sticky juice running down her hands and coating her lips. When she came to the seeds, Hades stepped forward and took them from her, and gave them to Thanatos. "Plant us a garden, my dear Thanatos." He whispered, voice thick.

"As you wish, Hades," Thanatos bowed and retreated into the darkness.

"May your dreams be blessed," Hypnos whispered, gracing them both with a lazy smile and vanishing after his brother.

Hades caught Persephone up in a kiss, cutting off her question. When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers, feeling the prick of the circlet. "Yes, love, your mother cannot reach you now," he murmured, "you are as bound to me as to this land."

She muttered something in return against his mouth, pressing hard against Hades' hands as they roamed across her breasts. They shared a deep, long kiss, marveling at the taste of one another. Hades felt heat rising in his groin and pressed his hips against her in a longing way.

Persephone wrapped her arms around Hades' waist and drew him in closer, feeling his hand run down her thigh, pushing up her black gown. "Do you not like my dress, darling? I wore black for you."

"You belong in gold," Hades muttered against her lips, "and I shall see to it you are…" Persephone nibbled on his lower lip affectionately, gasping when his warm hand touched her skin, sliding up her thigh.

"Gold," she repeated distractedly. "Gold."

Hades sat up in his inner chamber, glancing down with unheard of warmth in his black eyes at his sleeping Queen. She was sprawled naked beside him, covered waist down by black silk blankets, her golden hair and tan skin a welcome relief to the darkness. Her breasts rose and fell with her breath, red lips parted. The black circlet still rested in her hair, even after a long night.

How he loved her…

He leaned down and brushed his lips across her cheek, settling back to watch her sleep. Zeus soon intruded his thoughts, furious face making Hades sigh. The older brother and possessive father was not who he wanted to deal with right now – he wanted to make Persephone happy.

It had been a long night, and an even longer three days before. Hades had worked hard to make Persephone happy, although he needn't have tried – she was happy just by his side. As he had promised, Persephone wore gold and black, because she wouldn't hear of not wearing black when her parents arrived. "I am your Queen," she said stubbornly, wrapping her arms around his neck and grabbing his hair to keep his head towards her. "I will dress as the Goddess of the Nether Lands should…" And that had been the end of it.

She stirred and let out a soft groan of satisfaction, stretching beautifully beside him. Golden eyes opened and found him beside her, equally naked. Her eyes roamed his body, resting on top of the black blankets, and she smiled warmly, reaching for him, "my love."

He pulled her against his chest, enjoying the feel of her body molding to his. "Did you sleep well, Persephone," he questioned hazily, running his fingers through her hair.

"I did, love," she answered sleepily, "I had wonderful dreams. I shall have to thank Hypnos."

"We should ready ourselves, my Queen," Hades said with deep regret.

Persephone looked up at him sadly, "I am causing you pain."

"It is not you, never you, Persephone. I fear my older brother." Hades looked at the surprise on her face. "It is no surprise, love, he is Zeus."

"And you are Hades," Persephone said harshly, meeting his eyes. "What do you have to be afraid of? His rulings do not encroach on yours; he has no rule over you."

"As Demeter has no rule over you."

Persephone grinned, "my love, you know me too well."

"It is my wish," Hades murmured against her lips, but she pulled away before he could kiss her. "What is it?"

"I want to finish with my mother. I can feel her coming. We should prepare ourselves, as you said, my love. I shall meet you in the throne room?"

"As you wish, love."

When Persephone finally entered, not only was an enraged Zeus there, but Demeter was there as well. Hades slouched low in his Ebony Throne and refused to speak when his older brother yelled, so instead, Zeus resorted to hissing. "How dare you steal my daughter from me, Hades," he had taken to repeating. Demeter just screamed wordlessly and cried at Zeus' side.

Hades saw her first, and gasped. She had pulled her golden hair back into a coiled bun, held by a piece of sinew. The black circlet glittered in her hair, looking soft compared to the hardness in her golden eyes. She wore a floor length, sweeping gown of black and silver, ebony and silver jewelry laced around her slender neck and down her sleeveless arms. She held his scepter in her right hand, as a symbol of their shared power. Persephone swept in, stunning Zeus and Demeter to silence.

Hades stood and let her sit on the throne, skirts swirling around her. He stood off to the side and placed a hand on her shoulder protectively, turning back to Zeus. "I know, brother, you do not like the situation, but it is not for you to decide. Persephone and I have been bound."

"You ate the food," Zeus demanded harshly of Persephone. Demeter gave Hades a look of utter loathing and disgust. "I have warned you many times, Persephone, of what happens to people who do so!"

"I ate it willingly, Zeus," Persephone's voice was cold and level. "I chose to be his wife."

"But you will die down here, daughter, you are meant to be among the flowers!" Demeter cried, "you can not waste away down here in the bowels of the nether world!"

"I will not waste away, Demeter. Don't raise your tone to me. Here I am the Goddess. You are in my territory."

"You can not possibly love him, Persephone," Zeus said harshly, giving her a severe look, blue eyes snapping.

"Do not tell me who I can and cannot love, with all due respect, Zeus. I am in love with Hades, and so it shall be. I am reigning Goddess in the Nether Lands, and my judgment here is second only to Hades." Persephone stood stiffly and pointed the scepter at Demeter. "I have had enough of this foolishness. Return to your world and leave me in peace. Hades is my husband. If you dare to argue with this fact, I will have you banned from the Nether World."

Hades seconded her decision by moving to her side. Demeter let out a keening wail and ran from the room. Zeus was looking at his daughter and brother in disbelief. "What has come over you, Persephone, you were always a good child."

"I still am, Father, just not in your eyes. With respect, please, leave us be."

Zeus cast Hades a look of pure rage, and left with a deafening crack.

Persephone let out a long breath. "I may not like my mother…but I don't want to hurt my father." She said shakily. "What am I to do?"

Hades enclosed her in his arms, kissing her hair. "You are beautiful, my love. You are my wife, my Queen, my Goddess. There is much for you to do here." Persephone kissed away the smirk on his face, molding her body to his.

"Ah, you speak the truth, my heart." Persephone groaned into his neck, "I shall find much to do here."

Author's Notes:

1. the helmet was a gift to Hades from Cyclopes, and it turns him invisible.

2. Black pits were places where people would sacrifice black sheep and let the blood seep into the soil and they would bang their hands on the ground when they were praying.

3. Leucippe was said to have been a leimoniad who was with her when she was "abducted," a leimoniad is a meadow nymph.

4. Charon ferries people across the river Acheron into the nether lands, only if the have an obolus - the coin placed under a dead person's tongue. He is depicted as a winged demon with a double headed hammer.

5. Eurytheus ordered Heracles to capture and bring back Cerberus as one of the Twelve Tasks. He suceeded, and Hades finds it to be an embarrasment.

6. I don't like Zeus or Demeter, that much I made plain.