For anyone who reads this story here is my forewarning:

I don't own Hades and Persephone they in theory own themselves since I've never tried to own a god or goddess. This was all inspired on a picture, a cautious glance between two people for the first time. At least that is how I interpreted it. Persephone the beautiful goddess of spring dressed simply by nature her nymphs floating around her as she bathes in the light. While Hades, Lord of the dead walks through the darkness submerging him, but his darkness cannot penetrate her light. And for him this is where it begins, a need to have this light as his own. Persephone at this moment is still skeptical, seeing the god up-close for the first time she in unsure. He has a unique beauty to him something that captivates her. However they meet in passing and Persephone will not see him again until her abduction and for her those first fleeting thoughts about the Lord of the Dead are gone forever. For him they still remain.

I do keep towards the gist of the original story line of her abduction –there are so many slight variations so you may happily chose your own. The pomegranate seeds are key, along with her mother, Demeter.

I have chosen the six month separation and not the 1/3rd of a year. And for now that is all I think you need to know. If you are totally unsure of who Persephone and Hades are Google it.

Hades and Persephone

Chapter 1

Sometimes I wondered when I would ever see the light again, the light of the sun that danced along the grass. I wondered if the nymphs that used to braid wild flowers in my hair would remember me. I wondered how much the earth had change by the time I would be reunited to it again. Would I still remember what rain smelled like, what it felt to run bare foot through the forest? I wondered if I would be treated differently because of what had happened, would the plants forget me. Would the leaves still be as green, the grass as smooth, and would the wind whisper to me the way it used to when I was a child, young, innocent, and naïve.

I sighed; tears had fled me as I had come to accept my fate, and now I only felt despair. I was being consumed by his world.

I let my hand run across the cool marble, the halls were lit with torches but darkness consumed all corners of the Underworld. I rarely left his dwelling, only when forced to accompany him for his walks. I had little contact with the world I had once lived in.

But he was gone now I could feel it in my bones, his brooding darkness was not all consuming, instead it was just present, but I could not remember where he said he was going, or if he had even told me for that matter.

We did not speak much, partially because of my self-imposed silence in order to mourn the loss of what I had once had, but also to show him my hatred for what he had done. Occasionally when few words did pass between us they were short and bitter on my part.

He could not hurt me, despite my position as his wife; it was part of the deal my mother and he had made. No physical harm could be done which allowed me to continue doing as I pleased without much reprimand. He was however figuring out different ways to make me suffer.

Meals were quiet affairs down here; rarely did I speak and eat. It caused him to become angry but it did not sway my decision. I wanted to die, metaphorically not literally for if I was dead I would be permanently stuck with him in the Underworld wherever he decided to place me. At least now I still had some freedom, some hope.

My bare feet padded down the hall, wishing there was dirt underneath them and not stone. I aimlessly wandered through his dwelling; still refusing to admit that I lived in it too, it would never be my home.

I remember as I child the fellow goddesses teasing me for my beauty that I was growing into. Telling me it was a good thing Zeus was my father for I would have many suitors lining up among the Gods. It was something that I had ignored.

My mother was adamant that she chose my future husband, if I were to have one at all. Something I had been okay with. Of course it had been my father who meddled with my future love life, giving his brother the rights to me.

He was only my father due to his seed; he had shortly taken his wife, Hera after my birth. Something my mother had been angered by. I had come to the conclusion that there was no true love among gods and goddesses; it was full of deception and deceit.

I found myself standing in front of one of the many marble statues of himself, conceited bastard. Some of his favorite marble structures he had taken down to the Underworld.

Some of them were true, capturing his strange dark beauty. Others made him look too human. None did I believe captured his true form perfectly.

He had a dark aroma, suffocating all around him, and at times even me. He seemed to walk with grace that I did not know existed, an air of excellence and reserve, but also indifference. At times I could not help myself, he captivated me. It was something I hated.

I remember our first meeting, before my abduction. We had met on my way home after lazily playing in the fields with the nymphs. Flowers had cascaded down my copper hair as the nymphs escorted me. I suppose I looked like a tree pixie for if I had been seen by my mother she would have immediately dragged me home for indecency.

He had been walking toward Olympus and I had not been able to help myself but I stared pausing in my step. We threw cautious glances at each other; he was Hades Lord of the Dead one of the three most powerful gods, while I Persephone Goddess of Spring and daughter of his brother had just begun entering womanhood. His dark aroma did not only surround him, but also the area around him. He captivated me; his pale face was the only skin I could see with two dark eyes staring at me, he had an unnatural beauty that drew me in. I could not help but smile shyly at him with a nod of my head. His dark eyes twinkled but his lips remained perfectly straight.

Finally I pulled my eyes away from him and continued my walk toward home, but not before I threw one last glance over my shoulder to see him staring at me a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Little did I know that would be the end of my life as Persephone Goddess of Spring.

I left the dark foreboding halls and his statutes behind. I needed to do something, and I had just the idea.

I made my way to the kitchen knowing that he was not here and Dardanus would serve as excellent company to lift my spirits.

"Greetings my Lady," Dardanus bowed with a smile on his face as I entered the kitchen. He was one of the few people that had been left in his dwelling and the only one who had befriended me. I supposed he was allowed to stay because he was devoted to his wife even in death.

I smiled at him taking a seat next to the marble counter, "How was your day?" I asked him.

"Wonderful," he said as he began cutting up a pomegranate. I could never understand why he was so cheerful being a servant of Hades.

I watched him slice pomegranates into four parts. Food in the Underworld was also different, obviously with the lack of sun fresh produce was not a common occurrence, and the produce that was more common was not always favorites. My mother had always had gardens surrounding my childhood home where I used to play and roam. It had been something then once had been taken for granted, but now I yearned for it.

"Would you," he offered me a section of the fruit, its red purple seeds sticking out inviting me to take one.

I shook my head, as recognition flooded in Dardanus's eye, "Sorry milady," he put the fruit on the other side of the counter "they're the Lords' favorite."

Of course they would be his favorite. I glared at the fruit for a moment longer before turning back to watch Dardanus slice into a melon. He handed me a piece as I sucked out the juices thoughtful. I wondered if they had always been his favorite, or did he enjoy them now more so after his deception.

I had long given up cursing him, and my father for this sentence. I did not feel as if I deserved my fate but it was too late now, my mother had done as best she could with her six month deal. Unfortunately I had only been a few weeks into my six months.

Dardanus looked up from placing grapes on his fruit platter, "Where did you go today" he asked conversationally.

I enjoyed Dardanus's company for many reasons, mainly being the few in the dwelling –I refused to refer to it as anything more- who I could stand, he also understood my unspoken rule about talking about things I did not want to talk about, mainly that being Hades.

"Nowhere" I replied now playing with the melon rind.

"You should visit the field of Asphodel."

"For what?" I looked at him with a frown.

"The flowers are in bloom, you must miss the ones on Earth," he responded.

"They're not flowers," I responded taking a bite out of the melon.

"The people need hope," was his response.

"There is no hope down here," I replied thinking of all the souls that had probably entered here today.

"Persephone," I looked at Dardanus it was one of the few times he had ever used my name, "There is hope now."

I walked away from the kitchen Dardanus had kicked me out saying he had to go pick up some more food. From where he did this I would like to know.

I followed the marble walls, and the faintly lit hallways. I had not explored much of this dwelling, but I did not feel the need to get to know more, I knew I would leave eventually.

I scoffed at Dardanus's idea of hope; there was no hope here, just bitterness and despair. No wonder their lacked light, happiness, and life through these dark corridors. The darkness spread so thickly throughout the land it was all consuming.

I wondered if it would eventually consume me or would I get out in time.

I continued my walk back to where I had set up temporary residency. I had refused to share a room with him, much to his displeasure but he had responded to my fit with an, "As you wish," and prepared my own chambers.

Entering the room I debated if I should draw a bath. Generally I took them when he was out, not wanting to give him any more ideas than he already had. We had consummated our marriage, and occasionally he would visit at night in order to, satisfy himself. Something I dreaded and tended to avoid doing.

When I had first left the Underworld to return to my mother my fate had already been sealed. My father had given his brother his blessing to have me as his wife, no one asking my mother or myself. However to please my mother the bargain had been set in place to make them both happy, and allow the mortals to continue their lives.

However no one had thought of my happiness. After returning home I had attempted to take a page from Aphrodite's book in the art of seduction. That maybe he would not want me if I had another lover. What I had not expected was for him to be so submerged in my life. My plan had failed.

I sighed collapsing on the bed squeezing my eyes shut tightly.

I did not know how long I laid there for but I knew as soon as he entered the dwelling. I could feel him as he made his way toward me.

I sat up as the door opened my green eyes crashing into is black orbs.

He nodded to me letting himself in; I continued to stare at him.

Finally I broke eye contact letting myself slip back down onto the comforter, maybe if I ignored him he would leave.

I had no such luck however as I felt the bed dip as he sat upon in.

"Persephone, my love," he said.

I ignored him, my eyes closed I could imagine him being someone else, a lover and that we had finally been reunited after years apart. Then I could imagine myself jumping from this bed, wrapping my arms around him and begging him never to leave again.

I could even see myself running my hands through his midnight black hair, stroking his pale cheek, maybe even accepting his touch.

But that would never happen, maybe if we had met differently, if my mother had approved of him, if he had been sweet and kind.

I could feel his hand stroking my bare foot, "Your feet are dirty love," he said, "Let me wash them."

I almost said no, but that would be accepting his presence, instead I chose to ignore him.

"Come here," he tried again, he was more patient today.

I waited until he gave up.

"Persephone," his voice was demanding this time, the moments of silence was all he needed to lose patience. He was done playing games with me and I could feel his hand wrap around my ankle tugging it once.

I gave in and complied, sitting up slowly I did not make eye contact with him but moved closer.

However it had not been enough for he easily pulled me onto his lap.

I squirmed slightly but his grip kept me where I was. As I relaxed so did he, "Now was that so bad?" he asked his hand running through my copper brown locks.

I sat their letting him run his fingers through my hair. Hoping he was content enough on just having me close to him.

"How was your day?" he asked politely.

I remained silent, staring at the hands in my lap.

"Persephone," he sighed, "what do you want."

I continued to remain silent, for what I wanted was something I knew he would not give me. I had already humiliated myself the first time here begging and pleading to be released. However he had chuckled and informed me at the time that I belonged to him.

This time around however I had vowed not to be weak. To quietly carry out my sentence in hopes that he would grow bored of me. I knew it was a fruitless effort but I could not give up on everything.

I felt his lips on my head as I froze. The trailed to me neck as he pulled me closer toward him, his hand gently stroking my thigh gently.

He sighed and muttered something before saying, "Get ready for bed."

It was a quiet command and I happily obliged jumping out of his arms to gather what I needed.

I took my sweet time changing away from him. Listening in hopes that he had left, but I knew I had no such luck.

I had learned rather quickly the Lord of the Dead had much patience.

Adjusting my night gown I made sure that I was covered completely before leaving the safety of the wash room. My eyes trained to the floor I made my way toward the bed.

Before I got their however he intercepted me. He pulled me toward him lifting me in his arms with ease as he cradled me to his chest. Pulling down the sheets he placed me on the bed with care, his fingers stroking my cheek before he leaned down to place a kiss on it.

"Goodnight my love," he whispered, "Sleep well."