Ever with Hades

Persephone giggled. “Do you really think so?”

“Of course.”

“Do you believe I am beautiful?”

“Do you truly have to ask that?”

“As beautiful as, perhaps, Helen of Troy?”

“More so in my eyes,” he said honestly.

“What about Aphro—-”

Hades blinked, a part of him incredulous that she would actually ask such a question. Surely she knew how vengeful the goddess of love and beauty could be when it came to anyone challenging her title as the world’s most beautiful woman?

Thankfully, the sound of powerful wings slicing through the air cut Persephone’s words off and Hades looked up just in time to see his second-in-command flying down.

Upon touching the ground, Thanatos bent down on one knee. “Milord, milady.”

Persephone squared her shoulders, and before her husband could react, she said in her best regal-sounding voice, “You may rise, Thanatos.”

Hades glanced at his queen in surprise, wondering if she was aware of how pompous she had sounded.

His face stoic, Thanatos reported about the influx of guests and the estimate time of their arrival. “With your permission, I shall inform the subjects living next to the doors to temporarily evacuate the area while—-” He stopped when Persephone shook her head.

“Which subjects are you talking about?” the queen asked.

“Those who live near the entrance, milady.” The winged demon’s tone was unnaturally ambiguous, making Hades frown. Why was Thanatos being evasive?

“Like the centaurs and harpies, perhaps?” Persephone insisted. “And the Gorgons, too?”

“Yes.” Hades answered on Thanatos’ behalf, murmuring, “Those are exactly the subjects Thanatos are referring to. I have offered them refuge in exchange of their sworn allegiance.”

“I knew you were talking about them,” Persephone said eagerly, “and Your Majesty, I beg you, please do not ask them to go.” Before he could answer, she continued passionately, “They might think you are ashamed of them, and you wouldn’t want that, would you, Hades? I am certain they would want to do their part and greet your guests. Let them know that they represent you, and they will consider it an honor that you have trusted them with such a responsibility.”

Thanatos’ face remained expressionless at the queen’s honeyed words, but inside he was hoping that the king would see through his wife and prevent such a travesty from happening.

What the queen was saying was different from the queen planning. He would stake his life on that, but unfortunately even if it did – his death would not mean a thing if the king didn’t see the truth for himself.

“Hades, please?” Persephone gazed entreatingly at her husband.

“Very well,” the Lord of the Underworld said reluctantly.

Thanatos took a deep breath. “Understood, milord.” After bowing, he turned back and flew away, his heart in despair.

This would not be good.

Chapter Four

“W-who are you?” the girl asked Hades nervously. “And why did they kneel?”

“Don’t you think I should be the one asking that question,” Hades asked with an arched brow, “considering you’re the one gatecrashing my party?”

Her eyes widened. “So there really was a party?”

“Yes.” He was puzzled by her ecstatic reaction. It was almost as if he had granted her immortality with his words.

“Bloody hell,” he heard her mumble and almost smiled. With the exception of Artemis and Athena, no female acquaintance of his was the type to swear and that this fragile-looking girl would do so made her even more interesting in his eyes.

“So it really is happening.” She appeared talking to herself, a fact that did not escape his notice or the other two Olympians.

“She appears quite mad,” Hermes murmured in the ancient tongue known only to Olympians.

“She is only nervous.” Hades mentally winced at the defensive note of his voice and wondered why he was even bothering to—-

Her head suddenly jerked up, taking him by surprise.

Maybe she really is mad, Hades thought uneasily.

“This may sound stupid, but...” She cleared her throat. “Is this not a dream?”

Amused but even more puzzled at the way she held her breath after asking her question, he said simply, “Most assuredly not.”

The girl started jumping for joy, and a reluctant but genuine smile tugged at Hades’ lips. A part of him was starting to believe she was as mad as Hermes’ suggested, but even so she was proving to be more entertaining than even the most accomplished of courtesans, and at his age he had met more than a few of them.

With the girl lost in her inexplicable euphoria, Hades took his time studying her. She was not as beautiful as his former queen, but she was lovely in her own way, with long blond hair, bright blue eyes, and ivory-kissed skin.

The typical English rose, the god of the Underworld mused even though she was actually the first British woman he had ever met.

The girl suddenly stopped jumping, and a glance at her burning cheeks told him she had just become aware of his scrutiny. Hades knew the polite thing to do would have been to stop staring. If he had been the old Hades, he would have done that.