The Maiden and the Mistress

@ BearGirl
Hades looked down at her, letting go of her hands to let her step closer. The Tree of False Dreams loomed over them as if it was waiting for them to fall asleep. He looked up into its branches, the shining and swaying of the leaves creating quite the mystical illusion. He wondered what they would both see if they were to engage in false dream. Would he see himself marrying Persephone or would he see something else? Would she see her own freedom or something more than? Hades was not sure, but he never allowed himself the pleasure of curiosity. “You’re welcome to investigate, but touch only one. Hold onto my hand and you will be balanced between the dream and reality. You’ll be able to tell me exactly what you see,” he said with a smile, “If you wish, of course."

---

Despeona fiddled with one flower that she left in her hand, twisting and breaking pieces of petals, stems and leaves. Despoena looked over at Apollo as he so feebly tried to comfort her. She appreciated it, of course. Her ego has ridden such a rollercoaster of emotions within the last few hours that she had no energy to defend herself or make some statement about her own strength. In truth, she felt weak. Apollo had more questions than he did comforting words and Despoena was not sure if she needed to be alone or if she needed the distraction that conversation provided. Perhaps Apollo would notice something she had not, but from her point of view, Persephone evaporated into thin air right in this spot. Apollo truly believed that they would find Persephone, but Despeona did not believe they would. Whoever was powerful enough to steal her in this way would only bring her back when they pleased. She bit her lip, trying to grasp the vastness of power that could have stolen her sister.

“I believe that you believe we will find her,” Despeona said, dropping the flower from her hand and turning to him. “You have always had more joy than most, especially me,” she said with a sheepish laugh. “I’d like to believe what you believe.” She sighed, clasping her hands across her chest. “I am expected to spearhead the search for Persephone which is what I’m doing, can’t you tell? And I was asked to leave my - my mother’s home,” She said, a little sarcasm to protect her own pride.

She waited only a moment before she let her deepest and strangest thoughts spill from her lips. The only power that she knew of that was so great was that of the Three Brothers; Hades, Zeus and Poseidon. Zeus may or may not know something, but he was clearly not responsible for Persephone's disappearance. Poseidon has never expressed an interest before, but Hades has. "Do you think Hades could be involved?" She asked, almost afraid to ask the question.

@ chandelier-stars

Taking another moment, Persephone tried to let the tree and its beauty soak in. It was beautiful, and alluring. She could feel the elm call her in, wanting her to sleep under it's branches and the blue coverings. Persephone took another step forward, wanting to do as it called her. Though she knew to be careful with such magical things. So she reached back, wrapping her hand around his before reaching out and gently wrapping her fingers around one of the leaves. While she could fell the smoothness of the leaf itself, Persephone also felt the strange warmness and almost gooey sensation of the blue film that was around each leaf. And while she was not tired, she could feel her eyelids droop.

Once her eyes were fully closed, Persephone felt herself emerge into a dream-like state. It took her a few moments to realize where she was, and what was happening, but once she did a large smile came around Persephone's face. There she was, standing on the bow of a large ship. She could feel the cool breath blow her hair around and the fresh sea splash on her cheeks. Persephone let out a giggle of delight. "I'm on a large ship, sailing in the middle of the sea. The sea itself seems almost perfect for sailing, some light waves but the wind is pushing us to where we want to go. And the sun is so warmth but the wind cools me down." In her dream like state, Persephone turned and looked out to the ship. "The ship is filled with men though, not a single woman in sight. It looks like... a war ship maybe? But it's filled with such pleasure and happiness. Some of the men are working, ensuring the boat is fine. But the others are all laughing, enjoying themselves as they play and drink." She looked down at herself for a moment, letting out a small gasp of surprise. "Oh! This body is not my own. I am dressed as if I am the general? Yes, I believe so at least." Persephone started to walk down the ship, watching the men, listening, seeing what she could. "All the men give me great respect. And many of them speak of going back home, pleased that we won the war."

Persephone felt so immersed in the dream, though she could feel Hades hand wrapped around her own. And as she spoke, she could feel her lips moving too. However, she was not quite sure that he was truly hearing what she was saying.

---

Apollo had originally wanted to talk about helping for the search for Persephone, and offering Despoena help now that she had gotten kicked out of her own home. Obviously, he could not offer his own considering the rumors that would go flying, but Apollo could always help in different ways. But when she mentioned the possibility of Hades being behind Persephone's kidnapping, he went dead silent. It was dangerous to even think such a thing, much less make that suggestion. And if this were to be a serious inquiry, if they were to really look into it...well this could certainly cause trouble.

The three bothers needed to be treated with the utmost respect. After all, the three controlled their own realms. All of them were incredibly powerful. It was dangerous to fight them. In fact it was dangerous to even question their honor and their intentions. Since doing so could allow them to feel the need to fight for their name and honor. But Hades. Hades was quite different from Zeus and Poseidon. It was hard to determine what that God would do. And for that reason, he was frightening. If it turned out that they were incorrect, but Hades found out, then they could accidentally start a fight with the God. But if it turned out they were right, that Hades had taken Persephone, well that could start a war. Demeter would have more than enough reason to fight for her daughter back, and the other Gods and Goddesses may be forced to join and pick sides. Demeter would demand it, and Hades might too.

"Despoena..." Apollo said hesitantly and quietly. "To answer your question...I suppose it is a possibility. I know Hades has shown some interest in Persephone before. And he would be powerful enough to do it. He would have had the means too. However, despite the interest he has shown, I am not sure it is enough for Hades to do something so drastic. He would be aware of the conflict this would cause, maybe even with Zeus. Also, as far as I am aware, he has never even so much as met Persephone. So why would he kidnap someone, potentially cause serious conflict, when he has never met her?"

@ BearGirl
ades loved the way her face lit up as the colors of the tree danced across her face. Her fingers laced with his made him smile and he felt fortunate that she could not see how he was looking at her. While he wanted to let his interest known, but he did not want to seem desperate or overly engaged. In fact, he wanted to give Persephone an accurate depiction of what her life would be like if she were to chose him. The truth is, he would not always be available and he would practically require her to be self-sufficient, which he hoped she could handle. He did not have the time to watch over her the way that her mother and sister did. Although, they clearly weren’t the best guardians. He smirked a little bit at this when Persephone’s fingers clenched onto his and she began to explain her dream.

Her dream was truly fascinating since the Tree conformed to the whims and deepest wishes of the one who touched them. Hades was not assuming that Persephone wanted to be a general or a human or to be a Goddess of War, surely that would not fit her. What Hades believed though, what the Tree was telling her, was that she desired power. He smirked again at another pellet of knowledge he should store away about Persephone. Granted, this is not a far off guess based on her life, but Hades enjoyed how it manifested. “Interesting Persephone. What about this dream do you like?” He asked, taking a step closer so their joined hands rested against his chest. “When you’re ready, you should let go and try another one.”

---

Despoena stood next to Apollo and their figures were stagnant in the field full of blowing flowers. The wind picked up and swirled Despeona’s hair around her face, but nevertheless, she stood still. She was frightened over her own words and thoughts that were made in utter desperation. She moved only her eyes to look at Apollo from her peripherals and even he looked frozen by her accusation. She wondered if they would hear her and it was clear Apollo felt the same way as he lowered his voice to respond to her. She turned to Apollo, wrapping her hands around his forearm. She was frightened of the entire situation and of herself for thinking so carelessly.

“I don’t know. Why does a God do anything?” She asked. She thought of only one answer, the answer for them all: desire. All the Gods had desires and for the most part, they were not really that good at controlling them. They pretended, but what a God wanted, they usually got. Hades wanted Persephone just as Apollo did. Persephone wanted freedom. Despoena wanted - well, she was not sure anymore. For now, she wanted to find her sister. Desire was a funny thing and it was ruling them all.

@ chandelier-stars

Just as Hades' suggested, Persephone let go of the leaf. Immediately she was snapped back to reality. It felt a bit jolting, being shoved from dream state to reality. She took a slight step back before looking to Hades, her hand wrapping around his tighter. Though when she did look back at him, Persephone started to answer. "There was a lot I liked about it. Being on the sea, the beautiful day, the feeling that the men had on board. Everyone was just so ecstatic, and the way they looked and talked to me, it was good. Not being myself, being the general instead. It was odd, but I also liked it, a lot actually."

Persephone then moved back towards the tree, taking another leaf and being sucked in again. This time she was plopped down towards on the edge of a field of flowers, looking up at a temple in the Olympus realm. From just a look at it, Persephone could tell that it was her home. Just hers. Not the one that she shared with Demeter, but truly her own. In the dream, she moved into the temple, looking around curiously. Everything about it just felt right, the design, the warmth, the flowers everywhere. The temple somehow felt like a loving place to be. But the rooms, they were huge, so open. And there seemed to be no presence of another person living there, which- for some reason, was so satisfying. No one to watch over her, tell her what to do. Persephone was able to come and go as she pleased. Though as she got closer to her room, Persephone noticed the flower petals laying on the floor towards it. Definitely, not of her own doing, but of...a lover? Yes, that was it. Somehow she could just feel what it was, what he was like. Someone who loved her, but was not in control of her. Someone who just let her be her and free. Persephone walked up to the door. Her hand was the door knob for a moment before letting go. No, she didn't want to know who he was or what he looked like. All she wanted was the feeling that whoever it may be gave her. The feeling of love without control. Something Persephone was not sure she could ever get, from anyone. Both her dream self and her real self took a few steps back. As her fingers slipped away from the leaf, her back pressed against Hades' and she was brought back to reality.

---

As Despoena wrapped her hand around his arm, Apollo immediately moved to lay his hand gently against her back, pulling her in slightly. He could tell that she was scared if this was the truth, and Apollo was too. Following down that road would be dangerous, despite if it was true or not. So while Despoena may not appreciate Apollo pulling her closer, but he wanted it for now. Staying closer together meant that they were allowed to be quieter about this. And it was a bit comforting. Even if she did end up scolding him for it.

"You are right. Gods do what they want, without thinking much of the consequences...and i suppose that Hades would be the same way. So he might have taken Persephone." Apollo pressed his lips together tightly for a moment. It was true that this was entirely believable. But Apollo didn't want it to be true for many reasons. One of them being if Hades did take Persephone, it meant that any chance he had with the young Goddess was gone. Apollo could not fight against anything that Hades decided to claim. He may act foolishly about his feelings often, but Apollo was not stupid. "But if that is the case, we will need to act carefully Despoena. We cannot let anyone know that we believe this. If you want to try and figure out if this is the truth, we will need to keep our thoughts to ourselves, and act like we don't think that. If we make a move that even suggests that we think Hades is involved, we could get in serious trouble." Apollo let out a sigh. He hoped there was a quick and easy way to find out if Hades was the culprit. Something they could do that wasn't suspicious.

@ BearGirl
Hades again observed her as she was wrapped in a fantasy, but this fantasy must be far more personal for Persephone did not speak. She did not share what was happening, but instead got both a sad and mystical look on her face. Hades was left only to wonder what a face like that could even mean. It was clear he knew very little about Persephone especially since he was usually so good at reading people. Hades glanced up at the tree, wondering what would appear if he were to touch the leaves. He never indulged in this kind of fantasy, mainly because he felt as if he would never return to reality. Not that his job was no unpleasant, but he never had time to do anything but work. The other Gods frolicked around the world and Olympus as if nothing else mattered while Hades worked incredibly hard. He tried not to be too upset about this and he knew Zeus recognized him; that is why he allowed Hades to take Persephone. Either way, he kept his hand tightly on Persephone in case she felt that fantasy was better than reality. Sometimes fantasy was better than reality, even for a God. He let his finger run against hers as she seemed to be completely immersed in her fantasy world.

“What do you think?” Hades asked, his mouth resting right by Persephone’s ear. “Do you like what you see?”

---

Despeona bit her lip, knowing that Apollo was right. They had to tread lightly if they were to challenge one of the brothers. She was not sure exactly where to go from here or what steps to take. She was lost almost as lost as Persephone if not more. At least Persephone was safe, this much had to be true, but Despoena was not. If she did not act (and quickly) Demeter wrath would crash down upon her and she was not prepared for that. Surely wherever Persephone was, even if she was with Hades, she would be safe. Persephone was lovely and fragile. No one could possibly hurt her. It would be like hurting a child. It made no sense. Despoena, however, was not a child and if she were to be punished, it was to be far more severe than exile.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, Apollo. I’m terrified,” she said, dropping her voice and her eyes. She could not bare to look at him. He was a better God than she. He was prepared and in control. He was able to balance whim with logic. He deserved his power, but Despoena was not sure that she deserved hers. She could not use it to its fullest intent. Instead, she was making wild accusations (even though they felt very real to her) and she was fumbling along in a field of half dead flowers. She needed a little guidance, but who was going to offer that to her now? Her mother would not see her and Zeus was never helpful to anyone besides, well, Zeus. Apollo was only a few hundred years older than Despoena and she was already feeling like a burden.

She stepped back, dropping her hands, “I am so sorry to involve you. You should leave me."

@ chandelier-stars

As Persephone was slowly brought back to reality, she looked up at the tree, wishing to go back into the dream she had just been in. Though, she also was scared of what else the leaves may show her. It was clear that they allowed participants to see just a glimpse of what they wanted. And as intriguing as it was, as much as Persephone was sure she could happily partake in the fantasies for hours, she knew to be wary of doing so too. It was too easy to point out the miseries that came from God's partaking in their desires. And as much Persephone wanted what the tree showed her, she was unsure it was something she could ever truly get.

"I did like what the tress showed me, quite a bit actually. Maybe more than I should have." Persephone whispered back to him, being honest with him. She then slowly allowed herself a moment to lean against Hades as he whispered in her ear. Giving her a moment to think the three and what she had seen through. "But the tree, it shows you want you most desire, doesn't it? And if that is the case, it seems dangerous. Enough so that people wouldn't be so willing to leave the dream." Persephone turned her head, looking up at him. "What do you see?" After sharing the first dream with him, she hoped that it would be enough for Hades to tell her one of his.

---

Apollo let his hands drop to his side once Despoena moved back. He assumed that with everything that was happening, maybe she needed a little space. But he was not going to just leave and let her deal with this on her own. "I am not going to leave you. And you shouldn't be sorry to involve me either. I want to help as much as I can. I want to find Persephone too." Apollo then took a step forward towards her, moving his hand to gently take hers. "And I want to help you too, Despoena, as much as I can. Despite the fact that you have always scolded me here and there, you have become my friend." He smiled at her warmly. It was odd to think of Despoena has his friend. Especially since she always kept Persephone away from him, told her to not give him the time of day, and she seemed to always scold him for things. But it was true. Since he had gone after Persephone, he was around Despoena a lot. And the last couple of days solidified that he actually liked having her around.

"Now, I think I have an idea..." Apollo told her before letting out a large breath of air. "Since Zeus and Demeter now know that Persephone is missing, and you're in charge of the mission to find her. We could go to Hades and ask if he would be willing to help us find her, even if it is for a little while. After all, it wouldn't be strange if you were to go to each God and Goddess to ask if they would be willing to help. I mean, it is a whole goddess missing, no clues to where she gone. And with it being spring, there would be pressure to find her quickly. By doing that, we could determine if anyone's reaction to her missing is odd. And as long as we did visit everyone, we could go down to the underworld and talk to Hades. Maybe even look around a bit."

@ BearGirl

Hades smirked, as Persephone leaned against him. At first, he thought it may be difficult to court Persephone, but he did not seem to be doing such a bad job. He may be older than her, but not in a noticeable way. It was nothing like the difference in ages for mortals. He let go of her hands and moved his up her arms. He was glad she enjoyed the tree. He wondered how long the vastness of the Underworld could entertain her. He was always entertained by the Underworld and if she was to then her choice to stay would be an easy one. He hoped this was not a momentary enticement with the Underworld, but rather the beginning to a lifelong obsession.

“I see nothing,” he responded, a smooth lie. “I have the things I want. False dreams are nothing to me. I do not fall into fallacies. I have to keep my head on straight. There are always souls that need help. I do not touch the tree. In truth, I fear it may show me what life would be like without the Underworld. Not sure I can handle that.”

---

Despoena looked up at Apollo, warily. He had a plan, but even Despoena did not feel like it was a foolproof plan. She has never been to the Underworld nor has she ever seen Hades. She wondered if it would be too obvious if Persephone’s sister came knocking on his door. She bit her lip. There had to be something else they can do. There had to be a better way or a God who would know something. She had to wonder, aside from Zeus, what God always seemed to know everything. She also had to wonder if Demeter was letting this rest solely on Despeona’s shoulders or if she too was searching the world for her daughter. There was no doubt that she must be searching. Demeter was not one to not take action which only made Despoena even more nervous and upset.

She had to think and move quickly, but she felt frozen in place. If she stayed in this place, maybe Persephone would just retune and all of this horror would be over. She had to hope that wherever her sister was, she was a having a considerably better time than Despoena. “I suppose we can, but where do we start? I don’t want - I can’t be in any more trouble than I already am,” she breathed, practically whispering.

@ chandelier-stars

Persephone eyebrows furrowed slightly and her head tilted a bit as Hades spoke. The first half of his response simply felt like a lie, but she could not confirm that it was. After all, if Hades truly had everything he wanted, why would he ever kidnap her? Or did Hades mean that he besides that one thing, there was nothing else for him to desire. Though either way, Persephone also did not believe that anyone could be completely satisfied. Everyone had desires, especially the Gods who seemed to completely run on them. But if he was telling the truth, Persephone felt like it must be nice not falling for false dreams. "It must be blissful, having everything that you could want. I wish that I could feel the way that you do." Persephone took a few steps away from Hades, moving out of arms reach. Despoena always warned her not to let any God too close, and she supposed that she should continue to follow her advice.

Persephone turned to look up at the elm tree again. It was hard not to look at it after the experience she had just had. And it was beautiful too. "Even if you were to see life without the underworld, I don't believe anyone would be better off. Maybe you, more time for yourself perhaps. But everyone else? No." Persephone turned her back to the tree and faced Hades. "Where would all of the souls go except to wander around the earth. They would terrify mortals. And become burdens to the other gods. And those who did great crimes in their lives would go unpunished. And the others who did great deeds would not be rewarded. Hades, the underworld is a necessary place. I know very little about this place, but everyone on Olympus knows we need it."

---

Thinking that Despoena needed it, Apollo slowly, but somewhat hesitantly moved closer to Despeona. He wrapped her into a hug, pulling her close to his body. It was hard to tell what she would appreciate when, but with the way she was whimpering, he thought she would want it. Apollo moved his hand into her hair, gently stroking her head as he other arm stayed around her was it firmly. "Somehow, everything is going to be okay. I am going to help you. Not only with this, but anything else that may happen, okay?"

He smiled down at her gently before looking out at the empty field in front of him. "Now, I know we won't be able to prove anything, but at least with this plan we can figure out if anything suspicious is happening. So, we can start off by speaking to all of the other Gods and Goddesses. See how they react and if they are willing to help in someway. And then, we will move onto Poseidon and Hades. It would make sense for us to visit them last anyways, since they are the most powerful. We won't need to visit Zeus since he was the one who told you to spearhead the search party. And, if we do visit everyone, Hades can't be too suspicious when we go to see him. Plus I know how to get in and through the underworld, so we will be fine." It wasn't often that the Gods went, but sometimes it was necessary.

@ BearGirl
Hades knew what was proper and what was not proper for a Goddess and standing in his arms was not exactly proper. It was pretty obvious as to why that was to Hades now. If she stood near him any longer, he would have been tempted to kiss her neck and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. It was probably best (and more formal and in control) for them both if she stepped away. Either way, Hades felt himself move closer as if asking her to stay near him a little longer. Her sweet and floral scent overcame his sense and even as she stepped away, he took a small breath in. He realized then how long it had been since he bed or even really came in contact with a woman; over 300 years. His last encounter was with a human and it was when he was a foolish God who did not understand the gravity of his position. It was the time when every God and Goddess looked down upon Hades instead of most revering him.

“Yes, I know we need it. I know better than anyone the importance of this place. That does not mean it doesn’t escape me that I do not get the same freedom that all the other Gods do,” he said, before frowning. “Most the other Gods.”

He had to clarify because he certainly had more freedom than Persephone. It felt insensitive to claim this to her, but it was the truth. The other Gods went to festivals and drank and partied. Hades had not had any fun for quite some time now. He frowned a little deeper. Perhaps he and Persephone were just different types of prisoners: him to his work and her to her mother. It may seem like freedom to her, but sometimes it felt like chains. Even now, he knew he had a meeting to go to, but he was encapsulated by her and her words. She was far more insightful than Hades originally gave her credit for (which was a relief).

---

Despoena could not remember the last time someone hugged her aside from Persephone. In fact, she was positive that a God or man has never hugged her. It felt foreign and strange. It was not nearly as soft as a hug from Persephone, but strong and secure. Despoena was used to being Persephone’s rock and so, it felt strange to have someone try to be this for her. She was not used to someone else offering her comfort. Even Persephone did not offer her true comfort, but just comfort for the problems that she could talk about. Despeona’s job was the other half of the problem: it was all a secret. She stepped back from Apollo’s arm and looked up to smile at him and wipe her tears.

“Well, sounds like you should take the lead today until I can get my bearings," she said, even if it did make her cringe a little.

@ chandelier-stars

Persephone had noticed Hades' body lean closer to her as she stepped away. While this was the norm for her, Despoena had always warned her about letting guys too close. There were obvious reasons, but Persephone never felt the need to worry. After all, she was never alone with them long enough for anything to really happen. Though, since she had a summer with Hades, Persephone knew she needed to be a bit more careful about making sure not to string him along if she decided that nothing should happen. But she still had time to decide if she wanted to move forward with him.

At Hades' words, Persephone gave him a small, somewhat sad smile. She wished that Hades had not felt the need to add that acknowledgement at the end. However, it was also was somewhat soothing to know that Hades was aware of her own issues, and that he in some way he might understand. "Well it does feel quite unfair at times, doesn't it? That you don't get to do what you want, when you want as you wish like the others." Persephone let out a small sigh before giving him a true gentle smile. "But we both have chances to be more free, like the others. And there are at least clear ways on how to get there, I suppose. For me, I will need to marry someone who is willing to give me what I want. I will never be allowed freedom without it. But for you, you'll just need to find someone will to share your burden, right? If someone capable who is willing to split the work with you, doesn't that mean you'll have more time to do as you desire like the others?"

Persephone knew this was the reasoning that Hades had as to why they should get married. But there were concerns to agreeing to the arrangement, or really an arrangement with anyone. Persephone ultimately wanted to love who she married, or at the least be happy with who she partnered with. And she needed to ensure they will really give her the freedom she wanted. Persephone wanted love without control, but she wasn't sure if it was possible for her.

---

Apollo allowed Despoena to move out of his arms, even though he wanted to hold onto her longer. He needed to respect her decisions, whatever they may be. Besides, Apollo did respect Despoena as a Goddess. It was just hard to believe that what she did was always what she truly wanted. But it was hard to tell with her. She was always such a mystery and almost unreadable.

"Well I suppose that I can take the reigns today.' Apollo said with a chuckle before taking a step back away from her. "And at least I already have a plan that will take up the whole day. So no time will be lost and we might actually find quite a bit of help for the search, right?" He then shook his arms out a bit before offering his hand to Despoena. "Alright, lets start transporting. I think Persephone's suitors will be the best few to go through since they were the most likely to take her. Plus, they would be the most willing to help us find her." He then let out a hum. Once Despoena took his hand, Apollo transported them to Dionysus first. He would need time to start planning out some ridiculous way to help anyways.

Once they were outside of Dinoysus' house, Apollo knocked on the door before starting to walk in. "Dinoysus!" He called out as they went through the temple.

@ BearGirl
Hades raised a brow at Persephone’s words. He was unsure if there was ever going to be someone who would wish to share his burden. He already shared many of the tasks that were required to take care of human souls with other Gods and creatures. In truth, he almost did not wish this job on another because it became completely consuming. It became all one could think of and all one can understand. In fact, sometimes Olympus made no sense to him. Other Gods also had jobs to do, so how did they get away with gallivanting around? Hades was not sure which caused his frown to deepen. Unfair.

“One can only hope,” he said. Yes, perhaps it was unfair for them both, but what could they really do to change their situations? Persephone could marry and Hades could find someone and maybe they would find each other, but would that really change anything? Nothing is a guarantee in their lives. Nothing is for sure. Not even death for a God was a sure thing for the Gods would simply rise again. If Hades were to die, someone else would take his place. No role is left empty, no task undone (aside from the gallivanting). Hades lifted his hand gingerly to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. Then, he offered her arm so they can begin walking back to his temple in the middle of all this mess.

“Well, I have a meeting to attend. You are welcome to come or I can leave you well, wherever you would like to go,” Hades said. He cleared his throat as if to clear the subject and to shift the mood.
The meeting would surely be boring to her. It was just talking. Most of the problems in the Underworld were simply handled with a meeting. It was far less messy than the way the Gods in Olympus handled conflict; violence. Hades did not like to exert any unneeded or extra energy. There just was not enough time in the day for him to settle his problems with violence. He was too intelligent to not use his brain and his words to fix things.

---

Despeona smiled at Apollo, appreciating his optimism and his desire to help her. She was not so daft not to realize that there was probably some selfish motivation. Despoena appreciated his friendship in this moment, but also knew that the reward for this could very well be Persephone’s hand. If Apollo was not thinking this way, it would surprise Despoena. She would like to believe that Apollo was helping her out of the kindness of his heart, but that was hard to believe in the world that they lived in. He wanted to find Persephone as much as Despoena did. Well, maybe not as much. He did not having a sword hanging over his head. At least, not yet. She truly hoped that him helping her would not make him a target for Demeter as well. Then again, if he needed to save himself, he could deny any sort of friendship he felt for Despoena and that would not surprise her either.

Either way, his plan seemed a little remnant of what they did yesterday. They sought out Persephone suitors already though under a different pretense. Honesty of the situation may be the best move, especially now that Demeter and Zeus knew that Persephone were missing. She took his hand, even if she felt apprehensive about repeating their steps from yesterday almost exactly. She tried to push the negativity out of her mind and follow Apollo's lead. This was difficult for her and while she would like to pretend she could lead the way, she had no plan. Even if it was redundant to revisit Persephone's suitors, it was better than where she was at right now. How much longer could she stare at a field of flowers? She had to move or Demeter would certainly kill her. She had to showcase that she was doing her best to find Persephone.

She followed Apollo’s steps into Dionysus’ home, surprised by the cleanliness after the party. She hoped her face was not too ready or blotchy from crying. She needed to look in control. She wanted to look like a boulder in the middle of storm, unfazed by the whirlwind. With Apollo taking the lead, the last thing she wanted was to look emotional and distraught in front of other Gods. She wanted to look like equals. So, she did her best to look calm as they finally found Dionysus. He was draped over the couch, popping grapes into his mouth haphazardly. He perked up at the sound of Apollo’s voice and swung his legs around to sit upright. “Despoena. Apollo. What a lovely surprise. Two days in a row,” he said, his voice trailing off in the end. He was questioning them which was to be expected. Even Gods like Dionysus were not stupid.

@ chandelier-stars

As Hades offered his arm, Persephone slipped her hand in it and started to follow him back to the temple. She was glad for the shift in subject, especially since there was not much more Persephone was willing to say on the subject. It was clear that both of them were hurting in their different ways. And while there was a way for them to both fix their problems, Persephone was not ready to commit to that, and she didn't think Hades was quite ready either. She had her own reasons for that, of course. But Persephone would be surprised if Hades just allowed anyone to assist him with the Underworld. Surely, he would look for someone capable of that. And Persephone wasn't sure she was, so how could he? Though he had an unfair advantage in that area, Persephone did not know what his job entailed fully.

"Well I really want to go back to the gardens, but what is the meeting about?" Persephone asked him. Though, to be honest, it was unlikely that Persephone would go, unless it was going to be particularly interesting. It wasn't that she minded meetings, and she was sure that it would give her more intel into the Underworld. But at this particular moment, Persephone wanted to learn more about the Underworld's plant life. She wanted to know how much she could control it, what her powers would do to the souls inside, and- if just maybe- the souls themselves could give her a different ability than what she was used to. So unless it was something particularly interesting, she wouldn't go. Besides, there were sure to be more meetings that she would be allowed to attend.

---

Apollo walked up to Dinoysus once they were acknowledged by him. Unlike yesterday, he had quite a serious look on his face and while he did not look at her, he was sure that Despoena's own face matched his. "I suppose it would be a surprise but unfortunately, our visit is not one that I would consider lovely. Unfortunately, Persephone has gone missing for a little over 24 hours now and-"

Dinoysus furrowed his brows and opened his mouth, getting ready to speak. However, Apollo was quick to stop him by answering, what he assumed was his question. "Despoena didn't say anything yesterday due to Demeter being gone. She thought it best to tell Demeter and Zeus first, which I am sure that you can understand due to Demeter's...protective nature over Persephone."

With that, Dinoysus closed his mouth once again and leaned back into his seat. "And what does Persephone's disappearance have to do with me, exactly?" He asked, his eyes narrowing a bit. It seemed only logical that they were here to suspect him of stealing her. No God liked being challenged in that way...even if he had happened in the past.

"We are just going around, asking Gods and Goddesses to assist in any way they would be willing to find her." Apollo informed him and Dinoysus seemed to lighten up immediately, feeling more calm that he was not to blame. "Zeus has placed Despoena in charge of spearheading the mission to find her. And with it being Spring, she needs to be found immediately. However, with the way that she has disappeared, it is quite unusual. There was no indication of another presence nearby. And she seemed to have vanished in just moments." Apollo then turned to Despoena and nodded to her, wanting her to speak now.

@ BearGirl
Hades smiled down at her as they walked, a little slowly because Hades wanted more time and also he did not exactly want to go to this meeting. It was a policy change that was surely never going to happen and they had this argument nearly every year. He was sure that Persephone would be surprised at how the Underworld was actually ruled, by policies and laws rather than violence and vengeance. It was not an evil place, but rather a place of logic. When emotions and death and grief all live together, it is almost required that there be logic otherwise this place would, in fact, be devoid of reason. This was a lesson Hades learned long ago when he first started his job, but it slowly became more complicated as more players came into the picture and new beings came into existence. Thus, this type of rule began.

“It’s in regards to the judgement process. Are you familiar with it?” Hades asked, though he was sure that she was not. Most of Olympus assumed that Hades was the one who decided where each soul went, but long ago, he delegated that a long time ago. Sure, he could break the tie and decide the rules on who gets to go where, but filtering through every soul became tedious and boring. Plus, it was hard. He liked to discussion and so, Rhadamanthus, Minos and Beaus came into the picture.

---

Despeona frowned as Apollo spoke and even more so when Dionysus lost his familiar warmth and charm. Aside from this morning with her mother, Despoena never challenged other Gods so directly. Did she push them? Yes. Bait them? Perhaps. Did she challenge their superior thinking of themselves? Always. But, to challenge a God in a crime. Well, that was completely different. While they were asking for help, in some ways, it was a challenge. It was an examination of behavior. They could not lie to her, though, not really. If there is one thing a Goddess of Mystery can do, it is to detect a lie.

She glanced at Apollo before clearing her throat, “Yes, well. We were in the Springs near Rome and she went around a corner and she was gone. I..” she stopped, taking a breath. "Have you perhaps seen or heard anything about it? I can’t imagine Persephone running off without an explanation. It’s really unlike her."

@ chandelier-stars

"Oh, no I am not familiar with the judgement process. Well at least not most of it. I understand that souls are judged here and how their lives and actions may determine where they go." Persephone looked back for a moment, at the underworld and the different sections she could see. It was a bit odd that each section was so clearly defined, and some seemed more pleasant than others. Though that was how it was meant to work. Good souls, heroes, criminals, normals ect. all had to be placed in different areas. It would not be right for pure soul to be stuck in eternity with those who deserved damnation and pain.

Her eyes then wandered back to the garden that Hades had brought her to the day before. She could certainly feel it calling out to her. And Persephone did want to work more with her skills now that she had the chance. So she turned her attention back to Hades. "I would like to learn more at some point, and maybe join a meeting to listen in, though for now, I am really interested in heading out to the gardens."

Once they have gotten closer to the gardens, Persephone slowly let go of Hades and peeled away from him. "Have a good meeting. I will talk to you later." She smiled up at her brightly before turning and heading towards the gate that lead into the palace gardens. Once she had more of an idea of the flowers, she should be able to practice growing them wherever she was.

---

Dionysus' expression started to calm as the two explained what they were trying to do. Of course, it was still suspicious. Though not so much that Dionysus was angered. Plus, if Persephone was truly lost in unusual circumstances, it made sense that they were going to allies that would be interested in finding her. And Dionysus was very interested in finding her. He lifted himself up, standing onto his feet.

"I have no heard anything, unfortunately. I did not know anything about this until you come in." Dionysus snapped his fingers and a glass of wine appeared in his hand. "Though, I do wish to help you, Despoena. I will keep my eyes and ears open during your search. I will look myself. And I will ask my followers to do the same. Surely, the goddess can not stay hidden for long."

Apollo smiled softly, glad that the god had calmed down and agreed to help them. "Thank you for your assistance, Dionysus. We will remember your kindness." He then turned to Despoena, smiling before heading out of the temple. "Onto the next person then."

(For Apollo and Despoena, should we skip to when they go down to talk to Hades?)

@ BearGirl
Hades nodded for her knowledge on the Underworld was exactly what he expected it to be, limited. He could not fault her for this. It was the people that surrounded her and shielded her from the world that allowed this to happen. What a shame, he thought. That someone so brilliant and bright was so limited. Did she know of the problems of the world? Of the Gods? Or did she only know what she was told? He looked down upon her with a mild sense of curiosity and, well, pity. There was so much more that she should know. While he wanted her to learn about the judgement, he also wanted her to learn of the gardens. So, he nodded and smiled.

“Of course,” he said, letting go of her hand as they arrived at the entrance of the gardens. “Well, here you are. I will have someone come fetch you later.” He said, offering a small smile before parting ways.

He enjoyed walking with Persephone, but it was far from necessary. He walked just out of sight, glancing behind to see if she disappeared into the gardens before he transported himself to the meeting room. There they all sat, bickering away. It took only a few moments of calm for him to settle the difference because it was a ridiculous argument. It was hard enough to get into Eredisa and he would not vote to make it harder. The meeting ended with an agreement and a promise for Hades to look into the rules a little more closely and call a meeting at a later date. After they left, he dived into the rules of judgement, moving through the scrolls of paper and sighing.

---

Despeona and Apollo seemed to travel along the path that they traveled yesterday. There was more urgency and more frenzy the more people they saw. There were so many people now, buzzing and talking and searching for her sister. While she felt comfort in knowing others were looking, her anxiety was heightened. Now that more people, they also knew of her incompetence. She tried to hold onto the hope that with all this Gods helping, her mother will realize that something bigger was at work here. Could all the Gods be so incompetent and so powerless that Persephone would be lost forever? No. She would either be found or her mother would have to realize that Despoena was not lacking as much as she thought.

Either way, Despoena was exhausted. She was tired. She was not even aware her feet could hurt, but they did. She looked at Apollo after they visited the last on their list. “Oh please,” she said, trotting quickly down the steps of Iris’ temple. “This is senseless. We should go to Hades now. We have to. It is all that is left,” she said.

She turned to Apollo, desperation in her eyes and begging him to see her point of view. Yes, it was dangerous. Yes, it was foolish to accuse a brother, but how could they not? Who else could it possibly be? Despoena was nervous, but she was not devoid of reason. This reason was what pointed Despoena to Hades and if Apollo was too fearful to see her reason, she would go alone. She had no qualms in going alone to see the God of the Underworld. It might be reckless, but what did she have to lose? At this point, nothing. She would go if Apollo refused.

@ chandelier-stars
(I am not going to make a post for Persephone. She is just going to be messing with the flowers in the gardens and I don't necessarily have a lot to say about possible powers with that at the moment.)

Apollo summoned his list, which appeared in his hands. He looked down at the names, seeing that all of them were crossed out but one, Hades. Letting out a sigh, the list disappeared from his hands. While he was afraid to head down into Hades domain, it was something that Despoena had to do, and Apollo had no intentions of allowing her to go alone. Though, he was right to be afraid. Being a brother, he had more power than the two of them had combined. Hades ruled his own domain, which they would be entering without an invitation. And while Hades had become more reasonable since the great wars between the brothers, one couldn't help but wonder what would make any of the brothers snap back into their vengeful selves. If Hades even got a whiff of any suspicion or blame being put their way, they both would be screwed.

"You are right. Hades is who we go to next." Apollo turned to Despoena. "I just hope that he takes it the same way Posiden did when saw him...Though I fear that will not be the case. Especially since we did not suspect Posiden of anything. Hades will probably sense the suspicion on us, so we must be careful. No word out of place, no strange questions, nothing of the sort. We simply ask him if he has seen or heard anything about Persephone, and ask if he would assist us in finding her. If we get a chance, we will look around but we will leave quickly after meeting him. At that point he will be watching us rather closely."

With that, Apollo transported both of them to the entrance of the underworld. He looked at the hole in the ground, seeing just the beginning of it. "We could transport to his temple immediately once we step in, but I am not sure that Hades would appreciate us barging in without some warning... Or we could walk through some of the underworld which would give him some warning of our presence before we get to the temple. Though he may not like us doing that either since we could be snooping around and without an invitation." He shook his head. It was sometimes difficult to figure out what the other Gods and Goddesses would want. "You will need to head this conversation, so it is your call."

@ BearGirl

[Since they're together, I'm going to blend the posts]

Despoena fidgeted a little, casting wary eyes to Apollo. She wanted to go to Hades, but it was impossible to not worry when doing so. He was right, there was no graceful way to go about this (and that coming from two Gods who were quite graceful). Either way, Hades could perceive their presence and questioning as insult. He could also, perhaps, perceive it as an olive branch. The God of the Underworld was so often feared and ostracized. Perhaps, if she phrased it just right, it would come off as something more of a plea for help. That was really the best thing she could do and the only plan that she really had. Despoena was usually much better at planning, but with her frantic state of mind and grief, she was losing some of her wits.

"Yes, well, I think straight to the temple will be fine," she said. "He's going to know we are there either way. May as well cut to the point, don't you think?" She said, grabbing onto Apollo's forearm and transporting them herself this time. If she was going to be in control for this, she had to take it from the beginning.

They landed on the steps on Hades temple and Despoena opened her eyes. They had not been blasted away or taken captive yet. They were just outside the steps of the main entrance. In truth, she was surprised they landed so precisely. Despoena was only guessing; she had never seen Hades' temple before. She looked at Apollo, offering him a small smile before walking up the steps. Hades, she was sure, already felt them landing and if (a big if) Persephone was here, maybe she would feel her sister too. Even still, Despoena hoped the rumors were true and that Hades was desperate to seem more powerful than his brothers because that was the plan that she was going with.

"Just follow my lead. Be mysterious. Don't let him read your face. Can you do that?" She asked, a nervous expression in eyes lasting for just a moment. Apollo was all things that were good, but she was all things that the world did not get to see. "If you can't, you best just stay here," she said, taking a few hurried steps.

Hades felt a wave in the forces of the Undeworld; two spots of light. They should only really be two spots of light that shine so brilliantly here (his and Persephone's) and so, he wondered who would come to visit him. He frowned, for a moment, concerned and worried that someone came for Persephone. If they did, they would certainly lose the battle, but Hades could not kill them. If he did, it would certainly call attention to his misconduct and make Persephone's limited affection disappear. He lifted himself from his chair, walking through the corridors to the main room. He was curious, a little nervous, but more than anything else, excited.

Despeona walked up the steps assuming that Apollo was following at her heels; he certainly would not actually stay back for that would be disrespectful. She just had to hope he could keep himself under control, even she had not done that much lately. This was different than their other trips. This was actually dangerous. When they entered, Hades was already waiting, his hands outstretched. "Apollo. Despoena. What a surprise," he said, flicking his tongue a little. He looked them up and down and while Despoena looked upset and Apollo a little nervous, their energy seemed fine and composed for the most part. "Can I help you?"

"Yes," Despoena said, confidently and cooly. "It is actually very sad circumstances that bring us here -," she said and Hades chuckled.

"Sad circumstances always bring people here," he responded, folding his arms over his chest. Hades was frustrated as he could not get a read on Despoena. He was not all-knowing, but his years of life helped me to gauge people. Despoena, like her name suggested, seemed to be a mystery. This was no surprised and yet, completely confusing. He raised a brow, tilted his head as if to take in more of her. Yet, nothing more came except her words.

"Yes, well. My sister, Persephone, seems to be missing. My mother, Apollo and I searched the skies and we have spoken to both your brothers. Neither seemed to be able to help us, so we came here. We thought, perhaps, you would be able to help where the others could not," she said. Her words were like caresses and pleas all at once, stroking Hades' ego but also causing a sense of panic deep within. Did she know? He could not tell. She was a glass door, reflecting his own demeanor. He flicked his eyes to Apollo, a weaker link. He was no Goddess of Mystery. Surely he would shrink under Hades' gaze. At the same time, silently and desperately, Despoena called for her sister hoping Hades would not sense this too.

"Is that so, Apollo?" Hades asked, a smirk twisting his features.

@ chandelier-stars
When Despoena first headed off, Apollo was quick to follow behind her. He was uncertain if he would be able to keep a clear face that Despoena had asked of him. Though either way, he could not stay at the front of the temple. To come down to the Underworld but then to not see Hades would be beyond suspicious, and inappropriate.

Once they got to Hades, Apollo stood slightly behind Despoena and to the side of her. It was an appropriate place for him. Since Despoena was leading, it was her duty to speak to Hades, not his. Plus it was her sister. So, since he was merely helping, Apollo would not be expected to speak much on the issue. Most of Hades questions should be focused on her. Luckily, Despoena was the Goddess of Mystery. She was able to hide her face, her feelings, her truths and her lies. Apollo was not that way. He was very much a God of feeling, through poetry and through music.

When Hades turned to Apollo, he looked up at the God. He was sure that Hades could smell the stank of nervousness on him. But, Apollo suppose he always seemed nervous when coming down to the underworld. Though this was the first time that he was coming down and he had suspected Hades of something...This was not a good combination for him. But at least, there was some easiness to the question. "Yes, that is true." Apollo told him. "Persephone is missing and we have no idea on where she had been taken. We, and some of the other Gods and Goddesses have been searching for her. But it appears it is not enough." He said, looking to Apollo. His words were true and he kept his face as blank as he could. Though if Hades asked if they suspected him, then Apollo would be screwed. He could not think of a way to twist his words in a way that would not set Hades off. Apollo was not good enough to hide his lies from the God of Death, for it was unusual for Apollo to try and hide his thoughts and feelings.

Apollo then looked to Despoena for a moment before looking to Hades. "We are looking for help that only one of three brothers can provide. Though the other two have not been willing to provide this due to their own reasons."

---

Persephone laid on the grass in the garden, looking down intently at a group of flowers that she had been working on. Unlike the flowers in Olympus and on earth, Persephone had been running into issues with the flowers of underworld. While she had gotten the look down, it was not the same. She was beginning to wonder if it was simply the fact that she was missing the soul. And would she be able to add that into her own creatures? The flowers with souls had a different feel to them, different abilities and, Persephone hoped, new powers for her. But she could not use the soul filled flowers to practice without knowing and understanding them first. After all, these were filled with innocent children. Persephone did not wish to twist and harm them. Somehow she needed to find a way to work with them, but in order to do that, she believed she needed to be able to replicate it first.

As she continued to do this, wrinkling her nose at the failed attempts, Persephone suddenly felt something- no, someone calling out to her. But it was faint, making it hard to tell who it was. Sitting up, Persephone closed her eyes and focused on it, but still she could not tell who it was. The call was so quiet, so weak, almost unnoticeable. Why call out so softly and who? Surely, it was not Hades. Persephone twisted her head a bit, her fingers digging into the ground. No it was certainly not him. Someone else for sure.

Persephone let out a small sigh before pushing herself onto her feet. It could be dangerous to reach back spiritually, especially if she was unsure of who it was. That could be inviting trouble, especially in a world filled with monstrous souls. But could souls even call out? She was unsure, but it did seem likely. With their bodies gone, humans had less limits. But she wished to know who or what was calling out to her. And the best way to do that was to find who it was. Persephone dusted herself off and started to make her way. With the faintness of it, Persephone was not positive where it was. Though she could feel the general direction.

@ BearGirl
Despoena was nervous as Apollo spoke and due to her proximity to him, she felt his energy spike and flutter like a nervous butterfly. Without even noticing, she stopped calling for her sister as she was so focused on Apollo. Though she wanted to reach out and calm him, she knew it was impossible. Instead, she did her very best to be a perfect image of both Hades and a distraught sister. She was anxious and let the feeling shine through her, but she was not questioning or accusatory; she was logical and detached. She looked at Apollo's face as he spoke and admired his confidence and quick wit. He was not lying and this strategy was absolutely brilliant. If they spoke in complete truth, how could Hades every suspect something from them? She let her eyes flicker back to Hades, whose hand now rested on his chin, before returning them to Apollo. It was all calm and polite for now.

Hades smiled at Apollo, walking over and clapping a hand on his back. "Oh come now, Apollo. You've got to loosen up a little bit. You've been listening to too many rumors up in the clouds. I, unlike my brothers, would be more than happy to assist you in your search for Persephone. Truly, it is a crime for someone to steal or hurt a Goddess," Hades said. His lies slipped so easily from his lips. Of course, this kind of deception was probably what got him his bad reputation, but could anyone really blame him? Olympus wanted a villain and they all believed his brothers could do no wrong. He hasn't done anything they wouldn't do and yet, he would always be shrouded in darkness Sometimes, it was not too bad to live and thrive in it.

Despoena sighed, trying to act relieved, but also remaining suspicious to her core. She grabbed Apollo's hand and smiled. "That's excellent. Thank you very much. It will be such a relief to my mother to know you are also on our side," she said. She considered crying, but thought that may be too much. Instead she settled on a smile of relief even though she felt nothing of the sort.

Hades turned and walked, gesturing for them to follow. He walked to his closest office, he was a very busy man after all so he had many. Radiating warmth and welcoming was his best beat at this point. Despoena, her hand clasping tightly around Apollo's to keep herself settled, followed after him. Their footsteps echoed on the marble floors and for a moment, Despoena felt a flicker of doubt. Perhaps she was wrong. Hades was taking them even further into the Underworld and maybe even closer to Persephone. She and Apollo were both considerably powerful. If she was here, would they not feel it? What if Hades was not the culprit? Was she desperate to find someone to cast the blame onto? She tried to swallow these feelings and put them deep inside her and, the more steps they took, the further from the truth she felt.

The door opened and he sat down in a chair behind a massive marble desk. He gestured to the chairs he materialized for them and smiled. "Now," he said, sounding almost puzzled. "I am truly shocked to hear Zeus does not want to help. He never does want to get his hands dirty. First things first, you should bring me something of Persephone's. Despite my many efforts, your mother has made it difficult for me to even get close enough to imagine her scent or image. In the mean time, I'll discuss with the Fates. See if Persephone's String of Life still shines. That way we know if she is still alive....," trailing into silence.

Despoena glanced around the office, seeing and feeling no sign of Persephone. She wanted to call out again, but they were closer to Hades now. He was also paying attention to both of them equally. He would know. She only hoped her call before was enough to send her sister running. Disgruntled and confused, she refocused on Hades. He had many suggestions and she nodded. "Of course, we can do that or I can," she said, wondering if Apollo could handle another trip to the Underworld full of lying, deceit and powerplays.

@ chandelier-stars

Apollo smiled at Hades as the God clapped onto his back. Relief moved through him instantly, glad that they had not been caught due to his own poor abilities at hiding. He followed Despoena and Hades deeper into the temple. As they did so, his eyes wandered. Hades' temple was always so interesting and the one that he was least familiar with. He would like to go through the whole place one day, but knew that he would probably never get the opportunity. Even to go into the gardens of the underworld would be a sight to see.

Though he also wanted to go searching for Persephone in here. While he couldn't sense her presence at all, that did not surprise him. Hades would be strong enough to mask a Goddess in his own realm. Zeus and Poseidon both were as well. But the way he was acting... It did feel as if though he was innocent, but there was a way with his words that concerned Apollo. That lead him to believe that the God was lying, but he couldn't be sure.

"Surely Persephone could not be dead?" Apollo said as he looked to Despoena and then back to Hades. "Only a God or Goddess could do that and there is no one that would wish to harm Persephone." Killing a Goddess in their own form was impossible. They would have to be turned mortal, which only the other God and Goddess knew how, but it was nearly impossible to do that. And the only Goddess that disliked Persephone was Aphrodite, but that was due to the attention Persephone received from her suitors.

Apollo then looked to Despoena, trying to feel out how she was doing. Surely, hearing that her sister could be dead would be upsetting. Plus he had noticed that she said she might come back down to the Underworld alone...Apollo knew that he was a bit of a liability, but he didn't want her coming down alone either. Even with how Hades was acting now, he still wanted to be there for her. But if Despoena really wanted to go alone, Apollo suppose that he couldn't stop her. "When should we come back?"

---

Persephone was walking into the temple, feeling the call from that direction. She was unsure if the call was from inside, by the temple or past it, but she at least understood where it was coming from. Would it even be possible to find who was calling for her? Should she? There were many dangerous things, dangerous souls who would only wish to harm. And if it was past the temple, that was land that Hades told her not to go without him. She let out a small sigh as she continued to walk in.

Though it seemed just as he feet pressed against the cool temple floor, the call stopped. Why would it just stop? Persephone knew that it was for her, she could at least feel that. Maybe she had been wrong...Maybe it was from Hades. Perhaps he had just wanted her to come in? Though what a strange way to request that...strange enough that it was very unlikely.

Letting out a small sigh, Persephone ran her fingers through her hair. Some of the flowers and petals fell off, landing at her feet. Though new ones quickly grew in. She waited for a few minutes, hoping that it would reach out again. But when it didn't Persephone shook her head and let out a sigh. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing to call out in that general direction. It would be general, so others may reach out. But at least she would be able to tell new ones apart from the old call. Persephone lightly called out in the direction of the call. Though as she did so, Persephone ensured to make it light, so that whatever soul felt her wouldn't be able to find her. She didn't want every soul in the underworld she touched rushing at her.