The Maiden and the Mistress

@ BearGirl
Hades shifted his focus to Apollo as he spoke and he frowned. “Who’s to really say?” Hades said, gesturing his hades widely. “If we have no trace and no sense of her, could she not be mortal? Could she not be dead? You came to me because you were not sure what happened and you question me still?” he asked, arrogance and anger coating his words. He raised a brow.

Hades began shaking his head, leaning forward to rest his hands on the cool marble. “If you are so confident that no one wished to harm her, you were leaving out a part of the equation when you were searching for her. That, my friend, is how you ended up here, where not many souls come. You went into a search and mislead yourself and poor Despoena here. Foolish, foolish, foolish. Apollo, is the art and music and beauty of the world so blinding that you do not see the dirty and dark? The mysteries?” He said, flicking his eyes to Despoena, who felt herself sinking a little into her chair.

Despoena painted her face as distraught, but in truth, she knew her sister was not dead. She was positive, even if Hades alluded to this kind of confidence being misleading, that her sister was not dead. She would feel it. They were interconnected. Each piece of their soul found comfort and balance in a piece of the others. She would surely feel herself become hollow; a half of who she was. No, she rejected the idea of Persephone being dead, even if that made her foolish. However, in order to preserve her relationship with Hades, she faked concern.

“I suppose it’s possible, but, I would first like to bring you something of Persephone’s. I don’t want to assume that just yet,” she said, interrupting and silencing Apollo before he could respond, lest he say something foolish.

“Good,” Hades said, leaning back in his chair so it rest on two legs. “Come back tomorrow with it. Same time will do,” he said, waving his hand to indicate they should leave. It only took a few moments for Despoena and Apollo to walk out the door. As they did, Hades felt relief melt over him. He bought himself some time to figure out exactly what to do and how to hide Persephone better. It would be too harsh to say she was dead, though he would consider it. He tapped his fingers against his lips for now, at least, all he had was time.

Despeona felt, however, that she had no time left. Her steps clicked against the floor of Hades’ temple, but she was silent. They could not talk here. No, they’d have to go. Once on the steps, she grabbed Apollo’s hands and teleported them back to her own temple, her new home. She felt tired and as soon as they landed, she spoke. “Well, that was entirely confusing. You’ll have to go to my mother’s and get something of Persephone’s, if you don’t mind,” she said, quickly, sitting down on a couch in the middle of her foyer.

@ chandelier-stars
Persephone searched around and near the temple for an hour or so, trying to figure out where the signal had come from. And the more she searched, the more confused she continued to be. Even after she had sent out her own signal, there had been no response back. Not even from the other souls in the Underworld. And Persephone had been sure that she would at least hear back from them, if they were able. Had she been wrong? Maybe these underworld bound souls could not reach and be touched. Though if that was the case, who then?

She was sure that it was not Hades. For why would he do one so light and then not come see her? Though there were others here, those that worked for him. Did they even know she was here though? That, Persephone was not sure of either. The others Persephone had not met, but with how opened they walked around, how loud she had been when stuck in that room. Oh she doubted that they were not aware of her presence. Was it possible that one of them wished to speak to her?

Oh Persephone was not sure about anything. Who, how or why was all a mystery to her. So after an hour of searching or so, she decided to go to Hades. It seemed to be the best idea. He should be able to explain it. If it was a soul or someone else, Hades would know. And he would be able to tell her if it was dangerous or not. With all the dangers he warned her of, and the ones she was already aware of, Persephone preferred not to take her chances. Her only concern was that he would attempt to hide something, but he had, so far, seemed to be honest. And she was at a dead end.

It took her some time to find Hades' office, but once she did, Persephone knocked on it softly and then peered in. "Hades?" She said softly. "I hope I am not disrupting you, but I have a question. I promise it will only take a moment if you are busy."

---

When they landed back at Despoena's place, Apollo stayed where they originally landed. He watched as she walked over to her couch and sat down. Overall, he thought that their meeting had probably gone as well as they could hope for. They hadn't pissed the God of Death off - even though he had gotten close to doing so. Though, unfortunately, they did not find out whether or not Hades really had Persephone. But, in the least, if he did not, then they were going to receive assistance from a very powerful God.

Slowly, Apollo took a few steps closer to Despoena when she was done making her request. He nodded to her. "Yes, I can go get something from Demeter." He assured her quietly. With everything going on between the two Goddesses, it was best that they were kept separated from each other. At least until Persephone was back...hopefully that would make their relationship better. But it was hard to tell, especially with these two Goddesses. Demeter was quickly becoming an emotional monster that was hell bent in destroying everything in her way to find her daughter. And Despeona has always been impossible to read with that mysterious face of hers.It would be nice if Apollo was able to know what she was thinking and feeling...

"I will bring back the item for you tomorrow. I think, for now, that it is best if we both take a break and get some rest. It has a very long day, talking to every God and Goddess that there is. We can't be much help to your sister without rest." Apollo gave her a strained smile. "And I think that we have done rather well, at least in gaining more assistance. Though as for Hades..."

His smile dropped slowly and Apollo let out a small sigh. "Thank you for thinking quick on your feet when it came to Hades. I believe that I had made a large blunder there and you were able to fix it." Apollo cleared his throat a bit. "But even after our visit, I am not sure what to think of him. It is hard to tell if he knows anything about Persephone. What do you think?" Apollo felt the need to talk about it since that was a large reason as to why they spoke to everyone.

@ BearGirl
Hades glanced up to the door when Persephone’s shining face peeped through. His relief increased even if it was covering a layer of panic. She had been so close to seeing her sister or worse, her sister seeing her. Persephone agreed to stay here, but Despoena would do no such thing, especially if it meant catching Hades in the middle of a lie. Not that it would matter either way. Sure, Despoena would probably hate him and the truth would come out and Demeter would come barging to his door, but at the end of the day, Zeus knew about all of this. Zeus agreed to all of this and so, the biggest liar of them all was always Zeus. Hades felt reaffirmed in this and cleared his throat.

“Not busy at all. I was just going to come find you. Please, come in,” he said, gesturing to the seats in front of him. “Ask away, sweet girl. My mind is yours,” he said, with a smile.

This was, Hades decided, for the most part true. He would answer all her questions as much as he possibly could, without sacrificing his integrity as a God or as one of the Three Brothers. There was a sanctity between the brothers which protected them all for situations much like Persephone’s. However, he did not want to be like Persephone’s mother. He wanted to help her and teach her to the best of his ability.

---

Despoena watched as Apollo’s face shifted from his usually bright and mischievous smile to something far more forlorn. His smile was disingenuous. Was he hiding something from her? What could it possibly be? They have been together for so many hours and for days. He had, without her even noticing, become a source of comfort and solace in this madness. Still, in her stomach, his change of face made her nervous and doubtful.

She nodded, yawning. Her body needed rest. She had not slept well since Persephone disappeared and this search felt endless, like a circle. There was no beginning for her to search from and no end for her to find. Instead, her and Apollo were running around tirelessly, on the same loop. It had only been but a few days since Persephone disappeared and yet, it felt like a lifetime. She did feel tired, to the bone, and being tired was not a feeling that Gods usually felt. Sleep was not always necessary for them, but she found herself needing more and more of it. Yet, today she felt satisfied in herself. While Apollo took the lead for most of the day, when it came to Hades, her lack of energy did not ruin her at all. Instead, she saved them both.

When Apollo recognized this, Despoena felt instantly guilty for doubting his intentions just a moment ago. She sighed because as much as she needed rest, she was also so puzzled. “I don’t know what to think. He was very inviting which I found strange, but at the same time, something still feels wrong. Maybe we’ll find out more when we go back,” she said, with a sigh. “You are going to come with me, right? I’m not sure I can do this without you,” she said, in the best way she could mutter a thank you.

@ chandelier-stars

Persephone smiled softly, though there was clear confusion in her eyes. She walked the rest of the way into Hades' office and sat down in one of the chairs in front of him. There was an ease and grace to her movements. "It sounds like I caught you at the perfect time then." Persephone took a moment to look around the office, wanting to soak it in. To see what it was like and maybe continue to get a better understanding of Hades. Apparently, one way to know someone was to look at their belongings.

Her eyes then landed on Hades as her hands moved into her lap. A flower appeared in Persephone's hands as she started to slowly pick at the petals. She was nervous, curious and worried about the signal she had gotten. Persephone wanted to believe that it was a kind soul, but there was no way of her knowing that. She was worried that she had been searching for something that was best left alone.

"Well, something happened while I was in the gardens and I am rather curious, and maybe a bit worried, about it. I was just working with the flowers down here and I felt someone, or maybe something, reach out to me. I guess I am not positive, but it felt like a person or a soul in the least. But the signal they gave, while it was easy to tell that it was specially for me, it was so faint that I couldn't make out who or what it was. The call was there for a while and then just suddenly cut off. And I went looking for it, even sent out a faint call myself, but nothing." Persephone slowly tilted her head. "Is there anyone or, I suppose , anything that would be trying or would, connect to me here?"

---

Apollo was a little surprised when Despoena asked him to come back. After he had been so close to dashing away their chances, he had been afraid that she would ask him to stay. However, that was not the case and he was more than glad for it. Right now, his place was by Despoena's side. And it pleased him to know that she realized this too. "Yes, of course I will come back down with you. I want to help you in any way that I can."

"Though, for now, I believe the best way to do that is to head home myself so we both may get some rest." While Apollo spoke this, he did not move a muscle. Still, he stood in front of her, staring every so caringly for her. It was strange but after just these few days, Apollo was beginning to feel more than just care for Despoena. He was beginning to care more about her on a personal level than he had before. Maybe it was because they were both spending so much time together. Or perhaps it was seeing Despoena be herself, and helping her through all of it. But he was now more emotionally invested in her as a person rather than just Persephone's sister. She was slowly becoming a friend, and Apollo was pleased with that change.

"But before I do, I want to make sure you are alright. Or as okay as you can be during all of this. Things have been hectic and you've been through a lot. Now, please do not get me wrong. I understand that you are a strong, respectful Goddess. You do not need babying and that is not what I am trying to do. I ask because it is hard to read you and I want to ensure that you are okay." Apollo spoke.

@ BearGirl
Hades watched Persephone with a queen interest in what she was saying. He was surprised to find her here, looking for him. He rather expected he would do all the searching and pleading and yet, here she was. Sitting at his desk, fiddling with something on her lap and looking exceptionally nervous. He frowned for a moment because he worried that she might be nervous because of him. While he knew that feeling was warranted, he did not want her to feel nervous around him. He wanted and needed her to feel content.

However, as she spoke, his curiosity and worry switched to anger. How foolish was he to think that Despoena had nothing to hide? Of course she called out for her sister, of course. That was why Persephone sat in front of him, just moments away from having his entire plan foiled. “Hm,” he said, his voice a little flat. “Interesting.” He was trying to process and buy a little to figure out the best lie to give Persephone. He needed to calm his face and he took a deep breath.

“You are such a bright light in this Underworld. I think it would be quite natural for souls to call out to you. Tell me, what did the calling feel like?” He asked, raising a brow. He did not need her answer for he had no doubt it was her sister. How interesting tomorrow would be when Despoena came back with her white hat and look of fragility. Hades would make sure that she never returned to the Underworld; he did not like to be lied to.

---

Despoena admired how Apollo looked at this moment: a little worried, a little bit of a sparkle in his eye and a little bit of concern. It was curious how he lingered here, in her foyer. His feet did not seem like they were in any hurry to move, which was something Despoena only saw happen around Persephone. She tilted her head a bit, wondering what exactly he was thinking in this moment. She was tittering too. She was unsure if she wanted to ask him to stay or if he should go. She felt that familiar feeling of guilt for having a school girl crush on her sister’s suitor.

Despoena laughed, her first real laugh in what felt like years. “Why, Apollo. It seems I may have trained you well in regards to equality,” she said, giggling slightly. When she stopped laughing, she smiled up at him. “I think I’ll be alright, but you could always stay for a glass of wine, if you’d like. We can talk about something other than Persephone for a little while,” she said, doing her best to hide the heat that was surely flushing her cheeks.

@ chandelier-stars

Persephone's eyes stayed on Hades as he spoke, and immediately she started to calm down from his response. He didn't seem surprised at all by the news, and his words lead her to believe that this may be a normal event in the Underworld. Though the slight sternness to his face at the beginning worried her slightly. Even though that response was quickly replaced with another, it made Persephone fell as though she should be worried about what is calling out to her here. But there was really only one way to find out and that was through Hades.

Her eyes dropped down to the flower in her lap, spinning it around as she thought of how to best describe the call. Eventually, Persephone looked back up at Hades. "The call was very faint. It was hard to tell who it was or what it really wanted. I just know that it was calling out to me specifically... I guess, if anything, the voice was a little desperate?" She let out a small sigh.

"I guess it makes sense that, if I am a bright light, that I would get called out too. But I guess then I am confused as to why I only received one call or why it did not answer back when I called out to it?" Persephone set the flower down in her lap and she leaned towards Hades a bit. "And what should I do if I get these calls? I know some of the souls here are dangerous. And I wouldn't want to get into any trouble, but I am curious about the one that did call out." Her head tilted to the side a bit, as she waited for Hades to answer.

---

Apollo shook his head a bit at Despoena as he walked over to her. "I do not think I was the one who needed training in equality. It seems to me that you are more particular about how it is shown than anyone else." Apollo teased her. He moved to the couch with Despoena and sat down besides her. "But, even so, I would like to stay for a bit and have a drink. And to learn more about the Goddess of Mystery. That is, if the Goddess doesn't mind being less of a mystery to me. I know that's kinda your job title but I would like to know." He smiled sheepishly at her.

It would actually be nice to learn more about Despoena if she would allow to let him in. Though he was not sure that she would. While Apollo was quickly beginning to see her as a friend, it seemed unlikely that she would be willing to open up to him after a few days. There was hope, of course. There was always hope that she would indeed say yes, but still he doubted that she would. And if that was the case, he had a few ideas on what they could talk about. In the least, there was always Zeus and his many affairs that everyone enjoyed gossiping about.

@ BearGirl
Desperate. That was definitely the word that Hades would use for all of this. Despoena was desperate to find her sister, to blame Hades, to find the lie and the flaw in his plan. He kept his face soft, but his insides were boiling. If they came here, did they know? He assumed they must have some inkling, unless they were truly innocently looking. But, no. Despoena was desperate and if she called to her sister, she must have known. Could he fault them really? They were correct in their assumptions, even when Hades was so sure that his plan was flawless. He was angry for now the plan was in danger and then what would he do? He'd have to let Persephone go and he'd have to face Demeter. All of these options sounded horrible. He would have to turn the tables tomorrow. He would have to call their lies or make them afraid. He would have to do this lest he blow his cover after just a few days.

“That’s really quite curious. I wish I had an answer for you,” he said, calmly with a smile. “You have to understand that someone like you being here, in the Underworld, has never happened before. It is uncharted territory. I truly don’t know what would call to you this way. Ignore it for now and then maybe, together, we can investigate it. I don’t want to put you in danger, but I don’t want you to feel like you’re being denied.” He looked at her and her wary eyes. She was so confused by this world and for a moment, Hades felt guilty. This was not how he wanted this to happen at all. He wanted everything to be more organic, but without taking her, he would never have even met her. He sighed, dropping his smile and softening. “Can I do anything to help you?” He asked, hoping she would not request to go home - not just yet. After all, he was obsessed with the hairpin curl of her lips and how her hair fell over her eyes as she tilted her head. He had to see more of her for a little while longer.

---

Despoena smiled, pulling her knees up by her chest and feeling a little nervous flutter in her stomach. Yes, it was indeed her job to remain a mystery, but perhaps it wasn’t her job to remain distant. She looked at Apollo as he lazed back onto her couch and she smiled a little wider. He was comfortable, confident and curious. He clearly had something on his mind, the way he smiled back at her. Despite the nerves and excitement she felt, she, once again, she felt a pang of guilt. It felt wrong to have fun while her sister was missing. It felt wrong to drink wine with one of her suitors. Was it wrong that she too wanted to get to know Apollo more? It all felt wrong, but not the worst decision she could ever make. She materialized two glasses of wine in front of them, grabbing her own and taking a sip. The wine was the easiest way for her to say ‘yes, please stay.’

“What do you want to know? She asked, taking a sip and letting the wine stain her lips a little redder.

Persephone looked to Hades gently before she shook her head. She was a little disappointed that Hades had no clue what had called out to her. Though she understood that her being here was quite strange. It was probably only a matter of time that she caused something unusual in the Underworld. "No, I do not think you can. At least not right now. But I would like to investigate the call if it happens again. But I'm not sure what else we could do since we do not have anything to go on." It never occurred to Persephone that Hades was asking if she needed anything else. Though, if it had, she certainly would not have asked to go home. After all, they had a deal and Persephone doubted that asking would work anyways.

With a small sigh, Persephone stood up. She glanced around the room once more before her eyes landed back at Hades. Even with so much in this room, he was clearly the center point. Though how could he not be? "Are you done with work?" She asked him. "You mentioned that you were going to find me?" Persephone was curious as to what Hades would want to do next.

---

"Well there are a lot of things that I want to know." Apollo sad as he picked up his glass. He leaned back before taking a long sip of it. He then relaxed his hand against his knee as he looked over at Despoena. "I have spent a lot of time with you, but still it feels as though I only know of you and not about you. I know of your family, and somewhat of what you do as a Goddess. But like, what do you do during your free time? What do you actually like?" He watched her intently. Despoena never really went to many parties, he knew that. And he knew that she used to date Ares. But that was really all. And with how much he knew about the others it was actually quite strange that he knew so little about her. Though he wondered if the reason she didn't go out much is because she had to watch Persephone so often. And while it didn't seem like it, did Demeter have restrictions on her too?

@ BearGirl
Hades nodded, thoughtfully looking at Persephone. Her energy seemed so sad and distant, very different from what she usually exuded. Hades once again felt negativity about this whole arrangement. What if she never fell for him? If all his courting failed, Hades would be devastated. The sting of rejection was too cool and sharp against his skin; he was unsure if he would be able to handle it. After all this, it seemed almost foolish to think she would stay with him or in the Underworld. He felt puzzled. He barely knew Persephone and was unsure on the best way for him to convince her to stay with him and here. “I think I’m done for now,” he said standing. “Persephone, tell me what would you most like to do? I’d like to think we can adapt to it here. Plus, I feel we should get to know each other more.”

---

Despoena smiled because, well, how could she not? Apollo was so handsome, one of the most handsome Gods. He was strong and sweet. The rumors that were shared about him were always centered on him chasing after nymphs and unfortunately, being scorned by his lovers. It was a surprise to her that Apollo could continue chasing after love, art and beauty without feeling jaded and hurt. His belief in this positive forces in the world was almost as refreshing as Persephone’s, though they were different. Persephone believed whole-heartedly and blindly in positivity. Apollo understood the world a little more than Persephone, but far less than Despoena.

“I hope you don’t let this go to your head, but in my free time, I quite enjoy art. The people at my temple spend a great amount of time crafting murals and sculptures and I love that. I also love music. I usually have someone playing the flute during the day. The soft sounds and the beauty of it all is something I like to surround myself with,” she said, blushing a little.

She rang her fingers through her hair and sipped her wine. She began swirling it around in her glass before looking back up. “I suppose I can thank you for all that. I don’t get a lot of free time, to be honest. The winter is dedicated to my work. The Spring and some of the summer is dedicated to Persephone. Fall is my favorite time of year because it is the only time I actually get a break from it all. There is always so much work to do,” she said, resting her chin against her knees.

“What about you?” She asked, her curiosity (and a bit of jealousy) evident. Apollo was able to do almost whatever he wanted. He had work to do, but she was not sure how much. There was a lot about her job that required her to work tirelessly and to grace many temples as the initiations took place. Apollo’s work was focused on facets of the world that were much more enjoyable.

@ chandelier-stars



Persephone looked up at Hades and started to smile a little when he asked her about her own hobbies. There were quite a few things that she liked to do. Unlike many of the other Gods and Goddess, she had an abundance of time on her hands and sometimes she just did her best to try and stay busy. It was easy to get bored when she was home so often. Not being able to leave and her family being busy left her alone a lot.

“Oh I like to do a lot of things.” Persephone told him as she started to make her way out of his office. There was no reason to stay in there. She let out a small hum as she thought about what to say. What would she want him to bring to the underworld for her? What did she want to do while she was stuck here? “I play a lot of instruments. That would be quite fun. I normally try to dance while I play though it doesn’t sound as well when I do.” She let out a small hum. She also did a lot of gardening but there was no reason to say that. “I enjoy reading and sketching…oh!” Persephone turned to him as she realized what she wanted most. Though an embarrassed blush moved over her face before she spoke. She shifted a little unsure how he was going to take it. “Is it…possible to get something that can show me the mortal world? From Olympus I can just look down and see whats going on but I can’t from here. And I like to watch the plays and the people…” It was a bit embarrassing that she needed an object to check up on the world when everyone else was able to just go.

---

Apollo could see the bit of jealous swirling around in her eyes as she looked over at him. Though he was not surprised by this. Many of the other Gods and Goddess looked at him this way when free time or hobbies were brought up. But he could not blame them. He did get more free time than the others and even when he was working, it was often more enjoyable than what they had to do. He got to make music, art, plays. Promote freedom and expression. Really the only thing that felt like work was keeping the sun rising and setting at the appropriate times during the day.

He chuckled a little and shook his head at her. “Well, how could I not become a little big headed when I hear the lovely Goddess of Mystery enjoys my arts?” Apollo asked her with a large smirk across his face. He leaned forward a bit. “If you would like to follow the master around for a day, please let me know. I could probably teach you some things.” He gave her a wink before chuckling and leaning back into the couch.

“During my free time, I obvious do enjoy some of the arts. Though there are other things I do, of course. I enjoy going to all of the parties that the others throw, as well as throw plenty myself. I spend a lot of my free time with the other Gods and Goddesses. I spend a bit of time with Hermes. I enjoy causing tricks with me. Though he often ends up tricking me…” Apollo shakes his head a bit. I also like spending my time with Athena, helping her pick her warriors or upcoming wars. I normally don’t participate but I enjoy watching her set up her champions. Sometimes I go hunting with Artemis.” He shrugged. “I do whatever they want to do. It’s interesting and it inspires me.”

@ BearGirl
Hades smiled at Persphone because he was not sure how he could not. She was so cute and innocent. It seemed like the world had yet to touch and taint her. Hades leaned forward, unclasping his hands and . “Of course,” he said, “You can have whatever you want, Persephone. I am not here to limit you,” he said with a smile. It took only a moment to snap his fingers and generate an orb for her. It was small enough to fit in her hand and for her to carry around. He handed it to her softly. “You can see anything you would like in this and you can go anywhere here. That is what I want for you, after all.”

Hades stood and offered her a hand. "Let's do dinner quickly and then maybe we can turn in. It's been quite a long day," he said.

---

Despoena laughed, almost spilling her glass of wine. “You think that you can teach me something?” She said, setting her glass of wine down onto the table.

This was the first time that Despeona felt normal and herself with Apollo. Everything about their relationship had been about Persephone and finding her. Their friendship was shrouded in fear, doubt and a little bit of anger. This, however, was fun and simple. In fact, this was exactly how Despoena always planned on spending her evenings. She enjoyed a good glass of wine and a good laugh.

“Perhaps if you follow me around enough, I will inspire you,” she said, with a wink, grabbing her wine once more. It was getting a little late and Despeona was feeling a little guilty. She was doing her best to enjoy herself, but she felt like she was doing a disservice to her sister and her mother. She was bound by duty and she always has.

“Actually, if I was being completely honest, your freedom completely inspires me. You seem to be completely limitless and I always seem to have limits,” she said, with a sigh. "Maybe it's just getting a little late."

@ chandelier-stars
~Skip to the next day~
(I'm just going to completely skip Persephone for this post since she isn't involved in Hades yelling at Despeona and Apollo. Once Hades yells at them, we can skip forward a month and get things rolling)

Apollo looked up at Hades' temple, unable to hide his concern. He did not enjoy the underworld, but today something felt particularly about this place. Was the sky darker than before? Were the souls unsettled? Or worse of all, was the God here displeased? He glanced down at the box in his hands before shaking his head. Since he came along, he needed to pull himself together. Unlike Hades and Despoena, Apollo was not good at hiding his emotions or thoughts. He was the God to sing it out, let everyone know. But somehow, here he needed to keep it together.

Maybe if he just kept his mind on the box... It held one of Persephone's items, a metal crown of flowers. Her followers had made it and according to Despoena, it was something she held dear. They thought it best to bring an item that had a real attachment to her. And if for some reason that didn't work, they also brought Persephone's favorite dress.One of these things would apparently tell them if Persephone was dead of not. Though he didn't believe that she was. It seemed...impossible. Gods and Goddesses didn't die. They were trapped for eternity but death was never really an option. At least not unless someone made it to the underworld and found out the way to kill one. But even so, who would kill Persephone?

Apollo shook his head, trying to get the thought of Persephone's death out of his mind. Best not think about that either. He glanced over at Despoena as they walked up the stairs. He needed to be strong, to pull himself together for Despoena. As always, she was so difficult to read and right now that was how he needed to be as well.

It was a quiet morning in the Underworld as if the spirits themselves knew what was happening. Despoena felt herself holding her breath again, even after she finally let it go last night with Apollo. She felt herself fluttering nervously as they walked up the steps. She had to do that now and get it all out before seeing Hades again. She glanced at Apollo, his face reflecting exactly how Despoena was feeling. She loosened her fingers that were wrapped tightly in the fabrics of her skirt and around Persephone’s floral crown as they ascended into the foyer.

Hades stood there, stoic and pensive, staring at his very own temple. He felt the anger quelling within him, a tornado swirling within his very own stomach. He heard their feet echoing and he was frustrated with himself. He was completely unsure of how he was going to handle this. If Despoena had not actually stumbled upon the truth, Hades would have fought Despoena and Apollo on the insult alone; he would destroy her for audacity to probe in his own realm.

“Hades,” Despoena said, her words echoing in the silence. “Lovely to see you again. I have what you asked for,” she said, taking a few gentle steps forward. Her hair trickled down her back. Perhaps that was why she felt goosebumps on her skin. She forced her stomach down, pushing her own fear deep within her. She could not be afraid right now, even if Apollo did continually remind her on the way here that Hades was dangerous. She had to be confident and comfortable and, in a sense, naive. She needed to believe completely that Hades was innocent.

“Indeed, you do,” Hades said, turning and smiling. He appraised them both. Just as before, Despoena was as stoic as himself, but Apollo looked nervous. His eyes fluttered and he was not trained in secrecy. He was trained in putting it all out on the table, even if it was in an artistic sort of display. “Tell me, Apollo, do you think I have what you are looking for?”

@ chandelier-stars

Apollo looked up at Hades once he spoke to him. He seemed a little surprised being put on the spot like this. And some worry went over his face. In situations like these, Apollo preferred to be left alone. Lying, hiding, secrets, none of these areas were his forte. So when they were necessary, he was quieter. Taking another step forward, standing next to Despoena, he cleared his throat.

"I hope that you have the answers we are looking for." Apollo said. He knew it wasn't exactly the best answer. And it would probably set someone off if they were already suspicious, but surely Hades was not? After all, he was more than friendly yesterday. More than willing to help them. Part of the issue is that Apollo really did believe that Hades had what they were looking for. Or, if he didn't have Persephone, Apollo believed he knew something about her location. He just believed that it had to be someone powerful, and Hades fit that bill. What Apollo didn't have though was proof or motive of this.

"I believe that you can tell us if Persephone is alive or not, and, hopefully, help us learn something about where she is." Apollo cleared his throat before nodding to the floral crown that belonged to Persephone. "We have brought one of Persephone's items like you have asked. Will her crown suffice?"

@ BearGirl
Hades watched and studied them carefully. Apollo was clearly nervous, though that was to be expected. Despoena was not searching the foyer with her eyes or calling out. She looked at Hades directly as if she was challenging him and maybe she was, but it was unlikely. Perhaps Hades was wrong. Perhaps she did not call for her sister, but how could he ever be sure? He was nervous. Persephone had not yet gone to the gardens this morning. She could be anywhere and hear the voices of others. He looked at Apollo as he spoke, though he really wanted to sneak a glance down Persephone’s hallway. He sucked in ever word and let them marinate a little bit. He needed to be sure that they were not leaving with sneaking suspicions.

Hope. What a foolish thing to have and a foolish thing for Apollo to say. Of course, he had hope. His existence was built on beauty or turning tragedy into beauty. He had to see the good. Despoena and Hades alike saw only the bad, the negative, the creatures and beings that slide through the shadows. He glanced at Despoena, but she was a stoic as he would have expected. Will neither of them break?

Despoena’s eyes locked with Hades when he looked at her, as if he was asking her something. She was not sure what the correct answer was. Apollo was a much better God than she. He was stronger and far more prevalent. He had more followers and more powers in general. He was far more revered in Olympus. Why would Hades look at her? She was barely ever seen or spoken to for she always paled in comparison to her sister. Surely, she would fail to compare to Apollo as well. Hades finally looked back at Apollo.

“Yes, that will do,” he said, taking the crown from Despoena’s hands. Despoena felt her heart tug a little bit and she took a step forward. It felt like giving away a piece of her sister. Even more so, she felt hopeful and she hated that. She did not want to feel hope in such a dark place. She wanted to remain level-headed and grounded. She had her suspicions about Hades, but maybe she was wrong. Maybe he was truly just trying to help. Either way, she was closer to Persephone than she had been yet and Hades knew that too.

“She’s not dead,” Hades said, closing his eyes. “Though she is not within this realm or your realm. She is hidden, elsewhere.”

He shut his eyes tighter, feigning the difficulty of the task. He was searching for Persephone, but just through these walls. There he found her, sitting in her room. She was making flowers dance above her head. These were the moments that made Hades feel guilty for what he was doing. Persephone was clearly bored and lonely. Her own sister was here and she did not even notice or feel the shift in energy. What she lacked in power, she made up for in beauty and kindness. She was soft and gentle soul.

Hades gasped, again playing into his own game and opened his eyes. “I am sorry,” he said, causing Despoena’s eyes to grow wide. “She is being kept beyond my reach. My borders exist here. I can only see so much outside these walls. Whoever has her as put every protection they can up.” He stepped forward and was face to face with Despoena. He grabbed her hands and put the crown back in them. “I wish I could do more to help you. Perhaps you should revisit Zeus.”

@ chandelier-stars
(I don't believe there is really much for us to do in that scene, so I am going to go ahead and skip forward a month for both of them )

Only a month had gone by, but already so much has changed throughout the palace in those short four weeks. After the first week had gone by, Persephone had found the palace of the underworld relatively dreary. So, with Hades approval, - and with some restrictions - Persephone had gone through a small portion of the palace, brighting up the area with Persephone's touch of life. While, of course, Persephone had updated the area with vibrant flowers, she also changed the old draping, keeping the same color scheme as before but adding more intricate details to it. Though the castle's gardens has also changed greatly throughout the month. Persephone had quickly learned how to work with the souls in nature, causing them to grow and the garden turning a bit more wild. Especially with the additions of new plants that only Persephone could make in the underworld.

However, the palace's appearance had not been the only thing changed, but Persephone's mood as well. With most of the underworld and it's mysteries at her fingertips, Persephone was pleasantly soaking it all in. Her boredom from the first few days quickly withered away as she was allowed to explore more and more of the underworld with Hades and without. It hadn't taken her long to figure out the rules of it all, which allowed her to safely satisfy most of her curiosity. And when she wasn't exploring the underworld, or working on her powers, Persephone was happily with Hades. Their relationship probably had changed the most within the last month.

Persephone spent a lot of time with the God of the Underworld. She followed him to meetings, learned more about his work, explored and asked questions from him. And when Hades wasn't working, they played games, talked, told each other stories and in general, enjoyed each other's time together. It was clear that Persephone had grown to like Hades. She had never been quite good at hiding her emotions and it was clear on her face and through her actions that she felt as if she was beginning to really fall for him. After getting past the whole kidnapping thing, Persephone had grown to see that Hades truly was one of the kindest, hardworking and logical Gods. Though, most of all, she appreciated that he was truthful to her, that he didn't want to lock her away. Hades wanted to let her free and she believed that, if she agreed to marry him, that he would keep his promises.

Towards the end of Hades' regular work day, Persephone knocked on the door before popping in head into the office. Today her hair was down, and as usual, covered in flowers and petals. A bright smile over her lips as she walked over to Hades. "Are you almost done today?" Laying her hands on Hades' shoulders, Persephone leaned over him and glanced down at the work on his desk. Her hair slid closer to him, some of the petals falling off and landing on his chest.

---

Apollo let out a sigh as he relaxed back on his couch, looking up at the sky through his sun roof. Night was slowly moving over and the sun was making its way over the horizon. With a small shake of his head, Apollo closed his eyes, trying to get a few minutes in before Despoena showed up. They had a busy day - as usual, and Apollo didn't want to be weighing her down. With how tense things have gotten recently, slowing down on their hunt was the last thing that they needed to do. Though even so, the last few days Apollo had found himself restless. And he was kinda scared to fully admit to himself why that would be. However, he knew the reason. He was full on, head over heels, falling in love with the Goddess of Mystery.

Despoena had been a consistent in his life for the last month. Almost all day, every day, he had been by her side. Helping her to search for Persephone. And already they had been through a lot, and Apollo was making an emotional connection with Despoena that he just couldn't shake. Though out of all of his lovers and interests in the past, this was the only one he had ever been slightly afraid of. While Apollo was sure he was beginning to see through her shroud more and more, he still was unsure of what Despoena was totally thinking. She was able to hide her emotions and her thoughts so well. At the moment, he was sure that Despona enjoyed his help and his company, but Apollo was unsure if there was more to it than that.

He wanted to try and reach out to her. See if Despoena was beginning to feel the same way. Though he didn't want to ruin their relationship at the moment. Especially since he was suppose to be helping her find her sister. If being honest about his feelings somehow ruined his ability to help her, Apollo would be even more crushed. He wanted to love her, desperately. But knew he shouldn't admit his falling for her until after something was known about Persephone... But that didn't mean that he couldn't try to charm her in the meantime. Apollo wanted to try and get Despoena to love him back without admitting his feelings yet.

Though Persephone...who knew how long this chase was going to last. Things have only continued to grow worse and worse. It felt as if they had no leads as to where things were going. Even with many of the Gods and Goddesses helping, it seemed she completely disappeared without a trace. And missing the Goddess was beginning to cause major problems at Olympus and in the mortal world. The growth of Persephone's creations were starting to die without her presence there. Causing much dissatisfaction and unpleasantness. And Demeter has been making everyone's life a living Hell as she continued to try and search for her daughter. Though the mortal world had it worse. With Persephone missing, spring never came and Demeter was now refusing to fulfill her responsibilities until she was found. The mortals now were in the middle of a great famine. People were starving, dying, praying to the Gods, asking why and how and what they should do. And the Gods were increasingly getting annoyed that their followers were suffering and that there was nothing they could do.

@ BearGirl
Hades felt quite triumphant. After a few more meetings with Despoena and Apollo, he had entirely convinced them Persephone was not in the Underworld. He knew of their search and he knew of Demeter’s anger. He even knew of the world practically collapsing without Persephone. He knew all of this and yet, selfishly, he did not care. Persephone brought so much light to his life and even to his home. He was grateful for her existence, her presence and her position. She was everything he dreamed of her being and more. Because, you see, she was finally letting him in just as he was trying to let her in. He was so very grateful.

Except for the fact that Hades was quite busy these days between balancing Persephone’s every growing curiosity and the increasing number of people dying. He was working endlessly it felt like. He smiled as Persephone walked in, though. She always gave him ease. Hades closed his eyes when her gentle hands caressed his shoulders and promptly shut the book that was on his desk before sliding his fingers into hers. “My sweet Persephone, I think today will be a longer day. You shouldn’t worry yourself with me tonight.”

He said these thing, but he did not let go of her hands. With so many mortals dying, he knew that these moments might soon come to end. Or, at least, for a little while. Hades felt quite nervous once again because he felt like he was deceiving Persephone, but she rooted herself so deeply into his world without realizing that it would permanently link her here: she ate their food, she tended to their gardens and she made herself home. Would she grow to hate him if she realized what all that meant? Hades was not sure and so, he clung just a little bit tighter to her fingers.

“Ares,” Hades said, “He’s been quite busy lately. Have you noticed?”

---

Despoena was tired, but she could not sleep. She watched the sun creep across her window, but she had been up for hours now. She spent much of the night arguing with her mother. She spent much of her night pleading for her to understand and get back to work. If Zeus and Hades and Poseidon could not find Persephone, how would Despoena ever find her? She was weary and tired. She spent her days with Apollo, both of them slacking from their duties just to please her mother. For what? They were no closer than they had ever been and Demeter’s protest was ringing loud and clear in the skies and in the mortal world.

What more could Despoena do?

She wiped her tears because if there was anything she looked forward to, it was seeing Apollo. He was endlessly optimistic and a source of true comfort for her. She needed his energy otherwise she would have none. She would simply waste away in her own stone gardens, wondering what exactly went wrong. Instead, she spent only the nights wondering what more she could do. She wondered these things as she braided her hair and slipped into a deep purple gown. She found herself wearing more colors, as if being brighter would connect her to her sister. So far, it had not.

Before the rest of the world awoke, she was on Apollo’s steps because she knew he would be awake. She knew her eyes were red and perhaps a little watery, but that was all the more reason to be here. She walked up the steps and into his foyer for she no longer felt the need to wait for him to come get here. If anything good came from this it would be Apollo. On her arm she carried a basket of bread, cheese, and meats left at her door by a few followers.She always knew where to find him, draped so lazily and comfortably on his couch. He always had this funny look on his face when she walked in like he was both expecting her and surprised by her at the same time. It made her blush in a way she didn’t completely grasp. She dropped the basket on his table and flopped down dramatically next to him.

“Hungry?” She asked with a smile.

@ chandelier-stars

Persephone let out a little hum as Hades held onto her fingers. As he closed the book on his desk, Persephone laid her chin against their hands. Turning her head, Persephone looked at Hades' face. They had gotten a lot closer over the last month. Small touches or hugs, and other touches that were intimate like this one. Though it hadn't gotten farther than this yet. But that was only a matter of time. Persephone was falling for Hades, and she was positive that he was as well. Just by the way he acted and reacted to her.

"Can't you take a small break? Or maybe I can help you tonight so you can finish up earlier?" Persephone asked him softly. Hades had been working later and later as time had gone on. And in several ways it was rather upsetting. Especially since as she was growing to like him, the more that Hades was unavailable. Though if she could help a little, maybe Hades would be able to spend some time with her later. However, it was up to Hades if he wanted her too. And if he thought that she would have the ability to actually do so. While she had been taking an interest in his job, Persephone didn't know a lot about what he actually did. And while she had been growing stronger in the underworld, Persephone certainly did not have his level of power. Though only two others did.

She let out a small hum as she thought about all of the work that had been piling up. Often Hades mentioned that there were a lot more deaths, often blaming it on The God of War's current actions. Though Persephone couldn't help but wonder if any of these deaths were her fault. If the famine had started. Surely, it would, but had she managed to do enough before she was kidnapped? Or was her mother working overtime to stop it? However, Persephone wasn't too worried due to the fact that Zeus would come for her if it truly turned into a disaster.

"I have noticed." Persephone whispered to him. She stood up, slowly sliding her hands out of his and off of his shoulders. Persephone moved to his right side and relaxed against the desk, looking at him. "Is this really all Ares?"

---

A large grin moved over Apollo's face as she leaned back into the end of the couch. Seeing Despoena every day was a real treat for him. How could it not be? Those beautiful, mysterious eyes were enough to blow him away, not to mention the rest of Despoena. Though he didn't just like her for her beauty. Despoena's mind, her personality also sucked him in like no other. He both hated and loved how much he had fallen for this woman. Now Apollo could only hope that she would fall for him as well.

"Very." Apollo assured Despoena as he slowly pushed himself into a sitting position on the couch. He glanced down at the food before beginning to eat. At this point, the two of them ate almost every meal together. So they went back and forth between who was providing the meal that day. Usually it depended with what their followers gave them. Even with the famine, the mortals continued to give their gifts of food. Though part of that may be to stop from 'angering' the Gods more. It would be nice to explain that it wasn't a punishment, but that wasn't something they could afford to do. "Thank you Despoena. It is delicious."

After taking another bite, he leaned back into the couch, letting out a sigh. His eyes now drifted over to the Goddess, taking her in. A smile moved over his lips as he watched her every little movements. Though his eyes always went back to hers. And it wasn't difficult for him to tell that something was a little off today. Slowly, Apollo leaned forward and pressed his hand against her face. He thumb moved across her cheek slowly, looking closer at her eyes. This was certainly not an action he would have taken a month ago. Though they had grown much closer to Apollo's pleasure.

"You seem tired, Despoena." He whispered to her. Though that was really no surprise. Things were growing more desperate, putting more pressure on her. "Perhaps we should rest today." Apollo wanted to stop hunting for many reasons. He wanted a day off. Apollo wanted to do something fun with Despoena instead of search. And he was unsure of where or what they would do next with no hints of where her sister could possibly be.

@ BearGirl
Hades chuckled, though he did sound a little exasperated. He started taking more breaks now that Persephone was in his life. He wanted to take unlimited breaks, but unfortunately that was just not so. His job never took a break and even though it was a lot of delegation, some still had to be in charge. He leaned back, letting his head rest against her and he sighed.

The fact of the matter was that there was a lot of animosity in the world now which happens when humans are starving. As such, there were a lot of judgements to be passed. Again, Hades was not one who passed judgement, but with the schedules being so busy, he had to keep things organized. The rivers were overflowing with souls waiting to cross and the demigods who gave our sentencing were growing weary. Some cases were easy: murderers and thieves. Otherwise were more difficult: the mother who stole food for her son, the father who protected his family but killed someone in the process. These cases were often debated and Hades felt the need to be in the room when these cases were heard. He wanted to make sure the decisions were fair lest he lose his reputation as a just God.

Most importantly, though, was the security problem. Once souls entered the Underworld, they could not leave. Souls who escaped the Underworld roamed Earth with no purpose, no body and just a general haunt. Recapturing them was far too difficult and Hades was really troubled with how easily it might be for a soul or two to slip away. It was a long wait, after all. He understood feeling impatient or even feeling fearful. For those who did not believe in judgement, they were surely nervous to finally face it.

“No, Persephone, I’m afraid this time I have to do this work alone. I do think its more than just Ares. In truth, I’m not sure what’s going on exactly. I’m sure there will be a meeting of the Gods soon. We can’t sustain this much longer,” he said, squeezing her hands.

These were the moments where Hades felt pressured. He was running out of time and while it was clear Persephone felt something for him, it was not to the degree that he needed. He needed more from her. He needed a true commitment and that was terrifying for him. He had too much work to spend time with Persephone, but the more work he got, the less time he had to win her over. Zeus would come soon surely or perhaps Demeter. He was not sure, but he knew he was running out of time.

“On second though,” he said, “Why don’t we go see the nymphs. I’m sure you would like them a lot and then we can eat. I’ll work later tonight.” He made no movement, however. He was enjoying holding her hands and to hurry things along, he planted a gentle kiss on the top of one of her hands.

---

Despoena was glad Apollo enjoyed the food. It felt nice to do something right every once in awhile. She ate a piece of bread rather slowly. She was losing her appetite amongst this entire mess. She rested her head against the couch. She felt bad for bringing such negative energy into Apollo’s home, but if she stayed at her home, she would wallow in her own self pity. She knew he understood, but not in the same way. He was a prized possession with his family and even his sister adored him. He did not fight with his family or disappoint them the way that Despoena did. He would never truly understand how she was feeling, but maybe that was best. Her misery did not need company.

When Apollo caressed her cheek, she felt tears spring fresh into her eyes. She leaned against his hand, closing her eyes for a moment. She opened them again at his suggestion. She wanted so desperately to take a day off, but how could she? She knew her mother would be furious if she spent the day with one of Persephone’s suitors without giving her sister a second thought. Despoena felt herself shriveling away into a shell of herself. Her entire purpose on this Earth had become to find Persephone and it was so exhausting. She started crying then, interlacing her fingers with the hand that held her cheek.

“Oh, do you think it would be so awful?” She asked, between tiny little sobs. “I just can’t do it anymore. My body aches. I just want a moment to breath and relax. It feels like I’m disappearing.”

Her voice was barely a whisper. She felt fearful that Demeter would hear her. She was afraid her mother would come storming into Apollo’s home, which would be really quite rude and unacceptable; Demeter would do anything at this point. She took her anger out on the world and on Despoena. She pulled his hand from her cheek and took a deep shaking breath. “I don’t want to bring you anymore trouble than I already have,” she added.

@ chandelier-stars
Persephone looked down at Hades with a little disappointment in her eyes as he told her he wouldn't have time. All she really wanted was to spend more time with him. She was finding herself craving it at times. Though she understood why he wouldn't be able to. It was obvious that work was becoming overwhelming for him. Even with her lack of knowledge of the underworld, the insanity that was happening was clear. However, there was some hope that things would ease up for Hades. Hopefully, in time before their deal ended. As much as she loved her time in the underworld, and she was beginning to fall for Hades, Persephone wasn't quite convinced that marrying him was the right move.

Her expression quickly changed as Hades changed his mind. Her eyes brightened up, a huge smile moved over her lips. Her godly glow increased and the flowers in her hair moved into full bloom. She leaned forward a bit, giggling lightly as Hades pressed his lips against her hand. A light blush moved over her cheeks.

"I would love to see the nymphs and spend some time with you, Hades." Persephone whispered to him as she pushed away from the desk and moved closer to him. Her fingers wrapping around him a bit firmer, her thumb running across the back of his hand. "Are you sure though? I know you have a lot of work to do and I don't want to be the reason why you fall behind or get overwhelmed."

Even as she asked, Persephone really hoped that he would say he wanted to. She desperately wanted to. Plus, in reality, while being in the Underworld was a bit of an upgrade in freedom, she still felt a bit lonely at times. Persephone had been missing the other Gods, especially her sister and her mother...Oh how she truly wanted to see Despoena again. The souls around her eased that feeling, but she needed someone who was a full person. And, at the moment, Hades was the only one who could provide that. He was the only one she wanted to provide that.

---

Apollo looked over at Despoena as tears started to move down her cheeks. His heart started to ache for her. It had been extremely difficult the last month. And while he tried to do everything he could, with the search, with her emotions, with anything he could think of. It wasn't enough. Apollo needed to understand that there was nothing he could really do to make all of her miseries go away. He just needed to figure out how to help her get through them, until one day, Persephone finally made her way back to them.

As she wrapped her fingers in his hand, Apollo moved closer to Despoena. He slowly pulled Despoena into his chest, wrapping his free arm around her tightly, holding onto her, hugging her. Apollo laid his head on top of hers and closed his eyes for a few moments. Gently he started to rub her back. "Despoena." He whispered into her ear. "I know this is hard, and none of this is fair. Persephone shouldn't be gone. You shouldn't be in charge of searching for her endlessly. Her disappearance shouldn't be affecting your life like this. And no one should be blaming you for her disappearance."

"You need to take a day off. We have been searching non stop since Persephone disappeared. This has been endless, you need to relax, otherwise you will wear yourself down. And you won't be able to help your sister when she needs it if you don't take care of yourself. Persephone would want you to take care of yourself." Apollo tried to convince her to take the day off. She needed it. He needed it as well. "Besides, we have no leads at the moment. No idea as to where she could be. And there are others out searching for her. I am sure if they find out anything today, they will come tell us."

"And don't worry about troubling me. Despoena, I am here to help you. Any trouble that may comes, I am okay with taking on. Do not worry about what your mother might do." Apollo whispered to her. "Your mother is strong, but I am still stronger. Though I also doubt she will attack me even with all of this going on."