21. Finally Seeing Old Friends

“You let her stay here?” I asked Hades as we walked through the large hallways, with Cerberus in tow. “Why wouldn’t I? She is your friend and your companion. It seemed like she should be close by when I got you back.” Hades said. “Thank you for getting her here.” He nodded. He seemed so solemn. “Hades, do you think I still have good opinions?” I asked. He stopped walking, grabbing my hand. “Persephone Darling, I always think you have good opinions. You have never done anything to prove me otherwise.”

I looked at him. “What happened with the meeting we were supposed to have?” I asked. I thought about that in the beginning when I was imprisoned. “It was a meeting with King Minos. He is a powerful king, from what I understand a good one, though he made some tough calls. He had been punished by my brother, Poseidon. With that being said, he still made decent calls. He was middle-aged at the time I wanted you and I too met with him. I wanted to see how he was. What kind of man he was and get your take on him.” I raised my eyebrows. “Why?”

“I was thinking he should be one of the judges here when he died. He made some tough calls to make his kingdom not suffer from the monster his wife bore. It made me think he may be up for the task of being a judge for the souls.” I looked at him curiously. “I can be harsh determining where the souls go. But he seemed like he would be a good fit. He is closer to death now; I would still like to meet with him if you are up for it. If we both feel he is alright, then upon his death he would be a judge to the incoming souls.” I nodded. “But why do you want my opinion? I don’t know about anything like that?”

Hades shrugged and said, “Persephone you have always been kind, you would look for the good in him, I would look at the bad and then we could compare and come to a decision.” I was silent. “Do you not think you are kind anymore?” I looked away. “I don’t think I have a good capacity for it now. I am prone to anger; you saw me over breakfast.” He nodded. “Persephone Darling, it will get better. Once you master your gift you will no longer be that way.” He spoke.

“How can you know that?” I asked. “Hecate told me. I don’t know how I was in the beginning, but Hecate does. She is older than all of us, being a titan. She told me when you come into full power until you can control it, it controls you. I am not going to lie to you, the surges in your emotions are partly due to this, but also being isolated and in darkness for so long. But the Underworld was born from darkness. You will thrive here, more so than being among the mortals. They were born of light. Your gift emerged in darkness, like my own, and Hecate as well.” I didn’t really understand. So, I changed the subject. “Do you think we were fated to be together?”

He looked at me, I couldn’t read his expression. “Yes, we are fated.” He said, how did he know that for sure. Charon said he assumed but Hades knew. “How do you know?” He looked around and then said “The fates when I went to them. They did not mean to reveal that to me, but the old bitties are careless sometimes. When I came to them, they said you are looking for your fated, your Persephone. They called you my fated. I didn’t comment on it because they might have asked for more, by revealing something more than I came for. They hate not getting compensation for what they divulge.”

I couldn’t believe that. Being fated to someone was rare. My mother never told me about it, but one of the books in our library talked about it. It made sense though; Hades was comparable to me. From the moment I met him, I felt close to him. He made me feel safe. And the one thing I never thought I would do was argue with my mother, but I had to defend Hades. Before I even voiced my concern Hades said “I do love you Persephone Darling, fates or no. You are so light. You were born in the sun, but your magic is born in darkness like my own. Do not think my feelings are because of fate. That just made it easier for me to discover these feelings.” I nodded in understanding.

Once again, I changed the subject wanting to reflect on this without him looking at me so lovingly. I needed to talk about it, Lola would be the perfect person to discuss all this with. “Can we go see Lola now?” I said and he continued to lead me to her suite. I knocked and the door swung open. Before I could even say hi Lola wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me tightly. “I will let you catch up.” Hades said and Lola and I said “Thankyou” at the same time. He walked away as Lola pulled me into the room, shutting the door behind me and hugging me again.

“I can’t believe he finally got you out of there. Your mother is horrible.” Lola said. “Did she hurt you? I was so worried I lied to her and said you didn’t know.” She shook her head “I don’t know Hecate came and got me before I even knew you were gone. She filled me in on your mother taking you. What did your mother do to you all this time? No one told me anything. I heard you were back but was told to stay away until you were better. The nymphs here were all talking about it. I asked about you every day since you came back but I was told by Hades himself that you would come to me when you were awake and better. So, are you better now?”

I hugged her again. “I missed you.” She smiled, yet again I didn’t smile at her. “So, what did Demeter do to you?” I swallowed. “She locked me in a cage with no light, but it is not as bad as it seems, I lost sense of time. When I was told I had been gone for a Decade I didn’t think that was true. It didn’t seem that long.” She looked concerned. “Come sit.” I followed her over and sat in her plush purple bed spread. “I think I am a little nuts, Lola. I have all this power now but can’t seem to control it.” I tried to show her, but nothing happened. “Apparently it shows up when I am upset, say something that would make me angry.” Lola shook her head. “Come on do it.”

She sighed. “Fine, Mithe tried to seduce Hades while you were gone.” My face twisted. That was the worst thing I ever heard, since I got back. Giant thorns shot up all over the room. Lola screamed. “That horrendous creature. I am going to kill her.” Lola touched my arm. “Sorry, I should have thought of something else.” I jumped from the bed practically snarling. “Where is she Lola, I am going to kill her.” I hissed. Lola got up and grabbed my arm. “Persephone no, you can’t really, let's just talk.” I ripped my arm away. Why did she have to tell me that. I wanted that nymph's blood. “Persephone please. I have missed you, I want time with you.”

I could see the sorrow in her eyes. I stopped snarling. I would stay there for now, but when I left, I would find that nymph. She had something coming. I sat back on the bed still angry Lola said, “I see what you mean now, about your gift changing.” I nodded; my anger was still persistent. “I can’t make flowers anymore; I can’t even smile other than at Hades and Cerberus. He was outside the door, and I heard him whining. He started when I had shot up the massive thorns. “Hold on Lola.” I got up and let him in.

Lola scrambled further from the edge of the bed. Cerberus licked me and the huge thorns withered to ash. Lola was terrified of him. “He hates everyone.” I rolled my eyes as the three headed dog laid down. “He helps me, I don’t know why but he is loyal to me, and helps I think.” I said but Lola was still scared. “He won’t hurt you.” I said but Lola was still uneasy. I went on to talk about something else. “Charon wants me to become queen here. He wants me to ask Hades.” Lola nodded. Her eyes fixed on Cerberus.

Despite her not looking at me she said. “All of the Underworld wants that. They want you as their queen.” She and everyone was as insane as I was. “But, why? They hardly know me. I was barely here before the cage and that was a decade ago.” Lola responded. “Hades has been cruel to them for a decade. I have tried to stay clear of him, his anger is scary. He used to be like that a long time ago, I was told. But when you were taken by Demeter the souls said he was worse than he had ever been. They know he is erratic without you. They want their eternity to be without torture and pain. They know their King is benevolent when you are here.” I felt the pressure on me now.

“Do you think I should be their queen. I would have to marry Hades?” Lola looked at me. “You stood up to your mother for the first time ever, which I never saw coming. And you did that for the god of the dead. It seems cut and dry to me. You did the one thing I never saw you doing for him. If that is not proof of you wanting to be with him what is? I have known you your whole life and I never thought you would choose anyone over Demeter.” I nodded. “He and I are fated.” Lola finally turned from the three headed dog to look at me. “Well there you go. You know you are supposed to have the crown. You know the fates are never wrong. You are supposed to marry Hades and become the Queen of the Underworld.” She did have a point.