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After the awkward start, we both relaxed while we sat through Minos, Rhadamanthus and Aeacus’s judgements. Persephone had a throne that matched mine while the three judges sat in their usual black marble thrones. Much to my satisfaction, each time I snuck a glance at Persephone, her entire focus was on the shade's testimonies.
One by one, the shades moved toward the middle of the courtyard. Some stood tall, with their heads held high as they recounted their virtuous deed, while others cowered, their voices trembling as they confessed their failures.
Her hand suddenly covered mine, slipping her fingers beneath it until she gripped my palm. The first child stood in the centre of the courtyard. She didn't speak but her eyes beseeched me for leniency.
The heavyweight I had carried since arriving at the Underworld suddenly felt heavier. The Gods and Goddesses were loved, with many devotees dedicating their lives to them. Perhaps I was wrong, but nobody respected me and my world. They only feared me.
“What of the children, my Lord? What judgment awaits them?” Persephone whispered.
I kept my eyes on the tiny figure in the courtyard as I answered. “The innocent are treated with fairness. Their lives, though brief, are weighed with compassion. They are often sent to the Fields of Asphodel, where they may find peace and rest,” I said stiffly.
She squeezed my hand before releasing her hold. Her eyes returned to the child, but mine moved to study her. She watched the magistrates confer briefly. Their voices were a low murmur. With a gesture, they directed the child towards a path that led to a brighter, more serene part of the underworld.
Persephone gripped my arm this time and dug her nails into me. When I glanced at the child’s shade, the fear and sorrow were gone, and a faint smile appeared. The tension left Persephone as her exuberant grip loosened, and she sighed before she sat back on her throne.
My irritation at her suspicions toward me vanished as it dawned on me that Persephone cared enough about the mortals to challenge me—the God of the Underworld. Not many could become the Queen of the Underworld. Persephone was stronger than she realised, and my instincts were correct.
“Justice here is not without mercy,” I said softly. “Even in this realm of darkness, there is light for those who deserve it.”
Persephone cleared her throat and removed her hand from my arm to push her hair back, but she nodded before twirling her hair around her finger. I stared at the lighter wheat colour mixed in with the dark. The combination of dark and light made me think of the contrast of her nipple against her pale flesh.
Now was not the time to think of consummating our union.
I glanced at the courtyard to focus on the next soul. Together, we continued to observe the procession of the shades, with each soul's story and deeds unfolding before us. Persephone witnessed how consideration was given prior to a verdict being decided. I held a grave responsibility in dealing with the dead and used logic, not emotion, to uphold justice.
Could Persephone say the same for the Olympians?
Chapter 9
Persephone
Hades had left me to rot in his palace, or so I thought. His dedication to his role as God of the Underworld was admirable. Watching the remains of the mortals being received into the Underworld was difficult. Some plants flourished and bloomed, only to become barren once their blossoms deteriorated. The roots remained intact until the cycle began again. The Underworld reminded me of the roots which were buried deep inside the earth.
When I felt Hades' eyes on me, my stomach tightened with anxiety. His anger was as dark as his home; he’d held himself in check, but something simmered beneath his surface, making me nervous. I jumped to conclusions and made accusations without verifying all the facts.
I distracted myself by concentrating on breathing in the stagnant air, heavy with the scent of damp earth and extinguished flames. The scent wasn't as strong inside the palace, but it was abundant in the courtyard. Hades had been down here for centuries and I couldn't imagine being trapped down here forever. I pushed the thought away and looked at the judges for a distraction.
The three judges began to confer, distracting me from Hades. Their dark grey chitons were longer than Hades's, and they all wore gold crowns but nothing as intricately decorated as Hades' crown. Their faces were rigid and stern, yet their piercing eyes were animated as they weighed the soul's deeds.
I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, yet my pride prevented me from apologising to my abductor. Unable to help myself, I peered at him from the corner of my eye only to find his eyes on me. His cold, dark eyes remained on my face as he reached out and took my hand. He placed it on his marble armrest and covered it with his hand, trapping it beneath his.
My empty belly spasmed at the contact. There was something about Hades or the Underworld that was affecting me, and it confused me. When I attempted to tug my hand away from his, his grip tightened, and he looked away from me as the next shade stepped into the middle of the courtyard.
I tried not to respond to his grip on my hand and resumed watching the remaining trials. Thankfully, there weren't many who ended up in Elysium or Tartarus. They had to be exceptionally virtuous or wicked to earn those destinations. The Underworld was bleak, yet there was light from the volcanic fires, and I knew the Elysian Fields blazed as bright as the sun. The reflection of the light could be seen from the tower.
The Underworld was as mysterious as its ruler.
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Without uttering a word, Hades escorted me to a part of the palace I didn't recognise. The palace was too large and confusing for me, even after days of exploration. I entered the room and froze when I saw the colossal centrepiece bed. Before I could say anything, Hades was gone. When I swivelled around, the large golden doors snapped shut.
After some hesitation, I walked around the room to inspect the layout and towering pillars encircling the bed. I swallowed because I knew this was Hades’s room. There were tall mirrors on one side, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Did Hades primp and preen in his crowns before seeing to his realm?
At a closer look, I saw that panels on the wall were doors. I opened them and saw rows of clothes and crowns. When I opened the one beside it, I gasped because there were female chitons of all colours and crowns made from various unusual metals and precious gems. Below the clothing were jewel-encrusted belts and slippers. The temptation to touch the soft fabric and glittering gems was difficult to resist.
