2- Persephone

She woke up like other days.

Laying straight, staring at the glass stained ceiling that had an image of Hera in her finest reverie.

Persephone knew that she was supposed to worship her because she was her Familia.

Yet, great emphasis on WAS.

The story still was something that she never liked to dwell on, or think about though she found herself being reminded of it every single second she woke.

For Persephone never really knew why the gods decided to play with her as early as she could remember, though it wasn't entirely surprising, the gods were monsters in their own ways, and toying with mortal lives meant nothing to them.

Sighing now, she sat up and stared outside the window as she had for the past three months, noticing that the snow and ice was gone, that it was first day of Spring.

That she would see Him today.

A small smile came to her face as she slides off her bed, a robe over her body then opened her room door, staring through the halls, then as she was sure no one was there, set out for her Mother's chambers.

It was at the farthest place in the castle, away from slaves and people who came and asked questions, away from prying eyes and for only eyes that were Persephone alone.

"Can I come in Mother?"

A useless question, but it was customary, if there was anything that Persephone, she was strict with rules, and in a way that she never understood.

When she got no answer, she walked inside, the scent of incense filling the room as she spotted her Mother, seated upright on the bed, eyes far away and distant.

Persephone was sure that her personal slave had come and cleaned her up before she woke up but it was natural for her to want to do it.

Natural.

"How are you today Mother?" She asked, taking a cloth and delving it into the water filled bowl, before slightly dabbing her Mother's face.

No response showed that the woman was listening but Persephone kept up. "The day looks inviting and I am sure that I will be able to have a little tea party with the wild horses and maybe see if our cute little Circe has had her pups. I bet you would have loved a walk outside, after staying inside for so long."

Still no reply.

Persephone let her smile linger, setting the cloth back. "It's my eighteenth birthday, by the way, and... Well, of course, Cleon always celebrates it but it is never the same without you."

Nothing.

"Oh." She added this with a glad feeling in her heart. "And my godfather would be here, I imagine he is in my room right now, with my gift, as usual, being predictable."

Her head spun, she wanted to be far away, but she knew that she would not let herself rest if she did not complete this little ritual of hers. "I am still very sorry that I am the cause of this punishment and I still keep praying that Zeus will heal you, but he does not heed the mortals that do not belong to his Familia much, from what I've heard."

She was staring at her robe, her fingers picking the borders as she stayed there silently, for how long, she was not sure but when she felt that she had requited enough, she stood. "I have to go Nother, I shall be back tomorrow morning with events about today, please bless me."

And without waiting to see if she would get a reply, she set out of the room.

As usual, going there and coming out ever drained her mental energy but she was everything determined about today.

Besides, it was her birthday and there was nothing anyone could do to make today dull for her.

Fixing back a more smug face, Persephone half glided, and half walked back to her room, her eyes spotting the figure on her bed as a warm feeling filled her. "Hades."

His short white hair always floated around, like he was in water and his pale skin was a contrast to the lively colour in my room, but with the way he stood, all dressed in black and in a General's uniform even though he hated this present worlds clothes and never failed to mention it, she could not help but feel happy. "Goddaughter."

She was in his arms in a heartbeat, filling herself with his scent, even though it was mainly fire and ash but she had grown to love it.

He likewise played with her hair and when she pulled away, he gave a comment, "Your hair grows wilder still."

A small smile came on her lips. "Anything to defy Father."

His face reflected the same smile as she said that.

It was no common knowledge that Charilaus Diamandis hid his daughter, possibly because she was not like other girls who preferred tea parties and small talk.

Persephone wanted to ride horses and talk politics.

She wanted to see a god and ask why they were such prudes.

Not a daughter that suited marriageable age.

And of course, with that hair of hers that never seemed to straighten, no matter how many stylists he got on it, he simply just avoided it and her.

Hades did not say the words, instead his hands brought forth a new gift, one wrapped in a black silk box.

Persephone's eyes stared at the box before she faced her godfather, hands on her waist as she said, "You do know that this is not necessary"

"What is not?"

"Bringing me a gift when I reach a new age." She said her eyes turning around to see the shelf of books he had brought her each day after her thirteenth birthday, "These are enough."

Hades eyes fell on the shelf that were filled with books, books she would never find anywhere else, books he had written himself by asking the souls below their stories and giving them to her to keep herself company. "I did not realize."

"Really?"

He faced her again. "Those were not birthday gifts, this is. I thought that it was customary to present gifts to humans when the day of their birth arrives, I am only trying to fit in."

This was the little game they played for the last five years, her telling him she did not want a gift, and him telling her that it seemed normal because all other humans did it.

"Well, just so you know, your hair wouldn't let you fit in." She said with a snort.

Hades knew it was not a derogatory remark for she envied his hair and always made a note to poke at it because he refused to make hers white as well and smiled, "Would you open your gift?"

Eyes on him with her hands on the box, she took off the ribbon, the silk wrap falling off before she took away the lid of the box and peering inside it, her wide eyes dilating as she looked at him, then inside. "You- How- But-"

He did not bother to help her say the words and she kept choking on hers before she took it out.

It was a necklace, made of flowers, flowers that shown like they were filled with lava.

Flowers that were only native to the underworld itself.

Her hands brushed the glowing embers, feeling nothing as she whispered, "But you said they could not be tamed."

"I said there would be great pain if I tried to tame them." Hades replied, "You have wanted to hold them for so long, I thought it was only necessary -."

She was hugging him again. "Thank you."

Pyarmëila, a flower that Hades himself grew below with the lava that came from the earth, they shone and were very beautiful, but Hades himself would not touch them because though he grew them, lava was still lava and touching it would cause him great pain and gods were not accustomed to pain, they avoided it as much as they could.

The fact that he had managed to make them touchable meant he must have touched them as well.

Pulling away, Persephone hurriedly removed the gloves in his hands and saw it.

The burn marks that made tears rise to her eyes as she heard Hades say softly, "It shall not scar after a while."

"Did it hurt a lot?" Her voice squeaked.

He gave no answer.

Hades was not one to lie, no matter the question and therefore avoided to answer all together if he could not say the truth.

"I shall treasure it." She said with a smile now, brushing away the tears from her eyes and setting the necklace back into it's box gently, as if it would break before the door opened and a low voice said, "My Lord! I had no idea that you were -."

Hades waved a careless hand in the air as Persephone turned around to stare at Cleon, noticing the thing in his hand as her heart dropped. "Not you too."

Cleon smiled, coming inside the room and shutting the door gently. "I have studied the art very well and I am quite sure I have mastered it."

Persephone's eyes went back to the cake that had candles on it and then to Cleon who was now infront of her, his black beady eyes shining as she said, "Did you hurt yourself as well?"

He chuckled. "I used to at the beginning, but not anymore. Happy birthday, Mistress"

"This was unnecessary."

"Your Mother would have wanted this." Cleon said, his voice lower than he usually spoke, his eyes down.

Persephone knew that the reason her Father did not love her Mother was because of the man before him, but she knew that it was not Cleon's fault, the male doted on Persephone ever since her Mother became disabled, even if it meant incurring Father's wrath in the way and so she could not hate him, no matter the sin he committed.

"How did you even get the materials to make it?" Persephone asked, staring at him. "People do not make cakes anymore and Mother was the only one in this whole house that could."

Cleon's eyes twinkled when he said, "I had a little help"

She stared at him, wondering what he meant and turned to her godfather who shrugged as if saying, I did not help him, then turned back to Cleon who now said, "Blow the candles and make a wish."

Smiling at him now, she bent to blow it before someone called out, "Do not blow on it. I deserve to be there while you do."

Eyes rolling now, she stood straight again as his face came into view before he entered the room and stood behind her. "You might as well get on with it now."

Letting out a sigh, she bent again and blew the candles, getting a 'happy birthday!' again from Cleon and a nod from her godfather before she turned to the male and said, "If you did not make such an entrance into my room, you would not have died."

Achilles Eliades, son of Gerasimus Eliades was the typical Ares Familiar type.

Tall, muscular, tanned skin with brown hair and bright eyes.

A man that spoke brawn over brains. "I got the cake made, I deserved to see it through."

"You don't deserve anything." Persephone replied, "And please, by the gods, tell me you have brought me another brood of vipers as a birthday present."

"You should show more respect to my children."

"No man in his right senses would call snakes their children, Achilles."

The male in question took in a huge breath, as if steadying himself from slapping sense into her before his eyes fell on the man in black clothes. "Lord Hades, I was not aware of your presence."

"I did not want to be seen." Was Hades curt reply.

Persephone knew that her godfather, to others was cold and merciless, mean and cruel, causing everyone to stay away from him, and the fact he blended into shadows the minute other people surrounded her did not help much but she knew that it wasn't true.

No cruel man would have a dog called Spot and grow flowers that had to be sang to.

No, Hades was softer than her pillow which was made of feathers.

Achilles, who as usual, wanted to be away from the supposed god of death faced Persephone and said, "Your Father had asked that I come accompany you below for breakfast."

"Then I am on my way." She said with a shrug. "I wonder what today would be like." Then she turned to Cleon who had been standing quietly in a corner, "Do you know what he might say?"

Surprised that she had asked, he jolted then said, "N-No, he does not tell me those things."

Lie, but Persephone sighed and faced Achilles. "You can go away now, I shall be down soon."

He bowed to her, then Lord Hades before leaving.

Immediately he was gone, she made a face, "He is such a prick."

"Language." Hades said, but a smile was on his face.