4- Persephone

"How long does it take you to wear a cloth?"

"I would stay longer if you make one more complaint Achilles, I swear on my feminity!"

"We both know there is nothing feminine about you."

"You having a stick in between your legs does not make you a man, dear, I mean, guess who broke your nose when you thought she was a female?"

He had grown quiet.

And good riddance, Persephone thought, now tugging on the jacket, her eyes falling on the mirror infront of her that showed the exasperation she felt.

There were beads of sweat on her forehead, her hair was packed to the back so that she could let some air touch her face at least, her chest rose and fell heavily and she felt oddly restricted in this men wear but if it made her ride her horses better, she knew she could bear it.

Until of course, she exploded and poor Achilles would be at the receiving end of it.

When she opened the door and met his grateful look, she smiled, "Do you already regret today?"

"It is your birthday." He said, like she had forgotten. "I am being sympathetic with the likes of you."

"Or you still feel guilty about the whole thing five years ago?" She asked with a sickly sort of smile.

Achilles did not give an answer but instead turned away and said, "The horses await us in the stable, and while we walk there, why don't we talk about your little stunt in the eating hall?"

Persephone let out a snort, shutting the changing room's door and walking to his side. "He had it coming."

"No one deserves you have coming for them, no one."

She only rolled her eyes as a response.

Earlier after the little birthday celebration in her room, Persephone had cleaned up, let Hades do his usual ritual of brushing her hair and then after thirty minutes of her asking questions, stop and head downstairs.

"How was winter like?"

"It was winter."

"How is Persephone then?"

"She breathes."

"Does she still not like me?"

"You bear her name, there is always a strong bond between people with similar names."

"You literally just avoided my question"

"Did I?"

"Are we having lessons today?"

"No, today, you shall go riding with Achilles, but you shall be within the reach of my hands, Persephone, do not go further than the lake."

"Why? So you can keep me locked like Father?"

"No, because it took a long time to get your Father to let you out and because Achilles got into trouble for making horse riding clothes your size."

"Isn't it stupid how women are not allowed to ride horses?"

"I never understand humans."

"Neither can I. Maybe that is why we are bonded."

"Maybe."

"... Godfather, would you tell me how I became your Familia?"

As usual, there was a pause, but then he continued to brush her, droning like a machine that Persephone was used to as he repeated words she had heard a million times. "On your thirteenth birthday, you had a little sort of argument with Achilles and broke his nose then fell into a deep sleep, your Mother risked her soul's mortality to bring you to me and I chose to make you my Familia, as Zeus, who had chosen you, was in my debt and let me do so without bringing harm to you."

"Do you know why he chose me?"

"I do not understand the ways of the Olympians, I barely meet them."

"They are your family."

"Family is more than just birth but yes, they are."

"Would they not tell you -."

"I am done."

And he was.

Persephone had her hair brushed, even though there were still curled and unruly, but she was also sure that thirty minutes had passed because as usual, Hades never lied.

With a pout, she turned to him. "I never understand how you manage to end at that part everytime. I wonder if you control time as well."

He only smiled softly at her, "Let us go below and await your father, Child."

Though no one, except of course, Cleon (because he was the one who cared for her after her Mother's situation) and Achilles (who was obviously connected to the change of her tattoo and for some reason, stuck to her ever since then possibly because he felt guilty about it and Persephone manipulated that side to her advantage everytime), no one else knew that she was now a Hades Familia.

It was one reason she never let her hair up in a bun.

Her Father's reaction if he spotted her tattoo might drive him into early shock.

Though Persephone and Charilaus Diamandis were not exactly on the best terms, she remembered little things of her past.

After she had woken, she was having a vomiting fit and was deathly pale with cold skin like she was drenched in extremely cold water.

Her memory was foggy and she had asked for her Mother.

Nektaria never woke up.

Persephone had not known she had slept for one week, but her Father avoided her after he came and saw her the day she awoke.

His eyes had fallen on his daughters form and he had spat out 'That is not my child'

And after that, avoided her.

She knew from little memories that she was his jewel as a child, and something had happened to make him not even want to look at her anymore, though she never knew what exactly and became lost.

For six months, she locked herself in her room, Charilaus sent teachers day in and day out to educate her on women ways, and how to worship Hera well, but she either hit them, poisoned them, or gave them nightmares that Charilaus never could understand.

It had been in the nine month of her isolation that a man with white hair and pale skin that answered only to Hades, said he was a teacher and would be the next in charge of Persephone.

Charilaus had never heard of him and had only accepted him because he needed the child out of her room and much to his amazement, after thirty minutes, he was out with his daughter who stared at him with brown eyes filled with near joy.

What he never knew was that Hades had met Persephone, a child that was lost and lonely and scared because she had a black tattoo of a three headed dog on her back and told her that she was his goddaughter and that he loved her and accepted her, and would protect her.

As a child, she had asked if he could bring her Mother back.

Hades had only said, "Your Mother is now in Zeus' hand and I cannot challenge him. You, on the other hand, I can protect. I met your Father before this, she would not want you worrying about her Child, have fun, I shall always be here with you, and besides, I am immortal, you are in luck, human."

And Persephone had laughed.

Charilaus, of course, did not know that Hades, was, well, the lord of the underworld, but as far as he tutored his daughter and made her look sane enough for his eyes, he was content.

As she grew, Persephone had developed a sort of meet and greet with her Father, a very shallow thing as both could not breathe the same oxygen with the other, even meal times were done with them both in the same place once a year.

That day, being her birthday.

"He loves you."

"You say that, I do not argue."

"You do not believe. He does love you, but there is this thing that male mortals do. Their fear of being sentimental, it is confusing."

"You are Male."

"I am."

"You are not like him."

"No one is quite the same, besides, I have god blood in my veins."

"We are made from the likeness of gods, are we not?"

"You are a curious thing, are you not? Read your book."

Hades had gone to the hall first before her, sitting on the cushion next to her, as always, Achilles some seats away, Cleon standing behind the spot her Father usually sat, though he was not yet...

Ah, here he was.