Chapter#9- Hoping

The clock struck noon but still Persephone slept. Hades, exhausted, kept wishing and hoping for some kind of response from the girl, even if it was that she hated him.1

“Hades, please you need sleep”. Atropos said, entering the room. 2

Her wrinkled fingers closed on his shoulder and brought him out of his trance,“What?”3

“I said get some sleep. I can take care of her”.4

“No! Atropos when Persephone is well again, then I’ll rest”.5

“But Hades!”6

He raised a hand.“I will hear no more on this. My word is final!”7

“Suit yourself.” The goddess sighed, leaving the room. Hades hardly heard her, as he once again took up watch over his beloved. 8

During the night, Persephone had tossed and turned as her fever raged. What was far worse was that her magic escaped from her now childlike form in greenish vapor. This caused her to cry out in her delirium. Hades could do nothing for her. He had tried holding her still, but even then she thrashed around and screamed with pain. When she was quiet, in the rare moments between fits, Hades' mind wandered. This is all my fault! What was I thinking bringing her here? All I've done is get her leg broken and now.... A moan from the bed made him jump. Persephone was covered in blankets up to her chin. Her fiery hair was now dark and dull from sweat, her skin ashen, and her eyes were not a bright green but foggy, and a shade of faded green like that of grass underneath snow. However these things mattered very little to Hades, all he cared about was that she was awake.9

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No one spoke for a long moment, Hades dumbstruck, and Persephone trying to find her voice. She looked at his face and, found to her horror that tears trickled down his cheeks.11

“Hades! You're crying.” She exclaimed, trying to raise a trembling hand to wipe them away.12

Hades caught that hand as it fell back onto the bed. “I thought I was going to lose you,” he sobbed, “I'm so sorry. Its all my fault. If I'd have watched closer I could have–“13

Persephone angry, sat up,” listen to me! You couldn't have done anything–”14

“Yes I could–”15

“What? drink it yourself!? Hecate wanted me dead, Hades”.16

“She almost succeeded!” he sobbed with grief.17

“I know, Hades, I know. That old harpy almost won last night...,” she said before her words became a racking cough.18

“Hold on, how did you know Hecate...” he trailed off even talking about her made rage boil in the pit of his stomach.19

“I recognized her magic in the wine. It was so dark and cold, not like your's....” She stopped seeing the looked on Hades' face.20

“My magic, is cold to you?” he said crestfallen.21

“Oh no, not like that, even at first your's was like a winter wind, sharp but not unbearable. Hecate's is a cold that chills to the very bone and could freeze the blood in your veins.”22

“What is my magic like now?” 23

Persephone turned away, her cheeks getting hot, her mind in a panic. No. It screamed. not yet! you can't tell him yet.24

“Persephone?!”25

Persephone's body wrenched. Her eyes closed as the poison once again took hold of her weak body. 26

“Why?” She gasped when the tremors had stopped. “Why did she poison me?”27

“I don't know sweetheart,” he said running a hand through his hair. 28

“Yes you do! Don't treat me like a child! I'm not afraid of her.”29

“Then maybe you should be”.30

“Just because you are doesn't mean I have to be!” 31

******32

Hades raised an eyebrow, surprised at her. She is showing that fiery spirit again. Yes, you are definitely getting better, Little Imp. He thought. Despite this, he wasn't going to let her get away with calling him afraid.33

“Afraid, AFRAID!” he boomed, “I, the King of the Underworld afraid. Ha!”34

Persephone just sat there, unabashed. “You heard me! I said afraid! Because if you weren't, you'd tell me why she poisoned me! Don't worry about me so much, I'm not going to go looking for revenge.” to herself she added, not yet anyway.” 35

“All right Persephone, you've made your point”. He growled. “Hecate poisoned you because I...” he couldn't do it. He was too ashamed. 36

“Because you love me, and not her?” Hades nodded but did not meet her eyes. “Well, she always was power hungry. But, she would make a better match”.37

“DON'T YOU EVER SAY OR THINK THAT AGAIN!” He yelled, then, seeing the frightened look on Persephone's face, took her frail hands in his and whispered, “I do not and never will want anyone but you as my wife, Little Imp.”38

“STOP! Hades, please I can't stand telling you no again.” she sobbed,“I'm not ready to marry you, or anyone –” Her words were cut short by one violent all-consuming shudder that caused her to fell back onto the pillows.39

“Rest.” Hades soothed, wiping the sweat from her brow as he playfully tugged on the ends of her hair. Persephone lightheartedly batted away his hands, before falling asleep. 40

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Days passed and still Hecate's poison wreaked havoc on Persephone's body. Hades never left her side unless it was absolutely necessary. In some cases it took all three of the Fates and Persephone to even convince him to get some sleep. On account of that, part of the King of the Dead still blamed himself for Persephone's illness.