Page 26 of Hades & Persephone

Persephone raised her head at the music but couldn’t see where it came from because I used magical instruments. The lyre's softness merged with the drums' deep, heavy beating. It was time for her to see my war dance. I would show her the Underworld was far superior to any festivity on Mount Olympus.

Persephone

I was lost in my memories from last night when the strings of the lyre began to play in the hall. To my surprise, Hades stomped out when the heavy beat of drums joined the lyre. My hand covered my mouth when I saw he wore the familiar fitted black coat, similar to the lovers from the Elysian Fields.

He remained still, poised, with his silhouette sharp against the flickering flames. My anticipation grew as the rhythmic pulse of the drums matched my heartbeat. His broad chest rose and fell with the same beat, but his eyes remained on the black marble floor.

With a sudden explosive movement, he sprung forward, but his boots slammed against the floor. He twirled gracefully in the air with one hand behind his back, and the other spread out wide. I almost stood up to join him as I remembered the graceful dancer who spread her arms like a giant bird of prey.

The drums quickened their beat as Hades brought his arm around and pounded his fist on his chest before he swung into the air, but this time landed on his knees. The momentum of his movement made him spin on the floor before he jumped up again to resume the previous bird-like stance as he moved, dancing with an invisible partner.

His arms sliced through the air, fists clenched as though grasping the essence of the eternal night, while his legs drove him in powerful arcs, each step a declaration of resilience and strength. His head snaps toward me, and his dark eyes beckon me. Without a thought, I rose to meet him.

I remember the female dancer's short, sharp steps, and within seconds, I drifted into the centre of the hall, raising my arms before giving into the beat of the drum. Hades instantly shadowed my movements, but I wasn’t like the dancers in the field because I couldn’t take my eyes off Hades.

I abruptly changed direction and attempted to run away from my shadow, but he followed me just as swiftly until I began to laugh. He remained behind me, towering over me.

My King, my husband and my protector.

We moved backwards and forwards, swirling in circles to change direction until the final drumbeat faded away. My long chiton billowed with my swift movements, but nothing deterred my shadow. My chest heaved from the exertion, but my body thrummed with the echoes of our dance. The silence that followed was heavy with reverence. I finally understood why the lovers danced with one another. They reaffirmed the power and passion of their bond. There was no dance ritual like this on Mount Olympus.

Hades moved behind me to pull my back against his chest.

“Welcome home, Persephone,” he whispered before nuzzling my neck.

The sudden lump in my throat made me turn and fling my arms around Hades. He honoured me with his practised war dance. He was nothing like the cruel, cold God of the Underworld that I once feared. The warmth of his embrace wrapped around me like the molten fires in our realm.

“I love you more than words can express, Hades,” I whispered, trying to stop the flow of tears.

He crushed me against him before he stepped back to shower my face with kisses. His eyes were solemn when I looked up at him, but the deep sadness that once lived there was gone. I pulled him down to claim his lips.

He would never be the Unseen One, not through my eternal eyes.

The End.