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the hall away from her room. Did she feel the same way
about him? He couldn t be certain and that plagued the
mighty God.
There were moments earlier in the evening where he d
thought she was looking at him with love or adoration. He
thought. There was no certainty because Hades didn t
know anything about love. He couldn t only base his
opinions on the way he felt in his gut. And the way he felt in
his gut was that maybe just maybe Persephone felt more
for him than she was prepared to admit. Maybe just maybe
she loved him in return.
Persephone
I set out on a mission the next morning. Back to the
control room I d found when I d first arrived. A vision of mom
came to me in my dreams and I had this urge to see her
consuming me since I d woken up. Part of me hopes that
she s feeling better, even though I know that s probably not
the case. I think seeing her upset will put me back in my
place because ever since last night I can t get over Hades
and how I might not want to leave him.
Repeating all the steps I had followed a few days
earlier, I smile at the sight of mom who is standing in front
of a window. She looks better, healthier. The color is back
in her cheeks and her face looks fuller, like she s been
eating. She s even wearing a tiny smile. The sight of her
smile makes me smile.
As I focus more intensely on her face I notice
something, she s not at home. Wherever she is the walls
are bright, too bright, almost blinding in a way. I can t make
out any more of the room she s in. Where is she?
Suddenly, lights in the room come on and mom s
picture cuts out. I twist around and Hades stands behind
me, his arms crossed, his back against the control panel.
What are you doing? he questions.
I exhale and my chest sinks. Please don t be mad. I
had to see her. I had to see my mom.
I m not mad, he says calmly. How did you know
you d be able to see her in this room?
I explain to him how I d stumbled across this room
when I d first arrived and was curious about it so I explored
and was able to see mom after I d first been taken.
He nods in an understanding way and sighs, I could
have done better if you would have asked.
I inch closer to him. What do you mean you could have
done better?
I could have taken you to see her. In the flesh.
What? How?
You know I m able to make myself and anyone else
with me invisible.
Oh. I forgot about that. Then I snort, trying to keep the
laugh that s stuck in my esophagus from coming up.
Hades tilts his head to the side and narrows his eyes.
What s so funny?
I just thought you d be angrier.
He smirks. At this? He shakes his head. You
sneaking in to the control room is nothing that would make
me mad. Besides, you haven t even seen my real temper.
And that s something I hope you ll never have to see.
Vivid flashbacks of our moment in the hall resurface. If
that wasn t real temper, then he s right, I don t want see it.
We walk down the hall and arrive at the front doors to
the palace. Hades yanks open one of the large cast iron
doors. Well how is she?
Who? I ask, puzzled. My mom?
He nods.
She looks much better.
Good. Then we can get going without you being
distracted.
I smile, excited that he has another surprise in store for
me. Where are we going?
Now I m sure you know I m not going to tell you.
The vast wasteland of the underworld lies in front of me
and sucks all the joy out of me. It makes me feel like the
Grinch minus Christmas. All I need is a village full of tiny
people with sloped button noses and oblong hairstyles to
terrorize. Stay or go. Stay or go. If I stay down here with
Hades I ll consumed by an eternity of dull, drab grey skies,
thick smog, and sadness. There is nothing happy or joyous
about death. It may put an end to a person s suffering
especially if they have a fatal disease, but what if they didn t
lead a good life? They d suffer during their life and they d
suffer forever after they died. And what if I have to aid
Hades in giving them their final judgment? I m not sure if I
can handle that.
There is still a part of me that wants to stay. I glimpse
at Hades next to me and a small smile curls on his plush
lips. My insides crack and fizzle like I ve just swallowed a
mouthful of pop rocks. The affection I feel for him grows as
each day passes and he s the only reason I d consider
staying. And I don t know if that s a good enough reason.
Come here, he says softly.
I creep closer like a starfish on a sandy beach being
lured back into the ocean by the tide. Hades is the water
and as soon as he touches me my tentacles will come
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