THE DAWN OF THE DAY WAS SUNLESS, GREY AND BRAZEN - YET CAME BEARING WINDS FULL OF SILK PROMISES.

The tiles were freezing as I huffed a deep breath, sipping from a flask of spiced Ambrosia.

I loved it. The sharp, biting cold, the warmth of the luxurious carpets, the work awaiting me - us - in the courtroom. I loved those subjects, those souls begging for mercy, those lives waiting to be served their justice. Silent footsteps echoed in the room as I pushed aside the curtains to her chamber.

“Are you awake yet?”

Except that she wasn’t. She wasn’t sleeping, no - she wasn’t even in the damn room.

Worry began to thrum in my veins as I looked around restlessly. A loose curse slipped from my lips.

A tinkling laugh drifted out from behind a painted screen.

“A bit too early in the morning for that, don’t you think, Polydegmon?”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing off, relief filling my body as it warmed the tips of my toes. I carelessly pushed aside the silk to find her in that extravagant dressing gown of hers, dragons and artistic roses sprawled about on the elegant fabric. Her skin was shining with beads of fragrant perfume, shining with an ethereal sheen.

The cinnamon in the wine rolled on my tongue, a blissful hymn as my eyes lingered over the Queen of the Underworld. She seemed to have just stepped out of the bath as whitish puffs of steam still lingered in the air, enveloping her as if it were enchanted mist. Her hair was up in a loose, messy knot on her head – such lovely, luscious hair – and it took all I had to not bury my fingers in those mahogany locks and feel their softness.

Persephone’s bright green eyes twinkled with light I had never seen before.

She had never looked so lovely, so full of spring.

“You might want to pick your jaw off the floor, my lord,” she murmured, her gaze even brighter than before, as if shining with some unknown, untold secret only she knew.

“I – of course,” I managed to gasp. Her golden skinned handmaidens fluttered about her like doves, averting their eyes, too aware of the tangible tension between the rugged stone walls of the room.

“You may go now. Thank you, Illythea,” she smiled at one of the younger girls as she curtsied nervously, and hurried out of the room accompanied by her lady companions.

Persephone sighed, and sat at the edge of the granite bathing tub in the middle of the room, looking only slightly tired.

“Mind if I have some of that?” she gestured to the flask in my hands.

“Too early in the morning for this, don’t you think?” I echoed her words back to her with a smile.

“Good morning to you too, Hades,” she let out a half hearted laugh before taking a deep breath, resting her head in her hands.

I put down the flask and lowered myself onto the floor beside her. Being around her was still so new, so… unknown. Noting that she didn’t flinch, I carefully put a hand on her knee, braving the stormy waters of our new relationship – whatever it could be called.

She seemed… unhinged. I could tell that her knee was shaking.

“Sleep well?”

She bit her lip as my breath hitched, and I carefully steeled myself, curling my fists to stop myself from doing anything I would regret later.

“If you like this dressing gown so much, maybe I can lend it to you,” she said in an attempt to lighten the mood, yet her voice didn’t convince me. “Or I could wear it to court today.”

I chuckled lightly.

“You look lovely in everything, Persephone. Wear what you want to. Or… don’t.”

She drew in a deep, heady breath, her lips parting slightly. Ever so slightly – she bit them, and I nearly reeled back when I noticed how pink, how dewy her lips were. Like a reincarnation of eternal, undying spring. Her eyes darkened bit by bit, melting into deep pools of forest green, so deep – I could drown in them.

Suddenly, she shook herself out of her reverie as if abruptly waking from a dream.

My heart sank a little as she eyed the flask again, gulping quietly.

“It’s ambrosia. Might be a bit too strong for your taste-”

“Excuse me, but you don’t get to decide that, Hades,” she shot out bitterly. Taken aback, I reeled from the bitterness in her voice.

It felt like I’d been slapped.

And she had been right to call me out like that. What had I been thinking? And that too when she’d just been warming up to me.

“I – of course – I am so sorry, Persephone,” I whispered softly to her. “I didn’t think-”

“Please,” she croaked, with tears in her voice. “Please, Hades. I just… just don’t. Don’t trap me like this. Not like my mother. I beg you.”

“Please,” I whispered again, this time sinking to my knees before her. “Please, hear me out, my queen. You are my queen. And I promise to you I will never… never condescend to you.”

I gently touched her hand, placing my palms over hers.

“As long as you are with me – you will always have a choice. Not as a gift. As your goddamn right. You are your own woman, and I will never take away that from you, Proserpina.”

I pressed my lips to her hand, and fireworks exploded in my brain.

“What if they don’t like me?” she sniffed quietly, her eyes reddening. “What if they hate me for being a daughter of summer?”

I looked at her with grief, and she looked at me with boldness, longing shining deep in her eyes.

“They could never hate you. You may be the daughter of summer, but you are the queen of winter. Those people – your people will worship you.”

And even if they don’t, what am I here for?

A giggle slipped out of her lips as I kissed her finger. Then I reached out to wipe a tear from her eye before it fell, and despite the ocean swimming in her eyes, she smiled. She daintily plucked the ambrosia out of my hand and sipped once, twice, before turning to look at me with cautious excitement in her eyes.

“I could get used to this,” she muttered. “Steam baths and a perfect drink to start the day. Though it might take a while to pick an outfit.”

“If you show up drunk to court, even I can’t save you,” I rolled my eyes with a snort. She smacked my nose joyfully, before sauntering off to get dressed.

•••

One hour later, I found myself staring in front of the mirror in robes of inky crimson. The dress left my shoulders bare, trailing beside me in a long cape of velvet that shimmered in the sparkling candlelight. The attendants floated around me like butterflies wreathed in golden tinsel, tying a knot here or fixing a stitch there. One darkened my lips with stained rose, the other fluttering around my head, applying scent behind my ears.

“Your Majesty, would you like the pearl earrings or the diamond ones?”

My cheeks reddened with all the attention.

“I think… in fact, anything is fine…”

“The diamond ones,” Hades darkly muttered from behind me, “those with the blood rubies.”

I turned around to find him lounging on the plush couch, blood red apple in hand as he took a bite. I crooked an eyebrow, putting a hand on my hip as looked at me, impressed, letting out a low whistle.

“Do you charm all the women you bring here with your dressing advice?”

“Just the ones I find beautiful, darling,” he grinned. He stood up, pulling on his black boots as he did. His deadly, beautiful crown rested atop the sea of black curls on his head as his cloak dragged on the floor behind him. There was an air of cautious excitement, of glee around him, and I nearly sensed him bouncing on the balls of his feet as he took a bite of the apple, and held it out to me.

A hurricane of warmth threatened to make my knees buckle as our fingers brushed once again, and inviting darkness gathered in the depths of his eyes. The scent of smoke and leather caressed my senses as he tilted his head slightly, looking right at me. “Court starts in fifteen minutes,” he whispered. Ever so slowly, his hand reached out to twirl around a strand of my hair, before carefully tucking it behind my ear. His lips touched the skin of my ear like an ardent lover, brushing once against it as sensation wracked my body. “Don’t be late,” he murmured, before giving me a silver smile and sauntering out of the door.

When the room was completely empty and the lethally beautiful crown of bones rested on my head, I looked back into the mirror, at the redness in my cheeks - but this time, it did not embarrass me, no. It was hard to believe it - but yes… his touches… they were not unwelcome. And instead… I found myself yearning for more.

Five minutes later, I found myself walking out the door, trying hard to fix the smile on my face. A series of angry growls greeted me on my way out, sending a cascade of chills down my fragile spine.

I turned around the corner to find Hades with his arms crossed, indulgently watching something near the ground. My eyes followed the line of sight to find an intimidating, enormous bloodhound circling the god’s feet.

To say that the animal was beautiful was an understatement.

He was… gorgeous.

And… very, very scary looking.

Its fur was inky, like melted night. Shades of gunmetal and quicksilver wove through the coat. The bloodhound’s movements were faster than the wind, its sleek limbs deftly padding on the floor in unnerving silence. I stood there, mesmerised - as the beast stopped moving, suddenly on alert. He crouched low, baring dangerously sharp teeth, and uttered a low growl.

My feet - stood rooted to the spot. The danger, oh, the danger - it was seductive, mysteriously alluring.

“Careful now,” Hades muttered sternly, his fingers disappearing in the hound’s fur. His voice was quiet, but very precariously tottered on the edge of warning. His grey gaze skimmed over my body - first, in admiration - finally coming to a rest at my face, carefully observing for signs of panic.

A slight sheen of sweat covered my hand - but otherwise, I felt fine.

“Persephone, this is Cerberus. He’s supposed to guard the Gates of the Dead so that no souls escape the Underworld - but so far, he’s only been roaming around terrifying the shit out of everywhere. Cerberus, say hello.”

The bloodhound barked angrily, nipping at Hades’ fingers.

“Hello, Cerberus,” I said tentatively, itching to touch the gorgeous animal’s luxurious fur.

The beast’s eyes glowed in shades of dusted silver, flashing angrily.

“Touchy, are we?” Hades affectionately stroked the hound’s head, grinning at me. "Don't be afraid," he spoke to me, his voice gentle. "He's just excited to see me after so long."

Cerberus growled softly, his nose sniffing, eyes glinting like poisoned water. He started to circle me, treading quietly on the ground, gaze fixed on me. I froze, holding my breath as Hades squeezed my shoulder.

“He won’t hurt you, trust me. He’s only curious,” he promised, sincerity shining in his eyes. I gulped, still frozen. Fear snaked into my veins as Cerberus raised his snout and it brushed across my hand, soft as velvet. The deadly, angry animal finally rolled his eyes and settled himself on a spot near my feet with a silent plop. Relief washed over me.

“There. He’s accepted you as one of his own. Be prepared to be annoyed everyday for the rest of your life,” Hades chuckled throatily. A giggle spilled out me as Cerberus snorted, sighing sharply. He raised his proud head to glare at his master, before haughtily walking away into the shadows.

“Did he just… scowl at you?” I whispered, eyes wide.

“He tends to do that when he's bored,” the Lord of the Underworld grinned, linking an arm around mine. “Afraid I'm going to come home one day and find it in flames,” he smirked.

A dark, threatening snarl drifted out of the shadows as Cerberus barked, and then growled at Hecate who’d just been coming to us from across the hall. She shot him a look of exasperation, and sighed.

“That beast of yours is restless, Hades,” she snapped. “Charon threw a hissy fit the other day after the animal ran off with his hat.”

Hades threw back his head and laughed. A smile bloomed on my lips as I imagined the withered ferryman running after the bloodhound and smacking him with his oars. Even the lady of witchcraft had an irritated, reluctant smile on her face, trying hard not to break out in laughter.

“He is a beast of the wild. You cannot expect me to keep him on a leash, goddess."

"True," she sighed, her emerald green eyes glinting as she looked me up and down. She nodded in silent approval, lips in a thin line, before she spoke, her voice low and heavy like gravel.

“Persephone. Do you fare well today?”

How many funerals can one attend before they turn eighteen?

“I think so,” I mumbled tentatively. She eyed the crown on my head, before looking to Hades, who shrugged. "Being Queen of the Underworld is a heavy burden. I can only hope your delicate shoulders are ready to bear it," she said at last, before pushing the heavy, gilded doors of the throne room open. “Welcome to your first day at court.”