As they made their way through the crowd, Persephone smile and nodded, and when her eyes fell on Hecate, she broke from Hades to take her hands.
“Hecate! You look beautiful!”
They embraced. The Goddess of Witchcraft was luminous—she wore a silver, glittering gown that fit her frame and flared out. Her thick, dark hair spilled over her shoulders, and sparkling stars glittered in her long locks.
“You flatter me, my dear,” she said.
Suddenly, Persephone found herself surrounded by souls. They hugged her and thanked her, told her how amazing the palace looked and how beautiful she was. She didn’t know how long she stood there, accepting embraces and talking to the people of the Underworld, but it was music that broke up the crowd.
Persephone’s first dance was with a few children from the Underworld. They moved in circles and twirled, giggling with joy. When that dance was finished, Charon approached. He was dressed all in white, his usual color, except that the edges of his robes were embroidered with azure thread. He bowed, one hand covering his heart.
“My lady, may I have the next dance?”
She smiled and took his hand. “Of course!”
Persephone joined a line dance, weaving through the souls. She'd never laughed or smiled so much in her life. Two dances later, she turned to find Hermes bowing.
“My lady,” he said.
“It's Persephone, Hermes,” she said, taking his hand. The music was different now, coasting into a charming, slow melody.
“You look almost as amazing as me,” he said smugly as they moved about the room.
“What a thoughtful compliment,” she teased.
The god grinned and then leaned in. “I can’t tell if it’s the dress or all the sex you’ve been having with the god of this realm.”
Persephone blushed. “Not funny, Hermes!”
He looked amused. “Isn’t it?”
“How do you even know?”
“Well, it’s rumored he carried you through the palace to his bed.”
She blushed fiercely. She would never forgive Hades for that.
“I see it’s true.”
She rolled her eyes.
“So tell me—how was it?”
“I’m not going to talk to you about it, Hermes.”
“I bet he’s rough,” Hermes mused.
Persephone looked away both to hide her blush and her laugh. “You’re impossible.”
Hermes chuckled. “But truly—love looks good on you.”
“Love?” She almost choked.
“Oh dear—you haven’t realized it yet, have you?”
“Realized what?”
“That you’re in love with Hades.”
“I’m not!”
“Are, too,” he said. “And, he loves you.”
“I almost preferred your questions about my sex life,” she muttered.
Hermes laughed. “You walked into this room like you were his queen. You think he would let just anyone do that?”
She honestly didn’t know.
“I think the Lord of the Underworld has found his bride.”
She wanted to argue that Hades hadn’t found her—he’d captured her, but instead of saying that, she raised her brow at the God of Trickery and said, “Hermes, are you drunk?”
“A little,” he admitted sheepishly, and though she laughed, his words worked into her mind. Did she love Hades? She had only let herself think of it briefly after their first night together and then crushed those thoughts altogether.
As Hermes spun her, she glanced around, searching the crowd for Hades. She hadn’t seen him since they had come down the stairs together, and she’d immediately been surrounded by souls. She spotted him sitting in a dark throne. He was reclined, a hand raised to his lips, and he was staring at her. Thanatos stood on one side of the throne, dressed in black, his wings folded neatly like a cape. Minthe loomed on the other looking radiant in a shimmery black. They were like an angel and an devil on the shoulders of the God of the Dead.
Persephone looked away quickly, but Hermes seemed to notice she was distracted and stopped dancing.
“It’s alright, Sephy,” he said, releasing her. “Go to him.”
Persephone hesitated. “It’s okay—”
“Claim him, Persephone.”
She smiled at Hermes, and the crowd parted as she made her way to Hades. He watched her, and she couldn’t quite place the look on his face, but something inside her was drawn to him. As she neared, his hand fell, resting on the arm of his throne. She bowed low, and then rose.