I was confident enough with the layout of Hades' palace to be able to navigate from my rooms to the kitchens, the grand library, and my reading room without needing to look at Hades' maps. I was returning from the kitchens, cup of tea and a book in hand, to my reading room when I noticed the door was already open. Markos stood in the center of the room, looking at the reading material cluttered on every available surface with nothing short of contempt.

"Oh, what are you doing here?"

"I live here, my lady." Markos sighed heavily, using the title as more of an insult than anything.

I smiled, all teeth. "As do I."

"Don't remind me."

"I see you're in fine form today, Markos." I raised an eyebrow. "Why are you here?"

"You've been summoned."

"Where to?"

"The Hall of Judgment."

"I didn't know where I resided in the Underworld was a matter needing to be discussed. Am I being moved?" I chuckled at my joke, but I was genuinely intrigued as to why I was being formally summoned. It hadn't happened before and I hadn't visited the Hall yet.

"I wish."

"How will I get there?"

Instead of answering, Markos glanced behind me and I turned to look. Hypnos was leaning against the wall in the hallway.

"Hecate is indisposed, so I get this honor." He held out his hand for me. "We need to get going."

I looked at the book and the cup in my hand. "Well, I guess you'll have to take care of these for me, Markos. Have a splendid time." I placed them on a nearby table and took Hypnos' arm.

Markos just sighed heavily as we left but when we were out of hearing range, Hypnos laughed. "Oh, I love how you torment him. It gives him a taste of his own medicine."

"Do you know what this is about?"

"Just that Hades needs you at the Hall. Let's not keep her waiting very long, shall we?"

I made polite conversation with him, asking him about his dream children, while we quickly walked through the palace. When I asked how many Oneiroi there were, he chuckled nervously and blushed.

"Quite a few."

"What about your brother?"

"Thanatos? He doesn't have any children. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious." I figured if Hypnos had so many children, his brother would have just as many.

"Are you interested in my brother's sexual pursuits? Why him? Is it the hair? I could change it if you wanted."

I shoved him away from me. "Oh, Gods, the both of you are ridiculous. Give it a rest already, would you?"

He just laughed as he opened the front door for me. I hurried through but once my feet were on the ground and the plants began to grow, I paused and grudgingly held out my hand for him to take. He wasted no time and in an instant, we were in front of the Hall of Judgment.

It was a grand structure, worthy of the name. Countless columns towered into the sky above us to hold up a heavy stone roof.

"Quit marveling at the grandeur and let's go inside. I'm sure you'll be here again." Hypnos tugged on my hand. "I don't like to keep Hades waiting. She's a very busy woman."

The inside of the Hall was even more magnificent, columns gilded with silver and gold, mosaics made from only vibrant gemstones, three simple thrones sitting side by side, and a single throne on a platform behind them. One of the three thrones held Aeacus, so I could only gather that the other spirits were Minos and Rhadamanthus, the other two judges. A woman with pale blonde hair was standing on the platform, speaking to the figure wearing a black jeweled robe that was sitting on the high throne.

Hades moved when she noticed our presence. "Persephone, you're here! Rhadamanthus, Minos, this is Persephone, goddess of plants. I believe you and Aeacus have already met."

"Nice to see you again, Aeacus."

"You're looking much better, my lady."

"Hecate, what are you doing here? I thought you were too busy to take Persephone." Hypnos narrowed his eyes.

Hecate smiled. "I was."

"Then why are you here now? You could have easily taken her. Not that I mind, of course, Persephone. Your very presence is a gift." Hypnos tried to assure me, as if he thought he was hurting my feelings. "It's just that I was in the midst of an engagement with one of the Lampades that I had to rudely cut short."

"Oh, I was well aware of that, Hypnos." Hecate laughed and even Hades chuckled at Hypnos' cross expression.

"Hades, why was I summoned?"

"Oh, right. Aeacus, if you would." She nodded to him.

He waved his hand and a spirit appeared in front of us. "This woman is from Eleusis and she has some interesting things to say."

The spirit turned around but even without corporeal form, I could tell she was a nymph from the near-perfection of her features. She bowed deeply when she saw me. "My lady, you may not remember me, but my name is Daeira. I was in the following of your mother's when you were a child and only recently came back to Eleusis."

"You died because of Zeus, didn't you?" I whispered, my hands shaping into fists by my sides. The braziers and torches lining the hall dimmed considerably.

"When Eleusis was destroyed, I was destroyed with it. Many of us were, but that is not your fault. We would all gladly die for you, my lady."

"That is not something I want, Daeira," I snapped. "Why are you not enjoying the rest of your afterlife? Why have you petitioned for something else?"

"Your mother wanted me to find you, to make sure you were okay."

"My mother..." I started slowly, but stilled with realization and rage. "Demeter sent you to die?"

The fires jumped, lurching our shadows further away from us, but quieted with a forced gaze from Hecate.

"It wasn't like that, my lady!" Daeira exclaimed, but shrunk away from the sight of my anger. "She wanted to make sure you were safe from him and..."

"It was precisely what she did. She sent you to your death, just for me. She is no better than the man I have to call my father." I was seething, unable to contain my emotions even in front of my audience. "I wish I could return just to kill her myself."

Daeira gasped. "My lady, surely you don't mean that about the Great Mother..."

I laughed harshly at the epithet. "Great Mother? She couldn't even be my mother."

"Persephone..." Hades murmured softly as she slipped off her throne, but looked to the others. "Leave us. Daeira can stay."

The spirit judges disappeared into smoke but Hecate and Hypnos had to walk out. Hypnos squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Persephone, parental issues are not uncommon with us."

Hades waited until they were both gone before speaking again. "Persephone, you should keep better control of your emotions, if you can't control the fires at the very least. Both Hecate and I had to control them, which, in other circumstances, would be admirable."

"You shouldn't keep so many around then."

"Ah, yes, because you would rather have us live in complete darkness most of the time until we grew eyes like owls." Hades shook her head. "I understand that you're upset about this but there's nothing you can do now."

"But..."

"You can't very well march right back to the mortal world with Daeira and you know that. Daeria, forgive me for being so blunt, but she is dead. There is nothing you can do about that now, Persephone."

I let out a heavy sigh, my shoulders falling. "What am I supposed to do then?"

"Nothing."

"Then why am I even here?"

"Demeter sent me to look after you, my lady, in any way I can." Daeira bowed again.

"I don't need a keeper."

"Not a keeper, my lady, no! A servant."

"I don't need one of those, either."

Daeira frowned and looked to Hades, but Hades clearly didn't know what to do and she sighed too. "Persephone, I think it would be a good idea to have someone else around."

"And let Markos off the hook? I don't think so."

"As your companion, then." She gave me a hard look that meant it wasn't just a suggestion.

I growled and let one of the braziers flare dramatically.

"Come now, Persephone, don't throw a tantrum. Go home. I believe Hypnos is still outside eavesdropping."

Faintly, I heard, "hey!"

I turned on my heel and left without saying anything else, realizing defeat. Daeira trailed behind me silently. I reminded myself the defeat was not with Hades, that she had not done anything, but with Zeus and Demeter. Even down in the Underworld, they managed to find ways to hurt me.

Before I had completely exited the Hall, Hades started talking to someone. "Minos, bring the others back and continue on with the souls without me. I apologize for the setback but I have to visit the Moirai."

"Of course, my lord."

I wondered why Hades needed to visit the Fates, the three goddesses who represented fate and destiny. I had heard of my family consulting with them in times of need, summoning them to Olympus, and had forgotten they resided here.

"I see we have another guest," Hypnos said as I rounded one of the outside columns with Daeira.

"As if you didn't hear already."

"So, do you want to go back to Hades' palace?"

"You're making it sound as if I have a choice."

"You do. You could come home with me and..."

"In your dreams, Hypnos." I laughed at him.

"I didn't mean it as in invitation for sex, you perverted woman. I meant as a visit. You could meet my children!"

"Will there be wine?"

"There can be."

I moved my shoulders as I debated with myself, sighing as I made my decision. "Fine. I'll need it." I held out my hand to Daeira. "Come on."

When she placed her ghostly hand in mine, it felt normal, except for the fact it was cold. I suppose I didn't know what a spirit would feel like, but normal wasn't it. Hypnos gently grabbed my other arm and whisked us away to his palace. It was, naturally, beautiful, made of different shades of gray stone, with gemstones of deep, rich colors highlighting certain intricately carved aspects of the architecture. What was more distracting was the man and the woman arguing in front of the doors.

The man, glowing with immortality, turned to us. "Ah, good, Father. You're home. Please explain to Alecto that you were actually out. She doesn't believe me."

The woman was also an immortal, with a shock of dark red hair, more the color of wine than of wood. Though beautiful and feminine, she had a hardened look about her, from the shape of her toned calves and arms, like Athena or the other goddesses related to battle. She turned to us with an eyebrow raised. "Morpheus is telling the truth for once? I thought you had your son out here covering for you like a coward."

Hypnos unwound his arm from mine and plastered on a hurtful expression. "I would never do such a thing."

"You have before."

"Why are you here, Alecto?"

I racked my brain for information relating to her name, knowing I had seen it in my studies recently. Alecto was one of the Erinyes, the Furies, goddesses of vengeance. I believe they could be called on to punish those who broke oaths.

"I have some free time and was going to take you up on that offer for..." Her eyes flicked to me and Daeira. "An engagement, if you weren't too busy already shacking up with some nymph."

"I don't know if my son explained, but Hades needed me to escort Persephone to the Hall of Judgment." He nodded towards me.

Alecto's eyes lightened. "So, you're Hades' new guest? I was wondering when our paths would finally cross. Everyone has been talking about you."

"Everyone? I admit that makes me nervous."

"We're just curious about you. After all, given the fuss they're making upstairs in the mortal world, who wouldn't be? You are quite beautiful," her eyes swept me up and down. "Are you spoken for?"

"Oh, Gods, now I have to compete with you, too?"

Alecto looked between us as I laughed at him. "I don't think Persephone is the least bit interested in you, Hypnos. You'd be better off attempting to woo some nymphs."

"What makes you say that?"

Alecto gave me a slow, sensuous smile. "Call it a woman's intuition."

I admit that I blushed, deeply. Alecto was certainly beautiful and I hadn't ever had another woman interested in me before. "No, I'm not spoken for."

"Who's this, then?" Alecto nodded to Daeira, who was standing behind me silently. "Surely not a soul escaped from wherever she was supposed to go?"

"No, this is Daeira. She's..." I sighed before begrudgingly continuing, "my companion."

"Interesting."

"Alecto, you can continue with your questions inside instead of keeping us out here all night."

"I suppose that's preferable. Where did your bastard son go? Cleaning up evidence?"

"For the last time, Alecto, please quit calling Morpheus a bastard. It hurts his feelings. Persephone, I hope Alecto's terrible manners don't rub off on you." Hypnos opened the door for us and Daeira followed dutifully behind me.

Although made of stone like the rest of the architecture in the Underworld, Hypnos' palace had a surprisingly comfortable feel to it. Most of the floors were covered in plush rugs that would give way under the weight of my steps, torches were sparse so it was dimly lit, and different hallways and doorways were sectioned off with gauzy curtains, the effect making his home look whimsical. Different people walked languidly between rooms, disappearing between fabrics.

"It's nice here."

"You think so? I'm happy you like it." Hypnos turned away from me and his voice started to carry through the house. "Children, if you aren't too busy, there are a couple guests I would like you to meet."

Slowly, the entrance hall started to fill up with people, all men, though of varying ages, but all of them were nearly identical to Hypnos. Some had darker skin, others had softer features, and several had more normal shades of hair color. Most were fully developed so their age was indeterminable, but a few were clearly young boys, and even children.

Lips brushed against my ear and I forced myself to not jerk away from them. "Isn't it strange?" Alecto chuckled and moved away from me.

"Very."

Hypnos ushered to one of his sons. "As you saw outside, this is Morpheus, my eldest."

He nodded. "I'm the leader of the Oneiroi and the god of dreams."

Another son stepped forward. "I'm Phobetor, god of nightmares and people in prophetic dreams. You can call me Icelos if you want."

A third moved away from the rest. "I'm Phantasos, god of surreal dreams and inanimate objects in prophetic dreams."

"It's nice to meet you, and all the rest of you, as well!" I added as I leaned around Morpheus to address the rest of his siblings.

"This is Lady Persephone and her friend, Daeira. I expect a warm welcome. Someone fetch the wine."

"Oh, it's that kind of gathering, is it? I'm glad I came."

A goblet of wine was given to me by one of the Oneiroi, which I drank completely in four gulps. "Give me three more."

"My lady..." Daeira started softly, the first time she had spoken since we left. I ignored her.

Everyone around me looked more than a little shocked at my requests, and even more so when I drank the next two in the same way. I kept the fourth goblet to sip on.

Morpheus eyed me carefully. "I have to admit, that's a little impressive for a woman of your stature."

"I'm an Olympian, remember?" I grinned as I continued, "and I've had a bad day."

Everyone except Daeira laughed, but all too quickly she was whisked away from me by a few curious Oneiroi and most of us went our separate ways, though Alecto followed me to a secluded corner, hidden by curtains, to sit with me on a lounge.

"Why have you been hiding in the shadows of Hades' place?"

"I haven't been hiding. It's just that social gatherings aren't my favorite type of events. I much prefer the quiet, especially after my time in Olympus."

"What do you rule over?" Alecto eyed me carefully. Gods and goddesses usually reflected their domains and what they ruled. Poseidon's eyes were blue like the sea, Zeus' eyes were gray like storm clouds, and even Hades had dark hair and eyes to reflect the Underworld.

"Plants and flowers, mostly. Nothing very interesting."

"You look more athletic than that, if you don't mind me saying so. I hope that wasn't an insult. I didn't mean it as one." Alecto chuckled nervously and sipped her wine.

"Oh, no! I'm not insulted at all. I was raised in Olympus without my mother's influence and a bunch of my siblings helped raise me, including Athena and Artemis. They trained me how to fight."

"That was very wise of them. You should go a few rounds with me sometime."

"And what do you mean by that?" I raised my eyebrows as I took a drink of my wine.

"It can mean anything you want it to mean, Persephone." Alecto purred suggestively and I coughed on the wine I was drinking. "I was right, though, wasn't I? You prefer the company of women?"

"Yes."

"So is that little nymph your..." Alecto arched an eyebrow as she trailed off.

"Daeira? Gods, no. She's part of the reason I'm drinking to temporarily forget my problems."

"What happened?"

"I'd rather not talk about it, but essentially she died to serve me. I don't need people to serve me, or to die for me. I'm not very pleased about her following me, but Hades thinks it is a good idea."

"It's a great honor to be worshipped enough for people to die for you, and kill for you, you know." Alecto mused as she sat back in the lounge, closer to me this time.

"Are you worshipped that way?"

"Me? No, I just kill people."

I laughed at how blunt her comment was.

"What about men? Do you like men, too?"

"No, I have no interest in them," I admitted.

"I knew it. Hypnos really would be better off trying to woo the Styx."

"Indeed."

"So, aren't you lonely, locked away in Hades' palace with Hades gone all the time?"

"Maybe," I admitted softly.

"'Maybe' usually means 'yes' in this aspect."

"I don't mind being alone at all. I prefer it, in fact, but going from Olympus to this so suddenly was... different. I'm still trying to adjust."

"I could help with that, you know." Alecto watched me evenly as she lowered her mouth to my shoulder.

Before I could give it any thought, I leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. For a moment, it was simply nice; she tasted of the same wine that was already in my mouth and her lips were soft and inviting, but then my thoughts caught up to me. When I closed my eyes, I imagined I was not kissing Alecto, but Hades, and then I wondered why I was doing this when my irrational heart clearly belonged to another. After all, it was Hades I dreamed of every single night since our first meeting in Olympus.

But it was Alecto who stiffened and pulled away quickly, eyes wide. "I shouldn't have done that. I should have known."

"What's wrong?"

"I can taste a sacred oath on you." Alecto stood abruptly. "I should go."