[ graphic: @lostinemptypages tumblr ]

a jar of secrets
06 | seph or persephone

"I'm going to look like a bloody tourist!" I groan holding out the small bright yellow singlet in front of me.

On arriving at the gas station we had both agreed that it probably wouldn't be the best idea for a girl in blood soaked pyjamas to walk in there - so I had hid in the public restrooms waiting for Hades to come back with some clothes for me to change into.

"It's all they had okay, I'm sure you won't look that bad." Hades tries to convince me holding out the rest of the clothes that are in the plastic bag.

"I hate yellow!" I know I am being childish about this but I couldn't help it, I missed my old clothes back at the house.

"I know but it was the only one that came in a small," he reminds me scratching the back of his neck as a nervous habit.

"Fine.." I sigh snatching the stupid bag from him. "But I hate you right now."

"I thought you already hated me?" he yells out as I make my way into one of the cubicles. I wonder if I could just flush them down the toilet instead.

"Well now I hate you even more."

I change out of my blood stained top and put that in the bag as I throw the ugly yellow singlet over me, I also pull on the off-white cargo pants and place my feet into a size too big sandals.

"This sucks ass!" I complain as I make my way over the sink, using my hands to wash my face.

I gasp at the reflection that greets me in the mirror above the sink.

Was that really what I looked like right now?

Fresh cuts and bruises run along both my arms and down my legs, my knees are red raw and scratched up pretty badly from all the gravel when I had been crawling along the road and my dark hair is knotted.

Okay scratch that, I look like a tourist who had gotten lost in the forest and was found by a handsome man who belonged somewhere in a model shoot and felt sorry for me so he took me in as his next project.

Yeah that's sounds more like it.

"Are you ready to get something to eat?"

"I guess so." I mumble taking the stupid base-ball cap and placing it on my head before also taking the dark sunglasses and place them over my eyes. "Don't laugh."

"I wasn't going t-" Hades trails off as he looks up at me with an amused expression as I come out to stand angrily in front of him, hands on my hips. "It really suits y-"

"Don't go there," I warn him glaring. It seems to do the trick and he goes back to the cold Hades who is angry at the world for god knows what reason.

❦

"So what were you saying about my name earlier?"

Hades has just finished ordering our meals and we are now both currently sitting down at one of the square tables near the back, the tv playing behind us softly.

"Do you always go from angry to curious in five seconds?" He isn't looking at me but instead focused on the salt shaker in his hand.

"Do you always kidnap people from their homes?"

At this I get a hint of a grin before he goes emotionless again.

"Just you."

Wow I feel so special.

"So come on, what do you call me again? It's too long for me to remember," I admit only remembering that it started with a P.. I think.

Hades looks up at me curiously, placing the salt shaker back in its spot before leaning back in his chair across from me.

"It's your name, you shouldn't have trouble remembering it."

"My names Seph and I don't have trouble remembering it," I tell him rather calmly.

"No your names Persephone, Seph is just a nickname," he explains using his hand to wave away my other comment.

"No it isn't, otherwise it would've been on my birth certificate." I tell him matter of factly while crossing my arms against my chest.

"Your birth certificate was forged sweetheart, they just used your nickname for safety reasons."

I glare across at him.

"My birth certificate wasn't forged and even if it was how the hell would you k-"

Hades stops me as he grabs a napkin off the table and a pencil, scribbling something down. Once he's finished, he passes it over to me raising an eyebrow.

It's only one word but with a line under the seph part.

persephone

I crumble the napkin up in my hands and toss it in the bin beside us, Hades just stares at me.

"That doesn't prove anything," I tell him shrugging just as our food is placed down in front of us. "Thanks," I tell the waiter smiling down at the chicken nuggets and chips.

"You're welcome dear, enjoy your meals."

I certainly will.

I greedily stab a few chips onto my fork, pouring tomato sauce over them before stuffing the whole thing in my mouth.

Food is life.

"Should I have got you a large?" I look up to find a pair of brown eyes watching me as I do the same thing again.

"Probably," I shrug taking the sauce and pouring it all over my plate. "Are you going to eat that?" I ask noticing he hasn't even touched his burger yet.

"Yeah but I'm worried if I leave the table you're going to eat it on me."

I roll my eyes at him before shaking my head.

"Nah I don't like bacon, mushrooms or whatever that other stuff is.." I mumble trying to get a closer look at what's inside the burger. "So your burgers safe."

"Alright then.." Hades says still not looking entirely convinced as he stands up, keeping an eye on his food.

"Dude.." I huff wiping my mouth with the back of my napkin. "Do you need me to pinky promise or something?"

"Pinky promise?" he looks confused at this and I groan.

"How old are you exactly?"

Hades looks somewhat guilty as he looks away from his food to the tiles by his feet instead.

"Twenty-five. Now if you'll excuse me I need to make an urgent phone call quickly," and with that he turns around and walks out the sliding doors.

Well then.

"Is that your father?" I look up surprised to see the waitress still standing close by.

"Um no, he's not."

Does he really look like a guy who has an eighteen year old kid? I mean yeah he does look older and acts wise as hell but come on, my father?!

"Oh so you're his niece then?"

Or maybe I'm the one who doesn't quite look eighteen.

"Oh no he's just.. a friend of mine."

The waitress nods her head before looking at something over my shoulder.

"Well your friend certainly seems to be looking out for you," and with that she goes back to serving out the meals leaving me to my thoughts.

Turning around in my chair, I spot Hades through the window as he paces up and down talking to someone on the phone looking angry but I notice how he glances over this way every so often.

I'm just about finished my meal when he returns, a grim look on his face.

"Please tell me one of your clients didn't just die or something," I attempt as a joke but Hades just stares at me so I go on. "Cause you're a private detective and all?"

"You finished?" and I'm greeted by the cold emotionless Hades once again.

Okay maybe that was a pretty terrible joke but hey, I tried.

"I guess so?" I watch as he picks up his burger taking a bite out of it as he grabs his leather jacket off the chair where he'd left it.

"We have to get going, bring your drink if you must," he tells me before walking back out the sliding doors leaving me standing there confused as to why the sudden rush.

❦

My soft drink has been quite warm for the past three hours and yet here I am still taking a sip of it every now and then in the silence. Since taking off, Hades has been completely silent not even letting me turn the radio on for noise.

All you can hear is me sipping on my drink occasionally and the wind outside rushing up against the windows of the car.

I wonder who must have been on the phone to him earlier. Maybe his mum was pissed cause he missed her home cooked meal last night or maybe he has a girlfriend who he was meant to be going out with and now she's angry at him because he didn't turn up.

"Will you be quiet!?"

I jump out of my seat at the sudden noise that isn't me or the window outside.

"I didn't say anything?" I mumble at the accusation, looking down at my hands that are resting on my drink that is in my lap.

"Well can you stop thinking so fucking loud then?" he cries turning to face me quickly before his hard eyes go back to the road.

"You can't even hear my thoughts you ass! and stop yelling at me." I yell right back at him feeling slightly hurt at his sudden outburst that is some reason directed at me. "Stop the car."

"What?"

"I said stop the car!" I cry taking my seatbelt off, stinging tears in the corners of my eyes.

Gosh how could I be so stupid to hop into a car with a complete stranger, he probably isn't even a real detective.

"Put your bloody seatbelt back on," Hades yells when he sees what I'm doing.

"No you pull over right now or I will jump out of this car!" I have my hand on the handle ready to pull it open if needed.

Oh god I really don't want to jump out of a moving vehicle, it isn't on my top ten list of fun things to do but perhaps if he thought I would really do it then maybe he might actually pull over.

"Okay okay I'm pulling over." He says pulling over onto the side of the highway when it is safe to do so.

Thank god, no jumping out of a car for me today.

I go to open the door to climb out but realise it's locked. I turn to face a very angry looking Hades holding up the keys in his right hand, his cold stare on me.

"Unlock the door Hades." I demand feeling pissed off.

"I can't do that, I need to keep you safe Persephone!" He sighs slamming his other hand down hard on the steering wheel making me flinch.

"I want to go home Hades.." and this time the hot tears come sliding down my cheeks before I can even try to hold them back.

"Listen, I want to go home too sweetheart but it ain't happening anytime soon okay."

I look up at him as he leans over the consoles to wipe away my tears with the back of his hand, looking down at me softly with a hint of guilt hiding behind his dark eyes.

"You can't ever go back to Misty Hallows or to your friends, it's time for you accept that," he goes on already putting the keys back into the ignition.

I glare across at him feeling all my anger go down into my hand and without even realising what I'm about to do, I bring my hand up and slap him across the face - hard.