Aides

I wake up the next day entangled under my beautiful wife Persephone. My heart beamed as I saw her gentle nature.

How her lips bent thoughtfully with delight.
Her chest rose and fell between each gentle breath.

She was mine forever, and I would never love another.

I run my fingers through her thick and curly mane as she dreamed peacefully; probably dreaming of the sky.

"Wake up my queen" I say, softly coaxing her to rise. She blinks carefully and bent her head to place soft kisses across my chest, taking relish as she felt my warmth.

"Good morning restless beauty" I whisper against her cheek. She continued to stretch awake, pulling my jaw to inspect my face, rubbing her fingers against the stubble that grazed my skin. "Are you disappointed that I am the first thing you see?" I teased her knowing she felt the complete opposite. She giggles lazily at my play and rests her head against my chest. "Good morning my valiant king" she whispered and leaned up to kiss my lips.  "I am still so tired...and sore" she complained, softly nuzzling her lips against my neck.

"We must wake to start the day. We have visitors coming to our throne room"

"But I want to lay in bed all day with you" she pouted, sitting up to face me.

"We can't." I kiss her lips softly and pull her off my waist. I stand up to start my shower but she throws her arms around my neck, coaxing me to remain.

"Come Kore. Let us shower together. Will that will wake you up?"

She giggles girlishly as I lift her behind my back and we shower together in love.

——
Kore

"The black gown I wanted to wear is in my other room" I announced, wiping my legs dry with another towel. Aides and I had just finished bathing...well...bathing among other things.

"I will call for the demons to bring them" he nodded and paced over to the entrance to alert the guards. Just as I begin to cream my body, I gasped at the picture of my reflection. Black bruises painted my body and stomach. "Aides...what did you do to me?" I whispered with regret. He chuckles and kisses my neck in love. "It's called love marks my Queen. They will heal." he assured me. His words did nothing for me and I only began to cry. He only watches in amusement as tears dripped to my thighs. "You think this is funny?"

He pulled me into his arms and violently kisses my lips, his attempt in apologizing. "No Kore...but is not that serious. Are you not my wife?"

"I am" I whispered, resting my cheek against his chest.

"These marks prove that you are mine; and no one will see them. Are you ashamed of them?"

"No...I am sad because it looks as if you were violent with me."

"Who cares" he spat, taking my chin into his palm, "If it bothers you so much, I will get a potion that will make them dissapear. Is that what you want?" he asked.

I nodded innocently, making sure to rest against his torso. "It is done." he replied coldly and turned to leave the room "I'll meet you downstairs" he announced.

"You will not wait for me?"

"I have something to take care of before the people arrive" he informs me and leaves the room. I continued to observe myself in the mirror and blush as I see the black bruises and handprints. Did I over-react? He seemed distant the minute I complained? Maybe I needed to embrace my new marks with pride. The demons came in with my blue dress and crown and dressed me for the day.

___

Another four months passed in the underworld. Aides and I had grown even closer to each other, ruling the underworld by day, and making love by night.

I tightened my grip around his palm as he instructed another traveler of the underworld. "Due to tire past record, you have been sentenced to Tarsus"

"No!" the man screamed, "please my king. I have lived my life carelessly but now I have learned the errors in my ways" the middle aged man cried, kneeling for mercy. I looked to the man pathetically as he begged for mercy. "If my wife disagrees, and suggests another punishment I will listen" Aideoneus interrupts the man's crying and looked over to me. I sucked my teeth in disgust as I looked into his glorious eyes; despite his menacing demeanor, Aides was a softie. Usually I was the one telling him to put his foot down and banish more people to serve their time. Another reason why I loved him so much. He had mercy on all; a quality many other gods lacked.

"My husband was wise when he banished you to Tarsus the first time. To tarsus you go" I smiled coldly and directed the guards to take the man away.

"No!!! Please!!!" the men yelled, gripping the stone floor in hesitation. Finally silence fell upon the room and the guard nodded to Aides for he signal to finish.

"Another tiring day" I sighed, taking my hand from his reach.

"Kore" he smirked, leaning against my shoulder to kiss my cheek.

"You want to paint me as the mean Queen! You always put me in these uncomfortable situations to decide" I pouted, pushing him off. He lifted me from the ground and embraced me in the fire of the throne room; done with our duties for the day. "You are wise with a gift for discernment. That is why I ask you" he explained calmly. I smiled as he showered me with praises and kissed each of his cheeks. "You are not like the others. Why?" I smiled in admiration as he placed me down. He shrugged and stepped down the stairs, pulling my hand to follow him. "I show mercy; something many deities lack. I never experienced mercy so I know what it means to show it" he admitted. My heart softened as he spoke and I pulled his lips into my own. He was like no other man I had ever met.

I began to think of my own heart and the promise I once made to the three sisters.

"And on the night of the White moon! You sit kill the king of the underworld" their words echoed in my mind. I shook those thoughts from my head and trailed my eyes up to him as he looked to me in admiration.

"Come. Let us retreat to bed." he pulled my butt tight, teasing ok what the night would entail. I chuckled shamelessly and hugged his waist as we kissed each other once more.

"Kore?" a voice sounded from behind.

"Who dare interupt us?" I sigh and turn to see my mother. I break from Aides and stand to face her. She looked different...I couldn't place what had changed with her but she looked sullen and dead. Her eyes looked down turned and her hair had lost its sheen. Aides stood close behind me; suspicous of any tricks she might do.

"My daughter...you look....different." she spoke between a gasp. I rolled my eyes, as she raked in my physique. My black ensemble paired nicely with my dark sheen and rouge. I looked like the Queen of the underworld, something she never thought she would be forced to see.

"Is that the first thing you say to your kin after 7 months away?" my voice shakes with anger

"Kore...I miss you...that is all I meant." she pouted.

"I look like a queen dont I?" I spat but Aides kisses my neck for calm. He could hear the anger rising beneath my voice. After all she had done...she dare show her face here? The last encounter I had was a slap! She had slapped me at my wedding and had left the party with Zeus.

"Kore please....come back home to earth. I miss you"

"Come back? for what reason" I chuckled shamelessly, "to be chained and lied to? to be hated by Zeus and thirsted over by every god?"

She hangs her head low; a change in her was apparent. "Where is your lover? Has he dumped you already"

"Kore" Aides gripped my neck, coaxing me to relax. I hated how he showed mercy even for those who didn't deserve it.

"You tricked her!" She snapped her eyes up to him? "you filled her with your posion" she yelled at Aides her eyes turning gold with rage. The soilders came out the shadows, ready to protect us for whatever may transpire. Aides held up his hand to signal them to  stop. " Not a hand will be laid on Demeter no matter what she does" he demands. The soilders retreated in obedience but still stand at his attention.

"He did not do anything to me mother." I step away from him to face her, "how dare you threaten my peace? He is my husband...and I his wife."

"He kidnapped you" she protested.

"But he didnt....I willingly came...I told him he put alesium in the flower but you have been grooming me since young on how to thrawt toxins and poisons in plants. Do you not think I knew what I was doing? I took his hand..I followed him down the stairs...I bit into the fruit that would bind me here because I wanted to! I yearned to experience a life away from earth! Away from you! Don't you understand?" I admitted through tears.

"I only regretted my descion when I saw a life I did not want to commit to...but then I fell in love with him. Taking his hand...coming here... it was the first descion I ever made on my own" I shouted. She rejected my words and stepped forward to touch me.

"Kore" she pleaded but I stepped away from her, falling into the warmth of my valiant king.

"I no longer go by that name....surely you have heard by now Demeter?" I spat. Only Aides was allowed to call me by that name.

"Kore"

"That is Persephone to you" I corrected her sternly. Tears drip down her face as she falls to the ground in agony. "This is my doing... it is all my fault"

"Not all blame should fall off on you No..it was Zeus's fault too...and you foolishly allowed your spirit to submit to him; not once but twice. I will not come to fix your mess."

"Kore... a mother's love? Remember what I had told you"

"I love my husband. Why must you come here to take my happiness away?" I frowned and turn to Aides. "I will not go with her. I want to stay here with you" I pouted and cried into his chest. He ran a palm through my hair and kissed me softly, coaxing me to silence as I sobbed in his arms.

"Come...lets go" he spoke and gave me his arm. I looped my arm through and we walk through the throne room, carefully passing my mother as she sobbed on the floor. A soft tear trailed down my face as I watched her pain; I knew I was her everything but I had found my new life here in the underworld with Aides.

Author Note:
Y'all feel bad for Demeter (Kore's mom)
I wanted to fight Kore when she started crying about her bruises. Like girl!

Hmm... hopefully Aides doesn't interfere with anything regarding Kore and her mom 👀👀