I feel the empty bed and shoot up only to discover Aides absence. The black sun was barely shining through as I stood to see the time of day.

"Aides?" I call for him but to no reply. A servant comes into the room and starts rummaging through my closet to turn the sheets.

"Where is he? The king?" I asked her curiously.

"He had to return to Olympus. It was an emergency."

"Is everything all right?"

"It seems as if Olympus was destroyed last night." the demon replied.

"By who?"

"Poseidon" is all she said and left to wash the sheets.

——

I paced the room as I think of the reason for Poseidon's juvenile behavior? Why on earth would my uncledestroy Olympus? For what gain would he do this? And why did Aides leave without a letter or even a note? He could have at least said goodbye before he went to Olympus. I quickly pulled on my robes and call for the servants.

"Yes mistress" they nodded.

"Get my outfits and belongings from my room and move it in here"

"Into this room?" she asked. I only watched at her as she shook, she could tell I was upset that she had questioned my authority.

"What a foolish question to ask." I scoffed, signaling her to leave. 

"Yes mistress" she whimpered and ran away. Another servant stood in the shadows collecting his things and started pushing them to the side." Mistress" she interrupted my silence, "I know the master is absent but.."

"But what?" I snapped, my spirit was now impatient.

"Does the master know of this"

"He doesn't need to. He and I are husband and wife and I am just as equal as he is? Am I not?"  I challenged her reasoning.

"Yes queen, I am sorry for questioning your wisdom. I meant no disrespect" she whispered shyly.

"You are forgiven. Now go" I nod and dismiss them. Aides kept pushing me away before I had the chance to reject him and it was working....

—-

I waltz into the throne room and meet the three judges hunched over a scroll, conversing amongst themselves. I rolled my eyes and frowned as they met my figure.

"Aides has left us in charge to deal with matters of the underworld in place of his abscene."

"Has he now?" I smiled impolitely. Surely Aides knew I was more than capable of ruling without him.

"Yes. So your services are not needed now"

"So what am I to do? Sit here and look pretty?" I smirked sarcastically.

"I suppose you may" the other judge snapped. I rolled my eyes and sat as they called in the people to start the day.

____

"No you do NOT get traveling mercies" they mocked the innocent man, "And you are banned to Tartarus"

"Nooo!!" the man screamed.

"Don't you think his punishment is a bit too harsh?" I chimed.

They turned to face me and shook their heads in protest. "Regardless of what you think Aides would do, he really favors harsher punishments"

I sighed and sit back in my throne, helpess against their group of 3. They had more power in numbers...but then again, I was queen.

"No!" I chuckled to myself.

"Pardon my queen?"

"I said no!" I stood, finally finding my voice. "You 3 think you have the advantage because you are 3 against one? But what you have failed to realize is that I am Persephone, QUEEN of the underworld."

"My queen! The king has—-"

"I don't care what the king has told you three! I am the queen and I will be deciding the fates of these people and children. I passed my dokimi did I not"

They stood quiet but nodded.

"Leave." I snapped. They shuffled against their feet but nodded; they had no choice but to listen to me.
The demons come behind them escort them out my throne room. I smiled triumphantly and bent to sit in my throne. Now it was my turn to prove myself.

"You are not banned to Tartarus. I grant you traveling mercies sir" the man crouched in the ground hesitated to look up, scared of what his future would entail. "Bless you your majesty" he whimpers.

"Please sir, blessings are pointless to those who are capable to control fate" I bragged. "Next person!" I announced and signal the guards to open the door to greet the rest of the souls.

___

Another day passes and his abscence was still apparent. I come into the room and plop into the bed, resting my head against his pillows. He still had not returned from Olympus and I was starting to wonder where he was?

I missed him...

My hot tears were the only way to pacify my sadness until I forced myself to sleep.

-CLICK-

I hear the turning of knob as I lay in his sheets.

"Aides?" I muttered, trying to see a figure through the darkness.

"Shhh, go back to sleep" he frowns, kissing my head while taking his place next to me. I smile, instantly calmed by his warmth and rest in the comfort of his toned arms. I softly kiss his chest as he plays in my curls.

"I see you have found your way to my bedroom...-again" he speaks.

"It is not your bedroom anymore" I yawned.

"Oh? then whose is it?" He frowned.

"It is our bed? We are one" I kiss his neck. He smirked, turning into the fire and nodded. "Then I misspoke Kore... it is our bedroom" He agrees and blows out the candle.

"I moved all my stuff in here too" I admitted.

"You what?" he snapped, lighting his finger to relight the candle.

"Is that an issue" I pout? "I figured we are married anyways. All my stuff is in the drawers and closets."

"And where is my stuff?"

"I told the servants to put it in the room adjacent to this one. So you have your own private place." I could tell he was annoyed at the inconvenience of having to walk to retrieve his clothes and belongings.

"I see" he grumbled.

"Is that not good? I only wished to be closer to you" I teased. Since he kept pushing me, I would force myself to him.

"No...that is..Good" he assured me. I smiled and rest my head against his chest. He blew out the candle and pulled me closer into his warmth.

The room's darkness was now our peace.

"Why did he do it?" I asked curiously.

"Him and Zeus... they got into a fight about a mortal."

"How bad was it?"

"Olympus has surley seen better days." He chuckled, "It is a pile of rocks and rubble. Thunder and rain was caused by their fight, flooding the earth which was already in bad shape because of your mother" he sighed, catching his slip.

"I didn't mean—" he tried to explain. He knew any mention of my mother was a triggering subject for me.

"Did you see him?" I asked, ignoring his slip.

"He wanted nothing to do with me. He was still mad about...you in the underworld" he said, trying to be careful of his words. I shook my head thinking of why Poseidon would be so riled up; surely it couldn't be for an insignificant mortal girl?

"A trial will be held to see if he is allowed to keep his title as one of 12. I have to go back and vote"

"When?" I asked, I could already hear the tears forming in my throat.

"Tomorrow"

"You just came back and now you must leave again." I began to cry, pulling his shirt to my face.

"Kore please... I didn't want to tell you because of this. I will be back soon. I won't allow you to go and be judged...and with Zeus being there... I won't allow it"

I began to cry, already craving for his warmth.

"Haven't I always returned to you?"

"Yes" I nodded intertwining my hands with his. He kisses my lips and leaned to nuzzle his chin against my neck.

" I feel a change in me Aideoneus.... a change that I am scared to submit too"

"It was a change that was destined from the start" he smirked. I could hear the smile forming upon his lips.

"Was it because of the fruit I ate? I died when I ate it?"

"Fruit or no fruit, you were destined to grow Kore. You were always destined to become Persephone and be my queen" he whispered, gently kissing my cheek.

"When did you know this?" I asked curiously. Surely he couldn't see into the future.

"That is a answer for another day Kore. Now Go to sleep" he commands, pulling a blanket over me. I ponder his words and fall asleep in the comfort of his arms.