Gaia had snapped her head at Hades on that statement. And ignoring completely the public, she grabbed the skeleton by the colar of his shirt tightly and looked at him with daggered eyes.

"You hide her??? What did you do to her?"

"You really are not fond for the likes of me and you immediately assume I did something to your sweet little friend Persephone." Hades said chill. "Nothing that will concern you. But it had better we take this conversation elsewhere, we're making a scene."

When the 2 went on a more quiet place, Gaia crossed her arms and glared at Hades.

"Speak."

Long story short, she listened to Hades telling her of how Persephone had arrived to his house, months later of the arrival of her daughters, point in which the goat woman definitely wasn't about to leap and stab the necromancer in the eyesockets thinking he had touched her.

For that he had calmly explained that she was already touched when she had arrived to his house. He proceeded to talk in short about Persephone's service as a maid for years, the deal he had proposed to her about educating her daughters and how was that going on until today.

"She doesn't mention anything about my relationship with Hades. Perhaps he didn't tell her. I don't know if I'm relieved or not for this." Persephone thought and sipped tea to hide her agitation. It was falling on her to talk about this to Gaia. Or perhaps it was more preferable.

Of course when Gaia had hear Hades saying all that, she didn't believe him.

"Fine by me. That's why I will invite you to my house to see for yourself that I've said nothing but the truth to you. Rest assured, your friend is alive and well, a satisfied and proud mother of three." Hades told her, catching the goat woman off guard.

"You... invite me???"

"I will come to your sanitarium in 2 days to hear if you accept the invitation. In case you do to see that everything is like I've said they are, next time you can tell the other priestesses they can come too."

"But how had he find you after all?"

"Ah yes. Remember when my last attempt to ask if you were alive or not ended with that priest telling me to leave as soon as possible? Well, sir Hades told me that his habit to meditate and recollect himself by connecting with the monster afterlife caused him to hear the priest calling repeatedly your name and he decided to ask him why and who was calling for you. Definitely not reasonably and calmly considering how terrified the poor priest was. He really has the power to see memories and read minds in the space of the monster afterlife and that's what he had done with the priest. He saw me, he realised where was the temple of Death in which I had gone to and decided to go there and find me. The troubles with the Ottomans helped him find me faster."

"Wow." Persephone did with perked up eyesockets. But then her expression got concerned. "Well... When Ha- When Sir Hades returned to the mansion, he was hurt. Do you know what happened? He had stated a human had hit him on his arm." She tried to sound normal. Gaia looked at Persephone silent for a few seconds before looking to her right.

"Ah yes. He found the sanitarium in which I was assigned with some others, 2 days after he told me to think of his invitation and entered casually with his arm trickling magical blood. He didn't even care that he was hurt and just asked me if I was accepting to come in his mansion."

"And-! And you tried to help him, right?"

"Although pointless, since necromancers can't heal or regenerate for dear life, I still proceeded to help him. When I asked him, he told me that simply the Ottomans were so mad with him for saving me and the others, they had tried to ambush him, about hours after me and him parted ways. One of the Ottomans managed to stab him on his arm, but in the end he had knocked them all out, then called and let the authorities take them away."

"So... he didn't kill them?" Persephone asked hesitantly.

"To be honest I am confused as to why he hadn't immediately killed them then, being so easy for him to take lives." Gaia sounded slightly sarcastic on that last part. She had no idea. "He just said they weren't worth his effort to kill them. When I treated his arm, with me having thought about his invitation, after discussing it with whoever of our friends were with me, I decided to prepare and come to his mansion. Just in case he was lying, to not drag with me the others. But I had the hope and wanted that to be true. Well, here I am today and I realise that the only lie I was told by Sir Hades is that you're still a maid."

"Well, like I said, only recently I stopped working as one, since I am the mother of these brilliant young women." Persephone turned to look at her daughters with a warm and gentle smile.

"Ah well. That's the whole story of what I was doing all those years until today. Are you up to tell me your story... after the Ottoman ship?" Gaia said with a slightly hesitant expression. Persephone lowered head and closed eyesockets as the memories flooded back inside her skull, almost 21 years worth. She raised head after a while, sipped her tea and looked at Gaia stably.

She told her everything. Well, almost. From day one until today, all that us readers have witnessed too... except from the night she had killed Cypross and the consequences. She had said that the Ottomans had been invited to Hades' mansion, causing Gaia to bite down on her finger and -elegantly- say a curse in Greek as she looked away.

But she didn't interrupt again, even when she heard of the agitation caused, with Persephone simply saying that a monster from the Ottomans had broke in the mansion and stirred trouble. She wasn't preapred yet to describe what had happened really that night.

But it helped Gaia to see the first reason why Sir Hades and the Ottomans had personal beef, shown as long as he was defending her and the priestesses. Persephone was afraid to see the goat woman's expression if she heard that she had almost died. Well, she would have to build more courage to tell her later.

The skeleton woman also skipped some things about Hades. For the feelings, or the sacrifices he had made for her sake. At least for now. She wanted to talk about those later too, more exclusively with Gaia and alone. Persephone finished talking by mentioning Hades' announcement that he had called Gaia in his house.

"W-Well. That's... most of it." Persephone said, preventing her daughters from being further confused about why she hadn't mention anything about her relationship with Hades.

"So you lived well in this house Persephone? Are you... dissatisfied by anything?" Gaia asked and focused her look a little more on Persephone.

"N-Not much. But if I did, I'm not so bothered anymore. For the most part it was alright."

"You've shown great courage and bravery my dear. And the fact you managed to play retarded for so many years! I understand why, you found your own way of hiding your identity and powers." Gaia looked at Persephone thoughtful. "There are a few things I don't understand however. Why would Sir Hades do all that? He let you fix the garden, he got interested to educate your daughters, he cared enough to inform me that the once member of our temple we were still looking for was in his house... why would he help us, more over you and your daughters so much?"

There goes nothing...

Persephone exhaled quietly from her mouth.

"Girls. Could you please leave me and Gaia alone?" She asked. The triplets looked at each other at first confused, then just nodded and walked back inside the mansion.

"Persephone? What's wrong my dear?" Gaia asked confused and concerned. It took many seconds for Persephone to build courage and start talking.

"Gaia... another reason you're here is so... there is..." The skeleton huffed annoyed. "... I'm confused, a little lost and I hesitate."

"About what?"

"... Whether or not staying here or following you back to the others." Persephone said.

"Why? Didn't you say you are fine here?"

"I did, but now I know you're here in Hispania and I... I just don't know..."

"What causes you difficulty to take this decision?" Gaia asked raising eyebrows focused and curious.

"Well... I... There is almost no oath I haven't broken yet from the ones I took to become a priestess. It's safe to say I've lived in this house, on this land, longer than in Athens. I've made my family, my girls are becoming more and more settled, almost completely independent. I've made friends here and I..." Persephone paused and wrapped her arms around herself, shutting her eyesockets tightly.

"Go on my dear." Gaia tried to encourage her. With great hesitation Persephone turned to look at her.

"... I fell... in love."

Safe to say that Gaia's expression looked like somebody had thrown in her face a cake, this surprised she was. Oh stars, she wasn't talking and Persephone started being scared of the goat's next reactions. After many seconds, she showed to calm down.

"... Oh... with who?" She asked and Persephone bit her magic tongue. Aside surprised, Gaia didn't seem upset, rather interested, but the skeleton could guess for a fact she wouldn't be calm for much longer if she replied. "Persephone... with who?" Gaia asked again and crossed her arms. Well oh boy, she had started getting more serious.

Persephone hesitated even more to talk. But as she looked at Gaia in the eyes, a few seconds later... the goat woman was struck with realisation. She found the answer in the other's eyesockets, she sensed it. Her jaw slightly dropped as her eyes widened up and let her arms fall.

The fat spiky vines that popped from the ground and near the goat woman's feet caused Persephone to start shaking. Oh no...

"Gaia-?"

Gaia walked towards Persephone and despite her hands moved sharply, they held the skeleton's cheeks gently.

"It's him? The necromancer???" She asked. Persephone could only nod, shaking more and more. "Has he ever harmed you?" The goat woman asked then in such heavy and serious voice the skeleton gulped. It didn't help that Gaia's copper eyes were burning her. "Persephone answer me, has he ever harmed you???" She asked more intensively.

"N-No."

"Are you alright???"

"Yes?"

"Has he ever ask you to do outrageous things???"

"... No?" Persephone started shifting from fear and concern to confusion. Yes Gaia was mad, but her questions were indicating that she was just suspicious and concerned that Hades had done something to Persephone.

"... Not once?" The goat woman had seemed ready to calm down by a spec, which Persephone didn't catch and her next answer would add fuel to the fire that was threatening to get out of hand.

"No... Except-." She whispered that word and paused abruptly. But it was too late, as Gaia had hear.

"Except from what Persephone? So he did do something to you???"

"No, no!" Persephone tried to fix things.

"What did he do Persephone?!"

"Nothing! Nothing to me! Just-... Just that time the Ottomans came to the house..."

"What happened?!"

Persephone couldn't take it anymore from the pressure and started spitting everything out about that night. But before she could reach the point she had killed Cypross, Gaia let go of her and started walking towards the mansion.

"Gaia where are you goi-?"

"WHERE IS HE?! WHERE IS HE TO TELL HIM A WORD ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ONES HE HAS UNDER HIS CARE?!"

"Gaia wait, please!" Persephone tried to stop Gaia and held her by the hand. Gaia stopped dead on her tracks, but only to pull her hand away from Persephone's as she stared at her with even more rage in her expression.

"Persephone, I get that we all move on in life. But thousands of living souls out there, YOU HAD TO FALL FOR HIM?!" She started walking again towards the mansion.

"Please stop!" Persephone yelled as she held back a sob.

"If he can't even defend you and your daughters from harm-! UGH! That's it, he's going to hear it! You clearly don't belong here, if you're still prone to danger despite him having all power to protect, it had better you come with me and reunite with the others. Your girls too!"

"But Gaia just listen!"

"Listen to what Persephone?!" Gaia almost stopped walking again, but proceeded. She was very close to the door leading back inside the mansion. "Name me one thing he did to show that he cares enough for you, something greater than him calling the Ottomans without considering what impact their arrival would have on you and your daughters! What did he do to make up for you 4 almost dying?! Why would you try to defend him?!"

"BECAUSE WHEN I MURDERED THAT SKELETON HE TOOK THE CONSEQUENCES UPON HIMSELF SO I WOULDN'T DIE!"

Gaia finally stopped walking completely, only a breath away from the door. If she streched her arm out she would be able to reach and open it. She turned around to look at Persephone who was hugging herself tightly and crying while shaking wildly.

"... Τι;"

"I wasn't even meant to be here today. I was meant to be dead months ago because I killed. I killed... I killed..." Persephone started sobbing louder. She revealed of who was that skeleton that had threatened her life and of the triplets', how her mind had gone hollow and ended him, how soon after the consequences came to bite her...

She then talked about Hades. How he had secretly taken care of her when fighting the penalty of her action to kill. How she had woken up healthy and free off the penalty, only a lot later learning how had she stayed alive.

About his confession, the soulbreak, them drifting apart, him helping her make amends with Cypross' essence, later helping her figure out her feelings for him, what else had he done for her sake... In that moment everything was truly said.

Persephone had said everything from what she had gone through. As she was fallen on her knees on the ground, crying louder and louder as she spoke, Gaia was slowly walking towards her, the shock having taken over completely.

The triplets and Hades had long time now hear Persephone yelling and watching from a distance, surprised and sad. They watched as Gaia had kneeled next to the skeleton woman, slowly becoming sad too.

"Persephone, my dear..."

"No. You think this bad of Hades, but I'm no better for the ways I acted. I'm responsible too for how bad that night went and for what I did and didn't do. I killed, I was meant soon after to die. He had no business to save me and endanger his health for me. But he still did it and because of the penalty, he has brought to himself a vulnerability that goes against his nature. He can't kill anymore, the slightest life he claims can cost him. All because he says and shows he loves me."

"And because of that, if you died I wouldn't want to stay in this realm anymore Persephone." Hades spoke as he walked towards her and Gaia, staring at the skeleton woman with discreet pain in his expression. Persephone stood up sharply, walked towards him and hugged him tightly as she kept crying.

The necromancer hugged her back gently, his one hand ran on the back of her skull to soothe her. This contact caused Persephone to slowly relax and cease her crying. She was barely heard now. Gaia stared at the 2 skeletons hugging and she looked away thoughtful.

She had hear the rumors and opinions about him too. Almost all of them weren't good. But even if all of them were completely true, what she was seeing right now didn't represent Hades. And now the goat monster was conflicted. Perhaps only with Persephone he was like now.

But the skeleton woman wouldn't be clinging on him like that if he pretended, if he wasn't doing anything completely different than whatever that was to the rest of the world to get her to trust him like that. Goodness, he had taken a fatal penalty for her upon him, preventing him from doing the one thing he knew how to do best!

And just Gaia remembering how had he entered the sanitarium hurt weeks back, properly seeing now the markings in his soul left no doubt of what he had done for Persephone. The skeleton woman wouldn't feel so comfortable and relaxed in his embrace if he had ever done something completely terrifying or cruel to her.

Despite by first glance his expression seemed like his casual one, there seemed to be in his eyesockets genuine affection as he stared down to Persephone and holding her close. Gaia huffed, then she stood up and looked again at the 2 skeletons.

"Renrink Hades..." She called quietly. Hades took his look off Persephone and nailed his cold stare at Gaia, where it was softened a while ago. "... Do you... really love Persephone this much?" She asked.

"With all of my being and all of my soul." He didn't hesitate to his answer.

"And... would you do anything for her?"

"Even with my condition, if I have to kill to save her from death, so be it." He stated sternly. "Whether or not she stays here. Which is another reason I called you here Lady Gaia. I've given her the freedom to go with you if she wants, if she can't think of staying here with me." He raised Persephone's head as he cupped her face. "You've told her your dilemma?" He asked.

"Short of."

"Then tell her everything properly." He said and let go of her, unwillingly. Persephone turned around and after a few seconds she started talking about what was troubling her. Gaia listened much calmer. Only many seconds later she spoke.

"I mean... you love him Persephone, right? You feel attached to him?"

"I-I do."

"Does his presence make you feel safe and happy, aside, well... from that time?" Gaia asked to glare at Hades for a fleeing half second before looking again at the skeleton woman.

"I used to feel scared around him like the others, but all I can feel when he's near now is joy." Persephone described, both struggling not to stutter and moving her arms to express better what she was saying, fighting also to keep a straight face as her cheeks were filled in colors. But then her expression turned sad.

"Do you want to stay with him?"

"I... you all... what about you?"

"Well, since Sir Hades has ensured us safety to stay in Hispania, we won't be so far away Persephone. We won't loose each other so easily. We can still see each other every now and then, if he allows." Gaia said.

"You will be allowed." Hades nodded.

"Even so, though I'm not so familiar with the bond of Eros, I know that from the time you find such love as this you say you have, there is no going back. And while we've been taught for so many years back at the temple that we must love and care for all that surrounds us, it is not outrageous that you found yourself loving this man in a more special way. Like I said my dear, we've all moved on. So, here is what I answer to your dilemma: no matter where you go, no matter who you see, know and love, no place will feel like home as this one and no one will make you feel as happy and safe as him." A small melancholic smile appeared on the goat woman's face. "Your souls are calling for each other and there is nothing me or anyone can do about it. You belong with him. So, Persephone Sófron, do what me and the other priestesses did, move on and be happy since you found love and Eros." Persephone's bottom jaw started shaking and dived to hug the goat woman tightly. "And like I said, we can still see each other."

"... Y-Yes Gaia." The skeleton woman whispered.

~

A few days later, unlike most of other times, Hades and Persephone met each other in the garden very early in the morning. The sky was little by little becoming pale as the sun was rising slowly. But the 2 didn't care about the sunrise as they were hanging out on the fountain.

Enjoying each other's presence and embrace while exchanging looks. As Persephone was sitting on Hades' lap, she removed again his gloves. Just the habit of wearing them for so many years around anyone still hadn't wore off for the necromancer, ignoring he had them on.

He cupped Persephone's cheek and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Then she pressed the side of her skull on his shoulder and stayed there. They kept their peaceful silence for many seconds before she started talking. Narrating her life with her parents, before becoming priestess, who she was really.

Although confused and bewildered that so suddenly she started talking about that, Hades just listened and thought, silently glad she had finally opened up. She spoke for long, there was joy and melancholy in her voice, sometimes letting excitement take over or speak very lowly.

Eventually she stopped. She raised head to look at him and got off his lap. She walked a bit further and her gaze stopped at the sun, finally paying attention to it as it peaked from the water's surface far away.

"... I arrived on this land with no hope for the future and almost no will to live, after realising that I escaped what the Ottomans had in store for me and my friends. After being taken away from Athens, I never thought I would manage to root anywhere else ever, let others close. I didn't want to. But with my girls on the way, I decided that if not me, they deserved a better life. I made my first friends on this land, I chose to trust for my daughters. Their help and advice helped me on how to move and heal, a little bit..." She looked at Hades. "... But no action or help feels as strong as what you did to me, for me. Hades..." She inhaled and exhaled from her nose quietly as the necromancer stood up and slowly approached her. "... In these past few months you've healed a part of me I never thought would be completely fixed, no matter how much time would go by, which my daughters did so partially, despite the first bitter and unfair feelings I had for them. You love me in a way that feels even stronger from what I've felt from my parents and it's different. I feel that difference when I think about them or you. You, a lot more when you hold me. I realise and name all that I feel for you when you kiss me..." She turned to look at Hades as he stopped very close to her, just looking at her.

"... Go on." He encouraged her to keep talking.

"... At this point, I know that I can't escape from you. Not because you don't let me, but my mind and soul can't handle the thought of me without you. While eventually for most monsters comes the day where they move away from their parents to make their own lives, without that meaning that they don't love them anymore, I don't want to see a future in which you're not here. With me. Despite of how I ended up in Valencia, it became the reason for us to eventually meet. You... became my destiny. My new home. Master of my mind and soul. And ever since my feelings for you woke up, truly I can't think I belong anywhere else except from here, with you. I want to hear your voice, whether you have to say happy or sad things. I want to feel your touch and kisses. I... want to wake up in the mornings and see you next to me... I want to stand by your side, as a companion, as a friend, your lover..." She raised head flustered to look at Hades and placed hands on his chest. "... y-your wife." She saw how the pupils in his eyesockets became brighter for a fleeing moment.

"So... are you certain now?" He asked. Persephone nodded.

"... I'm ready to marry you."

The 2 stayed silent for many seconds as they looked at each other. Then, Hades' hands moved and he took off the necklace with the ring that had the lily on it around Persephone's neck. He unclipped it and removed the ring from the chain, then he held the woman's left hand and wore it on the middle finger.

"... My soul is simply overfilled with joy hearing you saying all that." He brought her hand close to his mouth and kissed the back of it while locking his eyesockets in hers. "I don't know if I can ever fully change the monster I've been in all of my existence and how I act generally, anytime soon. But if you can give your love and affection even to someone like me, for you I'm willing to keep trying, until I can feel real redemption for all I caused in the past to others. Until the day I can really look at you in your eyesockets and know that I've healed even a little anything I've broken."

Persephone wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist.

"It is no little thing that you changed the way your nature works for my sake, just so I could live. And besides, the people and monsters downtown from what I've seen, already see too that something is changing about you. Maybe they're still afraid and insecure with you. But they start to see the change. And I can help so they can finally start looking at you in a different way."

Their mouths were very close for a kiss, but none made a move for it, just stayed in the position they were, silent for a while. And then Persephone lowered her head and chuckled.

"Your/My daughters are watching us." They spoke at the same time, causing the woman's smile to grow wider. Both lovebirds turned to look somewhere towards the fountain.

"You can stop spying on us girls!" The skeleton woman called out.

"Να πάρει! They caught us!" Aphrodite was heard and the triplets revealed themselves from behind the fountain, approaching their mother and the necromancer shyly, like wet kittens.

"So? Is it done? Are you... engaged now?" Artemis asked serious and hesitantly.

"Can we officially call him father now and not by accident like Artemis did 2 years ago?" Aphrodite spoke again, catching Persephone off guard.

"Aphrodite!" Artemis yelped and looked at her sister angrily while covering her burning cheeks.

Persephone held back a snort and asked Hades what had happened. Well, 2 years ago as Aphrodite said, there was a moment it was the triplets and him in his office and they were handing him some files with research each had done for a subject.

Artemis had handed her work last and when Hades congratulated her like her sisters for what they had done and to keep doing a great work, as she turned around to leave, it seemed that she almost didn't think of her next words.

"Alright Fathe-."

Unecessary to say that she had stopped dead on her tracks while 3 pairs of eyesockets were staring at her in surprise. Then she pushed her sisters aside to make way and leave despite Hades calling her. He had actually moved first, teleporting himself where he could sense Artemis and followed her.

The final stop was in the beginning area of the garden when still abandoned and he watched her for a few seconds as with her magic she had started digging a hole on the ground to bury herself. Her movements were showing just how upset she was, unstable and anxious from what she had said.

Then Hades had walked up to her and held her by the shoulder, causing her to stop digging, but avoided to look at him. He had asked her what she was doing and she simply started apologising, only sounding more and more like a nervous wreck. She had even started quietly sobbing.

"You think I'm angry for what you said Miss Artemis? No, simply confused." He had told her. Artemis finally raised head and turned to look at him. Her eyesockets were filled with hesitation and tears, the last of them running down her cheeks filled with embarrassment. "I find myself unable to see what is it I've done exactly that caused you to let that thought out about me."

His calmness eventually caused Artemis to relax enough, her words though came out a little sporadic and without order as she explained why she thought of Hades like that. Even though he wasn't showing to be affectionate or open to any emotions, he was still supportive and encouraging the triplets to keep working and improving.

He was spending quality time with them talking and discussing, having 'food for thought' moments. He showed to be listening to them without the slightest of boredom or annoyance, he was being attentive to their progress with the lessons and even though they had grown up able to stand up for themselves he would still sometimes defend them, stand by their side.

"You've supported us greatly and helped us rise, to become greater than how we started. You've showed us how things work and how to act in certain cases. Y-You still do and I just couldn't help but think that after all, i-isn't that what parents supposedly do? Supporting and protecting their children? Talking and teaching them stuff? Of course you're not my parent and of my sisters, b-but you've done all this for us a-and... w-well..."

She had stopped explaining as she covered her face to hide her embarassment that had grown bigger on her face. Hades thought of her answer for many silent seconds and eventually placed a hand on Artemis' shoulder again, getting her to look at him.

"Even so, the title of the parent is not one that is fit for me. While I said I'm not angry, just don't repeat it Miss Artemis. All I did and still do in those few years is nothing more than paying your teachers and simply guiding you to greatness and independence in this world as a mentor, or else you're gonna get stepped over. I've avoided to interact with you when still little children, I haven't really been there for you 3. The one who has been the most attentive is your mother, from the beginning of your existence until today..." He let go of her shoulder and stared at the hole. "Not that it matters, since this place is a sorrowful mess, but since you dug up this hole, you have responsibility to bury it." Artemis simply nodded.

After that day none of the triplets and Hades brought this up ever again, though for many weeks Athena and Aphrodite wouldn't stop teasing Artemis for her mouth slipping. The necromancer's expression looked like his casual, nothing was betraying that he was thinking of what Artemis had said when looking at her. But now, it all made sense.

"And... if they think they can see me as a parent I won't mind."

Persephone laughed calmly and cheerfully as she approached Artemis.

"Oh my baby!" She said and cupped her face, her still madly blushing in embarassment face while pouting. "You've been thinking of him as a parent for long?" Artemis could only nod as answer. Persephone looked at Hades. "Well, what do you think? Can they call you Father?" Hades looked at the triplets staring at him in slight agony for his answer, one by one. Then he huffed.

"Since I'm marrying you, if that's what they want, I have no prob-."

"YAAAY!" The triplets did at the same time and almost jumped at Hades to hug him.

The necromancer not being used to such display of abrupt affectionate gesture, especially from 3 at the same time, almost fell backwards but managed to keep his balance. At first his hands just hung, not doing anything with them. But after looking at Persephone bewildered and surprised, signing him to hug them back, he did so.

~

2 days later...

"There is something I want to test out with you."

They were in his office, after his request to meet there. Persephone just stood still as Hades stopped to her right. He signed her to hold his hand, but with her palm placed against the back of his hand, then he intertwined his fingers around the gaps of hers.

Holding hands like that, the necromancer raised them both to face front. Then he started whispering-chanting some prayers both in Catalanic and Ancient Greek. Persephone recognised what were those words dedicated for and started getting nervous.

Was Hades going to get them back to the monster afterlife? The first time might was for important reasons, but it hadn't changed her fear and anxiety for the place. Her negative emotions would soon be replaced with confusion however.

Instead of seeing the room getting darker, or Hades and her being covered in darkness, she saw only a small shadow seemingly coming out of the hole on Hades' hand. Said shadow took a seemingly wiggly round shape and stayed there. Persephone looked at the necromancer confused and surprised.

"What is this Hades? What did you do?"

"As it seems it worked." He looked at her. "I recall you didn't like the atmosphere of the monster afterlife last time we were there. So, combining the powers of our natures, I made an opening to the dead while staying in the living."

It wasn't the first thing they had discovered together when close to each other. Just yesterday they had figured out that when holding each other, even just hands, whatever plant Persephone was touching wasn't blossoming.

But whatever Hades was touching wouldn't wilt and die in seconds, the plants and flowers were staying intact. Perhaps he had taken inspiration from this and decided to try whatever it was they were doing today.

"That's... interesting and very considerate of you." Persephone looked up to him, but still confused. "Why though?" Hades stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Normally this shouldn't be done. Tampering with the balance and fabric between the dead and living shouldn't be done often. But I'll keep this under control and just for this once, until the time comes where we will become essences too, I thought you might want to have a talk with your parents." Persephone's eyesockets widened up.

"I-... I can?!"

"Call their names and sooner or later they will appear, they're attracted to familiar voices." Hades advised and looked away for a moment. Persephone realised there was more to this action they had caused.

"... You want to meet my parents too?" She asked smiling brightly.

"... I could just marry you, having received your consent and get over it. But... aside letting them know where you are and in what condition, to know that you are in as good as possible hands, I am also interested enough to know which monsters brought to this world the gorgeous Goddess I have next to me." Hades started slightly awkardly but with more stability in his voice at the end, causing Persephone to blush aggressively.

"Oh hush!" She did.

"At the end, what I really want by getting to see them and let them see me too, is receiving their blessing." Hades said as if nothing had happened, focused on the opening between the dead and living and Persephone looked at him with perked up eyesockets. "... You may call them now."

Slowly the skeleton woman turned to look at the opening. She struggled for a moment to say anything, but eventually her parents' names flew out of her mouth.

"Néfus... Rótha?"

For just a minute they waited, eyesockets nailed to the opening. But it felt like the longest minute ever. To soothe some of her agony, Persephone would turn to look at Hades, who would only ever slightly return the gaze to her.

At some point, he turned his face completely to look at her and kept it there, as if wanting to give her a proper look of reassurment. Persephone kept her look nailed at his too, not looking at the opening, so, what was heard next slightly caught them off guard.

"Περσεφόνη;!" A male voice was heard calling.

That was a voice that had stayed familiar even after almost 21 years of absence. A gentle, melodic voice, the same one that would call Persephone, indicating he was back home, asking to see his daughter and get a hug.

The skeleton woman saw the essence staring before her from the darkness of the monster afterlife. Despite not quite the same when alive in appearance, she fought back the tears of nostalgia and joy that were threatening to come out.

"Πατέρα μου..." She said, almost whispered.

"Μωρό μου, κοριτσάκι μου..."

She couldn't hold back the tears hearing that woman's voice and seeing the second essence standing next to the first staring at her.

"Μανούλα μου..." Persephone said then and sobbed at the same time, then looked away to wipe her tears.

Through this whole wave of emotions, Hades stood silent and patiently as the skeleton woman next to him was interacting with her parents, satisfied to see her happy. The Sófrons were staring at their daughter ecstatic and delighted, expressing how happy they were that their girl had managed to stay alive, recalling a few old memories when still together. When still a united family.

They said that Cypross had told them of what he had done to Persephone, that he was guilty and would forever be and that he deserved the condemn from her parents. And while indeed angry with him, there was the fact he wasn't in his right mind at all when under the command of the Ottomans.

Like so many other monsters. Persephone simply told her parents that she was almost over it and moving on. After that there came the subject of the triplets. Cypross had mentioned that too, that he had briefly interacted with them.

But again not fondly and that his actions in the past had caused them to be brought to this world. And while her parents were sad that Persephone had brought children in the world in such harsh way, they didn't talk further about that to bring her in a difficult position.

"Well, are they healthy?"

"Are they at least happy?"

"Do they make you happy?"

And the positive answers to these questions caused Persephone's parents to smile, that's what mattered more for them in the moment.

"Do our grandaughters look like us?!"

Another question which caused Persephone to laugh quietly and she described her girls. She spoke even about Athena casually, about who she looked like the most, almost not bothered by it.

"Whether she looks like me or not, she's still beautiful and brilliant. And she's my daughter."

"Yes, that's right."

Despite the relaxed and happy mood the Sófrons had for the most part, the parents couldn't stop giving faint glances at Hades, momentarily freezing. But he was simply staying silent and signing them to keep talking with their daughter. Eventually there came the moment to include him in the conversation.

"We've missed you so much our dear daughter. But..." Néfus tried to focus more his look outside on the living side. "... What kind of magic is this that allows us all this time to talk while you're still here and not with us?"

"The combination of my magic with his." Persephone said as she looked up to the necromancer. "You could say he brought an opening of dead to the living."

"Oh wait... you're a necromancer!" Rótha said staring better at Hades surprised, who nodded.

"So... who are you and how come you help our daughter for us to keep this conversation?" The father asked a little suspicious. Hades and Persephone looked at each other for a few seconds before the man turn to look at the parents.

"Hades Acheron Renrink, aristocrat of Valencia. Your daughter has been under my service as a maid for the past 20 years. Until recently. Aside doing Persephone a favor to let her see you and hear each other, I seeked to meet you too so you can whether or not give us your blessing."

"The... The what now?!" Néfus asked and if not already dead he seemed on the first stadium to get a soul attack.

"It comes abruptly to you two. But I love your daughter and want to honor her for the rest of our existence. I want to marry her. Do you give us your blessing?" Hades asked so calmly and casually, it almost didn't seem as if he was asking something so serious.

Now the poor parents were staring at each other in shock. Next they looked at the lovers focused and silent for many seconds. Eventually they both slowly turned to look at Persephone. Then... basically started asking her about the same stuff Gaia had asked.

"Persephone, our sweet child... do you really love this man?"

"Yes."

"Does he make you feel safe and loved?"

"He does."

"And... you feel ready to stay by his side?"

"Yes, I want to." Persephone replied again with certaincy, just blushing more and more. After many silent seconds, Néfus crossed his arms and looked stably at Hades.

"For the fact you considered to ask us, despite we're dead and can't do anything about it to stop you, that's honorable from you. But even if we could, I won't. Our daughter is about to move on in life and if she feels you're the one she wants to stay by, if you feel as the right one for her, there is no objection. I trust her and I want to trust you too. So please... take care of her, be her guardian as we were once for her... Will you?" He asked and he tried very hard not too sound too emotional.

"For her not to struggle or have to face something by herself, I'll do anything so she doesn't go through such ever again." Hades assured and nodded.

"... You have my blessing."

"Augh, our baby! Still young and in love. All smitten like us once!" Rótha exclaimed excited and emotional. "What is there more to ask or doubt, I see it all clearly in your faces and souls. You have my blessing too." She said. Persephone could barely hold herself from jumping in excitement and joy.

"Thank you father, mother."

"Finally!" Another female voice was heard from the monster afterlife. The skeleton woman flinched.

"Cerdia?!"

"Ugh, I'm short and can't see through the opening! Let me just..." And slowly, the face of a pig was seen slowly rising up and peeking to the outside world. "Well well! Long time no see!"

"Cerdia, you're here too!" Persephone yelped happily.

"Why of course. How could I miss the chance to see you my old friend?" The pig woman asked.

With her knowing Persephone, there had come a random moment where when she mentioned her name out loud, that had attracted Néfus and Rótha. Cerdia had told them how she knew about Persephone before she died and where was she. The 3 became friends and the pig woman had told them her time with the skeleton woman before she died.

"And how are things for you Cerdia?" Persephone asked smiling wider.

"Very quiet for the most part. It would be also boring and miserable if my husband and son weren't here with me." Cerdia said. Then her look fell on Hades. "Greetings, Master."

"... Greetings... Cerdia." Hades said slowly and nodded.

"If somebody was telling me that you're getting married, I'd think they were a liar. But that Persephone is the one you're getting married to, if I wasn't seeing it with my own hollow eyes, that would be the moment I'd stop believing anything." Cerdia looked at Persephone. "No matter, I'm glad you changed your mind and found love. May your years together be happy and calm, that he gives you Persephone all the loving you deserve and you give him in return all the loving he missed."

"Thank you Cerdia."

"And you! Don't you think about making her cry, be a gentleman to her!" The pig woman stared at Hades suddenly strictly. It was funny to see the previous head maid being commanding towards her master. Hades rolled his eyesockets before staring at Persephone and soften his expression.

"Will do."

~

A little while later there had to come the goodbye. Temporary of course. Persephone bid farewell her parents and Cerdia and unwillingly but with understanding, they slid away. Hades stared at Persephone as she was looking to the opening thoughtful. Then looked at the opening too.

"... Is there someone else you want to see?" He asked. Persephone looked up to him with perked up eyesockets. She hesitated for a moment.

"... Can I meet your parents?"

Hades' eyesockets widened up and his head slowly turned to look at the skeleton woman. Persephone didn't feel scared, she was kind of expecting such reaction, but she wanted to see if perhaps she could convince him-.

"No." The necromancer said calmly as his expression was turning from surprised to a serious and bitter glare. "... You don't want to meet them."

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to meet them."

"Why do you even want this?"

"... Well... maybe I want to meet the kind of monsters that brought to this world such a handsome man." Persephone tried to say stably, in a way wanting to get back at Hades for the similar statement he had given her before seeing her parents. The necromancer looked at her slightly surprised but bewildered for many seconds, not flustered or embarrased at all.

"... You think I'm handsome?" He asked, then pointed at himself with his free hand, genuinely not believing what he heard.

Persephone looked at him sad for a few seconds as he looked again forward and slowly ran his fingers across the cracks on his eyesockets, with that same confused and surprised expression. She rubbed the side of her skull against his arm.

"Very. I mean it." She said. Hades didn't say anything about it, but huffed and looked away.

"... You might want to see them, but I don't." He said returning to their first issue. Persephone looked at him, prepared to keep trying to convince him.

"... Even after so long, don't you think that they might want to see their son?"

"No." Hades' expression was only filled with more bitterness. "They never cared, why would they do now? Even if I called them, they wouldn't come." Alright, that was just pure sad now.

"And if I do?" The necromancer turned to look at Persephone, still serious and bitter.

"... Don't insist butterfly. It would be pointless. They never wanted to have to do anything with me, they wouldn't care about what I do now. Even when I enter the afterlife we don't see each other. I don't seek for them, they avoid me. If you also ask to see them so you expect to hear them giving us their blessing or something, forget it. Giving it or not is the only one I wouldn't care hearing anyways. Just let me close the opening." He insisted and looked at their hands ready to pull his away. Persephone held tighter and looked at him more determined.

"... Just once. Let's call them just once and wait for a while. If they really don't come, I'll never insist again..." She said gently. "... Please." In all seriousness she wasn't doing anything purposely, but the face she had when pleading caused Hades to shut his eyesockets and cover them with his right hand. He looked away as he groaned, then finally looked at her.

"... 2. Minutes." He declared calmly. "From the moment you call them, I'll wait for 2 minutes." Persephone looked at the opening and called Hades' parents. Then waited. She was counting the seconds silently, giving secret looks at Hades.

His expression was indifferent, the face of somebody who doesn't expect for anything out of what they're certain they know to happen. A minute and 50 seconds later he huffed and looked away, already gently pulling his hand to free it from Persephone's.

"I told you they wouldn't-."

"For the stars' sake, who called us?!"

They stared at the opening with wide open eyesockets as 2 more essences of skeletons peeked to the living, rather glared. At first the pair stared at Persephone smiling at them cheerfully, then they looked at Hades and facepalmed.

"Oh stars no, it's the spawn again..." Pestornia groaned and turned to look again at Hades. "It's been only 24 years, couldn't you leave us alone for another 100? What is it you wa-?" She stopped abruptly talking when Sufrimio tugged her shoulder gently.

They both looked at Persephone more focused. Rather intensively. Even so, Persephone didn't loose her smile and waited as Hades' parents were checking her out, ever so rarely staring at their son. But they didn't seem to be staring at their faces. Rather mainly on their ribcages.

After checking them out for a whole minute, the dead couple looked at each other, then back at the alive one, then again at each other and finally made eyesocket contact with Persephone, who decided to try and break this awkward for her moment. She gave a little bow forward.

"Greetings. I am-."

"We don't care who you are." Sufrimio cut her off indifferently. "We already have enough crucial information of what you are for our son." Suddenly, as if it was the most casual thing in the world, he sticked his head out of the opening and stared at Persephone from closer, who got herself closer to Hades surprised. Hades shot a glare at his father, who's face scrunched up in dissatisfaction. "Eugh. Just as I suspected. Life magic." He stated as he went back inside the monster afterlife. "Way too happy."

"Doesn't seem blind and naive to me, yet she also seems to know what kind of monster she's dealing with." The mother said and the dead couple turned to look at Persephone again.

"Since your souls chose each other's, good luck getting married to him."

"If you called us here to give our blessing, you just wasted time."

"If you're certain, get together already you 2."

"What makes you think that as monsters we have any saying on who is our son going to love?"

"Just keep him happy or at least satisfied so he won't end up in here with us earlier than the meant and permanently. If there is nothing else important to know, leave us alone already."

And without exhaling another word, or waiting for the others to say anything, Sufrimio and Pestornia turned their backs and slid away with heads up high. A few seconds later Persephone felt Hades' hand leaving hers and the opening closed. She stared up to him as he was looking down with a very thoughtful expression and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Even though you did to me the favor, I... I'm sorry if by insisting so much to see them I caused you to feel sad, or... distressed." She said quietly. Hades turned to face her and brought her close to him. Persephone placed hands on his chest.

"Interestingly, it all went better than I could ever expect." He said calmly. The other looked at him with perked up eyesockets. "Or perhaps I simply had very low expectations anyways. Don't mind their way of talking. That's how they are commonly. That's the possibly nicest they've ever spoken... Never heard them before calling me their son..." He looked away, again thoughtful.

"So... was it worth it after all?" Persephone asked softly as she cupped Hades' face.

"... Perhaps... A little."

"And... could you ever know things would go that way if we didn't call them?" She asked as she approached her face closer to the necromancer's, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"Never." He said and leaned forward to unite their mouths in a kiss that started off gentle and soon after became strong and vivid. A minute or so later they seperated and Persephone rested her head on Hades' shoulder.

"Thank you Hades." She whispered.

"Anything for my butterfly." He replied as his one hand went on the back of the woman's neck and she leaned a little back to look at him. "... Σ' αγαπάω..." He said calmly and pressed his forehead against Persephone's.

"Και εγώ σ' αγαπάω."

~

A month later, to the Valencians' surprise but overall interest, their marriage took place.

During that month, Persephone had gone to Seville and spend some time with Gaia and her other friends, who had gathered from all corners of Hispania to share her happiness and gossip. At the end of that month they would all go back to Valencia as the bride's escort and as guests.

Until then, aside chatting and being excited for the marriage coming, they were preparing Persephone for it and she was studying and learning what she had to do, expect in the marriage ceremony and how to succeed. After all, like we've seen in the monster marriage between Fuku and Skate, the ceremony is never just about simple words and blessings for the unison.

The skeleton woman had taken Aphrodite with her, to get to slowly meet the other women and the children some of them had and they were at her age. After all, Persephone wasn't the only one who had birthed children. Another reason of taking Aphrodite was also to discuss, take advice and ideas to make the wedding dress.

Having taken with her expensive and gorgeous fabrics, she cooperated, asked and listened to the opinions of her new friends, who had mainly helped to make designs on paper of different dresses and give ideas. The priestesses wouldn't stop swarming Persephone in questions about Hades.

And while they were interested to know, at the same time they had a little bit of doubt. They wanted the skeleton woman to be happy, but they also wanted to feel reassured that Hades was going to treat her right, love and honor her. After all, those damn rumors...

"All I saw in Sir Hades' expression from that day I visited his mansion was nothing but pure love and adoration for Persephone. Which makes me know that despite the rumors and reputation, he's going to treat her right. And he better keep it that way..." Gaia had admitted and gave the reassurement to the priestesses, still giving her threat. But if the goat woman was saying that, then it was all the convincing the priestesses needed.

Back at Valencia, Athena and Artemis were going around all over the town and handing gold to the citizens. A little bit to anyone they were finding. After discussing with Hades, after taking his permission despite he believed that there would be no real point in doing it, they went ahead to share.

Of course the citizens would accept the gold, confused and surprised greatly and ask why were the girls doing that.

"On behalf of Sir Hades, we gift the citizens gold for a special event that will take place the next month: he's getting married."

To learn that the Renrink was getting married was the shock of the century. Even more when hearing that Persephone was the bride. The doubt and worry were obvious. For Persephone of course. Was she going to be alright getting married to the necromancer? Was she even going to stay alive???

Despite not deserving it, the human maids in Hades' house were gifted each a small bag of gold and discharged from their duties. That was the necromancer's idea. It had better they left. Especially now that Persephone was going to get married to him, literally the one monster the human maids despised the most in their years of serving.

With what face would they be serving her too? Plus they could perhaps try something nasty to Persephone. Yeah, no, they wouldn't stay around the house anymore. The monster maids were fine to stay however. They never hated Persephone, just felt uncomfortable around her when still pretending to be retarded.

But when she stopped pretending, when she showed her normal self, apologised and explained for all the years she played that act to them, eventually they managed to accept it and get used to her. They got to slowly like her, but they simply were finding it unexpected that she was getting married to their Master.

And while they were worried, seeing Artemis and Athena being chill and happy with the idea that their mother was getting married to the Renrink, what was there more to say and doubt? If they were certain, then it would be alright.

"Sir Hades genuinely loves her. We see it too. And that's all we need to know to be supportive and happy for our mother."

While the whole Valencia had learned of the marriage, the guests would be aside the women from the temple of Life Persephone was part of and a few representatives from the closest to the town temples of Death, including the one in which Hades had spend 10 years of training there.

An invitation to them was a must, their role would be important for the ceremony. In the meantime the mansion had been prepared and the whole Valencia was waiting for Persephone's arrival and of the 'healers'.

Let's just say that only the authorities of Hispania, Hades and the priests of Death had in their hands information that the women were priestesses and would keep their identity and dignity hidden.

At last, the day had come.

The priests of Death had all accepted the invitations and had arrived first in Hades' mansion, to coldly congratulate him for that important day in his existence. Despite the wishes however, despite guests, on the first part of the marriage ceremony they would be silent judges and show their own approval or disapproval for the bride.

Impure or not, virgin or touched, from high class or low, those were the last of the concerns for the judges. If anything such could affect Persephone even more if she didn't handle herself well and make her trial more demanding.

If she managed to pull through or not would cause the judgement tip more to positive or negative. So, by showing what she needed, to the standards of the judges, she would prove that she had what it took to stand by the side of a necromancer.

The moment she arrived at the mansion, in the afternoon, the ceremony would begin. Hades waited, actually deep inside being a little nervous, not for himself, but wanting his Persephone to manage through the whole ceremony. But he had let that nervousness go quickly. He believed in her and he knew she would succeed.

Finally, the bride had been announced to have arrived, by Aphrodite. The priests of Death were standing aside, eyes on the door to see the bride and her company. The ballroom was lit in very little light, but when Persephone entered, on her side Gaia and in 2 straight rows the other women chanting in divine voices, the atmosphere changed.

Might as well somebody had lit the room on fire with how much light was emitted. Some priests covered their faces with their hands, others lowered their hoods to block the brightness and others wore spectacles on their eyes. But Hades couldn't care less for the light emitted because he was focused on Persephone.

She was wearing a velvet, extremely dark purple cape, covering her whole body except from her face, which was turned down, facing the floor. As she had been taught on what to do, her and Gaia stopped in the middle of the ballroom. Then the goat woman walked to the side with head up high and stood amongst the priests.

Dead silence had filled the room now. Persephone was of course nervous. To try and distract herself she was studying the patterns on the floor. So focused she was on this, the calm but strict command given to her by one of the priests almost made her flinch. She was asked to take off her cape so everyone could have a better look at her.

And at first she had hesitated greatly, so many eyes were on her. But as she raised head and looked at Hades standing many steps away and facing her, she took courage to keep her head up high and remove at first the hood, then unclip the cape and let it slide off her, revealing her light.

In that moment the necromancer had almost forgotten where he was and what was taking place. He internally cursed himself, not believing until this very moment how someone could look even more divine and gorgeous than they already are. And by someone, it meant to him Persephone of course.

On her torso area the fabric seemed to have embroidered roses with black thread. The grecian-like neckline style surrounding her neck seemed to be a garlant of little delicate roses close to each other, supported by a little golden button on the back of her neck. Her arms from the shoulders to the elbows were exposed.

The sleeves were starting from the elbows looking like flower petals and becoming wider to the wrist. The skirt was in draped style and above it a transparent veil with many dark lines all over it, almost looking like-... The smirk was this close to appear on Hades' face once realising what he was seeing.

The pattern of a monarch butterfly's wings. The whole dress was in shades of purple, with only the dark lines on the torso and the veil above the skirt being a different color. The way Persephone was dressed was an icon that would forever burn in the necromancer's mind. Seeing her, the priests all around leaned towards each other and seemed to be talking.

But no sound was coming out of their mouths, they were only staring at the lips. The soundless talking, one thing the priests of Death were taught to conquer in order to keep silence as much as possible. One of their most valued virtues. They didn't seem all that impressed seeing Persephone, but might as well that was their casual face.

Either way in order for the skeleton woman to feel less awkward and not lower head at all, she would look at Hades. He was wearing a dark cloak with a big golden belt around his waist. The whole neck area was covered in what looked like a golden choker. His wrists had golden cuffs.

The cape he was wearing was the most majestic part of his appearance. While on the outside it was dark too, with golden lines on the edges, from the inside the little light in the room falling on it was making it glow in such way like... like an aurora in shades of blue and purple and pink.

Or like a galaxy decorated with many many stars. Even on the collar that same thing was happening, on the outside plain dark and from the inside that burst of celestial colors. The appearance was complete with golden shoulder pads like big pointy leaves.

While his appearance was calming for Persephone, at the same time she was fighting harder than ever to keep a straight face. He was both simple and at the same time majestic. Imposing. And even more handsome J\\\J. Her daydreaming stopped when the priests announced that the trial for the marriage ceremony could begin.

Unlike what we've seen in the marriage ceremony back at Lisbon, when it was with a necromancer it was taking a more quiet in depth direction, at the beginning at least. There was no dancing, there was no fighting and there was no struggle to keep yourself upright while drunk and avoiding many other pairs of monsters dancing around you.

The marriage ceremony with a necromancer was a test of inner strength, tolerance and composure. And for those to be shown, Persephone had to face, almost relive whatever traumatising demons she still had from her past memories and actions.

She had to ignore and stay calm and patient with whatever she was hearing and feeling. Insults, insecurities, words of guilt, condemn, shame, she had to stay unphazed. If she could completely tolerate all that, then it was most likely she could handle the future with whatever it brought her.

And like that she would be deemed worthy to become Hades' wife. As one of the priests was standing in front of her, being able look into her memories, the negative comments would swarm Persephone's head, trying to break her.

Dirty

Weak

Naive

Desperate

Impure

Worthless

Shameful

Defenceless

But having prepared to learn what she would have to go through in the marriage ceremony and thanks to what she had been told those months back to help her not feel all that, Persephone had barely budged and kept herself calm.

Murderer

Until this one almost distracted her from her focus and she tried to look around her. Suddenly she realised she was seeing the scene of her minutes before killing Cypross. And a voice that sounded like hers but more bitter and cruel was blaming her for what she had done. As if she hadn't already fallen from grace enough.

She just had to stain her hands too that night. She had stayed alive at the expense of Hades' health. In that moment, it almost got her. Persephone had almost lost her composure and failed the trial. But seeing Cypross choking Aphrodite and her soon after acting, she thought about it, calmed down and found what to reply to herself.

"These daughters came out of me. Out of my soul. I wasn't going to let 20 years of life with them be gone in a single moment. Even though the guilt will stay with me and will never really go away, rather I live a murderer for the rest of my life than without my daughters. And hopefully, they can be better than me in the future, not make my mistakes." The memory dissapeared and it was just darkness. Facing her a breath away was... her. Glaring at her. But she smiled at her. "This and all I've been through can't be denied but I'm a survivor of them, they will be my reminders of what happened when I didn't show strength or refused to, so me and my loved ones will not have to go through this ever again. So I will not have to kill as the only and last of my resort."

Her reflection broke in many pieces and all of a sudden she was back in the ballroom of Hades' mansion. Where the other her was standing a while ago, it was just the priest who had caused her to see through her memories.

And in his strict and serious face, a faint idea of surprise was shown. He went back to the others and started 'whispering' to them of what he saw. Little by little, all these men who didn't seem to show the slightest of interest for Persephone, were now looking at her off guard.

Something was telling the skeleton woman that they were like that for the murder she had committed. Then, the priests one by one went up to Hades and started shaking hands with him while nodding their heads, telling him something soundly and then going back to standing aside.

At the end they had approved of Persephone. While the fact that her, a being of Life magic had done the unexpected, even though it was upon her desperation, that showed she was somebody ready to protect anyone she cared about. If she could reach the point to even kill, which was forbidden for her, she could do anything else to ensure safety and defence.

After the trial, the whole ceremony had taken a lighter mood. With the marriage being between 2 completely opposite philosophies and traditions and with Hades' request, the rest of the night was filled with music and dances. The women had even broken the ice with the priests a little and got along.

The triplets especially, who had studied those few years back a little bit about whatever habits and discipline the priests of Death had, they would sometimes partner up and have a dance with some, or a singing duel as a form of dedication for the 2 getting married. Considering it was on songs the men were more familiar with, they had slayed.

It was a very happy and entertaining night for Persephone, taking her part too in the dances with her friends, to relive the moments of joy back at Athens, for old time's sake. And as she was recalling how had she ended up in that moment, she would turn her look at times towards Hades and exchange soft stares with him.

Throughout the whole night his gaze was burning her. He would barely remove his eyesockets off Persephone, even when somebody wanted to talk to him, causing her to feel the heat both on her cheeks and in her ribcage to increase when she thought about it or looked back at the necromancer.

Especially near the end of the ceremony when she had proceeded to do her own solo dance, dedication to Hades of course. She had walked in the middle of the ballroom and once everyone had gone silent, without even giving any signal, music started playing by the priestesses, a strong vibe of Hispanic feeling.

*runs aggressively to your location*

*jumps through your window*

*looks at you*

no questions asked, just put this play and vibe!

*slaps on your table the

https://youtu.be/KKqwD9tdUgo

video*

*feeds you pitogyro*

*flies out of your window*

*smeks and pets you before that*

Through the whole month of preparation Persephone and the other women had prepared and practiced for this. The skeleton woman enjoyed the choreo and as she would look at Hades, she could see through his serious and cold expression as he stared at her, the tension growing little by little.

Her graceful and energetic movements, sometimes sharp and quick, sometimes smooth and airy were making her look carefree and more attractive, cheerful and playful. And though the necromancer showed no real reaction at that moment, Persephone had agitated him greatly.

He had definitely liked the dance. An indicator was that one moment where when a priest tried to approach him from his right side asking to tell him something, he removed his right glove and streched it out, warning that way the man to not interrupt him from observing.

Because he might was not allowed to kill anymore, but he could do so in that moment if he missed even a single second of seeing Persephone moving to the rhythm of the music. Luckily that priest had decided to wait patiently.

~

And after the grand party, there had come the time for everyone to hit the beds. Not for all of them to sleep immediately though.

When she felt Hades hugging her from behind she hurried to hide her emotions and tried to convince herself that she wasn't back on the ship and where she was right now would be different. And at first she had managed to relax and enjoy the necromancer's gentle, affectionate touch.

His hands carressing her and his kisses were the all familiar sensations she knew all those months back, his aura was also caressing her gently all over her body. His words of praise and admiration between his kisses were only increasing the impact of what those were doing to the woman.

As his hands would ran slowly over her chest it was when Persephone was fighting harder to hold back from making sounds. She was embarrassed, in agony, scared, but at the same time finding herself little by little craving more of his touch. She wasn't completely sure if she really wanted this to keep going, however she tried to fight through any negativity holding her back from enjoying fully the sensations.

But the moment Hades' hands crawled on the back of her neck to unclip the golden button holding up the top of her dress betrayed her as she froze in one place and went silent as a grave. His hands stopped moving too and a few seconds later were removed off her, but she waited for him to keep going. She heard him talking then.

"Persephone, estàs plorant."

Yes she was. And she felt bad for it.

Back at Hades' chambers, as she waited for him, to say the least she was at first almost petrified. Not because she didn't trust the necromancer at all, that he would be rough with her and cause her purposely pain.

She feared that even if he would go gently, the moment their souls would collide she was going to feel pain again. Still recalling her first violent experiences, filled only with suffering. She could remember vividly the sensations.

Feeling electocuted, set on fire and being dipped in acid at the same time when brainwashed Cypross was violating her. And it defintely wasn't helping either when he was slapping and biting her hard to induce their cursed intercourse, leaving her feeling like a huge tree log had fallen on top of her.

Persephone hugged herself as her tears fell silently. She had expected to hear Hades expressing the slightest of dissapointment or anything. Instead she felt his hand grabbing and pulling hers gently and moving it to press against a very cold surface, which caused her to look behind her.

Both worried and flustered she realised the other's ribcage was exposed. But she didn't stop him as he took her other hand to place it on him, feel his soul basically going crazy for how much he craved the woman before him. But calmly, he told her to simply touch him, 'explore' his body.

Confused but seeing Hades simply waiting for her, she did as he said, she stared and observed. By first glance his bones seemed fine but seeing from closer and feeling with her hands, she saw Hades was scarred. Slashes that despite closed were deep and hadn't dissapeared, marks from teeth, sharp and not.

The slashes were his punishments for whenever he was failing at something. Some of them he had done them on himself when he started realising he wasn't feeling pain anymore, testing himself out if he really couldn't feel no matter how much he was carving himself.

The bite marks were from essences, given to him when a child, still unable to defend himself completely from them. Part of his first training alongside his father's 'guidance' to learn tolerating the aura of the monster afterlife and face the dangers of it. Persephone kept staring at them as Hades answered her questions calmly.

Ultimately distracting her from her great agitation. Then he held her by the wrists and gently lead her palms to stop in the middle of his ribcage again. He had asked her what was really stopping her from going further to their action. And Persephone, at a calmer state then, explained to him all that were holding her back.

Then she asked about the pain, which was ultimately what she feared the most. Hades thought about it for a moment before gently hugging Persephone and causing her to feel the almost paralysing but nonetheless pleasurable cold of Hades' coming in contact with the warmth emitted from her.

"Your fears and concerns are reasonable. You didn't experience anything great from your first time. The reason it hurt for you then was because you were forced to do this with someone you weren't in love with. For many of the Animalistic or the Phenomenal monsters, intercourse can be pleasurable for them whether it is done with the right or wrong other. But for the likes of us, as Elementals, only with the one monster you're going to get tied for the rest of your life with, your soul responds positively to theirs. I couldn't reassure you that you won't feel pain because I've felt it first hand. I've never experienced it myself. But I've been told and taught back to my years of training at the temple, that the collision of souls between 2 under the bond of Eros, feels right. And when it feels right, it feels good. No matter what the sensation is for each, it is something that personally makes them feel comfortable and pleasantly."

The more he spoke and reassured her, the more Persephone was relaxing and feeling her fear being replaced by the desire coming back, as he would look her in the eyesockets with tenderness. Perhaps if she had drank alcohol she wouldn't even be hesitating and just get over with hers and Hades' first night together officially.

But Hades was the one who had stopped her from taking any of the drinks offered to the ceremony and alongside her didn't drink a single drop of it. He preffered her wanting him with a clear head than drunk even a little and not thinking completely right.

With all that Persephone couldn't take it anymore. His honesty and consideration towards her were disarming. And when Hades finished talking by telling her that if she wanted him to stop at any moment from touching her, if she felt any pain, she should say it, she stopped thinking about her last of hesitations and doubts.

She did trust him. She wanted to do so even in this moment. Like that, a few seconds of staring silently at each other, after running her hands on his back and chest, Persephone did the first move for a kiss that didn't take more than 2 seconds to become passionate, strong and deep, with a slightly different kind of sensation the woman was used to and knew.

When she felt for the second time Hades' hands crawling on the back of her neck to unclip the button there, she brought no resistance and let her ribcage be exposed and come in contact against Hades' cold as their kiss kept going, shivering greatly but letting out a gasp of satisfaction. It didn't take long for the rest of whatever fabric covering them to be removed.

It wasn't necessary to be completely exposed, as ultimately the souls would have to play the main part in the intercourse. But the more parts of the bodies were uncovered, the more the pleasure would increase, travel more easily through each other, exchange magic and comfort, making the experience more pleasant.

It felt like a divine blessing for Hades to finally feel and hold Persephone's exposed trembling body against his, all for him to worship and adore, all for him to love. The collision of cold and warm against each other, with nothing covering and preventing them anymore was inducing and increasing their need to hold onto each other. Feel more and hear more from one another, their fast breathing, gasps and soft moans of the evergrowing ecstasis they were both drifting into.

And that ecstasis started increasing faster when Hades carried, layed down and soon after pinned Persephone on the bed. Having her trapped beneath him and unable to do much, he would kiss and nibble gently on her chin and neck, down her shoulders, arms and chest.

Receiving her sweet sounds of pleasure and need for more was, what's it called around here? Ah yes, music to his ear holes. He could feel her shaking a lot more, whimpering and moaning when he would focus on kissing her on her mouth or neck, it was when their ribcages were pressed against each other.

And that was when their souls were closer than ever to 'attack' one another, send waves and ran down their host's bodies, from top to bottom, keeping up the pleasure. The more their bodies kept being in contact and the more the kisses increased, the faster and louder their souls would beat and send waves faster.

Not just that, but almost as if wanting to break off their host's ribcages just to finally collide, press against each other, become one. And Persephone could feel that nearing closer and closer. Her agony and need were growing alongside and it would be only a matter of time until her soul was to collide against Hades'.

Her moans which she had tried to hold back from the beginning were becoming louder and lasting longer as her body grew more and more sensitive and needy for the other's touch. If not for Hades having summoned in the room a dark cloud from before to surround them so no one on the outside could hear them, she would have struggled to keep her voice down.

He had simply explained to her that she didn't need to hold back, her sounds were only for him to hear and enjoy, NO ONE else. Besides they were a great indicator for him to know that he was pleasing her. While embarrasing, Persephone felt slightly more comfortable to unleash her moans and cries of pleasure.

And at last, as Hades bit her gently on her neck, much to the surprise of both, an intensive but not painful sting passed through their chests and Persephone let out a loud cry. Momentarily the necromancer had stopped moving, he let go of her wrists. He stared at Persephone waiting to see her next reaction, hear if she wanted him to stop.

He watched as she struggled to recollect herself before looking back at him. Momentarily Hades had believed she wanted him to actually stop, but the moment their souls started seperating only so very little from the lack of continuous contact and affection, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and asked him to keep going.

He was right. It felt right. This collision of souls was pure pleasure and Persephone did not want this feeling to be gone so soon.

After this, for the biggest part of the night, the 2 kept going at a more relaxed and slow pace. Holding onto each other closely, this time both of them caressing and giving affection to one another, as Hades had stopped pinning Persephone's arms down and letting her embrace him, ran her hands on him.

Consequently their souls were interacting and colliding with each other's more gently, that way making their hosts not get overwhelmed too soon and keep feeling pleasure for longer. Sometimes Hades would roll and let Persephone be above him just so he could have easier access and comfort to caress her back and spine for a while before going back to being above her again.

And when the exhaustion finally got them both, when the man finally backed away a little so they could both catch their breaths, after looking at Persephone, all flustered but overall satisfied, he internally smiled, seeing he had managed to offer her a positive experience for something she had a negative one before.

For himself, gaining such great sensations with her. His fingers ran on her cheek, all colorful and hot just like the biggest part of her face. Holding her gently, still their ribcages pressed against each other's and their souls united, he laid next to her. It would take some time for the souls to let go of each other's.

Persephone proceeded with whatever strength she still had in her to get even closer to him and bury her face on the crook of his neck. The exhaustion wasn't letting them say anything and simply drifted in a blissful and loving slumber, into each other's arms.

i know for a fact there are way more lewd and extreme descriptions of smex scenes out there on wattpad including (ooof) ecto bodies, but i also know that for even describing such scene without ectos and more spicy details going on, i'm going to hell too 🤦🏽‍♀️🥲

satan or whoever will be there to 'welcome' me is gonna probably give me a vip seat for when i try this again in the future, this time for the afterdeath, hm hm, spoiler alert.

~

The next years of marriage life Hades would offer Persephone were filled with joy, peace and of course love. From the smallest of daily interactions to many sweet and passionate nights and from gifts to one another, to small trips, in which it was just the 2 of them most of the times.

One of those trips was matter of fact done a month or so after their marriage. And while at first it had caused great surprise and concern to Persephone, she trusted Hades and let him take her, to Athens. Not to any village or town however.

Just observe the sights from a distance, let the woman breath again the air of her homeland, kiss its grounds, remember again the appearance and sensation of living there, when still a carefree young girl.

She had packed up her few stuff and as agreed, she met with Hades in the night, outside the house. The triplets had been informed beforehand that the 2 would be absent for a few days. Persephone found Hades waiting for her and saw that no carriage was waiting for them to take them downtown, then take some other mean of transportation or something.

But the necromancer hadn't assigned anything like that. Instead he was going to be the one taking her to Athens. Before the woman could wonder how would the trip be possible, Hades opened his arms and transformed into his huge bat form. 2 birds with one stone, Persephone was seeing his form again and they had their mean of transportation.

After staring and observing at him for 2 minutes, she stood in front of him with not the slightest of fear or terror and reached her hands out to caress the muzzle of the big creature before her. Surprisingly, despite it seemed to be all shadows and no mass, she actually felt touching solid.

After that Hades almost layed down and signed Persephone to climb on his back. Her last hesitation though was if he would withstand the distance for so long. He had assured her that he had flown greater distances than of the one they were going to travel. He was rarely taking any means of transportation anyways.

Though he had agreed with Persephone that if he felt tired even a little, they should stop and rest, because she preffered they reached Athens safely and slowly than not at all. Eventually, with a secret inner thrill, fully trusting Hades, Persephone climbed and held onto him.

Carefully the huge bat took off and flew up high in the night sky. Persephone had almost forgotten how to breathe seeing the incredible view from up above, of the whole town, the line between land and sea and then, the endless water. She had looked behind her as Valencia was dissapearing from her view, the night lights bidding her goodbye.

She wasn't scared. Perhaps only a little at first. But this sensation of freedom, it was incredible. It was amazing. Persephone had expressed how incredible this was and couldn't stop smiling. Her and Hades, above the lands and the sea, seeing the world so small. She layed prone and her arms tried to hug the big body of the bat, relaxed and excited. How could Hades disappoint this sweet creature?

They passed and left behind the islands of Majorca and Sardinia they passed above the big boot of Italia, all visible as there could be seen the small night lights of the lanterns working at this late hour. It was a trip that had lasted for about 4 hours, with the necromancer taking only one break on Messinia before proceeding with the trip.

At last. Athens.

As they were getting closer to the ground on a non habited area ready to land, Persephone had already started tearing up from the nostalgia. And despite for safety reasons she couldn't go see her old village and the inhabitants, just for the fact Hades had brought her all the way there mattered for her more.

They spent their days between the wildlife, getting lost in the forests and canyons, observing and staring at all surrounding them. And it was alright for Hades to walk amongst the living beings and plants, so long as Persephone was holding him by the hand.

That situation was a great loophole for the necromancer to properly taste fruits for the first time without them wilting in his mouth. Strange taste and sensation, but didn't dislike them. Especially he had showed to like berries more.

Even the poisonous ones, as he had cut a few from the bush him and Persephone were passing by and took them with him. He had consumed 2 of them when Persephone realised what he was eating. And while at first she had almost gotten a soul attack, Hades didn't panic hearing her telling him he was eating poisonous berries.

"Poison can't affect me."

After the first panic, Persephone was fighting to not laugh seeing Hades just eating them with such casualty as he was observing the wildlife around him. Perhaps with enough attention.

"I didn't realise you would be so interested to the plants."

"Not really. But the time spend with you makes it all worthy to observe."

Or the fact that when he was hearing her talking about the plants, names and specialities each had, rambling for long.

"Have I ever tell you how beautiful you are when talking?"

persephone: T///T

At nights they would sleep in made up camps formed by plants with Persephone's command. Other times they would sleep in caves if they were finding them on their way, but being very careful to make sure they were empty, unlike that one time they were brought against an angry mother bear. But with Persephone's charm, she calmed the animal down and left with Hades, as she had cubs.

On their last 2 nights Hades flew with her even higher. They stopped to sit near the edge of a canyon. They watched all that was layed before them. The towns and villages far away, even Acropolis, Parthenon, as the stars on the dark sky looked like thousands of little white drops on a blue canvas...

That was one of the best and most nostalgic trips Persephone ever had. One for which she was thankful towards Hades. The trip to Athens lasted for a week, full of wandering, exploring, observing, even letting themselves go to enjoy acting like children.

A little bit of chasing around, hide and seek, heck, Persephone had even gotten Hades to roll around, despite him being difficult or at first not understanding at all how to follow with the games she was starting.

Well, he had finally lived to enjoy being the child he never felt being, even a little confused. But no matter, all of those games were somehow ending up with Hades doing or saying unintentionally something romantic, causing Persephone to be blushing aggressively.

Or sometimes, what he enjoyed the most doing and could definitely understand after a while, if he would find or catch her, to pin her whether against a tree or the ground and kiss her. Love making at nights wasn't missing from their activities, with Persephone feeling completely at ease and giving herself up to Hades. After their first time together, she had never feared or hesitated again.

Finally at the end of the week they flew back to Valencia and returned to the mansion. Unbeknownst to Persephone however, one more pleasant surprise was waiting for her, prepared by the triplets and instructed secretly by Hades beforehand: near the necromancer's chambers they had prepared another room, decorated in a style that reminded her of her homeland.

It had also really reminded Persephone of her old home and it was hers to rest in it. Or perhaps, sometimes, if she wanted to have some alone time for herself, stay distant for a while. Just how much happier were her daughters and Hades going to make her already?!

Everyone in town had been told and knew of Persephone as actually coming from high class. A lady from Athens that had ended up in Valencia, hunted by the Ottomans and carrying her daughters by her 'dead ex husband'. That was all they needed to know.

And that was all the authorities were allowed to spread around anyways. Throughout the years Persephone kept acting and aiding the citizens of Valencia, with healing and agriculture, her part of her duties being married to the Renrink, sometimes with the help of her friends and everyone loved and admired her.

While still terrified of Hades, they actually saw a little bit of change with him and softening, which of course made no one let their guard down because that didn't make him less dangerous if he wanted to. But they observed nonetheless he had somewhat become less threatening and pressuring.

9 beautiful years passed in bliss and joy for Persephone, grateful her suffering was long gone and far away, spending those years next to her daughters and husband.

Then there came the year 1506 where life started taking a more drastic change and the beginning of a little skeleton who would go through joy and sorrow, suffering and struggle only to end up being one of the most famous and memorable pirate Captains of the era.

16000 words. since you managed to read the whole thing, here's a moment of wholesomeness:

yes that's me with the el nino on my last day of babysitting duty and i have cut my hair. rather did this:

🎶i've got a🎶

🎶i've got a🎶

🎶ugh!🎶

yeah i know, i look like the fagliest potato ever. but that was on 23 of june, the day i shaved le hair. now that i have a little more to cover my cranium, i look like a rather cute hedgehog when i come out of the shower.

that's mah hair. too many😂

mainly for health issues i reaped them. not cancer, i was just scratching my head so aggressively from the sweat, dandruff and flakes of dry skin, i had almost peeled off skin.

never has my head felt better in its life and showering is a lot easier, taking a little less time. but i will let it grow and until next time i get sick of it i suppose🤷🏽‍♀️

goodbye sweet bebehs. for now 👋🏽

next chapter will be done with the first part of reaper's past and stop to give another day the baton of narration to another close non-related member of his once family.

*pet pet pet pet pet*