A/N: I dedicate this chapter to @MieraScarlet who showed so much love to my story and motivated me to write more!!

And "King's Queen" has reached over 2400 reads and has succeeded in reaching TOP RANKING in the category PERSEPHONE. Thank you everyone for all the love, I hope you enjoy this chapter and continue to love my story.

Persephone pushed her book aside and got up from her seat to take Cerberus on a short walk as an excuse because she was bored and needed something to do before the party. She puzzled over this special occasion everyone was rambling on about- Hades had explained that this banquet was to celebrate the dead but she still didn't really quite grasp the idea; Why would anyone celebrate the end of someone's life? She questioned as Cerberus pulled her forward with the leash in her hand and he continuously sniffed the floor.

"Cerberus, relax," she cautioned but the stubborn hound pulled her towards the great hall that had hundreds of demons and witches bustling around. "Wow," she was mesmerized by the enchanting sight. Pumpkins were floating in the sky with smiles and fires glowing inside of them, black stars were glimmering under the incandescent heat, the floor was shimmering a midnight blue almost like the night sky on Earth, her white gown was so bland compared to the decorations being put up tonight.

"Milady," a familiar voice spoke up behind her.

"Pain," Persephone turned and smiled. "What's going on here?"

"We're all working on putting the decorations before midnight hits," she answered.

Persephone walked with her. "Could you explain to me what this is for?"

"This is actually a Celtic celebration," she began. "They believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31st, they thought that the ghosts of the dead returned to Earth."

Persephone's eyes widened. "Do they really?"

Pain chuckled. "Well, the humans have taken this tradition and have made it a fun celebration," she said but then lowered her voice to whisper. "But secretly it's true, that's why we hold the banquet, we guard the human realm by distracting the spirits with a party."

Persephone chuckled. "Who even came up with this idea?"

Pain puzzled for a few moments. "Um, I believe it was our king and the three judges."

"Three judges?"

"Yes, the three judges that help our king with the management around here," she explained briefly. "I'm sure you'll meet them tonight."

"Pain!" A voice called out. "Where are the barrier candles...PAAAIN!"

Pain groaned. "Shut up!" She screamed back at the poor fellow that was asking for help. "I'm sorry, milady-"

"It's fine, you can go," said Persephone. "And I'll make sure Cerberus doesn't slobber all over the floor." Persephone pulled on Cerberus's leash but the hound just wouldn't budge, she completely forgot that he was an ancient deity with tremendous power.

"Seph, honey," Hades appeared behind her. "What are you doing?"

Cerberus spotted a pile full off ornaments, he relentlessly dragged Persephone across the floor. "A little help!"

Hades laughed before anchoring his arm around her waist and letting out a sharp whistle that warned the hound to sit immediately.

Persephone mouth dropped open. "How'd you do that?"

Hades took the leash from Persephone and guided them out of the hall. "You just have to be a bit assertive sweetie, he's listens to your command like everyone else here does."

"Cerberus," she called out sternly, and the hound turned. "Sit." The hound did exactly as she said. "Alright then, we learned something new today."

"Milady," both Hades and Persephone turned at the sudden call for her.

"What is it?" Persephone asked as Hades got distracted with Cerberus.

"A spirit has come in for a session," said a little witch.

Persephone puzzled. "I thought the sessions ended for today?"

"Er- this one was unexpected, I had no clue, oh I'm so sorry," he frowned.

"It's alright," she patted the boy's slumped shoulder. "I'll head over." The boy scurried away after bowing repeatedly.

"Will you be alright, dear?" Hades circled his arms around her waist and pulled her against his body.

Persephone smirked. "Please, I've got this," she gloated playfully, after she noticed, Hades had artfully backed her up against the cold stone wall. "Hades..." her voice passed through his ears and his eyes travelled down to her lips. "I have to go."

Hades narrowed his eyes but he moved back eventually. "Fine, I'll let you go this time."

Persephone's brows shot up at his tone, she arched her back against the wall and grinned. "You should at least try to stop me."

Hades smiled charmingly and gave her a sweet peck on the cheek. "I don't need to," he remarked.

Persephone hooked her fingers around the gold chain that circled his neck and yanked him down towards her, she crushed her lips against his and moaned. His sultry taste heightened her body over ecstasy, she bit and licked and the pleasure grew like wildfire, nothing she had ever experienced before matched what Hades did to her body, but just to tease him, she abruptly pulled away. "I'll see you in a few moments," she kissed his cheek and grabbed the leash from his hand. "Come on, Cerberus," she ordered and the hound easily complied. "Oh, so now you listen," she gloated. "You couldn't hear me when I was asking nicely."

Hades chuckled whilst he listened to Persephone nagging Cerberus as she trudged away and followed the darkly-lit tunnel back to her sacred garden.

Persephone unhooked Cerberus's leash before entering the cave, so he could run wildly around the garden like he usually would, but today he hadn't. "Come on, Cerberus," she urged him to play but his fiery eyes stayed focused and his warm body stayed closely next to her. She patted his head and found it strange that he was anxious, but when she spotted the grey-casted figure in the garden her mind pushed away the hound's odd behaviour. She noticed the figure stepping behind the red-berry bushes, and she instantly panicked and ran to stop him. "Hey, don't step over there!" But she was too late, the spirit had trampled all over the campanulas, their vivid purple blood had spilled onto the dark soil fading away down the stream.

"I'm so sorry," the spirit's voice trembled but all Persephone felt was the sadness in the flowers. "I was trying to see the stream."

Persephone turned and snarled harshly enough to startle Cerberus. "Watch where you step in my garden."

The spirit shrunk away, "I- I'm sorry-" his pale eyes switched to the hound approaching him slowly.

Persephone suddenly heard Cerberus's low menacing growl that snapped her furious mood. "Sit boy," she ordered and he stayed, she noticed the spirit's body shacking, and she inwardly groaned. "That's was rude of me, it's just my flowers are-"

"It's alright," he shook his head. "It was my fault."

Persephone nodded towards the spirit's timid reaction, she outstretched her hand and dutifully resurrected the flowers back to their original state; fully bloomed and vibrant with life.

"Must be nice," the spirit spoke. "You give life so easily, whilst others take it."

"I take it too," she mumbled softly with a sigh. "Well, what brought you to my garden today?"

The spirit's eyes suddenly blanked with a mask of soot like the poisons from a volcano, he turned and drifted towards the rocky clear pathway. "I have not accepted my fate yet."

Persephone didn't quite understand this particular spirit, he was strange in a sense that she didn't feel sadness or remorse from him, yet he looked so sad and lost. "Many that pass by here haven't," she told him. "But I hope the garden makes you feel better in some way."

The spirit turned and smiled but Persephone did not feel any warmth. "Oh, it has."

Persephone patted Cerberus before asking, "Will you be attending the party tonight?"

"No," the spirit sighed. "I wish to spend a little bit more time in your garden, is that alright?"

Persephone gazed back into the dull black eyes. "Sure, the guards will escort you back when you're done." She was reluctant to leave this particular spirit alone in her garden, but she had a few minutes before she had to get ready for the party and she needed some answers. Persephone turned to one of the guards. "Do you know who the old man who wears a pointed hat and has pale hands?"

The minotaur spoke calmly. "You must be looking for Mono, my queen."

"Mono," Persephone mumbled the Greek name.

"Would you like me to escort you to him," offered the Minotaur. She gladly accepted the offer and followed the demon to Mono's lair through the fires of Tartarus.

"Mono!" The minotaur banged his fist on the wooden door that looked like it was about to fall off. "Where is that old warlock?"

"What'd ya want ya fool!" A voice yelled back.

The minotaur inwardly groaned as he glanced at who was standing next to him. "You have a guest."

"Go away," the voice snapped.

Persephone ordered the minotaur to go back to his duties and let her deal with Mono on her own. She pushed open the door to a small room that was covered in cobwebs and dust, there were massive shelves lined up around the room with unique and peculiar things filling up each spot, she cringed at the sight of the dead flowers laid out to dry near a pot of old bones, she pushed past the crooked chairs and other weird contraptions and noticed the slim tall figure seated in the corner chair.

"Didn't I tell you to leave me alone," he scolded but more gently this time.

Persephone circled around the table. "I thought you would reconsider if you saw who your guest was."

The hooded figure's beady blue eyes lifted from below the rim of his pointed hat and locked with Persephone's curious gaze. "It doesn't matter, I wish to be alone."

"I can tell," she dusted off the scraps on one of the old chairs and stubbornly sat down. "You keep this place so dirty, if they didn't have a choice I doubt people would come here very often."

"It's dirty only to them," said Mono.

Persephone smirked. "I didn't think about it like that, I guess you really can't beat an all-knowing deity with words."

Mono shifted in his seat. "What do you need?"

"I had a few questions," she told him. "About a spirit."

Mono's beady blue eyes flickered with curiosity. "A spirit?"

"As queen, I can feel anything a spirit is feeling, either it be sadness or anger I would know," she began. "But what happens when a spirit is cold, no emotion and just empty, is that similar to a ghoul?"

Mono's brows furrowed. "A ghoul is only driven by grief and memories, but a spirit that is not relying on those is much more conflicting."

Persephone froze. "What do you mean?"

Mono's laugh was like cold icicles piercing her body. "Do not forget this is Tartarus, goddess of spring," he remarked with a bitter tone. "Nothing good ever births here. If I were you I would keep a close eye on the spirit you speak of, just in case it decides to act out."

"Has it happened before?"

"Just once," he answered. "But never again has someone tried to rebel in front of our king."

Persephone's suspicions were indeed right, that spirit that came today wasn't what she would normally encounter during her sessions, but just to be sure she had to meet him again. She got out of her seat and smiled. "Thank you for your wisdom, Mono."

Mono got up from his seat and followed her but instead of towards the door, she turned to the dead flowers. "What are you doing?" He asked Persephone.

"A gift since you helped me," she lifted her hand and golden light beamed from her hand onto the dry wilting steams, she smiled when bright blue hyacinth began to sprout cheerfully. She grabbed the closest pot of bones and placed the bundle neatly inside and set it on the table. "There... life and death living together, it's quite poetic actually," she said chirpily. "I would love for you to visit my garden someday, I'm sure you would enjoy it." 

Mono's eyes didn't leave the dancing blue hyacinth that were glistening amusingly under the low fire.