Surprisingly, it worked. For the past almost two years, Demeter had no idea Kori wasn't in the virgin society. Meanwhile, Kori on the other hand was becoming the top student in Hera's Harem.

This year was her sweet sixteen, when she would finally be seen as an adult. More than her party, Kori was busy planning for something else. Lately, she hadn't seen much of him. He'd only been up for a limited time for homecoming, and he was entirely absent from the winter solstice.

Kori planned her birthday very creatively: a rose theme. To those who weren't as involved in her life, the rose would simply mean her blossom into adulthood. To those like her mother, it would mean nothing more than just a part of her springlike attribute. But to her, the rose was much more... erotic.

That required a fitting dress to boot. Since the entire event was planned specifically to catch Hades' attention, she knew just what to wear. Kori went through her closet, pulling out a dress from long ago.

As it needed a new fitting anyway, since Kori was no longer eight, she had it redefined entirely. Now the tunic went to her thighs, and fit her bosom well, dipping down to her belly button. The dressmakers put a sheer high low black skirt around her waist, holding it with a gold belt. The neckline was accessorized with gold too. The long end of the skirt was tied to a wrist loop, which would allow easier dancing.

Kori was restless on her last night as fifteen. Even mother wouldn't see her till tomorrow. She knew what she wanted as her birthday gift from Hades and she couldn't wait till tomorrow. Kori ran to the room of the eternal fire, trying her hardest not to combust as she summoned him.

She stayed out of plain sight as the portal opened and Hades stepped out. He now expected two possibilities: Zeus, or Zeus's daughter. Usually, he was met with a toy offering when it was the latter, but found none. Zeus wasn't there either.

"Too old for toys now, are we?"

Kori came around, hands behind her back.

"Well I am 116, you know."

He did.

"Happy birthday," an appropriate but distracting response. He was overly conscious of what he said.

"What can I revive for you today?"

"Me," she was quick to reply.

"You?" He echoed with a raised brow. Hades walked with a smirk on his face. "Who'd dare kill the favorite daughter?"

"My mother," Kori sighed as she leaned against a pillar.

Hades clenched his fists, trying hard.

"How could I possibly aid you in your turmoil, sapphire? I've known your mother longer than you. I'm not sure I'm the right god to call for help."

Kori grew frustrated and leaned off the wall to face him.

"You're the only one who could help me!"

"You could make me live," she added softly.

"But you're not dead," Hades stalled, knowing better than her what she wanted.

Kori sighed. "But you could make me feel alive in other ways. Better... ways."

Hades turned his back on her, letting his aura engulf him like a threatening fire.

"Your fire does not scare me. Nor can it hurt me, thanks to your gift if I recall."

Hades gave up.

"Ask not from me what I cannot give."

"Cannot or will not!"

"You are too naive, Kori!" Hades whipped around, scolding.

His patronizing of her made her angry. She was her mother's daughter after all.

"You are not blind! You are as aware as I am for how long I have wanted you. I am in love with you, lord Hades."

Her confession did not surprise him, but her guts to say it out loud shocked him to his being. But he couldn't. He was Hades, god of the underworld. She was the daughter of Demeter, goddess of life. She could never be with him.

Hades sighed and tried to divert her attention.

"Happy birthday, Kori. Will you wish for your present now?"

"Yes. A kiss. I want you to kiss me! I want you!"

"You know not what you ask, Kori."

"You forget that I've been in Hera's school for some years, right?"

"Knowing about it isn't enough, Kori. Am I am not the best God to be your first."

"How can you expect me to be with another when I am so surely in love with you!"

"You're not in love. You're infatuated. Our history of secret meetings and moments ha-"

He shut up, when she pressed her ample lips between his. He closed his lips, causing the shift to feel like a kiss, and she smiled.

"I didn't know my resemblance to my mother was quite strong," he said smirking as they pulled apart.

"Pardon me. But I haven't kissed a boy before."

"I am not a boy, Kori."

"Nor am I a girl child!"

"It's not your birthday yet."

"It's only a couple of hours away. And after that, I'll be sixteen! You won't have a problem then, would you?"

"Kori..."

Kori let her hand lower on his body, stopping so low that the heel of her hand pressed lower than the strings of his pants.

He swallowed a groan, not letting her win.

"Would you?" Her voice dripped.

Dear Hades, he was arguing with a woman trained by Hera herself.

"We'll see."

Everyone saw.

After a parade of beautiful rose dances, Kori walked in wearing her sexy black and gold dress. Most of her guests were shocked, her mother horrified, but Hera and Aphrodite smirked approvingly. Their little girl had grown. Hades choked on his own breath. He leaned his head in the direction of his raised brow, his expression letting her know he recognized it. Kori smirked, knowing what she was doing.

The ceremony was mostly the same, save for the part where her parents helped her ascend into adulthood with meaningful mementos. Per custom, she got to dance with almost everyone. This time, she dragged Hestia to the floor.

"You've certainly displayed your maturity, Kori," Hestia subtly commented on the dress. "I wouldn't have expected this from one of Artemis's girls."

"Well..." Kori stalled, and Hestia laughed at her frustration.

"No, no. Don't tell me."

"I won't. But can I ask you a favor?"

"It is your birthday..."

"Fantastic. So, anyway, I've got to go to Paros tomorrow so that means I'm really free to go anywhere tonight."

"Mhmm. And is there any specific place you wish to go?"

"The Black Palace," she replied without hesitation.

"Kori!"

"Pleease! It's the one place I haven't been, and I promised Eros I'd show him inside."

Hestia found Aphrodite's child staring gleefully at them, not knowing what they were talking about.

"Well, I'm sure I can ask Aidy to stay a minute longer."

Kori jumped for joy.

"Just for today, we don't want to go making a habit of it."

"Thank you so much! It'll be the best gift ever!"

Hestia kissed her niece's head and went to find her brother.

After the party, Kori went to her room, surrounded by all her gifts and Eros. The two friends showed no sign of sleeping, so Demeter left them and went to retire. At some point, it was just Eros talking while Kori freshened up her appearance, like her night was just beginning. She ran out in the middle of the cherub's dialogue, and came back just as fast.

"Come on, let's go!" She hurriedly whispered at him while putting on a cloak.

"What? Where are we going?"

"Somewhere," she dragged him out, "now come on!"

They quietly ran down the tower to a chariot awaiting them. Eros hesitantly followed her in.

"Are you gonna tell me where we're going?"

"You'll see," Kori distractedly replied, humming her song.

Eros watched in horror as the chariot went past the palace, into the wild.

He was white by the time the chariot stopped outside the Black Palace.

"This is it!" Kori shrieked and got out, not waiting for her friend. "We made it!"

Eros chose to have company rather than be alone, and ran to catch up with her.

"Whoa!" They gasped as they craned their necks back to look at the towering gates.

"It's really creepy," Eros whispered, clinging to her.

"Yeah... Isn't it great?" Kori brushed him off and walked through.

"W-we could get in big trouble.

"I know, huh."

They walked down the path, lined with life like statues of various animals on either side.

"I wonder if its insides are still in there," Eros wondered as they stopped to observe a creature.

"There's only one way to know," Kori smirked in mischief and pushed her friend to the beast's mouth, "go check it out!"

Eros flew back, shivering more than anything.

"The only checking out I will do is to check out of here!"

"Aww! Don't tell mother!" Kori shouted at him as he ran back to the chariot, riding it home.

Now, Kori strode to the manor more determined. She would have him right where she wanted him. There would be no place else for him to run.

The house was darker inside, if that was possible, though torches sparingly lit the way. They were blue, which made it even better. Now she just had to find his room.

Hades retired in his rooms after the tediously long party. As much as he loved Kori, he was not one for celebrating social gatherings. He had grown tired of socializing hours longer than he was used to. Hades had no idea why Hestia had asked him to stay on Olympus a night more, but if he never saw another God again, it would be too-

"Teach me," he heard the voice as soon as the door closed.

He wasn't ready to turn and see Kori standing in that dress. Kori stood dressed in a black cloak, her hands behind her back, pressing against the closed door.

"Teach me," Kori blurted as she pushed off the door, hands now taking off her cape. Each step revealed more of the dress underneath.

"Kori..."

Kori flung off her cape and almost knocked him down as she grabbed his face, again pressing her closed lips against his. Hades fell on his bed, hands out as his side, planning to push her away. Kori sat with him, arms around his head as she kissed all over his face towards his ear.

"Teach me!" She continued.

"No," Hades found his voice.

"I'm going to bother you all night," she sang in his ear.

"You don't have to be present for that," he said to himself, regretting it immediately.

Kori stopped. Of course she'd heard him. Her vision blurred as she fingered his chin to make him look at her.

"Aidoneous. Do you feel for me as I do for you?"

Aidoneous smiled with pursed lips, finally giving in.

"You have still so much to learn, little one," he said, stroking her face.

"Then teach me," she barely breathed the words this time.

Hades cupped her cheek, fingers fitting behind her ear. He leaned in slowly, caressing her lips with his own. He gently kissed her once, then twice, as if going too hard or too long would break her.

Hades had never been... gentle. He didn't caress, he didn't savor. He was rough, and he was quick; dominant.

But this precious girl melted him. She was playing him like strings. Sure, he was the teacher, but he was moving to her tune.

Kori caught on and returned the kiss, more boldly than he did. She drew her fingers through his temple, which prompted Hades to lay his hand on her waist. Kori sobbed when his fingers cupped her naked side, and Hades gripped the sheets tight as he leaned over her, lowering her to the bed.

They were used to each other now, regretting waiting so long as they felt the other more intimately. Hades pulled back when he felt wetness reach the corner of his lip, and found her in tears. He wiped his thumb over her cheek.

"What's wrong?" He almost chastised her, "isn't this what you wanted?"

Kori nodded with a widening smile. "More than anything I've ever wanted. I..."

His aura was so strong, they felt him down the hall. Hades only had a second to make her vanish before Zeus stormed in.

"Ah, so indeed you are here."

Hades sighed. "I get you rule the world, but there is a reason my house isn't in the bound of yours."

Zeus ignored him, walking around his brother's room like he owned it. He stopped by the dresser, touching everything.

"What? Are you busy even here?"

Kori felt scandalous. She was in a tryst with HADES, while her own father was in the room. Of course she couldn't sit still. She draped her arms across his neck from behind, to which he rubbed her arms as if he was rubbing his own neck.

Kori didn't enjoy it.

She rolled her eyes before an even more devious idea came to her. She leaned forward and bit the top of his ear, at which he flinched.

Zeus caught his brother through the mirror being awkward, and laughed as he brushed his hair with Hades's comb.

"Oh, so you are busy!"

Hades gave in.

"Yes! So, if you wouldn't mind..." he waved to the door.

Zeus didn't take the hint.

"Ooh, is it someone I know? Of course it is, I know everyone!" He lit up as a thought came to him. "Is it someone I've had?"

Hades wanted to murder the king of gods right then and there. If he said no, there wouldn't be many options left. He didn't know what was worse: letting Zeus know he was with Kori, or let Zeus get the idea for himself. Kori wasn't helping as she let her hands loose on him.

"Probably," Hades said quickly, "now leave! Goodnight!"

Zeus laughed at Hades's embarrassment and finally left.

"Are you out of your mind!?" Hades immediately scolded her as soon as the spell was off.

Kori was laughing at his misery. "Oh, what's the worst that could have happened?"

Hades didn't have the heart to answer that, and instead laughed as he kissed her.