Persephone stirred the tea in her glass that had grown cold like her dampened mood. Hera had invited Hades and her for dinner, but she was so upset she couldn't taste the food or hear what the conversation at the table was between them. The only thought that kept passing through Persephone's ears was that Hades thought that her mother was capable enough to harm innocent lives. Demeter was the goddess of creation, how could she ever harm anything, it would completely go against her nature. Persephone didn't deny that her mother was a bit controlling and devious, but evil enough to slaughter Cerberus was something Persephone could not wrap her head around. 

Her mother could never do something like that, right? She pondered and mused long enough for her head to ache.

"Thank you for joining me tonight," said Hera.

Persephone was snapped out of her thoughts and found Hera's electric eyes observing her with interest. "Thank you for inviting us," said Persephone politely.

Hera hugged both of them and returned to her chambers.

The air was thick with silence between Hades and Persephone as they walked back towards the portal and to say their goodbyes.

Demeter was patiently waiting for Persephone. "Midear," Demeter rushed towards Persephone.

Persephone hugged her mom and grabbed the small luggage of clothes and books. "Thank you for getting my stuff," said Persephone.

"You stay safe," mumbled Demeter. "I'll see you soon. I promise."

Persephone didn't know how to respond to that since she was heading back to the Underworld for a while now. It's not like she wouldn't visit from time to time, but her mother's eerie tone slightly wavered Persephone to wonder if Hades was right earlier.

"Ready," said Hades but his deep voice was flat.

Although she was upset, she slipped her hand into his and stepped through the turbulent portal with him.

Alone once again. They waited on a grim platform, the wet and muddy scent reminded Persephone of a murky swamp. She recognized the scent of dirt very easily and knew that this was the river of souls.

"This is river Styx?" She asked Hades.

"Yes," he confirmed. "Charon should be here soon." Hades began to rummage through his cloak.

"What are you looking for?"

"It seems I forgot to grab some before we left," he mumbled.

Persephone opened her small pouch that her mother gave her and found a couple of silver coins. She quietly took them out and propped them in Hades hand after she let go of it. "Just use these," she said.

Hades eyes searched her blank face.

A creaky boat came gliding over the dark waters that no one could see the bottom of. Persephone gazed through the thick fog and spotted a lively torch hung at the front, the boat approached closer and she spotted a tall skinny figure perched on top, the cloaked figure held a long paddle that was skillfully handled to row the boat.

"Charon," Hades voice echoed through the darkness.

Charon appeared with a polite smile that didn't do anything to hide his cold and deadly look. He truly was worthy of all the rumours about him. "Hades and Persephone," he greeted. "It's nice to finally meet our queen."

Persephone found his posh etiquette to be quite an amusing change of events. "It's nice to finally meet you too," she greeted him back. Persephone grabbed the coin she handed to Hades earlier and tossed it into the boat that was already full with other coins. She never thought she would try something like this before, it was quite the adventure even though it was only for a small period of time. She hopped onto the boat and took a seat. "Hurry up, Hades," she ushered Hades.

Charon chuckle wasn't a cold but rather a sweet sound. "How was your trip to Olympus?" He asked.

Persephone's skin crawled. "It was good, thank you," she answered indifferently. In the corner of her eye, a blurry white flash caught her attention. Persephone leaned over to the side and was startled by the alarming sight. Millions of bodies moved deep in the water, she gasped back and Hades caught her.

"Be careful," cautioned Hades.

"Are those souls?" She asked.

Charon picked up the paddle and swung it to the other side, he continued to row with a blank expression. "Yes, those are the souls that still haven't paid for the ferry ride," he answered.

"They stay in the river," she mumbled. "That must be sad."

"It's all part of their punishment," said Hades.

"It's still must be dreadful for them," she turned her gaze away and focused on the large gates that appeared in front of them. Hades helped her get off and she waved Charon goodbye.

Persephone scuttled past the castle doors, she didn't waste any time before entering their chambers. She may not have lived here for long, but it was home for her and she was comfortable under this roof. It felt like it was hers and hers alone.

Persephone dropped her bag on the floor and greeted Cerberus who was fully healed and back to his original spirit. "Will Cerberus be going back on duty?" She asked Hades.

"Soon," he answered curtly.

Persephone realized that this was their first argument since they got married. Usually, they would handle their disagreements very easily, but this time it was different. Hades had to protect the Underworld and avenge Cerberus, but Persephone only said what she knew and felt. None of them were at fault, but Persephone was still hurt over how cold Hades had gotten when speaking about her mother. She may not be angry at Hades but she was upset that he did not remain calm, and that even for a moment she considered that he might be right.

Persephone was angrier at herself. She felt that she had disappointed her mother by thinking wrongly of her. The moment Hades had mentioned that Demeter could be behind the attack to get Persephone back, for a quick second she thought it was possible that her mother would stoop that low. Persephone's heart was being crushed by her malicious thoughts. "I'm going to the garden," she announced.

"Seph," Hades called out for her.

Persephone's heart broke at his dire voice that called her name like a plead. But she didn't want to listen or talk. She needed to be alone so she could understand her own thoughts and heart. "I'll be back before nightfall," she told him and strode out the door.

-Hades POV-

Hades and Cerberus watched as Persephone ran out the door. "What do I do?" asked Hades.

Cerberus looked away, like even the hound sided with Seph even though he had no idea what the problem was between them.

"Traitor," grumbled Hades.

Cerberus shook his snout.

"I don't know what to do, buddy?" Hades rolled his stiff neck. "Seph seems really upset."

Cerberus didn't respond.

Hades left the bedroom because he couldn't handle being alone in this room without Seph.

Hades didn't understand why she had gotten so upset. She was the one that asked him what his thoughts were about this whole matter. Hades regretted ever opening his mouth, he should've just kept quiet until he found hard evidence against Demeter. Even though Seph was angry at him, he still stood strong over his claim that Demeter was the one to attack Cerberus. Otherwise, no one else would dare try to escape his realm or enter through Charon utilizing deception. He knew that Demeter was capable of doing something heinous, but Seph didn't believe him. Hades was disappointed that Seph did not support him, but how was she supposed to choose between the two people she loved the most.

Hades recalled Hera's instructions to feed Seph the fruit of the Underworld, he was planning to propose that offer to her when they returned, but that was impossible now.

"Hades," a voice interrupted Hades.

Hades gaze met blue beady eyes. "Mono," he said.

"You have returned from your trip," said Mono. "But not as refreshed as I thought you would."

Hades was surprised by Mono's bluntness, but that was his speciality. "It was a long trip," said Hades. "And I'm happy to be home."

"Who wouldn't be," said Mono. "Olympus seems like a dreadful place from all I've heard."

"You haven't been there?" asked Hades.

Mono's expression stayed unimpressed. "I had the opportunity to work there," he said. "But I rejected the offer."

Hades laughed. "You rejected it!"

"It didn't suit my style," he expressed. "Besides, the Underworld is a lot more fun."

Hades knew his smile had returned, but something had saddened his mind again. The Underworld has been his home for ages, but he has never felt more anxious and alone.

"What's wrong?" asked Mono.

"I had a fight with my wife," admitted Hades.

Mono nodded his head. "The first fight as husband and wife is always the hardest for every couple," he said and assessed his next words carefully. "But Hades, you two are not like other couples. Your marriage is the epitome of love and trust."

"Seph seems to have her doubts," said Hades.

"Was it something you said?" asked Mono.

"Why do you think it's me?" countered Hades.

Mono actually smiled. "Because Persephone has not a single evil bone in her body," he said. "That girl is not capable of hate the way others feel it. She's probably upset and wants you to talk to her when she's ready."

"I'm surprised you know so much about marriage," said Hades because he was baffled upon hearing Mono's wise guidance.

"One does not need to be married in order to understand it," said Mono. "Give Persephone some time, she'll come around."

"Thank you," said Hades. "Enough with me, did you need to see me for something?" He asked Mono.

"In fact, I did," said Mono. "I came to discuss something about Persephone actually."

Hades stiffened. "Is everything alright?"

Mono extended his arm for Hades to join him for a stroll down a path outside. "She came to me with a very concerning question about a soul."

-Persephone's POV-

Persephone had just entered her garden when an eerie alert struck through her body, she entered without hesitation ignoring the garden's warning. Persephone looked around the silent cave and found nothing, but she knew that the sinister air was something not to be overlooked.

"You're here," a voice spoke behind the healthy pomegranate trees.

"Who's there?" Persephone recognized that voice and acidy smell. The intruder was definitely a ghoul, a very evil ghoul. "What do you want?" she asked as she noticed the sickening pale white ghoul move around the trees.

"I instructed to take you back in return for my life," said the ghoul. "But you're starting to get on my nerves."

"What did I ever do to you?" asked Persephone with disbelief.

The ghoul laughed and it shuddered through Persephone. "You immortals probably laugh at all of us," he said. "The anger I feel when I see you living for millions of years, whilst my body died after a few dreadful decades."

Persephone rolled her eyes. She had seen many people get angry over their immortality, but what never occurred to those insufferable humans was that the ones with immortality were gods and goddesses. All of them were beyond the race of humans and the humans just had a really hard time accepting that, no matter what the era or place.

"Hold on," Persephone froze. "Who sent you to me?"

"Someone who's very desperate to bring you back," said the ghoul, his eerie voice creeped behind her.

Persephone turned towards the stream that had thick fog covering it. The only person desperate to bring her back was her mother. "Did Demeter send you?" she asked as she got a good look at the spirit behind the fog. Her eyes widened when she recognized those blank eyes and sly smile. It was the same spirit she asked Mono for advice about; it turned into a ghoul like she expected.

"Can you believe how stupid that goddess is," the ghoul chuckled. "She sent a ghoul to seduce you and bring you back. I couldn't do it though, you disgust me too much."

"Feeling are mutual," mumbled Persephone.

"I just think it'll be smarter to kill you and then take your body to Demeter," said the ghoul. "I don't think she'll mind too much."

Persephone didn't know what to do expect stall long enough for Hades to come for her. But they had that stupid fight, Hades wasn't going to come to her any time soon. She had to help herself, a rush of anger boiled inside of Persephone for trusting her mother and doubting Hades, she should've never trusted her mother. Persephone's blood boiled in her veins and something rumbled through her core.

"What has my mother promised you?" she asked the ghoul.

"Life," he answered like that word was his drug.

Persephone finally put it all together. "You attacked Cerberus," she said.

"Took you a while," he said cockily.

"Why?" she growled.

"I went to see Demeter that day," said the ghoul. "On my way back, the hound caught my scent again. So, I had to take precaution. I decided to hurt him enough to distract everyone, so I could get to you."

"You hurt an innocent life for your stupid scheme," snarled Persephone.

"It was Demeter who pushed me to act that way," he said as he moved around the garden. "She made it clear that I bring you back no matter what the consequences."

Persephone's legs wavered at the words of the ghoul, she could never believe for a second that her mother would do something so malicious. She could not have been more wrong; her vision was darkening like her heart. "Come out," she declared. "Stop hiding behind my garden."

"I think I'm fine over here," the voice's location drifted again.

Persephone could feel the itch on her hands, the heat radiated from her body and it was the identical to fires of Tartarus. She could feel an ominous power consume her immortal body, her heart was beating so fast that she could feel it in her head. A darkness consumed her so quickly, she couldn't stop this great but terrible power from entering her soul.

"There was something else your mother told me to do today," said the ghoul

Persephone looked up at the ghoul whose smile had widened. "What?"

"She told me to destroy the thing most precious to you," said the ghoul. "And I know just the thing."

"Seph!" a voice roared for her outside the garden. Hades appeared with guards and Mono, but they couldn't enter.

"I sealed the entrance with a barrier that only I can open," said the ghoul.

Persephone took a long look at Hades scarlet eyes that were strong as always. "How do you think you'll survive?" she asked the ghoul.

"I'm not scared of them," he said.

Persephone shattered. She turned and a fire engulfed her. "I wasn't talking about them," she snarled with a voice she didn't recognize.

The ghoul's eyes widened as he set the garden on fire.

-Hades POV-

Hades slammed his fist on the barrier it rumbled like thunder but it didn't break. The moment Mono told Hades that Persephone had encountered a suspicious soul, it all make sense to Hades. Cerberus's attack and the evil ghoul was all part of Demeter's plan to make Persephone return to Olympus.

"Mono," Hades called out. "Break the barrier down!"

"I can't," he said. "Only the one who built it can break it. But I don't think that's our only problem."

Right in front of Hades eyes, the whole garden caught on fire.

"Our queen!" The guards and Mono shouted.

In the ring of fire stood Persephone alone.

Hades eyes locked with Persephone as the whole garden crumbled and fell. He didn't panic because something told him not to, and it was the look in his wife's eyes.

"What is she doing?" asked Mono.

Hades wondered the same when she turned towards him, she ignored the ghoul and stepped closer towards where Hades was standing. His eyes widened when she didn't stop as she closed in on the fire near him, he cautioned her but he knew she couldn't hear him.

Persephone's gown caught on fire and Hades heart plummeted. In moments, the fire that he controlled consumed his wife right in front of his eyes.

Everyone gasped at the horrid sight. But Hades knew something was amiss, she was a goddess and a queen. That is something not to be taken lightly, Hades hoped that his prediction was not just a hopeful thought.

The ghoul appeared with a crazed look in his pale eyes. Hades glared at the ghoul and could smell that his end was near.

Suddenly, Hades eyes noticed something emerge from the same fire that abolished Persephone. He stared into a pair of crimson red eyes that resembled his own. A black figure dressed in volcanic ash and as strong as his armour appeared, long hair as black as night swayed with the fire, she was unrecognizable.

Persephone stepped out of the fire with a bident that was built from the ash of the desolate garden. Hades couldn't hear what she was saying, but the ghoul's eyes widened from fear, he watched the ghoul fall on his back and Persephone approached with death marked in her eyes.

Persephone held out her clawed hand in front of her, the slow fires ignited around the cave bursting up in flames stronger than before. Hades may have had the biggest scare of his life, but he could feel Persephone's power surge through the fires of Tartarus like his own, and it was beyond incredible.

"She's transformed," a guard spoke.

"Those eyes," mumbled Mono.

Hades watched Persephone raise the bident and with great force she rammed the spear right in the ghoul's throat. The ghoul exploded with a terrible shriek that ruptured the barrier along with its life. That ghoul had been obliterated from existence, there would be no afterlife for him, and Charon would not greet him at the river, that ghoul had been erased from all the worlds.

The fires around the garden roared over and over again.

"She's not stopping," believed Mono.

Hades didn't move from his spot and neither did anyone else attempt to do otherwise. Persephone was angry and the fires proved it. But Hades knew his wife better than anyone else, she wasn't just angry from the ghoul's betrayal but she was upset about her garden.

"Hades, you need to stop her," advised Mono.

Everyone froze when Persephone's crimson eyes turned on them.

Hades knew no one was going to be able to calm her down except him. He found it ironic that he had to calm her down. 

Hades took a step into the garden and the ring of fire split for him on their own will, a smile creeped on his lips because he wondered if Persephone even in this devilish form didn't have the heart to hurt him.

"Seph," he called out and her eyes turned on him. Hades stepped onto grass that was replaced by soot. "It's over, the ghoul is dead," he kept his voice low and steady. Persephone's fiery eyes glared at Hades, her black lips stayed as a sneer and her frown was forbidding. She plunged the bident into the dead ground and squared her feet to face him.

"Hades," her voice was raspy.

"Yes," he was relieved that she remembered him. "It's your husband, remember?"

"I could feel the garden," she said. "It was so much death."

Hades stepped closer, but she backed away from his touch.

"Don't," she cautioned him. "I don't know what I am."

Hades stepped even closer. He ignored Seph's warning because he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms. "You won't hurt me," he said reassuringly.

"This was her fault," said Seph.

Hades knew instantly she was referring to Demeter. "I know, but forget about her," he said. "You need to change back."

Seph's eyes flared with anger again. "I was going to destroy everything," she rasped.

Hades touched her bare arm that was as hot as fire. The heat travelled through his body and alarmed both of them. "There's no need to fear this side of you because I don't," he said. "But you're scaring everyone else. I need you to change back." Hades smiled when the scarlet red in Seph's eyes washed away and was replaced with golden amber.

"Hades," Seph's voice softened. "My garden."

"I know," he anchored her body close to his.

"My garden and Cerberus," her hair turned auburn and her armour disappeared. Hades unclipped his cape and swiftly wrapped the fabric around her naked body.

"We can rebuild it," he whispered as he lifted her body off the ground. 

Everyone followed Hades as he carried Seph to safety. They could all feel their queen's sadness and it destroyed them, just like it did for Hades.