Persephone coiled her hair and secured it with golden flowers that reminded of the stars that glimmered in the sky tonight. Amadrya and Ilaria picked out a golden gown that flowed heavenly with Persephone's curvaceous body. The golden silk caressed her skin and molded around her heavy breast and wide hips. The bodice was a bit tight for her liking but she adored the gown too much to change.

Amadrya poked her head inside Persephone's bedroom. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Persephone turned with a flourish. "How do I look?" She presented the dress Amadrya and Ilaria chose.

"You look stunning!" She clapped her hands and admired her choice.

Amadrya strode inside and twirled. Her rosy pink hair was tied into a pony-tail that matched her beautiful dusty rose gown that was backless.

"I'm all done too," Ilaria entered with an emerald green gown and emeralds dropping from her ears and around her neck. The velvet looked divine on her golden complexion and her hair was coiled into wavy curls that sat around her shoulders.

"Emeralds always looked exquisite on you," said Persephone.

"Thank you," Ilaria winked and beamed a sweet smile.

Naida waltzed inside Persephone's bedroom next. She was occupied with the silver pin in her indigo hair that was twisted like a blue rose and set on the crown of her head.

"You look absolutely perfect, Naida," said Amadrya and Persephone couldn't agree more. Naida adorned a sapphire silk dress that clung to her curves and played at her feet with a small trail. Her skin glistened like water. Diamonds blinked on her earlobes, cuffed her upper arms and around her fingers. She wore the dress and diamonds like armour; graceful yet powerful.

"Can someone help me with this bloody pin?" She snapped through her flaring blue eyes.

Amadrya chuckled and helped as quick as she could. "There. All done," she said as she secured the hairpin.

"Shall we go?" asked Ilaria. "The party should have started by now."

"Remind me again why we're going an hour late?" asked Persephone.

"It's so we don't have to listen to those boring new year speeches," said Naida.

"As soon as we arrive the party will have already taken its course and we can have fun," said Amadrya.

Persephone wondered when in the world they had planned all this. She was with them all day and they had never mentioned a single word about this scheme. She followed her friends towards the grand hall that held this special banquet for all the deities, creatures and immortals.

The massive pearl white and silver doors were wide open for everyone to hear the beautifully hypnotic music. Muffled voices, laughter and glasses clinked together to celebrate this night with whoever entered through these doors. Persephone climbed the stairs and found herself in an extravagant hall that had a glass floor as blue as the morning sky. The walls were white and pure like no shadow that was evil in this world could tarnish them. As she was surrounded by familiar gods and goddesses, her wandering eyes went to the arched-dome ceiling that defined beauty. An angelic painting basked over the entire hall which was painted into the arched-dome. It was a thrilling capture of Zeus reigning down from the heavens with his brothers by his side and humans worshipping them from Earth.

Persephone was fascinated by the art around the room more than anything else. But she quickly resumed her attention to her friends as they squealed in excitement. She grabbed the goblet of grape wine from Naida who of course went for the alcohol before anything.

"Persephone," an alarmed voice startled all four of them.

"Mom," said Persephone as she spotted Demeter rapidly approaching with her white gown and golden crown.

"What are you doing here?" Demeter asked in panic. "I thought you didn't want to come."

"I didn't," she answered her mom. "By then my friends convinced me otherwise."

"Oh." Demeter shifted her piercing gaze towards the nymphs. Persephone wasn't too concerned for the nymphs because unlike everyone else Demeter at least liked them. "If you're here then you might as well enjoy yourself."

"I hope so," Persephone sighed.

Demeter chuckled. "Oh, my dear child, these parties aren't so bad," Demeter patted her daughter's cheek, and then unexpectedly, she walked away leaving Persephone all alone with her friends.

"She's not going to chain herself to you?" asked Naida.

"Apparently not," said Persephone as she viewed her mom is complete bafflement.

"Let's enjoy the party before Demeter decides to change her mind," remarked Ilaria.

They laughed and joined the group of girls near the fountain where a beautiful nymph performed an enchanting dance with fire balls.

Persephone and Naida separated from Amadrya and Ilaria because a few young gods asked them for a dance, since they had the easiest smiles and most approaching demeanour out of the four. Naida looked like the devil instead of a sweet nymph and Persephone was off limits. But that didn't mean everyone stayed away.

"Oh, look who it is," remarked Naida bitterly.

Persephone followed Naida's eyes, but it wasn't hard to figure out who she was talking about because a group of girls started to gather near a gorgeous god. Apollo, the golden haired and fair skinned god that protected young men and loved music. It felt like he was made of gold from the way everyone cheered for him. Persephone may have found him handsome, but those cold blue eyes told her what laid deep in his plotting heart.

"He sure is handsome though," muttered Persephone.

Naida scoffed. "He's conceited and a womanizer," she criticized him with all the ferocity she could muster. "My ears feel like their bleeding every time he opens his mouth."

Persephone laughed. "What happened between you and Apollo that you hate him so much?" She asked curiously.

Her face could curdle milk. "He betrayed my friend," answered Naida. "And then, he lied about it."

"And we all know that these gods will lie to save their own necks," retorted Persephone. Naida grumbled a curse under her breath and Persephone looked up from the rim of her glass. "Oh no," groaned Persephone as they both spotted Apollo approach them.

"Ladies," he greeted them with that dashing smile that swept girls off their feet, but not these particular set of women. "I wish a good new year."

"Happy new year to you too, Apollo," said Persephone because she knew that Naida wasn't in the mood to play nice.

"It's good to see you again, Naida," said Apollo and Persephone almost fell on the floor because she knew that Naida would kill him.

"βάλλ' εἰς κόρακας," spat Naida. Persephone had to look away just so she wouldn't burst out laughing. Naida basically told the hottest god of the century to go throw himself to the crows and get eaten alive.

"It's always a pleasure hearing your vibrant language, Naida," said Apollo.

Naida outright ignored Apollo and turned her back away from him.

The icy cold flame in Apollo's eyes emerged for just a moment, but Persephone saw it and he knew that she did. "You look absolutely beautiful this evening, Persephone," he said kindly. "You've grown into a lovely woman. I'm sure you'll have many suitors."

"I hope not," she mumbled.

"But why," he was genuinely confused. "You're beautiful, kind and the daughter of Zeus. I would think that you'd have your eye on a husband by now."

Persephone's body chilled and an odd sensation crawled down her body when she felt Apollo's eyes examine her. She crossed her arms and looked around them to find that the door to the garden was wide open. She eyed it carefully but how was she supposed to brush off Apollo without offending him.

"Naida," Amadrya appeared with Ilaria and group of girls eager to catch Apollo's attention.

"Apollo," greeted Amadrya. "These are my friends."

Apollo turned around and focused on the gathered women who had their eyes just for him. "Ladies, don't you just look perfect tonight."

Amadrya winked at Persephone and she knew that this was her chance. Persephone smiled at Naida who already grabbed another glass of wine, but Persephone knew that this water nymph could handle it and herself. Persephone spotted that the clock had a few minutes before midnight, so she slipped out the balcony doors away from the crowd. She strode onto the paved path towards the fountain under the starry night of new hopes and dreams.

She found herself in front of the lonely fountain that glimmered like diamonds from the light of the first moon of the new year. The light breeze swept through her and she smelt the fragrance of the roses and the dark scent of the night. The sheen of sweat disappeared and she was back to feeling like herself again. Alone, in a garden, with nature as her company, and the moon as her guardian. Her lips curled up into a smile and she couldn't control the flutter in her heart.

"It's a bit cold to be out here alone," a voice startled her.

Persephone gasped and almost fell over into the fountain, but a strong arm circled around her waist and she closed her eyes shut thinking it would save her.

"You can open your eyes," the deep voice whispered, "you're safe now."

Persephone opened her eyes and found herself standing straight on her feet and not sitting at the bottom of the fountain. "That was close," she laughed at herself. "Thank y-" she froze where she stood when she saw who her mysterious saviour was.

Dark as night was his hair and those devilishly red eyes that spoke sin and nothing but the truth bore into her soul. Hades towered over her with his mountainous shoulders and powerful legs that made Apollo look like a boy. This immortal was a powerful god that had won battles and wars, he had conquered his realm and had established his rule as king.

He wore tight armoured pants and a silk black shirt. He had a long coat that was also black and was long enough that it reached the floor. She admired how the ebony velvet clung to his shoulders and thick arms that saved her earlier. The embroidery that was stitched to his coat matched her golden dress and sparkled just the same.

The god of the dead was nothing like Apollo or anyone else she had ever laid eyes on. Her eyes devoured every detail of Hades; how he stood so proudly, how he put his hands behind his back and how his smile made her heart skip a beat.

"Thank you for saving me," she finally spoke after she covered her embarrassment with a smile.

His garnet eyes licked a flame in her body that grew like wildfire. "I'm just glad you didn't get wet," he said. "We wouldn't want you starting off the new year with an accident."

Persephone had lost herself in his eyes. "You have remarkable eyes," it slipped out of her mouth before she could have stopped it.

Hades grinned. "They're not as remarkable as yours."

Persephone breath froze in her throat. "I- uh- It was great meeting you," she spluttered and remembered that she was a goddess and that goddesses didn't behave this way. "Er- and uh happy new year. I wish you all the happiness and fortune in the world." Persephone grabbed her dress and ran without looking back because if she had she would want to stay with him.

-Hades POV-

He watched the goddess with flaming red hair and the golden dress run away from him. But he knew it wasn't going to be long until he met her again.

"Is this what you wanted me to see, Mono?" Hades spoke to himself. "The goddess of spring."

Hades turned away from the doors she entered through and faced the lonely fountain. He had never seen such a rare sight before. Everything about Persephone captured him. She had skin that was glowing under the stars, her curvaceous body was crafted from ivory that looked priceless. The golden dress couldn't hide her generous breasts, that small waist or those hips that made any man want to settle between them. Her smile cast its own spell on him, the joy in her eyes was unforgettable and he wished he could see them light up from her smile once again.

Feeling this way wasn't ordinary for Hades, he had never looked at women and he definitely didn't talk to them that much. But what had compelled him towards her? He had just left the party to get some fresh air and to follow through Mono's instructions, when he spotted her beautiful silhouette near the fountain. He saw her step closer towards the jagged path and knew that she would fall. So, he tried to distract her, which back-fired on him. Hades grabbed her before anything bad happened and he got a glimpse of what her body against his would feel like, and it could not be more perfect.

Hades stiffened when her small hands used his arms for support. She had closed her eyes and he internally begged her to open them for him, which she did and he was enthralled. Those amber eyes with the slightest hint of green, which he was sure would pop more under the sun, they took his breath away.

Hades wondered what was going to happen now. He didn't know what this little venture would risk him. But he did know that he wasn't going to stay away without figuring out what this unspoken connection between them was. Hades returned to the party and talked to his brothers for the night, but his gaze was always on Persephone. She smiled and danced and talked to three nymphs only. He didn't see Demeter by her side, which was odd but he couldn't care less.

Just when the dance floor opened again, Hades asked her for a dance and she gladly complied, which left him to wonder if she was curious about him too or did she just want to escape Apollo. Hades was going to have a talk with that brat after all this because he didn't want some boy ruining her mood.

"You dance really well," she said.

"You look surprised," he smirked and searched for her eyes.

Persephone smiled and looked up from under her heavy lashes. "I didn't think the god of dead could dance," she said teasingly. "It seems very out of character."

Hades usually would have ignored such comments and not have wasted his breath. But he liked how she tested him, it was like she wanted to see how he'd react to her. "I know a lot more things than just dancing," he remarked.

Her amber eyes flickered like flames. "Like what?" she dared to ask.

"You couldn't even begin to imagine," his voice caressed her ear.

She laughed and it bloomed in his heart. "You'd be surprised what I can imagine," she whispered and he almost growled.

Hades gazed into her eyes and he made sure that she could see when his eyes moved down to her plump lips. "Does Demeter's precious daughter have a dark side?"

"Of course not," she said sardonically. "I'm as innocent as a flower."

The dance ended and she pulled away first. He let her go this time because he needed to go to Zeus to find out more about this goddess right this instant.

"It's been a while since I've seen you dance, Hades," said Zeus. "And with Persephone."

"Where can I find her tomorrow?" asked Hades.

Zeus gaped at him. "You really jump right into it," he jested.

Hades crossed his arms and glared at Zeus. "Do I look to be in a gaming mood?" he asked his brother.

"No, that's what worries me," said Zeus before he sighed. "She'll be in the garden of Sicily tomorrow. But I warn you, Demeter will sense you a mile away."

"You think I'm scared of Demeter," retorted Hades. "She could try to force me away, I'll just keep coming back."

"I hate to break it to you but Demeter won't let you meet Persephone," said Zeus.

Hades knew that too, but he was desperate. "Then will you help me?" he asked his brother.

"What do you need?" asked Zeus.

"Just get me an hour with Persephone," said Hades. "Distract Demeter."

Zeus chuckled. "Anything for you, brother."

Minos and Aeacus returned to Hades side and they returned to the Underworld together. But only after they heard of their king's interesting story about a woman who stole his heart, even though he wasn't ready to admit it just yet.