The stone sill was cold beneath her hands as Hades stood by the window looking out, but she didn't notice the coldness nor the dampness in the air. Stretching off into the distance lay black hills, valleys, and mountains of the Underworld.
Hades watched all the dark shades of the dead flicker beyond the palace's ground. She saw her servants soaring over the Erebus fields, herding the dead to their trials by Minos.
Soon she would have to decree their punishment or grant their rewards. At the moment, her mind seemed to have a knack of wandering off to a certain maiden. Persephone, who locked herself in her chamber all day, had refused every gift from Hades' proffering hands. She would not eat and remained steadfast in her persistence. Her adverse demeanor caused Hades a great sadness and d
