Persephius

Hadeia Disappeared!

It wasn’t the first time she’d avoided my marriage proposal, but this time was different. She simply vanished before my eyes like a mirage.

Everything had been natural and perfect. I confessed that she was my destiny, and she froze, seemingly surprised. Soon after, she closed her eyes, and I kissed her. 

The goddess of death closing her eyes! Where else could one find such a defenseless yet powerful allure? 

It might feel similar to seeing a black panther sleeping in the shade. Beautiful and serene, yet still a predator. Only a eunuch would remain unmoved at the sight of those pale, elegant eyelids.

‘Did I fail to kiss her properly?’

No, that’s impossible. Absolutely not. Definitely not. Besides, she didn’t reject me. Her lips were somewhat cold but open, and when I delved deeper, I discovered her tongue was as sweet as the first dew of dawn. 

I slowly moved my hand from her shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her slender waist hidden beneath the austere black chiton. Our chests pressed together. 

The sensation of her soft, round br*asts against my firm chest. Our hearts matched their beats like musicians in harmony. Quickly, passionately, forever like this.

D*mn, if only the storehouse hadn’t been packed with jewels, I would have laid her down right there. Thinking about it now, I could have been the one to lie down. I don’t mind getting a little hurt. 

What’s wrong with having my back scratched by earrings or diamond belt marks on my thighs? 

In truth, I’d sell my soul just to spend another night with her. It’s only unfortunate that there isn’t actually an evil entity in the underworld who buys souls and grants wishes, contrary to what humans commonly believe. 

Should I ask Hadeia to buy it? She wouldn’t even listen. She already has my soul and heart anyway.

‘But was it really that bad? What did I do wrong?’

I keep reassuring myself that it’s impossible, but I keep circling back. Did I make a mistake? If not, why would she disappear right after our sweet, heart-melting kiss? 

She scattered like sand in my arms. Without any chance to hold her back.

I called her name, but only echoes returned in the vast storehouse. She left in such a manner that I doubted she would return. 

Eventually, I trudged out of the treasure vault and returned to the palace. What did I take with me? 

Nothing at all. My name is Persephius, and I’m not a thief. I don’t secretly take things belonging to the woman I love without permission.

Just in case, I went to her private chambers. But the magic was still in effect, and I could only walk in circles. Finally giving up, I also checked her office, but it remained empty. 

If only Thanatos or Momus, or anyone had been there, I could have pestered them for clues about her whereabouts. I had to retreat empty-handed.

‘Should I go to the throne room?’

It wasn’t time for her audiences, and I doubted she would be sitting on her throne right after disappearing immediately following our kiss, but honestly, I didn’t know where else to go. 

If I searched every corner of this vast, maze-like palace, I might eventually run into her. But that would be futile. 

If she didn’t want to be found, I wouldn’t be able to see her even if she were right in front of me. Theoretically, at least. It hadn’t happened yet, but Hadeia’s cap of invisibility was quite renowned.

I walked down a dark corridor with impossibly high ceilings. Expected for the palace of the Underworld’s ruler. From my perspective, she seemed to have matched everything to the atmosphere of Hadeia that humans imagined. 

The ungilded tiles, the desolate architectural style devoid of any splendor. She herself only wore black clothes. But when I draped her in green silk, a faint hint of joy crossed her face. 

She just hadn’t recognized it herself. I wanted to make her happy. I wondered what would bring her joy, where I could find it.

I encountered a group of nymphs with corpse-like glum faces. They looked exactly like sextuplets, from their demeanor to their clothes. 

They bowed to me with gloomy expressions and stepped aside. Suddenly, I thought to ask them.

“Is anyone in the throne room?”

Instead of answering, they looked at each other. Awkwardness surfaced in their previously somber expressions.

“If it’s difficult, you don’t have to name names,” I said kindly.

“I’m heading to the throne room now. Just tell me if someone’s there, or if it’s empty. I just don’t want to make a wasted trip.”

They looked at each other’s faces again. Truly, the nymphs of the underworld were completely different from those my mother had assigned to me. 

From how they braided their hair to the color of their clothes, to their solemnity suggesting they had never smiled in their lives. But I didn’t press them and just smiled gently.

“Someone’s there.”

The tallest nymph spoke in a small voice, apparently having reached a conclusion in their silent exchange. She had three moles in a row under her right eye, all exactly the same size, looking like someone had drawn them there as a prank.

“Thank you very much.”

I smiled broadly. It was the same sunny smile that the oak nymphs had always praised endlessly.

The gloomy-faced underworld nymphs showed little reaction. But I was already accustomed to the fact that everyone in the underworld was uniformly impassive and melancholy, so my pride wasn’t particularly hurt.

I was about to head toward the throne room.

“You’d better not go.”

What? 

I turned my head. This time it was the shortest nymph. She had three moles under her left eye. 

When I was about to ask what she meant, the other nymphs gave her a look suggesting she had spoken out of turn. She immediately closed her mouth. Then they all simultaneously bent their knees slightly and hurriedly departed down the winding corridor.

‘Better not go? What on earth does that mean?’

I frowned. I couldn’t even begin to guess.

Is there a deity who doesn’t get along with me? 

At most, it would be Thanatos or Momus. But even they are backing down from me now ever since the night I cooled Hadeia’s fever. They might get annoyed if I asked them to their faces if they’d seen Hadeia. But what’s the big deal? 

It’s always been that way, not something that would prompt advice from nymphs I’d just met.

‘Then who could it be? An extremely angry Hadeia? Surely she wouldn’t be that angry if my kiss was clumsy? How could I help being inexperienced? No, no. I didn’t make a mistake. That kiss was really good. She even clutched the hem of my chiton.’

Hmm. No clear answer emerged.

I have no choice but to check for myself. 

I glanced back at the dark corridor where the nymphs had disappeared. Then I hastened my steps again.