Persephone was bored. She lay on the ticklish grass plain, her eyes squeezed shut against the burning sun. Butterflies fluttered by innocently as a cool breeze glided across her sun-kissed skin. The smooth sensation made her smile dreamily, her face glancing up at the pure white butterflies drifting past.

The blazing hot sun beamed down on Olympus. Below Olympus were many meadows, fields and forests. The realms wavered in the heat, causing a dream-like mask to cast over the mortals and the Gods. Each grassy realm was vividly colourful and bright, dressed with flowers by the work of Persephone, daughter of Demeter Goddess of Harvest.

Demeter had raised her daughter in these meadows and had never allowed her further from them in her life. Though, Demeter could never understand why her daughter could be so upset sometimes. Birds twittered quietly in the tall trees that surrounded their palace. Many animals never shied from them either; knowing they were there to serve them and provide for them. A happy atmosphere for her childhood, Demeter had always planned for her daughter to find love in the creatures she had dominion over and to find her mother's love the only she'd need.

Not yet had this plan failed, but Demeter grew more strict as her daughter grew more rebellious.

Persephone had been stifled away from the other Gods, the mortals, even some of the forests that her mother deemed Persephone unfit to visit!

"Kore, you are too young to know what lurks beyond here!" She'd stress to her daughter. Persephone knew she'd never win. Demeter was firm on her belief that Persephone must stay by her mother's side.

Kore.

Always Kore.

Though she felt like a Goddess, her mother never failed to make her feel like a child – regardless of how she was soon to be given her required status. She'd finally be given a title. Wishing it would require her own palace, Persephone's eyes remained shut, dreaming of how she'd create such a thing. And where it would be.

Somewhere where the sun could be seen but not quite so hot; the flowers by her side wilted in the heat.

A saddened flower meant Persephone was slacking. Sighing, she lazily reached out, her fingertips brushing gently across the stem of the white flower. A silvery glow encircled the tip of her index finger before hastily floating into the flower; the energy caused the flower to lurch upwards with pride as it glared back toward the light.

Pleased with her work, she grinned at her creation: not only had she made the flower more sustainable in the unbearable heat, she managed it to contain flecks of gold that clustered around the edge of each petal.

Although she loved her mother, a part of her desperately wished for her own life separate from Demeter. Where she would be free to make her own choices and visit whatever realm she so chose. Under her mother's close watch she knew her freedom existed only by skipping from field to field. And, though that was exciting to young Persephone, she so tired of the repetition her life had become.

"Kore!" Her mother's voice was distant and faint. The words floated on the new breeze that appeared sharper than usual as they hurriedly dashed across Peresphone's face and bare arms.

Despite the comfort of nature surrounding her in her moment of calm, Persephone sat up, the grass left her body feeling damp from the sudden withdrawal of the earth. A patch of flattened earth marked where the Goddess had been lying just then.

Sighing (she knew better than to keep her mother waiting), Persephone quickly walked toward their home, her legs reluctantly dragging her toward the tall marble building in the distance.

She's too attached! Persephone thought bitterly.

Eventually, Demeter's worried glances around the meadows softened into a relieved smile as Persephone appeared before the palace steps in front of her.

"I told you not to go far." She scorned, her face suddenly transforming into a disapproving scowl. Through the years Demeter's appearance had taken harsher edges, while Persephone's body was smooth and rounded in the right places.

Persephone only smiled and replied in the sweetest voice she could conjure, "not far, mother; I could still hear your voice."

Demeter stared down at her petite daughter, her eyes shining back: green as the gorgeous fields they worked in. Persephone stared back at her mother's darker green eyes that still held a firm concern for her daughter all these years. Demeter took note of the muddy hem of Persephone's dress that hung loosely from her waist and grazed her shins. The once pristine white dress was now greying and stained with the soil Persephone so carelessly rolled around in.

"Kore..." she bent down to press a quick kiss to her forehead. "Why can't you keep your clothing in better condition?" She asked, a bemused smile slowly curling on her lips.

"I have to tend the flowers, mother," Persephone took a step back, already ready to run off. She desperately wanted to explore, knowing her mother was going to be in her palace for the rest of the evening. "Please, this sickening heat is killing those who do not belong in it."

Raising her eyebrow, Demeter replied quietly, "life gives them their brief – yet beautiful – chance, Kore, we must allow them their chance to wilt and die too."

"Maybe for other things," Persephone grumbled, playing with a strand of her hair as she waited.

"Go ahead," Demeter exhaled, swiftly letting her hand fall through Persephone's red-gold locks.

Delighted, Persephone hurried away, almost tripping as she ran.

Before Demeter entered the palace again, she turned swiftly on her heel, "don't go too far!"

She hastily turned (still making sure to move although backwards), yelling "I wont," before spinning on her heel and sprinting through the long grass that tickled her legs. She reveled in the soft, bouncy texture of dirt that her feet felt as she dashed. The breeze whipped her wavy hair out of her eyes causing it to billow behind her; dancing in Persephone's hurry.

Opening out her arms, she began to skip instead, the sunlight was only beginning to dim, so Persephone felt a sense of pleasure at the sight of an orange and pink glow started to form it's way to the surface with the clouds, replacing the sun.

Not running from anything in particular, Persephone slowed to a halt; her shoulders slumped -

She'd never be truly free.

The breeze caused a shiver to prance along her skin as she debated her situation. Ahead of her lay the forest outside of her mother's territory. Parts of the wood seemed dark and the edge had rays of light seeping through the clusters of trees. The wind whistled through each trees dark branches and flew past Persephone's curious ears, whispering mysteries to her. Finally she gave in to temptation, she walked hesitantly into the forest, her eyes wide with newborn curiosity and her spirits alight with the free feeling that sparked through her fingertips.

Strutting through the forest, slightly irritated, was Hades. His jet black hair hung past his strong shoulders and was gently tousled by the wind as he journeyed. Thankful for the darkness that greeted him more strongly the more the trees branched together, creating a barricade between him and the sky./p

Hades had done what was needed of him yet he couldn't help but wonder just how effective Athena's plan would be.

The Helm of Darkness would be used in the war. Hades originally wanted no part; he only wanted it to end to make the amount of shades that wandered the shore (no family or friend could be able to reach all the dying men and place the coins for Charon on them – leaving them to wait on the shoreline) to halt. There were too many occupants that he couldn't judge by law and then there were too many he could judge.

However, his biggest concern was that, without his helm, he could not hide. Athena had assure him that the Helm would be returned in a few days time but he was already feeling impatient and exposed without it. He'd relied on shadows and invisibility for as long as he could remember. The sun shining down on him: unmasking him to any who were near made him feel vulnerable, though he took care to make sure no one saw this.

Further and further he dove into the forest, feeling the shadows cast down and around him with comfort; the dark had acted as a friend to him for centuries now and caused him to relax when he felt hidden among them.

Suddenly, a twig snapped.

Hades froze.

Turning his head quickly to glance at where the sound had come from, he concealed himself from sight behind a bulky elm tree; engulfed in the black that hung over his lean yet muscular body.

A girl was ahead of him, tentatively taking a few steps forward, her eyes darting around fearfully.

Hades felt his heart pound in his chest and his breath hitch.

She was beautiful.

Her strawberry blonde hair radiated gold and cascaded in waves down her back and in front of her shoulders. Her body and height were petite and, although innocently dressed, her long robe could not hide just how curvy her hips were. As if they bent in yet sloped out at the same time. The light colour of her dress made her tan skin seem darker – especially in the dim light that the trees allowed. Even in this light, Hades could analyse this girl's every feature.

As she walked further towards him, unaware of his presence, he noted the way she moved: her hair swished side to side as the girl kept turning her head suddenly to stare around her. Her hips swayed as she walked; almost seductively. Her eyes were like two candles in the dark; shining brightly. They were a bright shade of green, Hades examined, as they shined in the glimmers of sunlight that poked through the leaves far above them both.

Watching her with intense intrigue, Hades tried to make out what she was doing. Evidently, she was new to the forest as her eyes betrayed how curious and hesitant she was.

Was that fear as well? Hades thought, as her green eyes tried to stare into the black.

Hades tried, desperately, to control his breathing as her gaze fell on where he stood.

If she found me, what would she do? Scream? Run? He held his breath, his eyes staring back into hers.

Can she see me? He thought, preparing himself to be revealed.

Quickly, her eyes turned their attention to the tree he hid behind. It was extremely wide, hence why Hades had chosen it, but it towered over them yet it made Persephone seem even smaller than she was. She was at least a head below him. She came up to his chest in height, he noticed, as he watched her relax, pressing her skin against nature.

Tracing her small, bronzed hands up the rough bark of the thick trunk, the girl sighed. Part of her smooth voice floated out her mouth with it, causing a shudder to spiral through Hades. Persephone then leaned forward and lay her forehead against the elm. Raising an eyebrow, Hades eyes remained on hers; curiosity getting the better of him.

A soft waver of light flooded from her palms that were placed either side of her head on the tree. The glow dispersed quickly and vines of flows cascades from the trees branches, far above her. The flowers she produced danced on the vines that acted as a net around the elm. Each flower was a deep red, with a silver glow gently omitting from it's center. Persephone smiled to herself; she was getting more powerful.

Inhaling deeply of one of the flowers, Persephone closed her eyes, relishing in her own design. Her mother would never have appreciated these flowers, they were different and, anyway, Demeter didn't care for the flowers as she did for the harvest.

Hades smiled at how the girl before him swayed with the vines and he couldn't help but be impressed at the beauty she had created. It surrounded him too. Both of them were in the net.

"Persephone?"

The girl whipped round, giving a small shriek. "Y-yes?" she called out, frozen. The cluster of vines and shadows clouded her vision before, she pulled back the curtain of flowers to reveal a very young, blonde man, standing strong before her. A charming grin pasted on his golden skin.

"Persephone." Apollo stood before her, his blonde hair framing his strong face and his toga revealing his muscles to the girl.

Persephone.

Hades recognised the name but couldn't locate the memory.

"Apollo," Persephone replied, her voice laced with annoyance that (clearly) Hades had only detected. He couldn't help but smirk.

"What are you doing here?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. "Out of you mother's territory... That's not permitted, surely?"

"N-No," she stammered, looking down at her feet.

"You know you're not allowed past the meadows." He grinned, seeing how a pink blush had risen on her cheeks when he stepped closer. Their bodies mere inches apart.

"I know, I-" She glanced up but quickly averted her gaze when she noticed he'd gotten nearer. "I was just-"

"She'll be worried." He stated, his voice a little softer this time, which made Persephone grow redder.

Persephone never knew why she became so flustered when he stepped closer to her. Before, it was when he'd visit Demeter and then check on Persephone. Then his visits were without her mother's knowledge. Apollo would visit her in the meadows, much to her annoyance.

She didn't like the way he made her feel so... weak. Her face would feel hot and she'd lack words needed to tell him to leave. It made her even more aggravated by his appearance; always flexing his muscles and trying to get her attention in each meeting.

Her mother would be enraged by his behaviour if she knew.

"Persephone..." He breathed, as she turned her face away with disgust (mostly at the way her body was reacting).

Hades grew uncomfortable at their awkward display, shifting quietly in his hiding place.

What in Styx's name is Apollo trying to do?

Idiot boy.

"Come on," he cut in quickly. "Demeter must be worried."

Before Persephone could protest, she was being dragged by Apollo out of the dark forest and into the sunny meadows. Blinded by the suddenness of the sunlight, she felt very aware of Apollo's grasp on her hand.

Hades stepped into the light after they were clean out of sight.

"Apollo, wait!" She pulled her arm away, ripping free from his firm hold. "I was only..." she chewed her lip, as he smirked "exploring."

Apollo stood there, admiring how the sunlight made her radiate a warm glow of gold. Her slender, curvaceous body was delicious in his eyes. "Why not just explore the meadow?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I've explored the meadows for 18 years now!" She huffed, walking in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Why would a beautiful creature such as you be interested in the darkness of the forest?" He jogged to walk along her side, his hand brushing against her side briefly. Persephone blushed, cursing herself for it as she strode fast away from him.

"Who's to say the darkness isn't beautiful?" Persephone whispered trudging further along, the palace now in sight.

"The sun holds life and beauty... The darkness holds nothing."

The darkness is free.

"You may want to leave now, my mother wont be happy seeing you here with her precious little girl." Persephone spat. Apollo moved forward to take her hand and kiss it but Persephone ripped out of his grip and left his side for the palace. She hardly cared if he left or waited.

The palace was a polished marble that looked watery in the right light. Blue, purple and pink swirled into each other in the marble stones that decorated the main hall she was in now, each pillar standing strong before her with flowered vines wrapped tightly and spiraling towards the ceiling.

"Persephone!" Her mother embraced her, "I was wondering when-" she paused to take in her daughter's appearance: Her head was hung; her eyes staring at the mud covering her feet, where scratches of blood snaked up her legs.

Persephone took in the moment of silence before glancing up at her mother.

Demeter's long brown hair hung loosely over her shoulders; her tall thin body felt as if it were towering over her now as Persephone peered into her mothers dark brown eyes.

Rolling her eyes, Persephone had decided she'd had enough of the stifling climate of the palace. Apollo's words were haunting her: Out of you mother's territory... That's not permitted, surely.

Defiantly walking away from her mother's presence, she swung open a door behind her mother's throne. "Why do I have to remain here? Why restrict me, mother?"

Demeter blinked, unsure of how to answer such a question.

"You never allow me any further than the meadows. I hardly know anyone-"

"You see Hermes and Apollo when they visit..." Demeter cut in, staring down her daughter.

Hardly.

"I am a goddess! And I have only visited Olympus twice! Once as a baby!" She exclaimed stepping inside the other room as her mother hesitantly stepped towards her but thought better of it. This would pass, Demeter told herself.

Persephone rolled her eyes again, shaking her head. She slammed the door behind her.

This is my first story ever, I hope you like it. Please review and give feedback. Please tell me if something is incorrect or something I need to improve on. Thank you.

(This story is also available on my Wattpad account)