I hope you guys are safe and staying home. Don't forget to wash your hands :) . We are all in this together.

Halloween

Persephone groaned in pain as she drew in deep breaths as Thanatos instructed her to.

"Just a bit more. You're doing great, sweetie." the god of death drawled as he watched from the chaise lounge in Persephone's dressing room, legs crossed, sharply dressed, and multitasking on his iPad.

"Aminta! Put some muscle into it. We can't have the Queen looking less than fabulous. It's Halloween!" Thanatos instructed the female servant tying up the laces of Persephone's corset.

"Milord, she's in pain!" the servant meekly insisted.

Persephone shook her head. "Is this really necessary, Thanatos? I mean, I'd still wear the coat over this…" she struggled for the appropriate description, "contraption."

Thanatos waved his hand dismissively. "Tonight is when the veil is at its thinnest. With you being the Queen of the Underworld, there's no excuse to look frumpy. Now, deep breaths. Aaaand, PULL AMINTA!" he crowed.

Aminta fervently whispered an apology to her mistress as she pulled for one last time before deftly tying the strings into a ribbon.

Persephone wished she hadn't let Thanatos talk her into this for Halloween night.

"All done?" Thanatos asked.

Aminta helped Persephone put on her thigh-high stockings and secured them with the garter belt.

She then reached for the coat Thanatos picked out, insisting that she would "make it even more iconic than it already is".

Her maidservant immediately sprang to action before Persephone could even attempt to put her arm in the sleeve.

"Highness…" she said, holding the coat open.

Thanatos stood up and started buttoning up Persephone's coat. He gestured once more to Amara who quickly handed over a large hat to him. He gently placed it on Persephone's head, fixed the necktie she was wearing, and pinned a brooch on it.

"Hands." he said. Persephone thrust her hands towards Thanatos who then put gloves on them. He took a step back and gasped, clasping his hands on his chest. Amara was awestruck by her mistress's look as well.

"Look, P! This look gives me so much LIFE!"

Persephone blinked at her reflection in the mirror. Even if Thanatos had been helping her out in dressing appropriately as the queen of the Underworld, he definitely outdid himself on this number.

He dressed her in Rose's boarding outfit from the movie Titanic. Except, instead of white stockings under the coat, she was wearing black fishnets attached to a garter belt - her La Perla undergarments alone cost a small fortune.

Thanatos often encouraged her to embrace her apple-shaped figure, but tonight, he had her in a corset that pushed her breasts so high that they look like they're about to spill out underneath the high-collared blouse she was wearing.

"Better give Hades something to have fun with later." he had insisted with a cheeky wink.

With a snap of his fingers, Thanatos changed outfits effortlessly.

"Seriously?! You cut off my air circulation and you're wearing THAT?!" Persephone said incredulously.

Thanatos rolled his eyes. "Such a flair for the dramatics, P. Of course, there will be a big reveal later when we go out. IF your husband allows us to go party once we finish handing out candies."

Thanatos was actually wearing...a cloak, and was toting a scythe.

"Well. Let's go. Just ignore the howling souls when they swoop down on you. They're harmless."

Meanwhile in the foyer downstairs

Hades grinned as the souls swooped down on the trick or treaters he allowed entry into his home. They were all under very strict orders not to harm the human children, the furthest they are allowed to get is to physically carry the children up to the chandelier.

"This is sooooo awesome, Mr. E!" a gangly teenage boy who was accompanying his younger twin sisters trick or treating entered the foyer and was gaping at the decor.

"Really, Nathaniel?" he asked.

The teenager immediately shook hands with Hades, the product of de rigueur good breeding and prep school education since kindergarten. "Uh huh. Yours has always been the best in the entire building. Which is why all the kids make it the last stop. Every. Year."

"Oh? Well, you sure do know how to sweet-talk, young man. Come in, come in. Help yourselves to the candy buffet. Don't hold back. Oh, and here are your gift bags."

Two of Hades' servants came forward and handed each child a loot bag. Nataniel took a peek inside and his face lit up. "AIRPODS! And the newest DJI drone. You're the best, Mr. E."

Hades laughed genially as more of the neighbors' children came into the penthouse. He would also make small talk with some of the parents who chose to accompany their little ones. The servants were kept busy helping out in the candy buffet, plus serving cocktails and hors d'oeuvre to the adults.

As the clock chimed seven in the evening, he heard Thanatos and Persephone descending from the staircase. He smirked in amusement as he raked his eyes over his wife. She was wearing a 1912 outfit complete with a ridiculously large hat.

"Good evening, Miss." he said, kissing her hand.

"Oh, Hades stop." Persephone laughed. She looked beyond his shoulders and saw children gorging on candy. "Look at those kids!" she said in amusement.

Hades draped an arm over her shoulders and they watched their guests in comfortable silence. One child, in particular, screamed in delight as one of the souls swooped down and took her for a spin around the foyer. By accident, she smeared some candy on one of the original artwork Hades had on the wall - a Michaelangelo.

The child's father immediately approached the couple at the bottom of the staircase. Hades immediately recognized him as one of the neighbors whose parking space was next to his - one of Wall Street's top honchos.

"I'm really sorry about that, please let me pay for the damages," he said while shaking Hades' hand.

"Thank you for the offer, but we can always have it restored. Besides, your daughter is one of my dog's biggest fans." he said genially. "You sure about it?" the man asked Hades again.

"Just give me a tip on the next best stocks to purchase for next year." Hades said.

"You got it." as they both shook hands.

The said child came bounding up to their group, her face sticky and her Red Queen costume spattered with candy and chocolate stains. "Daddy! Did you see that?" she asked gleefully.

Her father patted her head, "Yes, Cornelia. Daddy saw all that. Better say sorry to Mr. Eubulus for what you did to his painting." he said in a doting tone.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Eubulus." she said, looking up at Hades.

"No biggie. Anything for Her Highness." Hades said, giving a little bow.

Persephone can't help but be amazed at this new side of her husband she hasn't seen. Since they started living together, yes, there were times that they would get intimate. But they have not really discussed starting a family. There would be times when Hades would be stuck in the Underworld for entire weeks. Which left Persephone to her own resources on keeping herself busy with the charity she recently joined.

Around 9 in the evening, things have started to wind down. As they bid goodbye to the last of the guests, the servants immediately started to clean up.

"I have to go back to the Underworld, but should be back before dawn." Hades said to Persephone. "Don't you have plans with Thanatos?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm actually just waiting for him." Persephone said, fidgeting - the corset is definitely giving her a hard time.

"Then, I guess we still have a few minutes," Hades said, pulling her up the stairs into their bedroom.

"Hades!" Persephone shrieked in delight as her husband trapped her against one of the walls, nibbling on her ear.

"Ssssh. You wouldn't want the servants to hear us, do you?" he asked her, winking roguishly.

Persephone sighed in pleasure as Hades ripped open the 1912-style coat she was wearing and whistled in appreciation on what he saw. She had on a black silk corset with stocking straps and thigh-high fishnets on her legs.

Feeling a little bold Persephone playfully pushed her husband down on the bed and straddled him. Hades pulled her silk panties aside and guided his engorged manhood inside her dripping folds.

He looked up at his wife who started gyrating, her head tossed back in pleasure as his hands cupped her heaving breasts that were pushed up by the corset she still had on. "Hades…" she hissed.

He deftly undid the laces binding the corset to her body, never missing a beat in thrusting in and out. "You are so beautiful, my love," he said, nibbling on her palm.

Persephone started moving faster and he felt her walls clenching around him. "I'm close, Hades." she said pleadingly.

"Then, let go," Hades said as he released inside her. Persephone leaned back and moaned loudly as she reached her orgasm.

After a quick shower together, the couple started to prepare for their night. Persephone opted for one of the many black dresses she has - a floor-length lace number. She was just brushing her hair when Hades came up behind her.

"What is it?" she asked him.

"Would you like to start a family?" Hades asked her. Her face brightened up. "Of course," Persephone said. Hades kissed the top of her head. "We'd better get some work done, then," he said with a mock-serious look on his face.

Persephone fixed the tie he was wearing. "Doling out judgments again tonight?" she asked.

Hades nodded. "Yes. But, as promised, I will try to be back before dawn."

He opened the bedroom door for her and they both went down the stairs together. Thanatos was lounging on the sectional sofa. The souls are now back in the underworld and the only sounds heard in the penthouse are the servants cleaning up in the kitchen.

"Really, Thanatos? This is what you're going as tonight?" Hades asked in amusement.

Thanatos faked an affronted look. "As I said to Her Highness earlier, there is a reveal under this cloak."

"So...what are you two up to tonight?" Hades asked, checking his iPad for his schedule before going back to the Underworld.

"Weeeellll… I'm actually thinking of pulling a prank on some kids who are planning on 'summoning the devil' tonight since it's Halloween. Then, I thought I'd take P cavorting to one of my favorite clubs here in NYC since it's her first Hallows' Eve, after all." Thanatos said.

"Alright. Nothing illegal, ok? Remember our rules, Thanatos." Hades said in a stern tone.

"You got it, boss." Thanatos said.

"Have her home by 1am." Hades said before he vanished.

Thanatos looked at Persephone up and down. "Well,well… that's a nice look. Someone had a bit of Trick or Treating, haven't they?" he giggled.

"Oh stop, Thanatos. So where are we off to?" she asked.

"We hit Woodlawn Cemetery first, then I'll take you to one of my favorite clubs in the city." Thanatos said, looping his arm through Persephone's and both disappeared with a pop.

Hudson Mausoleum, Woodlawn Cemetery

A gaggle of teenagers sneaked in through the gates of the mausoleum with Doric pillars. All of them had caps or wearing hoods to cover their faces. Most of them had rucksacks on, filled with their candy loot for the night. Their bicycles left on the grass lawn at the bottom of the stairs.

One of them - a girl dressed like a goth produced black candles and drew a pentagram on the floor.

"There's no turning back now." she told the group ominously as she lit the candles with a Bic lighter.

The other kids looked at each other in silent agreement that this would be the one last Halloween they have together. After all, they are off to college next year.

"Alright. I'll go and start." the girl said. "Everyone hold hands." she said in an authoritative tone and started chanting.

Inferiorum facere homo

Thanatos and Persephone appeared behind one of the pillars outside the mausoleum. Thanatos giggled. "These kids keep dabbling with things they know nothing about. Then when they die, guess who has to process them? ME! I hate dealing with the whining and bargaining."

Persephone pouted mockingly at Thanatos. "Poor baby." she said.

"Yes. Well. Trick or treat." Thanatos said mischievously. "Feel free to join in if you'd like." he said before disappearing again.

Inside the mausoleum, a slight wind started to blow. The teenagers looked at each other nervously.

"Who dares summon me?" a deep, menacing voice boomed on the walls.

One of the kids squeaked in fright.

"It is us - O Lord of Darkness." the goth girl said earnestly.

Thanatos rolled his eyes inwardly. He decided to make a grand entrance - floating down slowly from the crypt's ceiling and right in the middle of the pentagram.

"Holy fucking shit!" another one of the teens whispered.

Persephone was watching from one of the dark corners of the mausoleum and can't help but admire the craftsmanship of the cloak Thanatos wore. The hemline was artistically shredded which made his entrance more dramatic.

"You have no power to harm us." goth girl said in a shaky voice.

Thanatos reached over to one of the candles and put out the flame with a bony finger. "Says who?" he asked, tilting the girl's chin up with his scythe.

She shrieked and scrambled to get up. "Let's get out of here!" she yelled. The other kids did not have to be told twice and all of them ran out of the mausoleum to their bikes - where they saw Persephone in her black lace gown standing on the lawn.

She started howling mournfully. "How dare you disturb my family's slumber?"

Thanatos appeared on the doorway of the mausoleum, making it a point to drag his scythe on the marble floor.

The kids shrieked as they all pedaled away.

"Nice lungs, P." Thanatos said as he handed a rucksack over to Persephone.

"What are these?" she asked.

"Two of those nitwits left their candy loot. HAHA!" Thanatos said as he dug in. "YUM! REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS! LOVE THEM!"

They walked in companionable silence on the cemetery's lawn.

"That was a moment with your entrance." Persephone complimented as she bit into a Hershey bar. "That cloak is fabulous." she added as an afterthought.

"I know right?!" Thanatos said twirling in a pirouette and wielding his scythe.

"Who's it from?" Persephone asked.

"This old thing? Oh Yves personally made this for me." Thanatos said nonchalantly.

"It's gorgeous." Persephone agreed.

The pair was followed by a trail of candy wrappers that would eventually be blown away by the cold autumn wind. Persephone shivered a bit, so Thanatos looped his arm around hers again."I'm thinking we can go have dinner at Paul's then drinks at Le Bain. What do you think?" he asked her.

"Lead away." Persephone said with a huge grin tossing another candy wrapper behind her, the sugar already starting to kick in.

Dinner at Paul's was wonderful, she and Thanatos were able to walk right up to the host and get the best table in the house without any reservations. By this time, Thanatos had on his normal features instead of the glamor he used at the cemetery. The scythe, still remained in his hand though.

Persephone was full to bursting with the house specials served to her and "Mister Paul's most favorite customer" by the time she insisted on footing the bill, she was ready for more adventures as this is her first night out.

"We're now headed to Le Bain. I can't wait!" Thanatos said.

As they walked to the club, Thanatos whispered to Persephone. "When we get in. We pause for 10 seconds. We're on the clock, okay?"

"Wooooow. You really take this thing seriously, don't you?" Persephone asked.

"It's Halloween, P. It's our night." Thanatos said.

"Well, if you're going to make an entrance, let me hold your candy haul for you." Persephone said, taking the rucksack Thanatos acquired during their adventure at the cemetery earlier.

The pair sauntered to the front of the line and the velvet rope was opened for them. "Thanks, Marcus. How are the wife and kids?" Thanatos asked one of the bouncers. "They're doing great. Big trick or treat haul this year." the muscled man said jovially.

"Glad to hear that. Don't let them eat it all in one go, okay? Send my love to Kim." Thanatos responded.

"Anthony… are you wearing that Armani perfume I gave you?" Thanatos said, batting his eyelashes.

"Of course." the other bouncer said jovially.

"Awesome. Well, enjoy your night. Get laid, alright?" Thanatos said as he finally entered the main doors of the prestigious night club.

The pair paused, and as if on cue, one of the club's spotlight was on them. Thanatos dramatically took off his cloak to reveal a toned chest and abs. He was topless save for a black leather harness and leather chaps - assless of course.

"Ho-neeeey! Now THAT is a reveal." Persephone crowed, clapping her hands in delight.

Many heads whipped in their direction and finally Thanatos descended down the staircase looking every inch like a male supermodel hand in hand with Persephone.

The pair made a beeline for the bar where Thanatos ordered tequila shots for them. Persephone felt herself loosening up after they were done. "Sweetie, can you hold on to our things for us, please?" Thanatos asked the bartender with a wink. "Sure." he said back as Thanatos handed over their candy haul and slipped him a $100 tip.

The rest of the night was spent dancing and lots of men hitting on Thanatos. Whenever they attempted to take a break, drinks were being offered to them. Fuelled by alcohol and sugar, the pair did not care when the mobile phones came out. After all, for some reason, anyone who attempts to take a photo of Persephone or any of Hades' house would only find the pictures blurred beyond recognition.

Persephone was a huge hit among the gay men of the club who fawned over her "natural fabulosity" and danced with a lot of them as the night went on. At one point, she had acquired a whistle and a biker hat cap and started dancing on the bar counter with Thanatos. Meanwhile, the god of death was so drunk that he was twirling his scythe above his head or bobbing it up and down to the beat while dancing.

Just then Lady Gaga's Stupid Love came on. "I LOVE THIS SONG!" she and Thanatos said together and shrieked in delight.

Finally, last call arrived. The pair stumbled out of the club laughing and shrieking. Persephone was hobbling - she cannot walk properly after dancing on her strappy stilettos, she was the one holding the scythe as well. Thanatos had his arm around her shoulders and was the one carrying the candy loot.

Charon on the other hand, was patiently waiting outside smoking cigarettes with the other drivers. Seeing the pair, he immediately opened the town car's door and helped Persephone in. Thanatos climbed in after her and the pair resumed giggling and even gave Charon some of the candies.

"CHARON STOP! STOP!" Persephone shrieked after a fit of giggles.

"Let's get some McDonald's!" she said, laughing like it's the funniest thing in the entire world. Charon patiently maneuvered the car into the drive-through.

After ordering food and milkshakes for the three of them, Persephone asked to be taken home.

As they both disembarked from the car, Persephone patted Charon's face. "You're the best, Charon. Thank you for tonight." she giddily said, her face red from the alcohol she consumed.

"Always an honor, my Queen." Charon said, shooting Thanatos a look. If Hades sees his wife like this, Thanatos might have a lot of explaining to do.

As the sun was coming up, Hades decided to take the scenic route home and decided to take a walk around his neighborhood block.

When the elevator opened to his penthouse, there was a trail of candy wrappers leading into the living room. Where he was greeted by the sight of Persephone sleeping on the living room couch with a bag full of candies on the floor, McDonald's takeout on the coffee table and she was mumbling about a "Mother Monster". She still had last night's dress and shoes on.

Coming in from the kitchen, the female head servant who was usually the first to wake up, immediately dropped to a curtsy at the sight of Hades. "Good morning, milord." she greeted him with utmost respect.

"Good morning, Philomena. What happened here?" he asked softly.

"It seems her highness had a wonderful night, sire." Philomena responded. "I will draw a bath for her when she wakes up."

Shaking his head,"No need. I will take care of her." Hades said, as he started to unfasten one of the many buckles on Persephone's shoe.

"We will be retiring to our chamber. Please see to it we are not disturbed, Philomena." Hades said, lifting Persephone in his arms.

"Of course, sire." the servant said dutifully.

"Oh, and please make sure that her candies are properly stored. And, put these… torture devices back where they came from." Hades instructed as he climbed up the stairs.

TBC...