He sat lazily in his black stone chair, his dark brown hair messily combed only so it would stay out of his bright emerald eyes, giving him the appearance of a much younger man. The chill of the Underworld never got to him, he was used to it by now. His eyes drifted closed as he sat there, straining to find some time to sleep in his endless days.
Of course that was when the doors to his throne room were thrown open, two of his guards bursting through supporting a young petite blonde between them.
"WHAT!?" He howled at them, his temper getting the better of him as it always did. He was expecting them earlier today, not this late. . . not now.
"We found her." The man on the left of the girl informed him.
"This is her?" He asked softly, standing and approaching the girl. "This is my intended?" Both guards nodded vigorously, remembering what had happened to the guards who were wrong. Who failed to bring him his bride.
"My sweet. . ." He said, leaning down to the pretty thing, "Open your eyes, pet."
The small girl opened up her eyes with difficulty, the journey to the Underworld while still alive had taken far more energy of hers than any of them had expected. She stared up at the tall man in front of her blearily, trying to remember where she'd seen him before.
"What is your name?" He ask softly, taking her face in his hands.
"Persephone." She managed to whisper, before letting her eyelids close once more and sagging down to the ground.
* * *
Persephone awoke twenty seven hours later in her new room. She sat up shakily, trying to remember something - anything that would alert her to where she was. The last thing she remembered was running through her field, trying to get away from someone.
She looked around the room for some clue, but nothing lied within it but beautiful furnishings. Dark black stone walls and floor; a small greenish fire burning before a love seat, two chairs, a deep wooden table - all set upon a white rug. She stood up slowly and walked around the room, examining more of it. The bed was quite lavish, but she missed her own small cot compared to the large four postered one in front of her. She lightly stroked the silken sheets and pillows, wondering once again where she was.
This was all too luxurious for her home. Her mother would never allow it.
She walked over to the odd looking fire and lay down on the soft white rug in front of it. She held out her hand and ran her fingers through the furs, enjoying the feel of it. She lay there for hours, once more fading in and out of consciousness. When Persephone awoke again, she new immediately that this time she was not alone in the room. She slowly sat up and shakily looked behind her to see the green eyed man leaning against the wall and staring at her with a charming smirk.
