Hades's Arc

Chapter 2 of 5

Hades climbed into the world above. The sun stung his eyes. He walked through a village square, and the people scattered like birds. A cold followed him, and the mortals felt it. Not a physical cold, but an aura. Women pulled their children close and turned away. One dropped her basket and ran. Hades stopped in the empty street. Thanatos had been wrong. His face or his chill, it made no difference. They still fled. He left the village behind. He came upon an old library, its roof cracked, ivy crawling up its walls. Through the tall windows he saw shelves of dusty books. A woman stood inside, running her finger along the spines. She was short, with long dark hair and a blue dress. She pulled one book free and tucked it under her arm. She did not scream. She did not even see him yet. Hades followed at a distance. The woman walked to a wide lake and sat beneath a leafy tree. She opened her book and began to read. Hades stood among the reeds, unsure. Then she looked up. Her blue eyes found his. He waited for the scream. Instead she smiled. "I’ve seen you before. The other day, I think.” She patted the grass beside her. "Come sit. You're letting the good shade go to waste." Hades came slowly and sat beside her. Why was she not afraid of him? She just kept smiling at him. “I'm Elizabeth," she said. "Elizabeth… that’s a nice name. What are you reading?” She smiles and blushes softly. “Thank you. I’m reading a… um… romance. It has a Greek Mythology twist to it.” Greek Mythology… she didn’t believe that the gods were real. She thought they were just stories. “Greek Mythology and romance… seems… interesting.” She smiles softly. “Yeah. I’ve always been fascinated by both subjects. Do you read?” "There aren’t many books where I live. But I would like to.” He comes with the idea that if she were to be his someday, that he would build her a library of her own and would read with her. They continued to talk and talk until the sun began to fade. She looks up at the sky. “I suppose I should get home before it gets too dark. It was nice meeting you. I’m… always here reading if you’d like to stop by again.” She smiles softly and leaves. Hades stayed by the water, slightly shocked by her invitation. For the first time, a mortal had chosen to stay. He had come to find a bride, and now he had found her. But she did not know his name meant death. And he had not told her.