The History Paper
With Chase at your side and Luna leading you, you entered the large ballroom. “Are you nervous?” You asked him, tugging at your clothes.
“Not really. I take it you are?” Chase was dressed in a nice suit which, considering the circumstances, fit him surprisingly well. One of Luna’s assistants had fixed his hair to make him look a bit more put together. You nodded and he continued, “it’ll be okay. We just have to speak to Persephone and then we can get out of here.”
"What do you think she meant by 'you'll start fading soon?'"
"I don't know and I don't want to find out. So, let's just get in and out as fast as possible."
Luna spun around. “Just so you know, I will be introducing you two as my new assistants. You’ll need to play the part.”
When she finished talking, you had a chance to finally take in the room. The walls were painted a light colour that only accentuated the size with a ceiling unbelievably high. In the middle of the room a large, but elegant, chandelier glittered, casting a warm light. It was now dark outside — you really didn’t understand how that was possible considering as far as you knew you were underground, but you had given up questioning the Underworld. The sets of windows trimmed in a dark stained wood were spaced evenly on the exterior walls but didn’t let in any light. Between the two staircases leading to a balcony was a chamber orchestra already filling the room with delicate and soft music. A sea of well-dressed people littered the room, making pleasant conversation. A number of servants bustled about, carefully balancing silver platters on the palms of their hands.
You followed Luna closely as she wound her way through the crowd. Periodically she stopped to make small talk. When you had stopped for a moment, you asked, “what’s the occasion? Why the party?”
A soft smile made its way to her face. “Hades always throws a party whenever Persephone returns. They’re quite cute. People thinks he’s really scary but, I mean, he throws a gala every time his wife comes home.” You nodded and Chase went to grab something off a server’s tray. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Luna said absentmindedly as she scanned the room.
“Why?” He pulled his hand away.
“If you eat or drink anything from the Underworld you’re stuck here.” She must’ve found who she was looking for because she started walking again. “That would be kind of counterproductive to your goal, wouldn’t you say?” She turned to face you, “come on, I found her.” Luna led you to the marble stairs and paused at the base. Her hand on the railing, she said, “Persephone is the one in the red dress. When you approach her, bow. Don’t speak until I do, and when you do, don’t speak over me. When you address her, refer to her as ‘Your Majesty’. And keep pretending to be an assistant until we’re speaking privately – I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. Got it?”
Both of you nodded and made your way to the balcony overhead. Persephone was talking to a large man, you assumed her husband, as you approached. She was very beautiful. Her smile and eyes lit up her face, emanating warmth and captivating everyone around her. Her dark hair was pulled into an elegant updo with delicate flowers braided into it. Her dress was floor-length and very flattering. The man she was talking to was tall, practically towering over her. He wore a pressed suit, his tie and pocket square matching Persephone’s dress. His sharp jaw and edges contrasted Persephone’s soft ones.
“Your Majesties,” Luna said with a slight curtsey.
Persephone turned from Hades and smiled at her. “Luna! I’ve missed you!” The contrast between the two startled you; while Luna was cold, relatively aloof and serious, Persephone was warm and bubbly.
Luna couldn’t help but smile, “I’ve missed you too.”
Hades spoke up, a polite smile on his face, “It’s nice to see you again. How has work been?”
“Oh, you know, boring but otherwise good.” He chuckled and Luna turned to Persephone again. “Can we go somewhere to talk? I would love to catch up with you.”
Persephone looked at Hades briefly, looking to see how needed she was in the ballroom. He flashed a smile and she answered. “Of course, we can go to a study and chat.”
“You don’t mind if my assistants come along, do you?” She asked gesturing to you.
Persephone shook her head and, as Luna gave quick introductions, led the way. When you left the room, you were surprised to have let out a sigh of relief. It was much quieter, with the sound of the party fading to only a soft murmur. The two women made pleasant conversation, laughing with each other. You eventually came to a much smaller and cozier room. There was a fire going and large, overstuffed couches surrounded a dark coffee table. Paintings hung on the walls not covered by bookshelves. In one corner there was a wooden desk. Plants littered the room. Luna sat in a chair and Persephone sat opposite her. She gestured for the two of you to sit as well.
The two continued to make small talk before Luna finally brought up the conversation you had come for. “Persephone,” she began carefully. “I have to admit, there is something I wanted to speak to you about.” Persephone cocked her head to the side. “I have a favour to ask,” she paused, “well, I guess it’s more of advice I’m looking for.”
“Are you pregnant?”
“What? No! How did you get that idea?”
“I don’t know,” she laughed, “you’re never this nervous to tell me something.”
Luna laughed nervously. “No, I’m not pregnant. What I need advice on—”
“Oh, just spit it out. Enough prefaces.”
“My assistants aren’t actually assistants. They’re mortals who aren’t actually dead.” She took a deep breath. “They took the elevator and my guards found them. I kind of, sort of, promised them I would help them get back to the mortal realm.”
Persephone’s face softened with pity. “Oh, honey. You know that’s not a good idea. Have you spoken with Hades?”
“No.” She wrung her hands as she spoke, avoiding eye contact. “I know he doesn’t really like me.”
“To be fair, he doesn’t really like anyone.”
“I need your help. I’m not sure what to do. I have to follow through on this promise, how do I get him to listen to me?”
Persephone grew quiet for a moment. “There is one thing. Someone stole a few pomegranate seeds recently. He’s very distraught and worried about it. He doesn’t want them falling into the wrong hands. If you could get them back, he’d owe you one.”
“Do you think that would work, Your Majesty?” You asked. Persephone nodded.
Chase spoke up, “do you have any leads? How many are missing?”
"There are three currently missing. He had sent some people to find the others. He isn’t entirely sure who has it now, but believes Plato does.” She grabbed a piece of paper from the desk and a pen. She handed the paper to Luna. “I wrote down his last known address,” she shrugged, “I hope that helps.”
“Can we count on your discretion?”
“Of course, Luna. I understand.” Persephone’s voice was soft and reassuring. She turned to you and Chase. “I will provide housing for you at a hotel in the city.” She handed you a business card. “Give this to reception and they will direct you to your room. You may also flash the card for cabs or anything else and it will be covered by me. I hope for the best for you. Good luck.”
The rest of the night went by quickly. You stayed for a while longer after speaking to Persephone just to keep appearances up. By the end of the night, you were exhausted and worried.
“Well,” Luna said, “I guess this is goodbye for now. Like I said, I can’t come with you, but I do hope you find your way out. Best of luck.” She pressed a quick kiss to both of your cheeks. “Next time you die, don’t forget to come say hello.” Climbing into the taxi waiting for her, she waved.
You hailed your own taxi and while waiting, spoke to Chase about everything that had happened that day.
“Not really. I take it you are?” Chase was dressed in a nice suit which, considering the circumstances, fit him surprisingly well. One of Luna’s assistants had fixed his hair to make him look a bit more put together. You nodded and he continued, “it’ll be okay. We just have to speak to Persephone and then we can get out of here.”
"What do you think she meant by 'you'll start fading soon?'"
"I don't know and I don't want to find out. So, let's just get in and out as fast as possible."
Luna spun around. “Just so you know, I will be introducing you two as my new assistants. You’ll need to play the part.”
When she finished talking, you had a chance to finally take in the room. The walls were painted a light colour that only accentuated the size with a ceiling unbelievably high. In the middle of the room a large, but elegant, chandelier glittered, casting a warm light. It was now dark outside — you really didn’t understand how that was possible considering as far as you knew you were underground, but you had given up questioning the Underworld. The sets of windows trimmed in a dark stained wood were spaced evenly on the exterior walls but didn’t let in any light. Between the two staircases leading to a balcony was a chamber orchestra already filling the room with delicate and soft music. A sea of well-dressed people littered the room, making pleasant conversation. A number of servants bustled about, carefully balancing silver platters on the palms of their hands.
You followed Luna closely as she wound her way through the crowd. Periodically she stopped to make small talk. When you had stopped for a moment, you asked, “what’s the occasion? Why the party?”
A soft smile made its way to her face. “Hades always throws a party whenever Persephone returns. They’re quite cute. People thinks he’s really scary but, I mean, he throws a gala every time his wife comes home.” You nodded and Chase went to grab something off a server’s tray. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Luna said absentmindedly as she scanned the room.
“Why?” He pulled his hand away.
“If you eat or drink anything from the Underworld you’re stuck here.” She must’ve found who she was looking for because she started walking again. “That would be kind of counterproductive to your goal, wouldn’t you say?” She turned to face you, “come on, I found her.” Luna led you to the marble stairs and paused at the base. Her hand on the railing, she said, “Persephone is the one in the red dress. When you approach her, bow. Don’t speak until I do, and when you do, don’t speak over me. When you address her, refer to her as ‘Your Majesty’. And keep pretending to be an assistant until we’re speaking privately – I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. Got it?”
Both of you nodded and made your way to the balcony overhead. Persephone was talking to a large man, you assumed her husband, as you approached. She was very beautiful. Her smile and eyes lit up her face, emanating warmth and captivating everyone around her. Her dark hair was pulled into an elegant updo with delicate flowers braided into it. Her dress was floor-length and very flattering. The man she was talking to was tall, practically towering over her. He wore a pressed suit, his tie and pocket square matching Persephone’s dress. His sharp jaw and edges contrasted Persephone’s soft ones.
“Your Majesties,” Luna said with a slight curtsey.
Persephone turned from Hades and smiled at her. “Luna! I’ve missed you!” The contrast between the two startled you; while Luna was cold, relatively aloof and serious, Persephone was warm and bubbly.
Luna couldn’t help but smile, “I’ve missed you too.”
Hades spoke up, a polite smile on his face, “It’s nice to see you again. How has work been?”
“Oh, you know, boring but otherwise good.” He chuckled and Luna turned to Persephone again. “Can we go somewhere to talk? I would love to catch up with you.”
Persephone looked at Hades briefly, looking to see how needed she was in the ballroom. He flashed a smile and she answered. “Of course, we can go to a study and chat.”
“You don’t mind if my assistants come along, do you?” She asked gesturing to you.
Persephone shook her head and, as Luna gave quick introductions, led the way. When you left the room, you were surprised to have let out a sigh of relief. It was much quieter, with the sound of the party fading to only a soft murmur. The two women made pleasant conversation, laughing with each other. You eventually came to a much smaller and cozier room. There was a fire going and large, overstuffed couches surrounded a dark coffee table. Paintings hung on the walls not covered by bookshelves. In one corner there was a wooden desk. Plants littered the room. Luna sat in a chair and Persephone sat opposite her. She gestured for the two of you to sit as well.
The two continued to make small talk before Luna finally brought up the conversation you had come for. “Persephone,” she began carefully. “I have to admit, there is something I wanted to speak to you about.” Persephone cocked her head to the side. “I have a favour to ask,” she paused, “well, I guess it’s more of advice I’m looking for.”
“Are you pregnant?”
“What? No! How did you get that idea?”
“I don’t know,” she laughed, “you’re never this nervous to tell me something.”
Luna laughed nervously. “No, I’m not pregnant. What I need advice on—”
“Oh, just spit it out. Enough prefaces.”
“My assistants aren’t actually assistants. They’re mortals who aren’t actually dead.” She took a deep breath. “They took the elevator and my guards found them. I kind of, sort of, promised them I would help them get back to the mortal realm.”
Persephone’s face softened with pity. “Oh, honey. You know that’s not a good idea. Have you spoken with Hades?”
“No.” She wrung her hands as she spoke, avoiding eye contact. “I know he doesn’t really like me.”
“To be fair, he doesn’t really like anyone.”
“I need your help. I’m not sure what to do. I have to follow through on this promise, how do I get him to listen to me?”
Persephone grew quiet for a moment. “There is one thing. Someone stole a few pomegranate seeds recently. He’s very distraught and worried about it. He doesn’t want them falling into the wrong hands. If you could get them back, he’d owe you one.”
“Do you think that would work, Your Majesty?” You asked. Persephone nodded.
Chase spoke up, “do you have any leads? How many are missing?”
"There are three currently missing. He had sent some people to find the others. He isn’t entirely sure who has it now, but believes Plato does.” She grabbed a piece of paper from the desk and a pen. She handed the paper to Luna. “I wrote down his last known address,” she shrugged, “I hope that helps.”
“Can we count on your discretion?”
“Of course, Luna. I understand.” Persephone’s voice was soft and reassuring. She turned to you and Chase. “I will provide housing for you at a hotel in the city.” She handed you a business card. “Give this to reception and they will direct you to your room. You may also flash the card for cabs or anything else and it will be covered by me. I hope for the best for you. Good luck.”
The rest of the night went by quickly. You stayed for a while longer after speaking to Persephone just to keep appearances up. By the end of the night, you were exhausted and worried.
“Well,” Luna said, “I guess this is goodbye for now. Like I said, I can’t come with you, but I do hope you find your way out. Best of luck.” She pressed a quick kiss to both of your cheeks. “Next time you die, don’t forget to come say hello.” Climbing into the taxi waiting for her, she waved.
You hailed your own taxi and while waiting, spoke to Chase about everything that had happened that day.