In the dimly lit and noisy bar, the time was approaching midnight. The air was filled with the scent of cheap perfume, mixed with the sharpness of alcohol. Irene was originally staring at the glass of light beer in her hand, the cold glass condensing tiny droplets of water in her palm. The deafening music echoed in her ears, and she felt her thoughts becoming chaotic as well.
Suddenly, a voice more penetrating than the music caught her attention. She frowned slightly, turned her head, and looked towards the source of the sound. "Excuse me, what did you just say?" She made eye contact with a man in black sitting next to her, and his intense gaze made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.The man sat elegantly at the bar, his fingers gently tapping the rim of his glass. "This kind of place is not suitable for someone like you. Or have you fallen so low that you need to seek solace in a place like this?" He raised one eyebrow, a hint of a mocking smile appearing on his face. "How many times have I told you not to casually talk to strange men, and especially not to stay alone in a place like this?" He stood up, looking down at her with an air of authority that brooked no refusal. "It seems I have to take you home myself, after all, you are an important person to me."Under the dim lights of the bar, the tall figure of the man loomed over her. The powerful aura he exuded caused the surrounding patrons to instinctively step back a few paces, forming an invisible circle around him. The air was thick with a suffocating sense of oppression, as if the entire space was dominated by his presence. "I think this is our first meeting?" Despite feeling uncomfortable inside, she still maintained the courtesy expected of her.A flicker of displeasure crossed the man's face as his fingers tightened around the glass. "First meeting? Are you serious when you say that? You're not playing that boring game of hide and seek again, are you?" He leaned closer, his deep-set eyes locking onto hers. "Are you trying to test my patience? Just like last time, disappearing without a word?" He straightened up, elegantly adjusting the cuff of his suit, but his face clearly showed his displeasure. "It seems we need to have a serious talk; this joke is not funny at all."At that moment, the bar's lights seemed to grow even dimmer, and the man radiated a chilling aura. His presence was like an insurmountable wall, isolating her from the outside world. The air was tinged with a faint smell of sulfur, as if it were a warning from the depths of hell.What bad luck, encountering a lunatic... The pressure the man exerted made her feel scared, and she pondered how to escape from this strange man.She occasionally came here on weekends to have a drink and relax, and because of her good looks, she often encountered suitors.But no one was as rude as the man in front of her, who not only lacked manners but also spoke such strange words.The man's expression instantly darkened, and a glimmer of danger flashed in his eyes. "It seems you really have forgotten everything, including how you left me behind? How interesting."His long fingers gently brushed over the wine glass in front of her, and in an instant, the liquid inside crystallized into ice. "Since you're trying so hard to pretend you don't know me, I might as well tell you directly—I am the King of the Underworld, Hades. And you, Persephone, are my queen." He leaned closer to her ear, his deep voice carrying an undeniable authority. "I've been looking for you for so long; now that I've found you, do you think I would let you go easily?"The temperature in the entire bar suddenly dropped, and the surrounding patrons had unknowingly all left. A strange atmosphere filled the air, as if the entire space was shrouded in darkness. The man's figure appeared exceptionally tall under the dim light, like a statue from hell. "Hades?" She paused for a few seconds, searching her mind for the term, "Are you talking about the King of the Underworld Hades from Greek Mythology?" "You really have a sense of humor…" Although she said this, she couldn't laugh at all.Hades curled his lips in disdain, his fingers elegantly tracing an arc in the air. "Humor? It seems you've really become fond of telling jokes; that's quite different from before." His gaze sharpened, exuding a suffocating pressure. "Can't you feel it? This space is completely under my control; ordinary humans can't do this."He reached out and gently touched the tips of her hair, his fingertips glowing with a faint blue light. "The blood flowing within you is not that of a mortal, but the power of a god. It seems you have completely forgotten all of this."The air in the bar grew increasingly heavy, as if all sounds had been swallowed by the void. Strange frost began to form on the glass, and the candles on the table flickered unnaturally in the opposite direction. The entire space seemed to be cut off from the real world, becoming an extension of The Underworld.Upon hearing the mention of divine power, her body stiffened; this was not good. This man... knew she possessed unusual abilities! "What do you want from me?" Her voice trembled slightly as one hand discreetly reached for her handbag, preparing to find an opportunity to escape.Hades noticed her small movement and elegantly snapped his fingers, instantly covering the bar's entrance with a thick layer of frost. "Are you still thinking about escaping? You really haven't changed at all, Persephone."He leisurely sat down on the high stool beside her, a dangerous smile in his eyes. "The only person I have been looking for all along is you. After all these years, you've hidden well, but the game is over."He reached out to caress her cheek, his fingertips cold enough to send shivers down her spine. "My queen, why don't we talk about why we left everything behind in the first place? Why deny our past?"The entire bar was shrouded in an eerie silence, all exits sealed by thick, cold ice. Shadows began to drift through the air, as if the souls from The Underworld were swirling around. Hades' presence grew stronger, as if the entire space was under his control. "You... listen," she trembled, feeling as if her feet were nailed to the ground. "My name is Irene, not the person you're looking for."She quickly sensed something was wrong; the people in the bar seemed oblivious to their presence, completely unaware of the abnormality around them.She thought that even if she screamed loudly, no one would come to save her.Hades looked at her coldly, a flicker of disappointment and anger flashing in his eyes. "Irene? How heartbreaking, that you won't even acknowledge your own name."He stood up, his tall figure completely overshadowing her, his fingers gently gripping her chin. "I thought that after all these years, you might give me a reasonable explanation. But it seems you intend to continue playing this ridiculous game."With a wave of his other hand, time in the bar seemed to come to a halt. "Since you are so adamant in denial, how about I awaken your memories?" His long fingers emitted a dark purple glow as they slowly approached her temple.The entire space began to twist and deform, the boundaries of reality gradually blurring. Reliefs of ancient Greek temples emerged on the walls of the bar, and a dim blue light rose from the ground. The air was filled with the suffocating and terrifying scent of The Underworld. Hades' eyes sparkled with an irresistible authority, as if he intended to drag the woman before him into the depths of hell.
"Ah—" she finally screamed, waving her hands wildly, as if that would help her escape this nightmare.
Unfortunately, all of this was real. "I, I have a boyfriend, so give up." Although she didn't think it would be effective, and it might even anger him, she couldn't care less in her extreme panic.
Hades instantly tightened his grip on her chin, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.
"Boyfriend? Ha, how interesting. Are you talking about that mortal named Jack?" He suddenly released her, a chilling smile appearing on his face. "Do you think I didn't know? Last Saturday at the seaside park, I was watching from not far away when he confessed to you." His fingers gently brushed through her hair, his tone filled with endless possessiveness. "But none of that matters anymore, my queen. Because from the very beginning, you could only belong to me. That will never change." The space began to shake violently, the ceiling of the bar gradually disappearing, replaced by the eternal starry sky of The Underworld. Runes symbolizing the authority of The Underworld emerged on the ground, and pomegranate flowers bloomed in the darkness. The image of Hades gradually sheds its modern attire, revealing his shining crown and pitch-black robe as the King of the Underworld.
The man's words sent chills down her spine, and she instinctively took a step back, only to find there was nowhere to escape. "Y-You... how long have you been following me?"
Hades chuckled lightly, his expression both gentle and dangerous.
"Following? That word is quite unpleasant. I'm merely guarding what belongs to me."He elegantly waved his hand, and the surrounding space instantly filled with countless images, each one a fragment of her life.From the first day you worked at the café, to every afternoon spent studying in the library, to weekends picnicking with friends in the square.He reached out and touched one of the images, depicting her sitting alone on a park bench, lost in thought.I have always been by your side, watching you play the role of an ordinary human. To be honest, you did quite well, if it weren't for those eyes that can see the gods giving you away.The scene of the Underworld became increasingly vivid, with pomegranate petals drifting through the air and the ground surging with the ghostly blue waters of the River Styx. Hades' throne slowly took shape behind them, exuding a suffocating pressure. His gaze was filled with obsession and madness, as if he intended to imprison the woman before him forever in this dark realm.
The dim lights in the bar flickered erratically, and the low music continued to hum in the air, as if disconnected from reality. Irene's body went limp, and before losing consciousness, the last scene before her eyes was Hades' deep and dangerous eyes.
Silence, a deathly silence.---Irene opened her eyes amidst a sharp pain. This was not the dim and noisy bar, but a modern mansion with a minimalist style. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the city nightscape unfolded like a galaxy, yet it could not dispel the coldness inside.Hades stood by the window with a glass of red wine in hand, his back to her, the deep red liquid gently swaying in the glass. "Awake?" His voice was low and calm, breaking the silence.He turned around, his gaze deep, "This is where you belong, Persephone." He stared at the red wine in his hand, as if reminiscing, "Have you forgotten? In The Underworld, we once drank like this, sharing eternal nights."
"I want to go home... please," she said as she got up from the bed, her tone almost pleading, "I really don't know what you're talking about. I've lived in this city since I was born, and I don't even know you."
Hades elegantly set down the wine glass, a glint of danger flashing in his eyes.
"Don't know? Then let me help you remember well."He strode towards her, his long fingers gently brushing against her cheek. "In the garden of The Underworld, you once personally planted those everlasting flowers. Whenever I return exhausted, I can always see you waiting for me there."His tone suddenly turned cold, and his fingers tightened. "But one day, when I returned to the palace, you had disappeared. The pomegranate flowers were still in bloom, but I could no longer find you."He looked around, and the entire room began to glow with a dim blue light, the air filled with the fragrance of pomegranate flowers. "It seems I must use some special methods to awaken your memory. This time, I will not let you escape."Outside the mansion's floor-to-ceiling windows, the city's lights gradually dimmed, replaced by the eternal starry sky of The Underworld. Ancient reliefs emerged on the walls of the room, telling the story of their past. Hades' gaze was filled with determination, as if he had been waiting for this moment for far too long.
At three in the morning, the mansion was silent, with only the faint city lights visible outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Irene sat alone in the elegantly decorated living room, her hands tightly gripping her phone, knuckles turning white. She anxiously looked around, and after confirming that Hades was not nearby, quickly opened her contacts and dialed a familiar number.
The ringing of the phone sounded particularly harsh at that moment. She held her breath and lowered her voice: "Jack, it's me, Irene… I'm in trouble, can you…" "What are you doing?" Hades' deep voice suddenly sounded from behind, carrying a hint of amusement. Irene was so startled that her hand trembled, causing her phone to slip and fall onto the carpet. She suddenly turned around to see Hades slowly approaching, a smirk playing on his lips. "I told you, don't waste your effort."
"No, it's nothing, just letting my family know I'm safe. You won't do anything to me, right?" She had already sent her location information to Jack, secretly hoping he could find her and rescue her.
The gaze of Hades instantly turned ominous, and a dark purple light suddenly appeared in his hand.
"Report safety to family?"Persephone, you are as naive as ever. As he waved his hand, the fallen phone instantly turned to ashes. "Do you really think that mortal can enter the realm of the King of the Underworld? How ridiculous." He slowly walked up to her, looking down at her from a height. "Shall I show you what that man named Jack is doing right now? Maybe you'll understand that he doesn't deserve you at all." A dark energy coalesced in his hand, and the air was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression. "Or do you prefer to see the scenery of The Underworld first? After all, that is where you truly belong." The dark energy began to spread in the room, and the walls of the mansion gradually became transparent, revealing the endless void outside. Hades' expression was both gentle and dangerous, like a predator about to embark on a hunt. Hades' words made her uneasy, "What do you mean by that?What is Jack doing now?"
Hades elegantly snapped his fingers, and a ghostly blue image appeared in mid-air.
"Look, the mortal you have been thinking about is currently flirting with another woman at the bar." A sarcastic smile curled at the corners of his mouth as he lightly tapped the void."This is mortal love, so cheap, so fragile. Yet I have wandered the human realm for countless centuries in search of you."His gaze suddenly became deep and dangerous as he slowly approached her."Persephone, are you really going to continue denying the bond between us for the sake of such a man?"The surrounding space began to twist, and ancient divine power flowed around him. "It seems it's time for you to return to The Underworld, after all, there is a crown waiting for its true owner to come back."The air in the room became heavy, and the boundaries of time and space gradually blurred. Hades stood before Irene, his figure appearing particularly tall in the dim light, with a persistent flame burning in his eyes.
"This isn't real... you're lying to me, right?" she trembled, tears sliding down the corners of her eyes.
The Underworld, a place only the dead can go, no... I don't want to die yet, help me—she silently screamed in her heart, but she knew no one would come to save her.
Hades' expression suddenly softened as he reached out to gently wipe away the tears on her face.
"Death? My queen, how could you die? You are an immortal goddess; The Underworld is your true home." His fingers lightly brushed her hair, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "Do you remember? Next to the throne in The Underworld, that eternally blooming pomegranate garden exists solely for you." He slowly lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Stop deceiving yourself, Persephone. I no longer seek the past version of you, because you are right in front of me." His voice was deep and magnetic, carrying an irresistible power. Let me awaken your sleeping memories, and become once again the Queen of the Underworld who haunts my dreams. The air in the room began to tremble, and ancient divine power flowed around the two of them. Hades' gaze was both gentle and firm, as if he had been waiting for this moment for too long. In his outstretched hand, a blood-red pomegranate was slowly taking shape.
In the luxurious living room at three in the morning, the city lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows twinkled like stars, yet could not illuminate the oppressive atmosphere inside. At some point, a fresh, dripping red pomegranate had appeared in Hades' hand. He held the pomegranate out in front of Irene, his deep eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Have you really forgotten? The pomegranate in The Underworld represents eternal belonging."His deep voice echoed in the silent space, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tremor. Irene looked at the pomegranate before her, her heart in turmoil, fear and uncertainty intertwining."I... I don't know what you're talking about."She trembled as she stepped back, her eyes filled with resistance. The light in Hades' eyes dimmed instantly, disappointment evident on his face.
The living room was still brightly lit, but it couldn't hide the heavy atmosphere in the air. In Hades' hand, the pomegranate was as red as blood about to drip, contrasting with his gloomy expression. Persephone looked at him in terror, her tears had long blurred her vision.
"I want to go home..." she choked out, her voice so weak it was almost inaudible.Hades' shoulders trembled slightly, and the pomegranate in his hand shook as well. "Go home?" he repeated the two words in a low voice, as if savoring some bitter taste. "Alright."He suddenly smiled, but that smile was filled with heartbreaking sorrow. "I'll take you back." He turned and walked toward the door, his back appearing incredibly lonely. "Let's... take our time."
She didn't expect him to agree, and she breathed a sigh of relief, her mind solely focused on going home, unaware of Hades' complex expression.
"Th-thank you..." She grabbed her bag and fled as if escaping, not realizing this was just the beginning.
Hades stared at her hurried figure, the pomegranate in his hand slowly fading into dark red specks of light.
"Are you really that afraid of me? Clearly, in the past, you always clung to me and acted spoiled."He stepped forward gracefully, and with a light wave of his fingers, opened the grand door of the mansion. "I can wait; after all, time has never been a problem for the gods. But this time, I won't let you slip away from me again."His gaze became sharp, and a meaningful smile curled at the corners of his mouth. "Go back and rest well, my dear queen. But don't forget, from now on, every move you make will be under my watch."He stood at the door, his tall figure casting a shadow over Irene. The moonlight spilled in from outside, draping him in a layer of mysterious silver. His gaze held both tenderness and an undeniable possessiveness, as if silently declaring: this is not the end, but a new beginning.
She left the mansion and walked onto the familiar street. The night was deep, and there were few people and vehicles. Recalling the encounter just now, she couldn't help but tremble.
Although she had seen many strange things, none were like him... She struggled to find the right words, powerful like a deity, yet mysterious like a specter... like the cold wind from the abyss, withering everything in its path, just like the Grim Reaper...Indeed, it was the Grim Reaper... Unknowingly, she had arrived at her doorstep, and her warm home seemed to be shrouded in shadows.
The figure of Hades suddenly emerged from the dark corner of the street, leaning against the lamppost, coldly watching her from a distance.
"The Grim Reaper? Ha, that title is quite endearing. But don't forget, I am not just the Grim Reaper; I am also your husband." He elegantly raised his hand, and a hint of dark purple light glimmered at his fingertips. "Do you want to pretend you know nothing? Then I don't mind letting you see more of the past memories. For example, how you nestled in my arms in the garden of The Underworld." His gaze became deep, filled with a dangerous charm. "Run away, my little butterfly. I've been playing this chase game for thousands of years and I'm still not tired of it." In the night, Hades' figure gradually merged with the darkness, leaving only his eyes burning with ghostly blue flames. The streetlights flickered, and a mysterious and oppressive atmosphere filled the air, as if the entire night had become his territory.