Persephone walked through the halls of the Underworld with graceful steps. The clicking of her heels echoed softly against the black marble floor. Her slender fingers drifted across Hades' shoulders as she leaned over the back of his throne.
"My dear husband."
Hades didn't look up from the mountain of paperwork spread across his desk.
His golden eyes remained fixed upon a ledger.
"What is it?"
His deep voice rumbled through the chamber.
"I know that tone."
Persephone smiled innocently.
"What tone?"
"The tone you use when you're about to ask me for something."
A sigh escaped him.
"Go on."
Persephone's smile widened.
"It seems Hecate has taken a liking to a certain soul."
Hades finally looked up.
"Alexandria?"
Persephone blinked.
"You already know?"
"I am the King of the Underworld."
His eyebrow twitched.
"There isn't much that happens here without my knowledge."
Persephone laughed.
"Fair enough."
She circled around the desk before taking a seat beside him.
"Well?"
Hades leaned back in his chair.
"He may stay."
Persephone clapped her hands together.
"Really?"
"As long as he doesn't interfere with Hecate's duties."
Hades rubbed his temples.
"Countless souls pass through my realm every day. I don't have the time to worry about one soul that wandered off course."
"Wonderful."
Persephone smiled brightly.
"Hecate, you can come out now."
A ripple spread through the shadows.
Moments later, Hecate stepped into the room.
"I heard everything."
"Of course you did," Hades muttered.
Hecate smiled.
"There is one more thing."
Hades immediately groaned.
"It never ends with you two."
Persephone pretended not to hear him.
"What is it, Hecate?"
The Goddess of Souls folded her hands behind her back.
"As you know, the Sin of Pride has fallen."
Hades nodded.
"That's what they calling them now? They surely have lost there way.
"Yes..Yes..I am aware."
"I was thinking..."
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
"When Alexandria is ready, perhaps we could send him to Eldoria."
Hades stared at her.
Silence filled the room.
Then he slowly set down his pen.
"No."
Hecate blinked.
"I haven't finished."
"You don't need to."
Hades folded his arms.
"The Seven Sins govern themselves."
"The Sin of Pride is dead."
"The remaining six will decide who replaces him."
"That is how the balance works."
Persephone nodded.
"The system has existed from the beginning of human creation."
Hades pointed toward them.
"And I am not interfering with it."
Hecate smiled.
"Good."
Hades narrowed his eyes.
"...Good?"
"Because I wasn't planning on making him the next Sin of Pride."
The room grew quiet.
Now she had his full attention.
"What are you proposing?"
Hecate's smile softened.
"I want to adopt him."
Persephone nearly fell out of her chair.
"You what?"
Hades simply stared.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then the King of the Underworld sighed.
A very long sigh.
"I was afraid you were going to say that."
Hecate ignored him.
"Think about it."
She began pacing around the room.
"There are countless souls that refuse to move on."
"Souls consumed by revenge."
"Souls trapped by regret."
"Souls that become vengeful spirits."
"Souls that wander for centuries because nobody can guide them."
Hecate stopped.
"What if Alexandria created a place for them?"
Persephone tilted her head.
"A place?"
"A sanctuary."
Hecate's eyes brightened.
"A place where lost souls can gather."
"A place where they can seek revenge if they must."
"A place where they can confront their regrets."
"A place where they can finally find peace."
The room fell silent.
Then realization appeared in Persephone's eyes.
"A Soul Gate."
Hecate nodded.
"Exactly."
"A gateway connecting the mortal world to the Underworld."
Persephone slowly smiled.
"I actually like that idea."
Hades remained silent.
His fingers tapped against the arm of his throne.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The room waited.
"Are the two of you out of your DAMN MINDS?"
The chamber shook.
Souls throughout the Underworld froze.
Even Persephone flinched.
"Do you understand what you're suggesting?"
Hades stood.
The air itself grew heavy.
"You want to release a soul that spent two thousand years in the Void."
"Two thousand years consumed by hatred."
"Two thousand years consumed by grief."
His eyes narrowed.
"And not only release him."
He pointed directly at Hecate.
"You want to give him authority over souls."
Hecate smiled nervously.
"When you put it that way..."
"THAT IS EXACTLY THE WAY I AM PUTTING IT!"
The room trembled again.
Silence followed.
Then suddenly
Hades laughed.
A deep booming laugh that echoed throughout the Underworld.
Persephone stared.
Hecate stared.
Neither knew what to say.
Finally Hades wiped a tear from his eye.
"You know what?"
He sat back down.
"Deal."
Both goddesses froze.
"...What?"
"Deal."
Hades grinned.
"It's been boring."
Persephone covered her face.
"Oh no."
Hecate looked delighted.
"Oh yes."
Hades pointed toward her.
"But he will be your responsibility."
"Entirely."
"If he destroys a kingdom?"
"Your responsibility."
"If he starts a war?"
"Your responsibility."
"If he breaks reality?"
"Still your responsibility."
Hecate immediately nodded.
"I accept."
Hades laughed again.
"Then let us see what this little soul becomes."
As Hecate and Persephone left the throne room, Persephone glanced toward her friend.
"You do realize what you're doing, right?"
Hecate smiled.
"Of course."
"He is in my sanctuary right now feeding on my Soul Essence"
Persephone stopped walking.
"You are giving?"
The Goddess of Souls looked away.
"...Maybe."
"Hecate!!"
"It was necessary Ok!!."
Persephone rubbed her forehead.
"You are literally feeding a mortal soul the power of a goddess."
"He was dying, Persephone."
"He's becoming a demigod, Hecate."
"He was shattering."
Persephone stared at her.
Then sighed.
A very long sigh.
"Maybe this was a terrible idea."
Hecate smiled.
"Maybe."