Chapter 7 : Date from Hell

Hades sighed for the fifty sixth time that evening as he listened to Melia go on and on about how beautiful she was, and how she had an ocean of men trying to take her to dinner, or take her for a fancy overly priced vacation somewhere. Gods, how did Hades not know this woman was this shallow? Now he was wondering if it was a good idea to ask her to accompany him to his brother's party the next day, his two idiot brothers were relentless, they would make fun of him for the rest of his immortal life.

"… oh my stars I don't even think I broke up with that guy," Melia continued her rambling, "no wonder he keeps calling me. Being good looking can be so stressful sometimes, do you know what I mean?"

Hades downed his sixth cup of wine and glanced at the woman who was now fixing her makeup before pulling out her phone and taking pictures of herself.

"I bet it is," Hades responded sarcastically, "must be exasperating to have hordes of men following you around when all you do is wear skimpy clothing and post provocative pictures on social media."

"Exactly!" Melia responded making Hades sigh for the fifty seventh time. "Some men can be such pigs."

Hades had gone out with some pretty shallow and self absorbed women, but Melia really took the throne in that department. This couldn't be the only option he had for the party, but who else could he ask? He couldn't just randomly call one of his one night stands and ask them to accompany him to a party out of the blue, they would think he was creepier than he actually was.

"Anyway enough about me, tell me a little about yourself Mr King of the underworld."

The statement pulled hades out of his reverie, was she actually willing to talk about something other than herself? Well that was shocking.

Hades sat up and cleared his throat, "well there's not much to tell, I'm just a corporate man trying to keep balance between the world of the living and that of the dead. I'm a dog lover, and I have two brothers-"

"Oh my gods speaking of your brothers," Melia interrupted the dark haired god much to his dismay. "How is Zeus doing? Long time, you know him and I actually dated once?"

Hades grabbed the bottle of wine and poured himself another glass, "oh really?" He responded acrimoniously, "tell me about that."

"Well it was about three hundred years ago, give or take…"

Hades groaned very loudly, internally of course. Was this woman that daft? She was actually going to tell him about it? Did she not at all understand the concept of sarcasm?! He looked down at his wrist watch and sighed, this was going to be an incredibly long and incredibly tiresome evening.

After they finally finished with their dinner, and Melia brazenly ordered more food and a bottle of wine to go, Hades pulled up in front of the siren's apartment and for the first time all evening felt happy and relaxed.

A hand that rested on top of his made Hades dart his eyes to the woman sitting next to him, her already skimpy dress was pulled up, exposing her thighs even more while she smiled amorously at him.

"So do you maybe want to go upstairs and have a cup of coffee, a glass of water or.. something?" She trailed her manicured nail up his buttons to the part of his chest that was slightly exposed.

If Hades did not have any decency left in him, he would have forgotten the fact that she was shallow , narcissistic and possible a little dumb, and bedded her without hesitation. But even he had some standards.

He gently grabbed her hand and put it on her knee before patting it awkwardly, "love to, but I'm afraid I can't."

Melia frowned at the man's answer and reaction, was this man stupid? She was practically serving herself up for his lonely ass and he was rejecting her?!

"I'm afraid I have a very busy morning tomorrow and cannot umm.." Hades glanced one last time at her legs before looking straight ahead. "I'm afraid I cannot come up for coffee."

"Are you serious?…"

"I will however make it up to you," Hades added on and instantly regretted it. What was he doing?!

The frown on Melia's face melted into a skeptical stare, "oh really? And how do you intend to do that? Because I have to say darling, I'm a little offended."

"Well, see my brother Poseidon is-"

"Oh my gods yes! Yes!" The siren shrieked in excitement, "I thought you would never ask, of course I'll accompany you to the most luxurious party of year!"

Hades was taken aback by her reaction, and honestly he felt a little spooked. Had she been anticipating this?

"I mean I waited throughout dinner for you to ask me but you said nothing," Melia explained as she picked up her take away packs, "then when you refused to let me seduce you I thought it was game over. I don't even know why I was worried, I mean who else could you have asked? Every one fears you."

Melia walked out of the car and blew Hades a kiss, "I have some shopping to do tomorrow, I will be the talk of the party! I can see it now, everyone will be praising you for bagging such a beautiful woman. Good night darling I'll see you tomorrow!"

Hades watched the woman walk into the apartment building completely flabbergasted. He then dropped his head on the steering wheel and groaned loudly. "Oh Hades what have you gotten yourself into?!"

"Lord Hades..?" Pixies' voice echoed within the car, "shall I make an order for analgesic drugs for you?"

"Yes please, thank you pixie," the man groaned.

"I will add some sleeping pills just in case," pixie added on.

Hades turned his head and glanced at the dashboard of his car, "pixie?"

"Yes sir?"

"Will YOU be my wife?"

"I'm afraid I lack the sentient and physical form to carry out the duties of your mate lord Hades."

Of course, Hades thought to himself before starting the engine and driving off.

*

The next morning Persephone was in a panic, today was the day! Oh good Gaia today was the day! The party was happening today!!

At first she was actually a little excited, and maybe even looking forward to it, but now all she felt was anxiety and self doubt. This was a party with some of the most important beings on Olympus, why did she ever think she could mingle with them?!

What if someone recognized her and told her mother she was at a party?! Or worse, what if they saw the dress she had picked out and thought it was absolutely hideous! What did she even know about dressing elegantly, all her life she had been clothed in tunics and sandals!

No, she needed to drop this entire thing, she should go to the gym and the library like she had told her mother, this was all too overwhelming for her.

"Persie…"

What was she even going to do with her unruly hair?! She looked like some jungle girl!

"Persie..?"

And her face? She had to wear makeup didn't she? Classy women wore makeup all the time, but all Persephone knew how to apply was lip balm and talcum.

"Persie!"

The goddess jotted to the side and a bunch of flowers materialized in Eris' hair.

"Sorry.." Persephone muttered nervously.

"Stop daydreaming and start getting ready," Eris spoke to her friend while pulling out the flowers from her hair.

"Ready? Ready for what?"

"Persie you've been plastered in this bed all day, it's almost six PM," Eris pointed out as she adjusted her earrings. "Tekos will be here in an hour, get ready."

"An hour???!!!"