Chapter 33 : Minthe

"Oh come on Persephone," Eris called out to her friend as she walked towards the bus stop. She rushed to Persephone's front and put both her hands on her shoulders to stop her from moving any further. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"You said it yourself," persephone responded while tightly clutching the bag where she had placed her phone. "This cell phone is worth more than both your kidneys and liver! I don't want to be walking around with a phone worth two kidneys and piece of liver, in fact, before this I didn't even want a phone!"

The red haired goddess gently pulled Eris' arms off her shoulders and continued her walk towards the bus station. " I need to give this back to him."

"Persephone wait!" Eris swung her hand towards her friend, making Persephone's shadow rap itself around her body and stop her in place. "Will you listen for just one minute.." The goth goddess walked towards the red head and gave her a stern look. "Do you have any idea how insulting it is for you to take back something clearly gifted to you out of Goodwill? The poor guy will be offended."

"Well I can't keep it," persephone responded. "I can't let someone spend so much money on me, not even my mother has ever spent so much money on me. It's just… It feels so wrong."

"So what do you plan to do exactly?" Eris questioned the redhead. "The underworld is not a place to merely just waltz into Persephone. I mean sure you could take a bus there, but no Olympian has ever gone there and returned as they were."

"Ugh, there you go again with your folklore stories about Hades and the underworld," persephone said with an eye roll. "I'm going to be fine, all I'm doing is returning this phone to him and catching the next bus back to Olympus. I'll be back home before dinner."

Eris watched Persephone walk towards the station and cussed under her breath. The underworld was a place she swore she would never to go back to, but she couldn't let Persephone go there on her own. She was too sweet and pure for a place like that, she had no choice but to accompany her.

"Persie wait!" Eris called out, "I'll go with you!"

*

The entire elevator ride up to Hades' office, Melia was conflicted on whether to be upset or to be incredibly sad, that she had to go through what had just happened with that security guard. Did Hades really think so little of her now? Or was it just a mistake, and he had forgotten to tell the guard of who she was? The siren prayed that it was the latter.

When the elevator door opened, Melia could see Hades waiting for her a few meters away. The sight made her heart soften a little, if he had come out to meet her, it was most likely to apologize for what had happened downstairs.

"Hades…" The siren walked with long strides towards the god. Her arms were slightly open ready for him to embrace her and apologize.

"Melia." Hades too began to walk towards her, but instead of the hug that the siren was anticipating, he grabbed both her shoulders and looked at her face sternly. "What on earth are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to bring private matters to my office?"

Melia looked up at Hades in shock. "But I…"

"But nothing," The crimson eyed god spoke firmly. " I will not condone behavior of this sort from you or anyone, this is a place of work. No one is allowed to come and interfere my work, do you understand that? I have a lot to do here as it is, I do not need you to add to my workload."

Before the siren could respond, Hades' phone buzzed to life. He pulled it out of his jacket pocket and upon looking at the screen, his previously angered face immediately turned into a beaming one.

"Excuse me.." The man spoken in a jittery tone. He sounded like a child who had just been gifted with sweets. "I need to take this, it's very important."

Melia's scowl returned to her face as she watched the god walk a few feet away and answer his phone. Who did he think he was kidding? She had seen the name that had popped up on his screen the minute he pulled his phone out of his pocket. That bastard was speaking to that little witch Persephone.

The siren took a few steps closer to where Hades was standing, and leaned forward trying to listen to what he was saying.

"Persephone, greetings…" The blue god mumbled nervously. " I didn't expect your call, it's taken me rather by surprise. Is there something that you need?"

'Hello Hades,' The red haired goddess spoke on the other send of the line. 'I'm sorry to interrupt your work, I know how busy you are. But the reason I'm calling is really important.'

"Busy?! Me?!… Noo.." Hades lied with a nervous chuckle. "Today is actually not that busy, you caught me at a time when I am extremely free, I was actually just laying around bored out of my mind. So please go ahead and ask of me whatever you like."

'Oh okay, I'm glad to hear I am not disturbing you. Well you see the thing is… I'm actually on my way to the underworld.'

Hades' phone almost slipped out of his hand when Persephone mentioned those words.

"On… On your way… You are coming here?!" He mumbled in disbelief. "Why in the world for?"

'I need to speak with you about something,' persephone responded. 'I will be arriving at the main station in less than five minutes, so I will probably be at your office a few minutes later if I can catch a bus or cab.'

"No!" Hades yelled into the phone. "I mean… Don't get on any bus or cab when you reach the station Persephone, I will come pick you up myself."

'You really don't have to," The goddess insisted. 'I came here without informing you beforehand, I can't have you driving all the way to get me as well. I will find my way there."

Hades practically ran back into his office, and a few minutes later he run back out with his keys in hand. "I am already on my way," he spoke rashly as he dashed towards the elevator. "Wait for me at the station, I will be there in two minutes."

Melia watched the god rush towards the elevator in utter shock. Had he completely ignored her existence? Had he forgotten that she came all this way, after battling his security guard downstairs, so she could talk to him? And now he was just going to rush out and leave her like she was nothing, all because of that perfect little princess Persephone?!

"Hades!"

The crimson eyed god stopped midway stride and turned to look at the Siren who is calling out to him. "Oh Melia, forgive me but I have to rush out now. Can we reschedule this for another time? I will ask Thanatos to drop you off at your apartment."

The siren couldn't believe it, Hades had seriously dropped her because of that girl!

"My apologies once more," hades spoke out as he stepped into the elevator. "I will pen you in for tomorrow, and whatever it is you wish you to discuss will be covered in that time. Goodbye for now."

Melia watched the elevator door close and folded her hands into fists. 'No one is allowed to interfere my work' he says… ' I have so much to do' he says. But drops every little thing at the mention of Persephone, that bastard! He was going to pay, Hades had humiliated her for the last time.

The siren turned around and headed for Hades' office, completely ignoring the secretary who was telling her to stop. She kicked the door open and walked into the dark room, locking the door behind her, and heading straight to his large black table where he kept his computer.

Luckily, that big oaf was too much in a rush to lock his computer, so Melia could easily access all the information that she required. She pulled out a chair and sat down before browsing through all his files looking for a specific name. And before long, she found it.

"There you are," The Siren hissed in delight. "Well hello there Minthe, I need you to wreak havoc in Hades' life one more time."