ⲇⲥⲅⲟ⳽⳽ τⲏⲉ ⲟⲥⲉⲇⲛ⳽ ⲟf τⳕϻⲉ // ⲅⲉⲛⲟ & ⲉⲥⲏⲟ

[echo]

She chose the Underworld and the love of Hades—but her mother, Demetre, could not accept it. In a desperate act, she struck a deal with the Fates and condemned her daughter to die and be reborn endlessly as a mortal, her divinity scattered through time. Now, as Kore St. Lawrence, Persephone walks the world unaware of who she truly is. But Hades has never stopped searching. And this time, he's found her. To awaken her memory and reclaim their love, he must defy Fate itself—before she slips through his fingers once again. ​ ​

​

 

[Reno]

Last Time...

#1



Reno

**Erebus, Hades' Orchard, ca. 700 years ago

Even walking among the trees in his orchard only further twisted the phantasmal blade in Hades' heart, bringing his simmering rage back to a healthy seethe again. It was at that, most inopportune, moment that Hermes finally found him.

"Lord Hades," the Messenger declared formally, "Zeus demands that you come to Olympus. He would speak with you."

Hades snorted. "Does he? After these many centuries, my brother misses me?" he said acidly. "How precious."

Hermes frowned. "Please, uncle," he said, dropping the rigid formality, "Come to Olympus. Maybe it will do some good?"

Hades gave him a long-suffering look, but some of the rancor faded from his dark eyes at the same time. "I know you're much too clever to believe that, Hermes," he said, shaking his head, "but because you ask, you can tell that blustering fool I will be arriving in due course."

Hermes smiled. "Thank you, uncle," he said.

"You're the only one of my nephews that I can stomach, Hermes. Why is that, I wonder?" Hades mused aloud.

"Because I'm nothing like my father?" Hermes offered.

"I told you that you were clever," Hades said, as Hermes departed to deliver his response.

---

Two nights following, Hades' golden chariot gleamed outside of the Halls of Olympus, the sable horses blowing menacingly as their master stepped down and stormed into the Hall. As usual, most of the Olympians were present, save for Hephaestus, who had about as much use for the gathering of idle gadabouts as Hades did.

The Lord of the Underworld cared little for their presence, nor their surprise at his own, but turned his eyes to the dais and the head of this cadre. When he saw that Demeter sat beside him, opposite Hera, the self-satisfied smirk that twisted her lips when she saw Hades all but confirmed his suspicions immediately, and his rage could have shattered the mountain beneath his feet.

"Hades..." Zeus demanded, "Why have you been encroaching on the mortal world? What is the meaning of this?"

"You know damn well what it is!" Hades roared, his eyes flashing, quite literally, with naked fury, "Where is my wife, Zeus?"

Demeter recoiled visibly when Hades described Persephone as such, and spoke up before anyone could stop her. "She's been freed from you, at last," she sneered, "She's out of your reach, Hades, and I won't let you..."

Zeus cut her off with a raised hand. "That's enough, Demeter," he said harshly, then turned his attention back to Hades. "Let her go, Brother. It's out of your hands."

Hades' voice was edged in obsidian. "So you've finally surrendered your last vestige of legitimacy, Zeus," he growled, "Your decrees as ruler of Olympus aren't any more binding than your own marriage vows, now."

Zeus reddened, Hera blanched, and the rest of the Olympians fell into a stunned silence, while Zeus shot to his feet with such force that he nearly overturned his throne behind him.

"Remember who you're speaking to, Hades," Zeus warned, murder burning in his eyes, as he advanced on the Lord of the Dead. "Go back to your little hole and I'll try to forget this disrespect."

Hades was not cowed. "'Respect?' You always were a pompous, short-sighted fool, little brother," he sneered. "Every time your domain gets smaller, my 'little hole' gets larger; larger than yours will ever be," Hades said, his tone as cold as the depths of Tartaros itself, "I never begrudged you to sit on your mountain and bask in the adulation of your mortals. They'll be mine soon enough."

Hades shook his head grimly. "I had what I needed to be happy," he said, "Until it was taken because you were afraid of what that harpy..." He turned a hateful glare on Demeter, the back to Zeus, "...might do to your precious mortals if she didn't get her way?"

Hades turned on his heel, his bitter, mirthless laugh echoing through the shocked stillness, then stopped.

"I'm not happy anymore, Zeus." He said darkly, then left Olympus.

Later that year, the first victim would fall to the plague that would ravage the mortal realm for nearly twenty years, and come to be known as The Black Death.

---

**Erebus, Hades' Palace, ca. 500 years ago

Standing before Hades' throne, the two souls of the young Venetian lovers clutched one another, staring up at the God of the Underworld with dreadful awe.

"M-my Lord," the girl said meekly, "Our love was forbidden in life. Fair Venus gave us a message for you, and told us that if we delivered it, then perhaps you would deign allow us to be together in death?"

Hades narrowed his eyes. Aphrodite's interference in anything was sufficient cause for suspicion.

"Speak," he commanded, and the pair shrank in on themselves, silently cowering while Hades waited impatiently.

It was the boy, this time, who finally collected himself first, enough to recite the message.

"Moiragetes, that which you have lost is tangled on the wheel of Clotho," he quoted slowly, taking care to ensure he got each syllable absolutely correct.

Hades' eyebrow quirked as he considered the riddle for a moment. When its meaning became apparent, his expression became so frightful that the lovers fell to their knees, hiding their faces and clutching each other tightly again, as if to shield one another from a raging storm.

Hades recognized their fear, and schooled all emotion from his countenance. He turned his eyes to his three judges. "Rhadamanthys, these two are for you. Take them into Elysium, and let them have the eternity they deserve," he proclaimed.

---

**Erebus, Hades' Orchard, ca. 150 years ago

Frustration, rage, and despair roiled in Hades' chest. He had been so close. Having at last found the mortal woman that had been his Persephone reborn, he had seen an end to his misery within his grasp. Until she had boarded a doomed ship destined never to reach the far shores of the sea, and his wife was returned to the wheel of Clotho again.

Now, Hades paced through his orchard, finding no comfort in the scent of the ripening pomegranates surrounding him while, beyond the gloom of his domain, cholera ravaged the entire mortal world, killing hundreds of thousands of the Olympians' precious playthings.

A slight form in a dark, cowled cloak approached Hades from behind a Poplar, its face hidden in shadow beneath the hood. He turned, fearless in this, his own domain, but angry at the intrusion upon his solitude, and fixed the figure with a silent, menacing glower.

"Hades, you need to stop this," Hera pleaded softly as she pulled back her hood to look up at him.

His eyes widened in surprise. Other than Hermes, the Olympians could rarely bring themselves to visit his domain. They liked to claim it was beneath them, but he suspected that the realm of death unsettled even the ageless gods.

Shock quickly gave way to indignation. "She's my wife, Hera," he snapped. "I'd hoped you, of all of them, could understand why I can't just let this lie!"

Hera smiled a sad, gentle smile. "I do understand." she said softly, and placed her hand on his arm, "But this isn't you. You don't toy with mortals, and you certainly don't lash out at them just to be vindictive. This is beneath you, Hades."

Hades frowned, but found that he couldn't gainsay her words.

"You're right, Hera," he admitted quietly, unable to meet her eyes, and shook his head. "You're right."

Hera patted his arm comfortingly. "Hades..."

When he did lift his head, Hera could see the anguish in her brother's eyes. "She didn't want this, Hera," he said, almost pleading. "She didn't need to be 'saved'."

The wife of Zeus feared she might burst into tears if she kept seeing him like that, so she reached up and pulled his head down onto her shoulder, embracing him gently.

"I know," she soothed, "Have some faith to go with that famed patience of yours, little brother. Your bride will find her way back to you."

Hades straightened and raised his head, looking at her again, a glimmer of hope behind his dubious expression, in spite of himself. "How do you know?" he demanded, his tone less imperious than he'd been striving for.

Hera gave him a knowing smile. "I know a thing or two about how to judge a marriage, you know," she said, then smirked, "Or because I'm your big sister, and you should just listen to what I tell you. Take your choice."

Hades couldn't help the small chuckle that rumbled in his chest, and nodded. "Very well," He agreed. "Thank you, Hera," he said.

Hera stretched up and kissed him on the bottom of his bearded cheek, then turned away from him, pulling the cowl of her cloak up again. "I should return, before you-know-who sleeps off his wine and realizes that I've been gone."

"Wait," Hades said. He plucked a heavy pomegranate from one of the trees and pressed it into her hands. "Thank you," he said again, and Hera departed, gift in hand, leaving Hades with her words.

It was not her admonition of hope that echoed in his ears, as he might have wished, but her condemnation of his wrath. Souls beyond counting now dwelled in his realm, brought by his own hand, when once he would have considered such an act to be unconscionable. The weight of that shame and regret took him from his feet, and he sank down onto the black soil, leaning back against the poplar, desperately wishing, in vain, to undo what he had done.

A feeling he'd only experienced once before...

It was the last night of Winter when he lay on his side, with Persephone dozing against his chest in their bed, and smiled as she stirred. When she blinked up at him to clear her eyes and head of sleep, he kissed her forehead and brushed her hair back from her face.

"Why are you still awake?" Persephone asked him, in that playfully scolding tone that he always found so endearing.

"Because Spring comes with the dawn, love," he said, "And I must surrender you to your mother and the mortal world again. So I intend to enjoy every second of looking at you, until then."

Persephone made a disapproving face, but it didn't hide the shadow that passed behind her eyes. "It's only half a year," she chided, "That was the agreement Mother made with Zeus..."

He looked at her for a long moment, her words twisting in the shame crushing his heart. And still, he was struggling to force the words from his lips.

"Persephone... Do you want to stay on Olympus?" he asked, at last.

She looked at him oddly, as if she hadn't heard him correctly. "What did you say?"

Hades frowned and shook his head, avoiding her gaze. "I can't undo what has been done, but.." he growled and forced himself to continue, "If it's what you wish, I will speak to Zeus, and put an end to the agreement that forces you to spend half the year with me."

"Hades," Persephone said, her voice sharp - almost angry - despite her eyes beginning to swim. She hid them by leaning in to kiss his bare chest. "I have never known you to be a foolish man," she chided, placing her hands on his stomach, "Don't disappoint me by starting now."

She could feel the way his entire body eased as relief flooded him.

"Every man, whether god or mortal, will make himself a fool at some time, if he finds his love. It's only the way of things," he lamented.

"Then you've had yours, and you don't have to ask me that stupid question again," she scolded, then pulled her head up and smiled cheekily. "Besides, we both know that you'd never be able to get along without me."

Hades laughed, his chest rumbling under Persephone's chin, and his arms tightened around her shoulders as he looked down at her, returning her impish smile with an indulgent grin of his own. "You underestimate me, my love," he countered, "I won't have you staying out of any misplaced sense of obligation. I assure you, though it would be a bleak and unhappy existence, I would endure, should you decide you wished to return to Olympus forever," he promised.

Persephone's eyebrows rose. "You would?" she said, genuinely surprised. Then she smiled coquettishly, raising her arms to comb her fingers into his hair. "Then I've only got a few hours to change your mind about that," she purred, fisting her hands in his hair and pulling his mouth down to hers while she pressed her body against him.


It would seem, Hades reflected, that she may have succeeded even more effectively than she had intended. He'd endured without her, for over 500 years, and it had all but driven him to madness...

---

**Erebus, Hades' Palace, 7 years ago

The dryad trembled visibly as she was escorted to Hades' throne room, though the Lord of the Dead did have to give the little chit credit - she was making a valiant effort of trying to hide it. Failing miserably, to be sure, but the brave face was commendable.

"What is it?" Hades asked the skittish forest nymph, not unkindly.

"I was told to deliver this directly to you, Lord Hades," the dryad said, handing the sealed missive up to him. "And not to tell you by whom," she added nervously.

Hades quirked an eyebrow curiously. "Quite the mystery, isn't it," he quipped, a hint of humor in his tone, then looked back to the dryad. "Was there anything else?"

She shook her head so fervently that green hair swept about her face, and Hades had to force himself not to laugh. He nodded. "Very well. Thank you, then. You're free to go."

The dryad was in such a hurry to flee that she didn't even pay parting respects before she departed, not that it was any concern to Hades. He opened the unsigned message, and his eyes widened as he read its contents. Then his laughter filled the palace.

Some moments later, when he read it again, only to be sure he hadn't imagined it, did he realize there was a second note, also unsigned.

"My dear, I only kept this tidbit from you so that all of the pieces could fall into place. You have an opportunity here; I suggest you do not squander it."

From the folds of this second message, a peacock feather and pomegranate seed fell into his hand. Hades leapt to his feet and stood before the great, ornate mirror on the far wall.

"Hecate," he summoned, "I need you to come to the palace at Erebus. This cannot wait."

Gradually, the image of a woman's pale, harsh face appeared in the mirror, glowering at him. "Hades," she snapped, "You might be the King here, but you could show some courtesy. I'm not here to come running at your whim whenever you ca-" she berated, but he cut her off.

"Hecate," he said, "It's Persephone."

"I'll be there in a moment," Hecate promised.

#2



Echo


The temple of Apollo buzzed as The Pythia began chanting without burning laurel. Her eyes glazed over as her head rolled back. Her body became as liquid moving in the ocean, smooth, then erratic, hissing with the vision about to burst forth in her mind.

"What's this?!" The priests were aflutter, running back and forth from the columns that led into her sacred chambers. The tripod she usually sat upon was now empty, and she dropped to her knees, gripping the dirt floor of the room.






Dreams… Always in dreams…

Tossing in the comfort of her own bed, Kore dreamt once more of the sultry figure who had visited her every night for the last seven years since she had turned thirteen. When he appeared on the thirteenth anniversary of her birth, he had been the angel who had chased away the demons in her nightmare. He had been the one that had soothed her tears and calmed her small form. That one night, he had granted her the most precious gift anyone had ever given her.

A night free of the Furies…

Their friendship blossomed over time. Each night, he would stay with her and keep away the Demons who would dare threaten her. He would show her such wonders in the hours between Dusk and Dawn. Each morning, he kissed her forehead and told her he would always be with her throughout the day. And somehow, she felt he had been there, even in her waking hours.

As she matured, she sensed their friendship evolve into something… more. Something extraordinary that she could only attribute to Fate. She paid little heed to the boys at her school, often choosing to spend her time in that concrete realm of indoctrination, delving into the mythologies and histories penned by trustworthy sources. She found the subjects both captivating and unsettling, reflecting the turmoil within her heart.

The first kiss came on the anniversary of her eighteenth birth, and it had been such a kiss she swore she could feel the heat of his flesh press against her and the silky smoothness of his lips as they traced their way from the temple of her soft sun-kissed skin to the round of her cheek. So achingly slow did his lips brush against hers; it was as if time had stopped. His scent filled the air around her, and she found herself lost in that moment, wishing for it never to end…

"Kore," a woman's voice called out, yanking her out of the warm embrace of the person or figment of her imagination's arms. "Wake up! It's graduation day, and it's time to get ready for pictures."

Her mother was relentless about being on time. Even if Kore had her alarm set an hour before her usual time to rise, her mother would always find a way to interrupt her nightly escapes in the Dream World. With a reluctant sigh and repressed urge to throw a kicking tantrum in on her bed, she pushed back the warm down comforter and swung her long, shapely legs off the edge, resigned to doing as she had been told.
"I don't know why you want these damn things," Kore complained under her breath as she rubbed the sleep from her violet eyes.
"Because I said so," her mother shouted from the staircase as she trekked to the kitchen to finish preparing breakfast for the duo.
Looking towards the door, she set herself in motion to retrieve her pantsuit, idly muttering, "I don't know how she does that!"




The photoshoot took longer than Kore would have liked, but she was grateful that her mother agreed to do it in one of her favourite parks. With Summer on their doorstep, the flowers were in full bloom and the landscapers that tended the garden areas that ran along a beautiful creek had gone above and beyond their normal manicuring of the grounds.

"I'm going to take a walkabout, okay," Kore said over her shoulder as she began to stroll away towards the more shaded areas by the creek. Knowing that her mother would be preoccupied with the photographer, looking over the images that had just been captured, she knew she would have a little time to enjoy the music of Nature.

Kore was glad she had chosen a pair of black slacks and a white silk blouse since the outdoors was a bit warmer than the usual May weather in years past, and sitting on grass would likely have gotten a lighter colour dirty were she to have sat quietly on the plain grass. Glancing over the water, she thought of the man in her dreams. Sure, he was simply a figment of her imagination, but he had been so very real that she felt a slight stabbing within her breast, knowing that she would never meet him in her reality.

"I graduate today, and all I can think about is you," she whispered to the breeze, hoping it would carry her words across the air to his ears, knowing it never would.

#3



Reno

**Erebus, Hades' Throne Room, 7 years ago, cont..

So long since she'd first disappeared, and having had her snatched from his grasp at the last moment too often - now that Hades knew where to find Persephone, the temptation to bring her back to the Underworld now, while he was the one with the advantage, was nearly overwhelming, but he forebore. She was young, mortal, and held no memory of him - the expedient path, though it would spare him any more of Demeter's machinations and Zeus' ham-fisted interferences, would hold only terror for the girl. And the brief glimpses of the Underworld that her subconscious offered in her dreams were already bringing her too much of that. He resolved to do something about that, as well.

He wasn't so foolish as to remain idle, however. He hadn't needed his 'mystery' benefactor to advise him to take the opportunity for what it was.

"What are you going to do?" Hecate asked, pulling Hades from his thoughts.

"I'm going to have to spend some time above," Hades said decisively. "I shouldn't be gone long. Aiakos can see to things while I'm away, and you can contact me should my personal attention require my immediate return," he said.

Hecate shook her head and gave Hades a hard look. "When did I volunteer to warm your throne in your absence, cousin?" she demanded.

Hades didn't know if he was more surprised or angered by her refusal, and his face said as much.

"What? You're her closest friend!" he said, staring daggers, "You'd begrudge me the preparation to bring her home?!"

Hecate waved away his anger with a dismissive gesture, "Of course not," she said, unfazed, "But if you think I'll take the chance of you fouling this up by letting you go alone..."

Hades blinked, then scowled to hide the grin that was trying to fight its way onto his lips. "So be it," he said, turning away from her, "Be ready in an hour, or I'm leaving without you."

#4



Echo


Looking down towards the water after a bitter chuckle to herself for thinking such things aloud, Kore spied a small, spotted lizard lazily bathing in the sunlight under one of the lilies that rested near the bank of the stream. In almost an instant, the garden scape blurred, her mind slipped into a trance-like state, and the world around her grew as black as the night sky.

An opening portal that a woman, lithe and beautiful, with hair as dark as ebony, long and silken, that shone in the morning sun as she walked into a land filled with light and life. The sounds of the forest assaulted her ears as Nature had begun to wake up with her arrival to the realm of Mortals despite the snow that still lingered.

"Kore!" A woman wearing a veil cried out as she stepped through the portal, meeting her with open arms and a tearful expression. The contrast between light and dark was evident between the two beautiful women who now embraced.

"Mother," she replied, feeling apprehensive when she spied another tall and foreboding figure behind her in the shadows. "Who's--"

"I am sorry, my Love," her voice, thick with sorrow as she removed herself from the arms of the woman named Kore. "This is the only way..."

Quicker than she could have reacted, her arms were bound behind her back, and a coarse burlap sack had been placed over her head. She was being abducted, and the portal to her home, where her heart had remained, had already closed before the woman's appearance. Attempts to scream had proven to be in vain since the sack had an enchantment to silence the noise she would have made. With her arms bound, her legs kicked outwardly as she was hoisted up and slung over the strong, broad shoulder of the man who had bound her arms. As quickly as the events happened, she was whisked away to somewhere else. Somewhere, she knew her love could not find her.





"Kore," her mother's voice breaking the trance she had been trapped in. "We're gonna be late, come on, little Dreamer."

Thankful for the interruption from such a garish vision, Kore blinked and double-checked her surroundings before committing to standing up. The real world seemed so... Mythical, that it had taken her a moment to realize where she was. Looking over towards the lilies, she noticed the sunbathing lizard had fled for a more sheltered and cooler area to lounge.

"Coming," Kore replied, shaking off the uneasiness, snatching up her graduation cap, and dusting off her backside. "I don't understand why we can't skip the ceremony. I did it for high school, and you already have the photos for college. Can't we just go get some ice cream and go home?"

"I know you don't enjoy crowds," her mother replied with an amused chuckle as Kore approached her. "It'll be over before you know it. Plus, it isn't every day that a child of mine graduates early with a promising internship and master's program."

"Fine," she said reluctantly when her mother placed an arm around her shoulders as they walked towards the parking lot. "I will do this for you, but we have to get ice cream afterwards."



With the walks of all that had reached their academic goals being completed and the traditional throwing of the caps being had, Kore could have sworn she had seen the man in her dreams, there, in the crowd that began to seek out their loved ones.

"I'm dreaming; he can't be real," she said to herself, blinking quickly to clear her eyes. "It can't be..."

"Oh, honey! You looked so lovely!" Kore's mother's voice rang out, distracting her from her current search for the man in her dreams. "I told you it wouldn't be so bad!"

"Yeah," she replied half-heartedly when she could not find the man hidden away in the masses. Shaking her head, clearing herself of any lingering daydreams, she looked to her mother, only too happy to leave the crowded field. "You got the walk, I get the ice cream, yeah?"

"Very well, my Echo," her mother chuckled sweetly, wrapping an arm around Kore. "Ice cream it is. Though, I don't understand why you are hanging out with me instead of your friends."

"I would rather have ice cream than a hangover," Kore said almost instantly. "And, if I hang out with you, I know my pocketbook is safe from spending since you always insist on paying for everything."

"Fair enough. Let's get you that ice cream, hmm?"

As the duo began their walk from the loud crowd, Kore couldn't resist the urge to look over her shoulder once more, hoping in vain to set eyes on the one man her heart had pined for years...

#5



Reno

**Kore's Graduation Ceremony

Adesius Agesandros stood back from the crush of the gathered crowd, appreciating that the event was outdoors, to take full advantage of the warm mid-spring weather. The bitter irony of that wasn't lost on him, as he took a languid draw from his cigarette, while watching Kore walk the stage. The crisp, cooling breeze rippled the lines of his Armani and swept away the coiled wisps of smoke from his waving, unruly hair.

Beside him, the middle-aged, stern-faced woman narrowed her eyes at the matriculating student. The breeze was no match for her impeccably bunned hair, and her smart, black pantsuit didn't so much as twitch. "Are we sure we have the right girl,"
She asked, dubiously.

"Yes, Kate," Adesius said, "You've been asking that constantly for seven years, when you confirmed it yourself."

Cate frowned. "She just doesn't... seem like herself anymore," she said. "Not the way I remember her, anyway."

Adesius dropped the dog-end and crushed it under his foot. "She doesn't remember, either," he reminded her, dropping his voice to a dark growl. "800 years of treachery and torment will do that. That's why we're here. One way or another, that's over," he swore.

Then he went silent for a moment as, against all probability, it felt as though Kore met his eyes across the 50 yards of distance between them, and Adesius felt as though time had stopped in that moment.

"Come on, " he said, after that interminabile few seconds had passed, "We should go."

As the ceremony drew to a close with a cloud of mortarboard caps flying into the air, the pair retreated back to the long black sedan. Kate opened the back door for Adesius to get in, then slid into the driver's seat,

#6



Echo

Her mind kept flashing back to the man she had seen. It had only been a moment, but the earth had seemed to still, and even as her mother whisked her away from the crowd for the promised treat, something deep within her stirred. Something she knew had been long lost, but somehow, somewhere inside, she knew a bloom had awoken.

"You are being awfully quiet," her mother observed as they got into the car and began to make their way through the traffic. "Is everything alright? Nervous about tomorrow?"

"Hmm," Kore said, her attention from the crowd making their way to their vehicles outside of the window now interrupted. "Oh, no, I'm fine. Just... I guess you can say, excited."

"Is that what you call excitement? I may have raised you wrong if this is your excitement."

"You know what I mean," she replied with a chuckle at the sardonic tone her mother took. "It's been a long day, and tomorrow is sure to be even longer."

"Well, you know you don't have to move out so soon," her mother said tenderly. "I am sure Mr Agesandros wouldn't mind you pushing back your move-in date."

"No, I signed the lease on the flat already, and the sooner I get moved in, the sooner I can get settled."

"Or," her mother began in the sympathetic, 'let's talk her into staying longer' tone that mothers usually get when the threat of an empty nest is looming ever closer. "You could just take a break from your studies, and we can go on an actual vacation."

"We're here," Kore interjected, dodging the subject momentarily. "Let's enjoy this evening, okay? My treat"


The next morning, Kore woke from a dreamless and restless slumber, feeling more apprehensive than she had the evening before. Her mother hadn't been in her room that morning, which had been a nice surprise, but she knew that it would be short-lived as soon as she came downstairs. The "Hovering" would begin.

It had been a normal breaking of their fast; a clear tension hung heavily in the air, and Kore knew the reasoning behind it, and it chipped away at her heart a bit.

"This is a normal thing, Mum," she said, placing her hand on her mother's shoulder when she stood at the counter pouring herself her morning tea. "I'll be forty minutes away."

"I know, it's just..." Her mother's voice trailed off, the emotion clear in the shaking voice. "You're my little girl."

"I am hardly little," Kore scoffed, gently squeezing her shoulder. "But I promise to come home almost every weekend if that helps any."
"More than you know, my child. More than you know."

A few hours later, Kore found herself in front of the old townhome where she had leased a small flat. 'A flat inside of a flat,' the manager told her when she called to inquire about the room. She was supposed to meet the manager there that morning but was greeted by the assistant instead, who showed her to her room and informed her that Mr Agesandros would be there shortly to show her the grounds.

#7



Reno

While they waited for Agesandros, Kate took the opportunity to remind Kore of the basic terms of the lease.

"It's good to see you again, Kore," She said warmly, having overseen the task of handling the signing of said lease. "I know we went through all of this when you signed, but just to make sure we're all on the same page; You'll be sharing the living room and kitchen with the tenant in the upstairs flat. You're welcome to entertain, the details of such need to be worked out between tenants, in the name of consideration and civility," Kate said, "But I'm usually working, so you'll have the place to yourself most of the time," she added with a smile, revealing that she would, in fact, be Kore's 'roommate'.

"But overnight guests aren't allowed, without advanced notice and at Mr Agesandros' discretion," she said, and gave Kore an apologetic look. "Adesius is very old-fashioned in a lot of ways," she admitted.

#8



Echo

After placing her suitcase and the small boxes with her electronics and a few essential items away, she met the woman named Kate down in the main part of the house. She had met her previously and decided that she was of a sweet sort with a pleasant disposition who spoke highly of her boss, which had been something Kore had been keen on noting. It wouldn't do well to sign a lease with a tyrant for a flat owner, but she knew that with the historical properties, leasing it out to a young woman fresh out of uni would have been a difficult decision to make.

"I do not mind going over things again," Kore smiled in answer to Kate. "I understand that with historical property, one must be sure of who they are leasing to. I am still shocked that the amount had been so low. This place is astonishing!"

With her love of History, Kore felt a bit more at home than she had at home. There had been something familiar with the townhouse and Kpre couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew she had never set foot in the place before, but... She knew every turn without hesitation, as though she could have lived there before.

"There is no worry in that regard," she chuckled, knowing that most old-fashioned gentlemen would find a single woman inviting men after dark scandalous. "The only person who would be coming over would likely be my mother, but she would call ahead of time if she intended on staying overnight.

After a few moments of silence passed, Kore looked up at one of the paintings that hung among a few others on the wall. "Adesius, such an unusual name," she mused aloud. "It sounds almost... Otherworldly..."

#9



Reno

"He's an unusual man," Kate said, nodding, "Forgive me, I shouldn't have been so informal. We've worked together for so long, I sometimes slip," she admitted.

"That's quite all right, Kate," came a voice from behind Kore. Low and rich, with a touch of accent that wasn't quite Greek, the sound vibrated over Kore's skin and down through her chest as Adesius entered the room. "Miss Kore should also feel welcome to address me as such. It will make me feel less old."

When he stepped into her field of view, Kore would have to lift her head to even see his bearded chin. Powerfully built and dressed in an Armani suit, his finely-lined olive skin and the wavy, snow-dusted ebony of his hair and beard fit with the accent. The gray eyes that met hers were, perhaps, the most unsettlingly familiar feature about the man.

"Miss Kore," Adesius said urbanely, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person," he said.

#10



Echo


The moment his voice sounded, it had almost been an electrical jolt, and upon seeing the man before her, she felt transported back to a time long past.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Marlowe," the deep, smooth, intoxicating voice had said when taking her hand. In that moment, too, she froze, almost as if she had met the man before, knowing she hadn't.

"Well, don't just stand there, Megaera," a woman's voice chimed in with an irritating chirp laced within her tone. "Why don't you two take a twirl about the dance floor and maybe her lips will loosen enough to at least say, 'Hello'."

There had been no time to protest or even to form some sort of reply before she found herself being whisked away onto the floor by the obscenely tall and handsome man who happened to appear out of nowhere. The music was not overly loud but the room began to heat and Meg knew that the blush had shown upon her cheeks. They twirled in silence, the room seemingly emptying of all others who had previously been in close quarters to her and the man leading her.

Just as her mouth began to open to speak, the room faded back to the colour of the modern era...


"Oh, goodness," Kore had heard Kate say in an almost alarmed tone. "I think she's fainted."

#11



Reno

Adesius crouched beside the sofa where he'd lain Kore, softly stroking her hair, and frowned.

"I wasn't expecting that," he admitted, grimly, as his thumb softly brushed across her forehead.

"It's easy to forget how fragile they can be," Kate said, "but I'm sure she's all right. The color is already coming back to her face. "I think you may have brushed up too close to something she didn't remember that she remembered."

Adesius scowled at her. "I'm in no mood for listening to you be cryptic," he growled, then looked back down at Kore, pain twisting his features. "This isn't how I wanted this to go," he said again. He gently placed Kore's hands on her stomach and rose to his feet.

"What are you doing?" Kate demanded, looking at him in disbelief as he stepped back, away from the couch.

"I'm not sure," he said darkly. "But this may be too much, too fast." Years of watching, waiting, guarding, and planning, and he could feel it crashing down around him now, under his own heavy-handedness.

Kate was bordering on physical violence now. "If you're about to tell me that I've spent seven years wasting my time, it will take them seven hundred to find all the pieces of you, by the time I'm through," she growled.

"Hst!" Adesius shushed her, as Kore started to stir again. He kept his distance, while Kate moved in closer, this time.

"Are you all right?" she asked Kore, gently, "Had us a bit worried, you did."

#12



Echo

Waking with a start, Kore called after Adesius. The woman she heard when the world, both dream and reality, had gone dark stood nearby. "Please, tell me h--" Her voice trailed when her eyes glimpsed the foreboding figure, standing further away than Kore could admit to liking. "It's... You. I know you," she said more in disbelief than actually believing the man who had kept the furies away actually existed. "I- I'm sorry, I know that sounds odd, but... Adesius, is your name?"


Kore had not been so disoriented not to notice the exchanged glances the duo had given the other. Maybe they knew more than they were willing to share. Maybe Kore had finally lost her last few marbles in the fainting spell, but she knew deep down in her core that she knew the man standing so far away.

"I know that sounds positively absurd, but... My apologies," she said, shaking her head in an attempt to clear it before standing to her full five-foot-seven-inch height, still a foot or more shorter than Adesius. "I am not prone to fainting. I had been in a rush this morning and did not have but a cup of tea, so that might be the culprit."

With steady feet, Kore crossed the short distance, aware of how affected he had become by her closing the distance. With her hand outstretched, she smiled, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person as well. I hope you will forgive that little lapse in, well, standing."

#13



Reno

Adesius took Kore's hand gently, and she could have sworn that she could feel his fingers tremble slightly as they closed around hers. Turbulent, warring emotions flashed briefly in his stormy eyes as he held her hand, then vanished just as suddenly as he forced himself back under control once again. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he released Kore's hand and lowered his own to his side.

"I had planned to give you a personal tour of the grounds," Adesius explained to Kore, "to make up for my not being able to meet you personally until now. But now, I'm thinking that, perhaps, that can wait, and we should treat you to lunch, first. Especially if you haven't eaten," he added, gently scolding with a small half-smile.

#14



Echo

Unsure if it had been his hand that trembled or her own, but the jolt sensation the instant their skin touched, had her entire body begin to humming. Something deep within her, a place she knew existed but had never been able to access, began to come to life. Kore was sure she had become a magnet, and when Adesius began to pull his hand away, her hand tightened just enough before she had regained use of her limbs and allowed the poor bloke to remove his appendage.

Kore had been about to protest the need for lunch when her stomach made its need for sustenance known by growling aloud. His tone had been a bit hard but with the hint of a smile that played on his lips, Kore knew that he meant business in the best of ways. "I suppose you are right about lunch, but I do not wish to keep you from your day," she said, truly hoping she wasn't impeding on his time, especially since she managed to faint. "We can reschedule the tour if you need to." She could have slapped herself for suggesting it, but if fairness, even if she had seen the man before in her dreams, it did not mean that this man even knew who she was from Adam

#15



Reno

Adesius smiled slightly and shook his head. "That's nothing to worry about, Miss Kore," he assured her, "Since I've been so ill-mannered as to fail to meet you face-to-face before now, I made certain to clear my schedule for the day, just in case." He laughed a low, rumbling chuckle, then turned his head to look at Kate. "As loathe as I am to drive such a short way on a day like this, I think we should, just for the young lady's sake. Would you get the car?"

Kate grimaced. "Oh no," she groaned, shaking her head. "Not Pietro."

Adesius' grin split his face, showing his teeth and lighting his eyes. "Exactly."

Kate sighed resignedly, resting one hand on her middle. "All right. I'll be out front in a minute," she promised.

Adesius turned back to Kore again, looking pleased. "Don't mind her. I have a feeling you'll like this," he said, sweeping one arm toward the door. "Shall we?"

#16



Echo

"Pietro? Um, I know you said not to worry," Kore began, unsure if she should take his word after the expressiveness of his assistant. "But I have seen how some of the Europeans operate their vehicles. Unless you are on rails, of course."

Kore had been alive long enough to witness how some men behaved once the naming of their vehicles happened. She remembered when her Uncle Maddox purchased his dream car. A McLaren Spider, though the year had always escaped her since it seemed like all of the cars made by that company were numbers or 'Spider'. Now, when Kore heard of cars with names, she always thought of "Veronica", Uncle Maddox's prize possession. The days he had picked her up from school when her mother had been at work had always been the best, even if it had been a bit tough at school.

"I am sure I will," Kore replied with a smile, feeling the tension ease, seeing how Adesius looked as pleased as a cat with cream.

#17



Reno

Adesius looked at Kore in silent bemusement for a long moment, not following her concern about his car, or his driving, but he could, at least, put the latter at rest.

"I'm not so poor a driver as that, Miss Kore," he assured her, "But you needn't worry. Part of Kate's many myriad roles is to drive for me, so it won't be me behind the wheel, anyway."

He smiled. "And it's a very short trip. It should take us less than five minutes to reach the restaurant, where your biggest concern will be Pietro trying to feed you to bursting," he laughed, then opened the door, just in time to see Kate pulling out to the curb and getting out to open the rear door for him.

"You can sit up front with Kate, if you prefer," he offered.

#18



Echo

With a chuckle, Kore realized that 'Pietro' was a man and not the car she had thought they were referring to. "I apologize for laughing," she said. "I had thought you had named your vehicle 'Pietro'. Apparently, a not-so-common thing as I had believed. I'll need to correct my Uncle Maddox in the future."

With her merriment settling into a comfortable smile, she could feel her heart skip a beat when he mentioned riding in the front with his assistant. It would have been the proper thing to do and something her mother would have preferred. Instead, Kore found it difficult to pass up the opportunity to sit in close quarters with the man who had manifested himself outside of her dreams.

"If it is all the same to you, Mr Agesandros," Kore began, trying to keep her tone steady as she spoke. "Even though it is a short distance, I would like to ask you a few questions about the property's history." In her mind, she had truly wanted to ask him where he had been hiding her entire life, but she knew that would simply make her look even more insane than she had already done.

#19



Reno

Adesius smile widened in spite of himself. He'd had to force himself to keep himself from overwhelming the poor girl, especially after what had already happened, but to have her wanting to be even that much nearer to him was gratifying. So much so that he'd have to redouble his efforts to keep himself in check and remind himself, again, that she didn't truly remember who she was, and though she was his, she wasn't yet his. The thought ached.

"Of course. By all means," he said cordially, letting Kore into the black sedan first, then climbing in beside her. She had enough space to be comfortable enough without him crowding her, even when Kate closed the door and returned to the driver's seat.

"The history is not terribly interesting, I'm afraid," he admitted as they went underway, "At least as far as I know. I only bought the property to restore as an investment a few years ago. It was built only about forty years ago, and mostly rebuilt from the inside out about five," he told her.

"By the time it was finished, though, I was so pleased with it, that I decided to move into one side of it myself," he chuckled, "The other is where your flat is, so at least you can be confident that your landlord won't be hard to find should you have a problem, no?"

#20



Echo

Sliding easily across the leather seats, Kore found the roomy back seat a bit too roomy for her liking. As Adesius slid in after her, she caught the unique scent of his cologne, an intoxicating mixture of spices and something she could swear she had smelled before but could not place it. Something so unique and belonging only to him. How was it so natural to be near someone she had only just met still baffled her, but she decided to let Fate take the wheel on this since how many people get to meet the men of their dreams? Literally?

"I am sure there is some lost history lurking about the surface in want of being found," Kore replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear so she could see Adesius more easily. "From the room I am in, it looks far older than forty years. Not that it isn't in impeccable condition. It's a breathtaking room, and I have been made aware of a few of the rules about guests, and I can assure you, there will be no one other than my mother who will be there occasionally."

The close proximity made it difficult to think of all she had wanted to ask upon meeting, and it took all of her will not to cling to the poor man. "I do hope that my lease hasn't interfered with any of the remodelling you have left to do. I had been relieved to have found the room, but I do not wish to burden the process..."

#21



Reno

Adesius listened to Kore talking about the house and her flat, a gentle, indulgent smile curving his lips under his beard as she voiced her theories about its age, and his eyes gleamed with amusement at her assurances of her lack of overnight guests.

"By all means, Miss Kore, if you find sign that I've been misinformed about the provenance of the property, please let me know at once," he said with a smile. "And in return, you can of course consider a blanket exception made to the guest policy for your mother." He leaned in slightly and tapped the side of his nose conspiratorially. "Though you don't have to tell her that if you don't want to," he said with a little wink, before he straightened up again.

"You haven't been a burden at all, Miss Kore, I promise you. What good is a house not lived in? I'm just happy that you find it as pleasing as you do," he said honestly. While he had invested in several properties as part of cultivating his mortal identity, this home had been intended for her from the beginning, in the hope that she would one day join him there.

Then the car came to a stop as Kate parked, and Adesius smiled at Kore. "And it seems we are here. Now, we eat, then I'll show you the rest of the grounds afterwards," he promised as he climbed from the car. He stood just outside, extending his large hand down to help Kore out.

#22



Echo

The offered hand had given her pause. Not wishing to seem overly eager to have once more a reason to touch him, she tentatively placed her hand within his. The hum returned as his warmth encircled her digits, moving up to her palm and then continuing until she felt the warmth in her chest spread out over the rest of her body. It was such an odd sensation that he created that it made her wonder if there had been a connection between the man and her dream.

"I am sure that you were told correctly," she finally replied when her feet touched the pavement, and she was certain she wouldn't float away. "If there is anything untold, I am sure we will discover it together."

As if on cue, her stomach decided to announce once more that it required sustenance. "I suppose it is a good thing the restaurant was not very far away," she said with a smile, reluctant to release Adesius' hand, but found it easier when his hand went from hers to the small of her back, guiding her onward towards the doors that awaited.

"Do you make it a point to take all of your tenants to lunch when they faint, or am I just the lucky one who managed to bring a little chaos that required food to quell the lawyers?" When he had reached around her to open the door for her, she smiled and placed a small hand on his forearm before walking inside. "I was only jesting, by the by."

#23



Reno

Adesius chuckled as Kate joined them, the chirp of the sedan's security system announcing its locked state in their wake. "You are the first one to collapse on us," he admitted as the three of them walked toward the entry of "Oracle."

"Pietro was originally going to call it 'It's all Greek To Me'," Adesius revealed quietly to Kore, "But I convinced him that pun names were more suited to food trucks.."

The inside of the restaurant looked just like a small owner-operated restaurant should: dark wooden decor, soft ambient lighting, and decorated in the kitsch of a dozen grandmothers' basements. And the aromas wafting through the entirety of it from the noisy kitchen were mouth-watering, even to Adesius.

#24



Echo

"I am sorry about that," Kore said with a crinkled nose. "I promise, I am not usually prone to fainting. I think that was the first time that's ever happened."

In a way, Kore felt it had been the rush of flashes in her mind toppled with the realization that the man who had been the biggest part of her nightly adventures stood right before her. In physical form, close enough to see, to touch, to hear, to smell... He existed. And she wasn't sure how or why everything seemed to have changed in that one moment.

"Oracle, hmm?" Kore felt some sort of tug at the back of her memory with the mention of that word. Indeed, strange things were amiss since she had moved from her mother's nest. "I am sure Pietro appreciated the help with the name. But truth be told, I would definitely eat at a place called It's All Greek To Me."

At the hostess booth, they were greeted by a young woman in a smart uniform of a white button-up shirt and black slacks. Her hair was blonde and pulled back into a tight bun that accented the smooth ivory of her flawless skin. "Welcome back to Oracle, Mr Agesandros," the hostess said with a pleasant tone and practised smile. "Will it be a table or booth this afternoon?"

"I wouldn't mind a booth if you don't," Kore answered when it seemed that all eyes were on her and no one else answered. "The seats have more cushioning in them."

Sure, the last bit was added more as a nervous ramble, but the truth was more that there had been a chance for a more intimate setting, even if Kate were present.

#25



Reno

"You heard the young lady," Adesius affirmed, "A booth it is."

On their way to their seating, Kate spoke to the Hostess in a stage whisper. "Of course, there's no reason to tell Pietro that Mr. Ages--"

A bright, delighted baritone cut her off with an accent heavier even than Adesius', and Kore saw Adesius' assistant close her eye with a resigned cringe at the sound. "Oh, no..."

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" it demanded. When the owner of the voice appeared, he was a middle aged man, heavy set and dark haired, wearing kitchen uniform and a smile that made his cheeks disappear. "I have this. Go, go." He said, shooing the hostess back to the front, then turned back to their party.

"I warned you," Kate whispered to Kore as Pietro clapped Adesius on the shoulders.

Then he turned his eyes to Kate. "Make me the happiest man alive, Beloved. Tell me you've changed your mind and you're here to run away with me," he pleaded, grinning and his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Kate rolled her eyes without meeting his. "Not yet, Pietro," she said dryly.

Pietro clutched his hand over his heart and shook his head mournfully. "Hope springs eternal," he promised, then looked at Kore, his eyebrows rising, and glanced to Adesius inquiringly.

"Miss Kore, this is Pietro, who i told you about," Adesius said, fighting back his own grin, and losing rather badly.

"Kore has leased one of my nearby flats," he told Pietro, "And it would be unforgivable for me not to show her where to get the finest meal in town, no?"

Pietro beamed. "You flatter me, my friend, and I love you for it. Come, sit. I'll make sure the young lady has a first impression she won't soon forget!"

#26



Echo

There had been a flurry of movement when the owner came out to greet his guests and, apparently, very good friends. It was difficult not to smile at the boisterous manner in which they acted, almost as though she had been in a motion picture with the flirtatious friend who always proposed upon meeting. After being ushered to their booth, Kore could not rid herself of the grin that seemed glued on her face.

"I believe I will be dining here, very often," she chuckled, placing the napkin in her lap before returning her gaze to the duo sitting beside her. "You know, Kate, I believe you should give Pietro a chance."

The incredulous look of someone about to lose their eyes from their head gazed at her in disbelief. "What?" Kore asked in dramatic innocence, with a wink in Kate's direction. "You never know what the Fate's have in store unless you attempt to find out, yes?"

#27



Reno

Kate glared daggers at Kore from behind the table. "Do not encourage him," she warned, as Pietro was off to the Kitchens again, "I'll make you regret it, I don't care what Had..."

Adesius cleared his throat menacingly.

"..What he promises," Kate amended, still giving Kore a stern look. "I swear, the man is relentless," she complained.

Adesius looked over at Kore as she slid into the booth beside him. "Unfortunately, we were spotted, so we're at Pietro's mercy now," he admitted, half-apologetically. "You'll notice that we didn't get the chance to order anything? It's a given that we're going to give out before the procession of food does," he said with a chuckle.

#28



Echo

Kate's glare made Kore laugh out loud, though she couldn't escape the sense that Kate would actually follow through on some actual stabbing if given the chance. "Oh, I was merely jesting, Kate," Kore said through chuckles. "But the look on your face was worth the mental stabbing I just received."

It did not escape Kore's notice that she almost called Adesius by another name, but she figured it might have been some sort of pet name, which meant that he was officially off limits. Her mood instantly sobered, though she kept the smile on her face to keep up appearances. Before she could dwell on the crushing sensation in her chest, he changed the subject to the copious amount of food they would receive from their host.

"You don't think he would really do that, do you?" Kore used the excuse of alarm over food to cover the sensation that began to itch. "Um, where's the powder room? I need to... freshen up," she asked rather hastily, removing the napkin and standing before the directions were pointed out.

"Down that little isle and on the left," Kate said, oblivious to Kore's change in demeanour.

With a simple nod, Kore turned on her heel and made her way to the restroom and into the stall before the hyperventilation began. 'You don't even know him, Kore?! Why are you acting like your soul mate just died? Pull yourself together, woman!' Her inner dialogue kicked in, and fortunately, she was able to keep the tears from falling. Those, would have to wait until later when the puffiness wouldn't give her away.

#29



Reno

Adesius' face darkened when Kore left the table suddenly, and he glowered at Kate across the table. "Damn it, Kate," he growled. "I just got hit with the wind off Cocytus." Anger flashed in his eyes, quite literally. "We didn't put all this time and work into this to lose her for another hundred years."

Kate blanched and frowned. "I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do about it?" she demanded.

Adesius growled again through clenched teeth. "Get your ass in there after her and make with the 'girl talk,'" he snarled, "You used to do that for days on-end. Fix it."

Kate nodded and slid out of the booth, and made her own way into the ladies' room. When Kore emerged from the stall, she'd find Kate at the mirror, fixing her hair fastidiously. The older woman smiled at her in the mirror. "So is this your first time living on your own?" she asked conversationally.

#30



Echo

Taking a deep breath in when she heard the outer door open and the sound of heels, she knew it had to have been Kate. Stepping out of the stall, she went to the faucet and began washing her hands as Kate began primping her hair and checking her lipstick.

"I don't think boarding schools or summer camps count, do they," Kore chuckled. "In truth, I only went away when I was younger. The night terrors kept me home as a child. But, to answer your question, no," she said honestly, reaching for a towel to dry her hands. "It seems my mother is more traumatized at my leaving than I am."

Kate chuckled at Kore's observation. "If you only knew," she said, though Kore had a feeling there were underlying meanings in what she just said. "I wanted to let you know that I didn't mean anything by the look I gave you. Pietro's a good guy, but--"

"I know; you and Mr Agesandros are an item," Kore interrupted. "It was an inappro--'

"Oh, Gods alive, no!" It was Kate's turn to interrupt, and this time, she heartily laughed out loud. "That is hilarious! Is that what you thought?"

"I mean," Kore began, confusion clearly written everywhere in her aura. "I didn't believe so until just a few moments ago when it seemed relatively obvious."

"What is obvious, my dear," Kate smiled, placing an arm around the young woman's shoulders. "Is that Adesius is a very old and very dear friend of mine. My boss first and always, but a very old friend for longer."

It seemed the niceness had been a bit forced, but Kore could relax a little with the woman's reassurance. She looked a little older than Kore herself, but Kate seemed far wiser beyond her years.

"Come on, Sweeting," Kate said, removing her arm and opening the bathroom door for Kore. "Let us return to the table before Adesius is left drowning in Pietro's hugs."

#31



Reno

By the time the two women returned to the table, Adesius had regained his own composure, and no sign of his previously slipping temper remained to be seen. The first pass had been made while they were away, as evidenced by the myriad appetizers spread out on the table, which explained the source of the pita that Adesius occupied himself with. Tzatziki and tahini hummus, olives, and a selection of cheeses and vegetables, and hot fried saganaki.

"Better get started, ladies," Adesius suggested with a smirk when they arrived. "The race is on, and we're falling behind already."

#32



Echo

Kate smirked at Kore when the poor girl's eyes were about to fall out of her head. "I told you he'd practically be drowning in food."

"I've heard that Greeks like to feed their customers as much as the Italians, but I don't know if I can make it past this," Kore said, looking a bit doubtful of the size of her stomach. However, her tummy began to protest when the smells registered, and she figured she would give it a break and feed it already.

"So, Kate says the two of you have been friends for a very long time," Kore began after swallowing down some of the vegetable Saganaki.

#33



Reno

"Just try a little bit of everything," Adesius suggested, grinning, "Otherwise, you'll break his heart."

He and Kate did the same, though Adesius himself didn't seem to be making much of an effort towards any personal sense of temperance.

"I can honestly say that we go back forever," Adesius agreed, nodding, "We're actually distant cousins, going back to the old country," he added. "How about you, Kore? Have you got anyone close to you, other than your mother? Someone who will be helping you move in, perhaps?" he asked.

#34



Echo

With a nod, Kore dipped into the next dish that rested on the table, sampling more than devouring as it was suggested. "The old country? Am I right to assume Greece? The accent is a bit thick and difficult to place. Almost otherworldly," she mused, savouring the flavours that assaulted her mouth.

"Me? Um, well, no. There's only my mother and my Uncle Maddox," she said, reaching for her glass of water to help wash some of the lemon rice down. "He doesn't have any kids yet, so it's only been me. My mother's parents died before I was born and I don't have any memory of my father. My mother doesn't talk about it, so I've not asked since I know it bothers her. As for unpacking..."

She paused and looked at Kate when her eyebrow rose up. "The rooms were furnished, so I only brought a couple of suitcases and a box of my books. I'm not big on the tele, so it wasn't too much of a problem. So, I'm pretty much set."

#35



Reno

Kore's attention was on the food, so she didn't see the glimmer of sadness flash behind Kate's glasses, nor see Adesius slowly shake his head and frown briefly. While it did make their scheme that much easier, it was still a wrenching thought to think of a young woman so alone. Especially knowing what they did about that young woman's truest inner self.

"Well, that's hardly acceptable," Adesius said, "Fortunately, I am just next door on the other side of the wall, if you find you need any help to carry anything," he offered, "Whether it's your 'box of books' or just your groceries."

"I'm not sure that's appropriate, Adesius," Kate opined, "You're the landlord, after all. I can help, if it's needed."

Adesius sniffed derisively. "I also like to think I am at least mostly a gentleman, Kate," he countered. "It may be old-fashioned and out of vogue, but I'll make no apologies simply because the world chose to leave the likes of me behind." He looked back to Kore. "The offer is open, Miss Kore."

#36



Echo

"I am sure I won't be any trouble," Kore said quietly, attempting to relieve what had started to become an awkward situation. "I have always kept to myself, and I am relatively strong, erm, for a girl, of course. Everything I had planned on bringing has already been moved into the flat, so neither of you need to worry about any of that."

She may be just a young woman compared to the two sitting at the same table, but she was intuitive enough to know when the full story was not being dropped by those around her. "Well, with the exception of fainting earlier, I am normally never a bother. I suppose I should update my 'trouble-less resume now that I have caused a little the afternoon."

#37



Reno

Adesius huffed, and Kate rolled his eyes. "Now you've done it, Kore," Kate said with an impish smirk, "Now you've punctured his male ego. He's going to have to go out and wrestle a wild animal or something now."

"I'm sure I'll be all right," Adesius said, not rising to the bait, "Pay my soon-to-be-former assistant no mind, Miss Kore." Well, almost not rising to it.

Kore was spared from further sparring by Pietro's reappearance with a small army of kitchen staff. Half of them cleared away the appetizer dishes, then the others placed fresh, piping hot plates down in their places. Chicken and lamb souvlaki, eggplant mousaka, and saiti turnovers steamed aromatically in front of them.

Pietro personally set a wineglass down in front of Adesius and raised a bottle of wine. "For you, I have something special, my friend. All the way from Samos, especially for you," he said proudly, almost smugly.

Adesius looked almost apologetic to demur. "It's a little early in the day for wine, no?"

Pietro shook his head. "Not for this," he insisted, uncorking the bottle and pouring it out. "You must, I have to insist. It has come a long way to meet you, after all."

He poured a second glass for Kate. "If you enjoy it, perhaps we will have it for our wedding feast," he suggested.

Then he turned to Kore with a dubious expression. "Are you... old enough to drink wine?"

Adesius held the glass under his nose and a familiar scent behind the aroma tickled his memory. Then he tasted it, and his eyes emptied, staring through the wall and into the distant past at the subtle but unmistakable flavor. The gentle infusion of pomegranate in the wine was simply perfect.

#38



Echo

Almost choking at Kate's remark about wrestling a while animal, Kore found that sibling rivalry truly came out between them, and she adored being a witness to the banter. "I wouldn't wish to bruise anyone's ego, so I suppose I can purchase... Something for you to move into my flat," Kore chuckled before Pietro returned with the special bottle he would not allow Adesius to skip.

"Are you... old enough to drink wine?"

"Oh, I have I.D.," Kore said before realising that Pietro had only been joking. She blushed a little and released the shoulder strap of the bag she was about to pull forward. After pouring, Peitro stood by and watched as Kore swirled the red liquid around in the crystal wine glass.

Raising the brim to her nose to inhale the contents, Kore felt another of the odd tugs in the pit of her stomach. Something about the smell... Distant, faraway memories long since forgotten seemingly pushing to the surface and not yet able to breech the precipice that keeps them trapped away.

The taste...

Pomegranate...

---

Instead of a flashback, it seemed like a moment in time, save for the clothes she had on, had been the same as she had been wearing at the restaurant. A portal opened up, and the pull to walk through had been irresistible, and something told her that she needed to.

"You will remember what has been lost...
In time..."

There were flashes set in motion, none of them making any sense, but they were glimpses. Small pieces of the dreams she had been having over the last few years. Deep forests filled with song and dancing of beautiful women, carefree and full of love and life. A landscape of fields upon fields of wheat, just waiting to be harvested upon her exit, but to where?

In another flash, she saw the golden hammer, held by a giant beast as it came down to crash upon her.

In what felt like a lifetime, Kore jumped back into the reality she had left before taking the sip. She hoped the jolt had gone unnoticed since the duo had been busy savouring the drink themselves.

"This is delicious," she said after a pause. "Is that... Pomegranate? It is my favourite fruit, and the flavour is hard to miss..."

#39



Reno

"Mine as well," Adesius said dazedly, his voice quiet and far away, as though he were also in another world and a thousand years away.

"You have fine, refined tastes," Pietro gushed, "And you are in good company! My good friend is also quite fond of it," he said, gesturing to Adesius, who still seemed to be lost in memory until he realized that he'd become the center of attention.

"Quite right, Pietro," Adesius said, clearing his throat and collecting himself. "It's truly exquisite. You have my thanks," he said, then smiled and added, "And if you've another bottle that I might take with me, you'll have not only my thanks, but a favor I'll owe you, as well."

Pietro looked stricken. "Talk of favors between friends? You're a better man than that," he chided. "It will be waiting for you after lunch," he promised. "Now eat before it gets cold." He set the bottle down on the table for them and took his leave again.

#40



Echo

"It is truly something equesite," Kore remarked, setting the glass down. It would have been all too tempting to keep hold of it and drink it as if it had been water. "So, I am curious... There seems to be a history between you and Pietro," she asked casually, even though she had no right to. "You don't have to answer, of course. Curiosity is getting the better of me, this day it seems."

Before anyone could answer, a tray containing an assortment of Greek desserts; Chocolate baklava, Karythopita, (spiced walnut cake with the crispy filo dough Kore baked just to have the crunch hit her tongue just right), and a yogurt and pomegranate parfait that she used to steal from the refrigerator when she was a kid. There were a few others, but Kore's eyes were on the yogurt. "How have I never known about this place," she mused aloud. "Surely I haven't been living under a rock..."

#41



Reno

"No harm in a little bit of curiosity, Miss Kore," Adesius said warmly. "I only loaned Pietro some of the money he needed to get Oracle's doors open a few years ago. It was a small enough risk - and a selfish one, since I suspected I would be a regular patron myself - and it's long since discharged, but..." Adesius shrugged.

"But what price for a man's dream?" Kate finished pointedly, snatching up a piece of the baklava while she had the chance.

Adesius chuckled and glanced over at Kore, thoughtfully for a moment, then turned his attention back to his wineglass. "What price indeed," he mused. "Let's finish up, so that we've still got time to see the grounds while we have the sun," he suggested.

#42



Echo

"Well, it worked in his favour," Kore said, reclaiming the wine glass and taking another sip of the flavourfully bittersweet liquid. "I imagine that Pietro will ask you if you are sure I am your tenant with how much time I intend on spending here. I just hope my wardrobe doesn't hate me too much after the fact. A walk about the grounds sounds delightful, especially with the weather we are having today."

Finishing off her glass, she placed it back to the table and removed the napkin from her lap to wipe the corners of her mouth. "I honestly cannot eat another bite, so I am ready when you two are. And, thank you again for showing me this place. It has been an unexpected pleasure, that is for sure."

#43



Reno

"I'm quite finished," Kate said, or more accurately, groaned, slipping from the booth carefully.

"I'll see to the check," Adesius said, "If you ladies want to make a break for it and head to the car." He gave Kate a knowing grin, then headed toward the kitchen. He wouldn't dream of closing out his bill with anyone other than Pietro directly, the owner wouldn't stand for it. He happily paid for their gracious feast, and provided Kate with the cover she needed to escape in the process, before he emerged from the restaurant with another bottle of the pomegranate wine and returned to the sedan, smiling slightly to himself.

"Complain all you like," he told Kate, "but this was one of my better decisions."

#44



Echo

Adesius's grin as he climbed into the back of the car made Kore think of a cat who had just had too much cream without their Master's say-so. Seeing how he clutched the bottle like a child who had just won a top prize at a carnival was almost infectious. It was endearing to witness. And if she hadn't of already been smitten just knowing the man existed, the endearing scene would have done it for sure.

The car ride back to her new home had felt shorter than the ride to the restaurant, and sadly, the reason for sitting so close to him had passed far too quickly for her liking. "I can meet you outside in the garden if you wish to put your prize away first," Kore said with a smile as she pointed to the bottle still clutched in his giant hand. "I would hate to see anything happen to it before you've a chance to enjoy it."

#45



Reno

Adesius chuckled at Kore's teasing. It was amusing, and even cute, in an innocent sort of way, how she thought that it was the bottle of wine that he considered his 'prize,' when something far more valuable was coming ever closer to returning to him. He reminded himself of her innocence and her lost memories, but as strange as it seemed, finding patience was easier when she was so near, when he knew where his beloved was, even if she didn't know it himself.

"I'll take care of it," Kate said, taking the bottle carefully from Adesius, and he smiled.

"Thank you," he said, then looked at Kore, "She's my right hand, after all. If I trust her to manage all of my business affairs, surely she can take care of this, hm?" He gestured toward the paved walkway that wound around the side of the house. "Shall we?"

He led Kore around to the rear of the house, past the deck porch that both sides of the house shared. Just beyond, surrounded by a wooden privacy fence, the small in-ground pool was still covered by the winter cover. "The pool has just had its last treatment. It should be ready to use by the weekend," Adesius offered, "Naturally, you're welcome to swim any time you like."

A little further back, Adesius sighed with some annoyance. A black marble bench sat in the center of a large flower garden. The plants were alive and colorful, but... plain. It looked like the sort of garden one might see behind any house any spring. It had been foolish of him to expect anything to thrive the way things did near Persephone... But he had hoped, anyway. "I've hired a dozen of the best gardeners, 'landscape artists', 'floral engineers', whatever they want to call themselves," Adesius lamented sadly, "None of them have been able to do any better."

#46



Echo

Walking next to him seemed natural, and the urge to place her hand in the crook of his elbow as they walked had been difficult to restrain. The view in the back was breathtaking, despite his complaint about the garden scape. In fairness, it had been a bit on the plain side, but with the cost of some materials to create a whimsical landscape, well, it made some landscape artists a bit nervous that the property owners would cancel after the plants needed were purchased.

"If it helps any," Kore began, pausing by the pool to place a hand on his forearm before she could catch herself. "If you have had much trouble with no success, I may be able to offer my aid in that area. I am not a professional by any means, but I do have a way of breathing life back into plants that would otherwise perish. If you wouldn't mind taking the chance on a hobbyist, that is..."

#47



Reno

Adesius shifted his gait slightly when Kore set her hand on his arm, so that each step carried them closer together until she was all but leaning against him as they walked. Even in the warm spring afternoon, Kore could feel the heat of him beside her and under her hand, and it was evident that he had no objection to her touch.

When he felt Kore beside him, part of Adesius didn't know whether to sing or weep; he ignored that part entirely, anyway, and simply enjoyed her gentle nearness.

Kore's offer to see to the flowers surprised him, and his eyes brightened. "I wouldn't want to impose, Miss Kore," he said, "but if it's something you'd truly do for your own pleasure, then I'll not only 'take the chance,' but give you my blessing to do so."

#48



Echo

It thrilled her that he had allowed her to keep her hand where it lay, and how he slowed to keep up with her made her heart sing, even when she knew it was silly of it to do so. "Fabulous!" Kore's glee radiated at the opportunity to try her hand at tending to the garden. "I have an album full of photos of the garden I grew in my mother's yard. Maybe I can show you sometime, in a mock portfolio of my credentials. I do not wish to occupy your entire day..."

With a chuckle, she moved along with Adesius down the walkway around the pool and toward the side door of the complex. "I believe that working on the garden in the morning would earn a cooling swim in the afternoon. Do you swim?" She knew it was a silly question, especially for having a pool in the backyard and by the looks of the layout, the pool had been a recent development. But she had attempted to change the subject from the closing of their day since she loathed the thought of being away from him, even after only knowing him for a few hours already.

#49



Reno

Adesius couldn't help a small chuckle when Kore began to ramble again. "I'm sure you'll do a fine job with the flowers, you don't need to convince me with photos, Miss Kore," he said, "But I would very much enjoy it if you showed them to me anyway," he added, if only for the excuse it would give her to spend the time with him.

On the way back towards the house, when they paused near the pool again, he nodded slowly. "I do swim," he said. "It's good for the physique, particularly at my age," he said with an almost mischievous grin, "and I'm not one to be terribly fond of the summer heat. But I'm more than happy to share the luxury of it with you," he reminded her.

#50



Echo

"Pfft, your age," Kore scoffed. "You can't be more than forty and I am certain you would look stunning in a bathing suit. Not necessarily a bikini, but a one-piece would work," she grinned, unable to resist the little jest about the suit. "But I understand about the summer heat. I am much more of an Autumn and Winter lady myself. Something about the chill in the air and how everything changes colours as it lays their leaves for a long sleep. It simply doesn't last long enough..."

"I long for the days of Autumn, even when it has just appeared. I always have," she admitted. "Spring, I don't know... Something about it always makes me sad. I suppose that is why I enjoy flowers so much. At least their bright colours hide the sadness they feel when the bees fly over them, choosing another flower in its stead..."

Shaking her head, she chuckled. "I apologise. I don't know why I say such silly things sometimes..."

#51



Reno

Adesius' laugh was deep and rich and rumbled through Kore's entire body. "I'm older than I look, Miss Kore," he said. "Though I thank you for the warning that you don't think I could pull off a bikini swimsuit. I will be certain to keep that in mind," he teased her right back.

His laughter, and even his smile, faded when Kore spoke of the Spring with such heart-twisting sadness, as he remembered every bitter parting from his Queen when Spring would return, and felt the old pain return again, and the ache of centuries of loss when they'd tried to take her from him forever.

"No need to apologize," Adesius said quietly, "It can be a very difficult time of year, especially when one feels alone."

#52



Echo

"Well, if you ever find yourself in need of a bikini," she laughed, his rumbling baritone making her feel all the more comfortable around him. "I might have a couple that would do you justice."

"I know it seems an odd thing to say, but even when I had been surrounded by people, I enjoyed being around," she said as they continued their trek inside the house-turned-duplex. "Those days sometimes felt the loneliest. Enough of the sadness, though, we still have the rest of the tour to go through and I am sure you are just dying to come back to the flat and allow me to thank you with a drink." She bit her lip after the last statement, unsure if she had been too bold. "It is the least I could do for all you have done for me. Not just with lunch earlier, but for... everything."

#53



Reno

Adesius smiled again, Kore managing to brighten the worst of his angst. Even without knowing the truth, she still had some of her same power over him, oblivious to it though she was.

"A drink, eh?" Adesius asked curiously, "You don't owe me for anything, Miss Kore." Then he grinned. "But Do you even have a drink to offer me? I thought you said only suitcases and a box of books," he reminded her impishly.

#54



Echo

It was her turn to play the innocent, but there had been a hint of mischief in her eyes that spoke of the self her Hades would have known once upon a time. "Well, who says only clothes rested in one of those suitcases? Hmm," she grinned. The truth was, she did have a bottle of Spyropoulos that she had purchased on a whim just a few days prior. It was more expensive of a bottle than she normally would have bought, but she figured it would be worth it with all of the hard work she did over the last few years. After she paid for the bottle, she made sure to promise that she would open it on a very special day, and Kore could not think of a better reason to open it than with Adesius.

"I have a bottle stashed away for a special occasion," she admitted, unable to keep it to herself. "Spyropoulos, if you are still interested."

#55



Reno

Adesius' eyebrows rose and, no doubt to her satisfaction, Kore could see that she'd genuinely caught him by surprise with the revelation, and his eyes gleamed. "That's a lot of drink for such a tender palate," he said with a teasing half-grin. "Maybe I've bought myself more of a troublemaker than I counted on, after all."

He looked around from the foot of the steps of the shared deck. "It would seem that that's all there is to see on the outside," he admitted, "As much as I'd enjoy your company for that drink, do you really think this is a 'special occssion' to open it?"

#56



Echo

"I don't see a better time," she answered honestly. "I graduated from university yesterday; I moved into my own flat today," she said, keeping that she had met the man of her dreams, literally, to herself, though she wanted to scream to all of London that he existed. Maybe not in the manner in which he had come to her in her dreams, especially over the last couple of years. Black artist shirt with puffy sleeves and ruffles that fell over the hands, and the string to tie it had always been left untied and left the chest mostly bare for Kore's eyes to devour. Soft ebony leather pants that had hung low on his hips but had clung in all the right places.

Kore had swallowed hard and tried to push the mental image of Adesius in the manner in which she had. "I understand if you have other matters to attend to," she smiled, the disappointment hidden in her tone. "It is a serious drink, though, I hadn't thought of the way it might have sounded..."

#57



Reno

Adesius moved his hand to cover hers that still rested on his forearm. "No, Miss Kore, there's nothing else I would rather be doing," he assured her, his large hand dwarfing hers, hiding it completely under his palm as he looked down at her. "I only didn't want you to feel like you needed to open such a precious bottle on a misplaced sense of obligation."

He smiled gently. "But you do, after all, have some great accomplishments that deserve celebrating, and it's poor form to celebrate alone. So yes, I would be delighted to share a drink with you."

#58



Echo

Looking down at the hand that covered hers, Kore felt her entire body warm as the hum from whatever magic he was weaving washed over her. She could feel herself lean in, but managed to catch herself just before it had been noticeable. "I thank you then," she said with a small smile. "My mother doesn't drink, and I may have had a few close friends, but none I would be willing to share something meant to be savoured. They prefer the type you chug."

They stepped into the house and began walking down the corridor to a few of the sitting rooms available near the mailboxes installed indoors rather than out, which Kore had found very appealing. Knowing that they were alone and that Kate had gone off to do whatever it was that Kate had did, Kore had a confession she needed to get out. "May I ask you something a bit silly? Do you believe that if you believe in something long and hard enough and dream it enough... That the dream will come true? What I mean is... Do you believe in Fate? "

#59



Reno

Adesius also found himself wondering where Kate had gotten off to, but part of him suspected that she had seen the direction of things even before he had - she was more adept at such things, and reveled in annoying him by reminding him of that fact, any chance she got - and made herself scarce.

He didn't even hesitate before answering Kore's question. "There's nothing silly about it, Kore," he said, and if the grave timbre of his deep voice wasn't enough to underscore the depth of his answer, the way he was looking at her would be.

"Absolutely. If I couldn't believe in destiny, I would have lost myself a long time ago, Kore," he said, "It was the only thing that kept me too stubborn to give up at times."

#60



Echo

The way he had said her name that last time... Stirred an emotion she had felt when her dream man had uttered her name. Such sadness held in his tone made her heart ache. Even though she had never had an epic love or even a relationship, she still felt a loss deep within her that she had never been able to explain.

"It seems we have our first toast then," she smiled, letting her fingers grasp onto the giant hand still clasped onto hers. "Come, I will give this tour."

It did not take long for her to lead him towards her flat door. The flat itself was more of a studio apartment, perfect for someone her age, and mostly furnished already. The sofa had been comfortable and had a few extra pillows that Kore had always enjoyed, and an open walkspace to the bedroom area. The bed had been the main focus of that space, with the starch white linen comforter and black pillows that begged for someone to lay in it.

"Please," she said after they entered the flat. "Make yourself at home. I will fetch the bottle and a couple of glasses..."

#61



Reno

Adesius hesitated for a moment when Kore stepped away, and he looked at her bed dubiously, and wondered if he might not ought to invite her to his flat, instead. He, at least, had a full set of furniture.

On the other hand, this was, for all intents and purposes, her space, newly acquired though it was, so he decided to stay put, and sat down slowly, perched on the edge of the sofa, and shifted his focus to watch Kore, instead.

#62



Echo

Returning to the main area of the living quarters, Kore held the bottle in one hand and air in the other. "Um, so," Kore began, biting her lower lip, a tad bit embarrassed. "It seems that I have a bottle, but unless you wish to swig out of the neck like a barbarian, I am afraid I am at a loss for glasses."

She sat on the sofa next to him and placed the bottle on the coffee table. "I do not wish to impose on your good graces again, but I may have to ask for a reign check until I can get glasses tomorrow. Unless you have a better idea," she added, thinking it was rather presumptuous of her to even hint at wanting to go back to his place. "I truly am sorry. I swore I packed those glasses. I bought them specifically for this bottle too."

#63



Reno

Adesius smiled sympathetically. "Something like that always happens when you move house," he said, "It happens that I have a set of crystal tumblers worthy of such a fine bottle. I could bring them over, or, if you'd like, you could join me, instead."

#64



Echo

"Well, if it isn't too much trouble," she began, still chewing on her bottom lip, a habit she had never been able to break. "We could go back to your place if you are more comfortable with that idea, but if you would rather just grab a couple of glasses, I can wait here. It makes no difference."

The thought of him calling it a night or leaving her for a moment had her anxiety on edge. She didn't know why the thought of loss hit her so hard when thinking he would leave soon. It was ridiculous, she knew it. But she had never before felt the pull towards something... Someone, so strongly in her life before.

#65



Reno

Adesius stood and offered his hand. "Then why don't we adjourn there, just in case any other unexpected necessities decide to crop up on us," he said, and then his smile took on that almost cheeky playfulness again, that seemed to bring an almost ageless quality to his eyes even as it belied his greying hair and beard in its impishness. "I'll be a complete gentleman," he promised.

 

[Reno]

Previously...

#66



Echo

"Oh, I hope you won't be," she said under her breath at his last words. Slipping her small hand into the enormous one he offered, Kore could have sworn that the fit of the two had been perfect.

"I would not take offence if you tire of me and give me the boot," she said with a grin. "It isn't like I have to make a perilous trek across town to get home, now do I..."

#67



Reno

Adesius chuckled, and his fingers closed gently around Kore's hand. "I don't foresee that happening. You've proven to be delightful company so far," he observed as they walked across the shared common room. With some reluctance, he released her hand to open the door for her, and took her to his own front door a few meters down.

When he invited her inside and turned the light on, it may not have been what she'd expected. The prevailing decor was dark wood, from the furniture to the walls, giving the flat an earthy, dark, and very masculine air. Even the floors were dark hardwood beneath her feet.

The sofa and chairs, however, were another matter. Despite the wooden framing, calling the cushions and pillows 'lush' was an understatement; one might imagine that they'd be swallowed up if they weren't careful, and happily so.

"Make yourself at home," Adesius invited, taking the bottle from Kore while she took in her surroundings. He carried it over to the half-bar and took down the crystal glasses he'd mentioned, and poured conservatively into both.

He smiled gently as he handed Kore's glass to her upon his return. "Can I offer you anything?" he asked.

#68



Echo

The room had instantly made Kore relax. Deep, rich browns with the bright whites of the sofa, the little sister of which rested in her flat. The cushion had been deceiving, softer than it had looked as she sunk into the cosy depths. It was not long before Adesius returned with the crystal glass of dark amber liquid hinting of a chocolate orangey fragrance that enticed her senses.

"Mmm," she hummed softly as she inhaled the drink. "Only conversation, if you were truly asking... I feel, and this is going to sound strange, and you witnessed it, I am sober, having only one glass of pomegrante wine earlier, but... Have we ever met before? I swear, i know you... Like, KNOW, know you..."

#69



Reno

"It was a sincere offer, I assure you," Adesius said as he sat down as well, not quite on the far end of the sofa, but with enough space between the two of them that Kore would not feel crowded. He felt a moment of hope spring in his heart when she admitted to her curious sense of familiarity with him, until he realized that she was likely referring to his ubiquitous presence in her dreams over the past several years, rather than the memories of her true self returning. It was a sobering and disappointing realization, but one he'd brought on himself.

"I'd like to of myself as a rather unique and untypical sort of man," he said with a grin that hid his heavy thoughts, "so I would hope that you're not mistaking me for someone else," he teased. "But I've not made it a habit to make a fool of myself chasing around young ladies, even ones as charming as yourself, so I don't think you'd have met me before." He looked at Kore thoughtfully, "Perhaps it was in a past life, if you believe in such things," he suggested.

He felt a bitter pang of guilt. Talking in riddles and evasions was never his way, and behaving like those bastards on the mountain sickened him, even if he had been trying to protect her from the nightmares. At least mostly. He had to admit that it had served him, as well, for her to recognize him as a friend, as well.

#70



Echo

Taking a sip of the deep amber liquid as she took in his words. Something just didn't sit well. It felt as though there had been something he wasn't telling her. Something important, but she couldn't place her finger on it. "I would have definitely remembered had we met in this reality," she said after a moment, staring into the glass as if it were a seeing glass.

"It's something..." Trailing off, finding it difficult to place into words. "Nevermind. It will only make me sound even more like a lunatic and I do not enjoy that feeling of being insane..."

#71



Reno

Her words twisted the blade of guilt in Adesius' chest and he set his glass down on the polished table in front of them, then set his large hand gently on her arm, just above her bicep, and squeezed gently. "You're not insane," he said softly, and with absolute resolve, "Tell me what's on your mind, Kore. You have my word that I won't think you're a lunatic."

#72



Echo

With a deep breath, she steadied herself, though she couldn't meet Adesius in the eyes she knew were staring into her soul. "It's odd always feeling like you have gone through the same motions, every single day, all day. A constant state of de ja vu, and it has been something I had learned to keep to myself over the years. Journaling sometimes helped when certain thoughts or rhymes would fog my mind, but there had always felt like a continuous loop."

Finally, turning her eyes to his, searching his face for some hint that he understood what she was saying. "I know every line of your face, even before today. I knew the sound of your voice even before I had heard it in my mind. Your scent... It is tied to memories that belong to me, but... Don't. The fit of my hand in yours is more familiar than the air I take into my lungs... I know I have only just physically met you today, but..." Losing the bravado she had managed to muster, feeling vulnerable and more exposed than she had ever before, she looked away and focused on her hands before she could finish the sentence. "... You feel like home... I know, it's so ridiculous and I would understand if you wished for me to leave and vacate the premises..."

#73



Reno

Adesius sighed softly and it took all of his fabled self-restraint and dispassion to stop himself from gathering the girl to his chest and cradling her in his arms in that moment. He settled for resting his hand comfortingly on her back. "No, Kore," he said, his voice almost a whisper, if not for the graveled rumble beneath it, "It isn't, and for you to leave is the last thing I want."

He gently gripped her shoulder again and turned her to face him, then cupped her chin in his palm and tilted her head up to force her to look at him. "Kore, I do believe in such things," he admitted, his thumb caressing her cheek tenderly. For a moment, staring into her eyes, he almost thought he saw Persephone, his Persephone, looking back at him, but then it was only the tears glittering, unshed, in Kore's wide, earnest eyes.

#74



Echo

The moment her eyes closed as his hand cupped her face, the tears she hadn't known were pooling fell from their wells. Her hand smoothed over the one on her cheek, and she inhaled deeply, committing his scent to memory and praying that it would sear into her mind so she would never forget this moment. He was so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin, awakening the last of the sleeping butterflies left in her tummy.

Slowly, without a word, Kore leaned in, closing the last bit of distance between them. She placed her free hand on his bearded cheek and whispered, "May I..." but did not wait for a reply before gently placing her lips to his.

#75



Reno

Adesius' broad and powerful form acommodated Kore easily when she leaned into him and lifted her lips to his. The moment she felt his mouth return her kiss, the gentle pressure answering hers instead of pushing her away, and the brush of his beard against the soft skin of her cheeks and chin, any lingering doubts would be erased - it was certain, now, that this was the man who she'd dreamed of every night for so many years; there was no other explanation for how the kiss would have been so perfectly matched. The first kiss she'd felt in her dreams was now the same as the one she was receiving in the waking world.

#76



Echo

The heat from his acceptance seemed to fuel her response, though it stilled the space and time between the two bodies. The room's scenery changed around them as his lips pushed against hers. Where deep browns rested on the flooring and walls grew trees so tall with branches so heavy with their leaves, it had shaded the small enclave in which the two lovers were hiding.

"My Hades," a woman's breathless voice whispered before a low growl wrought with a passion she had only dreamt, heh, of hearing filled her ears and fanned the flames of desire that she felt grow between her thighs. Their love had only just begun to blossom, but he had been gentle and patient with her every step of the way. The woman's movements were bold for a virgin, climbing into his lap to remove whatever distance between them as she possibly could. Her hands clung to the strong, broad shoulders until she sat perfectly atop him with either thigh over his. She could feel the pressure of the growing manhood still secured within his trousers, just as she was sure he could feel the heat from her sex despite the fabric that separated them.

Her hands roamed from his shoulders, one moving up to lace through his thick, dark hair, while the other moved down to aid in undoing a few of the buttons of his shirt, exposing more of his flesh to her fingertips. Her mouth opened hungrily, devouring the sweetness his mouth had to offer her, and she pulled his head closer, her own kiss becoming more daring, her own tongue seeking and tasting.

Kore knew it was her, how could it not be? They have danced to this tune before... Pulling away for just one moment, even though she loathed giving up those honeyed lips. Untangling her fingers from his hair, and crossing them in front of herself, she tugged at the bottom of her shirt, pulling it up and off of her body. Her long dark tresses freed from the hair tied that had come out when the shirt left her. She looked at the man, who looked as though he was about to devour her...

"Will you be my first?... My Lord?"

#77



Reno

Kore's words sparked a fierce and merciless war within Adesius, the three faces of his inner nature each vying to overcome the others; the first pushed him to pull away from Kore, while he still had the strength of will. She was Persephone reborn, but she wasn't his Persephone, not yet, and to go forward would be a betrayal of both his wife and an innocent girl.

The other was staring into Kore's eyes and seeing the same mischievous gleam above the same coquettish smile as she addressed him as 'My Lord,' the way Persephone always enjoyed doing when she was beguiling him, winding him around her little finger. Kore would've never done such a thing of her own accord, and he knew firsthand that she'd never dreamed of those memories - he hadn't allowed it.. This was his own beloved returning to him, and he needed to act, lest he lose her, lest he lose them both.

The third was discounted and ignored out of hand and without further consideration. An artifact of his Titanic heritage, no doubt, the near feral beast bore no concern for the niceties of his marriage or the subtleties of Kore's unique status, but only for the centuries of Hades' own isolation, and the opportunity to feast on her body, warm and willing and pressed against his own.

The only acknowledgment of that one's existence came in Adesius' voice when he answered her question only with her own name, and the syllable was a growl like the sound of an impending earthquake.

Then his hand cradled the back of her head and he covered her lips with his own again. As her hand slipped beneath his open shirt and she felt the coarseness of the thick fur of his chest beneath her palm and fingers, Kore could tell, even in her innocence, that Adesius gentle tenderness was restrained, and even had she not been straddling his lap, his own need for her was plain and evident.

#78



Echo

The walls seemed to vibrate when he answered her by growling her name but it had felt as though he had shouted it to the heavens with the gentle hunger of searching lips. His hand held her in place so he could savour her as she wished to savour him. Tongues waltzing, tasting, devouring as they searched the depths of each other. Breathing in, she filled her lungs with his scent and the fire that had already begun to burn, engulfed her where she sat.

She knew that they had met, many times over many lifetimes... She felt it in her core. So many times she had seen the two of them entwined in a lover's embrace, her face flushed with ecstasy as he rocked into her. Kore's fingers spread against the flesh of his chest, letting the soft hair that dusted his perfect skin tickle her tips. From his chest, the hand roamed down to the flat of his stomach before the buttons of his shirt blocked the trek. Quickly, the two fingers slipped the last of the buttons free of the holes that held them to free him of the fabric. Now, her hand wrapped around his waist, pulling herself more snugly against the hips that began to move underneath her.

'This can't be happening,' her conscious mind yelled out, though muted by the desire to be one with Adesius, and it had been a desire, centuries in the making...

#79



Reno

Adesius' large hands moved deceptively gently over Kore's skin, the coarseness of his touch belying his guise of moneyed gentility, caressing her back from the nape of her neck to the hollow at the base of her spine as she pressed herself nearer to him. His other hand combed through her loose, dark hair while he freed her lips from his and dropped his mouth to the curve of her neck.

The tip of his tongue teased out to savor the taste her skin between kisses as his lips moved under her jaw and across her throat, and his teeth nipped and bit softly as her pulse raced against his lips when he kissed the hollow of her throat.

The slow roaming of his hand over her bare back and playing with her hair, deliberate and restrained, but expertly focused on intensifying her own sensations, contrasted sensually with Kore's aggressive, but inartful hands moving around him under the shirt that now hung loosely from his shoulders.

#80



Echo

Soft sighs escaped when his mouth left hers and found her neck, nipping with his teeth and tasting her with the quick flicks of his delicious tongue. Her entire body felt alive and hummed with his touch, his kiss, the exchange of breath. Though she had been clumsy at first, it did not take long for Kore to listen to her body and learn from his.

"You know, Hades," Kate's voice sounded distant to Kore, almost dreamlike. "It's good that you've finally made contact. It means I, or, we are closer to going hom--"

Kore's whole body froze immediately, the room snapping back to reality, no more forest thoughts or believing that the man currently cradling her in his arms, was hers.

"O-uh... Um...Oh my Goddess," Kore said aloud, leaping off of Adesius' lap, and scrambling for her shirt. "I- I don't know what came over me... I- I'm so sorry."

Holding her shirt to her chest, Kore ran past Kate and out of his apartment. "What in the Nine Hells were you thinking," she scolded herself as she sped down the hallway to her own apartment, locking the door behind her, even though she knew there had been no need for the lock. "You're such a fool, Kore... A big... Bloody... Fool..."

After a moment, the scene that just took place slapped her in the face. "Wait... Did Kate call him... Hades??"

#81



Reno

"Kore, wait..!" Adesius called, reaching out for her, but the girl wasn't about to stop as she pushed past Kate and through the connecting door. He dropped his arm to his side and stared after her, his back to Kate, and stood, as unmoving as a marble statue and about as yielding.

"If I knew you would move so fast, I would have knocked," Kate said, "I thought you'd at least..."

Adesius turned on her, and Kate's words cut off as soon as she met the abyss in his eyes, her own widening as she took a step back from him in spite of herself. Outside, thunder rolled as the mild spring night turned tempestuous.

"Get out of my sight," Adesius said icily, the muscles in his jaw clenching, cording over his chin, "And don't let Kore out of yours. If she flees now, I'll make sure your fate makes Zeus look merciful and kind. Go." That the threat was delivered in the same even tone as he buttoned his shirt, without once breaking eye contact, made it that much more ominous.

Kate backed toward the door, staring at him, then turned and hurried out without a word, wincing when the door slammed closed behind her, just as thunder crashed outside.

#82



Echo

Her phone rang a few minutes later as she was readying the bath for a long soak and contemplating what she had done. "Hey, Mom," she said upon answering her mobile and turning off the faucet. "Yes, I'm fine, no-- I left my phone in my apartment when I went fo-- Uh-huh, I know, I'm sor--... Mum," she said, finally tired of her mother's interruptions. "I know, I'll take my phone with me next time I am not in my apartment. Look, it's been a very long day, and I just want to take a bath and go to bed... Uh-huh, yes, I'l-- Yes, I'll call you in the morning.... I love you, too, goodnight."

Giving her phone a toss onto her towel, Kore slipped off the leggings and button-up that she had on and slid into the steaming hot water, hoping like hell to wash the day away.

#83



Reno

Alone now, Adesius clenched his jaw as he buttoned his shirt again, then smoothed and tucked it until he was, at least outwardly, composed again. He capped the bottle still sitting on the table, then stared for a moment at the two glasses, before he lifted each one in turn, draining them in one swallow. Then he picked up Kore's bottle and knocked on the connecting door.

"She's in the bath," Kate said as soon as she opened the door, letting Adesius cross to their side of the townhouse. "She didn't run off."

"Good," Adesius grunted, as he set down the bottle on the counter. "She left this behind," he said. "I thought she should have it back."

"Adesius..." Kate said, but he cut her off with an upraised hand.

"Not now," he said coolly, "Just give her the bottle." Then he went back to his own flat on the other side of the house, closing the door behind him.

As she rested in the tub, Kore might think the lightning outside would silhouette a large, broad-shouldered form against the frosted glass of the window, standing in the rain at the far end of the deck.

#84



Echo

Dipping her entire body down into the fragrant water, Kore sat for a moment with her head above, inhaling the scents of pomegranate she used to help stop the ageing process, amber for stress and because she adored the way it smelled and the slightest hint of lilac to help commit that night to memory. Regardless of how it had ended, she knew who she had held in her arms, even if it had been but a brief moment in time.

She had never kissed anyone like that in her life and only had attempted to with the man in her dream. The man who was Adesius. The man who Kate had called... Hades.

Slinking further into the tub, Kore took in one last, deep breath before slipping her head under the water. Staying there, listening to the small waves made from her emersion echo in her ears. With a jerk, she saw lightning flash in her mind as a large hammer slammed down onto her head. Sitting up quickly, the water from the tub ended up rushing up her nose, causing her to choke a bit as she gripped the side of the porcelain. The lightning flashed outside of her window, illuminating the darkness just beyond the pane of glass. Reaching for the giant white fluffy towel that had been laid on the table next to the tub, she pulled it around herself as she got out and moved toward the window. Looking out, she saw nothing but the trees and bushes flapping harshly due to the wind from the storm that came out of nowhere.

#85



Reno

Whether Kore's timing was fortuitous or unfortunate was a question of some subjective variability, but only moments before she opened the frosted window to look out over the empty deck, Adesius had retreated back through the sliding glass door into his own bedroom. He stood in the dark, staring out into the night himself, sodden and dripping. The rain had - quite literally - dampened his heated temper to a more manageable temperature, for the moment.

The soaked fabric sucked audibly at his flesh as he pulled it away, and once he stripped to the skin, he carried to soggy mess that had been his clothes into the bathroom to drip dry. Most of them were likely ruined, but his wardrobe wasn't on his mind as he stretched out on his bed and hooked his fingers behind his head, staring up at the dark ceiling.

He had been barreling through every obstacle in his way for nearly 800 years, and he was still nearer now than he'd been in all that time. This latest setback was no more than that, and he wasn't going to let it become so.

#86



Echo

That night, her dreams were... Tumultuous. Storms outside of her window seemed to have echoed those in her mind. Dark corners of mazes that seemed to have no ending or beginning, whispers and echos of screams surrounded her as she moved through the murky shadows of her dreamscape. With each twist and turn, it had been a demon she fought and not just the sheet she found herself tangled within upon screaming awake.

Darkness...

Still, too early in the morning, and too late at night to make any of her list runs to the shops she had planned on visiting that morning, and still too uneasy to find herself falling asleep again that night with the nightmares making a strong comeback. Tossing aside the blanket and the sheet that had assaulted her, Kore stumbled the short distance to her bathroom, not bothering to flip on the switch as she reached for her hairbrush to pull her hair back into a ponytail.

Throwing on a pair of sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt, she pulled on her sneakers and decided to go for a run in an attempt to clear her mind of the uneasiness she still could not seem to shake.

---

The jog around the neighbourhood had been a good one despite the early hour she had begun. The sun had crested the horizon as she turned the corner to the street of her new address and saw Kate out on the sidewalk with her phone to her ear and what looked like a cigarette in the other. Slowing from the jog to a walk before she reached her building and caught her breath before apologizing profusely like she knew she needed to do.

"Hello! Good morning, Kore," Kate smiled and waved, ending the phone call and giving the butt of her smoke a flick. "I'm glad I caught you so early... I wan--"

"Stop," Kore said, putting up her hands before Kate could go any further. "I am so, sooOOHooo sorry for what you walked into yesterday. I have no idea what came over me! I swear, I'm not that kind of person! I mean... I-- I've never... I-"

"You don't need to apologize, hun," Kate said, placing a hand on Kore's shoulder and giving it a comforting squeeze. "I should be the one to apologize for coming in unannoun--... Wait, what do you mean, you never?"

Kore's face burned red, and she knew that it had not just been from the early morning exercise. "Oh, I meant I never act like that," Kore said truthfully, just not admitting to the full of it.

"You're an innocent..." Kate's eyes flashed, but only for a moment. Though her body didn't change in demeanour, Kore could sense that something had changed. "Not that it is any of my business," Kate chuckled, trying to smooth over her relaxation. "You are a grown woman and know yourself. I only wanted to say that I will be sure to knock in the future. Oh, and I have your bottle at the lobby desk. Adesius wanted to make sure it had been returned to you."

"Oh, um, thank you," she replied, fresh embarrassment flooding in, and a new round of blush came to her face. "Yeah... Um, if you would maybe let him kn--"

"I'll talk to him," Kate answered, relieving Kore from having to say what they both already knew.

Without another word, Kore smiled her thank you and bobbed a quick curtsey before turning her tail and trotting inside. She was in need of a shower and she could not wait to get inside so she could melt into the floor from embarrassment. Kate, on the other hand, moved into action, knowing that her Lord would want to know what had transpired. Having sensed it in the young, not-yet goddess, Kate felt her mistress stirring just beneath the surface, clawing to get free.

"She's an Innocent," Kate said, bursting into Adesius' apartment. "I know, I know. 'Knock, Witch! That's what got us into this in the first place!' I think I know of a way to fix my blunder, Boss..."

#87



Reno

Adesius looked up at Kate from his cup of coffee, narrowing his eyes at her bursting and boisterous entry. "I could have told you that much," he said coolly, "I've been visiting Kore in her dreams since we left the Underworld - she would have told me. But setting aside the part where you tell me things I already know..." he paused and sipped his coffee. "I haven't seen you this excited since I told you I'd actually found her again, so this must be a very good idea."

He looked at Kate expectantly. "So tell me, what is your plan, Kate?" he asked, his expression warning her that it had better live up to expectations.

#88



Echo

With a nod, Kate burst into motion, pulling out her phone to access a few of the links she was going to be sending to him. With a quick lookup, she decided to nix that idea and just do it herself and let him know. "First, I am ordering her some flowers, the ones you will pen a note for her to plant in the garden out back," she said as she clicked away on her mobile.

"Kore, please accept my humblest and most sincere apologies for last night. And please excuse the rudeness of my ASSistant, Kate, she can't help that she's an idiot. These are for you, to plant in our garden."

Looking at Adesius after finalizing the order, she sighed. "That isn't all of it. I've already emailed for lunch, and you two are going to go to the theatre this evening. I know I should have checked with you, but I know that you are this close." She raised her hand and pressed her thumb and pointer finger together to indicate just how close she had meant. "It's a start, at least."

#89



Reno

Adesius held up his hand. "Stop!" he said firmly, "Hold it right there." He had to rein in Hekate before she ran amok completely. When Kate startled and looked up from him, he shook his head.

"The idea itself is not without merit," Adesius he admitted, "But even if I may not be the notorious womanizer that Zeus is, or that insufferable twin son of his, I still don't need someone to tell me how to woo my own wife," he said pointedly, then half-grinned, "Least of all an eternal virgin who has sworn off romance entirely since the beginning of time," he added, "I absolutely will not be apologizing for last night. The last thing I want her thinking is that I regret anything."

He smirked. "I will probably keep the part about you being an idiot, though," he mused aloud. "And the reservations you made. But I'll write my own card."

#90



Echo

The shower ended right as her phone began to ring, and though Kore adored her mother, she had become such a clingy mess the last few month's and it had made her feel a bit guilty for dreading the answering of her phone. Letting it ring until her voicemail picked up only meant that her mother would begin to call her back almost immediately and would continue to do so until she answered.


"Hey, Mum," she said on the second ring of the second call. "No, everything's fine; I was in the shower... Yes, I took a bath last night, but I went for a run this morn-- Mum, I am an adult, and I went for runs all of the time at home... I actually have a few appointments this morning, so I'll give you a ring later. Okay, love you, bye..."

Without waiting for her mother to say anything in return, Kore pressed the "End Call" button and tossed her phone on her bed. "Smothering, I swear..." she muttered as she opened her closet and pulled out a pair of comfortable tan slacks and a white off-the-shoulder top since she had been planning on leaving and running a few errands. Like purchasing a few glasses.

"Kate," Kore said with a bit of an awkward smile as she passed her in the hallway on her way out. "I've got to run a few errands, so I'll swing back around to pick up that bottle when I get back. I shouldn't be too long, but if you would rather just leave it inside the flat, I would not mind it if there is a spare key."

#91



Reno

Kate smiled and shook her head. "I don't have one, just Adesius, and he's not likely to break it out for something like this," she said, and shrugged. "I'm sure it'll be fine on the counter until you get back, it's not as though our kitchen is a high-traffic area, right?" She asked with a laugh. "I have to run some errands in town myself, so I'll have the car. Do you need a ride?" She offered.

#92



Echo

With a smile, Kore shook her head and lifted her keys. "Thanks, but I've got a lot of shopping to do, and I'll need my trunk space," Kore replied, walking over towards her vehicle. "I'm sure I'll see you later."

A little while later, Kore had already been called by her mother a handful of times with small reminders of one thing or another that Kore had to constantly keep telling her, "I'm an adult, I know these things." Finally, the last time her mother called, she told her that she was turning her phone off for a while and she'd call her when she was willing to be lectured.

"Well done," the cashier said, snapping Kore back to the task at hand. An older woman with silver hair and kind eyes smiled at her.

"Oh, um, I'm sorry you had to hear that," she replied, her face turning as red as the shopping bag. "Don't get me wrong, I love her, but I just can't today."

"It's the empty nest syndrome," the cashier said, nodding her head as she continued to scan a few more glass items before pausing to wrap them. "I went through that last year when my son left home for college. We get less clingy, I promise."

Kore really didn't know what to say to that but slid her debit card through the machine. "I'll call her later."

"I know you will, hun," the cashier said as she punched in a few numbers and handed Kore the receipt.

An odd outing that left Kore a bit rattled, but that seemed to have been par for the course over the last few days. Pulling into her parking spot, and getting the bags out of the trunk, Kore made it into the building without any incident or sighting of Adesuis. Or so she had thought. She had made it to her door and inserted the key when she saw the tall and extremely handsome man walk towards her. She swallowed, trying not to drop anything. "Hey, um, good afternoon," Kore said, a bit shaky. "I ah, I'm sorry for last night...."

#93



Reno

Adesius smiled at Kore and shook his head. "Please, don't be," he said gently. "Let's just chalk it up to the tsipouro getting away from us," he suggested, while he took some of her packages from her, easing her burden to unlock the door without having to worry about dropping any of it in the process.

"I'll flatter myself to believe that at least I've still got some appeal left," he said with a self-deprecating grin as Kore opened the door and he carried in the bundles he'd taken from her.

Once Kore stepped into the common room of the flat, she'd see the tray of seedlings set on the counter, waiting for her. When he was sure she'd noticed them, Adesius spoke up.

"You had mentioned wanting to try your hand at reviving the garden," he said, "so I took the liberty. Hopefully you have more luck with it than the last few." He smiled. "I had a feeling you might prefer something that you could grow, over flowers that had been cut and would wilt and die in a few days."

#94



Echo

"Oh, thank you," Kore said when he took a few of her parcels. She didn't remark on his appeal comment, but she had a mind full of thoughts on his appeal, as did her body. It wasn't too far into her flat that she came across a selection of colourful flowers and greenery and most of the supplies for them.

"Th-- This is... Amazing!" Kore let the bags left in her arms fall gently to the floor before she walked over to a few of the tiny plastic pots and picked one up for inspection. "These are perfect! The colours are exactly what I would have picked out, too! I could hug you," she said, smiling, placing the plant back into its resting place. She was unsure how to react since she wanted to hug and kiss him, she knew that wasn't an option after the night before. "I, um... shouldn't have said that, but still..."

Letting her heart overrule her brain, Kore straightened and gave Adesuis a quick half-hug before she returned to the abandoned bags. "I, too, had thought to pick up a few things for that little garden," she said, pulling a few seedlings she had collected during her outing. "I've got a palette in the trunk that I was going to take straight to the garden too. And now, they only need gentle hands to place them into their new homes... Don't worry, I won't ask you for help unless you want to," she chuckled, trying to ignore the deep shade of crimson she could feel herself growing.

#95



Reno

Adesius almost regretted his own gallantry when Kore made good on her 'threat' - albeit half-heartedly - and hugged him, however briefly. He would have liked to have had his arms free to return the gesture, rather than occupied with her shopping, but what was done was done. Nonetheless, even as innocent as it was, Kore could feel the way his larger body relaxed when she leaned in against him with one arm around his waist, as though that simple expression of gratitude relieved him.

Because it did. After the previous night's disaster, that she was willing to get even that close to him was more than he was expecting, and it took some of the weight from his shoulders and gloom from his mind, and he smiled warmly at her as she stepped back from him. "No, I'm glad you said it," he told her, "And more that you did it," he added, setting her packages down on the couch, while she separated out the plantings from the rest of her shopping.

"It would seem we're often of one mind," he observed, "I think you already know I'm delighted to help you, but my interference would amount to sabotage, I'm afraid, so all I can offer is to help you bring them all back to the garden, and promise to see that you have absolutely anything you need." He grinned.

#96



Echo

Glad that the awkwardness of the night before hadn't ruined his demeanour towards her when she hugged him, she could have soared from the place she stood to the heavens. "I don't expect you to help with the planting, silly," she chuckled. "You had said yesterday that you had no luck with it. But I wouldn't mind the company if you have nothing else to do today... I, um... I don't wish to take your day like yesterday..."

#97



Reno

Adesius shrugged and shook his head. "You, my dear, are most welcome to my day," he said. "I did have tickets to the theater this evening," he said casually, "but I have no desire to go alone, and your alternative is more compelling, besides."

He smiles. "If you'll excuse me, I should change into something less stuffy and more suitable for gardening," he suggested, "Then I'll be back to help you bring everything out, and keep you company, while keeping a safe and healthy distance from your poor, vulnerable flora,"he promised with an impish smile.

#98



Echo

"Wait, did you say tickets to the theatre?" Kore's eyes popped wide, and a worried expression flashed for a moment before fading to her normal-ish look. "It is not even close to luncheon, so I am sure you would have time to get ready for the evening. And, I am sure you have many fine women who would long to have your time."

Already walking back towards her door, she caught the implike grin and comment about plant slaying. "I shall defend thine blossoms, never ye fear," she chuckled before opening the door. "I'll meet you in a few minutes then. If I am not with my car, it'll be unlocked, so you can just grab what's left and meet me out back, yes?"

With a nod, she skipped down the hallway and towards her car to snag a few of the seedlings she had picked up hoping that she did not just ruin Adesius' evening at the theatre...

#99



Reno

Adesius stopped at the connecting door to his flat and grinned back over his shoulder at Kore. "There may or may not be women who want my time," he said, "But I've found that, in the last few years, I've become very picky in with whom I keep company." He smiled, and disappeared through the door.

Kore didn't see him again until he met her out in the garden. On top of everything else, it was a curious revelation to see that he did, in fact, own an old pair of jeans and t-shirt. His arms carried the rest of Kore's trays, and his muscles rippled under his clothes as he crouched down beside her, setting them down carefully, almost reverently, for her.

"This is everything, Miss Kore," he said, resting his elbows on his knees.

#100

Echo

Already using the spade to dig a few holes and removed more weeds than helpful foliage, Kore thought about Adesius' words on the lady folk. Not that it had been any of her business but she had hoped what he had stated was truth, even if she should have kept her nose out of his affairs. "Well, what have we here," she said with a grin as he sat down the remaining seedlings. "You dress down quite nicely, Mr Adesius. Blue jeans suit you."

It had been hard to keep her peripherals from focusing in on him as he closed in, and she was glad that he hadn't noticed her nearly dropping the spade at his approach. Even the loose cotton seemed to define things to make a woman stare. So, tell me about you and Kate," she began conversationally. "I know I got the short story yesterday, but there seems to be more to it. A selected sister, of sorts...Of course, you needn't tell me, I was just curious. You could tell me about the tickets for this evening if you'd rather," she added the last quickly to cover up the Kate question, though she was sure she could have chosen a better topic.

#101



Reno

Adesius settled alongside, where he could make eye contact and conversation with Kore, and she with him, seemingly unaware that doing so was putting himself squarely in position to best - or worst, it was subjective - cause the sort of distraction that Kore had been trying to avoid.

"'Selected sister'," Adesius echoed, smiling, "I like that. And it's very appropriate, as well." He nodded, watching Kore's hands work in the soil. His eyes took on a distant, almost glazed look again as the memories flooded back again.

"She's actually a distant cousin," Adesius explained, "and for a long time, we didn't get on at all. But we lost someone that meant a great deal to us both," he continued, "It changed everything. And it meant a lot to me, since I don't speak to my actual brothers, and only one of my sisters, and even her only rarely," he finished, unaware of the distant, sad nostalgia that had seeped into his voice.

#102



Echo

Pausing when she noticed he had sounded as though he was drifting, and when she looked at him, he had, in fact, drifted. Somewhere, very distant.

"It sounds like the tragedy the two of you experienced helped bring you closer," Kore said when he stopped speaking. "I am sorry for the loss you two experienced. I am sure that they are still with you, whether you know it or not."

#103



Reno

Adesius blinked, snapping back into the present when Kore speaks to him. He smiles softly and reaches out, covering one dirty hand with his, and squeezes softly.

"There's no question about it," he said quietly, "Thank you."

#104



Echo

"No thanks needed," she smiled back and then chuckled at his now dirty hand. "Oops, now you will need to clean up in a bit for sure."

Returning the gentle squeeze, she wrinkled her nose and decided to turn the conversation a tiny bit. "I hate to bring it up now, but since I have your attention, it seems my mother wants to come for a visit next weekend, and before you say it's alright and thank you for letting you know, I had hoped maybe I could tell her that the building is going to be sprayed for some pest or other," she said quickly, already feeling guilty for wanting to have time to herself without her mother hovering over her. "It isn't that I don't want her to come or that I don't care, it's just that... Well, I would like a chance to breathe before she expands her wings once more if that makes any sense..."

#105



Reno

Adesius chuckled. "I understand," he said, "But if you tell her that we're spraying for vermin, won't that just give her an excuse to insist that you return home, besides making her think that you've moved into a hovel?" He suggested.

"But I'm sure I can convince Kate to corroborate any statement that you might make that she has, unfortunately, already claimed next weekend for her own visitors," he offered, giving her a conspiratorial smile.

"She owes me, anyway," he added, sotto voce.

#106



Echo

"No, I'm sure it will be alright," Kore chuckled, removing one of the plastic pots around a pretty coral seedling and inspecting the roots and petals before placing it gently into its new home. "The sooner I get the first visit over with, the better. And I am certain I can make plans that will have her on her way home and not stay the night with me."

Making quick work of the rest of the tiny pots and housing the last of the seedlings, she looked back at the man who sat happily next to her. "She may owe you, but I'd go easy on her," she said, choosing her words. "She means well, and I can't speak for her, but I know she does."

#107



Reno

Adesius smiled fondly at Kore, the symmetry of her defense of Hekate as she tended her plants, such a perfect reenactment that he felt choked for a moment, and had to swallow the lump in his throat.

"Perhaps you're right," he said after a long moment. "As you wish. I'll back your play with whatever you'd like to say to your mother," he promised.

#108



Echo

"I promise, it won't be anything too out of line with the truth, especially since lying is not something I am fond of," she admitted, dusting her hands of the dirt she had found still on her hands after the planting. "I only meant that she is a sweetheart who clearly adores you and means well. And it seems that we are finished for now. All that is left is letting nature take its course. Either they'll survive, or they'll wilt. We have done all we can." With a smile towards Adesuis, she couldn't help but notice how his demeanour had changed. She couldn't help reaching for his hand, and while it had been in hers, she looked at him. "I know you two do not know me from Adam, but I can't explain it, but I feel as though I have known you both, for centuries. She loves you, Adesuis. I can see how she does, and I can see how it isn't hard when you are so protective and caring for her. It does this heart good to see it, too."

#109



Reno

Adesius' smile warmed when Kore took his hand. "I wouldn't be so sure; I think we may have a better measure of one another than you give us credit for," he said enigmatically. "You do seem to have Kate pegged," he added with a grin, and his free hand lifted to his face, tapping the side of his nose conspiratorially."

Then he looked down at the seedlings before Kore, now nestled comfortably in the earth at her knees. "And I have a very strong suspicion that they're going to thrive, not just survive," he said, "Just see if they don't." He made his prediction sound almost as a challenge, but, though he seemed to be acknowledging that her work in the garden was finished, at least for the time being, he wasn't making any move to leave. Especially not while Kore still held his hand.

#110



Echo

'He had to know just how handsome he looked', she thought to herself as she gazed at him like some lovesick schoolgirl. How this man was still single was beyond her, but it had to have been how he acted when Kate was around. "Kate is not what she seems," Kore said knowingly, although she knew she couldn't have even an inkling of how right she had been. "But the same could be said for us all if we truly think on it."

Not wishing to let go of his hand, she did so anyway but was quick to offer it back to Adesius after she rose to her feet. "Come, we need to wash up and I am sure you would want to utilize those tickets. If not, we could always set Kate up with the lovely Oracle owner," she said with a wicked grin. "I'm not saying that you should, but if you weren't going to use them, it would be such a shame to see them go to waste..."

#111



Reno

Adesius' rumbling laugh would have done credit to the previous night's storm, but infinitely more pleasant, as he stood up beside her, brushing his palms on his thighs. "Pietro would, no doubt, build a temple to me and become my new High Priest, but I think Kate would disown me entirely," he said with a grin as he took Kore's offered hand once more.

His fingers laced with hers and he cradled her smaller hand in his palm, then shrugged thoughtfully. "Maybe a waste," he said quietly, "But I'd rather be in good company than go to the theater," he said again, then looked down at Kore with a cagey smile. "Unless you'd care to join me this evening; then I could have my cake, and eat it, as they say."

#112



Echo

With a chuckle, Kore nodded and then quickly sobered. Sure, she had been fishing for the chance to spend more time with Adesius, but she hadn't expected he would take the bait. She admitted to herself that she did feel a bit guilty for angling her away into going, but she had a feeling that he had gotten the tickets for the two of them to begin with. Though, while she had been placing the seedlings in their new home, she had though it had been more of Kate's idea.

"Well, Adesius," she smiled warmly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "If you insist. But, I insist on dinner. My treat. So I believe I shall pick you up around seven, yes?"

Her heart pounded within her breast as she said the words. She didn't care that it had been her asking for his hand to dinner; after all, he had asked to accompany him to the theatre, it was only fair... wasn't it?

#113



Reno

Adesius beamed a wide and infinitely indulgent smile down at Kore, but he raised his hand in protest. "Only on one condition," he said. "We should have a late dinner after the performance," he suggested, "That way, we won't feel rushed to finish on a timer, and can enjoy ourselves, if you'll accept that minor alteration, then we have ourselves an accord," he offered. "The curtain goes up at eight, so we would need to leave much earlier, otherwise."

He grins. "And If you know where you'd like to dine, I'd be glad to make the reservation in my name. In case they have trouble finding you a table," he says conspiratorially.

#114



Echo


Still holding onto his hand, she began walking towards the back entrance. "Well, I suppose we should get cleaned up since we have an accord," she smiled back, soaking in his warmth. He truly was breathtaking when he smiled. "As for where to dine afterwards, I am not picky and am not as familiar with the eateries available in the later hours. I do not mind if you have something in mind..."

Finally letting go of his hand, she opened the door to her flat and slipped inside to get ready. Luckily, she kept several formal gowns on hand for events she would need them for in the future, and it had been a rule of thumb, according to her mother. A quick shower to wash away the sweat and dirt from their work in the garden,. Deciding on the black gown, she left the gown to speak for itself and wore no jewellery around her neck, though she wore pearl studs on her lobes. After a dab of her favourite scent and minimum makeup, she awaited for Adesius to knock...

#115



Reno

Adesius decided to walk around to the front door, for the formality of the thing, rather than knocking at the connecting door. In vintage black Armani over his own lassically Hellenic form, he cut quite the anachronistically alluring male figure himself, but that was nothing compared to what was waiting for him behind the door when Kore opened it in answer to his knock. The understated elegance of her outfit made Kore far more beautiful than if she'd been covered in all the gems of the underworld, her own delicate beauty shining through, and it would be a lie if he said that the cut of her gown didn't set his pulse to rushing again, just a little.

"You are why theaters lower the lights for the performance, Kore," Adesius said with a slow smile and a roguish gleam in his eye, "Otherwise no one would be looking at the stage." He offered his arm. "Shall we be on our way, then?"

#116



Echo

The knock on the front door startled her a little since she had expected him to use the adjoining door for convenience's sake, but somehow, the change of knock made the evening seem more like a real date rather than one she had managed to weasel herself into. Her breath had been stolen upon opening the door to find Adesius standing so sleek in his expensive suit though she knew he would look remarkable in a cloth sack. When she remembered that her lungs required air, the deep breath in had been filled with Adesius and already, she felt the need to pinch herself to make sure she was not dreaming.

"You flatter me, Sir, as you stand here looking as you do," she smiled, her own nerves calming once her hand had been placed in the crook of his arm. "Lead the way... "

#117



Reno

"I wouldn't dream of doing less," Adesius said as he led Kore down the walk and to the waiting car. "It would only embarrass you if it looked as though you were going about with an unworthy sort." He smiled as he opened the door for her to get into the car, not releasing her hand until she was safely settled.

The programs waiting for the in Adesius' box revealed that it was an up and coming production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Adesius let Kore sit, looking out over the stage and the seats below, taking in the theater sprawling before her, and smiled. "Are you familiar with it? This play is a long favorite of mine."

#118



Echo

How the man could ever embarrass her was beyond her, especially since the man was such a stunning creature, even without Armani's help. It had seemed that Adesius had enjoyed the closeness as much as she had when the only time he let go of her was to place her within his vehicle and promptly reclaim her hand once they were in motion. The car ride seemed far too short, in Kore's opinion, as it seemed they were valeted far too soon, and she had been whisked out of the car and firmly tucked at his side.

Picking up the playbill, her heart nearly stopped in her chest. A Midsummer Night's Dream had been her favourite play since her first attendance when her mother had taken her to see it. "This has been my favourite of mine as well," she replied in hushed tones with a smile, knowing that they shared a love of the same play. "I've always favoured dear Lysander. Even though Hermia's father did not approve, she still loved him..."

#119



Reno

Adesius grinned insidiously, and ducked his head against his shoulder, murmuring softly near Kore's ear, "If pressed, I believe I must admit to Oberon being my favorite character. Aside from his lofty stature - naturally - one must admire his resolve. He's not above folly - as The Puck so delights in reminding us, none is - but despite his mistake, he'll not let anything dissuade him from seeing his queen back where she belongs, at his side. Not even her own tempestuous temper." His low, quiet chuckle is rich beside Kore's ear. "If that's not bravery and devotion, then I've never seen it."

#120



Echo

He had leaned over, only just, and Kore found herself leaning towards him as he softly spoke his favourite. The Faerie King had always been her secret favourite when it came to the pranks he and Puck would play, though she always felt rather bad for Titania to have to put up with some of those pranks. Especially when it came to Bottom. Sure, the potion the prankster faerie was to give went to Lysander, but the whole mess of it all. Proof that bystanders get caught in the dramatics of bored deities.

The thought struck her a little harder now than it had in the past. With her head turned, she, in turn, mimicked his hushed tones as the house lights lowered and the curtain began to rise. "Oberon and Titania were definitely in love, and I hope that the dear author wrote a story where she gets back at her husband for that terrible prank and that the manuscript has just not been found yet." Stifling a chuckle, she turned her attention to the stage, even though her entire body was aware of the man who sat next to her, offering a large distraction to the goings-on in front of them.

#121



Reno

Adesius chuckled quietly. "With that temper of hers, I don't doubt it," he murmured. "But do try to find some mercy for him in your heart, Kore," he bade, "Though someone else coined the words, if you were to distill the play down to its purest essence, you could not find better than 'Love makes fools of us all.' As the mechanic of it all, he is, perhaps, the most foolish, and thus the most in love of all of them."

Leaving her with that thought, he raises his head again and settles back in his chair, but his hand rests lightly on hers, squeezing her fingers gently.

#122



Echo

She found mercy for the poor god with the boyish charms enough to prank his love. Granted, it could have been a different prank of sorts, but Shakespeare did have a twisted sense of humour if one truly believed he wrote the works that hold his name. "Big and small, though I think Miss Austen said it better... 'We are all fools in love,'" she whispered as he turned his attention to the act before them. The warmth of his hand oozed into hers and trailed up her bare arm, and she was sure he could have felt the tremor, even though she had tried to hide her body's reaction.

The two-hour comedy went by quickly and slowly, all at the same time. An hour in, the intermission allowed for the audience to walk about, find refreshments or find the facilities. Kore had been lucky enough to find a lovely glass of chardonnay to go along with pleasant conversation concerning the first two acts and found herself sitting a bit closer to Adesius when they returned for the second half of the play. Her hand cradled his in her lap, though she likely should not have done so, but it had felt... right.

"The actors did such a wonderful job," Kore said as they were awaiting the car to be brought up via the valet. "The actor who portrayed Puck did a fabulous job in his speech in the fifth act. Very convincing tones he used in the voice... That act gets me every time..."

#123



Reno

Adesius chuckled. "I prefer Thackeray's, only because it puts the onus on love itself, and more truly paints us as hopeless and powerless to retain our senses in the face of its forces," he murmured, squeezing Kore's hand gently when he felt the shiver ripple through her.

Despite his love for the show, and his appreciation for the performance itself, having Kore nestled against his side with his hand cradled in her lap, her fingers laced with his, served to divide his focus rather effectively throughout the second half. He wouldn't have traded the experience, either.

Adesius smiled at Kore outside under the awning while they waited for the car, and he listened to her gushing delightfully about how much she enjoyed the performance. "It really was fantastic," he agreed, "I must arrange a patron gift for the show; I'll have to remember to have Kate set that up, " he said as his car drove up. The valet opened the door for Kore, but it was Adesius who took her hand to help her in, then kisses the back of her fingers before releasing it.

"Thank you for your company tonight, Kore," he said, meeting her eyes with raw sincerity in his own, "It would not have been the same without you." Then he smiled. "And now, I beleive I promised you dinner, as we agreed."

#124



Echo

"Thackeray's part is superb, don't get me wrong," Kore agreed, though she neglected to mention that she was so distracted during the majority of the showing that she really only paid attention to Puck's because he was so boisterous. The valet had been quicker than Kore had anticipated, but the gentle pressure of Adesius' lips on her hands as he seated her in the vehicle had been worth interrupting their conversation.

"I am very pleased I fished for the invitation to the theatre," she chuckled, reassuringly squeezing the hand that had found its way into her lap. "As for food... I have no specific cravings, so anywhere you choose is fine with me-- And, no, I am not trying to be a typical female and say I don't know when I do," she added the last a little quick with a chuckle following because she had no specific cravings... for food.

#125



Reno

Adesius smiles. "I'm rather glad to hear you say that," he admitted as he joined Kore in the car, and they departed from the theater, quieting a moment as he navigated sedan through the crowded lanes, until the streets opened before them again. He smiled at Kore. "I took the liberty of making our reservation at Blu Aperto," he revealed. "Normally, I'm not the sort for rooftop restaurants, and would rather stay close to Terra Firma," he admitted, shooting her a grin, "But I decided that this was a special occasion, so what the hell?"

#126



Echo

Blu Aperto? Rooftop? Oh, gosh...

Kore's mind began to sift through what had happened the night before. If she had been so keen on the acts then, the combination of today was going to encourage those acts. And they did.

"I have heard of Blu Aperto," Kore admitted, still trying to remain relaxed, even though she felt the temperature in the car rise a bit. "I had it marked on a list of places to visit, so that is another experience I can have sooner than expected." Truly, she had been surprised to hear that he had made reservations for them. She knew the waitlist for that place had been months out, so she knew that Adesius had definitely pulled some strings. "I know the night isn't over yet, but I just wanted to thank you in advance for such a lovely day. It's been... Magical? I don't have a better word for it. I'm sure I'll thank you again after dinner..."

#127



Reno

Adesius chuckled and reached over to pat Kore's hand, then covered it in her lap with his own. "I'm the one who should thank you," he said, and gave her fingers another gentle squeeze before he returned his hand to the wheel, where it properly belonged, "for giving me the opportunity to prove to you that I might actually know how to do it right, after all."

He beamed a bright smile at her. "In my case, that happens to be going completely over-the-top, overwhelming you with the splendor of it all, until you can't resist me," he says, and the mischief in his grin took years off his face. "Even now that I've revealed my dastardly ploy."

#128



Echo

If he only knew that she could not resist him now and the things she wanted him to do to her, he'd likely turn the car around and take her straight to the church and have the priest baptise her on the spot. Just the brief moment his hand spent on hers had the temperature in the vehicle rise. The theatre and dinner had just been an excuse to spend more time with the man, but his words seemed to hint that he wished the same.

"To be quite honest, I have only been on one other outing," she admitted, her cheeks burning crimson with the confession. "Nerdy girls are usually not prone to going out much and by the time I had grown into my body, university studies took over, so... Um, yes, I would hazard a guess that you are doing a smashing job."

They had made it the rest of the distance and had pulled up to the door where the valet opened their doors and handed Adesius a ticket. Offering his arm, which she took, trying hard not to cling as they entered and were shown to their seats. On the roof. Her mind had already been blown as her feet had been swept out from under her and she indeed felt like a Goddess in the company of the man, of quite literally her dreams.

'Pure thoughts, Kore,' she inwardly said, almost like a chant in her mind.

"So, I am curious," she asked as she attempted to look over the menu, though her focus was so far away from food. "Would you despise me if I were to be the stereotypical woman and ask you to select for me? I've no clue what is good here, though everything sounds delicious..."

#129



Reno

Adesius snorted. "Pity," he said, but his tone made it evident that he didn't really seem disturbed by the thought of Kore being denied the opportunity to dally with boys - a hint of his selfish streak gleaming through. "You no doubt underestimated your appeal back then, too," he mused, unsuccessfully holding back a grin, "But it's not really a question of comparison, so whether or not I'm doing well will have to be judged on its own merits, when it's over." He shot her a conspiratorial smile and Kore could have sworn she saw a spark behind his eyes before he turned his attention back to the road ahead.

Kore clinging to his elbow as they rode the glass elevator toward the purple twilight was a delightful sensation. His fingers twined softly with hers and drew her gently into his side as he looked down at the lights of the city below. "My younger brother always liked looking down from on high," he said, stroking her hand and wrist lightly with the side of his thumb. "I always thought he was being pretentious - and he was - but there's something to be said for this view, I have to admit..."

At last, the transparent care reached thier destination, and the aromas that greeted them made Kore's mouth water, despite her distraction, while they were seated at a table in front of the window. That's when Kore realized that the restaurant itself was rotating slowly.

"Despise you?!" Adesius said, scandalized. "Perish the thought. It's hardly 'stereotypical,' dear one," he lamented, shaking his head, "'Stereotypical' would be decrying it as 'old fashioned', or worse." He smiled warmly. "Rather, a young lady after my own heart, instead."

"Since you're trusting me with it, I'll have to choose wisely," he muses aloud as he pores thoughtfully over the menu. "Fennel orange salad, and tre carni ragù sul polenta, with a glass of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.. " He hesitated for a moment, regarding Kore over the top of the menu as he considered something. ".. And a cherry and dark chocolate crostata for dessert."

 

[echo]

She smiled softly as he recited the menu, letting her eyes rest on his face rather than the words in front of her. She hadn't heard of half of what he'd said—something with fennel, perhaps, and something else utterly decadent—but it was the last line that truly caught her attention.

Cherry and dark chocolate.

Crostata.

Gods help her...

Her gaze dipped for a moment, her cheeks blushed slightly as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, buying time.

It was him.

His voice, the way it curled around the syllables like silk over bare skin. The way he had held her in the elevator, not as a possession but as though he already knew just how she would respond—how she had responded that night when the stars had hung lower, and her self-control had been far thinner.

She hadn't forgotten the weight of his body, the heat of him through her clothes, or the way her breath had caught when his mouth brushed hers like a promise he intended to keep. She hadn't stopped thinking about it...

Her lips parted slightly, and she exhaled a quiet breath, willing herself not to stare.

"Cherry and dark chocolate," she repeated, her voice softer, almost reverent. "How could I possibly resist?"

It was a simple line. Innocent, on the surface. But Kore let her tone linger a second too ling, allowed the word resist to carry a weight she didn't quite hide. She met his eyes then, letting him see it—the blush that curled across her chest like a whispered secret, the longing she hadn't tamed.

'You,' she thought. 'I can't resist you...'

But she smiled and looked away again, pretending to study the flicker of candlelight in her water glass, her fingers curling lightly in her lap to keep them from reaching across the table.

'Pure thoughts,' she reminded herself, though they tasted like lies on her tongue...

 

[Reno]

Adesius hadn't missed the look that Kore's smoldering eyes cast on him, or the color that painted her cheeks just before she forced herself to tear her gaze away. He couldn't have, if he tried, and the vision made something inside of him twist around itself until it felt like it would choke him.

---

"Persephone, eat something," Hades said, his words somewhere between cajoling and commanding. "Zeus has already made his decision - you have no reason to avoid it, it won't change the arrangement." The Lord of the Underworld's tone strained to remain calm, even, and reasonable, but the frustration and concern couldn't be hidden. "I'm not going to let you spend the next two months going hungry," he warned.

His bride lifted her head, and her cheeks pinked prettily when she met his eyes. "It isn't that, I promise," she said quietly, shaking her head. "I'm just.. Not thinking about food right now," she said vaguely. When Hades quirked an inquisitive eyebrow, her rosey cheeks darkened to a crimson heat that he could nearly feel from his place across the table, but she only swallowed heavily and remained silent.

"So be it," Hades said, standing from his place, and Persephone watched him, fearing that she'd angered him, until he walked around the marble table to her, took hold of her beneath her arms, and gently pulled her to her feet. He then sat in her place, instead, and pulled the bemused goddess into his lap, instead.

Without a second thought, Persephone leaned into his broad chest, settling close to him.

"Now you won't have to think about eating," Hades said, holding Persephone about the waist with one arm, as his other hand set about feeding her small bites from her plate, instead.

---

Adesius crossed thousands of years in the space of those three heartbeats, and the memory assured him, once more, that the eyes of the young woman before him truly belonged to his queen.

His lips curled into a slow smile beneath his beard. "Patience, Kore," he chided her with a playful, teasing tone and a gleam of mischief in his eyes that only she had ever been able to inspire. "No dessert until you've had your dinner," he scolded with a grin.

 

[echo]

Her blush deepened at his words, as if his tone alone could stir the small fire already glowing beneath her skin.

'No dessert until you've had your dinner...'

The implication made her heart flutter and stomach tighten, though not from hunger. It was the way he looked at her, the playful authority in his voice, the familiarity of it all that made her feel... seen.

As though he knew her far more than she even knew herself...

She wrinkled her nose and pursed her lips together, her expression a mix that danced between mock defiance and girlish amusement.

"Fine, Dad," she said, letting her arms fall into her lap with a small, theatrical huff. "But strict parenting ruins all the fun..."

The mock pout left, a grin taking its place as she leaned forward just a touch, enough for the candlelight to catch the mischief in her eyes. She was trying to ignore his nearness, but failing since she could still feel where his hand had been on her wrist and the memory of his lips were still assaulting her mind.

She needed a distraction...

"So...," she said, tilting her head as she spoke. "Where did you grow up?" Her fingers fidgeted with the corner of her napkin, smoothing it out just for the sake of doing something with her hands. "You have this... almost worldly calm about you, but also a bit of 'mysterious small-town boy with secrets.' I can't decide which you are."

As she asked, a flicker passed through her—a flash of stone, and shadow, and the low murmur of a man's voice saying her name not as it was now, but as it had been.

"Persephone, eat something..."

The image vanished before it could settle, like breath fogging a mirror. Her brow furrowed for a moment, then smoothed again as she blinked it away.

Probably just nerves.

Or candlelight...

Or the way the evening aire felt charged with something more than just heat.

Her gaze returned to Adesius, and the same flickering smile returned on her lips.

"I'm just trying to picture you as a boy," she teased lightly, "before the brooding charm kicked in..."

 

[Reno]

Adesius' hand flew to his chest with a stricken expression. "Oh, don't call me that," he pleaded, "It makes me fell like you see me as an old man." And I'm nothing like your father. He thought venomously. Then his eyes glinted and the corner of his lips quirked, banishing any pathos. "Of course, I am an old man, but that doesn't mean I want you to see me as such," he teased, lowering his hand again, and taking up his wineglass.

"To hear my older sister - the one I speak to - tell it, I never was 'a boy,'" he said. "I suppose there's some truth to that. That's the way for eldest sons in aristocratic families," he admitted, then smiled slightly. "The world has, perhaps thankfully, moved on from such concerns... aside from the British and their tabloid interest in their Royals, at least... but the old families and their ways have not disappeared entirely." He smiled and gave Kore a canny look. "But before you go searching, know that you'll not find anything about my family by searching the internet for my name," he warned. "I changed it when I came here from the Old Country, to enjoy my peace and independence." This was, of course, mostly true - but he also hoped that she'd take the admonition to heart and eschew researching him, lest she discover the etymology of his sobriquet, as he silently cursed his lack of foresight. He hadn't taken the myriad digital archives into account when crafting his assumed identity.

He felt that Kore was nearly ready for the truth, though he was willing to admit that it may have been wishful thinking on his part - but he wanted it revealed in his own time, not by an accidental search engine hit. "Or perhaps this is all simply a tall tale to try to impress you," he mused, grinning "and you can't believe a word the scoundrel says. You never know."

 

[echo]

Grinning at his theatrical plea, she found she was unable to stop the laughter that bubbled up from her chest. She had nearly echoed the 'old man' part, but caught a note of something heavier in his voice before he had masked it with mischief. Still, the way he said it, lightly with that twinkle in his eye, made her want to chase after the joke anyway.

He raised his glass, and she found herself smiling as she replied with an almost instinctive certainty, "You most certainly are not old." Her tone was playful, teasing, but with just enough sincerity to give it the weight she felt. "You don't look a day over thirty."

They both knew it was a lie, of course. Not a cruel one, but the kind spoken with affection, sweet, if transparent. He was older than that, clearly. His eyes carried centuries she couldn't name, and the way he moved, the way he watched the world, felt ancient in a way that was somehow both grounding and intoxicating.

'But a god never looks his age,' she thought, unbidden.

And then blinked, startled by her own mind.

'God?' Why had she thought that?

She took a sip of her wine, trying to dismiss the odd feeling that curled low in her belly. It wasn't the first time her thoughts had conjured something strange in his presence.

It wouldn't be the last.

He spoke of his sister then—the one I speak to—and Kore caught the subtle omission, that delicate phrasing that left just enough unsaid. It made her curious, though she did not press. Some doors were meant to stay closed unless opened willingly.

"I had always wanted a sibling," she murmured, a soft chuckle slipping past her lips. "Someone to fight with, maybe steal my clothes or threaten my secrets." Her fingers traced the stem of her wineglass absently. "Though, after witnessing some of the dramatic fallouts between my friends and their brothers and sisters in school... I think I might have dodged a bullet."

Her words were still hanging in the air when the waiter approached, quietly efficient as he laid the dishes before them and filled their glasses with the first wine pairing. The aromas wrapped around her instantly—warm, fragrant, impossibly rich—and Kore's stomach answered with a small twist of longing.

For once... it wasn't for Adesius.

Or not only...

She looked down at her plate, eyes wide. "It's almost too beautiful to eat," she said, awed. "Like... edible art. I think I'm genuinely sad about having to ruin it."

She picked up her fork but paused, the scent rising to meet hear, teasing and luxurious.

Still, despite the elegance of the dish before her, her thoughts wandered. The food was exquisite, yes, but—

He looked divine...

It wasn't just his features—the sharp, timeless handsomeness of his jawline, the silver threaded through his beard, the broad shoulders beneath that perfectly cut jacket. It was the way he was.

The quiet confidence, the way he filled a space without needing to announce himself, the way his eyes darkened when he looked at her like she was something more than a girl across the table.

God, but she wanted to touch him...

Not just hands, not just fingers—no. She wanted to explore the curve of his thoughts, the gravity of his voice, the heat behind his gaze when he thought she wasn't looking.

'He looks like a god in a mortal's skin,' she thought, a little breathless.

And without realising how close to the truth she had come, she brought the first bite of the meal to her lips, doing her best to savour the flavour and not the man across from her who had begun to taste suspiciously like destiny...