• As they departed, they had no idea who watched them from afar. "Holy Hestia, I've got to tell Lady Demeter!" Triptolemus whispered to himself as he ran, sometimes stumbling along the way.

    What engulfed the chariot was darkness. At first, Persephone had been a bit frightened, but as time passed, Persephone began to like it.....and Hades as well. As for Panic and Pain, they both got up in front with arms spread out, shouting: "We're Prince and Princess of the Underworld!! Whoo-hoo!" while the shadows, misshapen creatures, and others sighrd in annoyance: "Oh boy, they're at it again." "Here we are, the river Styx! Look but do not touch, Persephone." Hades advised. Then, a rather large boat came to a stop among the gray riverbanks; Charon's boat. A tall, bony, almost skeletal figure was at the helm....Charon himself. Hades greeted him as if they were best friends. "Hello, Lord Hades! And hello to you, Master Pain and Mistress Panic." Charon adressed with a bit of a weak smile. "And who might this young woman be?" Hades answered. "She's Persephone, my new friend from the upper world."

    Hades took Persephone on a tour of the underworld; they came at a three-way crossroads. "There", Hades poited to the left. "Is Tartarus. That's where souls of the condemned are punished. Unless you want to be scarred for your immortal life, do not go there." Hades went on, "Down that path," he said as he pointed down the middle path. "Is where Asphodel resides." "What is Asphodel like?" Persephone asked, excitingly curious. "Nope; can't say that.....yet." Chuckled Hades, with the last word in his thoughts. "Come on, Seph." Persephone stopped when she heard the pet name Hades had given her. "Whoa, back it up. Seph? Where did that come from?" Persephone said, blushing a bit. "Your name." Hades answered. "Seph; Persephone. Get it?" He said, chuckling a bit. "Well, where do we go now?" Persephone questioned. "My place." Hades said, matter-of-factly.