Hades stood and watched his wife move about the room with willowy grace as she gathered some of her jewels and clothes, thinking must you go - though he would never say it, and he knew she must.

Persephone suddenly turned and flung herself into his arms, her hands winding clingily into the cloth at the small of his back. "Wait for me?"

"Until the Styx runs dry." Hades promised through a painfully tight throat, closing his arms desperately around her in return.