The girl with the high ponytail of silver-streaked black hair down to her ankles walked slowly in to the small bar. Her emerald green eyes shone through the smoke and mist of the room, and not many turned in her direction. She strolled to the back and sat at a table.

            Her eyes had a luminescence; they shone with a dark, deep light. Her hair was attracting attention, people turning in their seats to take quick glances of the strange newcomer, who had no drink. She looked as if she were about in her early twenties.

            She made a disgusted noise and put her hood over her head. They went back to their own businesses, only taking peeks once in a while. Soon the looks diminished and she leaned back in her seat.

            A young man, at least by as many clues she could gather, was sitting at the bar. He was wearing a gray zip-up sweater jacket with a hood. His dark jeans were loose, as was the style. He made her feel like she was being spied on. She watched him closely. Every once in a while he would take a sip of coffee. He tapped his shell-top sneakers on the barstool’s footrest every now and then, as well.

            After a while, she decided that it wasn’t worth it anymore. She waited a little longer for whom she was going to meet.

            A shadow walked up to the girl, and sat down next to her. It leaned over the table and whispered with the dark haired girl.

            “Pluto, You are in so much trouble now!” It said. She sounded distressed, and frustrated. “Mother and father are furious with you, you know!” She pulled off her own hood to see healthy white hair in a large braid-bun. Small stray hairs hung around her face. Her dark blue eyes were accented by the small amount of light shining on her hair. She seemed to be no more than sixteen years old. “After a little while they’re just going to come and get you themselves!”

            “Calm down, Orcus, seriously.” Pluto rolled her eyes. “They don’t need me home the entire time, you know. I need to be alone sometimes. And home isn’t that welcoming, don’t you agree? Whenever I go back, do I hear that someone there loves me? Do I hear that anyone is glad to have me home besides the souls that I watch over?” She also pulled off her hood.

            “Pluto, I know what you mean, but they are Olympian gods! You aren’t! Whatever they say, you should listen to! Whatever they tell you to do, you should do! It’s just common sense!” She slammed her hand on the table, and more people stared at them.

            “Orcus, be still. My goodness.” She rolled her eyes. “Learn to control your temper. Besides that, if I assume my position, I will be an Olympian.”

            “I’m sorry. I forget that you are older than me, too. Sibling rivalry isn’t really an option for me, is it?”

            “No, I suppose not, but you know that I wouldn’t hurt another god or goddess unless it was necessary.”

            “Why is it that whenever I try and bring you home, you always find a way to change the subject?”

            “That’s because you’re not quick enough for me, dear sister.” She laughed. As she looked around the bar once more, she decided it was time to leave. They were both getting observed. “I’m afraid we’re not very welcome here, Orcus.” She stood up and motioned for the door.

            Orcus rolled her eyes and sighed.

            “I hate this part of America.” She replied.

            Pluto laughed again.

            They walked out the door and resumed their conversation.

            Just as they heard the door shut, it was heard to open again. It shut.

            “Why don’t you like to be home anymore anyway?”

            “I guess that I just got sick of it after a little while.” Pluto shrugged. She looked up at the stars in the countryside sky. “You don’t see the sky at all down there. I feel smothered when I’m there, kind of like I’m buried alive. I don’t like that feeling.”

            “Neither do I, but it’s home.”

            “I don’t agree. For us, our home is everywhere, it doesn’t matter who our parents are, or what title we bear. It matters where we choose to be. I don’t choose to be in the Underworld. I choose to see human spirits before they come to me. When I feel like it, I’ll resume my title. And that I might not even do.”

            Orcus nodded. “I see what you mean, but I still think it would be wiser if you went home. I’ll tell mother and father that you’re not ready to come home yet, then. I don’t know what they’ll say, but I’ll try.”

            “Ah, thank you!” She hugged her younger sister, and they resumed their leisurely stroll through the countryside. “So how long has it been? When was the last time I saw you?”

            “I think…” She paused, searching the chapters of her memory. “Around twenty years ago. Long time, isn’t it? I mean from a human perspective.”

            “Yeah, I guess so. Have you heard of any of the younger gods lately? I hear that one of them went and killed the last of the gorgons!”

            “That’s great! Which one?”

            “I’m pretty sure his name was… Asklepios! But the immortals can’t find him…” Pluto replied.

            “You’re not thinking doing another one of trying one of your sure-to-fail ideas again, are you?” The response she got was a grin from her sister. “No! You can’t! Leave it to the others! Really, I’m not kidding! They’ll take care of it! I did hear about that god, he’s bad news! Stay away from him! You can’t capture him! Even Mercury, the messenger, himself has tried!”

            “Orcus, if I weren’t just guessing, I would say that you’ve met the young man. Why would you want me to stay away from him?” Curiosity sparkled in her green eyes. She smiled mischievously.

            She growled at Pluto and blushed a soft pink.

            “Besides that, if I bring a gift to the elder Olympians, they might offer me something in return. What I had in mind was a pardon from being heir to the Underworld.” Pluto explained.

            “Why do you always have to contradict what your family says to you?” Orcus screamed. “I’m leaving! I’ll be back, though, and next time with mother and father!” She disintegrated in a whirl of black lightening.

            “Oh, I’m scared now, Orcus! Are you going to tell on me?” The last of the bolts were gone, and Pluto sighed. “Why couldn’t I have been born under a different family?”