Forbidden Fruit

Chapter one: The encounter

Persephone

"Persephone? Persephone darling, where are you?", said a sing-song voice.

I laughed at myself softly. My mother had spent a good ten minutes searching for me. I knew she wouldn't stop looking until I was found. I wouldn't give up easily either. I enjoyed our little games of cat and mouse. It added some excitement to my otherwise boring life.

Of course, I was always careful of never straying off to far. Mother had warned me of the dangers of being a young virgin maiden. Especially, one who wasn't in full control of her powers. I knew my mother didn't want me to suffer as she had with my father Zeus. I understood why she was so overprotective of me. Still, I couldn't help but wonder what lay beyond the gardens I was imprisoned in. I would soon turn sixteen-hundred years old and I longed desperately for my freedom. Perhaps by chance I would find a suitor.

I smiled to myself at the thought. Who was I kidding. Mother would never allow it. Unless, it was Apollo. Gods, whatever does she see in that deity. Sure, he was tall, handsome, a poet, archer and musician, but he lacked character. One might have described Apollo as the perfect man, but that was just the thing, he was too perfect. A perfect mold of what an Olympian God should be. He was favorited by many of the Gods including our father. It was vexing to say the least. In my eyes, Apollo was a pretentious deity who had been given the world since birth and therefore believed he could have anyone and everything he wanted.

I didn't want someone like Apollo as my husband. The mere thought of it was appalling. I wanted somebody with rough edges. Someone with flaws and character. Who wasn't afraid of opening up to me about their fears and insecurities. Someone imperfect and strange.

"Found you silly girl."

My mother's voice shook me out of my daze. I clung desperately onto the orange tree branch I was perched on and refused to get down.

"Persephone get down here this instant! I don't have time to be playing your silly games."

"But mother, I don't want to go inside," I said mockingly, much to Demeter's dismay.

"Enough with you child, it's getting late, and you know how I feel about being out late."

"Yes mother," I replied as I reluctantly climbed down from my hiding spot.

We walked side by side through the garden fields until we reached our little cottage. It was a simple red brick cottage, with ivy vines growing on the walls thanks to yours truly. Mother believed they were merely there for decoration. Little did she know that I had purposely planed them there to aid in my escapades.

I went up to my room while mother prepared dinner. I wasn't much of a great cook, and thought it would be best if I stayed out of the kitchen. I wondered if the Gods prepared meals themselves or if it was something only my mother did. Come to think of it, I knew very little about the Gods of Olympus. Demeter made it her life goal to keep me sheltered away and as far away from Zeus as possible.

I had only been to Olympus once. I was very young at the time, only about five- hundred or six-hundred years old. Mother had introduced me to all her brothers and sisters, and of course my father. He had acknowledged me as his daughter and gave me the title Goddess of Flowers. I was allowed on Olympus whenever I pleased. Its doors would forever remain open to me.

I remember meeting Hera, father's wife and Queen. I thought she would despise me but instead she cherished me. Hera and mother walked together into a garden while Hera held me in her arms. She gushed over my freckles and my strawberry curls.

Mother and Hera caught up with one another sitting on the edge of a pond while I played in a bed of yellow daises I had manifested. Aphrodite joined us in the garden and began weaving daisies into my hair. She told me I would grow up to be a very pretty goddess one day.

Little by little the garden began to fill with the Olympian Gods, each one eager to meet me in person. Everyone soon began to drink Merlot thanks to uncle Dionysus. I was surrounded by the festivities of the Deities and couldn't help but notice that one God was missing. The one mother never liked to talk about. The one I had seen seated next to Zeus on a black marble and ruby encrusted throne. It had been decorated with skulls and other precious jewels that lay littered beneath his feet. His throne rivaled father and Poseidon's thrones. He was Hades, God of the Underworld and ruler of all who resided in it.

I wondered why uncle Hades wasn't with us. Did he not like me? Perhaps he was needed back in the Underworld. Being its ruler couldn't have been an easy job. I desperately wanted to meet him. I was sure that he wasn't as bad as others made him out to be.

A blue iridescent butterfly landed on my nose at that moment demanding my attention. I giggled as its legs tickled my nose. It flew away and being the curious little girl, I was, naturally I chased after it. I didn't realize how far away I had strayed from everyone. My attention was focused solely on catching the butterfly.

The butterfly landed on a dark, tall figure, then immediately fell to the ground dead. I gasped, when I saw its lifeless body on the floor.

"Disgusting little insect."

"You killed it," I replied softly.

"Well then it should not have touched me," he replied coldly. "I am both a punisher and bringer of death. The one who's very name strikes fear into the hearts of Gods and men alike. The judge of departed souls and ruler of the Underworld. Do you know what my name is little flower girl?"

I smiled up at him innocently and replied, "you're my uncle Hades!"

I had quickly gotten over the death of the butterfly. I imagined it bringing happiness and joy to those residing in Elysium. I saw Hades differently than others saw him. Not as a cold hearted, ruthless and selfish monster, but as family. Someone I could trust and love. After all, he was my uncle.

He was clad in dark metal armor with sharp metal spikes that glinted in the sun. His breastplate bore the horrifying image of him and his siblings killing their titan father Kronos. His hair was jet black, shoulder length and riddled with waves. A dark contrast against his pale complexion. His eyes shone a brilliant iridescent blue. They were beautiful and captivating. I couldn't help but stare into them.

"By blood yes, I supposed I am your… uncle."

"Uncle Hades!", I replied again cheerfully.

"Flower girl, please stop calling me that. It is nauseating.

I don't know what was going through my head at the moment, but for some odd reason I ran up to the intimidating God and hugged him. His armor was cold and hard against my warm frail body.

"I love you Uncle Hades."

He pushed me off of him abruptly.

"Stupid flower girl, nobody loves me, let alone a delicate little flower like you. It would be in your best interest to stay away from me." His expression turned dark and he eyed me coldly.

"But you're my uncle."

"No, I am not, I want nothing to do with you or any of my brother's other bastard children." He turned and walked away from me.

"Hades wait!", I called after him desperately.

He paused for a moment then turned around to face me with eyes full of disdain.

I held up a single black rose I had manifested. He eyed me curiously with an incredulous look on his face, as I offered him the rose.

"Aphrodite says that red roses are a symbol for love, however you seem to prefer black so I made you a black one instead. Please take it uncle. This might be the only chance I get to see you."

To my surprise he took the rose from my hand, and it did not die.

"How is it that an innocent little child like you can create something so dark and entrancing. There's more to you than meets the eye little flower girl."

"My name is Persephone!", I called after him as he walked away.

"Farewell my Persephone", he called out to me, before the ground opened up and swallowed him up.

I began to cry then. I was saddened by the fact that I would never see him again. He was the first God who had commended me for my powers.

Mother and Athena found me crying by myself. They thought I had gotten lost and believed that was the reason for my crying. Nobody knew I seen Hades that day.

I shook the memory out of my mind and smiled to myself.

"Hades where are you now?"