AN ENCOUNTER

Kore walked over the wooden bridge that ran across the small pond in the middle of the vast garden in the pantheon. She stopped halfway and perched over the wooden railing just in time to see a school of fish pass underneath her.

She smiled and looked around, still in awe of the garden that her mother had created when she was just about her age - or probably younger.

Kore had been in this garden more than a dozen times before and still she couldn't help but marvel at the sight of it. Her mother had produced an exact replica of a tiny meadow, just like the ones she and her friends frequented in Enna. Only… it's grander, much, much grander.

She strolled down the bridge and approached the edge of her father's enormous pantheon. She walked up the marble steps and sat herself at the top step, bending her knees and resting her head on top of it.

She saw a little bird fly by and extended a hand for it to rest at.

"Hi there," Kore greeted softly as it landed on top of her palm, "Been flying for quite awhile, haven't we?"

The yellow-feathered bird began to gently pick at her hand.

Kore tenderly tapped the bird's tiny beak, "I see," she pouted, "You only remember me when you're hungry!" With which the sparrow lightly rubbed her tiny, little head at Kore's thumb.

"Don't use that trick with me," Kore teased and the bird began picking at her thumb.

"Very well then," Kore continued, laughing, as her other hand reached for her pocket, "I guess, I DO have some seeds here for you…"

She raised her other hand, and the bird greedily picked at the small seeds.

"You should be thankful you're a MUCH better companion than Hermes was," she joked, "Brought me to Olympus and left me as fast as lighting to do another errand," a disobedient lock of hair fell across her face and she puffed a breath to blow it away.

She recalled the moment she arrived at her mother's chambers in the pantheon and found Hestia there. They were in deep conversation that Demeter gestured for them to return after a few moments.

Kore happily obliged thinking that Hermes will have to put up with her for just a little while longer, until she realized that he had to leave her for some other errand.

She had no problem about being all alone. Not at all. But to be alone… in Mt. Olympus… is just quite another thing.

Two more birds fluttered by and settled at Kore's hand.

"Oh, here are your friends," she proclaimed as the others began picking at the seeds too, laughing as their beaks began tickling her palm.

"Poor little things," she mused, "Are they starving you over here?" she laughed.

A deafening sound of a slamming door echoed inside the pantheon, even making its giant intricate Corinthian columns seem to tremble and startling the birds that frighteningly fluttered away.

"No, no, no," Kore called out, "Don't go…"

She turned her head just in time as the owner of the heavily booted footsteps abruptly emerged from the colossal columns and she froze in her place.

He marched out into the light, his long dark cloak swirling angrily behind him, his leather black gloves in one hand. He stopped midway, noticing her for the first time, looking equally surprised of Kore's presence as she was with his arrival.

Only… he recovered his composure mighty quicker than she did. A whole lot quicker.

Hades looked away, stepping calmly closer to the edge of the steps. Everything about him was dark, his cloak - although the inside was the color of dark red - was black, the boots on his feet were black, the hair at the top of his proud head was black, even the look on his face was black. He looked furious.

In a sea of gods and goddesses wearing their white garbs and tunics, he always was the odd one out.

He glanced back at Kore and she stopped. All… all except his eyes were black. They were grey. Dark grey.

Hades suddenly slapped his leather gloves to his other hand as if to snap her out from her trance.

"Tell me," he proclaimed, running a hand across his stubble, his deep voice reverberating across the silent garden, "We're you just talking to yourself awhile ago?"

"No!" she immediately denied, not even thinking about it, "Of course not."

He frowned, as if he didn't believe her, but nodded.

Suddenly conscious of her bare feet in contrast to his lavishly booted ones, Kore tried to discreetly reach for her sandals a few measures away without tearing her eyes from him.

"This is new," he announced somewhat amusingly, "Demeter's daughter. Not surrounded by her circle of nymphs. Her circle of swooning admirers," he raised one brow, "Or Hermes," and breaking into a grin, he finished, "Or Demeter herself."

Ignoring the connotation of his words, she replied with a sweet smile, "On the contrary, Milord, it's nothing NEW," she rebuked, "You're just not around Olympus much to notice that."

"I see," he smiled back, taking a step closer, "And you are?"

"I did not mean… I did not imply that I am around Olympus much…" she bit her lip, stopping herself from babbling any further and thought of some wise words to say. She breathed, "Perhaps," she began, "You just weren't paying that much attention."

He stared at her for a few seconds, as if he did not hear her right, as if he did not hear anything at all. And then, all too suddenly, fell into a resounding laughter.

"Are you even aware of the implication of what you just said?" he mused.

Kore gave him a puzzled look and so he went further, "Ditey would've strangled you with her dainty bare hands if you'd gain as much of MY attention in addition to the ones you already have."

"Ditey?"

"Forgive me," he corrected himself, "Aphrodite. That's what I call Aphrodite."

"Oh," she nodded, feeling awkward at hearing such intimacies between gods and goddesses.

"She's one very jealous goddess, Persephone," he cautioned, the way he said her name making her completely uncomfortable, "You wouldn't want to compete with her."

Kore shook her head, "There's been no competition…"

This time, he gave her a gentle smile, "Then perhaps, Milady," he calmly answered, "You just weren't paying THAT much attention."

Kore felt her face burning hotly and looked away.

"I believe I do owe you an apology," he continue, apparently unaware of her uneasiness, "Frightening you like that earlier," he explained, waving his hand aimlessly, "Zeus can be very unreasonable sometimes. He imprisoned THREE unruly giants under a volcano whose mere breath can shake the earth senseless! Has he no thought of the realm beneath it?" he exclaimed as if speaking to himself and sighed, "Talk reason to your father, will you?"

"I'm afraid, you're talking to the wrong daughter," she shrugged, "He only listens to my opinions if Athena happens to mention any of it."

Hades brushed off, "He never listens to anybody…"

"Kore…" an approaching voice interrupted them, "Kore…"

She tossed her head to where the voice came, "It's Hermes…" she uttered delightedly, feeling somewhat relieved of the interruption. She hastily tied her sandals back to her feet and pushed herself up to stand.

"You're quite tall," she heard Hades mutter.

She grinned, recalling how her mother always comments that the only reason she stands out from her nymph friends is that she was pretty taller than they were. Besides that, she can easily pass off as a nymph herself.

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she found the need to return the compliment, "But not as tall as you are."

"Kore, there you are…" Hermes greeted, his voice beginning to fade when he noticed whom she was talking to, "Lord Hades," he acknowledged belatedly, "What a surprise to have you in Olympus."

"Not as surprised as I am, Hermes," he tersely replied.

Cutting off the uncomfortable chitchat, Kore gave a hurried curtsy, saying, "It's been a pleasure to meet you, sir."

Hades angled his head in a small bow, "The pleasure's been mine, Milady."

She immediately turned away, let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and tucked a hand under Hermes' arm.

Predictably, as soon as they were out of Hades' earshot, Hermes exclaimed, "What on Zeus' name were you doing?" he demanded, "Chatting with Hades!"

She looked back to where Hades stood and found him walking back to her father's chambers. She snapped her head at Hermes and spoke, "I was merely being polite."

"Of course!" Hermes scoffed, "Everyone's POLITE to him!"

Kore rolled her eyes in teasing, "Hermes," she called, "If the lord of the underworld speaks to you, what will you do?"

"Answer him, ofcourse!"

"Exactly what "I" did!" she pointed out, "I was merely BEING polite!"

"You're wrapping me up in your little fingers again!" Hermes complained, "Athena's been teaching you too much philosophy!"

"There's never too much in learning…" she argued.

"Wait 'til your mother hears about this…" Hermes warned, already pushing open the massive double doors to Demeter's official chambers in Olympus.

"No you wouldn't!" she hissed.

"Hear about what?" inquired Demeter seated behind her desk, her chin resting atop her entwined hands and her eyes already focused on Kore and Hermes.

Kore turned her face away from her mother and gave her childhood friend an angry look.

"Somebody's been chatting with the lord of the underworld…" Hermes proclaimed.

"Hades…?" one of Demeter's brows immediately rose up in the air.

Hermes stretched himself into Demeter's empire lounge, "In the flesh."

Demeter narrowed her eyes on her daughter, "I wasn't aware YOU two were in speaking terms…"

Kore shifted her weight on her other feet, fidgeting under her mother's gaze, "Mother," Kore shrugged, "It was just a chat…"

"Just a chat?" Demeter repeated painfully slowly.

Kore stared at her mother for a moment.

If one wasn't aware that Demeter was her mother, they'd easily mistake her as her sister. They share the same delicately oval face, dark brown hair and the same fair complexion that not even spending too much time under the sun can tan. The only thing they don't share is the color of their eyes. Demeter's eyes were green, hers were blue, dark blue.

A thought suddenly entered her mind, and a soft smile began to tug at the side of her lips.

Kore went behind her mother's chair and wrapped her arms around Demeter, "Mother," she repeated very sweetly, "Am I not to talk to anybody now?"

"A question is not a proper answer to a previous question," Demeter firmly reminded, but her voice now noticeably gentler, "We've been looking all over the pantheon for you."

"He came out from father's rooms," she explained with a sigh, "And I was just over the gardens. If I hadn't answered him when he spoke, he might have thought me mute," Demeter opened her mouth to counter, and Kore hurriedly continued, "And besides, Hermes was the one who left me after we found you busy with Hestia earlier. Alone."

Demeter's head snapped at Hermes.

The young god bolted out from his lounging position and defended, "Hera sent me out for a message!"

"You left my daughter?" Demeter asked, "Alone?"

"Well…" Hermes scratched the back of his head.

"In Olympus?"

"I was…"

"Very smart, Hermes," acknowledged Demeter, "After all you promised me. After all the trust I gave you. After all the confidence I placed on you. Very Smart!"

Hermes shrank his shoulders, "Forgive me, Lady Demeter."

Demeter regarded him for a few moments and then nodded her head in acceptance.

She mechanically glanced at her daughter, who immediately had to erase the mischievous smile plastered on her face after noticing Demeter's scowl.

"Yes, mother?" Kore asked, regaining her composure.

"My business here has been finished," Demeter informed, "Prepare your things now, we'll be heading back to Enna."

"Back to Enna?" Kore exclaimed excitedly, hugging her mother again and planting a kiss Demeter's cheek, "I can't wait!"

"Someone here have missed the valley terribly…" teased Demeter.

"I did more than miss it!" Kore said rushing to the door. She gestured to Hermes, pulling off one of her sweetest smile, "Come now Hermes, won't you want to see me off? We might just be gone for a long while…"