Chapter 1

"AH! Mother my tugging on my hair to hard!"

"Kore, it isn't my fault that you and Hermes had to play tag in the forest. The only way to get all these twigs and dirt out is with a brush." scolded Demeter.

"But mom, do you have to brush so hard? It feels like you're pulling my hair out." she whined.

"Sorry dear this is the only way to get it all out in such a short time before the party. You and Hermes just had to run off to play on the day that you're appearing at Olympus for the first time. Don't you want to have a good first impression for them?"

"I guess." Persephone mumbled.

"Good. So stay still my dear."

Demeter wiped the comb in and out through her curly reddish brown hair. She spent the rest of her afternoon being scrubbed head to toe, dressed in ribbons and cloths, a tornado of soap and silk. It was like torture.

Demeter stepped back to view her work. "You look beautiful Kore."

"Okay mother! Enough looking at me, can we go now?!" She exclaimed, hopping up and down, excited at the thought I would finally be meeting my extended family and father, the great king of the gods, Zeus.

Demeter smiled at her child's excitement, but inside she was worried about what she was letting her dear daughter face.

"Dear, you have to realize that your cousins aren't sweet and innocent of creatures like the nymphs and Oceanids. They only care for their own welfare and pleasure, especially my male relatives. Persephone, I'm bringing you to Olympus because Zeus, your father commanded me to, but I want you to understand that Olympus isn't that place of fairytales and happiness. Okay?"

Persephone nodded and said in a serious tone."I understand mother."

Demeter peered down at her daughter, and say she was all serous now, put she still felt uneasy. Persephone never witness sins and deception, she was an innocent 10 year old spring goddess that thought she knew great evils, but she didn't, not like her thought Demeter bitterly.

Memories came upon her.

Demeter picking flowers in a field; Zeus coming up to her; Demeter turning to greet him, and Zeus captures her lips. She tries to scream, but Zeus clamps his hand over her mouth and pushes her to the ground. He leans his body into her, as she tries to push him off her, but her wiggling just enhances his desire. Zeus grabs her arms, pulls them above her head, and thrusts into her. She screams, but Zeus doesn't seem to hear, doesn't seem to care. He keeps pushing and pushing, until his desire is relieved. Gives her a depart kiss on her forehead and leaves her, crying in the crushed grass. She stays there, tears streaming down her face, her innocence crushed.

I will never let that happen to her.

She smiled sadly at her and said, "Okay Persephone, let's go."

"Welcome back, Demeter." Zeus rumbled in his low, powerful, baritone voice. You could practically feel the ground shake.

"Thank you Zeus, for the warm welcome." Demeter says in a mild tone.

"And who is this sweet creature trailing behind you?" Zeus questions with a hint of curiosity. Nothing really surprises the Gods these days.

"This is our precious daughter, Persephone."

"Ah. And what a gorgeous child she is indeed, and a virgin at that. You better watch your child Demeter; you know the type of men that reside here." Hera warns in a mocking voice, and glares at her testosterone high husband, seeing another child sire by him.

"Indeed I do."

"Well, go ahead and sit down Demeter, and your child too," says Zeus, a little uncomfortable now. "And I hope you enjoy Olympus, young Persephone."

"So this is your child I've heard so much about. I must say Demeter, she really is a beautiful child, really taken after you." nods Artemis.

"Thank you Artemis. She is a wonderful daughter, but a little too curious for my liking. I'm afraid of the gods' influence here. They might manipulate her innocence and her wonder for knowledge. "Demeter's eyes showing great worry.

"Dear Demeter, I understand your worry, but Persephone needs to understand the world of the gods. You can't forever shelter her in a world of bliss ignorance. It might do her and you some good here. I know you must have missed Olympus, regardless of the last event that made you flee to earth. "

"I did, and Zeus and the other gods seems to be behaving himself, so I'm a little at ease."

"And you should be. Alright, enough of this serious talk let me fill you in for the past years you missed."

As Artemis and Demeter gossiped, Persephone and Hermes were playing a fun game of hide-and-seek.

"You'll never find me Kore!" echoed Hermes's voice in the entrance hall, hiding far behind a pillar.

"Just because you're older than me, and you have those cheating winged sandals, doesn't mean I won't beat you!" yelled Persephone.

She started running towards the direction of his voice, not knowing she was about to go down a flight of stairs. She tipped on a step, and was about to tumble down, when a cold hand gripped her wrist, pulling her back to the top step. She eventually regained her balance, and looked up to the face of her rescuer.

"Thank you, kind sir. If you haven't taken hold of me, I'm not sure what would have happened." she gratefully thanked, staring up into a pair of dark, dark eyes.

"My pleasure, though I rather you remember not try to fly down any stairs again." He replied coldly, though his eyes should a glint of amusement.

"I won't" Persephone said, as she blushed.

"May I ask for your name little one?" a hint of a smile on his face.

"I'm Persephone, though people call me Kore. What's your name? I don't think I saw you at the banquet today," Persephone now curious about this dark, hooded man.

"I'm Hades, God of the Underworld, and you probably didn't see me because I don't rather enjoy family gatherings."

"This is the first time I'm meeting all the gods and goddesses!" exclaimed Persephone.

"Is that so?" Hades's turn to look curious.

"Ya. I and my mother Demeter lived on earth, gardening and harvesting the fields. I specialize in flowers," she proudly replying.

"Hm...So you're the daughter of Demeter? I must say, the stories are true. You really are a delight on the eyes," mused Hades. With eyes of spring time green and perfect ringlets of reddish-chocolate brown, I'm surprised Apollo or Ares aren't trying to seduce her right now. Probably afraid of Demeter's wrath, thought Hades with a smile.

"Thank you milord," she said as she blushed again.

"Please, call me Hades."

"Thank you...Hades," blushing even redder now.

"Persephone! Where are you darling?!" shouted Demeter.

"It seems you are needed. "

"Goodbye milord, I hope to see you another time."

She turned to leave, when Hades suddenly snatched her wrist, and brushed his lips lightly on her hand, and stared up into her flush face.

"Goodbye sweet Persephone."

And with that, he disappeared into the shadows. Persephone stood there frozen, feeling only the slight warmth on her hand, and the rush of emotions that came with it. Wow

"Persephone is something wrong?" as Demeter rushed to her daughter's side. "Hermes came to me, when you didn't respond to his calls."

"Oh. I'm sorry to have distress you and Hermes, I…um…" She didn't realize why she didn't want to tell Demeter about her encounter with Hades. She just wanted to keep this moment to herself. "I…got lost in… another hallway," stammered Persephone.

"Well, this place is like a maze. I think you had enough excitement for today. Let's go back home." Demeter said as she tucked a stray lock behind my ear.

Demeter led Persephone down the hall, but as she was about to past the front door, she turns her head for a last glance into the shadows. She abruptly wiped her head back, thinking she saw a pair of dark eyes in all that darkness.

Okay peoples. Hope you like teh story so far. this is my first story, so i would love to hear what you think of it so far. and if you dotn review. my little smilie will stare at you until you do. o-o still staring