A few weeks later-

The meadow was vibrant with colors. Everywhere around them flowers bloomed in all shapes and sizes. Persephone smiled as she gazed out of the glorious sight. She and her friends were spending the day gathering flowers.

She stooped and plucked a small purple flower and placed it in her basket.

She smiled and waved at her friends when they called her name, but mostly she was in a world of her own. Lost in the beauty around her, so it wasn't a surprise that no one noticed her sudden disappearance.

…………………….

She tried to see, but the room around her was cloaked in darkness. It was a great change from the sunny meadow she had just been in. "Where am I?" she called out.

For a moment there was no answer. Then a deep voice spoke. "You are in Hades," he said.

She gasped. Hades!?! She turned to run, but of course she couldn't. She was smothered in darkness. "Who are you?" she cried out in fear.

"I'm the god of the Underworld. You have nothing to fear, Persephone," the voice assured.

Hot tears began to run down her cheeks. "Why am I here?" she asked.

"You are to become my queen, beautiful Persephone," the voice announced gleefully.

Her eyes widened with fear. "No, I must return to my mother," she reasoned. "She needs me. I have to go back."

Silence surrounded her.

"You have to take me back," she pleaded.

"You cannot go back, you must stay," the voice said. "Relax and let your eyes adjust and you will be able to see."

She shook her head. "I don't want to see," she screamed. Tears were flowing in torrents down her pale face. "Let me go."

…………………

Demeter was surprised when Persephone didn't return with the other girls. She spotted Thalia and hurried to ask about her daughter. "Thalia, have you seen Persephone?" she asked anxiously.

"Not since we were in the meadow, why?" Thalia replied.

"She hasn't returned," Demeter said with a frown.

"Do you want me to go look for her?" Thalia offered.

Demeter shook her head. "That's kind of you to offer, but she probably just got lost in the meadow." She smiled to reassure Thalia. "She loves to wonder."

Thalia nodded. "Yes, she does."

Knowing Thalia wasn't completely satisfied with the excuse; Demeter laid a hand on the young girl's arm. "Don't worry, I'll find her."

Thalia nodded a bit uncertainly, but she still went on her way.

Demeter sighed. Where was Persephone?