Pushing Daisies
A Greek Mythology Fanfiction
Ancient Era
Highway to Hell
Persephone
Poseidon was in trouble. Big trouble. Zeus was so angry about what Poseidon had said to Athena that ominous grey storm clouds darkened the skies of Olympus, thunder rolled and lightning flashed. In response, the sea was also churning with Poseidon's own rage at both Zeus and Athena. However, their anger was nothing compared to that of Aphrodite.
"How dare he? How dare he upset Athena like that? I'll show him how merciful Zeus is when compared with Love's rage!" She shouted furiously.
"I'm sure Athy's just calming down. She'll be back soon." Persephone soothed for what felt like the hundredth time. When Aphrodite got annoyed, no one, not even Hephaestus, could quell her fury. The only thing to do was to allow her to rant and rage for as long as she wished. Aphrodite's pale blond hair flowed around her in thick clouds, her violet eyes flashing murderously. The door opened and Aphrodite, upon seeing black hair, hurled a wine glass at what she thought was Poseidon. The figure staggered to the side with a cry of surprise.
"Are you still angry about the wardrobe thing? I said I was sorry! I'm building you a better one!" Hephaestus cried, not understanding Dite's outburst.
"Oh my us, Heph! I'm so sorry! I thought you were Poseidon! I just saw black hair!" She gasped and ran to hug her husband. Hephaestus was tall at 6"6, with short black hair, tanned skin and amber eyes like flames. He had a slight limp from when Hera had thrown him off of Olympus when he was a baby, but it was only slight. He sat next to Aphrodite on one of the couches while Persephone filled him in on what had happened at the Council Meeting between Athena and Poseidon. Aphrodite then decided to tell Hephaestus about Ares going after Athena because he loved her.
"Aphrodite! We were not supposed to tell anyone that!" She gasped self consciously; afraid people would over hear her sister's secret. Hephaestus seemed only mildly surprised.
"So he finally told her, did he? I wondered when he would. Ares has been harassing me for advice about it for months." He laughed.
"Really? That's so romantic!" Aphrodite practically swooned. Hephaestus smiled adoringly at his wife.
"It was amusing to see Ares so distraught."
"Well, that's just charming. Spilling my secrets and then gossiping about me." Ares drawled, entering the room. Persephone had to admit, Athena had good taste in men. Ares was tall, 6"5, and broad with a deep tan. His chin length wavy black hair, strong and almost sharp features made him look as intimidating as a war god should. However, for all his looks, Persephone found his hard to read blood red eyes terrifying. Persephone ducked her head, embarrassed.
"Oh, come on, Ares! I was bound to find out sooner or later! Athena is like a sister to me and we tell each other everything!" Aphrodite laughed, rolling her luminous eyes.
"Clearly I need a more secretive confidant." Ares replied dryly, raising an eyebrow at Hephaestus, who in response shrugged.
"What can I say? It's a well known fact that you've crazy about a certain wisdom goddess."
"That's so sweet! Who knew you had a soft side?" Persephone sighed.
"You know, most people don't antagonise the God of War." Ares murmured threateningly. Persephone swallowed.
"That's because most people don't know how melodramatic you are." Athena said, gliding silently into the room. Ares looked offended.
"I'm the God of War! I'm not melodramatic; I'm serious."
"You're seriously melodramatic." Athena replied.
"How are you, Athy? We can go and yell at Poseidon for you." Persephone asked gently.
"I'm fine. Just upset. But you know me; I'll be back to myself in a second, Spring." Athena smiled reassuringly.
"You know, this would be the perfect excuse to use my powers on someone. You're Zeus' little princess so he wouldn't punish me because we all know he likes you more than Poseidon." Ares said to Athena, rubbing a hand across his chin thoughtfully.
"What powers?" Aphrodite asked with slight apprehension.
"Oh, the usual. I could make his brains boil and turn his blood turn to lava." Ares said with a nonchalant shrug.
"But… But… That's awful! No one deserves that!" Persephone gasped.
"Some do." Athena murmured, a distant look in her silver eyes.
"No, they don't!" Persephone cried hotly. She knew she probably sounded childish, but she didn't care. Surely no one deserved that! Surely…
"You haven't seen war, Persephone." Ares said, his voice low.
"Some there are truly deserving of all the horrors Olympus can rain upon them." Athena sighed, saddened.
"But what could people do to deserve it?" Persephone asked, desperate to believe that there was some explanation for what she saw as barbarianism.
"Well…" Athena began hesitantly.
"Athena! Do not scare my Persephone with your tales of war! She is much too young for such things!" Demeter cried, swiftly flying into the room.
"Actually, the younger you learn the better prepared you are for the future." Ares mused. Athena glanced at him in mock surprise.
"You said something intelligent! Well done!"
"Too much time with you." Ares responded fondly, kissing her cheek. Demeter gaped at this display of affection and the also kissing Hephaestus and Aphrodite.
"I don't believe you! Surrounding my Persephone with this filth!" She cried.
"It's called love, Demeter. Watch what you say around its goddess." Aphrodite snapped, her voice unusually hard.
"It's nonsense! I thought better of you, Athena! A virgin goddess! I suppose Poseidon was right about what he said earlier!" Demeter screeched.
"Mother!" Persephone cried in horror. Athena stiffened. Ares leapt up in fury. He looked every inch the God of War now, filled with anger and surrounded by an aura of flames. The pint-sized goddess next to him looked just as angry but with a lot more hurt. Aphrodite touched Athena's arm and Hephaestus stood with Ares. Demeter wrenched Persephone to her feet roughly by the arm.
"Watch what you say, Demeter. One day, your bitterness and anger will come back to haunt you in the worst ways you can imagine." Ares snarled.
"Come along, Persephone!" Demeter hissed, dragging her out of the room.
"I don't want you around them any more, Persephone!" Her mother snapped. "I'll ask Zeus to move your Goddess Ceremony to a few days time. You'll be the virgin Goddess of Innocence."
"No! Mother, they're my friends! And I'm the Goddess of Spring!" Persephone retorted.
"No! You will do as I say!" Demeter shouted, shoving Persephone into her room and slamming the door, turning the key in the lock. Persephone threw herself onto her bed and sobbed. Then, an idea came to her. An awful idea. A brilliant, awful idea. She waited until long since Artemis had begun to draw her silver chariot across the sky and put on a midnight blue dress with a black shawl. Silently, she snuck from her bedroom and raced across Olympus. When she got to the entrance, he waited for her. His pale skin shone in the moonlight, black hair gleaming but amber-gold eyes delighted to see her. Hades pulled her to him and kissed her passionately.
"Persephone, what has happened?" He asked upon seeing her stricken expression.
"Take me back with you, Hades. I cannot be here any longer! Mother is suffocating me! Please! Take me with you!" She begged. Hades regarded her for a moment, judging her as he would a soul. Then, he nodded.
"Very well. Very well, my love. Let us bring Spring to a world of spirits."
And together, they walked into the darkness of the Underworld.
A/N: Ok, here's the next chapter! So sorry it took ages! I've been swamped with homework and exams! Hope you enjoy it and please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Greek Mythology!
A/N: Demeter was made very angry in the making of this chapter.