A/N I am so sorry I took ages to update. Thank you for your patience. Hopefully the chapter is worth the wait. Reviews are welcome.


Lord Hades looked deathly white in the moonlight. He was dressed in black and almost camouflaged within the night background, but the piercing blue eyes were unmistakable.

"Soteira? Why do you call me Soteira?" she asked, her eyebrows pulling. His blue eyes smouldered as he answered, "I call you Soteira because that is what you are. A Saviour."

A Saviour? Me? What am I going to save, dying flowers? She thought bitterly but said nothing. Lord Hades turned his penetrating gaze towards the sky. After a pause he said, "You know, the moon is a source of power. Some gods can draw energy from it."

Kore had no idea why he was there. But she knew there was a purpose to his visit. After all, the busy ruler of the Underworld did not make it a habit of chit chatting about the wonders of nature to lonely girls now did he? Whatever be the reason for his visit, Kore decided to humour him for some time.

"Some? Why not every god?"

"Because some others choose the sun over the moon." He answered.

"What did you choose?"

At that, he turned his gaze from the night sky to her face, his face twisted with a sardonic smile. "My realm has no sun or moon to speak of milady."

Oh. Right. Forgot that.

He turned his attention back towards the stars.

Kore waited for him to proceed with the conversation, to state the purpose of his visit, but he did not. Unfortunately Kore was not a very patient girl. In fact she might even come off as a little hot-headed. Emphasis on little.

"So…. Moon is a source of power, is that it?" she prompted.

"Tell me, daughter of Demeter, what made you want to come to my realm to rescue your late friend, Macris?" Hades asked as though he had not heard her.

Kore blanched. "What sort of question is that?! Which friend wouldn't?" she spluttered.

Lord Hades looked her straight in the eye. Kore sensed a strange power trying to crawl its way into her mind. Strange yet achingly familiar….

She snapped out of it. "What did you just do?" she rounded on the god standing before her, conviction colouring her voice.

Hades raised his eyebrows. "I was checking if you were telling the truth.

What? And then realisation dawned upon her. He had been reading her mind. Anger flared inside her. He was reading her thoughts without her permission. And here she was, thinking he was honourable and just and cut above the rest. What a creep.

"And you did not think it would be rude to do that?" she asked, vaguely thinking that was a very childish argument.

Apparently Hades thought so too, for he said, "Well, maybe you should better your defences." He said coolly.

There. Again, another reminder of her incompetency. Why was every single person bent on depressing her today? Unable to come up with a sassy comeback, Kore went for the offensive.

"Did you just come here to insult me, because you didn't get a chance at Olympus?" She shot him a withering glance, trying to show him she was not afraid of him.

When he answered her, his face was completely blank, voice even. "I am not one of them. And to answer your question, no. I did not come here to insult you. I found your observation sharp. I wanted to appreciate you on that. Do not let the thoughts of the Olympians enter your mind. They are dead weight and they contribute nothing to progress."

Well that was unexpected. He came here to make her feel better? Because he was not doing a great job. But his words were well placed. And they seemed radical. Like everything else in his realm.

"Why are you telling me this?" Kore asked, her eyebrows creasing. Truly, she could not fathom why the Lord of the Dead would take so many pains to try and help her. In his own twisted way.

He seemed to weigh his words before he answered, "It would be a shame to see talent go waste. After all, there is not much of that up here." He gestured around, but she understood he meant the above world.

Kore offered him a smile. It was small and tentative, but genuine. She imagined his eyes grew just a little wider at that.

He took a step back and nodded, "Persephone Soteira. Until next time."

With that, he was gone, engulfed by the darkness of the night, leaving Kore alone with her own thoughts.


Kore was left thinking about her conversation with Lord Hades for the next few days. Even when she was laughing with the nymphs or braiding her mother's hair or visiting mortal villages or talking to her dear friend Hermes, his words kept ringing in her ears.

Soteira. Soteira. Why are you so damn confusing Lord Hades? Why couldn't you have told me in plain terms!

One day, unable to bear her curiosity, Kore decided to avail for some help. Someone she can talk to without inhibitions. Someone who would give her some clarity. And who better to give clarity than the Goddess of Wisdom?

The next time Hermes made a visit, she gave him a letter, asking to deliver it to Athena when he saw her. Knowing Hermes was not the best when it came to minding his own business, she avoided writing anything important on that note, lest he should read it. It was a simple invitation from her side to Athena to come to Enna.

No sooner than she had given Hermes the message than Athena was at Enna. Even Kore was surprised at the quickness. Athena was an important goddess. Many mortals prayed to her and she was quite busy. She was touched that Athena would make time for her.

They met at the cool glade by the pool at the outskirt of the woods.

Athena cast a charm around them so they could not be overheard by anyone.

"Greetings little Kore, my lovely sister." Athena hugged her.

"Good to see you Athena, how are you doing?" Kore asked her sister.

"Never been better darling. Olympus is, unusually peaceful. Poseidon notwithstanding." She finished, pursing her lips at disapproval.

Kore giggled. Everyone knew the ancient grudge the God of the Seas and the Goddess of wisdom bear each other. And sometimes they went out of their way to spite the other.

"So Kore, what was it that made you summon me here?" Athena took a business-like tone.

Kore drew a deep breath. "Lord Hades visited me the night I was…uh… at the meeting in Olympus."

"He did?! But… what did he want?" Athena looked beyond surprised. There was something else in her voice too, but Kore couldn't place it.

"Well, at first he kept saying vague things, honestly, but then towards the end he made it sound like I should not give up or something, but Athena, I am thoroughly confused.

Does he expect something of me? Should I be worried?"

Athena looked thoughtful as she processed what Kore had just said. Then with carefully measured words, she said, "Kore, you should understand that if Lord Hades says something, there is a lot of meaning to it.

And he has met you, then something serious is going on."

Athena paused. Kore felt her heart race. "Athena, say something. You are scaring me.'

Athena turned her thoughtful gray eyes to Kore's startling green.

"Kore… do you know why you do not reside at Olympus like the other gods?

Kore wondered where this was going, but answered anyway, "Because my mother cannot stand the fickle ways of the Olympian gods. And because… she thinks it is not safe for me."

"Safe how, Kore?" Athena prompted.

"Well… we all are aware of the lustful behavior of our kin. Come on Athena, don't you know that?" Kore asked, impatient.

"Well Kore, it is not just that. I think it is time you know the other, most important danger that Olympus holds you. No god, especially the one that holds the position of 'King of Gods' be it Uranus or Kronos or our own father, Zeus, likes it when someone rivals their position. Whenever there is a threat to their throne, they become heartless. And they don't hesitate to wipe that threat from the cosmos."

"Okay… but how is this relevant to me?" asked Kore even as her stomach twisted uncomfortably.

"Kore… I am not sure Demeter will like this. I am ruining all she has worked for her entire life."

"Athena, when you say 'all she has worked for her entire life' you mean her tireless efforts to keep me locked away from any knowledge I can hope to gain. And now it is time for me choose. And I choose freedom." Kore's tone was fierce.

Athena looked hesitant, but after a moment, made her mind up and continued. "Of course. It is a crime against my office if my own sister lives in ignorance. An insult to wisdom itself.

So Kore, you are not just a Goddess of Spring. You are the Goddess of what spring represents. What does spring represent Kore?"

Kore answered thoughtfully, "Spring represents life, happiness, a fresh beginning when all old things fade away and new things are born…when rebirth happens…" Now it dawned on Kore. Macris' words about a phoenix, Lord Hades visiting her, her mother's extreme protectiveness.

"I am the Goddess of rebirth." She finished in a hushed voice.

Athena looked sad. "And that makes you a very powerful Goddess. You have the power to give life to the dead. And understand the difference between your powers and your mother's Kore. Your mother creates life from life. She cannot revive a dead crop. But you, you create life from death.

From the beginning of time, the dead and the living have existed in a very close proximity. But Aether and Nether never mixed. They never became interchangeable. And that kept the balance.

With your powers, you can destroy that balance. You threaten the very existence of the Other Side. Imagine you keep giving life to all of Lord Hades' subjects, then his power will reduce. His power lies in the number of dead. If that reduces, I shudder at the thought of what would happen to the rest of us."

Kore couldn't believe her ears. This was all happening too fast. For decades, she lived under the belief that she was useless. A non-entity. And suddenly, in mere moments, her world was crashing around her. She was being told that she was one of the most powerful deities in existence. Not only that, but that she was dangerous. Someone capable of hurting her own family.

Naturally, her mind wanted to refuse this new development. But deep down, in her heart of hearts, she knew it was true. Even as a heavy feeling settled in on her, Kore realised something else.

With a small voice she told her sister, "And that's why Lord Hades visited me. He wanted to size me up. To see if I was really a threat. Not to comfort or help me." She didn't know why that realisation hurt.

Athena was quiet. Kore felt panic. "Athena, you don't think I am an evil person do you? You know I would never hurt any of you."

Athena laughed. "I know sweety. And I think you are a very good person. But not everyone will share my open- mindedness. Which is why this information has been kept a secret. If Zeus even suspected anything of this sort, then-"

A loud clap of thunder sounded in the background, as if the King of gods had heard Athena call his name. they turned their heads skyward

Athena looked more than alarmed. She looked terrified. She swift took Kore by the shoulders, and asked in an agitated voice, "Kore, did I say our father's name earlier in our conversation?"

Kore looked stupefied. Athena shook her again. "Kore answer me!"

The sound of thunder was growing louder. Kore tried to recollect…

'especially the one that holds the position of 'King of Gods'

be it Uranus or Kronos or our own father, Zeus,'

Zeus, Zeus, Zeus….

"Oh Athena, you did! Right at the beginning! You think he was listening to our entire conversation then? But what about the charm? Did it not work?"

A third, deeper voice spoke then, "Seems like it did not, lovely daughter"

Zeus spat the last word like it was a curse.

Kore backed away.

Athena took a step forward and spoke in a desperate tone, "Father, I can explain-"

"SILENCE!" bellowed Zeus and birds flew with a raucous cry somewhere away.

"You, girl will address me ask 'Lord.' And if you value your life, you will leave right now and not breathe a word of this to anyone.

And if you have any ridiculous notion of disobeying me, know that it will be the life of your dear friend Demeter next." Kore let out a strangled cry at that.

Athena gulped. She was a strong female, but she did not dare risk his wrath, lest Demeter should also be punished.

"Athena, don't. Not my mother!" Kore begged.

Zeus laughed mirthlessly. "Oh how touching. The two traitors are protecting each other!"

He cast a side-long glance at Athena. "Are you not gone yet?"

Athena walked away swiftly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Once she was gone, Zeus turned his attention towards Kore, smiling like a predator.

"What a beauty. Pity it would have to go waste" he said, aiming his infamous thunderbolt at her.