Meanwhile back up in the Upperworld… without the Spring Goddess the weather got colder, the sky turned grey, freezing cold wind howled everywhere, and despite Demeter's best efforts the earth became harder, the soil became drier, plants and animals struggled to survive… and so did the humans.
In a village farmhouse in the town of Eleusis, the peasant inhabitants huddled around the hearth, wrapped in blankets trying to keep warm, their animals surrounded them.
"We're running out of food, and the cattle are dying…" Metaneira wept, swiping the tears from her face.
Keleos nodded, "We've been praying for Persephone's return for two months, but there's no sign of her returning. Nothing can grow without her." Keleos said in a defeated tone.
Demophoon, their young son, didn't say anything, instead he pulled his garbs even closer to his body.
Metaneira spoke with fear evident in her voice, "If she does not come back… what will happen?"
Meanwhile down in the Underworld, Persephone was planning on escaping…
'Must follow the river… Must go home…' She thought to herself as she sat huddled on her bed, drawing on a map she had made of the Underworld.
Two weeks had passed since Theseus and Pirithous had tried to help her escape, she hadn't heard any thing nor had Hades said anything about what had happened to them, but she desperately hoped that it was nothing bad.
Her musings were cut short when she heard Arachne speaking from the doorway, "My lady?"
In a panicked movement Persephone hid her map under the bedsheets, "Y…yes?"
"Lord Hades would like to invite you to dinner." Arachne said cheerfully.
Persephone slowly turned around, "Him…invite me?" She said, slightly confused.
"Charon… do I really have to do this?" Hades said nervously as he watched Charon set the table. Hades rarely, if ever, used the dining room for meals. He usually ate them in his room as he worked.
"Yes my lord, Aphrodite's 'Book of Love' says women love romantic things, like dinner with candlelight. This is the chance to show her how much you care for her." Charon answered cheerfully.
Charon immediately perked up when the heard two sets of footsteps approaching the dining room. Hades could feel his innards give a twinge when Charon said, "Ah here comes the lady."
In came Persephone, who was being escorted by Arachne. Hades took a deep breath and hoped his voiced stayed smooth, "Have a seat, Persephone."
'What an arrogant prick', Persephone thought to herself as she approached the table, 'Have a seat? You don't even stand up and pull out the chair.' Persephone kept her face expressionless as she sat down.
"Would you like some juice, my lady?" Charon offered.
Persephone beamed at the skeleton, "Yes please, thank you very much Charon."
Through the corner of her eye she could see Hades resting his head on his arm either bored or dejected.
What one could almost say was a staring contest started between them as Persephone grabbed a piece of pita bread. She made sure she still had his full attention when she violently ripped the bread in half and furiously bit into it. She fought the urge to smile when she saw Hades shift nervously in his chair.
"Why don't the talk to each other?" Arachne whispered to Charon.
Charon squinted, "They're just… staring. Is there something wrong here?"
They exchanged glances, "My Lady?" Arachne said as she turned towards Persephone.
"My lord?" Charon said to Hades.
"How's dinner?" They said in union.
"It's great! Thank you!" Persephone replied, still glaring at Hades.
"It's fine!" Hades said, trying pretend he couldn't notice Persephone's constant glare.
Upon hearing him say that, Persephone swung around to face Charon and Arachne, beaming. "You two must have spent a lot of time on it. For that I believe you deserve a better compliment that just 'fine'! You know what? This is the most sumptuous meal I've ever had! Arachne, I've heard you're a brilliant seamstress but I never thought you could cook these amazing dishes."
Arachne blushed, "Thank you my lady!"
"And Charon, you must be the only gentleman in this world!"
Charon laughed awkwardly, "No milady! I just try to be polite."
Hades rolled his eyes as Persephone continued, "Honestly, I really don't understand why you two have to suffer having a horrible boss, and this filthy world. You two deserve to saty in the Upperworld with much better people."
"I own things that people in your beloved Upperworld always desire. There's more in this world than what you can call 'filthy' my dear." Hades interrupted as he stared in a cup of juice, he smirked at the goddess as he continued. "Things like gold and jewels."
Persephone scoffed, "Oh please! People live because of food given to them by my mother. What's good in those glittery dead things? In the end your realm has nothing but death, so don't be too proud."
Hades angrily slammed his cup down, "Really? If these 'glittery things' are not good, then why are people prepared to kill each other and die for them?" He leaned over the table so he could be closer to her. "You can go ahead and call me horrible but I keep my realm in order. There's no war, murder or theft in it. So tell me Persephone, which world is better? Yours or mine?" Hades full on glared at her, "You know nothing about me Persephone!"
"Actually I know one thing." Persephone retorted, her fingers curling around the edge of a plate, as Hades leaned back away from her. "That I will always want to hit your face with this plate!" She raised the plate in question towards Hades, before slamming it onto the table and whipped around, storming back to her room, "Thank you for dinner, Arachne, Charon!"
As soon as Persephone was out of earshot Charon turned to Hades, "Really my lord? You're supposed to gain her affection, not her hatred!"
"Should I?" Hades said, hearing his voice cracking as he said it, "Dinner was great… I'm going to retire."
Charon stood silently as he watched the god walk out of the room.
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