Chapter VII
Fifteen days had passed since Persephone had gone missing and things went very badly on earth. The disappearance of her daughter had taken a heavy toll on Demeter. She was so depressed, she lost her will to preform her duties. The forests, fields, and plains of earth had gone brown and dried out. Leaves fell from the trees and the crops failed. The humans began to starve and die, and the livestock and wild animals also suffered. To make matters worse, it got colder and the rain froze and turned into ice crystals. The rivers and streams froze over in thick sheets of ice, hard enough to walk on, but very slippery. Soon the earth was covered in a white icy wasteland. Not even the sun chariot could warm up the earth. Hermes, Apollo, and the sirens continued their search for Persephone. Poseidon, Hestia, Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, Artemis, Hephaistos joined in the search and even the forest and sea nymphs helped, but they couldn't find her. Zeus kept what he knew to himself. He wished there was something he could do to comfort his sister, but he knew Demeter would go crazy if she found out what he and Hades did. It was only three more days until Sisyphus's trial, but things couldn't go on longer like this.
Meanwhile, everyone else was unaware that Persephone was living happily in Hades' court. She had explored most of the underworld and often talked with the shades. She was pampered with such beautiful clothes and jewelery and felt like a princess. Hecate, Gorgyra and Orphne, became her closest friends, often accompanying her in her chambers whenever Hades was judging or at meetings with the other gods. Even Cerberus warmed up to the young goddess, and soon she grew fond of the giant dog. She also grew more fond of Hades. He had been nothing but kind and gentle to her. He also kept his promise to serve her only the food of the earth. Though she loved the underworld, Persephone felt that the place still needed some work. The shades said that they were waiting for something, but didn't know what.
Hades on the other hand, was being overwhelmed. For the past fifteen days, the number of deceased had been growing steadily. Charon had to make three to five trips every day to keep up with judgment time. The judgments took a heavy told on Hades, who suffered from headaches from overusing his powers. He even fainted once. The things most of the shades had in common was that they died of starvation or froze to death. The last shade of the day had come up to Hades, a young prince from Anatolia. Hades read his life story. He was Pelops, the youngest son of King Tantalus of Anatolia. He had grown up learning sports, combat training, and chariot driving. He had been honest and kind, and had spoken with wisdom. Then came the way he died. Tantalus had killed him with a sword to the heart so he could serve him in a banquet to the Olympians. And the banquet was today.
Hades got up from his throne. "Thanatos! Hypos!"
The two gods appeared before Hades, both with circles under their eyes from the judgments.
"Yes, our king?" Answered Hypos.
"Get my my chariot ready, and keep this shade in the throne room until I come back."
The Olympians where all gathered for a banquet today in Zeus's palace, but Hades had became too busy with his duties to attend. A mortal king, Tantalus of Anatolia, had been at one of the gods' banquets before and had offered them his own banquet to return the favor. Most were already seated, waiting for Tantalus's feast. The meat that was served was quite unusual to them. They felt something was wrong, but they didn't understand what it was. Demeter, however, was too saddened in her grief to notice and took a bite.
"Demeter! Stop!"
Hades had burst into the banquet hall and Demeter dropped the meat she ate. Everyone stared, perplexed by Hades's behavior.
"Hades?" exclaimed Zeus. "What is the meaning of-?"
Hades pushed his way pass Zeus and turned on Tantalus. "What have you done?!"
"A thousand apologies, my lord." Said Tantalus. "I was told that you couldn't attend, but you're welcomed to-"
"YOU BUTCHERED AND SERVED YOUR OWN SON!" Hades roared.
The gods and goddesses in banquet hall stood up, chattering with shock and outrage. Demeter gasped, horrified by what she blindly did. Now they knew why something felt off about what was on their plates. Tantalus cowered as Zeus approached him, electricity cracking from his body.
"What is this madness about serving your son?" He questioned the king grimly.
Tantalus stammered, "I-I didn't serve any of my sons! I-I served deer and cattle! I don't know what he's talking about!"
Hades narrowed his eyes. "Don't play with me, mortal, your son Pelops is a shade in the underworld. I read his life story and saw how he died. I can always tell how a person dies! What kind of an idiot do you take me for?!"
Tantalus cowered as Zeus's body lit up in thunder and lighting.
"Eating human flesh is forbidden! You dared to commit such evil and try to deceive us?! You will suffer for your blasphemy! To Tartarus with you!"
Zeus threw a lighting bolt at Tantalus who screamed and vanished in a flash of lighting. Hades had to travel back to the underworld to get the fates to make a special brew for him. He took it back to Olympus along with Pelops's shade and the gods were able to bring the prince back to life. His left shoulder was missing do to Demeter eating it, so Hephaistos made him a new shoulder made of ivory. After leaving Pelops in the care of Poseidon, Zeus brought Hades into the library, both exhausted.
"Hades," Zeus spoke up, "I'm afraid you'll have to give Persephone back to her mother."
"What?" Hades couldn't believe what he was saying, "But Zeus, she still hasn't gained her powers yet. It's too soon."
"I know, but this can't go on any longer. Demeter can't work without her daughter and humans are suffering because of it."
"But... I love her."
"And so does Demeter. It will just be for a few days. Until Demeter cheers up and fixes the earth."
"Just three more days, Zeus," Hades pleaded, "That's all I'm asking. Three more days. Then she can return after the trial."
Zeus sighed. "Very well. Three more days, then she'll have to return to Demeter."
Hades nodded, grateful to keep his bride longer. They didn't notice Apollo and Eros listening outside the door, having heard everything. The two looked at each other.
"Hades has Persephone?" Apollo whispered. "How can that be? He never loved anyone."
"I shot him with one of my arrows by mistake." Answered Eros, "But my arrows don't create love. They only make feelings stronger."
"So Hades was already in love with her. After Sisyphus's attack, Hades must have took her to the underworld to be his-"
Apollo grabbed Eros by his tunic, looking his right in the eye.
"This can't go out, Eros!" Apollo whispered urgently, "No one must ever find out what you did! If anyone does and Demeter finds out, we're dead!"
Eros nodded vigorously.
Persephone was walking along one of the rivers, wondering why Hades didn't keep his promise to show her this river. He did seemed more exhausted these days. She knew something was wrong, but she decided not to worry about it and went to the river herself. She brought with Cerberus with her in case anything came at her. Hades told her this was the river Phlegethon which separated the Asphodel Fields from Tartarus. She was never allowed to enter that place. Even Hades didn't go there unless he had no choice. Persephone watched as flames seemed to flicker across the water surface. Then something caught her attention.
"Kore... Kore..."
She knew that voice and only one person called her that.
"Mother?"
Persephone saw Demeter standing in the water. She was surprised to see her down here.
"Mother, I'm alright. Hades saved me from Sisyphus."
"Kore, my child." said Demeter, "I missed you so much. Come give me a hug."
Cerberus growled at Demeter, his fur standing on end and his ears folded back. Persephone didn't notice as she ran over and hugged Demeter.
"Mother, how did you-?"
Suddenly Demeter's body burst into a flaming hand. Persephone screamed as the giant hand grabbed her and pulled her quickly across the river. Cerberus barked wildly and ran for the palace. In the shadows, a cloaked figure walked out from behind a rock and removed his hood. Sisyphus sneered, satisfied that his trick worked.
