Chapter Nine: the Crowning of a New Queen
In the morning, Persephone had hurriedly examined her closet before grabbing a pure white lace gown with many frills along with white heels and glittering gold bracelets and her necklace that she had crafted. She also did her hair, gracing its beauty with a lovely violet hairbrush. Her usually straight hair became a braided masterpiece.
She ate a ripe pomegranate, the sweet textures seeping into her mouth. When she devoured the whole fruit that stained her fingers a bloody red, she checked up on her children.
Zagreus was wearing a black tux with a ruby tie and a rose attached to his shirt pocket. His sisters were wearing white dresses and holding bouquets of narcissuses.
She felt a hand tug roughly at her elbow and she turned to see an anxious-looking Ares. "Yes, my war-crazed brother?"
"Um… I was just wondering if we could keep our… incident to ourselves from last night." Ares was looking embarrassed, definitely. "Of course my dear brother, of course."
Ares nodded swiftly and took his leave- to his lover's side. Persephone progressed to give her children to follow her into the throne room when Zeus came to deliver her to her husband and hours-to-be king.
Hecate, Nyx and everyone who lived beside her surrounded her, waiting patiently for Zeus.
Hecate wore a blood red party dress and white leggings with black boots and fine jewelry. Her dark blue hair was partly braided and partly in a bun, highlighting her light blue hue.
Nyx wore an icy blue party dress with white sleeves, black leggings, brown boots, and a lovely amber necklace.
Erebus wore a deathly grey tux and his hair was tussled. He had shaded black shades that Persephone was sure to hide his hangover.
Thanatos was wearing a pure black tuxedo with an intense blue tie and grey arm and leg cuffs.
Charon wore his usual black shawl, but he was holding a single red, thorn less rose, which he handed to the queen-to-be.
Hypnos had actually wore non-pajamas; he wore a light blue tux with a pillow intact. His brother wore a midnight blue tux with a red tie, and he was petting a certain dog that Persephone had grown quite fond of.
Cerberus had become fancy as well; his left head had a red cloth tied to his neck that substituted as a tie. His right head wore a blue cloth that was also used as a tie. And the middle head wore a white cloth used as a tie, along with a case that was locked hung on his chest.
Not even an hour later, Zeus appeared. He wore a black tux with gold cuffs on his arms and legs, along with an ocean-blue ties; it seemed that it had his, Poseidon's, and Hades' own ideas put into it.
Zeus held out an arm for his daughter to take, which she did, and led her to the same place that she and Hades got married. Only this time, it looked regal and sophisticated. There were chairs with black ribbons attached and had blood red cushions. Soft, beautiful music played throughout the room.
As Persephone and her father made their way into the area, she managed to catch glimpses of her family. Demeter wore a light violet dress that reached her calf, black leggings, and bronze heels. She held a box, wrapped in a lovely shade of blue, and placed at a throne.
Ares wore a blood red tunic with gold stripes at the helm, along with silver sandals and a war helmet. He carried a box of his own, which was a deep red, and placed at the throne as well.
Persephone didn't see anyone else until she entered the room, which must have been a cue for Zeus, because he left her side to sit with Hera.
Artemis wore a pure silver dress that reached her ankles, a bronze tiara, a quiver of arrows, and silver heels.
Apollo wore a black tux with black shoes and a ruby tie.
Athena wore a dark grey sweater, dark denim jeans, an owl necklace, owl earrings, and black heels.
Aphrodite wore an orchid dress with many frills and laces.
Hermes wore his usual running track outfit, with his regular helmet and winged shoes.
Hephaestus wore a black tux with grey stripes and silver shoes.
Hera was wearing a simple white dress with gold heels.
Hestia was wearing the same shawl from last night, only the hoodie was down this time; her long braided auburn hair hung freely in the air, her face was decorated with soft, green eyes, freckles, long eyelashes, and thin lips.
Dionysus was wearing the same outfit from last night.
Everyone held a box and put it under the same throne.
Persephone looks for Hades and realizes that he is on his own throne. She makes her way up the stairs leading to him. Persephone bows her head, waiting.
"Ahem," Hades clears his throat. "Persephone, Goddess of the Spring, she who eats the light, Do you know everything about the Underworld that is Possible?"
"I do know everything, my lord."
"Do you know the five rivers of the Underworld?"
"Yes; the river Styx, the river Lethe, the river Acheron, The river Phlegethon, and the river Cocytus."
"Do you know the three judges?" He gestures to his loyal judges.
"Yes; there is Minos, Rhadamthus, and Aiakos. Rhadamthus is the judge who decides whether or not you go to Elysium, Aiakos is the judge who decides whether or not you go to Tartarus, and Minos is the judge who decides the last decision."
"Do you know the three fates?" He gestures to his loyal fates.
"Yes; Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Clotho weaves the thread of life, Lachesis measures the thread of life, and Atropos cuts the thread of life."
Persephone began to talk faster and more confident with each question, and her body began to glow.
"Do you know the three furies?"
"Yes; Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera. Alecto causes constant anger, Tisiphone causes murder, and Megaera causes jealousy."
"What are the areas of the Underworld?"
"Tartarus, the Isles of the Blest, The five rivers, the Fields of Punishment, the Asphodel Plains, and Judging hall."
Hades smiled lightly and gestured to the throne beside him, the one where everyone put their presents. The seat was a lead decorated with rubies; the armrests were flower stems sprouting tulips. The legs were also flower stems and the back support was filled with various gems.
"Since you have answered all of the knowledge trivia needed to know, I will need you to do one last question: How do you properly judge a soul?"
Persephone closed her eyes in concentration as everyone else leaned forward, anxious to hear the answer. "The proper way to judge a soul is to first listen to their story, almost become that person. Search for the lies or the truths hidden inside it. Then you must push every single feeling out of you, for it will make your decision suffer a great amount. Finally if the soul has not done much good in their life, they are sent to the fields of Punishment or Tartarus; If they have not done too much evil, then they are sent to the Elysium Fields; and lastly if they have done a fair share of good and evil, they are sent to the Asphodel Plains where they are born three times."
Persephone's body began to burn and sizzle. Her skin was brought to an angry red and she began to change. Her still-tan arms, legs and face were now a deathly pale. Her auburn braided hair was now a deep brown and was flowing in the wind. Her dress became a robe with a deep purple letter "H" over the right breast. Her face no longer resembled a child's but a woman's.
Hades called for his dog and Cerberus came, trotting up to him. Hades unlocked the chest and Cerberus ran to be next to Nyx. Hades leaned down with a crown in his hands. It was a silver crown with a single emerald as a centerpiece. He placed in her hair and he stood up, bringing her up with him. Persephone opened her mouth, causing shivers. She did not speak, only drew puffs of air.
Artemis stood up, now holding a purple box. "Queen Persephone, I offer you the most accurate of arrows." The present dissolved into mist and snaked its way into Persephone's mouth.
Apollo followed his sister's lead. "Queen Persephone, I offer you the brightest light when all is dark." His gold box also turned into mist and followed its way into Persephone's mouth.
Ares stood next. "Queen Persephone, I offer you the sharpest blade for when your enemies dare challenge you." His bloody red present snaked its way into her mouth as well.
Athena stood as well. "Queen Persephone, I offer you the wisest of words, plans, and strategies."
Poseidon stood also as did his brother. "My niece, I offer you the strength of an earthquake and the grace of the sea."
"My daughter, I offer you the agility of a lightning bolt."
Aphrodite stood next. "Queen Persephone, I offer you my promise of a happy life with a loving husband and children."
Hera stood after her. "Queen Persephone, I offer you the best marriage of us all."
Demeter followed, as did Dionysus, Hermes, Hephaestus, and Hestia. "My daughter, I offer you plentiful amounts of food and nutrition."
"My sister, I offer you (hiccup) a lovely bottle of Merlot."
"My sister, I offer you the speed of anything you desire."
"My sister, I offer you the brightest flame for when all is cold."
"My niece, I offer you hope, when there is nothing more than to give up."
Hecate stood next. "My Queen, I offer you my undying loyalty and healing potions for when sick and injured."
Charon stood next. "My Queen, I offer my undying loyalty and transportation wherever you may want to go."
Nyx, Thanatos and Erebus followed. "My Queen, I offer you my undying loyalty and protection."
"My Queen, I offer you a life of love."
"My Queen, I offer you the minions of shadows."
Hypnos and Morpheus went next. "My (yawn) Queen, I offer you easy nights of sleep."
"My Queen, I offer you night terror-less dreams."
Finally Macaria, Zagreus, and Melinoe came. "Mommy, I give you many blessed souls."
"Mommy, I give you a prophecy of," He stopped mid-sentence, concentrating before gasping in shock. "A wronged affair, a jealous goddess, and a happy ending."
Everyone held a look of; 1) worry, 2) confusion, and 3) fear.
"Mommy, I give you a life of love."
Suddenly a cocoon of vines formed around Persephone and everyone jumped up and out of their seats in fear. But then cracks began to form and the cracks glowed a luminous gold. After several minutes, the cocoon dissolved into gold powder.
Persephone's eyes were no longer a bright green, but rather a pitch black. Persephone held out her arms and emitted a glowing grey ball of light from the palm of her hand. She released the orb of light into the air and saw how it drained the life and light and smiled.
"Hail, to your new queen of the Underworld!" Hades screamed.
"Now for your final test: to select the outcome of this mortal."
Everyone sat back down, as did the new queen. Her delicate, nimble fingers gripped the armrests of her throne.
A young male youth stepped forward. He had chocolate brown curly hair that covered a part of his stone-grey eyes. He had somewhat tan skin and wore a heartbroken expression. He had on tan khakis, a dark brown tee, and black shoes, along with a golden harp and a traveler's bag. "I am Orpheus and I come for my dead wife."
"State your story, mortal; for I will need to assess your tale of lies and the truths. You will be punished for the lies."
Orpheus took a step forward, looking a bit anxious. "A few days ago, I had been married to my wonderful bride, Eurydice. Minutes after we had been declared husband and wife, a poisonous snake bit my wife's ankle, delivering fatal poison into her bloodstream. We were supposed to die of old age, together. Please my lady, send her soul back to me."
Persephone's heart began to feel sympathy for this pour man, but then she remembered her own trivia, regarding how to judge a soul. So, she pushed down her sympathy, her sadness, and all of her emotions into an unknown area to judge fairly.
"Orpheus, I will make you a deal: If you can lead you and Eurydice back up into the world of the living, without looking back, and then she is freed. However, if you cannot stop the temptation to assure yourself that she is there and look back, she stays and there are NO second tries."
Orpheus nods excitedly, overjoyed at the deal and saw his wife forming before his very eyes.
Eurydice had lush black hair that fell to her shoulders and had vibrant blue eyes. Her tan skin glittered as she gazed upon her husband. She wore a silver dress etched with laces and bows.
"My husband, what have you done?" Eurydice's voice trailed a few minutes longer that the living, as did all ghosts.
"I'm going to take you home, my love, my life." He turned around and as he did, the fates decreed "It has begun."
A crystal ball appeared in the middle of the room as Orpheus and Eurydice left. It showed that Orpheus was, at first, thoroughly pleased with himself, but then his eyes began to wander to his bride before reminding himself of the deal. Just when he had one foot placed on the meadows of the surface world, he did his mistake: He looked back.
Immediately black tendrils lashed out and formed around Eurydice, pulling her back into the Underworld. Orpheus tried to grab her hand, but it slipped through his; the misty fingers slid through his flesh and she became… nothing.
Upon hearing his sobs, Persephone stood, holding a vibrant violet orb of light. She transported herself to the broken-down Orpheus and pulled him off the ground from where he weeped. She pushed the orb into his chest and said "Since I know the future, I bare you a gift: the gift of swift time. You will have the most painful death imagined, but it will be soon and you will join your wife in the Elysium Fields. Go now, musician, go."
She waved her hand and he vanished from her sight.
Persephone transported herself back to her husband's side, from where everyone still stood. The moment she appeared, everyone applauded her for her actions. Hades then realized something: the non-Underworld gods' time was up. He made his way over to Zeus and whispered "You have to leave soon, like NOW."
Zeus nodded before giving his daughter a hug and announced "It is time to take our leave, my daughter; take care of yourself."
Since the gods on Olympus are very theatrical, they took their leave in an extraordinary way. Zeus's body glowed a metallic gold, Hera's body glowed a lovely white, Poseidon's body glowed a deep blue, Hephaestus' body glowed a rusty orange, Ares' body glowed a bloody red, Aphrodite's body glowed a beautiful magenta, Artemis' body glowed a lone silver, Apollo's body glowed a blinding yellow, Athena's body glowed a wise grey, Dionysus' body glowed a vibrant violet, Demeter's body glowed a plain tan Hermes' body glowed a lush green, and Hestia's body glowed a hopeful bronze.
When the glows disappeared, the gods were gone. Truly amazing, the way they live up to the expectations of others.
Zagreus, Macaria, and Melinoe ran up to their parent's arms and hugged them fiercely. Persephone leaned down to whisper in her son's ear "What exactly did your prophecy tell you, my son?"
"A man named Adonis tried to take you from daddy, he was the affair part. The jealous goddess is Aphrodite and she wants to send a mortal named Psyche to take a part of your beauty for herself. And everyone would be happy in the end."
Persephone nodded, deep in thought. Who is Adonis; what was the plan of Aphrodite?
All of a sudden, Persephone fell into her husband's arms, unconscious.
Hades walked calmly into Persephone's room, with the new queen still in his arms. She must have used up too much magic and drained her. He carefully set her down on the plush bed, letting her sleep. All the while, he decided to sit down in a chair and rest for a while.