Chapter IX

"Alright, what is the jury's verdict?"

It was nearing the end of Sisyphus's trial. Sisyphus was chained between Thanatos and Hypos. Zeus was the judge while the Furies, three half-woman, half-falcon creatures who haunted and tormented murderers, served as the jury. Hades and the shade servant girl both made their testimony against Sisyphus. From his meetings with Cronus, to Sisyphus's first attack on Persephone. Hades was surprised that Sisyphus said nothing at all. Not even to admit or deny anything.

The eldest fury, Tisiphone, stood up, "My lord, we find King Sisyphus of Thessaly guilty of attempted kidnapping of a goddess and treason for siding with the titans."

Zeus stood up and pointed at Sisyphus, "Sisyphus, you will be sent to Tartarus and bound for eternity. That concludes this trial."

The trial had gone smoothly. Hades had left with Thanatos and Hypos leading Sisyphus out in chains. Everyone had started to chatter and gossip about other matters. As soon as Hades and the others have left, Eros walked nervously into the throne room. Apollo was following him.

Eros's wings twitched. "Apollo, we have to tell someone the truth about Persephone."

"But we can't," whispered Apollo, "Demeter will blow her head off."

"It doesn't have to be Demeter. Maybe my mother will understand. She can figure something out."

Apollo hesitated, "Okay, but she better not tell Demeter."

Eros and Apollo walked over to Aphrodite who was busy talking with Eros' father, Ares the god of war. Apollo nudged Eros to make him speak up.

"Uh, mother?"

Aphrodite looked up, "Yes, Eros?"

"Well, uh..." Eros's wings fidgeted nervously. "I have to tell you something. Just don't tell Demeter."

"Is it about Persephone?" Aphrodite asked.

"WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON HIM!"

Eros jumped up in the air as the angry voice startled him and everyone in the throne room. A few seconds later, the doors burst open and Demeter charged in with a scythe, seething with rage. She reached Zeus and swung out at him, just missing him when he jumped back.

"You filthy scum! You're going to be wishing you're dead by the time I'm through with you!"

"Demeter, what is the meaning of this?" Zeus exclaimed.

Athena stepped forward and grabbed the scythe. "Demeter, put the scythe down."

"You stay out of this!" Demeter snapped at her.

Hera ran forward and helped Athena stop Demeter from swinging the scythe again.

"Demeter, stop!" Shouted Hera. "What has he done this time?"

"He helped Hades kidnap Kore and gave her to him as his bride!"

The court went silent. Poseidon spoke up. "Demeter, Hades would never kidnap anyone. Not even your own daughter."

Demeter didn't listen as she struggled against Hera and Athena holding her back.

"You knew all along and you didn't tell me!" she screamed, "I have suffered for seventeen days and nights! What gave you the right to give her to him?!"

Zeus tried to reason with her. "Hades didn't kidnap Persephone, Demeter. Besides, she's my daughter, too."

"That means nothing! I'm her mother! I raised her from the day she was born! You give me back my daughter right now or I won't tend the earth ever again!"

"Wait!" Eros cried, "It wasn't their fault!"

Everyone looked at Eros, surprised. Demeter turned to him and Apollo, glaring at their guilty faces.

"What do you mean by that?" She growled.

"Well, I got this idea that I could make Persephone love Apollo more by shooting her with one of my arrows. Then Sisyphus came along and ruined my plan. And I..." Eros swallowed, knowing what was coming to him. "I shot Hades instead."

"You what?!" Demeter shouted, "You stupid, cumbersome fool! I knew there was something rotten about you!"

"Hey, my finger slipped!" Exclaimed Eros. "Arrows of love only strengthen current feelings!"

"I told you it was a bad idea." Muttered Apollo.

Demeter turn towards Zeus. "Give me Kore back or the humans won't get their crops. They'll starve and suffer in the underworld!"

"Demeter-" Zeus began.

"Father," Athena spoke up. "It's best if Persephone is returned. The mortals have suffered for too long. If this continues, they will stop believing in the gods and turn away from us. Without their support, we will lose our power."

Zeus thought deeply to himself. He hated to break his promise to Hades, but he knew he had no choice.

"Hermes!" Zeus called.

Hermes had stopped working on the exploding box he was working on to prank Hera later. He hid the box away in his bag and stood up.

"Yes, Father?"

"Go to the underworld and fetch Persephone."

Demeter glared at Hermes. "And don't you try anything funny!"

"I won't! Sheesh!" Hermes turned to leave. "Man, this woman is nuts!"

Hades was pacing his throne room. He had only the next day left to spend with Persephone and she still didn't say that she loved him. She had been quiet since the day he rescued her from Tantalus in Tartarus. Sisyphus was now out of the way and he would never harm Persephone again. The doors opened and the Fates came into the room, Clotho, Laschesis, and Atrops. They were three beautiful women with ghostly white hair who were guardians of destiny. Clotho spun the fates of women and men, Lachesis measured the fates of women and men, and Atropos severed the fates of women and men.

Clotho spoke up. "My lord, they will come for Persephone, but tonight when the moon chariot raises at it's peek in the sky, she will become a full-fledged goddess. An old enemy will try to escape, but only she can stop it."

Hades sighed. "That wasn't the answer I was hoping for."

"We can't change fate, my lord." Said Lachesis, "No one can alter fate."

"Cronus never understood this and thus, he fell." Added Atropos.

The Fates left the throne room to return to their work. Hades sat on his throne and sighed. Hypos walked to his side. Thanalos had gone to lock Sisyphus up in Tartarus.

"Hypos, what will I do? I can't lose her."

"Give her the food of the underworld." Suggested Hypos, "If she wants to stay, she can eat it and stay with you."

Hades shook his head. "I can't. I can't force her to stay down here by doing that."

"My lord, she stayed with you because you gave her freedom to make her own choices. And you haven't shown her the Elysian Fields."

"I was planning to show her that tonight."

Hypos left the room. Hades got up from his throne. He had one last day to spend with Persephone and he needed her answer.