Let it Burn

Chapter Ten: Fuel to the Fire

Zeus was starting to get a headache. How could one little goddess possibly cause so much trouble?

"What do you mean she's gone again? What is it with this girl?"

Demeter was getting ready for another angry tirade. "I'm sure your brother has something to do with –"

"Don't be ridiculous," Zeus scoffed. "Security has been greatly increased since the … incident. Even assuming there was any way for my brother to enter Olympus without my permission, he wouldn't be hidden for long. So the only conclusion is that your daughter left of her own free will!"

The Harvest Goddess was on the verge of an angry response when Hera gently intervened. "Demeter, we've seen the evidence that someone made their way out. You must admit to this."

Demeter sighed. "But my daughter doesn't know any other way out of Olympus than through the front gates!" she protested.

"Then the only thing I can think of is that she must have had help."

"But my dear, who on Olympus would have helped her?" Zeus asked.

Hera hesitated, choosing her words carefully, since she had nothing to confirm her suspicion. "Demeter, for all your protests, I couldn't help but notice that your daughter spoke of Hades with a certain degree of … familiarity and fondness." Demeter started to protest, but Zeus held up a hand.

"Let her finish," he said, in a tone that left no room for argument.

"So I think perhaps it is likely that the person who helped Persephone to leave was acting … or at least thought they were acting … in the interests of love."

Everyone turned to look at Cupid and Aphrodite.

"Hey, hey, hey now," Cupid sputtered, withering under the accusing glares. "Don't point fingers at me, I just shoot the arrows and let it all play out! Come on, seriously, when have any of you guys seen do more than aim my bow?"

"You've got a good point," Zeus admitted grudgingly. Then he turned to Aphrodite. "And what's your excuse?"

Aw crap. "I …" Aphrodite began. "Um, would you believe fate made me do it?"

Zeus glowered. "I'm in no mood for jokes!"

"But it isn't a joke – not really!" She turned to Demeter accusingly. "Didn't you read your daughter's note? Didn't you look at the tapestry?"

"Note?" Zeus echoed. "Tapestry? Demeter, why didn't you mention any of this –"

"I don't know what she's talking about –" Demeter began, but Aphrodite cut her off.

"Oh save it! I saw her write the letter and leave it for you, and I gave her the tapestry of fate!" The last few words caused the gods to begin talking excitedly among each other, until Zeus angrily called for silence. Hera put a hand on his arm, a gentle reminder to maintain his composure. He took a deep breath.

"Aphrodite, dear, perhaps you'd better start at the beginning."

Meanwhile in the Underworld, a parallel discussion was taking place.

"Hades, I told you, I don't care what anyone else says. I love you, and I want to stay with you. This is where I belong."

I love you. Did it ever feel good to hear her say that. No one had said that to him since … but he pushed the memory out of his mind.

"It's not what they'll say, Persephone, it's what they'll do. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly Mr. Popularity with the rest of the god squad … not that they don't have good reason, I guess. And I don't think you realize what the consequences of this could be, what you'd be giving up –"

"You mean giving up being bored to tears on Olympus? Giving up hearing the whispers and snickers about being the only god without a specialty? Call me crazy Hades, but I think I can stand to lose those things!"

"And what about your mother? What if staying with me means you never get to see her again?"

This actually gave Persephone pause, though Hades could tell she was trying to hold firm. "My mother doesn't control me."

"Yeah, you seem to be pretty clear on that now." Hades put his hands on her shoulders. "And babe, I'm proud of you for stepping out of her shadow. But she's still your mother. Maybe you're not real happy with her right now, but I know you love her."

Persephone sighed. "But I love you, too," she said as they wrapped their arms around each other. "Those two things shouldn't be mutually exclusive." Hades kissed the top of her head.

"No, they shouldn't. Believe me Persephone, I love you, and I want you to stay. I … just … I mean, come on babe, you can't split yourself in two!"

Persephone's eyes suddenly widened, and she lifted her head from where it had been resting on his chest. "Yes I can."

Hades gave her a questioning look, but she was already calling for Pain and Panic.

"Boys," she said when they arrived. "Remember when we were first introduced, you asked me if there was anything I needed. What was it you offered exactly? Let's see, there was water, brimstone and …"

"Pomegranate?" Pain finished.

Persephone smiled. "Exactly. I'd like that pomegranate now, if you don't mind."

"Sure," the imps chorused, slightly puzzled but eager to please, and went off to fulfill her request. Persephone turned back to Hades, smiling.

"I seem to recall hearing something … something about those who eat the food of the Underworld becoming bound to the Underworld … it's true, isn't it?" She concluded, seeing the expression on Hades' face.

"Persephone … you don't understand … I don't know how it will affect you …"

"I'm willing to risk it."

The imps returned quickly. Persephone took the fruit from them. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Forgive me, mother, she thought. And then she took a big bite.

She'd expected the pomegranate to taste different somehow, but it seemed just like anything she might have eaten on the surface of the earth. She smiled up at Hades, who looked anxious. "Well, that was anti-climatic – oh!"

Her snide remark was cut off by a wave of nausea. Persephone clutched her stomach as a sudden pain seemed to twist her insides. Hades was instantly by her side, already cursing himself for allowing her to do this. People who ate the food of the Underworld were normally mortals, not gods. Damn it, for once in his life, he shouldn't have been so selfish!

Persephone shook in his arms and gave a little moan, the luminance of her white skin dulling to gray.

"Hades," she said softly. "It's all right, I understanding now. Give me … give me your fire."

It took him a moment to understand. "But … it'll burn you."

She took his hand in hers. "Let it burn."

The flame spread from his head down his arm, to their joined hands, then up Persephone's arm until it finally reached her own head, setting her hair ablaze in a brilliant flash of white, her godly aura burning brighter than it ever had before.

She turned to Hades. "Don't be afraid," she said.

He gulped. "I'm not."

She laughed and took his face in her hands. "Hades, I came back to you. I'll always come back to you." She turned to the imps.

"Boys, think you can make yourselves scarce for a while?" Not needing to be told twice, they scampered off. She wrapped her arms around Hades and kissed him, and they let the moment carry them away, as Hades' scooped her up and carried her to his bed.