Chapter 11 – Heart to Heart

Hades had managed to lead Coeus back to the prison from which he came.

With the help of the shades – the ones he had sentenced to the fields of punishment – and Cerberus on guard, he was able to lead Coeus back to his cell, but for how long, Hades was hard pressed to know.

Coeus was unstable – once the shining glory of the titan brethren – his brilliant mind and penchant for reason was long lost after spending aeons in the darkest recesses of Tartarus.

Hades sighed.

He did feel bad for the titan, he felt bad for most of them. After all, they were brought into their brother's war, out of duty and loyalty for their king, but his pity only stretched so far, for he knew that if they had won, it would be him and his siblings in this hole, rotting away until their sanity was destroyed.

Hades rested his back against the wall, which held the titan inside. He could hear Coeus' shouts for Phoebe, his wife and mother of his two daughters.

Yes, he definitely felt sorry for him, but he would never let him go and no one could tell him otherwise, not even his mother.

Blocking out the sounds of Coeus' angry shouts, Hades scrunched up his face.

He had never before had a vision of another person before, let alone feel another's fear, but he did thank whoever it was who had placed those visions of the girl into in head. He shivered, if he hadn't have gotten those visions, Coeus would have wreaked havoc on his lands, and worst yet, he could have released the other titans.

Shaking his head, confusion twisting about his brain, in the thousands of years since Rhea had birthed him into this world, he had never experienced such a thing.

Though, thinking back, he remembered when he lived in the stomach of his father, he had visions then, but not of a girl.

The vision that haunted his dreams was nature – bright and beautiful – and he was in a field, surrounded by flowers and then someone, he did not see their face, handed him a flower – a delicate, but slightly rotted white flower, which had a deflated orange coloured trumpet coming out of the centre.

He had seen that flower before – in his waking hours – but only the once.

An image of the flower maiden flooded his mind. He had handed her that same flower, though at the time it had not been spoiled by decay, but was freshly picked.

He shook his head; they were nothing but silly visions. They meant nothing, there only purpose in life was to confuse the mind.

With that firmly in his mind, he made for the mouth of the cave.

It was time he spoke to the girl and put her straight, she would not do something so foolish again, that he would grain into her head, until she agreed with him.

~*O*~

Kore had been left to her own devices. The guards were stationed outside her rooms, just in case she decided to run away again.

Thanatos had spent a few hours with her, reprimanding her for her stupidity, but had to excuse himself when business called him away.

Sitting in her assigned room. She waited with apprehension for Hades to come.

She had prepared herself, knowing that his 'I will speak to you later' speech, would not be a friendly chat. He was angry with her and Kore couldn't blame him, she was angry with herself to.

She sat by the window, watching the bejewelled ball in the starry sky.

Would this be her life from now on? Would she ever feel the comforting embrace of her mother's arms?

These were the many questions that Kore asked herself.

Sighing, she rose to her feet and walked over to the vanity table to look into the looking glass.

Her cuts and bruises, which she had gotten when Hades had taken her were fading, but they were now replaced by new ones.

She grabbed at what was left of the fabric of her dress – it could not really be considered a dress any more, the fabric torn and shredded beyond compare. She only hoped that Hades would be considerate enough to get her a new one, but considering her own behaviour, it would not be likely.

She turned when the door opened, revealing a group of nymphs.

'My lady, we have been chosen as your personal nymphs-in-waiting for the entirety of your stay here.' A young, sweet sounding nymph said.

'Oh, well do come in.' Kore said a little uncertainly. She was not sure if she wanted any companions, she already had ones in Enna.

'I am Nerida, daughter of the God of the river Cocytus and these are my sisters.' Nerida smiled, turning to look at the two nymphs who stood behind her. 'This is Violante and this is Elara, we are at your service.'

Kore offered the nymphs a polite smile. Nerida must be the oldest, she thought, looking at the petite nymph.

She had dark eyes, loosely curled black hair and light brown skin, her most defining features had to be her thick eyebrows. She was lovely, though in a rather fierce looking way.

'That is very kind of his lordship to…offer me your services, but I am in no need to be waited on.' Kore said. She did not wish to insult them, but she just wanted to be on her own.

A niggling feeling came over her, though she reasoned that she was just being paranoid, but still, she could not stop the suspicion that they were spies and would report every detail of her doings back to their master.

'Well, that is good.' Nerida smiled at Kore. 'We are here to be your companions, not your servants. His grace is rather formal when it comes to giving out orders, but just because we have been placed as your ladies does not mean that we can't be your friends, can it?'

'No, I suppose not.' Kore said a little uncertainty, but remembering her manner and giving the nymphs the benefit of the doubt, she smiled. 'I don't suppose you have anything decent for me to wear?'

~*O*~

She had finally managed to get her hands on a bundle of fabric, but to Kore's dismay they were black, not her taste or style at all.

The nymphs had helped her into the dark fabric, fastening a ruby broach onto her right shoulder, which kept the dress in place and tied a silk sash about her waist.

She looked presentable as though she belonged here and it startled her.

She was a spring Goddess; she should not be wearing such dark colours. She was supposed to be bright and lightness combined, not this woman that stood before her.

She twirled back and forth, playing at being the gushing girl who had just gotten a new dress, but deep inside she felt empty.

She did not trust these nymphs, they were not Acacia, Clematis, Ianthe or Damaris– they were servants to the God that had brought her here and she knew for a fact that these women were only being nice to her because they had been ordered to.

She sat on the cushioned stool, which faced the vanity.

Elara – who was said to be good with hair – stood behind her, brushing out the tugs and knots and soon began the workings of an elaborate, thick plait.

Violante came over and placed a small bowl, which held six ripe and juicy pomegranates, onto the table.

Kore was just about to take one, when the door was slammed open.

Hades stood, powerful and furious.

'Get out.' He ordered the nymphs, his eyes fixed on Kore.

The nymphs curtsied as they scuttled out of the room and Kore dearly wished that she could have followed them.

She held her breath as he slammed the door shut, taking away any chances of her getting out.

'What in Tartarus did you think you were doing?' He demanded, he was angry – not because she seemed to disobey him at every turn, but that she could have been seriously hurt.

'I was leaving.' She said honestly, she would not lie. 'I was going home to my mother.'

'You where – the Gods above, Kore do you not know how dangerous it is down here.' He asked her, trying to lull his temper. 'It is not like your meadow field in Enna, this is hell.'

'Oh, are you sure, I hadn't realised.' Kore played at being dumb. 'If you hadn't brought me down here – against my will – I might add; I wouldn't have had to fend off a giant.'

'If you had just stayed where you were – like I ordered – you wouldn't have had to fend off a titan.'

'A t-titan.' Kore froze, she had thought the man a giant, a creature from hell, but a titan, the thought had never crossed her mind.

'Yes, a titan.' Hades repeated, sitting on the edge of the wide, feathered bed.

He took a deep breath, calming himself down before continuing, he had to make her understand. ''Do you have any idea what could have happened if I hadn't got to you in time?'

'I'm sorry.' Kore said and meant it. She took a deep breath before repeating herself. 'I'm sorry.'

'I've had enough of your stup- what did you say?' Hades said, cutting himself off mid-sentence.

'I said…I was sorry, I-I…' She paused, hating herself for feeling so weak. 'I just wanted to go home, is that so bad?'

Hades sighed.

'No, it's not.' He admitted. 'Of course you would want to go home and I would be happy to send you home, but things are complicated and unfortunately you have been brought into this mess and for that, I am sorry.'

'Then send me home, I won't tell mama that it was you that took me.' She pleaded with him. 'I forgive you for bringing me here, but now it is time for me to go home.'

'I cannot.' He said sternly, but seeing the defeated look on Kore's face, he decided to confess the truth. 'Your mother has gone missing and because of this you have no one to take care of you, I have taken up the responsibility that your mother once had, though, on a temporary basis.'

Kore raised her brows, surprised by his confession. Why hadn't he told her?

'If you had only said my lord, I would have come with you willingly.' She offered him a smile. 'You didn't have to abduct me, you saved me from being raped, and for that I am grateful, of course I would have come with you.' She paused. 'But, where is mama?'

'Kore, I don't think you understand.' He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, trying to think of the right words before opening them to look at her. 'I took you before your mother went missing.' He paused, studying her reaction. 'I made a deal with Zeus – he was to help me move the titans, further into Tartarus – but, he broke his promise, so I took you in the hopes that he would comply with my wishes.'

'I am nothing to Zeus.' She said innocently. Hades could see the confusion in her eyes. 'Why would Zeus worry about me?'

Hades did not want to tell her, it was her mother's responsibility, but he had no other choice now. The truth might be hard for her to swallow, but he had to be honest with her.

'Kore, Zeus is your father...he raped your mother when he caught her in pasture with a human man. He was jealous, so he killed him and raped her – you were the product of that rape, I'm sorry.'

Kore jumped to her feet.

'No, that can't be true.' She accused, her face going red with anger, until it almost rivalled her hair. 'My mother would have told me, Zeus – that man – is not my father.'

'I am trying to be honest with you, Kore.' Hades said in frustration as he rose to his feet. 'That is the reason why your mother kept you from Olympus, the only reason she took you in the first place was because she was ordered to.'

Kore felt as though her world had been torn apart, she felt as though she was going to be sick. She had dreamed of one day finding out who her father was, but now that she did, she wished that she had remained ignorant.

'Kore, you should never have had to find out like this.' He said, feeling guilty. 'I took you because I thought it would make Zeus move into action, but he is still as stubborn as a mule.' He made his way over to her, but just as he got closer, she stepped back. 'I am sorry for taking you, I truly am, but I promise you that once Zeus has helped me with the titans, I will give you back to your mother, once she has been found.'

Kore stared at the elaborately carpeted floor, she really had no choice. She could complain and on her next daring escape be eaten by some creature or she could be compliant and be given some freedom in the process.

She nodded slowly.

'If I have your word in the matter, then I will stay – until, my mother is found, but I would like to be given a little more freedom.' She looked at him, studying his dark eyes.

'You have my word.' He said, offering her a small smile. 'I, Hades Aidoneus, swear upon the river Styx that once your mother is found I – at your request – will deliver you back to her.'

'Thank you.' She smiled at him.

She turned, bending down to reach for the bowl of pomegranates. She took the biggest one into her hand and grabbed the blunt knife that rested beside the bowl, cutting the fruit in half. She turned back to Hades, offering him one half of the fruit.

'Let us call a truce.' She declared. He took the half-fruit into his large hands. 'I will stay, until my mother is found and during my stay, I promise I will not try to run or be nasty to you – though the latter, might be tricky.'

He nodded, taking one of the seeds from the fruit and placed it into his mouth. Kore watched him before she went to do the same, but he stopped her just as she was about to put the jewel-like seed into her mouth.

'I can eat the fruit down here, little Kore.' He said, gently taking the other half of the fruit from her. 'But you can't. If you did, you would be bound here for eternity…and I know how very terrible that would be for you.'

Kore nodded, gazing at the pomegranate with longing as she did so.

Hi guys, I know I haven't update in a week, but I have written several drafts of this chapter and was not happy with them, but hopefully this chapter, although, small makes up for it.

Thanks again for the favourites, follows and alerts, they made me so happy and thanks to the people that review, it really inspires me to write more – especially, to my regular reviewers, they mean a lot and I really loved reading the Renee Swan review – the longer and more detailed the better.

I hope every one will like this chapter, I am not so sure about it myself (I'm far to critical for my own good), but you guys will probably tell me if its rubbish or not. Sorry for any spelling mistakes, as I've said in earlier chapters, I'll go over this chapter later, perhaps in a few days and see what needs fixed.

Thanks everyone for reading and hopefully the next chapter will be out in the next few days.

Kait.