Sorry about the whole add the same chapter twice. I didn't mark that chapter 11 was up so I worked on it and posted it. So here is the real chapter 12.
Hades and I sat in his study and I told him what Gia had told me. As I spoke he stood there and listened calmly taking in the details. Once the story was finished he sat quietly for a few moments thinking.
"I'm not entirely sure what the riddle means. But, I think it is telling us a way to have to spend part of the year on earth and the other part here in the underworld." This did make sense, for each a twelfth a year. Each one of whatever it was would represent one month of the year. The question was what as it that this object was. Then it hit me hard skin that hides away rubies beneath. Pomegranate. Partake in the fruits of the underworld and be bound forever to it. That was the answer.
"Hades that's it!" He looked as me puzzled. "Pomegranate, the rubies beneath, each seed that I eat will represent one month of the year." A smile danced across his face but there was still a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"But, how long will you spend in each world?" He asked, it was plane the pain in his voice there wasn't even the hint that he was trying to hide it.
"Six months in each I suppose. It is the only fair way to split things." Hades reached out his hand and took mine. His gaze fixed firmly on our linked hands.
"I don't know if I could stand to be away from you for that long." My heart ached at the thought of no seeing him for that long. But, it was the only way to solve our problem. I reached up and caressed his face with my free hand.
"I know my love but it is the only choice that we have." He looked up into my eyes and leaned his forehead against mine. The room was silent except for the sound of our breathing, it was so tranquil yet tainted with the thought of having to be separated.
"Well," he whispered softly, "I guess there is only one thing left to do." A deep sigh escaped me as I nodded my head slightly. From this moment on I would be forever caught between two worlds, shifting between them to maintain the balance of earth. I stood up breaking the moment between us and looked towards the hearth and watched the fire dance. I thought for a moment and then a pomegranate appeared in my hands. Digging my nails into the tough skin I pulled the fruit apart exposing the bright seeds beneath. Hades looked on silently as I plucked on seed from the fruit and gazed at it. The world's pain would end and my journey of being trapped between worlds would begin. One, two, three, three seeds down, for every seed I ate it was one more month I could spend with my love. Four, tears began to fill my eyes, five, only one left, six. The fruit fell from my hands and splattered on the floor red juice, like blood, flowed onto the black stone floors.
My arms hung heavily at my side as I looked on at what I had done. Hades strong arms wrapped around me pulling me close. He pressed his cheek against my hair and gave me a tight squeeze. I turned around to look him in the eyes, they were clouded with tears, something I had never seen before on the face of my king. How I wished I could change our fate, change my mother, even change the world, but we had no choice this would be our life from now on whether we liked it or not.
"It will only be six months." I whispered. He gave me a halfhearted smile and nodded.
"I will count the seconds until your return." I embraced him tightly and he whispered in my ear. "And I will find a way to see you during that time." My heart leapt at that thought. Rules be damned if anyone could find a way around the rules it was Hades. I laughed and kissed the love of my life with all the passion I possessed.
