"It can't possibly be true? Right, Dad? All of the stories you told me were just myths- fairytales you made up to teach me morals wrapped in adventure…" her voice dropped off as she felt the weight of her father's gaze turned to her. Hazel eyes met blue and she recognized the earth-shattering truth written clearly on his face.
"It's true," she whispered, "It's all true…"
Rey's hands covered her mouth as she tried to comprehend the enormity of the truth staring her in the face; quite literally in fact. That man, but- no, that god?! stood still as death… Rey giggled a bit hysterically. She couldn't think straight, but she could still make puns at a time like this? There were so many things she wanted to ask her father about, especially her mother's identity, something they've never talked about in all of her twenty-five years, but their time was dwindling. Hades had only given them five minutes and she'd spent two lost in thought.
"I guess we have a problem then," she said, finally speaking to Hades.
"And what would that be? I've given you the chance to say goodbye, which is more than I've given anyone in a thousand years," he replied, affronted by this mortal's ongoing ingratitude.
"I'm not going to let him go. You can't have him." She wrapped her arms more tightly around her father's torso. Hell would have to freeze over first before she let go...the irony.
Hades cocked his head and studied her like a specimen at the Zoo. She was brazen, he'd give her that, but that's all it was. No one can hope to defy a god and actually win, except other immortals, though things tended to get messy then, on Earth and Olympus.
He stepped forward into the room, closer to where the duo sat upon the floor. "And how would you do that, pray tell? Are you going to make the age-old plea to give him your life in exchange or summon another deity to grant your request in the next two minutes? You wouldn't even know who to call upon," he scoffed at her. "My word is law in death."
Rey's thoughts swirled in a violent storm, determination and fury flowing through her veins. Who was he to scoff at her love for her father? The tension between them became palpable in the air, a living emotion that writhed and blazed between them. Rey felt her heartbeat quicken while her breathing slowed. A strange tingling began in her palms and curled its tendrils up her arms, a feeling of power growing in her center.
"You will not take him from me!" she snarled again.
Hades was transfixed by the sight of her radiant fury, he'd almost think she was... glowing, like the fire found in the heart of a diamond. Who is she? The mystery was a temptation he hadn't known in several millennia. A mortal whose beauty shone like sun flares, yet with a deathly cold flame that gave him, an Olympian, pause.
"My time runs short, as does your father's," he said tersely, nodding at Iasion who'd been a silent spectator to their war, "I offer you an exchange."
"Anything," she bit out.
"Wait!" Iasion burst forth at last. "Wait and listen first. Do nothing in haste where the gods are concerned, I beg you, Louloudi."
"I will give your father an-...extension, of his years of life in exchange…for you."
Rey was gobsmacked. "For me?"
"Yes."
"You want to take my- soul," she forced out, "and in return, my father lives?"
Iasion clutched at his daughter frantically. "No- nonono! I won't let you! You've got so much living to do."
Hades rolled his eyes at the Greek tragedy being played out before him. "Gods no, I don't want you dead," he murmured. Then I'd never figure you out! "I want you to live with me, at my home, wherever I keep it," he clarified.
Rey felt herself returning to her natural calm, her wrath turning to steel. This she could, and would, do.
"I'll do it," she said. "Will anything, -specific, be required of me?" hesitance clear in her voice
"No, you'll simply be my guest," he said flippantly.
"Is there some sort of paperwork or ritual we have to do to make this official? How do I know you won't go back on your word?"
Hades' indignation flared at her distrust of his words. He had lived far longer than she could even begin to reckon, seen stars born and mountains crumble beneath the weight of time. And yet, she distrusted him?
Rey knew she'd pushed too far as a wintry breeze whipped through the room, blowing out the fire. His face darkened and the shadows seemed to grow deeper yet. In her heart of hearts, he terrified her. To be this creature's guest may be a difficult thing indeed. She wondered vaguely if he dwelt in a physical home or if she would become a shade herself.
"Will you make the exchange?" he asked with an eerie calm.
Iasion tried to stop the terrible words from escaping his daughter's mouth, but she was too fast.
"Yes…"
And when he blinked, they were gone, and he slumped upon the floor of his empty home and wept.
Rey gasped silently. Her home... she wasn't in it anymore; and with no recollection of how she came to be in this dimly lit space, save for a fleeting sensation of being dunked in ice water. She found herself standing in an atrium unlike any she'd ever seen before. The walls were as dark as a starless night, and she could barely make them out. It gave the illusion of endless space. Wrought iron candelabra were scattered through the atrium, their flames an eerie blue. She almost felt like she was in a forest filled with iron trees.
She turned to look behind and the sight that met her eyes stole her breath. Before her grew a tree, seemingly out of the floor, in defiance of the laws of nature. An ornate reflecting pool circled the tree, its' still waters a perfect foil for the tree, and obviously intended to draw the eye. She walked slowly nearer to admire the wonder. It was a small tree, in appearance like a bonsai that had grown supernaturally. No taller than the height of a man, full and green. The branches hung low under the weight of the red globes of fruit they bore. Pomegranates, she wondered. They don't grow here…her curiosity rampant, she extended her hand out to caress the exotic fruit.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice rang drily through the dark.
Rey jumped, drawing back from the tree out of arms' reach...
"That fruit isn't safe for consumption," Hades cautioned.
Rey looked at him quizzically, she knew all about fruit trees, and these weren't toxic, just expensive. She rolled her eyes, he was probably just a selfish god.
"Think, Kore, think really hard. What story did your father tell you about pomegranates?" he asked condescendingly.
"He didn't tell me stories about fruit, laser brain. He read me myths about the gods," she snorted.
Hades' patience wore thin. She was so, so- sassy! What he really couldn't understand was why he found that endearingly irritating. He crossed the room quickly, thanks to his long stride, and deftly plucked a globe off the tree.
Cracking it open with his bare hands he offered it to her, "Fine then. Eat it. Just a bite? Hmmm…" he smirked like the old hag in Snow White.
Rey swiped half the fruit out of his hand and started to second-guess herself. She pondered the ruby seeds clustered within their hard skin, a tiny rivulet of juice staining her fingers. Why? Why? she wracked her brain shifting through all the information she'd gleaned about fruit-bearing trees over the years. Nothing stood out, pomegranates weren't poisonous! And then, a tiny ray of remembrance lit her memories anew. Hades...and pomegranates.
Oh.
She glanced quickly up into Hades' eyes.
"Why?"
"Why what?" he asked.
"Why did you warn me?" her voice betrayed her confusion. "You would have been able to keep me here forever."
She watched some emotion moving, hidden in the depths of his ancient gaze. For several long moments he said nothing; his free hand flexing, until a disinterested look settled over his features.
"I don't take prisoners, contrary to popular belief. Those who serve me do so by choice."
"I see," she answered lowly, mild embarrassment tinged her cheeks. He was clearly offended, again.
Hades gently took the pomegranate from her hand to avoid any further mischance.
"Watch," he said, sitting upon the rock wall of the pond and beginning to sprinkle the seeds upon the waters.
To Rey's surprise and delight, she saw tiny bubbles herald the arrival of small sapphire fish. Their iridescent jewel-toned scales sparkled under the water as they gulped down the seeds.
"What kind of fish are these?! I've never seen anything like them!"
Hades gave a small half-smile. "And you won't again unless you're still here. These are Mermaid's Tears, my brother, Poseidon, created them for me as a birthday gift. He thought I needed something "living" in my kingdom."
Rey's laughter pealed through the room and Hades felt something lurch in his chest and he vaguely wondered if it was possible for his heart to stop beating. To his knowledge, no one had ever laughed inside the walls of his house.
To hide his budding fascination, Hades stood abruptly, bringing the camaraderie of the moment to a halt.
"My servants are sleeping at this hour of the night and I won't disturb them. Let me take you to your room," he said, motioning her towards a door she hadn't noticed before.
"Oh, yes, thanks. I assume this means I won't be turned into a shade then, since they don't need beds?" she asked as they made their way out of the atrium.
Hades stared glacially at her. "Not tonight at least. We'll see how useful you make yourself," he warned.
Rey eyed him warily, unable to decipher the god's mood. She wondered if anyone had ever teased him before in his life... existence? Maybe she should be a bit more circumspect.
They walked through a variety of rooms, most of them shrouded by the dark, their functions left a mystery for now. Rey promised herself to find a chance to explore tomorrow; her new home intrigued her. She followed him silently, the lateness of the hour and fatigue of the evening's sudden changes swiftly catching up with her. She ached to be at home caring for her father, but she reminded herself, he wouldn't even be there to go home to if she hadn't taken his place with Death.
Three hallways and two floors later, he paused before another black door. The only distinguishing feature was the decorative trim. At first, she thought it was simply a lovely latticework, but upon closer inspection in the morning, she would discover that the lattice was an intricate pattern of bones. A chilling reminder of whose home she now shared. But for tonight, it was a detail to admire in passing.
He turned to her. "I hope you find the room comfortable. Anything you might need should be in the closet. Sleep well," he finished and departed without a sound.
Eerie, she decided and entered her room.
Rey had held no expectations for it, and yet somehow, the bedroom exceeded them anyway. An ornate chandelier took place of honor dripping down from the ceiling in sparkling crystal. And the room...it was green! Not a brash kelly green or bright lime citrus, but a deep emerald, reminiscent of a forest seen through the early morning fog. It was such an odd choice for the god of death, she thought, this color was so rich and earthy. He couldn't have picked a color that suited her more. It was almost as if he knew she was coming, and yet that was impossible, wasn't it?
She stepped further into the room admiring the large bed covered in a matching emerald comforter and two white ruffled pillows. Tiny pink flowers twined and bloomed across the bedspread offering a pleasing contrast. Above the bed was a cornice from which was draped emerald satin edged with golden tassels. It was a decadent headboard and she wondered if the bed was as comfortable as it looked.
She slipped her shoes off and left them next to the bed and wandered around the room, poking her head into the bathroom and drooling at the sight of a large white claw-foot bathtub. A stained glass window sat above it, a picturesque red rose blossomed in the center of it. She wondered, idly, who the artist was.
Turning back to the bedroom she spotted the closet door in the corner to her right. Hades had said whatever she needed would be there. How that could be without any advanced knowledge was beyond her, but she knew now that his words never fell idly. Rey crossed to the closet and went in, gasping at the sight. It was huge, as far as closets went this would probably be termed a dressing room. A plush, round lavender couch sat in the middle. One wall held a rack of dresses in vibrant colors and styles and a second rack of what appeared to be shirts and pants, another wall held shoes, each pair having its own cubby. The furthest wall had a window through which she could see Corellia's skyline. Next to it was a full-length mirror, its bronze frame glinting in the light. Finally, she spotted a dresser tucked in an alcove and that was where she assumed she'd find something to sleep in.
✨?￢ﾜﾨ
She changed quickly and moved to find the light switch, but it was nowhere to be seen. Miffed, she left the closet and humphed when the lights turned off. Apparently, they were automatic. She pulled back the covers and nestled into the new bed. Too exhausted to feel anything else, she shut her eyes and swiftly fell into a dreamless sleep.
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A/N: Soooo whatdya think?! I'm pondering adding a link here to my Hades/Persephone board on Pinterest. Or I could try to add links to some of the individual pics at the end of a chapter? Opinions?
Also, I am totally making up some of the stuff here. I know plenty of mythology, but sometimes a storyteller needs to add a thread to the overall pattern to enhance it. Mermaid's Tears were created in honor of Mermay 2021
Continued thanks and affection to my beta, Angela, whose help makes me look good :)