Kore sat by a reflecting pool of water. Her fire red hair and emerald green eyes reflecting at her. She had always been surrounded by nymphs. She was more popular than she would have liked. Her hair color drew attention. However, having a father like Zeus did not help either. Kore wished she could simply sink into the ground and get out the spotlight that was unwillingly thrust upon her. The trees around her pond shone in the autumn light. The red and orange leaves made her green eyes stand out even more. A cool wind blew, and she pulled her shawl over her shoulders tighter. She swore she could feel eyes on her. Before she could think too hard about it, though she heard footsteps.
"Kore!" Her mother's voice rang throughout the forest. She cringed inwardly and stood. Her mother's voice drew closer. Kore headed toward the voice. She knew her mother hated to look for her.
"Here Mother!" She called out. Demeter's form burst through the tree line.
"You know you shouldn't be out here by yourself." Her mother shook her head, disapprovingly.
"I know Mother". Kore sighed, wishing she could be on her own, but she did not want to risk hurting her mother's feelings. Her mother had a temper. Besides since Demeter oversaw the crops and farms, Kore did not want millions of people to starve because she wanted a little freedom.
Her mother linked their arms and marched them back to their home.
Their home was a simple home as goddesses houses go. In that it was nothing like the opulent palaces that Zeus has. Yes, that was plural, as in Zeus has at least 3, though most of us stopped counting. The house was made of concrete blocks. The walls a forest green, the floors a dark grey, however there were plenty of windows. The house had 7 rooms.; a kitchen, a living room, a dining room, two bedrooms, and a third room that was usually a guest room. Though no one has spent the night there since Kore was born. It has always been only the two of them, as goddesses go. They had plenty of company though, there were always nymphs around them. Kore was sure that Demeter had them spy on her so that she would not get in trouble.
Demeter led them upstairs, and into Kore's bedroom. Her room was the only room that did not have the forest green walls. Her room had all black furniture, a black desk, twin bed frame and a black dresser. They were black woodgrain textured. The walls were a light blue, like the midday sky. Her bed set was covered in reds, oranges and purples, like the sunset. Kore sat at her desk, as Demeter closed her bedroom door. She opened the top side desk drawer, and pulled out a notebook, and began to draw aimlessly. She closed her eyes, and let her hand move on its own accord. The day dragged on.
After a few hours, her hand throbbed as she finally set the pencil down. She glanced at the drawing she had made, gasped and quickly stuffed it into the top drawer of her desk and locked the drawer. She slept restlessly that night. The image she had drawn continually flashed in her mind.
The next few weeks passed by uneventfully, though she still couldn't get her drawing out of her mind. Kore finally decided to do something about it. She squared her shoulders, slipped on her jade green simple dress. She pulled a black hooded cloak around her shoulders and tied it. She steeled herself, as her mother left for a meeting on Olympus. She headed out the door, once she was sure that her mother couldn't see her.
Kore headed for her personal grove, and sat by the pool of water once more. She wasn't sure what she would do next, but she knew she had to do something. She wasn't sure how to call him. Kore sat by the water, head in her hands, and focused on her drawing. She willed the image to reach him.
The Olympians all sat around a giant golden table. They usually had personalized thrones but since this meeting was called so suddenly, it was held in a room different from their usual. No one was sure why this meeting was called. However, it was becoming clear that Zeus only wanted to brag about himself. Poseidon chimed in with the occasional bickering. Hades listened to the complainings of his brothers. Honestly, Zeus was the only one that seemed to care about what he was saying. Which made sense, since Zeus was the only one talking. The only thing he loved more than ladies was himself. He ran a hand through his dark blue hair, and pretended to pay attention. He looked up at Demeter, who was rambling about her daughter to Zeus.
"She needs to be protected, Zeus." Demeter jumped up and stared angrily at Zeus. Her golden eyes blazed. "We all know you can't be trusted to protect her, since you only think with your dick." Hera hid a smirk. She obviously knew about Zeus's escapades but knew there was nothing she could to him about it.
Zeus narrowed his golden eyes. His eyes were more of a yellow gold, as opposed to Demeter's honey golden eyes. "She's almost 25 and she has never left the grove." He stood up to face off with her. " You can call that protecting her all you want. But we both know that is just sheltering her. The longer we wait to send her into the world, the more naive and vulnerable she will be."
By now, the rest of the Olympians had left. Artemis and Hades were the only two to stay to try and talk sense into them before a full scale war broke out.
"I'm not letting her join the mortals if that is what you are suggesting." Demeter crossed her arms over her chest. Her deep green hair falling over her shoulders.
Zeus threw his hands up, clearly exasperated. "She needs to be with people other than you. You aren't the best companion, you hardly leave either."
"Neither are you. You'd just try to seduce her, if you even felt like putting in that much effort, instead of just taking her instead." Demeter cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Of course I would give her the choice." Zeus looked visibly offended. "She is my daughter too." He smirked to himself. " Not like they tell me no anyway."
Demeter roared and launched herself at him. Hades decided Zeus deserved whatever he got at that point, and took his leave. Artemis caught her with one arm, and swung Demeter into her chair. Not to save him, but to stop a war. Artemis' white gown flowed around her. She came to a stop between Demeter and Zeus.
"Listen, how about I keep her company?" Artemis suggested. She couldn't comprehend how lonely this girl must be. She'd heard all about her from the nymphs that spend time with her, but Kore ran anytime anyone other than the nymphs tried to talk to her. Zeus shrugged, contented that she would have at least someone besides Demeter to talk to. Demeter glowered in her seat. However, she wasn't able to come up with a single good reason why Artemis wasn't a decent choice.
"Fine." Demeter huffed. "You better be at my house tomorrow bright and early. " She stood and stalked out. Artemis sighed, and hung her head. She couldn't help but think and dread what she had gotten herself into. She bowed to Zeus and left to brace herself for the next day. Zeus chuckled and shook his head.
Kore's head was pounding from the concentration. She intently studied her surroundings hoping to catch a glimpse of those dark blue eyes that haunted her dreams. After a few moments she huffed, and realized he wasn't coming. Kore glanced at the sky and realized the sun was starting to set. She panicked and realized that her mother would be home soon, if she wasn't already. She darted through the woods, as silently as she could. Kore hesitantly opened the front door of her home, and crept up the stairs to her room. She slipped silently into her room.