Persephone woke from her nap in a haze. She yawned as she thought Mother most be worried. She's always worried. She picked up her scrolls from the ground as she examined her work before her, she smiled satisfied. She tucked the scrolls in her dress. Her latest subject was of The Underworld. She had a hard time finding any information on the Underworld and it's King. Aside the records of the war, but that was history. Everyone knows that. She wondered how it looked. She couldn't begin to imagine what it could look like. That is why she was trying to find any form of literature description. But so far no luck, everything was vague. Probably because only dead people are allowed there. She thought. Lord Hades is a very private person. She thought as she made her way to her home. Greeting all the nymphs on her way.
Persephone saw her home in the distance. It was tiny for most gods' standards. And at times it did feel suffocating and tiny, mostly due to mother overbearing behavior. She thought. She really did love her home. As she reached the door she heard yelling. "LEAVE! YOU ARE NOT WELCOMED HERE." Oh no, mother is shouting at someone she thought I wonder who it is. Oh- she realized that it could be him. She hoped it wasn't because it only meant one thing. Please- her thought was interrupted by the male voice "SILENCE! How dare you hide her coming of age from her father." Oh fuck she thought as she reached the door, she'd better hurry. She calmed her self before stepping He had repeated himself only in a louder angrier tone "HOW DARE YOU HIDE HER COMING OF AGE FROM HER FATHER."
Persephone walked into the house as she almost witnessed his father try and slap her mother. He stopped midair as he saw her, lowering his hand he smiled at her. "Father, I was not aware you were coming to visit. I would be dress for the occasion." She gave him a half hearted smile. Looking over to her tear stained mother. Her mother quick to wipe her face and smiled. Persephone wore a simple peplos but it was covered in grass stains and flower petals. Zeus reach for her "Ah my dear Persephone, you look beautiful as ever." She awkwardly lended into his hug. She moved out of his embrace and went to stand next to her mother, having Zeus in the house made it feel small, they stood in the kitchen. Zeus closet to the door. "You honor us with your visit my lord, what brings you here?." He laughed "Just like your mother, always to the point."He looked over to Demeter. "I was telling your mother since I was too busy running Mount Olympus and forgot your coming of age year, I want to make up for it." He glanced over to Persephone "I'm going to throw you the most lavish party in Mount Olympus history!" He proclaimed as he turn his eyes back to Demeter, they were filled with mischief, anger and amusement.
Zeus looked back at Demeter after he made declaration. He smirked at her, daring her to oppose him. No one could refuse him, after all he was the King of all Gods. If it weren't for him none of them would be here. He thought smugly. "No, although she has not made her oath yet, she is going to jointhe Maidenhood. So there is truly no point in such a lavish party. Surely you could make better use of all that."Zeus could not believe it how dar- He went to look at her daughter, and he realized after her mother had spoke, she had lost her confidence. Oh what is this about? He thought, a moment ago his daughter stood tall, chin high , shoulder back. But the moment her mother had finished her sentence, her body shrunk as if unsure. Zeus turned to Demeter "Leave us." He demanded. Demeter went to stand in front of him "LEAVE US" he boomed his voice. Persephone griped a chair in front of her, keeping from falling. The house shock to its core, and she wasn't sure who had caused it because both stared at each other with bright red eyes. "Please Mother." Persephone spoke softly.
That seem to snap both of the out of there intense stare. Demeter mistook her tone of one of a child afraid. Zeus took it as annoyance. Zeus looked over to Demeter and smirked. I win he thought as he stared at Demeter. As Persephone stared at her parents bickering, she felt something in her core shift, she was conflicted, and scared -not of her parents but of the possibility of the future, what was to become of her? , she was grateful her father had forgotten because that meant she didn't have to her mother breathing down her neck about joining the Maidenhood. Her mother had panicked when that fateful day came. But when no word from Zeus came, the woman went on there life and a year had pass. She wondered how he remembered. She shook her head, now is not the time for that she thought. "Mother!" She spoke firmly standing straight. "Please leave us." She looked at Zeus then her mother. Her mother went to protest but before she could speak Zeus "NOW" she glared at Zeus "So Help-" "Mother please!" Persephone snapped, I want to get this over with! Thought angry. Her mother sighed. "I won't be far. Yell if you need me." Demeter knee better to listen in. She'd seen what happen to lose people. She made sure to leave distance as to not over hear but she would keep her home in few. That way if something happened she'd be home in an instant.
Persephone watched the door close. She then looked at her father and cleared her throat. He stare made her uncomfortable. She had never really spent time with him. Not because of Hera like most thought, but because he had no interest in her. Maybe the two were related she had thought at some point. "Please father, sit. My I offer you something to eat?" She made a gesture to the fruits that adorned the tables. Zeus smiled at her offer and sat on the chair closest to him. "Join me my daughter." He pointed to the chair she still had in her hands. "Thank you." "No thank you my daughter for your warm welcome. I was beginning to believe I wasn't welcomed." "Mother sure has that affect on people." Persephone sarcastically said. Zeus almost choked on the single grape he had popped into his mouth. He raised an eyebrow at his daughter smirking. She is very beautiful. It's be a shame if she wasted away in the Maidenhood he thought. Remembering her reaction, Zeus spoke "Maidenhood huh." Persephone looked down at the fruit before her. She shifted in her seat as she felt his probing stare. "You're mother seems set you'll join The Goddess of Eternal Maidenhood." Persephone flinch when he had said the full title. Zeus laughed at her reaction. "Daughter look at me." She hesitated, she was nervous. But no she couldn't let this feeling consume her. If she wanted to be treated as an adult then she will act like one. She straightened her back as she stared into her fathers eyes.
"Do you want to join the Maidenhood?" Persephone sat silently, as she processed his words. No his question...I.. mother has never asked me what I wanted. So many emotions ran through her, what did she want? She wasn't even sure anymore. She'd had thought of the possibilities of marrying or maybe going to mount Olympus but she knew her mother would never allowed it. But her her father, someone she doesn't know that well, asked her what she wanted. She felt the hot tears welled up in her eyes. I always hoped it would be you mother..she thought bitterly as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Having finally been asked the question. She didn't know what she wanted. "Daughter?" She laughed as she wiped the tears away. I most look so foolish. She cleared her throat before speaking "I apologize for my outburst, but I have come to the conclusion that I do not know what I want." He shifted his attention from the cheese on the table and looked at her. She was no longer crying, she had turned her head to look out the window.
Zeus continued to stare at her, and though still not use to being stared at, she no longer felt uncomfortable. "You see, I've never been asked what I wanted. It was always what mother wanted." She frowned at that, she truly loved her mother but sometimes she wanted nothing g to do with her. She expect to be a clone of her mother. As a child she didn't mind, because she did want be like her mother. And she was in her own way. But she was also her own person. Her own feelings and her own desires. She continued to look out the window as she spoke "I wouldn't even know what my options are." She laughed as she went to wipe her face again. This time the scrolls fell from her chiton. Zeus went to pick them up. As he went to pick up the last scroll, it unraveled and a rough sketch of the underworld revealed.
Persephone blush as she reach for the scrolls "please don't tell mother." She whispered. Zeus didn't realize how much Demeter controlled their daughter, he felt bad for her. "Why do you have scrolls about the underworld?" Persephone wasn't sure how to answer the question. So she answered truthfully. "Because I was interesting in learn about the underworld." She stated as if it wasn't obvious, Zeus a little annoyed relied "Yes but why are you interested in the underworld?" She didn't truly understand the question. She knew people feared death but I am a goddess I am immortal. "As the goddess of spring, I bring life. But even I know death is part of all living things. It might not affect you and I directly" she looked back at the window. "But it is around us, with the mortals, flowers and animals. I have heard of the way humans and even some gods speak of death, of the underworld and -" hmm how to phrase this with out sounding like a giant judgmental asshole. She cleared her throat. "To me when they speak, they sounds ignorant of what death truly is. Almost as if they fear it." Zeus looked at her and pondered. "Most have the right to be fearful." She rolled her eyes. He continued on "Tartarus is no joke daughter." He narrowed his eyes at her.
Persephone stared right at him "I am no fool. I know Tartarus is full of wicked souls. What I mean is like everything in this world." She gestured to the mortal realm. "There is also has to be beauty in the underworld. I can not explain it but, I understand why most do not like to associate with death and the underworld. But I don't understand it. It should not be feared." She slumped in her seat. Great job, he most think I am an idiot. Zeus continued to stare at his daughter. Interesting he had thought. He stared at the scrolls in her hands. He wondered how she got those. "Hermes." She said as if reading his mind. "He let me borrow them from the library on Mount Olympus.,Actually I was going to give the, back." She laughed awkwardly as she rubbed the back of her neck. Shit I hope I didn't get Hermes in trouble.
"I ask him for books or scrolls on a certain subject, since mother won't let me leave the comfort of our home. We compromised on this. I can't go there but Hermes can bring me books." He raised the scroll and his eyebrow as if asking she approved this? Persephone awkwardly sad "well sometimes he sneaks me things he shouldn't" she blushed as she looked as the scroll in his hand "but-but I ask for them, certainly I am trying to learn more about the underworld." she lowered her head looking down at the ground. "I have to hide them because mother doesn't like this particular topic." Interesting , Zeus kept thinking. "One year." Persephone looked up with a puzzled expression. "I'll give you a year to figure out what exactly you want." He said as she smiled at his daughter. He found her to be more intriguing then what he expected
