"Once Upon A Narcissus"
by
C. "Sparky" Read

Chapter Two

"Thanks, everyone," said Persephone, beaming. "For all the presents. And for just...being here," she added, her father's image on Cyane's reflecting pool coming sadly to mind.

"That's all right, dear," said Orphne, patting Persephone's hand gently. "You know we all love you...don't we, Ascalaphus?" she prompted, nudging the young man who slouched at her elbow.

"Um, sure Ma," responded her son, who then promptly made a buck-teeth face at Persephone. Persephone retaliated by pouting at him.

"Ascalaphus has grown into quite a fine-looking young gentleman, hasn't he?" Demeter prodded, arriving at Persephone's side as the others began to depart.

Persephone rolled her eyes. "Mom," she complained, "stop trying to set me up with Cal. He's a real geek."

"Don't use that word," answered Demeter sternly. "It's not ladylike. And today," she held her daughter's round face in both hand, "you are a lady. Don't ever forget that."

"Speaking of forgetting..."

Demeter exhaled loudly. "Never mind your father," she said, throwing up her hands. "He's got a head like a colander. I honestly don't know what I saw in him in the first place. Well, no matter, I'm a free goddess now."

Persephone shrugged. "At least someone is free around here," she muttered.

"Oh now, don't start this argument again," scolded Demeter. "You're safe on this island."

"From what? Mom, I'm trapped here! I want to see the world--at least Mount Olympus--"

"No," interrupted Demeter. "You'll stay here. My flower," the Earth Goddess sighed, touching her daughter's face, "you are beautiful--so beautiful, that I fear something may happen to you. This is a very violent and masculine-dominated world we live in. Men think they can just control everything, even us. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Persephone lowered her eyes. "Yes, Mom," she said.

"Good girl," purred Demeter. "Now, I have to get back to my duties. A woman's work is never done, and all that. I'm so proud of you, sweetheart, and I'll see you later tonight."

Cyane stood beside Persephone as she bid goodbye to her mother and all her other well-wishers. "Some party, huh?" asked the nymph playfully.

"Sure," answered Persephone. "I especially liked when Clymene poured punch all over Cal!"

The girls giggled.

"Come on, let's go pick flowers," Cyane suggested.

So, hand in hand, the two skipped happily off to the field surrounding the reflecting pool.

"Ooh, there's a pretty one!" cried Persephone, prancing in one direction.

"That one's prettier!" argued Cyane, prancing off in another direction. "Sephie, come this way!"

But Persephone was stubborn, insisting that her way was the best way, and went on alone. She gathered flower after flower, tucking them in the fancy girdle her father had sent her for her birthday. But while reaching for an exceptionally beautiful lily, she stopped cold. There, just at the edge of her sight, was a deep-blue narcissus, more delicate than anything she had ever seen before.

She had to have it.

"Cyane!" she called. "Cyane, come see this!"

Cyane appeared, near her pool. "What is it?"

"Look!" said Persephone, and she picked the narcissus.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

That was the signal.

Hades spurred on his chariot's steed by slapping its flank with his scepter, and began his rapid ascent to the surface. He had only a few moments to think, and he used them. Had he been right to accept Poseidon's offer? He had never even met this Persephone, let alone seen her. Having a wife might actually raise his social status among the Olympians, but did he want a queen?

Still questioning the wisdom of his choice, Hades arrived on Earth, tearing through the ground and hovering above the startled Persephone, who was too stunned to even make a noise.

Not Cyane. She screamed.

"Oy, witnesses," Hades complained. "This had to be complicated...Quiet!" he roared, hurling his scepter at the shrieking nymph.

The scepter struck Cyane, and her screams turned to gurgles as she transformed into a stone fountain, flowing with blue water.

This spurred Persephone into action. "You horrible man!" she wailed, stamping her foot. "What have you done to my friend?"

"Increased her market value," sneered Hades, shaking the reins. The chariot swooped down, and the god seized Persephone by the waist. "Come on, dollface, we're going for a little ride."

"No we're not," protested the girl, squirming violently. "Let me go!"

"Now look what you've done, you've broken your belt," remarked Hades condescendingly as the seashell girdle and all the picked flowers tumbled down into the basin of the fountain that was once Cyane. "You'll love your new home, toots, it's well-lit and very, very warm."

And so Hades hauled Persephone, kicking and screaming and still clutching the deep-blue narcissus, into the Underworld.