Death and Rebirth
First phase
A/N: So now you all know that this fic will be from Hekate's pov. I was really surprised to fine there weren't really much fics about her on the net, which is why I've started this. The title is as it is because I wanted to portray Hades' and Hekate's relationship. Much as I like Hades, I admire and idolize Hekate even more. Enjoy!
Hades was surprised his sister had come to visit him, but he hid that well from her. What surprised and shocked him was that Persephone had been in the room with them. It was careless and stupid of him to have not realized she was there. How could he not sense her?
Then there was Hekate, who had appeared without warning into his throneroom. Cerberus, his faithful, three-headed guardian, was alert to anything and anyone within the realm of Hades. But then, Hekate was adept within the range of magic. Of course she would have used magic to get inside the castle! Oh, how thoughtless of him. Hekate was here to see Persephon, his Queen. She had staged that little act and executed it perfectly. That accursed little witch.
But then there were the two Goddesses who faced each other, Hekate, with an amused look on her face, and Persephone, who seemed to be quite flushed at her own actions.
"Lord Hades, it would be best that we go to the throne room to discuss this, shall we?"
The voice of the strange woman made Persephone jump. She looked at Lord Hades, who was looking at the woman with sharp, piercing eyes of blue.
His lips in a thin line, Hades gave her a hard look to chide her actions. She did nothing, her gaze set on the dark lord with a mirthful smile on her lips. It was as if she were taunting him! And in front of Persephone, no less! Hades stood up and sauntered towards the end of the room between Hekate and Persephone, a large door edged with silver appearing in front of them. The door opened in a slow arc. Hades drifted through. Hekate strode after him as Persephone followed suite.
They were now in the main chamber of Hades' castle. The air was stagnant and cold, but the the tension between the immortals seemed to make the air crackle. The only one who was taking pleasure in all of this was Hekate, who strode ahead of the Dark Lord and the Goddess of Spring for the impending confrontation about to take place. She had not bothered to glance at the young Goddess, though she did feel the maiden's green eyes lingering on her in curiosity.
It was the maiden Goddess who spoke first. "Forgive me for being so crass, but who might you be?"
"It would only be rude if you never asked me at all, Lady Persephone."
The Spring Goddess' eyes widened at the mention of her name. What, did she not recall that she had called her 'Daughter of the Spring'?, thought Hekate amusedly. Maybe not. Well, it was time for getting acquainted with the young Goddess.
"I am the Goddess of Death and Rebirth, Hekate. I serve to help bring souls find their way to the next life."
The young maiden's brow knitted. "Mother never said anything about you."
"Oh, she did not, did she?" inquired Hekate with a quirk in her tone. "It seems she did not deem me to be a very interesting subject, is that not correct, your Majesty?" How amusing, thought Hekate. Demeter did not tell her daughter about life and death, although she lived it everyday, tending to the cornstalks and the fields in the land above. She laughed darkly at this cynical turn of thought.
"I am sorry, I did not intend to be so blunt, " apologized Persephone.
The girl was apologizing for not knowing about me? It is futile. Hekate shook her dark head, waving her hand dismissively at the apology. "Demeter is one of the many immortals who do not know me. Very few of the Gods and Goddesses you know know about me." The corners of her lips turned upwards. "Not even Athena herself for all her wisdom cannot understand me."
Persephone was dumbfounded at the statement said. Hekate smirked. "Except, you know, my dear brother here." Hades glowered at her, annoyed, most likely. "Forgive the late introduction, Persephone, by my sister here can be most intrusive whenever she wants something of me."
Hekate put a hand over her bosm in a theatrical show of hurt. "Oh, do forgive me, brother Hades, for setting foot inside your castle and attending to my duties and wanting to visit you." It was true, she did want to see Hades on whim. It was by chance that she happened by the daughter of Demeter, really. She had to improvise to actually see Persephone. So her brother had taken a Queen. Why did he not tell her sooner?
Perfectly puzzled by this, she turned to Hades. "Why did you not invite me to your wedding?" She asked this with a growing smile. She asked to show her curiosity, however, it was more of a question of herself and her brother. A tinge of hurt lay behind her mask of smirking deception.
She had hit a critical point, but it was obvious. "Surely you have already known it, sister, " came his pointed answer. After all, she was a seeress! She must have foreseen this. She lived here in the Underworld, she would have known.
Hekate pursed her lips together. "Ah yes, the crowds chanting 'Queen' echoing all through the Land of the Dead. Still, you should have invited me. After all, are we not brother and sister of the heart?"
Hades rolled his eyes. "There is no other who is my sibling in heart, you know that."
Satisfied, Hekate smiled. "Well, that was interesting," she said. She turned to Persephone. She wore a dress that was dark and adorned with jewels. Very elaborate, brother. Persephone looked beautiful, but she looked more like a doll in the wrong clothing. "I guess I am the last to bestow you with a gift, Lady Persephone."
Lifting her long, slender arm, Hekate pointed her forefinger towards the Spring Goddess.
"No, please, I do not want any gifts, I—" but it had already begun. Dark, swirling shadows gyrated upwards around Persephone's body. Hades' eyes widened slightly, but enough for Hekate to see the change in him. The Goddess of Spring shielded her eyes by her arms. Hekate just stood there with her arm outstretched, working her magic.
The shadows dispersed as quickly as they had came, bursting outwards in a sparkle of glittering stars. Gazing down at her body, the young Goddess let her arms down. It was a soft, pale lavender dress of silken simplicity. It was nothing short of beautiful, yet remained anything but mundane. Her chestnut brown waves were adorned with little starbursts of violets and blue, accentuating her gown. She blinked, looking at the dark Goddess.
"That gown did not suit you."
"What are you saying, sister? The gown she had on before was beautiful upon her," Hades said.
"What do you speak of, brother? Anyone else would have looked fine in that gown. I would have looked marvelous."
Hades' eyes narrowed.
"It was only in jest…" Hekate scoffed. She looked at the maiden Goddess, who seemed to be gaping at her. A wicked gleam flickered in her dark eyes.
"Speak not your thoughts aloud, Daughter of the Spring, " said the amused Hekate, putting a slender white finger, over her lips.
She heard the young maiden gasp in surprise. Hekate then turned to face her brother. Her dark eyes locked gazes with his eyes of ice blue. Let us speak about this while Persephone is in her chambers. He titled his head down slightly, an imperceptible nod. So be it. Do come to the main chamber after Persephone is asleep. With that, the dark Goddess took a few steps down the throne room before turning to the Lord and Lady of the Underworld, and bowed her dark head for a moment. "By your leave, your Majesties…" then she turned and strode down the hall.
***********
"Good evening, my lord." Hekate was usually the first to strike up a conversation, though both immortals were taciturn.
"How do you know it is evening?"
"Oh, but of course. I forget this is the Underworld, where night rules supreme. I beg pardon, Lord Hades."
"So you are here…because?" She had wanted to talk, so they would talk. He was a bit wary of what she wanted to talk about, especially when she already knew. There was no point in bringing up something that was long past.
"The lady Persephone. I never once suspected nor foreseen that such a Goddess would dare travel to the Underworld so willingly, say, for me." Her expression beheld amusement, behind that amusement lay a grave seriousness. Perhaps she was mocking her own surprise. He heard the wryness in her tone. She wanted answers. Though a powerful divinator, Hekate knew not the reason why. So, there are some things the lady of the Darkness does not know, he thought cynically.
"You know she did not come here of her free will. I will not lie."
"Then? If she did not come here of her own free will….?" Her tone turned silky, gliding like satin over his harsh blunt answer.
"You know what happened."
"Not prepared to tell me by your own tongue, brother? I am asking you why."
"I fell in love with her."
His answer hung in the air, pregnant with tension. Hekate closed her eyes. Hades captured the Daughter of Spring because he fell in love with her. How he found her she did not have to fall into prophetic vision. But this? What is it about Lady Persephone that melted her brother's cold heart? How did she do it? It was very interesting. Stealing her brother's heart from him to come up from the Underworld and take her as his bride.
"What of the lady Demeter? What did she say to this?"
Hades stiffened at this. "She did not approve." In other words, he had just taken Persephone without her mother's consent.
"Persephone must miss her mother."
"I know."
"She cannot be forced to love you."
"I know." Yet his sister's words hurt.
"Neither can you tread the path of gold delusion."
"….."
"She must despise you."
"I know." Her words cut through him, even though her tone was not sharp. But was it necessary to throw the harsh truth into his face?
"Surely, her mother must feel terrible."
Hades knew the bodn between Demeter and Persephone was a strong, clear bond. He had severed that bond by his own cruel sword, making Persephone feel so weak and sad. She was not strong without her mother. She was her mother's lifeline and her mother was hers. She missed her mother terribly, he heard her cries echo from her chamber.
"How long will you keep this up?"
"What? Are you saying that I should return her?"
"I did not say that."
"That if I do not, you will force my hand?"
"Do not twist my words, brother."
"You will tell Demeter of where she is?"
"I have no intention of getting involved in such affairs do not concern me. I am a busy Goddess.
"Do I disgust you?"
"What?"
"You heard me. Do I disgust you, that I have kidnapped Persephone and made her Queen?"
Her black eyes turned flinty. The irony in his tone scoffed at her. "Do not speak to me like that. Being crowned Queen and being granted with riches is a a wonderful thing, brother, do not think I judge you falsely. However, it is unjust that you forced a ceremony upon her that she did nto want herself. The most beautiful jewels and treasures will not win her heart. Instead, you will have only earned more wounds to your own."
The sarcasm in her tone was unbearable. Yet, she was so right. It was true. He had tried so hard, but only had gotten hurt. Now his sister, his own sister! She had inflicted the very wounds upon his heart that Persephone had done before. He had not expected her to choose sides, she was as impartial as he, and yet…
"To be loved is to have all the riches and treasures of the world. To love will bring you pain."
But he couldn't give up on love…
"How selfish you have become."
He met her gaze levelly. "So you say I am selfish for loving?"
Her dark eyes shone softly. "It is the most selfish desires that make people the most happy. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy."
"Harken, the Goddess speaks."
"Your secret is safe with me."
"Is that so?"
"Do you doubt me?"
"I do not."
"And brother?"
"Yes?"
"I do not think you are disgusting. You would never disgust me."
"Though you think my actions are unjust."
"That is because they are."
"Is there any difference?"
"The difference is that while I think your actions are wrong, I do not rebuke you in any way. You are still my brother."
"Still, what does being your brother have to do with not rebuking me?"
She gave him a sharp look. "I do not despise you. "I despise your actions."
"I despise the way you struck me with the fist of truth."
"And you despise me?"
"I never would, only your words."
"Is there any reason you question me like this?"
"Only the way you have been interrogating me."
"So it is in retribution."
"Sister, you make me as hunched and tired as an old crone."