AN: I'm so sorry for updating so late (projects galore past two weeks), but school is out in less than two weeks (YAY!!!!!), so I'll be updating more frequently. =)
THANK YOU, REVIEWERS!
black rose: thanks for reviewing! Hope you like this chappie!
badass: I'm getting to it... Hope you have as much fun reading this as I had writing it!
Seph: Thank you for reviewing and thanks for your opinion. I will DEFINITELY keep Hades an active part of the story, don't worry. Haven't quite decided on the pairings yet, though.
Sarah: Thanks for your review!
FRAGILEg0dess: Thank you! You made me smile today =)
Basic FYI: Names are taken from other stories in Greek/ Roman Mythology: Etiocles- Brother of protagonist who killed himself from the play "Antigone" by Sophocles; Thisbe- the story of Pyramus & Thisbe, a lot like Romeo and Juliet- Also, "Carpe Diem" is latin for "seize the day" (I'm just including this because I, myself didn't know for a LONG time...)
Anyway, I'll shut up now- Enjoy!
CHAPTER FOUR: CARPE DIEM
His parents called him Adonis. His father had hated the name, of course. The eldest sons had to be named after their father and carry on the name, he had said. Well, it was too late now, for Etiocles was long dead. Adonis flicked a sandy-haired curl behind his ear and made his way up the coarse dirt path from the fields. The dust clung to his sandals as he took his time walking in the dirt.
The sun had already wandered across the magnificent blue early-autumn sky and was slowly setting, throwing longer shandows across the dirt. Adonis felt the warmth of the sunset on his back as he carried his hoe over his shoulder and he quickened his pace. He had to get home before it was dark. He looked down at the ground, carefully stepping over stones and potholes in the path. His eyes fell on his long shadow.
It seemed that his shadow was nearly as long as he had always imagined he had thought his father to be tall. He had imagined Etiocles to be a great man. That man who you would watch in the fields as a small child, admiring his strength, his endurance and attachment to his work.
A part of him longed to uncover the truth, longed to know... but the other side of him was too scared. Scared of what he would find. He would rather preserve his image of that ideal father than find out what had really been and have these thoughts shattered; so he had never asked his mother. At times, the insatiable curiosity did overcome him, wondering for the umpteenth time about his father.
It was too late to ask his mother now. Thisbe had died several years back. Adonis didn't even seem to remember when or why. Perhaps because he had wanted to forget about it. She had not died because of him, he could not have done anything to alter her fate, he told himself repeatedly. And that was the end of it. He had no regrets for it was not his fault-
He continued his way on the path, trying to think of lighter thoughts, for it was still quite a way until he would reach his grandparents' little cottage he called home. The hoe he carried over his shoulder seemed to grow heavier with each step. He stopped to pull out a smudged
The sun was setting slowly, he thought to himself, for he could still feel it warm on the back of his neck. Almost as if time was going slower and slower- and suddenly it stopped. He saw her. She looked in his face. And she ran.
He dropped his hoe and following first instincts, ran after her. It seemed she wasn't real, he didn't even know who she was, but he had to catch her. Whoever she was. She veered off the path into dense underbrush into a forest. Stepping over obstacles in his way, he continued follow.
Long Strawberry Blonde hair with highlights fanned out behind her. With every step, he became closer to her- he could almost grasp the ends of her wavy hair. He felt like metal drawn to a magnet- her.
She suddenly sped up and before he could adjust his pace, she was out of sight.
"Wait!" he called after her, but her figure seemed to have blended in with the long shadows of the tall trees in the forest. Who had she been? He puzzled about her even as he strode in the direction of where he thought he had left his hoe. But, alas, he could not find his way back to the dirt path. He continued to wander among bushes, through groves of thick trees, even crossing several small creeks, but he only wandered further into the forest.
By the time he at last accepted that he was lost, the sun had long since set and the last lights of dusk had vanished. The sky was darkening, and stars were slowly becoming visible on the deep violet-indigo canvas. Though he was lost and alone, he couldn't help sighing as he looked above him.
Even as he was still wandering through the dark forest, he gazed up at the sky from time to time. When he finally gave up, he decided to go searching again in the morning and scrambled up a tree. He sank down to rest on one of the highest boughs in the canopy which gave him a free vision to the stars.
With his head slowly beginning to lean on his shoulder, he fell asleep, but he dreamt he was sleeping on a soft bed of long luxurious hair....- Strawberry blonde hair-
When he woke up from his dream, it was still dark, but he was a farmer boy who stood up before sunrise. He could hear birds chirping already in the canopies of neighboring trees. He was rather surprised he had managed to stay asleep in the tree without falling down, and he quickly climbed down.
He used his shadow to orienteer himself. He knew that the sun rose in the East which would mean his shadow would point West. He also knew the fields he worked in were somewhat south of his house, so he did his best to find the direction. Hopefully, he thought to himself, he was going in the right direction. And secretly, in the back of his mind he hoped that he'd find the girl with long wavy hair again.
Persephone had found the kittens on her own. Two were slate gray and had blue and green-yellow eyes. One was white as chalk, the other black, and her favorite was black and white. She had named her Dinnie and carefully placed her back in her lap and scratched her stomach. Dinnie purred, and with a tiny paw reached for Persephone's long locks. She giggled as it pushed her hair back and forth.
What she loved most about Dinnie, she thought to herself, was probably her mixed colors. She looked as if she hadn't been able to decide between black and white and had repeatedly changed her mind, Persephone mused. She lay down on the grass on her stomach with the kittens in front of her. She cooed at them and let them play with her long hair as she reached her lips over and planted kisses in their soft fur. Oh, how she loved them!
Absorbed in her games with the litter of kittens, Persephone did not notice someone approaching her from behind. She looked up startled as her mother knelt down beside her in the ripe green grass.
"You scared me!" Persephone said, her face relaxing slowly, and she smiled that 100-watt smile at her mother's gentle face.
Her mother returned the smile. "What are you doing?" and she eyed the kittens curiously.
"I found this litter behind a bush just today. I already fed them, so I'm playing with them right now," she answered, a smile still resting on her lips. However, she was uneasy because whenever her mother made small talk like this it usually meant that she had something important to break to her daughter.
"They are a cute bunch, aren't they?" Demeter sighed ,"Have you seen their mother around?"
"No," Persephone said, her voice growing somewhat melancholy, "I think she's either dead or she may have abandoned them."
"That's terrible... Does it mean that you're going to take care of them now?"
"Well someone has to. "
"That's horrible- to be abandoned, I mean-"
"You're not planning to abandon ME, are you?" Persephone asked, narrowing her eyebrows in mock-suspicion.
"No, no, of course not," And Demeter flung her arms around her daughter's shoulders. "You would never think I would do that to you, would you-"
"-No." Persephone said, shaking her magnificent hair. "Why?"
Demeter put her hands on Persephone's shoulders and held her face away from hers. "Persephone-"
"What is it?" she looked at her mother, concerned.
But Demeter avoided the question and instead asked, "What did you eat when you were there?"
Persephone looked down at the ground, trying to search her memory, as if it had been years ago. Demeter's eyes grew wider. "I-I really don't remember, Mother," she said earnestly and shook her head. A deep furrow had formed between her eyebrows. "I just can't seem to recall."
"Pomegranate?" her mother looked at her, a very serious expression on her face.
The words fell from Persephone's lips almost immediately as she suddenly remember the severed pomegranate, "Why, I only ate three seeds!" And as soon as the words had left her lips, she realized the sheer horror of what she had actually done.
Demeter clasped her hand in front of her mouth, "Dear God-" and she took Persephone in her arms again.
"Am I going to die?" Persephone sounded more cynical than she had meant to.
"No- it just means you'll have to go back."
"Forever?" Persephone felt her eyes growing wide. She remember the strange attraction of his indigo eyes, the smooth voice, sleek ways. The recollection suddenly made her feel dirty in a way she couldn't explain. As if it was WRONG to think about him.
"No, just part of the year," Demeter's voice sounded falsely optimistic."You'll be back in 5- or even 4 months!"
"I see," she answered crisply. Picking up the five kittens in the hem of her dress, she said, "I think I'll go home for now." Her mother looked at her, puzzled. "To rest," Persephone added quickly.
"Alright. You know where to find me?"
"Yes," she replied and breezed by the trees. As she walked she turned around and called back to her mother, who was still sitting in the grass, " When do I leave?"
"Tomorrow!" her mother called back.
Persephone sighed and continued on her way through the forest. So this was the price one paid for being hungry... She cursed herself for having eaten those seeds- she had known, of course, that they were the food of the dead, hadn't she? Then why had she eaten them anyway? Why had she even picked the flower in the first place? Why did Hades make her feel that way he did? She shuddered.
As she opened the front door, she couldn't recall ever spending a day inside by herself- especially when the weather was as nice as it was today. She sighed again. Life was changing. And at the moment, she wasn't quite sure whether it was for better or worse. She'd have to wait until tomorrow. She decided to push the thoughts out of her head until then and she strode into the kitchen to find herself a basket for her five kittens.
After lining her newfound basket with soft cloth and materials, she put the kittens inside and carried it upstairs to her room. Setting it absentmindedly in a corner, she surveyed her room carefully. She hadn't gone flower-picking with Iris yet, so her room was still full of wilting flowers. There was one exception, however, and that was THE flower. It was lying on her cot at the moment, still as fresh and alive as the day she had picked it up.
She reached for it gingerly and moved some flowers around so that she could sit on the windowsill. Looking out into the sunny world, she saw mostly trees. But that wasn't what she was really watching. She was observing birds in their branches, flying about, chirping cheerfully at one another, and flying from tree to tree. If they were able to migrate every year to a foreign place, and return home every year, so could she.
She held the flower delicately between her fingers and in one swift move, she had opened the window and tossed the orchid outside. She saw the dark purple on the grass, contrasting sharply with the green. She paid it no more mind, and walked back across the room to tend to her kittens.
Adonis was still wondering around in the forest at noontime. He could feel his stomach growling and his feet were sore and protesting, too. Was he ever going to get out of here? Maybe he'd run into someone who could show him the way back. His back was truly aching by the time he reached a large clearing, so he sat down on the banks of a large stream that ran through it.
As his feet were cooling in the water, he saw a girl on the other side. No- THE GIRL. She had a bouquet of beautiful flowers in her arms to which she was about to add another flower, when she looked up and saw him.
"Hello," she looked straight into his face.
"Hello," he echoed, mesmerized by her deep green eyes.
She put down her large bouquet and sat on the other bank across from him. "Who are you?" she asked quietly, but still loud enough for him to hear over the sounds of the rushing water.
"You're beautiful," he said, as from a dream.
Persephone's eyes softened. Who was that stranger, she asked herself. He had light brown hair with natural highlights (probably from working out in the sun frequently, she pondered), a muscular physique, and olive skin- so unlike the pale hue of hers. The round hazel staring back at her and high cheekbones made his face look soft and warm. Suddenly, Persephone felt like he was the sun and she was in a field of ice. And he thought SHE was beautiful.
Adonis had let the words come out of his mouth too soon. He hadn't meant to say that, but her face had relaxed (looking prettier, still) and she looked back at him with anticipation. What was she waiting for him to say? "My name is Adonis, son of Etiocles," he said rather awkwardly, staring down at his feet in the water.
"May I call you Adonis?" Persephone asked, amazed at herself for speaking so boldly to a stranger.
"If you give me your name in return-" he said, half smiling at her.
Persephone shrugged. "I don't know."
"What? Your name? Or if you should give me your name or not?" he was still smiling.
"Call me what you like."
"What would you like to be called?" he asked her.
"Anything."
"Can I call you Aphrodite? You're so beautiful..." he said somewhat sheepishly.
He looked so boyishly cute when he blushed, she mused and she laughed, exposing her white teeth and dimples. The moment her clear laughter rang out, she remembered her flowers and she lifted her feet out of the stream and picked her flowers up again as she stood up.
"What are you doing? Can I help?" Adonis asked, and before she could manage to reply he was already crossing the stream.
"Uhmm- I suppose you could," Persephone flashed the charming smile and dimples, "but then I insist on doing you a favor afterwards."
"Perhaps. What are you doing?" he offered his arm out to take half of the flowers.
"Just picking flowers," she said, splitting the flowers into two flagrantly unequal piles. To her dismay, he grabbed the heavier load. Inside, however, Persephone was overjoyed at thinking what a gentleman he was. "Thank you."
They sat in the meadow for a long time, simply talking about nothing at all-, picking flowers, and looking at the sky. Persephone had never felt so happy before. The sun shone brightly and everything around her was alive. She thought she had never appreciated the nature so much as today- even when she was with Iris. She found herself surreptitiously glad that ultimately, she had ended up going outside by herself to gather flowers for her room.
"You think these are enough?" he showed her the bunch he had picked.
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "You've been a great helper!"
"I'll help you carry them back to your room if you like," Adonis offered.
"You're too nice! Thank you!" she said again, genuinely happy. Together they walked through the woods. Somehow, Persephone found her hand had slipped into his. It was warm and as they walked together, the scent of sweet flowers swimming through the air all around them, Persephone felt radiant and lovely- truly like a goddess.
"You really are like Aphrodite," Adonis said quietly. He tilted his head to one side, studying her. He somehow had the feeling that she was not a person. Not a lovely girl holding a bunch of flowers, but she was a part of the bouquet herself. Perhaps both of them were- and she was the brilliant flower around which all revolved.
When he had finally managed to stop gaping at her, they were standing in front of a rather large mansion, by his standards. She let go of his hand and ran towards the porch to put her flowers down.
"You can put them down right here," she gestured to the spot next to her flowers.
He breathed their scent in deeply one more time before he put them down, "Wonderful.."
She looked at him shyly. "Thank You! Now what can I do for you?"
"I just need to get back to the main road."
"The farmers' road?"
"Yes."
"That's easy enough," she said, still beaming at him. He thought she would eventually blind him with that smile. "Just follow me." And she took his hand in hers and together they began to run.
When they reached the stream, Adonis offered to carry her, "I'll carry you acro-"
"That's alright," she interrupted. She was filling so giddy and energetic, she wasn't even thinking about leaving for the Underworld. The only thoughts running through her head were "carpe diem... carpe diem-" and she cried, "I'll race you!" With agility she crossed the stream in two quick steps and dashed into the woods.
Adonis was in close pursuit after his Aphrodite. When he finally caught up to her, she was panting, leaning against a tree trunk. She hadn't looked like it, but she was indeed, a very swift runner. As he saw her there, after she had caught her breath and smiling at him, he impulsively leaned forward and very softly brushed his lips against her cheek. There was something regal about her which had stopped him from kissing her lips.
Adonis had been with girls before, with his looks, of course, they were falling all over him. However, it never made him vain or feel like had permission to misuse their feelings in any way. He was still that modest farm boy- working hard and long hours.
After he withdrew his arms from around her, she said softly, "Just keep following that way-" she nudged her chin in a direction.
"Thank you," he said and he grinned at her.
"Thank YOU," she said.
"Will I see you soon?"
She merely smiled. She brushed her lips against his cheek. "Goodbye." Persephone knew she was leaving the next day. What would await her in Hades' palace? She began to shiver inside at the thought.
Don't worry, H&P fans! THIS IS NOT THE FINAL COUPLING! I promise H&P stuff coming up in the next chapter! Remember to click that button! THANK YOU!
THANK YOU, REVIEWERS!
black rose: thanks for reviewing! Hope you like this chappie!
badass: I'm getting to it... Hope you have as much fun reading this as I had writing it!
Seph: Thank you for reviewing and thanks for your opinion. I will DEFINITELY keep Hades an active part of the story, don't worry. Haven't quite decided on the pairings yet, though.
Sarah: Thanks for your review!
FRAGILEg0dess: Thank you! You made me smile today =)
Basic FYI: Names are taken from other stories in Greek/ Roman Mythology: Etiocles- Brother of protagonist who killed himself from the play "Antigone" by Sophocles; Thisbe- the story of Pyramus & Thisbe, a lot like Romeo and Juliet- Also, "Carpe Diem" is latin for "seize the day" (I'm just including this because I, myself didn't know for a LONG time...)
Anyway, I'll shut up now- Enjoy!
CHAPTER FOUR: CARPE DIEM
His parents called him Adonis. His father had hated the name, of course. The eldest sons had to be named after their father and carry on the name, he had said. Well, it was too late now, for Etiocles was long dead. Adonis flicked a sandy-haired curl behind his ear and made his way up the coarse dirt path from the fields. The dust clung to his sandals as he took his time walking in the dirt.
The sun had already wandered across the magnificent blue early-autumn sky and was slowly setting, throwing longer shandows across the dirt. Adonis felt the warmth of the sunset on his back as he carried his hoe over his shoulder and he quickened his pace. He had to get home before it was dark. He looked down at the ground, carefully stepping over stones and potholes in the path. His eyes fell on his long shadow.
It seemed that his shadow was nearly as long as he had always imagined he had thought his father to be tall. He had imagined Etiocles to be a great man. That man who you would watch in the fields as a small child, admiring his strength, his endurance and attachment to his work.
A part of him longed to uncover the truth, longed to know... but the other side of him was too scared. Scared of what he would find. He would rather preserve his image of that ideal father than find out what had really been and have these thoughts shattered; so he had never asked his mother. At times, the insatiable curiosity did overcome him, wondering for the umpteenth time about his father.
It was too late to ask his mother now. Thisbe had died several years back. Adonis didn't even seem to remember when or why. Perhaps because he had wanted to forget about it. She had not died because of him, he could not have done anything to alter her fate, he told himself repeatedly. And that was the end of it. He had no regrets for it was not his fault-
He continued his way on the path, trying to think of lighter thoughts, for it was still quite a way until he would reach his grandparents' little cottage he called home. The hoe he carried over his shoulder seemed to grow heavier with each step. He stopped to pull out a smudged
The sun was setting slowly, he thought to himself, for he could still feel it warm on the back of his neck. Almost as if time was going slower and slower- and suddenly it stopped. He saw her. She looked in his face. And she ran.
He dropped his hoe and following first instincts, ran after her. It seemed she wasn't real, he didn't even know who she was, but he had to catch her. Whoever she was. She veered off the path into dense underbrush into a forest. Stepping over obstacles in his way, he continued follow.
Long Strawberry Blonde hair with highlights fanned out behind her. With every step, he became closer to her- he could almost grasp the ends of her wavy hair. He felt like metal drawn to a magnet- her.
She suddenly sped up and before he could adjust his pace, she was out of sight.
"Wait!" he called after her, but her figure seemed to have blended in with the long shadows of the tall trees in the forest. Who had she been? He puzzled about her even as he strode in the direction of where he thought he had left his hoe. But, alas, he could not find his way back to the dirt path. He continued to wander among bushes, through groves of thick trees, even crossing several small creeks, but he only wandered further into the forest.
By the time he at last accepted that he was lost, the sun had long since set and the last lights of dusk had vanished. The sky was darkening, and stars were slowly becoming visible on the deep violet-indigo canvas. Though he was lost and alone, he couldn't help sighing as he looked above him.
Even as he was still wandering through the dark forest, he gazed up at the sky from time to time. When he finally gave up, he decided to go searching again in the morning and scrambled up a tree. He sank down to rest on one of the highest boughs in the canopy which gave him a free vision to the stars.
With his head slowly beginning to lean on his shoulder, he fell asleep, but he dreamt he was sleeping on a soft bed of long luxurious hair....- Strawberry blonde hair-
When he woke up from his dream, it was still dark, but he was a farmer boy who stood up before sunrise. He could hear birds chirping already in the canopies of neighboring trees. He was rather surprised he had managed to stay asleep in the tree without falling down, and he quickly climbed down.
He used his shadow to orienteer himself. He knew that the sun rose in the East which would mean his shadow would point West. He also knew the fields he worked in were somewhat south of his house, so he did his best to find the direction. Hopefully, he thought to himself, he was going in the right direction. And secretly, in the back of his mind he hoped that he'd find the girl with long wavy hair again.
Persephone had found the kittens on her own. Two were slate gray and had blue and green-yellow eyes. One was white as chalk, the other black, and her favorite was black and white. She had named her Dinnie and carefully placed her back in her lap and scratched her stomach. Dinnie purred, and with a tiny paw reached for Persephone's long locks. She giggled as it pushed her hair back and forth.
What she loved most about Dinnie, she thought to herself, was probably her mixed colors. She looked as if she hadn't been able to decide between black and white and had repeatedly changed her mind, Persephone mused. She lay down on the grass on her stomach with the kittens in front of her. She cooed at them and let them play with her long hair as she reached her lips over and planted kisses in their soft fur. Oh, how she loved them!
Absorbed in her games with the litter of kittens, Persephone did not notice someone approaching her from behind. She looked up startled as her mother knelt down beside her in the ripe green grass.
"You scared me!" Persephone said, her face relaxing slowly, and she smiled that 100-watt smile at her mother's gentle face.
Her mother returned the smile. "What are you doing?" and she eyed the kittens curiously.
"I found this litter behind a bush just today. I already fed them, so I'm playing with them right now," she answered, a smile still resting on her lips. However, she was uneasy because whenever her mother made small talk like this it usually meant that she had something important to break to her daughter.
"They are a cute bunch, aren't they?" Demeter sighed ,"Have you seen their mother around?"
"No," Persephone said, her voice growing somewhat melancholy, "I think she's either dead or she may have abandoned them."
"That's terrible... Does it mean that you're going to take care of them now?"
"Well someone has to. "
"That's horrible- to be abandoned, I mean-"
"You're not planning to abandon ME, are you?" Persephone asked, narrowing her eyebrows in mock-suspicion.
"No, no, of course not," And Demeter flung her arms around her daughter's shoulders. "You would never think I would do that to you, would you-"
"-No." Persephone said, shaking her magnificent hair. "Why?"
Demeter put her hands on Persephone's shoulders and held her face away from hers. "Persephone-"
"What is it?" she looked at her mother, concerned.
But Demeter avoided the question and instead asked, "What did you eat when you were there?"
Persephone looked down at the ground, trying to search her memory, as if it had been years ago. Demeter's eyes grew wider. "I-I really don't remember, Mother," she said earnestly and shook her head. A deep furrow had formed between her eyebrows. "I just can't seem to recall."
"Pomegranate?" her mother looked at her, a very serious expression on her face.
The words fell from Persephone's lips almost immediately as she suddenly remember the severed pomegranate, "Why, I only ate three seeds!" And as soon as the words had left her lips, she realized the sheer horror of what she had actually done.
Demeter clasped her hand in front of her mouth, "Dear God-" and she took Persephone in her arms again.
"Am I going to die?" Persephone sounded more cynical than she had meant to.
"No- it just means you'll have to go back."
"Forever?" Persephone felt her eyes growing wide. She remember the strange attraction of his indigo eyes, the smooth voice, sleek ways. The recollection suddenly made her feel dirty in a way she couldn't explain. As if it was WRONG to think about him.
"No, just part of the year," Demeter's voice sounded falsely optimistic."You'll be back in 5- or even 4 months!"
"I see," she answered crisply. Picking up the five kittens in the hem of her dress, she said, "I think I'll go home for now." Her mother looked at her, puzzled. "To rest," Persephone added quickly.
"Alright. You know where to find me?"
"Yes," she replied and breezed by the trees. As she walked she turned around and called back to her mother, who was still sitting in the grass, " When do I leave?"
"Tomorrow!" her mother called back.
Persephone sighed and continued on her way through the forest. So this was the price one paid for being hungry... She cursed herself for having eaten those seeds- she had known, of course, that they were the food of the dead, hadn't she? Then why had she eaten them anyway? Why had she even picked the flower in the first place? Why did Hades make her feel that way he did? She shuddered.
As she opened the front door, she couldn't recall ever spending a day inside by herself- especially when the weather was as nice as it was today. She sighed again. Life was changing. And at the moment, she wasn't quite sure whether it was for better or worse. She'd have to wait until tomorrow. She decided to push the thoughts out of her head until then and she strode into the kitchen to find herself a basket for her five kittens.
After lining her newfound basket with soft cloth and materials, she put the kittens inside and carried it upstairs to her room. Setting it absentmindedly in a corner, she surveyed her room carefully. She hadn't gone flower-picking with Iris yet, so her room was still full of wilting flowers. There was one exception, however, and that was THE flower. It was lying on her cot at the moment, still as fresh and alive as the day she had picked it up.
She reached for it gingerly and moved some flowers around so that she could sit on the windowsill. Looking out into the sunny world, she saw mostly trees. But that wasn't what she was really watching. She was observing birds in their branches, flying about, chirping cheerfully at one another, and flying from tree to tree. If they were able to migrate every year to a foreign place, and return home every year, so could she.
She held the flower delicately between her fingers and in one swift move, she had opened the window and tossed the orchid outside. She saw the dark purple on the grass, contrasting sharply with the green. She paid it no more mind, and walked back across the room to tend to her kittens.
Adonis was still wondering around in the forest at noontime. He could feel his stomach growling and his feet were sore and protesting, too. Was he ever going to get out of here? Maybe he'd run into someone who could show him the way back. His back was truly aching by the time he reached a large clearing, so he sat down on the banks of a large stream that ran through it.
As his feet were cooling in the water, he saw a girl on the other side. No- THE GIRL. She had a bouquet of beautiful flowers in her arms to which she was about to add another flower, when she looked up and saw him.
"Hello," she looked straight into his face.
"Hello," he echoed, mesmerized by her deep green eyes.
She put down her large bouquet and sat on the other bank across from him. "Who are you?" she asked quietly, but still loud enough for him to hear over the sounds of the rushing water.
"You're beautiful," he said, as from a dream.
Persephone's eyes softened. Who was that stranger, she asked herself. He had light brown hair with natural highlights (probably from working out in the sun frequently, she pondered), a muscular physique, and olive skin- so unlike the pale hue of hers. The round hazel staring back at her and high cheekbones made his face look soft and warm. Suddenly, Persephone felt like he was the sun and she was in a field of ice. And he thought SHE was beautiful.
Adonis had let the words come out of his mouth too soon. He hadn't meant to say that, but her face had relaxed (looking prettier, still) and she looked back at him with anticipation. What was she waiting for him to say? "My name is Adonis, son of Etiocles," he said rather awkwardly, staring down at his feet in the water.
"May I call you Adonis?" Persephone asked, amazed at herself for speaking so boldly to a stranger.
"If you give me your name in return-" he said, half smiling at her.
Persephone shrugged. "I don't know."
"What? Your name? Or if you should give me your name or not?" he was still smiling.
"Call me what you like."
"What would you like to be called?" he asked her.
"Anything."
"Can I call you Aphrodite? You're so beautiful..." he said somewhat sheepishly.
He looked so boyishly cute when he blushed, she mused and she laughed, exposing her white teeth and dimples. The moment her clear laughter rang out, she remembered her flowers and she lifted her feet out of the stream and picked her flowers up again as she stood up.
"What are you doing? Can I help?" Adonis asked, and before she could manage to reply he was already crossing the stream.
"Uhmm- I suppose you could," Persephone flashed the charming smile and dimples, "but then I insist on doing you a favor afterwards."
"Perhaps. What are you doing?" he offered his arm out to take half of the flowers.
"Just picking flowers," she said, splitting the flowers into two flagrantly unequal piles. To her dismay, he grabbed the heavier load. Inside, however, Persephone was overjoyed at thinking what a gentleman he was. "Thank you."
They sat in the meadow for a long time, simply talking about nothing at all-, picking flowers, and looking at the sky. Persephone had never felt so happy before. The sun shone brightly and everything around her was alive. She thought she had never appreciated the nature so much as today- even when she was with Iris. She found herself surreptitiously glad that ultimately, she had ended up going outside by herself to gather flowers for her room.
"You think these are enough?" he showed her the bunch he had picked.
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "You've been a great helper!"
"I'll help you carry them back to your room if you like," Adonis offered.
"You're too nice! Thank you!" she said again, genuinely happy. Together they walked through the woods. Somehow, Persephone found her hand had slipped into his. It was warm and as they walked together, the scent of sweet flowers swimming through the air all around them, Persephone felt radiant and lovely- truly like a goddess.
"You really are like Aphrodite," Adonis said quietly. He tilted his head to one side, studying her. He somehow had the feeling that she was not a person. Not a lovely girl holding a bunch of flowers, but she was a part of the bouquet herself. Perhaps both of them were- and she was the brilliant flower around which all revolved.
When he had finally managed to stop gaping at her, they were standing in front of a rather large mansion, by his standards. She let go of his hand and ran towards the porch to put her flowers down.
"You can put them down right here," she gestured to the spot next to her flowers.
He breathed their scent in deeply one more time before he put them down, "Wonderful.."
She looked at him shyly. "Thank You! Now what can I do for you?"
"I just need to get back to the main road."
"The farmers' road?"
"Yes."
"That's easy enough," she said, still beaming at him. He thought she would eventually blind him with that smile. "Just follow me." And she took his hand in hers and together they began to run.
When they reached the stream, Adonis offered to carry her, "I'll carry you acro-"
"That's alright," she interrupted. She was filling so giddy and energetic, she wasn't even thinking about leaving for the Underworld. The only thoughts running through her head were "carpe diem... carpe diem-" and she cried, "I'll race you!" With agility she crossed the stream in two quick steps and dashed into the woods.
Adonis was in close pursuit after his Aphrodite. When he finally caught up to her, she was panting, leaning against a tree trunk. She hadn't looked like it, but she was indeed, a very swift runner. As he saw her there, after she had caught her breath and smiling at him, he impulsively leaned forward and very softly brushed his lips against her cheek. There was something regal about her which had stopped him from kissing her lips.
Adonis had been with girls before, with his looks, of course, they were falling all over him. However, it never made him vain or feel like had permission to misuse their feelings in any way. He was still that modest farm boy- working hard and long hours.
After he withdrew his arms from around her, she said softly, "Just keep following that way-" she nudged her chin in a direction.
"Thank you," he said and he grinned at her.
"Thank YOU," she said.
"Will I see you soon?"
She merely smiled. She brushed her lips against his cheek. "Goodbye." Persephone knew she was leaving the next day. What would await her in Hades' palace? She began to shiver inside at the thought.
Don't worry, H&P fans! THIS IS NOT THE FINAL COUPLING! I promise H&P stuff coming up in the next chapter! Remember to click that button! THANK YOU!