Chapter one

The Forgotten Prophecy

Persephone lounged on her exquisite ebony marbled throne. Quiet and somber like that of her adopted home. It was coming soon; she could feel the unmistakable pull of her mother beckoning her home. The slight tug on her immortal heart and the sweet sound of mother's voice which rendered her to inconsolable tears was growing ever more urgent with each passing day.

She had lived for too long, she decided then and there. She had seen to much, witnessed to many abominations and one to many miracles which were never those of her own; Persephone only had one miracle which she thought could ever erase the heartache of which she had en-counted over the thousands of years of her life.

She what she wanted was a mortal want; she wanted a child. A sweet little dumpling of flesh which had grown from her womb, been birthed from her body, it was such a simple want from a mortal women but for her Goddess of the underworld it seemed near impossible and she wept with the prospect of being baron and bitter for the rest of her immortal days.

"Hades where are you?" she screamed, frustrated at her loneliness. When no answer came Persephone grew tall and ominous with utmost rage. She roared so horrendously that it shook the very pillars that were surrounding her throne room "Hades you came to me now, or I shall never forgive this insult!"

Again her rage was turned to deaf ears and as her cries grew pitiful and hoarse those who had heard could do nothing but sit and wait for Hades the twisted God of the Underworld to have mercy and grant the deserving queen a moment's peace.

Hades raced back to his palace horrified at his wife's pleas.

"Wait for me, my blessed love, please what ever you seek to do wait for me."

He tore through the ground like a dog with the stench of rabbit; he parted the ancient roots which sought to hinder his journey home. Finally after what seemed like eternity his fingers hit rock and with a cry of gratitude to whoever sibling had helped him he entered his home.

For a moment he did not see her, and whether he felt relief or concern he could not say. But then his icy eyes adjusted to the dim light and he saw his magnificent wife sitting perfectly still atop her throne.

He fell to his knees just a breath away from her sandal clad feet.

Persephone's eyes looked unblinking forwards clouded by a slight ivory mist, her chest which lay bare and ashen no longer rose and fell with each immortal breath and her lips once a rich maroon were pale and no longer parted to release air.

Not a hair moved on her serene face; and to Hades horror he saw the last tear that she had wept frozen clear and pure at the base of her cheekbone.

Hades gasped and then he crawled forward like a lost child, gripping the delicate bone of her cold ankles.

He roared her name passionately carefully crawling his hands up her legs until his arms encircled her naked waist; he pressed his face against her womb hoping in vein that her once supple flesh would give way like it once did when they lay together. At the stone like texture of her skin, Hades went mad with grief. The God heaved himself up to full height swooped down on Persephone and enveloped himself in her. He cradled her against his chest "You should have waited for me my cherished one, what have you done my queen?" he asked over and over again; but Hades already knew.

She given herself the only death a God can have, she had fallen into an eternal slumber, where a god's heart still beats and at any whim they can awaken from their sleep but at any other time they bare the painful resemblance to those who have passed on.

Hades screamed over and over again the only name that had meant anything to him; he pulled her body down to the floor and molded himself to her statue form

There they lay for a week and two day, to beautiful figures fallen dormant out of grief, until Demeter sick with worrying forced Zues to open up the gates to the Underworld so that she may claim her daughter back. It was there as that the Goddess found the two divine pair; still frozen and grotesque at the base of the throne.

"Persephone, Persephone my daughter I know you hear me. Awaken now my child; you have earned what you seek. A daughter resides in your belly; would you not arise for her?" Demeter cooed.

Persephone still did not move but Demeter held no fear "My stubborn one, I will wait for you."

And so she waited, taking a graceful seat and the forgotten throne "The flowers are late this year as well." She commented.

Another week and two days past Demeter hadn't moved but then her daughter did. Persephone blinked sluggishly, once then twice until her striking eyes retained their alluring glow. She twisted her torso and writhed her arms, her lips forming silent words. Finally she eased herself out of her lovers grip, sitting up carefully "Hades, Hades come back." She begged cupping his strong yet somehow soft chin "I am sorry for ever leaving you."

He merely stared back is ebony iris's no longer clear. She bowed her head in sorrow "Mother will he return?" she asked though it was barely a whisper.

Demeter swept her daughter up and murmured in her ear "Only if you will it."

Persephone nodded.

"Come, it is time to let the crops flourish."

Again Persephone nodded, letting her mother carry her upwards towards the Gods and away from the father of her child.

Over the months that past Persephone could no longer reach Hades, he had fallen far away from her loving reach. With his absence Persephone began to swell with life it was the first time in centuries that she was truly happy, although unknown to Persephone her happiness was about to be brought crashing down with a single forgotten prophecy.