Chapter 4

The talk

'Sister…what brings you to my humble place?' Hades got closer to her. She looked somewhat different from what he remembered. Her hair was longer, a bright shade of red, her big brown eyes seemed tired and her figure was strong. She was different from the sister he liked to remember. Young, almost fragile and ready to fight their titan father. Time changed them both and ever since the war ended he only saw her a few times on Mt. Olympus.

'We need to talk Hades. It is about the prophecy…' she was worried.

'Which one? I hear a new every day so you have to be more specific' he tried to smile weakly

'You are unbelievable! I don't mean the mortal prophecy, I don't believe those jokes. I MEAN THE FATES PROPHECY REGARDING MY DAUGHTER!' she was pissed off. How could he forget that? The day Persephone was born she sent words to her brothers about the fates. She refused to speak to anyone else about it. Her brothers did not understand the meaning and nor did she. But she couldn't imagine that the had forgotten either.

'Oh…yes..I remember. The ancient soul..But nobody knows what that means, dear sister' he was puzzled. 'Come, follow me.' He lead her past Cerberus who became amazingly obedient since his master appeared. The palace of Hades was huge. Bigger than Olympus itself. The black and white marble was everywhere and almost everything had precious stones engraved in it. The walls seemed to be made of glass allowing the light from outside to get in. There were paintings of the war on the main side of the walls and they seemed to be moving. One painting in particular caught the eye of Demeter. It was in the main hall. The biggest painting of them all. She found herself, her brothers and sisters there. Right after the war. They smiling. They were happy.

'This…I almost forgot how it was. We were truly happy once.'

Hades didn't know what she was talking about as he was pouring nectar in two glasses. When he turned to her he saw her looking at the painting.

'Ah yes. But we still are sister' he handed her the glass

'Not sure about that. We lost ourselves on the way. Look at Zeus and Hera. Always fighting. Or the children. There is not a single meeting where Ares and Athena don't fight…and don't let me start talking about Aphrodite' she rolled her eyes drinking from the cup

Hades started laughing 'Well, I can't say you are wrong but it is part of the game. Families are supposed to be…difficult'

'That is why you avoided the annual meetings lately?' Demeter was actually curious about that.

'It was not because of the family…more because of a certain someone outside the family' his mood suddenly changed

'Ah….the nymph! I forgot her name…Maine…Mitra…' she was trying to remember.

'Minthe' he said silently

Demeter remembered. It was one of Hera's nymphs. She was pretty but nothing special, just another regular creature. A mean creature actually. For a long time she was the lover of Hades, and she had to admit he seemed really happy back than, but it was over. Demeter assumed that Hades got bored of her. She seemed to be wrong.

'There are plenty other nymphs…Honestly, this shouldn't stop you from doing your work.'

'Always the 'sensitive' dear Demeter…' he was definitively annoyed by now. 'I did not take advantage of her as all the Olympus seems to believe. I almost married her…'

'You what?! Oh my…you are officially more blind than Zeus himself. A creature like her can only love herself…and power.' She was amazed he couldn't see that. But then again, he still is a man, and their judgement is easily disturbed by a cleavage.

'Let's talk about your problems, shall we? What happened that made you come here? This prophecy is going on for a while and guess what…nothing happened. As I recall your daughter is almost of age and her powers should be fully developed. And yet…Nothing.' he was leaning on a wall waiting for her answer.

'That is the problem Hades! She should have developed her powers fully and yes, although I gave the title, with Zeus approval, of a spring goddess she still cannot be officially named. And there is more…she is definitely a child of light and I taught her everything I know, Athena and Artemis also helped her in every possible way and yet she is not in full control of her powers. I am not sure what the prophecy means. But I know one thing. She has to able to protect herself!' Demeter was looking at Hades with pleading eyes.

'I don't think I understand sister. How am I involved in this matter?'

Demeter let out a sigh and leaned on the wall looking at the ceiling that imitated the night sky. It was calming, she had to admit.

'I…I can't believe I am saying this…I need you to teach her how to use her powers…'

Hades started laughing 'Spring is not my specialty!'

'I know. But darkness is. And she, for some reason, can control it. She is surrounded by it. I sensed it for a while. She did too, I know that. Persephone never told me about it, I guess she is just as scared as I am. She needs you Hades. I have no idea how to help her control it. You do. Please brother!' she was almost pleading

Hades took a step back trying to understand the meaning of all this.

'Why would a child of light be able to control the dark? An what am I supposed to be?! A nanny? She is still a child in my eyes…I haven't seen her since she was born.'

'I don't know why she has those powers but I know that she must be ready for whatever comes'

Hades was confused by the whole situation. I have to see the Fates…this must be a joke he was thinking. It was an enigma but he knew he couldn't say no. It was family after all.

'If you think this is the best for her…but don't come to me angry when she runs back to surface scared' he threatened

Demeter smiled 'Worry not brother, she is my daughter, she is many things but not weak or scared'

'Then, as you wish dear sister. You can bring her tomorrow.'

'Thank you, Hades!' she put her hand on his shoulder 'Thank you!'

He could see hope in her eyes. The same hope she had during the war. It suddenly got Hades worried. What can her daughter actually control? Why is Demeter so worried? But there was tomorrow for that. Now he was actually late for the Tamna fest.

'Sister, are you coming to the festivities? This time I am not avoiding Olympus. You should be proud.' he smiled

'Or Zeus threatened you…' she smiled back 'Not this time, I need to go back home. I left Persephone alone and I need to tell her the news for tomorrow'

'As you wish' he replied

With that they both found their way in the above land and parted ways. Demeter was hopeful that it was the right decision and Hades was thinking about his new nanny status…