Chapter 33

Hades

Dead leaves covered the ground, a token of Demeter's recent bereavement. There were signs on the trees of the fast approaching Spring, however. Flower buds and green leaves were just starting to make their appearance, which juxtaposed the brown leaves in a strangely beautiful way.

The slight wind shook the branches of the trees, whispering word of my arrival as it went. I was walking along a long dirt path that snaked and twisted its way up a hill and to a small cottage at the top.

I walked the distance until I came to the door of the cottage. My hesitant feet had made the trek seem longer than it was. I stood there, staring at the grooves in the wood of the door and tried to will my hand to knock on the door.

I couldn't do it. I put my hands in my pocket and pivoted on my heel. After I had only taken a few steps, I heard the door swing open.

"Yes?" A down to earth voice asked. "What can I do for you?"

I froze where I stood, not wanting to look, but unable to go on. Keeping my back to the person, I answered, "I'm looking for someone."

"Oh? Well, I'm the only one who lives here, so I suppose you could say that I'd probably be acquainted with whomever it is that you're seeking." I could hear the laughter in her voice, just like I remembered it.

"I'm looking for my mother."

An astonished silence met my words. I turned around and saw her for the first time since my torture. She was still the tall and graceful woman I remembered, but she looked older. I noticed that there was a gleam of mirth in her eyes that my vision hadn't quite gotten right.

"Hades? Is that really you?" She took a step forward, her hand outstretched to me. I didn't take it.

"Hello, Mother." I gave her a slight smile.

"I-I can't believe it. You look so different. You cut your hair."

"I did," was all I could think of to say.

"What brought you all the way down here? I was sure I would never see you again." To my embarrassment, she started to cry. She came up to me and gathered me in her arms and just cried.

"Mother, I'm sorry."

"No, no. I'm the one to be sorry. Oh, Hades, I'm just glad you came back." She touched my cheek, the one that had the scar. It had closed up, but still hadn't fully healed. I wasn't sure it ever would.

"I got married," I said to distract us both.

She released me with a cry of delightl. "To who?"

"To, ah, Demeter's daughter. Persephone, I mean. She-well, I-it's a long story."

She was still crying, so I patted her back a bit.

"Come inside," she said excitedly, still wiping her eyes.

"I can't stay for long. I just wanted to say hello."

"Is that all?" She sounded disappointed.

"Well, no. I also came to apologize." I took a deep breath, "I just learned the truth of your circumstances when I was born. I really wish I had known that earlier. It would have saved us both a lot of pain, I think. I also wanted to tell you that you are no longer exiled. I arranged it with Zeus. He agrees that you deserve freedom after all you've gone through."

Rhea took the news with composure, but her face didn't hold any of the happiness I had anticipated. She sat down on a plain wooden chair that stood against the wall of her little house.

After a minute, she said, "The world must have changed so much since I've been in it, and I haven't changed at all. I would just be out of place in such a big world."

I shrugged. "It's your choice, whatever you decide to do."

I started to walk away. I had a thought and turned back to her.

"Why don't you come visit me in the Underworld sometime? You could meet my wife." A smile came to my lips as I finally said those words.

She shook her head uncertainly. "I don't think so, Hades. That's a little too near...well, you know who I mean."

Who...? Ah, yes. Kronos. I could understand that. I didn't really want to be so close to my father either. Unfortunately, I didn't have much of a choice.

We stared at each other for a moment, committing the sight of the other person to memory. I broke the silence.

"I guess...this is goodbye then?"

"I suppose so. For now, at least."

I nodded and left back down the dirt trail. I put my hands in my pockets and whistled softly through my teeth.

Only three months until Persephone came back. Two months and twenty-nine days, I corrected myself with a smile, looking at the setting sun.