Time passed, but memory of that day never did. How much time? Maybe not even the Fates know. Years did not know winter yet. Mortals were born and died in ceaseless summer, and Immortals knew few tragedies. Kore only could witness two of them, both involving Athena: the loss of her special friend Pallas, and that of her favourite priestess, Medusa. Athena tended to shut herself down these days, and Kore saw her less and less. The only constant presence into her life, with the obvious exception of Mother, was Hecate.
Kore liked Hecate.
She always appeared at the doorstep of her Garden, holding a torch in her left hand and a smile upon her face. Mother would have wished for a door Hecate could not open, if such a door could exist, or could be made, even by Hephaestus. But her good friend seemed to have no need for keys of keyholes. In fact, she seemed to live in spaces between spaces. Details like those betrayed her age. She had been there before. Before Zeus, before the War, and likely would be there even after.
Kore believed herself lucky Hecate had taken a liking to her.
"My dearest," she appeared that night as well, the torch casting dancing glow upon her smiling face, "are you ready for our moonlight walk?"
"Certainly," Kore replied, using her most refined manners, just as Mother had taught her. She let go of the flowers she was growing, and walked towards the other Immortal, her naked feet drawing little sound on the grass of her Garden. Not for the first time, Hecate took a long look at the place Kore had called home ever since she had memory.
"It grows more beautiful every time I visit," she commented, setting her hand upon Kore's elbow and guiding her outside. Kore felt a faint prickling sensation washing upon her body, just as she did every time Hecate invited her outside. Night welcomed her, with the starry body of ancient Nix stretched all over the sky.
"Just as do you," said Hecate after a while.
"Hm?" Kore asked.
"I meant your garden, and you as well. They both grow more beautiful every time I visit," Hecate repeated.
"Oh. I… I don't think so. You are being too nice."
Any other Immortal, with the probable exception of Athena and her Father, would had let her words dance with no further meaning, simple window-dressing. Kore was used to her words amounting to little.
Hecate just kept smiling, silence stretching between them as an invitation to continue.
"I am not sure," Kore said at last, brushing her hand through her golden locks. Black eyes flashed through her memory.
She stopped walking, standing still at the wavering light of Hecate's torch. The grass was damp beneath her naked feet. What could there be below them, in the bowels of the earth? Who was the newcomer who had interrupted their banquet? Mother must have had answers, but she could not ask her, and if she pushed Artemis or Athena, Mother would make them stop visit.
Not that Athena was in any sort of condition to listen to her these days.
But Hecate could not be stopped, could she? She was there before Mother.
The other immortals went to Hestia for counsel. Kore only had this old, old, old friend, who knew all about riddles and sacrifices and the hidden spaces between spaces.
"Who was that? The newcomer. The one who came from beneath." Kore asked in a whisper, so thin she might not had pronounced at all. Surely Mother could not hear her.
"I was wondering when you would have asked," replied Hecate, smiling even wider. She gave a soft laugh, and from the hills far-off howls seemed to answer. "My dearest Kore! You who care for growing flowers, you managed to make the most singular flower bloom in the chest of the darkest of the Immortals. It is red, and strong. I have seen none with deepest roots."
Kore's heart beat now again with thunderous anticipation. Night seemed to coil around them, hiding Hecate and Kore from the scrutinizing eye of Mother.
"Who was that?" Kore's hand reached for Hecate's arm. "Please, if you indeed are my friend, tell me. Tell me who the black-eyed one was."
"He has many names. Feared by mortals and Olympians alike. He is the Elder King, for he is the first of the sons of mighty and accursed Chronos. He is the Unseen One, for he walks invisible. He is the one who receives those who comes to the farthest shore."
"The farthest shore?"
Kore's heart beat so fast she could hardly hear her own words.
"The Underworld, dearest Kore. He is the stern King of the hidden third of the cosmos. His name is Hades."
Mother knew nothing, or feigned to know nothing, about Hades. All of Mother's trees and all of Mother's roots knew nothing about the Elder King. And the birds and all the beasts of the earth fled at the mere mention of the lost brother of Zeus. Uselessly Kore tried to find out more. Even Hecate, after that morsel of information, had refused to tell more about him.
Had there been a war?
Did he fight?
Where did he come from?
Was he truly Lord of the Underworld?
And what kind of person was he?
Why was there that veil of melancholy upon his shoulders? What secrets hid in his black, golden-sparkled eyes?
And did he really find her beautiful?
These questions, and more, grew in Kore's heart.
She knew not where to turn for counsel. She could not see Father, even. Athena was still stricken with grief. And Artemis… who knew where Artemis was, always jumping from hill to hill, her bow as restless as her feet. One could not get a good conversation with Artemis.
And one sunny day, Kore would find the answers she wanted.
Though not the way she had expected.
And at least at first, she regretted her curiosity.