Persephone heard the stunning, halting notes of music and smiled to herself. Her delicate hands folded on her lap and caressed the smooth, beautiful fabric of her gown. The music pierced her through, incredibly sweet and full of gentle longing. It was music from her husband, down in the Underworld. He was saying, in the only means available to him, that he wished she'd come home.
"Soon…" She breathed into the warm air of the afternoon. "Very soon… Wait only a little longer, my love."
The music was joyous, shining with blissful rapture and then it faded softly away into an echo.
Persephone sighed and stood gracefully. Hecate had gone overboard again designing the elaborate gown she was wearing but she was grateful for its weight and warmth. It was a long trek ahead of her to re-enter her realm safely away from prying eyes. And she had to admit, she looked wonderful in it. Hecate had complimented the tresses of her doe-coloured hair with shining gold folds that collected to emphasise her slim waist and then simply fell in a tumble to conceal her feet. A white cloak wrapped around her shoulders. Her simple crown encircled her brow and twinkled in the fading light. She stared into her reflection and had to smile to think of Hades' reaction. Every time she spent a few months with her mother, he would tell her that the sun was nothing in comparison to the warmth in her smile and the feel of her body on his. That she brightened his darkness with all the splendour of the stars and moon, with all the grace and beauty of the world above his; that he had no need to venture forth provided she returned to him, as the day followed the night. He was an incredibly romantic soul, her husband. Persephone felt privileged that she alone knew of his softer, warmer, poetic and romantic side. Her King was a glorious man that she cherished profusely. She missed him every day.
But her work in the world above was important for their Underworld kingdom. Hecate, Demeter and she were busy installing the Eleusinian Mysteries – teachings that would see far more souls elevated to the status of worthy for the Elysian Fields and would populate the world with more compassionate, intelligent beings to bright about a brighter future for both the living and the dead. Demeter, who was worshipped as the fertility goddess, stood for birth and growth in the place of the Mysteries. She brought in new candidates and taught them the ways of their development, built their souls throughout the torment and struggle of their lives and granted them passage to seek new knowledge. Persephone, the goddess of the Underworld, represented the inevitability of death and judgement, the one who was worshipped for her fairness and comfort at the time of death, with the promise of renewal. Hecate, the crone and necromancer, held the key to the Mysteries past death, and the secrets of becoming an initiate ready for entry to the Isle of the Blessed in the Underworld. The Triple Goddess - as they were starting to be known as - held their teachings in the halls of Eleusis, under the new King who had been taught by Demeter herself when he was but a child. Great thinkers, philosophers, heroes and mothers – they all sought the learnings of the Mysteries. Here, truth prevailed – the raw realities of the Underworld were laid out before those worthy of such knowledge so that they may prepare for their place in it. Persephone hoped that her husband would be proud of what they had achieved so far and stunned by the number of worthy souls that passed through into their kingdom as a result of her work.
But it was time to return and she stood eagerly, waiting for her guides. Hecate was already there, impatiently staring at the setting sun. Helios' chariot was barely peeking over the horizon, he would vanish soon. The goddess heard her rise and turned, bangles and wide midnight-coloured dress flaring, to confront her Queen.
"Let's just leave Hermes and go," Hecate spat impatiently. "He is taking his sweet time. He's probably off seducing a nymph somewhere…" Her enormous eyes took in the visage of her beautiful and regal Queen. She had a look of satisfaction on her face and mischief danced in her grin. "Tell Hades not to tear that gown when he pulls it off you. It took me ages to put together and you should probably wear it again."
Persephone blushed, warm colour flooding her cheeks. Her eyes dropped to the ground. She had never been as brash or bold as Hecate and immortality had not altered that; Hecate would be the more outgoing, outrageous and darkly seductive one of the pair of them forevermore. Fabulously attired in layer upon layer of dark, imposing fabrics, Hecate was as wild, as terrifying, as exotic and audacious as ever. The sorceress was incredibly feisty and patience was not in her nature, unless she was waiting to give someone else a surprise.
Persephone had been delighted to discover that her transformation into an immortal had changed little in terms of how she felt or what she thought – her personality remained untouched. As yet, she had discovered little about her newfound divinity. But – as she kept reminding herself – it had only been a little over half a year. She wasn't going to suddenly snap and change overnight. Time would see the seasons cycle and she would no doubt grow with them.
"I am sure he will be here soon," she replied to Hecate's impatient huff.
"Who are we waiting for?" the sly, laughing voice of Hermes asked from out of the elongating shadows.
Hecate whirled, in no mood to put up with the frivolities of the wisecracking and charming god of messengers. He just laid a hand on his cap and beamed at them both, his winged sandals fluttering softly. The golden-haired jovial god had been Persephone's friend for longer than she could remember and as a child he had been one of her favourite companions, like a kind and cheeky uncle. Persephone grinned in welcome. Hecate however, was not in such a kindly mood.
"Learn to read a sun dial!" she spat out at him. "We've been waiting for you!"
"Calm yourself, crazy woman." Hermes proffered his arm out to Persephone and she took it. "I'm here. We're good to go now. Let's see the Queen home."
Hecate sighed, rolled her eyes and clicked her magnificent long fingers together and they were away, shooting through the darkness of the sky to the darkest place on earth, Persephone's realm, the Underworld.