Chapter 1
Hades shook his head at the sudden influx of souls coming in for their judgment. Already, there had been concerns expressed by one of his judges, Minos, that something was amiss in the mortal world and something had to be done. These souls showed no injury so a war was ruled out.
"A plague, perhaps?" suggested his other judge, Rhadamanthus. The souls looked emaciated and worn – as if they had undergone suffering for a long time.
"Perhaps, Lord Hades, we could ask Hecate to find out," added Aeacus urgently.
Hades sent the witch-goddess, his most trustworthy friend, to the mortal world to investigate.
The only thing they had to do now was to give these souls their due judgment as they awaited news from Hecate. His judges were grumbling. They were all exhausted but judgment had to be fair and dealt with accordingly.
Hades sighed. He looked at the long line of souls still waiting silently to be judged. He thought of Minthe impatiently waiting petulantly in her bedchambers for him and wondered if he still had energy for another night with her. It was only a few months since Leuce, daughter of Oceanus, mysteriously faded away. He had made her into a Poplar tree and planted it in the Elysian Fields. Perhaps she had outlived her lifespan. She was pretty and amused him for a time. He shrugged – an amusing companion for a dark world. He hoped he had done her justice by commemorating her with a tree.
As for Minthe, now this one would be a problem. This one had ambitious designs – demanding jewels and gems from the god of wealth and riches. She had brazenly sought him out one day as he watered his horses in the river Cocytus – enticing and seductive. At the time, he had been admittedly been tired and lonely, desperate for a distraction. She coaxed him into bringing her to the underworld. He could see from the gleam in her eyes as she greedily took in the jewels and gems that she expected to be his future consort. She was haughty to a degree and could not get along with Hecate whom he loved as a brother would a sister.
"I apologize for saying this, My Lord," confided Thanatos, the god of death, "but this one is going to be big trouble."
Hades had laughed then. He just wanted some amusement but now wondered at the truth behind Thanatos' observation.
Another soul's judgment broke his thoughts. This one was a child – perhaps about eleven or twelve. Hades scanned about the room and looked at the line… Why were there so many souls of old people and children? What was going on?
He studied the group, thinking back to when such a similar event had happened before, but he could not recall any. Only a war could have done this but there was little trace of souls of warriors waiting in line – just what seemed to be an endless line of souls of peasants waiting to be judged.
Hecate arrived as he was about to send the child to the Elysian Fields. She waited patiently as he finished pronouncing judgment. He stepped down from his throne and motioned for her to follow him out of the hall.
She silently followed him and waited for him to speak to her.
"How are you, my old friend?" he inquired.
"A bit worn as this is the phase when I am about to turn into an old crone," she replied, smiling weakly.
"Have you news?"
She nodded. "A drought." He stood aghast. There had never been a drought before. His sister, Demeter, just about the only other responsible one amongst his quarrelsome and frivolous family had always ensured that the mortal world had more than enough to eat.
"Have you gone to see Demeter? How is she?" he asked.
Hecate nodded and replied sadly. "I sought her out but she would not come out of her chambers to see me. She has neglected the fields and people are dying. Her handmaidens could only look down and shake their heads in confusion when I asked them."
Hades rubbed his chin. "What of Zeus and the rest? What do the gods in Olympus have to say?"
Hecate turned and took a step or two, looking down on the cold black marble before turning to face him.
"Zeus has taken Hera for his wife and queen." Hades lifted a brow. He understood.
"Have the stables prepare my chariot for me, my dear friend. I shall go see my sister, Demeter."