Thank you, Madame Thome, for your kind words of encouragement!

Chapter 5

"My Lady!" bowed Cyane and two other water nymphs.

"Yes, Cyane!" Demeter turned around from her gardening.

Cyane hesitated and looked despairingly at Ianthe. Ianthe gave a nudge, encouraging her to speak.

"It is about Minthe…."

"Ah, yes! Sweet, dear Minthe! Such a joy during my time of trouble!... What is it Ianthe?" Demeter saw the scowl of disgust.

"My Lady, Minthe… We cannot get along with her…," hesitated Ianthe.

"Indeed?" Demeter was stunned, "How?"

"She has set us into bickering. It is as if… as if…..," Cyane stopped.

"It is as if we have Eris in our midst!" added the third nymph.

Demeter frowned, "Surely this is not true! She has been so gracious and wonderful all these several weeks since she has arrived from Hades…. Surely you are wrong or… jealous?"

The three nymphs shook their heads in denial.

Ianthe pleaded, "Please, Lady, have her go somewhere else! We love you and want to serve you… but, please, please….. we cannot stay with such a malicious being in our midst…."

Demeter felt a bit upset. It was not like the nymphs to approach her for such a thing. There were rivalries and bickering amongst them in the past but they usually solved them on their own. This was diff….

Demeter had felt it! Pain suddenly surged throughout her body…. She had felt it the past few days but this one…. This one had the urgency of….. She reached out to Ianthe, gasping…. Then her water broke…

Minthe was gathering flowers for her mistress beyond the palace walls. She was humming to herself, dreaming dreams of a future god husband more handsome than Hades, Zeus and Poseidon put together. She would raise him to love her and her alone. He would be at her whim and beckoning. He would only look at her and worship the ground she trod on…..and he would have the power of the earth to command.

Now to please the mother-in-law….

"Minthe, My Lady, is asking for you! Hurry!" urged one the servants as she entered the side door.

"What is it?" she asked, haughtily, with a hand on her waist.

"The baby is born!" A thrill coursed through Minthe as she dropped the flowers and ran to Demeter's chambers.

Minthe, hurried to her room, upset, tears flowing down her cheeks. She had to leave this place! There was no hope for her now! She closed her eyes at the disappointing revelation.

She ran to Demeter's bedchambers to look at the new god. Demeter was attempting to suckle the newborn but all it did was to bawl at her.

Everyone was too busy to mind Minthe. No one wanted to speak with her anyway. Minthe tried to edge in towards the crowd of nymphs ooohing and aaahing. Then, she noticed… Pink! The auburn-haired baby was swaddled in pink!

Minthe drew away in disgust. She did not care to acknowledge Demeter as she called out to her….

"Minthe?"

"Minthe!" Demeter called out, eager to show her daughter to her new favorite.

Minthe slammed the door in disgust.