AN:here is chapter 8, i promised it would be out by the end of the month...Thank you very much again for your wonderful reviews but I really hope to have more reviews with this chapter…as usual I will try to update you on when the next chapter will be posted…I love this chapter, I really don't know why but I enjoyed writing it, I hope you would also be pleased while reading it

Forgotten Weeping

I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died

If I never loved, I never would've cried

I am a rock, I am an island

And a rock feels no pain

And an island never cries

-I am a rock by Simon and Garfunkel

"I have always liked snow, look," the golden haired goddess turned to the god of light, "it is the lightest tinge of scarlet."

"Indeed."

"This snow stinks of love and weeping."

"Do you know why, my lady?"

The laughter loving goddess' eyes glowed with interest at having been asked such a question. She was simply itching to blurt out an answer. "I will tell you a secret Lord Apollo," Aphrodite said teasingly, "but promise not to tell."

Apollo, entranced by the unusual rain of ice, nodded without looking. "If it is of this divine phenomenon, then do tell me Lady Aphrodite."

Aphrodite's eyes crinkled to a smile that would make any mortal fall to his knees in veneration.

"Remember when Lord Hades said he would not hurt dear Kore?"(1)

Apollo nodded, now intrigued.

"Well, Lord Apollo, he lied."(2)

"Erastus…"

A hopeless mother cries in the darkness for a son; a son who suffers from the peril of death.

And yet, this poor mother could not do anything because to act is futile.

The gods would not save her son. The gods did this.

So, she wept with the sky.

"Lady Demeter, hear our plea," the chants of numerous worshippers rise in the air, beseeching, pleading.

"Kind goddess, relieve us of our suffering. "

Hundreds of almost hopeless faces stand out in the crowd, all begging, all confused, all scared.

"Let our crops grow, rescue us from the dangers of death."

They chant and chant with hearts anxious of the deadly blizzard. Yes, the deadly scarlet blizzard that spoke of lives lost and hope lost and, more so, of deep sadness.

And their voices of chanting rose high in the air.

They scan the empty fields with pure heartbreak.

The crops would not grow, they know that.

Nothing will grow. Nothing will thrive. Nothing will live.

Their dejected faces do not even reach the mercy of the heavens.

Divine eyes gaze in pity at the suffering mortals. Yet, they know they cannot do anything.

This is out of their hands. They try to sustain lives as much as they can but a power too potent is something they know they cannot resist.

Alseids. Auloniads. Leimoniads. Naiads. Heleads. Dryads. Oreads. Oceanids. Nereids.(3)

All are helpless. All they could do now is watch.

"My Lord, do you like my dress?"

Hades looked at the wondrous dress of silk and diamonds. "It is magnificent dear. Is there any occasion?"

"None, my lord, I would just like to please you."

Minthe smiled her most radiant smile. She was flaunting her dress that truly fit her. It truly made her look regal.

"And indeed I am pleased." Hades answered with traces of a smile.

If Andeon (4) could belch, he would probably do it right now. But he was in the presence of his king and he attempted to show his reverence for him every way possible. But the nymph is sickeningly sweet and she bats her eyelashes excessively. He remembered his queen in what he calls her stance of effortless beauty; his queen was naturally sweet, the nymph was too much of a saccharine nuisance.

"Andeon."

He snapped out of his reverie at the voice of his king.

"Make haste and ready my carriage, we," he looked at Minthe," will be strolling the upper world."

"Oh, please do, thank you," Minthe added.

You do not fool me, Andeon thought as he did as he was told.

Persephone walked down the vast land of Asphodel. She was closer to the entrance cave now as she saw Hades' carriage being prepared. Andeon bowed at the presence of his queen.

"Andeon where is he going?"

Andeon need not ask who "he" is. The problem of their monarchs is apparent to even the monstrous furies.

"Above, my queen."

"Is she going too?"

"She" was also not a secret.

"Apparently my queen."

She just walked past him and he had a glimpse of her glinting eyes. He knew his mistress was hurt, yet again. His kind mistress did not deserve such pain. But then again, he cannot do anything about it.

She was quietly swimming in a river. It was cold but the river god has done wonders to moderate the river's temperature so the nymphs who would bathe would not freeze.

She rested her head in a nearby rock. That was when she heard of splashing water. She looked at her fellow nymphs. They were all busy resting and relaxing in the water. Curious, she stood up and walked a few meters. That was when she saw Minthe and Lord Hades a few feet away busy caressing his black steeds.

"Minthe," she said in disbelief.

Minthe looked at her at the sound of her voice.

"Iste," she said calmly.

"Minthe, where have you been, we have been looking for you?"

"Oh, do not worry about me Iste, I am safe and well taken care of."

"Is that..."

"Yes, Lord Hades."

Iste's eyes narrowed considerably.

"So it is true."

"Of course it is."

"Why are you doing this Minthe, have you seen how many mortals have died, have you seen them suffer?"

"Yes," she said blankly.

"Do you not care," Iste asked frantically.

"They are mortals, they are at our disposal."

"Minthe," Iste said in reproach, " how can you do this?"

"I am pursuing what makes me happy Iste and no one should interfere, not even you or Liasa or anybody else."

Minthe's voice was cold and persistent. Iste's eyes were wide with surprise.

"It seems I do not really know you after all Minthe."

Minthe looked directly at Iste.

"Of course you do not," she said icily then walked back to where Hades is.

Iste let out a sigh of frustration.

After a few solitary hours alone in the dark, literally, Persephone heard footsteps. Those footsteps halted just in front of the library. Anything the owners of those footsteps are saying will be heard by anyone inside. And yet, their owners did not even attempt to lower their voices. They resounded with all the vibrancy and excitement they were probably feeling right now.

The door burst open to reveal a slightly stunned Hades and a smiling Minthe.

She was first to walk in as the Dark Lord dare not face Persephone in a situation such as this.

"My Lady," Minthe greeted.

Persephone raised a brow.

My Lady? My equal in rank? A close acquaintance? she thought with derision.

Minthe must have noticed because she sufficed for another greeting.

"Your Majesty," she repeated.

Persephone remained in her seat. "It will be better not to assume such things as being able to call me My lady as if you were of high rank or," she added with disdain, "my lover."

Hades subtly fidgeted at the mention of this.

"My love," he cut in, "how was your day?"

My love? Does he mock me? Persephone thought with brooding contempt.

"It is dark as usual," she answered him icily.

She again turned her attention to nymph who looked at her with mock pity. Her golden brows were raised in challenge. She was distinctively looking at Persephone's dress. And that was when she noticed- the nymph had the effrontery to dress as a queen. And she was mocking Persephone's somewhat mediocre dress. And today, of all days, was when she decided to wear something comfortable ergo simple.

"Such an exquisite dress truly makes someone look royal," Persephone said tentatively "but it is the upbringing and stature that truly defines a monarch, more so a prominent goddess."

Minthe's smile did not cease but her eyes clearly shone with anger.

"Child," Persephone repeated, feeling more elated by the second," do tell me what your name is again."

"Persephone, do not insult her," Hades interrupted.

"Do I insult her?"

"She has already told you that her name was Minthe."

"Then I am sorry if I do not remember, as far as I am concerned, she is not a goddess of particular importance, how then can I remember her name" Persephone replied, all hints of subtlety in her insult forgotten.

Minthe just looked on with mock innocence but with pure bliss at this slowly growing argument between husband and wife.

"Persephone," Hades raised his voice in admonition.

Persephone was dazed but she did not let it show. She remained in her seat, passive and stoic.

"Do you raise your voice against me for her?"

Hades now answered with a gentler tone, "My love, I wish to ensure respect. Do not be so cruel in your words."

"Respect? You want to ensure respect," Persephone asked, still suppressing her raging emotions, "How about me Hades? Do you respect me? Have you, both of you, even thought of respect for me when you decided to parade around as lovers in our very own realm?"

Persephone eyes were now glittering with unshed tears and growing hatred.

"I am not cruel in my words Hades, I am trying to neutralize my pain…" she paused, swallowed and tried to calm herself, "and words, cruel words, they are all I can say and they are all I can do to at the very least silence my rage."

Hades' face turned to a look of sadness. He took a few steps toward his wife, kneeling to level his eyes with her. He brought his hand up to caress her cheek and said, "I am sorry."

Persephone turned away, not wanting to meet his eyes. If she did, her heart would melt and she would forgive him and then she'll be hurt again.

So she looked away and said, "Leave," firmly.

"Perse…"

"Leave me now. Leave me alone."

Hades slowly got up, face full of regret and walked towards the door, ignoring Minthe for the first time. Minthe took one last look of triumph at Persephone who was looking away then followed suit.

The cool breeze passed through her beautiful locks. Her sun even bows to her majestic presence. The leaves and the grass sway under her feet. The butterflies and the birds surround her, dancing and singing. The shades look in adoration at her ethereal power.

Elysium reveres her. It would do things for her, it would grieve for her.

Slowly, her knees weaken, and, without bracing herself, she allows her body to fall. Her tears flowed freely as her gentle grass tried to comfort her.

She wept for everything she could not say. She wept for everything she could not do. She wept for a love she thinks she has lost. She wept for an answer she cannot obtain. She wept for herself.

And then the lights dimmed. The ironic presence of life in such a place is now being threatened.

The breeze no longer passed, it bellowed. The sun no longer bowed, it fell in prostration. The leaves and the grass no longer swayed, they went still, alert. The shades no longer looked in adoration; instead they gazed in trepidation at her ethereal power.

Elysium would die for her.

So that day, the land that knew nothing other than perpetual spring learned of winter.

She walked through the valleys of the mortals. All their faces twisted in woe. All their eyes were dim.

All their skins were pale.

She saw them as they hopelessly worship in full prostration in the temples of numerous gods whom she knew would not be able to help. She saw them as they try and try to survive in the frost and chill.

She saw them as she walks. All were oblivious as the source of their misery passed them by.

She heard them weep, their tear-stained cheeks drying out at the sheer cold. She felt the warmth go out from dying bodies. She felt only melancholy and suffering and desperation.

As she stood on a mountaintop, she took in all the damage she has done, all the lives she has taken, all the hearts she has broken. And yet she stood still, as her heart continued to freeze.

I will not be the only one who will suffer.

She would no longer weep, she would no longer grieve.

I will not be the only one in pain.

The mortals would endure the pain for her.

I will not be the only one who grows cold.

Her ice will make sure of that.

Marpessa awoke from her very long daydream(5). She again looked at her cold mistress and just hoped that things will be better in the future.

AN:

Notes for the Numbered items are posted on my homepage/LJ

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