"Persephone!"
"I told you that I don't like that name, Mother. I like Maka better." Maka mumbled into her pillow. With a yawn, she sat up in her bed.
Demeter appeared in the doorway to Maka's bedroom. "I don't even know where you got that name," she sighed. "It's much easier to go with the names that the mortals give us."
"Most gods and goddesses have another name of their own choosing. This one is mine," Maka said stubbornly. "I want to be called by the name that I chose."
"Such strange names they come up with." Demeter crossed the room, her long graceful legs peeking out from the forest green robe she wore. She sat on the edge of her daughter's bed and reached out to tuck an unruly lock of Maka's hair behind her ear. "But I suppose if you're going to be insistent about it, I might as well get used to it."
Maka scowled a little at the teasing tone in her mother's voice, trying not to smile. She gave up when Demeter tousled her hair affectionately.
"Mother, stop!" she laughed, pulling away.
Demeter rested her hands in her lap. "Very well, Per-Maka," she said, catching herself.
Maka smiled. Then, she took in her mother's appearance.
Demeter was dressed in a golden robe, much more extravagant than she usually wore, a gold belt cinching it at her waist. Her blonde hair was twisted in an elegant loose braid and her skin, which usually was covered in at least one layer of dirt, shone with radiance.
She looked gorgeous. It reminded Maka of why her father had fallen in love instantly with her mother.
Even if it was for all of five minutes.
Maka eyed her suspiciously. "Are you going somewhere?"
Instead of answering, Demeter smoothed the covers of Maka's bed. "Isn't time you got ready to greet the day, my flower? Helios already brought the sun in his golden chariot hours ago."
"You're going to Mount Olympus, aren't you?" Maka demanded.
Demeter stood. "Maka, please, let's not-"
Maka threw the covers off of her and leapt from the bed. "I want to go! Please!"
Raising a hand to her temples, Demeter closed her eyes. "Maka, we've already had this discussion before and the answer is the same. No."
Resisting setting her face in a defeated pout, Maka persisted. "It made sense when I was younger but I'm all grown up now!"
When Demeter didn't answer, Maka continued to press. "And don't I have a right to see my father?" She muttered, "Even if he isn't the best one."
"Zeus, or Spirit, as he prefers to be called," Demeter said with a pointed glare at her daughter, "most likely won't be up for much father-daughter time."
Demeter frowned. "He didn't even send his messenger like he normally does so this isn't going to be a fun visit-not that they ever are. It'll be easier if you just stay home, Maka."
Maka flopped back onto the bed. "But I always stay home. You don't let me do anything."
She felt Demeter sit back on the bed. "I'm sorry, my flower."
Maka didn't answer.
Demeter rose from the bed. "I'll be back soon, I promise."
A sudden idea occurred to Maka. "Wait!"
She sat up. "What if I just stayed outside of Mount Olympus? I don't even have to go in." Maka looked pleadingly at Demeter. "I just want to go somewhere other than home."
Maka felt a little shoot of hope as she took in Demeter's face, wavering with hesitation. "Please," she pressed. "I won't wander off."
"Well," Demeter trailed off. Maka could see her mother warring with herself internally.
Demeter looked up, her shoulders shrugging a little as she gave in. "All right."
"Yes!" Maka jumped off the bed and hugged her mother tightly. "Thank you, thank you!"
Demeter smiled. "You're a good daughter, Maka." She pulled away. "Now go get ready. The daughter of a goddess must look at her absolute best for a visit like this."
Maka nodded eagerly and ran into her closet. She rifled through her clothes, finally deciding upon a green robe that matched the color of her eyes. The straps were made in the shape of asphodel petals, edged in gold thread.
She dashed to her mirror, trying to mimic her mother's hairstyle. Her attempts only got her fingers stuck in her hair. She gave up in frustration and fell back to her daily hairstyle of tying her hair back in two ponytails instead, searching for two ribbons to tie her ponytails together.
She frowned a little when she could only find one ribbon for her favorite pair but she shrugged it off, figuring she must have misplaced it somewhere.
She gave herself a final glance in the mirror. She wasn't as pretty as her mother yet but she liked the way her eyes stared determinedly at her in her reflection and the graceful way she held herself.
Giving her reflection an excited smile, she straightened her shoulders confidently, practically dancing out of her closet in excitement.
Her room was empty.
For a second, Maka's heart stopped as she wondered if her mother had left without her. "Mother?" she called out, biting her lip.
"In the kitchen, flower, come eat before we go!"
Maka smiled in relief, feeling returning to her legs. She darted out of her room and down the hallway.
A spiral staircase opened at the end, leading to the dining and living rooms. She made her way through the dining room and into the kitchen on her left.
Demeter hurried back and forth in the kitchen, laying out a platter of bread, cheeses and fruits that they had picked together from their garden in the front. She pulled a chair, gesturing to Maka. "Hurry, the journey will take longer now that you're coming."
Maka quickly sat down in the chair and began gulping down the food in front of her, too eager to taste what she was eating.
"I'm going to go gather the horses," Demeter said, striding out of the kitchen.
Maka finished eating just as Demeter returned, carrying two traveling cloaks.
"Ready?" Demeter asked briskly.
Maka nodded.
Tossing her a cloak, Demeter said, "Good, I was thinking that I would leave you with some of the nymphs that I know at the base of Mount Olympus. They should take good care of you."
Maka followed her out of the kitchen and to the front door. "Mother, I can take care of myself."
Demeter opened the front door and turned back, smiling. "I know that, Maka. It's just for your old mother's peace of mind." She pinched her daughter's cheek.
Maka stuck out her tongue. "Will they be any fun at all?"
Her mother closed the door. "I think there's a couple your age. I'm sure you'll get along."
Maka turned to watch the house fade from view and a large tree take its place instead. It was one of the many illusions her mother cast so they could have their privacy. As a child, she'd loved to walk to the point where the illusion took effect and watch it morph into a tree.
In the yard was a silver chariot with two Olympian horses harnessed to it, tossing their silver manes impatiently. She took a place in the chariot, tapping her feet excitedly.
She looked for her mother, who had disappeared into the forest that lay behind their house. "Mother, can we go already?"
Demeter emerged from the forest and hurried from the chariot, leaves caught in her hair. She held a handful of white roses and purple crocuses.
"Mother, why do you have those?" Maka asked curiously as Demeter reached the chariot.
"Flowers for my flower," Demeter smiled, starting to arrange the flowers in a crown. Her fingers moved deftly.
"You don't have to do that," Maka protested.
Demeter finished with the crown with a flourish. "Nonsense."
She blew gently on the flowers and they took on a resplendence only possible through Demeter's magic. Demeter placed the crown on Maka's head and looked at her proudly. "It shows off your natural beauty."
Maka ducked her head. "Thank you, Mother."
Demeter patted Maka's hair lovingly. "Hold on tightly now. Olympian horses are much faster than the horses you've ridden."
Maka grabbed the railing rightly as Demeter gave the reins a sharp flick.
The horses surged forward, breaking into a gallop.
An exhilarated smile broke out on Maka's face. She reveled in the wind dancing on her skin as the chariot went faster.
Finally, she thought, breathing in the sweet scent wafting down from the flowers on her head, I'll get to see what Mount Olympus looks like.
If only from the outside.
Apophis waited at the bottom of the Styx River, completely protected from its ruinous effects by his master's magic.
Even now, the girl's scent lingered in its nostrils, filling Apophis with a burning desire to kill. He gave his tail a violent twinge, eager to fulfill his master's wishes.
But he couldn't move yet for Arachne had not yet arrived. He gave an impatient hiss as he peered up to the surface.
He had nearly dozed into sleep when he sensed movement on the surface. His eyes shot open, immediately zeroing in on the shadow of the boat on the river.
Flicking out his tongue, he tasted Arachne's scent. Apophis followed the boat's shape, guided by her scent. When they were almost on land, the sister finally spoke to Apophis in a low and rapid voice.
Apophis listened keenly and then traveled further down the river, out of sight of the boat.
His impatience gave an extra boost to his speed as Apophis headed further onto land, ready to sink his teeth into his target.