Yeah! I kept my promise! Well, here is chapter nine I hope y'all enjoy! Please review, follow, and favorite! And without further a due here is chapter nine!
"I know where Persephone is!"
The earth began to shake and heavy thunder rolled as new strong wind started to blow through the ice covered land. The boy knew that he had been heard by more than just one God, but only one showed up.
Demeter's hair was thin and lost its radiant earth color, her skin was pale and old, but it was her eyes than had really changed. They were no longer their earth brown, but a gray that showed weeks of sadness and tears.
"What did you say boy?" Her voice hadn't changed though. It was still demanding and unforgiving as it always had been.
He scoffed. "I'm fifteen years old Lady Demeter, I'm hardly a boy."
She had no patience for this, and neither did the Zeus by the sound of lightning striking nearby. "WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER BOY?!"
He had noticed his mistake and shrunk away. "F-Forgive me Lady Demeter!" He put his hands up to block his face from being struck. "I overheard some shades today. Persephone is in the underworld."
Demeter flinched. "What? Are you certain?"
"I was taking a walk to try to find food for my family when I came across two young girls, the closer I got I realized that they were shades. I was about to turn back when I overheard them wondering where all the food was. I explained them our conundrum and then they talked about Lord Hades not liking this. I was curious why, but I did not interrupt for fear that they might stop, so I just listened harder. They said something like that Lady Persephone only had a few days left on food until she would have to eat from the underworld, and that Hades won't let her grow weak for lack of sustenance. She'll have to eat the food of the Underworld eventually. That's all I know."
Demeter shook, close to tears. "Oh. My baby. My poor sweet Persephone!" Demeter Vanished right before his eyes, just as quickly as she had shown up.
"Zeus! We need to get Persephone out of the underworld right now!"
Zeus sighed rubbing his temples. "Demeter you know I cannot do that. She is in Hades's realm; I cannot force him to do anything concerning his realm or whoever is in it. We all know this."
"But she could be suffering this very moment! Hades had probably kidnapped her after she ran off from Apollo! Who knows what he has done to her in these past weeks! She's probably cold and locked up in a cell only to be visited at night and made as a sex slave for him!"
Zeus had nearly struck her but stopped himself at the last second. "You will not talk about Hades that way! We know how we feel about him and he is our brother, and we both know he is not that type of God. Do not let those mortal rumors get the best of you Demeter!" He starred into her fearful eyes with his fiery gold ones. "Besides, we both heard the boy. The nymphs were looking for food for her and they said that Hades wouldn't like it that she didn't have food there from the upper world. So it's obvious that he hasn't forced her to stay yet, at least not by bounding her by eating."
Demeter seemed to relax at his last words, but only a little bit. "We are going to get her out of the underworld now or so help me-"
"Or so help you what? It is out of my control Demeter!"
She shook her head. "Not out of mine. I will get my daughter back one way or another! Do you think the earth is bad now? Just wait, I will make it so horrible that even Olympus freezes over!"
Zeus thought hard for a moment. "I will send Hermes down there to talk with Hades in the morning. I will not promise you anything Demeter, but it is the best I can do."
Demeter hugged him. "Oh thank you Zeus!" He didn't return the affection.
A sharp knock at the door pulled Persephone from her train of thoughts. "Come in!" She called standing up. She was surprised to see Hades open the door. "Hades, you don't have to knock. These are our rooms."
He shrugged shutting the door. "I know. I just like to give you your privacy."
Persephone smiled. "Well, thank you." He nodded. "What's on your mind, Hades?"
"We have a problem my sweet." He took her hands and led her to sit down on the bed. Still holding her hands he explained. "We are running out of food in the underworld for you to eat. I sent two of our servants," Persephone loved the way how he said our instead of my, "to go gather more food for you from the upper world, but," he hesitated, "There is no food up there."
"What do you mean?"
"The whole planet is covered in ice and snow. Nothing is growing up there. I am sad to say that it is Demeter's doing. She refuses to work as long as you're missing." Hades wouldn't meet her eyes, for fear of what she would say.
"Is that why your work has been so abundant lately? No food can grow so everyone is dying?" Hades nodded. "This is all my fault." Tears started to form in Persephone's eyes.
"Hey. No! This is not your fault, this is Demeter's doing. She just refuses to work."
"But she would be working if I was there, none of these people would be dying because of starvation!"
Hades couldn't deny her point. She started to sob and he pulled her into his arms. "Do you want to go?"
"No! Of course not! I want to stay here with you." She choked out between sobs.
"Then don't. You can eat the food of the underworld and stay here forever with me."
Persephone pulled away from his embrace. "But I can't. I will not let these innocent people die because of me. I must return to her and right all the wrongs she has caused."
"I cannot stop you from going, but I can only beg you to stay. Please, Persephone, stay with me."
"You know deep down that I have to go."
He nodded meeting her eyes sadly. Persephone leaned in and gently kissed him on the lips. "I will come back, my love."
He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into a deeper kiss. "When?" He asked when they broke apart.
"I don't know."
"Then please, stay with me one more night, and then I'll help you leave in the morning."
Persephone took a moment to think about it. "Alright."
They gave each other a sad smile and pulled each other into their last night of love, for a while.
Ariel paced nervously in her room trying to rehearse her lines last minute until a gentle knock came at her door.
She hesitated once she got to the door but opened it slowly to reveal Daniel standing at the other end.
All of her planned dialogue flew out the window, leaving her speechless.
Daniel cleared his throat, "May I come in?"
"O-Of course," Ariel stuttered making room for him to enter, "Just take a seat." She gestured to her couch before the fire place.
"Alright." Daniel replied.
They both took their seats and starred into each other's eyes for a moment.
"Look Daniel I-"Ariel started to play with her hair.
"Stop." He put his hand up. "I can tell you're nervous Ariel. I don't want you to be. So whatever you have to say, please, just say it."
Ariel took a deep breath and put down her hair.
"You know you can tell me anything, Ariel. I love you." Ariel teared up when he said those three words, for fear that that may be the last time she'll hear them from him. He moved to caress her cheek, but she jumped up.
"I was raped!"
His hand froze in mid air and his eyes got big. "By who?" He could barely make it audible.
Without turning back to face him she replied, "It was when I was still alive, they are all in Tartarus now."
"Them?" Daniel felt like something got caught in his throat and no matter how many times he swallowed, he couldn't clear it.
A tear rolled down Ariel's cheek when she nodded.
Ariel sat back down next to him, ready to explain the first time it happened. "I was walking down the dirt path to my home, after a long day of work; goose bumps appeared on my arms. I said to myself 'Oh my, I'll just have to walk back and get it.' The whole time thinking, it's not a far walk; really, it'll just double the time it takes me to get home, oh well."
Ariel risked a glance in Daniel's direction. Instantly she regretted it, because of the look in his eyes. But, she continued.
"I walked back and grabbed the shall with no issues. But when I was walking home the second time…" Ariel stopped and took a deep breath. "I came across a group of five men. They lived in the same village as me, but I never got to know them. You know me… the shy girl." Ariel tried to make a joke but it never reached her face.
"They gave whistles and what not, but that was kind of what the men did around there. They approached me and started flirting, I've never heard flirts before then so that's what I had assumed. But, one of them got too close for comfort and that's when I smelled the wine and whiskey. They were all drunk and every inch of me was screaming for me to run, but I was told to remain calm in such situations and just get out of there."
" I bid them good night and started to walk home quickly, but one of them grabbed my arm and said something like, 'Oh no, we can't let a pretty girl like you walk home alone at night, who knows what could happen.' I said that that was a kind offer, but I could manage on my own. They took it all the wrong way and started thinking that I had said something like that I claimed that they couldn't help me and that I was too good for them and things like that."
Ariel took a deep breath. "That's when it all really started. One of them pushed me down and said, 'come on men, let's show her how great we are.' They all cheered as I begged for them to just leave me alone. I felt myself start to cry as they all crouched around me. I could only see their dark silhouettes occasionally lit up by the moon light. All I smelt was whiskey and all I heard was their drunken laughter." Ariel started to tremble.
"Four of them held me down on the ground, while their leader," Ariel bit her lip, "Undid his pants." She heard Daniel's breath grow louder and deeper. She couldn't risk looking at him right now.
"I was yelling and flailing around so much, trying to get away, that they slapped me, and gagged me. The leader lifted up my skirts and got on top of me. I didn't even know fully what was going to happen until the damage had already been done. I've always been innocent. But in that moment, I felt like I was on fire and that I was going to be split in half. I screamed so loud, and they thought that I liked it!" Ariel was now shaking and tears ran freely down her face. "After he got off of me, I started to think, 'thank goodness it's over!' but it was far from over."
"Each of them had taken their rounds at me and what felt like an eternity later, they finally left me lying there, bloody and bruised. Once I was sure they had left for good, I ran home as quickly as I could. Everyone was already asleep so I just drew a hot bath and cleaned up. I went to sleep and never told them. If anyone knew, I would have been disgraced. That happened to me five times. Each was a little different but all horrible none the less." She risked looking into his eyes for the first time since she started. He mirrored her sorrow in his dark pupils. Ariel started to shake uncontrollably and she choked out sobs.
"D-Do y-you still l-love me Daniel?" Ariel managed to choke out.
"What?" He starred into her eyes.
"Do you still love me even though I'm not pure? I'm filthy and have been used and I killed them all!"
Daniel looked at her shocked.
Ariel saw his look and explained. "After the fifth time I couldn't take it anymore and I killed them all. The town found out and had me executed the next day. Hades knew my story before I had even made my full appearance in the room. He protected me from going into Tartarus along with them."
Ariel looked at him with pleading eyes. "I need to know! Do you still love me?"
Daniel hesitantly scooted closer to her and wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of his hand. "Oh Ariel, of course I still love you." Ariel cried harder and leaned into his arms into a hug.
"Thank you so much!"
"Ariel, nothing could change the way I feel about you. I now realize how strong you really are. You survived through so much, but I still want to protect you, through everything." Daniel leaned down to her level and gently brushed his lips against her's. "Is this okay?" He asked making sure what he was doing wasn't anything she didn't want.
She responded by pulling him closer to her. "Yes."
They stayed in their tight embrace for the rest of the night.
Early the next morning Lord Hades was sitting on his throne in the dark room, thinking about what all he dreaded doing that very day. Today he and his beloved wife, Persephone, would part for who knows how long.
Hades sighed sinking even lower into his chair, wishing that there was something he could do to stop everything that was happening.
A sudden gust of air whipped into the room leaving behind a thin young man. His skin shined like gold along with his hair, while his eyes had traces of mischief in them.
"Hermes?" Hades asked befuddled. "What are you doing here?"
"I, um…" Hermes cleared his throat while standing a little straighter. "I came under orders of Zeus… for Persephone"
Hades straightened up in his own chair. "I see."
"Please Lord Hades, send her back. We won't cause you any more trouble than there needs to be."
Hades shook his head. "No trouble at all Hermes. I was actually going to send her back today anyway."
"Oh good," Hermes started to smile, "Wait, what? I thought you kidnapped her?"
"What?" Hades made a sharp sound.
Hermes started to back away. "I meant no insult Lord Hades! It's just what I heard from Demeter when she sent me."
"Oh, Demeter." Hades sighed pinching the ridge of his nose.
"Is that not correct?"
"It's a long story. But, just know that she came here of her own free will."
"Interesting." Hermes looked around the gloomy room. "Well, as much as I would love to stay and chat for all eternity, I do have a job to do, and that is collecting Persephone."
"Alright." Hades said getting up from his chair. "I'll go collect her, just, wait here. We don't want you stumbling into trouble."
Hermes laughed nervously. "No problem."
Hades walked back to his chambers expecting to find Persephone still lying in bed asleep, but the bed was empty of her presence. He checked the bathroom and anywhere else in their chambers she might be, but she was nowhere to be found. He looked around anxiously looking for Ariel, until he ran into Thanatos.
"Thanatos, brother, do you know where Persephone is?"
Thanatos chuckled. "Lost track of your little mate now have you? And this early in the morning, wow!"
"I swear Thanatos! If you know where she is and you don't tell me, I will be rather upset."
"Relax Hades. She woke up not long ago. I passed her on the way to her garden. We talked for a while and then she went on her way."
Hades patted Thanatos's shoulder. "Thank you brother!"
"And please Hades," Thanatos gave him and exasperated look, "Don't mess up her garden, I look forward to eating those fruits."
"Why would I- THANATOS!"
Thanatos walked off snickering. "See you later Hades."
Hades gave a low growl in Thanatos's direction and turned to go to the garden.
Hades burst into Persephone's garden room startling Persephone.
She scrambled to her feet, fumbling with her dress and accidentally pulling off a twig of her Pomegranate tree. "Oh Hades, you scared me!" She placed her hand over her heart.
"Forgive me. I was looking for you and I got a little anxious."
Persephone smiled nervously. "Yeah, well, I've been here… gardening."
"Yes, Thanatos told me."
Persephone's eyes widened. "He what?!"
"He told me that you were gardening." Hades gave her a confused look.
"Oh! Right. My apologies, Hades. My head isn't very clear today."
"I see. Well it looks like you will have your departure sooner than I thought. Hermes is here to collect you."
"Oh, alright. Well, I guess I'm ready then."
Hades held out his arms to her. "Come here." He called out gently. She happily obliged to his command. He held her tightly in his arms and kissed her head. "I love you, My sweet flower, My Queen, My Love, My Light, My Persephone."
Persephone giggled. "Hades!" She wiped a tear off her face. He took this chance to pull her into a long kiss. When they both pulled back they sighed in unison. "Well, I guess I should be heading off now."
Hades nodded taking her hand in his walking her back to the throne room.
"Oh good! You are here! I was starting to worry." Hermes exclaimed when he saw Persephone walk thought the large cherry doors.
Persephone gave him a sweet smile. "Yes. I just had to tend to my garden before I left."
"Oh, I see. Well are you ready to go home?"
This is my home. Persephone thought.
I know. Hades replied to her. She turned and looked at him. Let's just hope that one day you can call it your home forever.
Persephone nodded to Hermes. "Wait! There is one thing I still have to do before we leave, Hermes."
"What's that Persephone?"
Persephone turned back to Hades. "This." She took out six Pomegranate seeds from the hidden pocket of her dress.
Hades looked at them confused. "Persephone? What are you doing with those?"
Before anyone could question her further she threw them into her mouth and swallowed them.
The last thing she heard was Hades screaming, "Persephone no!" as he caught her in his arms and the world went dark.
Yeah! Lots of drama! Cause let's be honest, who doesn't love drama? Weird people, that's who! Again with those some what cliff hanger endings! Shame on me! Anyway... Please review, follow, and favorite and to those of y'all who already have thanks so much!
Since I'm getting close to the end, I might only have two, three, maybe four chapters left plus and epilogue because I love those.
Anyway. Talk to y'all soon. I make no promises as to when the next chapter is to come out. Bye! =D