Hades peered down at the goddess before him, taking in her misty eyes, and tangled hair. The truth was out, and a price was paid for it. Persephone, clothed only in a sheet of silk, shivered where she stood, glancing down at her bare feet. Her pouty lips trembled slightly as her arms wrapped themselves around her being. Hades thought she resembled a child in the midst of a tantrum, and his cold eyes sparkled with emotion. The only noise in the chamber was the soft sniffles and whimpers that came from the girl.
"Persephone. . ." Hades stepped closer, his hand reaching for her shoulder.
"Do not touch me!" she hissed, slapping his hand away from her. Persephone ran for their bed and collapsed upon it. Her face burrowed into his pillow, shielding her face from all. Hades watched, unable to move, as the girl's body quivered with each intake of breath. Her long hair was spread out on her back, shimmering like gold from the fire's light. With each stammered gasp made, Hades' frown deepened. He contemplated reaching out again, but with a sigh, he dismissed himself from their room.
Persephone's tears soaked the pillow she held to her face; she gasped for breaths, clawing at the ruby sheets. She stopped briefly, sitting up on the bed. She peered around the chamber, rubbing at her puffy face, and shuddered. The tears ran down her cheeks as she glanced around the room, searching for her husband. My husband, Persephone frowned at the thought. She did not know this god, but something deep within her called to him. Could it be? Her lord husband was the Ruler of the Dead? Persephone's hands covered her face as she let out a hefty breath.
Hecate snickered at the thought, slapping her thigh with a smirk plastered on her gorgeous face.
"You simply leave her alone to sulk in confusion?" She barked, raising a fine black brow, "Hades, you're pushing your queen further away from you."
Hades paced around Hecate's chambers, the dark violet, and plum colors swirled amongst the walls, hypnotizing all who glanced. Hecate sat provocatively on the silver sheets of her mattress, legs spread apart.
Hades stopped and glanced at his friend.
"You state truth I have already realized."
"Then do something about it."
Hades burrowed his hand into the curly mess atop of his head. He let out a cool breath, as his other hand pinched the bridge of his nose tightly. He could feel Hecate's brown orbs mocking him as he closed his eyes and released another breath.
"What could I possibly do? I already tried comforting her. .and that ended splendidly!"
His brow furrowed at the memory. He shivered recalling how upset she was when the truth was revealed.
"Find a solution, Hades, and find it soon." Hecate jolted up and brushed past him as she left her chambers. The air in the room felt thick. Hades clenched his hands at his sides, biting his tongue, as he struggled to take in another labored breath. I've seemed to have succeeded in upsetting two goddesses in one sitting, the Lord of the Dead thought bitterly to himself. Shaking his head, Hades turned to exit the chamber, with a scowl adorning his pale face.
Demeter sobbed once her bare soles hit the familiar floor of her domain. Thoughts blurred into one huge, tangled mess; a heavy weight upon her heart. Kore. The name clawed at her mind like a vicious beast. Demeter clung to the earth with all four limbs, her fingers buried deep in the soil and grass of her humble home. With each tear that streamed down her face, the earth grew cold.
Demeter shrieked to the sky, burrowing her fingers deeper into the soil. Her throat burned as she swallowed down breaths. Glaring up above, Demeter tensed her aching muscles as she screamed.
"You will pay!"
The words echoed from deep within the earth, and the ground began to shake. The Mother of Nature remained rooted to the earth, as she channeled her powers to enter the soil of her planet. The goddess no longer could feel the tingling sensation that came whenever she used her powers. She felt cold, and empty inside. Within seconds, the land was barren of any beauty, and a chill was present in the thick air. The goddess stood finally, after minutes of shaking feverously while she wept. She peered at the home she had lived in for seventeen years. Once, it had been a beautiful and exotic garden cottage that she shared with her loving daughter. Daughter. The word alone cut through the goddess like a mortal's knife. Demeter fell to her knees and dropped her head in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. The cold air wrapped itself around the beautiful goddess' body and chilled the ground she sat on.
Persephone found herself shivering violently on top of her newly acquainted bed. Glancing down at her nude form, Persephone bit the inside of her mouth as she assessed the unfamiliar chamber. Upon the swells of her breasts, two blossoming pink buds laid, stood at attention. Demeter had always scolded Kore-Persephone-whenever the younger goddess decided to sneak a peek of her naked figure.
Kore tugged at the belt securing her Chiton. As the white material loosened from her frame, Kore took her sweet time lifting the cloth off her figure. Biting her lower lip, the maiden neatly folded the cloth, and laid it carefully on the ground. Coyly glancing around, Kore tip-toed towards the pond nearby. She lowered one toe into the pond slowly, shaking slightly as the nude goddess attempted to keep in balance. Her toe was encased in the warm water, resulting in Kore cracking out a goofy grin. The maiden retracted her toe from the water and balanced herself at the foot of the pond. Glancing down at the water, Kore could see herself. The goddess' eyes widened as she took in her growing body. The smooth curves of her pale flesh were more prominent from the last time Kore had seen her own reflection. Her gaze took in every defined curve of her body, the soft swell of her perky breasts to her waistline. The maiden became entranced with the image casting back off of the water's surface.
Demeter, who was tending her garden close by, abruptly stopped. Demeter could feel the shift-a disturbance-in her domain. The ache in her bones was ancient as the planet she nurtured and cherished. Mother Nature gifted her earth with life-and with life, came death; the goddess could feel every living thing she created shift throughout life's cycles. Demeter, with ichor running through her veins, did not feel physical pain or aches with any mortal life that shifted closer to their decay. No, this shift struck her still as death. This shift rattled in her bones; a scorching fire encasing her soul. She feverously whipped her body around to face the pond and took in the sight of her most prized creation. What she saw before her, made her stomach turn. Clenching her fists, Demeter inched closer to the pond.
"Have I not raised you to live life modestly and not in vain, my flower?" The elder goddess gritted her teeth as she approached her daughter.
Kore blinked rapidly and lightly shook her head. The young maiden opened her mouth, then quickly snapped it shut. Lowering her gaze to her feet, the child lowered herself into the warm water of the pond.
Persephone shivered slightly at the thought. Vanity was what caused hollowness in one's soul, her mother once told her. Her gaze fueled with curiosity as she took in the supple curves of her body. A minute later, the goddess shook her head slightly and stood from the bed, in search of clothing. I mustn't let this dark man change my pure ways. The goddess had no idea whom she was dealing with and decided that getting dressed was the first step to take action. Tip-toeing around the dark room, she noted the blood red tones and spotted a small curtain of beads. Grasping one strand, she rubbed the beads individually as they slipped from her grasp, then gently pulled the curtain aside, making an entrance to the room behind. With nimble feet, the goddess moved swiftly past the beaded curtain, but could still feel the hard texture of the beads lightly swaying against her backside. The idea alone sent a shiver down her spine. Persephone was amazed by the bursts of color that invaded her sight. Flowers of every shape and size were painted across the walls of this small room. A warm feeling bloomed spontaneously in her lower abdomen, and the maiden cracked half of a smile. In the center of the room, a huge chest was placed; the intricate craftsmanship of the dark wood seemed very familiar to the goddess, but the memory escaped her. Tracing her pale digits along the carvings of the chest, she became captivated by the coolness that the wood produced against her flesh.
"Interesting piece, is it not?" A voice whispered behind her.
Glancing over her shoulder, the maiden took in the outlined shape of a lean body. Its form lurking in the shadows of the side of the room. The dark figure inched closer to Persephone's pale form; their amber gaze burned brightly as the moon in the night sky.
Like a moth is drawn to a flame, the young goddess minced towards the hypnotizing stare.
"Who are you?"