VIII
She woke up the following morning confused as ever. She felt damp cloths all over her body, and narrowed her eyes sharply when she felt another body graze their fingers over her skin. Furiously, She pushed the hand away and sat herself up.
"What in the hell is going on." She cried as she scanned the area around her. How did she get home? The last thing she remembered was being by the edge of the woodland forest. She had gone to go see the Nymphs, to find out if they had seen Kore. . .
"Kore!" She cried in the most agonizing scream any of the Nymphs had ever heard. Unfortunately for her when she tried to stand she felt dizzy again. Persephone's absence had taken a serious toll on her.
"Lady Demeter!" She averted her gaze and it landed on a familiar looking Nymph. She pushed her way through the other Nymphs who tried to calm Demeter down. "Lady Demeter, please rest." The Nymph, Althea insisted.
"No." Demeter rejected fiercely. Despite feeling weak, Demeter still held so much power in her tone and Althea could do nothing but bow her head. "Tell me where she is." She demanded.
"Lady Demeter, we searched the villages last night. No one had seen her." One of the Nymphs said softly unsure of what to do if Demeter snapped. To her surprise, Demeter's eyes softened making her look so vulnerable.
Slowly, Demeter sat herself back down on the couch and said nothing. She stared at the palm of her hands and began breathing in and out trying to feel something. She didn't feel sad, or angry anymore. Demeter felt lost.
After a while of silence she cleared her throat, "No one knows where she is?" She looked around her cottage hoping that someone would have come across anything. To her dismay they all shook her heads.
The cottage was the hushed it had ever been. Demeter thought back and recalled that things hadn't been so quiet since before Kore was born. After she was born, the cottage was always full of cries, or laughter. There was always something.
"Lady Demeter," Althea softly, "Please. You should eat something. You are weak and we need to help you gain your strength back." Demeter didn't say anything, nor did she gesture otherwise. Her blank expression had caused Althea to change her mind about Persephone's mother. Never before had she seen a Mother so dedicated towards the well-being of her child.
Demeter stood slowly and gradually took small steps towards the back of the cottage. Althea narrowed her eyes and peered her head over by the wall to see what Demeter was up to. She watched as she opened one of the doors and closed it ever so quietly, no one would ever know she was in there.
Althea sighed. She Demeter needed to eat. Regardless of the fact that Demeter was a powerful Goddess, without proper nutrition she would perish. Demeter would become so weak no one would be able to recognize her.
"Persephone, where are you?" Althea mumbled.
Persephone had grown tired of waiting for the servant girl to come back, and she grew tired of sitting on her bed doing absolutely nothing. She didn't even have a book, or drawing tools, or anything to keep her entertained. While the Palace in the Underworld was lavish, it was downright boring. Persephone pushed herself off of the bed and landed swiftly on her feet. Thankfully, the swelling in her ankle had down slightly overnight. When she felt the bump on her temple she thought it had shrunk in size as well.
She felt a crackling sense underneath her left foot and scrunched her nose. When she removed it, she immediately felt a sense of terror rush through her mind. It was that stupid flower! She picked it up and began to tear the flower apart. While she adored flowers more than anything this one gave her nothing but heart problems. She hated that flower!
"Stupid flower." She muttered. She threw its remains across the room and turned her nose on it crossing her arms. It was then the door opened, and in walked the servant girl.
"Mi'Lady!" She sighed, "How many times do I tell you, you need bed rest." She led Persephone back to her bed and rearranged the pillows for her. "Is there anything I can get you Mi'Lady?"
"Please don't call me 'Mi'Lady'. My name is Persephone." She gave a small smile, "Now, would you mind telling me yours?"
"Oh," she waved her hand passively, "What difference does it make Mi'Lady?" She left the room momentarily and came back with a tray of food.
''Persephone'," she corrected gently, "And it may not make a difference to others, but it does to me. So, please share." She said.
"My name is Damara, Mi'Lady." She said with a bow.
"Persephone." She corrected again.
"Right. Is there anything else I can get for you Lady Persephone?" Damara questioned, It looked as if 'Lady Persephone' was close enough. Persephone shook her head. "May I at least draw you your bath?"
"Oh don't fret Damara. I can fix up a bath myself. I've been doing it for years."
"Oh no Lady Persephone. Its my duty."
"Damara, please, I insist." She watched Damara's face fall slightly. Persephone pursed her lips and sighed, "But, could you possibly check to see if I can meet with Lord Hades or Lady Hecate?" She needed to see at least one of them so she could receive her ointment and go back home to her mother.
"As you wish Mi'Lady."
Althea had knocked on Demeter's doors several times trying to get the
Goddess to eat something. She hadn't eaten in hours and Althea had began to think that she wouldn't be eating anytime soon until she found Persephone. Finally, Althea decided to open the door and let herself in anyways. If she didn't take care of Demeter, who would?
"Lady Demeter. Please, you must eat something. She said pushing a bowl of oats towards her. Demeter gazed at the bowl of food for the slightest second, as if she was about to eat. But, she just pushed the tray of food away and looked ahead solemnly.
"Lady Demeter. If I may, I think I may know where Persephone could be." She said. Demeter's eyes widened and she grabbed hold of the young nymphs delicate hands.
"Tell me!" She cried desperately, "Please!" Althea pulled her hands away from her slowly.
"I- I just have a hunch." She said.
"Anything is better than nothing." She whispered under her breath. Althea bit her bottom lip and sighed.
"I'll share my presumption with you. Only if you eat Lady Demeter." She proposed.
Demeter's solemn face changed form and she became enraged, "You're putting my daughters life at stake because you want me to eat?" Althea remind silent, "What would Kore think of you when she finds out where your loyalty lies?" She sneered before glaring at the Nymph in front.
"My loyalties lie with my friend. Which is why I am taking care of her mother. Lady Demeter, Persephone would become frail if she were to see you like this." She explained calmly. Sighing one more time, she rose from the edge of Demeters' bed and pushed the tray of food towards her again. She closed the door behind her on her way out, and leaned against the frame crossing her arms over her chest.
She didn't know how to help Demeter, and she couldn't think of anyone besides Persephone who knew how to.
Persephone waited impatiently for someone to arrive. While she was hungry, she was so anxious that she couldn't even eat the tray of food placed in front of her. Damara had explained to her that the only food she was given to eat was harvested from the Upperworld. Food did grow in the Underworld but, only in one specific place which Persephone didn't remember.
Persephone sat cross-legged on the high, four poster bed, peeling an apple with a twitch of her finger, and then undoing the process with another twitch over and over.
She heard a small knock on her door and she fixed her posture immediately before allowing the person to enter. In walked Hecate who wore beautiful velvet robes of crimson. Her long locks fell straight all the way down to her waist curvaceous. Her features were soft and she carried herself with a smile. Hecate was, one of the most beautiful Goddesses she had ever met. She could even give Lady Hera or Aphrodite a run for their wealth.
While she was happy to see Hecate again since they hadn't met properly last night, she felt slightly dumbfounded that Lord Hades hadn't come to her instead. She shook the ideas out of her head, clearly he was a busy man. He had a whole Kingdom to run!
"Lady Persephone." Hecate greeted with a bow. Persephone smiled and had begun to flung her legs off the bed, but felt a force push them back, "The servant girl tells me you have a hard time staying in bed." She said raising a brow. Persephone blushed a bright shade of pink.
"I- er-"
"No matter Persephone." Hecate giggled. "A young Goddess like yourself doesn't seem like the type who would want to stay still anyways." She said flipping her hair out of the way.
"I was wondering if I could see Lord Hades?" She asked innocently causing Hecate to raise a brow and smirk.
"Do you now." She sang causing Persephone to cock her head and knit her brows in confusion.
"Please? He said I could leave today." She explained.
"Oh, well. Tell you what. He's having breakfast right now- all of us are. Why don't you join us?" She suggested.
"Oh- I don't think so." She said uneasily under her breath, "I don't think he'd appreciate it every much." Hecate scoffed.
"Trust me Persephone, I think you'd be surprised to find how much he'd appreciate it." She said smugly.
"Eh?"
"Oh never mind! Let me apply your ointment. You can change and the servant girl will fetch you when are ready." She said. Persephone shrugged, anything to leave the chamber.
Hecate had left the container of ointment on the rosewood vanity in the chamber before escorting herself. She had explained that while breakfast would be served a few moments, Persephone had enough time to get ready for a simple breakfast if she wished to.
Quickly she pulled herself off the bed and scurried towards the bathroom that was attached to the chamber. She mangled to run herself a bath in the extravagant bathtub, made entirely out of marble. She had a hard time learning how to use the handles to adjust the water but managed to scrub herself clean in no time. She didn't even bother to add some of the fragrances into the tub. After washing her face and tending to the rest of her personal grooming she decided to wear her white dress from yesterday again. Despite her bath water being nice and warm, the rest of the castle was not. Like last night, she decided to wrap her blanket around herself to keep herself warm. She sighed and smiled to herself.
Mother, here I come.
The nymphs watched their friends struggle with the situation they was in.
Just a day or two ago things were at their most normal. They spent the days walking the around the paths of the Underworld and basking by the gleaming rivers that flowed throughout the realm. Yet, what was out of the ordinary and excited them ever so much, was that the handsome King of the Underworld and paid them a kind visit. He hadn't met them willingly by himself for centuries.
Naturally they were ecstatic to see him once again. While some of the nymphs took great joy in sneaking into his bed chambers every now and then, seeing him like this was rare. He had come with a sly smile tugged onto his thin lips. He had tied his shoulder length locks back which left a few pieces of hair framing his structured face. He had styled his goatee sharply which added to his regal looks. Across his broad muscular shoulders adorned his fur cape.
They loved it when he did that, and they knew that he did as well.
He had asked for a favour which some of the nymphs found odd. Clearly the King was up to something and he was desperate if he needed their aid in the matter. Nonetheless they had helped him seek out what he wished for since the lust for their King had blinded them.
He wanted a white flower with a yellow-orange centre. Narcissus. They were usual, beautiful flowers that were native to the Underworld only.
Lord Hades and repaid the nymphs with fine bottles wine, courtesy of Dionysus. The Nymphs were content with the gift. But, the nymphs did wish for something more- pleasurable for their efforts, no one could resist Dionysus' wine.
When one nymph was the first to drink from it, she slowly began to forget everything. Now, just two days later she didn't even know who she was anymore.
The nymphs were all dumbfounded and confused about how she could forget anything. They all knew to strictly avoid the waters from the river Lethe. So, why would anyone dare to drink from it? Another day went by and a few more nymphs had begun to face the same symptoms, and they too became disease ridden. It wasn't until a few more cases did the nymphs finally realize that the wine Lord Hades had brought for them not too long ago was poisoned with waters from Lethe.
They were furious, betrayed! How could their King have done something so horrible? In what way had any of the nymphs provoked him?
Sneaking into his chambers was not an issue. The nymphs knew as well as Hades (or so they thought) that it was all just foreplay, flirting- a game! No nymph had been successful in seducing Hades in centuries, which just added to the lust they had for their king.
It didn't matter anymore. No matter what the reason was, their King had provoked the wrong clan of nymphs.
They would seek revenge on him, no matter what the cost.
One thing that was tradition in the palace of the Underworld was that the deities were welcome anytime, especially during meals. When Hades had first become ruler of the Underworld he had noted that while the place was dark and solemn, he knew the Gods didn't have to be.
He was alone in his palace for decades and during that time only Hestia and Demeter made an effort to come and visit. Hera had come once, but the darkness in the Underworld had caused a psychological trigger that brought back horrid memories of her living in Kronos' stomach. Hades had understood the problem as he also experienced something similar when he newly resided in his realm. But, he realized that darkness was something he had become to accustomed to.
Hestia didn't mind the Underworld as much as Demeter who pointed her nose at the Ancient Laws about life preservation of plants in the Underworld, but she didn't mind them as years passed. The two sisters didn't dislike the Underworld as much as Hera. She was the youngest among sisters. And, Hestia and Demeter both grew up alongside Hades anyways. Demeter only stopped visiting because of Persephone- to some extent.
Hades had enough of Thanatos' constant blabbering and had decided on going to the dining hall for breakfast earlier than intended. He sat sullen in his velvet chair in the dining hall of the palace, while unintentionally stabbing the rich mahogany table with his fork. His eyes were dark as he stared ahead, daydreaming about young Persephone again.
She was downright adorable last night. He enjoyed hearing the tapping of her bare feet against the obsidian tiles. Her yawn and self-made cape made him smirk. He did miss the wilting. She hadn't wilted as much as he thought she would have. If he hadn't possessed such self control he would have bedded her immediately.
He knew he had to keep his promise and he knew that what he was doing the right thing. She missed her mother, and it was evident that she had no feelings for him whatsoever. If he asked for her hand in marriage, there was no doubt in his mind that she would vomit in disgust. While what Thanatos said about Godly relations was true, he assumed that since Persephone was still young and spent most of her time with the mortals the idea of relations would be much more warped.
"Lord Hades." He snapped out his trance when he heard the enchanting voice of Hecate, who gazed at him with a heavy smirk tugged on her dark, cherry lips.
He narrowed his eyes as he continued to stab the table with his fork, "What, why are you staring at me like that?"
"I invited a guest for breakfast." She said.
Hades shrugged, "Is it another mortal boy? It better not be Hecate, the mortals you court are always so irritating an-"
"Oh no! Not this time." She said with a wave of her hand, "But, just a heads up; you better be on your best behavior. Uncle." She mocked.
Hades growled, "Not you too! I'm going to kill Thanatos."
Hecate laughed, "Oh! And who's going to collect his soul? Hypos will have fallen asleep before he leaves his cave." Hades continued with stabbing the table. "You should put that down Hades. She won't like seeing you all sullen."
"Who?"
"Persephone." He stopped the stabbing and stared at Hecate with his mouth agape.
"H-Ho- why is she coming?"
"For breakfast." She said rolling her eyes.
"Why did you invite her! I'm supposed to take her back home today." He stated.
"So," She said with a shrug, "Do it after." She flipped her locks over her shoulder.
"She won't be dining with us." He muttered.
"What's the worst that could happen? Who knows? She might enjoy herself. She may come for visits." She remarked.
He raised his brow, "Somehow I don't think that's true."
"Well," She huffed, "I suppose if anything goes wrong you could always let her drink from the river Lethe." She said crossing her arms.
Hecate could have sworn she saw Hades turn a slight shade of red.
Demeter finally left her bedroom and walked down the small hallway. She treaded ever so lightly, no one would have known she was coming. Evidently, she had eaten something because she didn't look as hollow as she did before.
But, Demeter was still lost.
"A-Althea?" She called horsely. Althea walked towards her and followed Demeter back to her room.
"Yes Lady Demeter?"
"I finished the breakfast you gave me," She said gesturing towards the empty tray of food. "Thank you." She said softly. Althea gave her a curt nod, trying to give her a smile; but she couldn't. It was as if all the happiness she felt was gone for good. "May I hear what you have to say?"
Althea bit her bottom lip, "You might want to sit down Lady Demeter." She sat down and looked at her pleadingly, "I- I think I should just come out and say it." She muttered to herself.
"I think that would be best."
"Lady, I think the God, Ares may have taken her."
Demeter felt her world crash around her.
The dining hall had filled with deities from the Underworld bit by bit as they all joined him for breakfast. While they all mingled softly amongst themselves, they all noticed their King's mind was somewhere else.
Hades would zone in and out of the conversations around him. Every few seconds he would avert his gaze to the empty seat on his left. He sat at the head of the table, while Thanatos sat beside him on his right, and beside him was his brother Hypnos, and his son Morpheus and so on. Hecate sat on Hades' right, next to the empty seat which only made him more anxious.
"Lord Hades? Are you feeling okay?" Asked Hypnos' son, Morpheus who had his brows knitted together.
"Huh?" Hades said causing Thanatos to laugh.
"Oh Morpheus! He's acting so odd because he's in l-" Thanatos felt a hard kick from a heel under the table. He growled and glared at Hecate who rolled her eyes, "Dammit Hecate!" He snapped causing Hypnos to wake from his fatigue state of mind. It wasn't unusual for him, he was often in a hazy state.
"What?" He muttered to his son who just gave him a shrug.
"Shut up Thanatos." Hades sneered through his teeth.
"Well I'm not the one who invited her for breakfast. I told her not to." He muttered. Hades and Hecate both gave him one cold glare and he zipped himself up and ate his meat stubbornly.
As breakfast progressed Hades grew impatient and he gripped his cup off coffee so hard, Hecate thought for a brief moment he would snap the handle of the cup right off. She gave him a small shrug- trying to reassure him in the most discrete way possible. It didn't work.
Just as Hades was about to push his chair back to excuse himself for breakfast he could hear the soft tapping of bare-feet against the tiles. He smiled to himself, she was here.
Persephone ran down the halls, following Damara closely. She was excited for this breakfast, and soon she would meet with her mother. But, when she came nearer to the dining hall she could many voices from afar. She slowed down and knitted her brows together. She didn't think there would be many people living in the Underworld aside from Lord Hades. She was even surprised to see two other Gods last night.
Her blanket dragged behind her and she felt herself grow nervous. To make matters worse, when she entered the hall the voices stopped and all landed on her. She could hear muttered whispers and knew they were talking about her. Wondering who she was most likely, as she was wondering the same thing. But, when she saw Lord Hades sitting at the head of the table with Hecate and Thanatos, she felt herself grow less nervous. Instead she found herself skipping off towards the empty sea to the left of Lord Hades.
He gave her nod and gestured for her to fill her plate and she obliged. She hadn't actually eaten any of the breakfast Damara had gotten for her. She still felt a few eyes on her. But gradually the atmosphere began to change and people didn't seem to notice her as much.
Persephone eyed the food in front of her. There were many delicious delicacies that she saw which she didn't often eat for breakfast when she was with her mother. Usually a feast like this would be served over at Olympus.
What caught her eyes were the plump, juicy looking pomegranates. Her eyes winded in delight and she licked her lips. Persephone loved pomegranates. But, when she began to reach for one she felt a hand grasp at her arm pulling it back.
"No Persephone." She heard Hades say.
She tilted her head, "Why not? They aren't poisoned."
"You wish to return back to your mother, do you not?" She nodded, "So don't eat the pomegranates." She still looked confused. Hades sighed and buttered his bread roll. "Its Ancient Law; that whoever eats food grown form the Underworld is bound to it forever and cannot leave." He explained.
"I thought nothing grew here."
"Things grow, poorly." He took a sip of his coffee, "But these were grown in the Elysian Fields. It's the one place in the Underworld where plants grow." He explained.
"Oh. What about everything else?" She asked.
"Harvested from the Upperworld."
"Lord Hades who are talking to?" Morpheus asked, once again waking his father. Thanatos sighed and poured his brother a cup of coffee pushing it towards him. Persephone was surprised to see two of the same people sitting together side by side and her eyes never left the both of them.
"Its really not polite to stare." She heard one of the clones say. Both of them looked liked Thanatos, the same God who had teased her about sucking on her burnt finger.
"I- err-" She muttered before feeling a warm heap of blush flush her face. Hades couldn't help but smirk through his cup of coffee, "T-there are t-two of you." She said pointing her finger at the both of them.
"Pointing is rude too." She heard the sleepy one mutter. Clearly he wasn't much of a morning person but the clone beside him couldn't help but stifle a laugh.
"M-My. Hasn't Lord Hades told you?" Hades raised a brow when he heard Thanatos speak, "The longer you stay down here, you multiply. This is my pathetic excuse for a tw-"
"Pathetic?" The other snapped. Clearly the insult had awoken him and he gave him a glare, "I was born long before you." He snapped, "if anything you were a mistake!"
"A mistake? Excuse me, Mother always appreciated me more." She heard the other blabber. Persephone soon became uncomfortable, but couldn't help but smile. They fought like Apollo and Artemis.
"Just ignore them." She heard Hades say "They fight all the time." he said shrugging.
"Apollo and Artemis fight like that all the time." She said. The boy shrugged and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Makes sense. Their twins, and so are they." He said pointing to the clones beside him, "Thanatos and Hypnos"
"How do you know who is who?"
"Hypnos is the sleeper, and Thanatos is a slacker." Hades muttered.
"Hey!" Thanatos cried, "And Lord Hades is the one in lo- OW" He shouted. Once again, Hades knew justice had been served courtesy of Hecate's heel.
"He's also sensitive." Hecate added. Persephone laughed, she truly never thought the Underworld would be this entertaining.
"Eat quickly Persephone." Hades said causing a murmur to emerge from the table. What was Demeters' daughter doing down here?
She shrugged, "I don't suppose you have any juice?" She asked him.
"Juice?" She nodded, "Er- no. Sorry."
"Well then, what are you drinking?" She asked him.
"Coffee." He replied.
"I'll have some of that then." She said.
"No you won't."
"Why not? Is it grown in the Underworld too?" She asked annoyed while crossing her arms.
"Uh, no."
Persephone raised her brow and she cocked her head, "Well then why can't I have some?" She asked stubbornly.
"You won't like it."
"How would you know that! You don't even know what I like."
He let out a heavy sigh, "It will be too bitter for you." He finished. Persephone narrowed her eyes and uncrossed her arms.
"I don't think so." She said stubbornly before turning to Hecate and asking her where the coffee was. Hecate shrugged at Hades as she made her a quick cup.
"Add as much sugar or cream as you'd like." She explained.
"How much do I add?"
"As much as you want."
"How do you drink yours?" Persephone questioned Hecate.
"I like it black." She replied while taking a sip.
Persephone turned to Hades, "How do you drink yours?"
"Black."
She scrunched her face, "Does everyone drink it black?"
"No," answered Thanatos who sat across from her, "I take mine with two creams and two sugars."
"As do I." Added a yawning Hypnos.
Persephone shrugged before blowing into her cup, cooling it down. She carefully drank a small sip and she winced at how bitter the taste was. Hades let out a low laugh as he watched her.
"I told you that you wouldn't like it." He mocked. Persephone blushed.
"Maybe I'll just try it black."
Hades laughed again, "That is black." She raised her brows.
"Oh."
"Here." Thanatos gestured from across, "Add some sugar and cream to make it taste sweeter." He finished before sliding her some sugar and cream. Persephone added two creams and two sugars and stirred her cup. She tasted it and while it was still bitter, she much preferred this.
Over the course of her breakfast she talked with Hecate and Morpheus while Hades listened to them attentively. Persephone had enjoyed a breakfast of oatmeal and fruit. It was a breakfast she and her mother would have often as it was a favorite of both of them. She continued to add cream and sugar into her cup until she was finally satisfied with how sweet it tasted. When Hades peered into her cup, he noted that her coffee looked far more like colored milk of anything.
Bit by bit the deities left the dining hall and soon the only ones were Persephone and Hades. Persephone had finished her meal a while ago, but stayed behind since she had nothing to do anyways. Hades was usually last to finish as he preferred a bigger breakfast himself.
She watched as he loaded another plate filled with meats, "You must be very hungry Lord Hades. She said.
He raised his brows, "What makes you think that?"
She giggled, "Lord Hades, you're filling your plate with meats. I don't even think Ares eats as much as you do." She saw a small smile begin to form on his lips.
"This isn't for me." He explained.
"Oh. Well then, who is it for?"
"My dog." Her eyes widened in delight. She had always wished for a pet. While she adored the horses in their stables, Persephone wished for a pet she could bring inside the house. But, Demeter was against the idea.
"A pet will create too much of a mess." Demeter would say.
"Come. I can show him to you on your way out." He said pushing his chair back waiting for Persephone to follow him.
'Wait, Lord Hades?"
"Hm?"
"Could I maybe stay just one more day?" She asked him softly. Hades stared at her in shock. "Lord Hades?"
"I suppose. . ." He answered rather stiffly. To his surprise he felt two short arms wrap around his waist.
"Good. Now, please take me to see your dog!" She said enthusiastically.
"Progress." He muttered.
"Huh?"
Authors Note: Apologies for the long wait. Hope you enjoyed.