The rain stopped instantly and an infinite silence pervaded the land; only Demeter's whimpering and her daughter's gasping breaths inhabited the place. Outside the temple no bird flapped its wings as it took flight, no insect fluttered through the air; not even the wind existed any more. The two Goddesses stepped out of the temple, unsettled by the sudden change in the atmosphere when, suddenly, a clap of thunder pierced the odd sky, traveling through the air and impacting the ground like a hammer, causing everything around it to vibrate. Green eyes scanned the strange skies, a cloud-like smoke seeping through the cracks of the earth until a sea of lightning illuminated the entire heavens, drawing cascades of electricity everywhere. The tenebrous sky threatened to plunge humanity into darkness, blinding them with its flashes and plaguing them with thunder that resembled screams. Amidst the sea of lightning, a gaping hole began to open up like a whirlpool capable of devouring everything in its path.
"Zeus." Demeter managed to say, the corner of her mouth twitching in disgust.
There were no more words after that and there was a pause, Persephone's face set in a concentrated scowl while she analyzed the situation. She had never considered what she would do once she had found her mother, and now she had to make the right decision, and quickly, as the skies grew darker and dangerous and the sky threatened to devour the earth.
"I won't let him get to you." Persephone said looking her in the eyes; her words cold and implacable. "Not before me."
Her mother looked at her with glazed eyes. She was horrified by the feeling of vulnerability that had long been gripping her whole being, looking like a little girl unable to do anything on her own, as if all her powers had been taken from her. She never felt as tired and sad as now, feeling what it was to be an old woman.
"He has already found me." Though she tried to hold her attitude, Demeter could feel her bold expression falter, brows twitching into something more unsure of herself than frightened. A chaotic whirlwind of things thrashed within her mind, calling more than she had bargained for the surface, and sucking air through her teeth. Something snapped, and the emotional floodgates opened to send a torrent of suppressed things bubbling up all at once to overwhelm. She'd held in so much over the last months and the beast she'd caged reared its ugly head to swallow her control in one bite.
"Not if I can stop it." Persephone said as black shadows began to curl around her form, adhering to her form with an ethereal fluidity.
"What is going on?" Said Demeter in fright, kneeling beside her daughter.
"You've missed so much in your absence, mother." She said, smirking. "I would close my eyes if I were you."
Demeter saw something flash in her daughter's eyes. She didn't recognise what it was for until she felt the hot tear sliding down flushed cheek, and attention drawn to herself, she realized her slight frame gave a shudder. A sob hitched in her throat, and though she willed it to stop in shame and despair, another tear rolled free. Her features twisted beyond her control, cringing for it all. The shadows enveloped Demeter as they slowly dematerialised, before breaking apart to shatter into jerky particles, vanishing in an instant without a trace.
Demeter cringed and grabbed at her chest. The first thing she became aware of was sounds. Fuzzy sounds, as though they were far away. Her body jolted, and she wrinkled her nose. Holding her breath, she carefully pushed herself upright. Her head swam, a vicious headache hammered at her skull and pulsed behind her eyes, feeling as if she would collapse at any moment. Her weak body protested and her arms trembled slightly. "What has happened?" She murmured, staring at her hands, flexing her fingers repeatedly.
Lost in a world of darkness, Demeter's body wobbled as she tried to gain control, her restless legs searching for the strength they had always had, failing in the attempt. Her pink eyes struggled against the gloom, trying to figure out where she was, only discriminating two silhouettes a few feet away.
"Take my mother to the palace. She is tired and needs rest." Her daughter's voice sounded like a dream where she could do nothing but watch. "Tell Hades I have arrived."
"Yes, my queen." A deep voice answered.
One of the silhouettes approached, taking her by the arm. His hand was rough and cold, as when trees shed their leaves to prepare for the cruelty of the coldest weather. Her whole body shivered, activating all her senses and growing vigilant, ready to act on any alert. Weak and lost, she let herself be carried away by that black figure as her exhausted eyes watched her daughter quickly walk away until she disappeared.
Persephone climbed a spiral staircase and then crossed a corridor, her hurried footsteps echoing loudly on the flagstones. At the end of the corridor, the goddess opened a heavy door. She was glad to see a well-lit room, where a table was set for supper, and a great log fire was burning in the huge fireplace.
"Hades!" Persephone exclaimed. "Hades!"
Getting no answer, Persephone approached the great windows of the room, her bright eyes moving swiftly in search of her beloved. She let go a slight sigh of frustration at not finding him. But, just as she was giving up, she heard a rustling sound coming from the corridor. "Hades?" She asked, slowly approaching the door, craning her neck slightly to see.
"There you are." A deep tone resounded effortlessly in the echoing hallway, drawing her gaze to seek its source with a flinch.
Seeing that it was him, Persephone ran quickly towards him, throwing herself upon him, breathing in his scent, taking refuge in what was truly her home. After spending a few seconds on his chest, she finally looked at him.
"Have you been able to resolve these urgent matters?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Not really." He replied, noticing how his wife's head tensed, listening to his answer. "There have never been such matters." He finished.
Persephone arched her back so she could get a good look at him, her arms still wrapped around his back. Giving him a puzzled look, Hades gave her that playful, sometimes insecure smile she loved so much. "I knew who she was from the first moment she laid eyes on you." He added in a charming voice.
Persephone frowned and pursed her lips, giving him a disapproving look. "Why do you always have to hide things from me? Why do you always have to be so mysterious?"
Hades looked at her with half-closed eyes. "I've interfered too much with you two, don't you think? I thought it would be best if you handled the situation and didn't let me influence you. You have transported yourself and your mother from one realm to the other. You know that only my brother and I can do this? You are exceptional." He said, his eyes shining with pride. "Besides, during your absence, I entertained myself with thoughts of what we would do when you returned. Shall I tell you?" He smirked. "It was such a pleasant little daydream."
She was about to reply when she noticed his closeness and her eyes betrayed her, looking to his lips. Her non-verbal language gave her away quickly and he didn't miss the opportunity. With his large hands cupping her face, he kissed her, shattering her defenses and her useless shield that stood between the two of them. One kiss and she hopelessly surrendered.
His kiss was warm and sweet, lighting a light in her that could burn all kingdoms. She kissed him back, her heart so full of joy that she thought that she would lose him if she stopped kissing him.
"You have to tell me everything that happened." He said, resting his forehead on hers. "Come, let's sit down and have something to eat." He continued, taking her hand and escorting her back to the room where an assortment of food awaited them. She let herself go, holding his hand tightly and resting her head on his shoulder, a smile spreading across her face, regaining the peace she had once thought lost.
Demeter felt the eyes on her back and the crunch of leaves under her feet before she slowly turned to see what had stumbled upon her. She assumed it was either a bear foraging for food in the mountains of Eleusis, or some careless white and grey wolf that had wandered away from its pack. But when she turned and saw her companion she was petrified. A woman.
She was tall and slight, her face unseen. All of her was covered by a black cloak that only revealed her carmine lips and wicked smile.
They stared at each other in oppressive silence, each waiting for the other to move. Demeter's heart hammered in her chest, her breathing beginning to shorten as adrenaline pumped through her veins. The woman, for her part, continued to stare at her.
"What do you want?" Demeter asked quietly, steeling herself, not knowing whether the wise thing to do is to face her or run away.
"You." She rumbled, and in a flash she was in front of her, grasping her neck with her thin hands, her nails clutching Demeter's skin.
With the unknown woman's hands gripping her neck, she could do nothing. Her hands, feet and brain were immobilized under a terrible weight. She had the sensation that the air was very heavy, damp and cold. She wanted to fight, to fight for her life, but her arms were shackled by a strange numbness, as were her legs and her will. Demeter closed her eyes, accepting her sad end, but she could see through her eyelids.
"Pleaseā¦" She pleaded in a thin voice. "Let me go."
"Never." She replied. "This is for you. It's always for you."
And suddenly, with a subtle shake of her head, the woman uncovered herself from her cloak. She was herself. And Demeter wasn't her anymore.
She did not know what time she fell asleep. She felt a shudder, thinking she had rested too long. She remembered hearing howling and other strange rumors from beyond. Then there was an intense silence, which made her feel a certain uneasiness. Three piles of blankets rested on top of her giving her comfort and soothing warmth to her tired bones. Demeter spent a few fleeting minutes enjoying the comfort of the bed, rubbing her eyes with her hands, chasing away all traces of sleep.
Sitting up in bed, she could sense the chill that inhabited the room, wrapping herself in the thick blankets to curb the intense cold. Her clothes had been changed; her dress had been replaced by an exquisite blue silk robe that slipped down her slender body. Quickly she sat up, frightened to remember what had happened. She flinched in horror at the memory of her dream. She reflected on everything that had happened since the day Persephone disappeared; it all seemed like a tragedy whose fate was moving inexorably towards its end. All her actions, even when done with the best intentions, achieved only the worst consequences.
The cold of the marble ran through her bare feet when she touched the floor and made her whole body shiver. She got up when, suddenly, she froze at the sight of her reflection in the mirror of her room. It had been a long time since her real appearance had been hiding fearfully beneath an old and unfamiliar face. Her pink eyes were shining again on her sleek, feminine face. Her thick hair had taken on its original bronze color and her freckles shone again on her perfect cheekbones. He gazed at her face for a few minutes, not recognising herself in it. A shy tear escaped from her tear duct, running down her immutable face. All the assurance that had once been in her gaze had died, leaving in its wake remnants of what had once been.
The fire beside her bed lowered in the grate, and she tip-toed across the room. The heavy oaken door of her chamber was hoisted open, a gust of cold air swirls inside, and the Goddess of the harvest stepped out into the Underworld. The darkness, together with the silence, gave the night a mystery that was accentuated by the shadows cast by a strange light from the dark sky. Nothing moved or stirred, everything was gloomy and motionless like death or fate, though a misty, off-white layer crept up from the ground with a slowness that made it almost imperceptible. It was as if it were the only living thing around her. The air was so cold and clean it burned in her lungs.
She thought about how different her life had been the last few months. Every morning, Demeter pulled her shawl tight around her shoulders as she gazed out over the meadow before her. The sunlight cut golden rays through the trees and reflected off the babbling brook on the other side. Wild flowers swayed in the breeze that tousled her long white braid. But now, she stared up at a sky she had never seen. It was dark and smooth as black velvet with stars scattered like diamonds across its expanse.
She quickly went back into the room to escape the cold outside. She was startled when she heard footsteps approaching her room. She stayed where she was, wrapped in the blankets as if in a shelter, until the knock on the door came.
"Who goes there?" Her words came out instantly, quick and uncertain.
"It's me." A longing voice answered. "Your daughter. Kore."
Demeter dropped the blankets, letting them fall to the floor, and hurried to open the door. There she was, her little flower, her great love. Mother and daughter reunited at last, no need to hide, no need to pretend. Demeter grimaced and before her eyes welled up with tears in front of her, she hugged her daughter and didn't let go for a few seconds that felt like forever, as if she was the only place she could go.
"My love, you saved me." She managed to say between sobs.
"No, I didn't. I didn't save you, I just want to talk quietly, calmly, and we can work things out." She said, stroking her mother's back, giving her comfort. "If what you told me is true, we still have time to get back to what we were.
Demeter turned back quickly, grabbing her hands. "Of course it's true. I can't be like this, I'm wasting away. I was thinking of your good... but I was wrong."
"Yes, mother. That's right." Green eyes looked with compassion.
"When I lost you the first time I felt cursed. So full of rage. And the second time... after what I did... I learned what the real pain is about. That's why I ran away, that's why I took refuge among the mortals. Because for once for all I understood, I empathize with them. I knew what it was like to lose someone for real. I learned how cruel grief can be... how much is about language. The failure of language, and the grasping for it." She exposed as she felt her heart slowly unburden itself of the grief it had carried for so long. She was strangely tired, not from having talked so much but at the mere thought of what she still had to say. She knew that one day she would find the right words and that then they would be simple.
"Equality is a pleasurable feeling, mother. With you I lived in the shadow, and with Hades I have seen the light."
Demeter lowered her head, ashamed and humiliated, tears welling up again in her glassy eyes. "I'm sorry for the words, mother. My life before was suffocating, like living in a golden prison. Now I am free, and not because I have Hades by my side, but because I can finally decide what I want to do, I rule the ship of my life." Persephone's soft hands caressed her grief-stricken mother's face, their eyes linking. "But I love you. Very much. I want you in my life. But you have to accept my situation."
"I know, my child." She said through a sigh. "I know."
"Good." She said, kissing her cheek. "Now we must hurry. Zeus will be here soon. Let's face this situation. Together."
Demeter nodded her head, a determination in her eyes that hadn't been there for a long time.
Back in the room, Demeter changed her robe for a beautiful green silk dress that had been chosen for her. She knew without a doubt that this dress had been chosen by her daughter. No one else could match the taste of the goddess of agriculture so well. The dress was made of the most precious fabrics and just touching it seemed to be a balm for the skin. Demeter smiled to herself and her heart swelled with pride. After all, she could not have been such a bad mother to raise a being as compassionate and good as her daughter.
Before leaving the room, Demeter stepped out onto the balcony of her room for a breath of fresh air and some much-needed courage.
The scenery was truly wonderful. Her gaze was not attracted by this or that remarkable sight, but wherever she looked, her eyes beheld an awe-inspiring beauty. Until her pink eyes gazed at a peculiar porch. As much as she wanted to deny it, that garden was beautiful. There were no living plants, no flowers to add color to the surroundings, no butterflies fluttering about. But there was no need for any living thing. A dusting of starlight gave the place an enchanted, almost unreal feel. The floating candles, the dried flowers faithfully placed in the corners of the room. This place was a refuge in a dark and gloomy world.
The cold was no longer so penetrating, and that simple beauty served to soothe Demeter; every breath of air brought her the peace and well-being she so desperately needed.
As she leaned against the railing, her attention was drawn to someone entering the garden. The railing was high and wide, shielding Demeter from being seen, trying not to be observed but lurking. Her pink eyes widened like moons and her full attention was drawn to the scene a few feet away from her.
Hades, tall and regal as ever, was strolling leisurely, enjoying the harmony of the place until Persephone jumped on him, kissing him playfully as they exchanged laughter.
Shocked by the situation, Demeter's heart began to pound rapidly. She had never seen Hades like this. She couldn't take her eyes off him, all her attention focused on him, on his perfect teeth and the smile that spread across his face at the mere sight of Persephone.
Seeing them like that, in such an affectionate and carefree attitude, made the Goddess's insides stir from head to toe. A rush of sensations coursed through her body. Shame, anger, envy, regret... but they all culminated in one. Acceptance. Persephone glowed at her husband's side, resplendent and full of light as she had never seen her before. And as he looked at her... Only a fool would deny that those electric blue eyes did not gaze with devotion, with love. She had always seen his brother collected and introspective, unattainable; but men were prompt to change, though. Hades had ruled the Underworld for many centuries, but now he was not alone. And seeing them, one thing was clear. Only Persephone truly knew the God beneath the darkness. Persephone ruled the king of the Underworld.
Notes:
Heyyy did u miss me? :)
I'm enjoying writing this story so much that I hadn't realized it's already 22 chapters! My goodness... Just to say that this is about to end. I think there will be two more chapters and the epilogue.
Thanks for reading my lovely followers. And as usual, comments are more than loved!
Take care!
