TW: The following has descriptions of alcohol consumption and panic attacks. This story will explore themes of generational trauma, abuse and toxicity in relationships, and mental health topics like anxiety. Please read at your own discretion.
"In the beginning, there was Chaos, lonely in a vast expanse of nothingness. In her loneliness, Chaos reached into the formless void of her stomach, a light appeared and Gaia was born. Out of darkness and light, deities began to appear. The lonely nothingness, now full of new, a buzz of excitement, of growth. Gaia became surrounded by Uranus, the sky. And it was through them the Earth was formed.
In their union, the Titans came to be. Gaia, powerful before Uranus, carved some of her children from the light, the fertile ground, the mountainsides. Rhea, her daughter, blessed the world with beauty in fruition. She gifted the grounds with greenery - following in her mother's gifting.
As time passed, and the Earth filled with titans and their children, Uranus became restless.
His rule became scrutinized, criticized by his children. He became cruel. As his cruelty grew, his restlessness did as well. In a deep sleep, he had a vision - one of his sons would be his ruin. Enraged, he began to hide his children away, pushing them back into the Earth. Gaia, grieved for her children. Fearful for the others, she turned to her youngest son, Kronos, and they created a plan to remove Uranus from the throne.
When Uranus heard of this conspiracy, he threatened to extinguish the Earth. Gaia laid her body over the Earth, protecting herself, and her creation, from his destruction.
Alone, Kronos sought out Rhea. Like their mother, her power appeared endless; and in their union, they defeated Uranus. In Uranus' exile, Kronos became ruler and the Earth thrived. From Uranus' defeat, Beauty was born in the foam of the ocean. Giants, Meliae, and Furies sprung from the ground. The Titans created life again. Metis formed her children from the stars, the fire and the Earth. The immortals of the Earth roamed in harmony.
Kronos and Rhea were a fair king and queen; but as time passed, the same fear crept into Kronos' heart. Afraid his sons would bring him to his ruin, he sought after their destruction. Rhea kept him away with her charm, with loving whispers and coos, but eventually she could not stop him. The first, Kronos consumed, then, to Rhea's horror, the second. In Rhea's distress, she hid the last one, giving her husband a swaddled stone in the child's place. Kronos swallowed the stone, presuming it to be his last son, knowing his place as king was secure. The Earth fell into devastation, and the golden age of reign under the Time God King, ended. Kronos' cruelty swept over the Earth as Rhea stood with him, weakened by her grief. However, our salvation appeared from the baby Rhea saved - "
"ZEUS! ZEUS! ZEUS!" The crowd chants, loudly with slurred voices.
The King of the Gods appears on the stage next to the vexed muse. "I saved the world and Athena was born however many years later… and we love her for it! Sorry, Cleo, I'll take it from here." Zeus chuckles as the muse rolls her eyes and exits the stage. "Thank you everyone for joining us for another Panathenaea to celebrate one of Olympus' finest, my daughter, Athena! Let the party begin!" The crowd roars; the goddess appears next to her father graciously thanking the guests, bowing to indecipherable chanting.
Artemis shoves her way through the cheering bodies, holding tightly to her new friend's hand. Persephone, young, recently moved from the Mortal Realm, follows closely behind, biting the edge of her lip. "I feel like I shouldn't be here," Persephone shouts over a booming bass line, tugging at the short hemline of her borrowed dress.
"You look great!" Artemis gestures a thumbs up, barely hearing her friend over the noise. "Let's get a drink!"
Persephone smiles, with an unsure glance around her, and continues following her new roommate. "That's not really what I meant." She's been to a party like this before. She remembers the last one, crowded and hot, like tonight, with so much noise her ears buzzed in the quiet. She remembers the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, the feeling of uncertainty. She remembers the excitement she used to feel in anticipation for something new. Now, the uncertainty makes her feel like she is a vase teetering on the edge of a precarious shelf. She shakes the memory away, feeling a glass being shoved into her hand. "Are you sure this is ok?!"
Artemis nods while handing off the ornate pink drink, "Of course! Dad wouldn't want anyone to miss the party of the year!" Persephone takes small sips of the fruity cocktail, with Artemis chugging her beer, already turning to the bartender for a second drink.
Persephone surveys the room. This party was grander than the last she had attended. Dancing nymphs suspended in the air, overfilled champagne glasses clinking and breaking around her. She looks up past the twirling nymphs to see a dimly lit room above the crowded dance floor. Three shadows, three kings, overseeing the chaos of a drunken festival. She tries to look past the shadows, to see the kings. Her eyes squint, and a tall, broad-shouldered silhouette forms - CRASH. A body slams into hers. "I'm so sorry!" She gasps, a shock of adrenaline breaks her stare, her drink staining her borrowed dress and the floor. The man runs off, saying nothing, only laughing. She picks up her empty glass, giving the glass and her apologies to the bartender. She, with a sorry smile, meekly picks up a few cocktail napkins to sop up the sticky, sugary drink.
"I'll get this," Artemis takes the napkins from her, offering a soft smile, noticing as Persephone's blush begins to spread, her lips quivering in a frown.
"Artemis, I'm sorry about the dress… I-I can get it cleaned or p-pay you back…" Persephone stutters, standing helplessly, while onlookers stare.
Artemis flashes a kind look to her friend, "S'ok, I promise. Go get cleaned up. I'll meet you back over here and we can leave or dance some…if you want to."
Persephone makes her way to the bathroom, soaked in a pink cocktail and embarrassment. She adjusts her dress - the cotton candy colored liquid seeping into the white fabric. She stares at her reflection, sighing, "Get it together."
Returning to the party, she sees Artemis and Zeus in what seems to be a heated, maybe exciting, conversation. Persephone turns back to the bar, orders another cocktail and stands on the edge of the dance floor. The music is too loud, the room too crowded. With bass reverberating in the room, sending quakes through her feet to her head, time passes slowly. She orders another drink, and another, each drink a little stronger than the last. Her body feels so light, her smile, unforced. Finally, feeling up to a dance, she goes to find Artemis again - and then she sees him. Those golden irises meet hers, a bright smile stretching across his face as he makes his way to her.
Her stomach sinks, smile breaks - The room is spinning. Her mouth feels dry. Her heart is racing, beating against her chest, like a fist pounding against closed doors. She makes her way outside. When will everything stop spinning?! Her legs are too heavy to move much further. When did her breathing turn into gasps? When did she start crying? She closes her eyes, seeing his golden irises surrounded by a crowd of horror-filled faces, mourning morphing their expressions, and then nothing at all. A sob rips from her throat. How long has she been crying against the pavement?
His eyes, their faces disappear into the night sky. It's quiet outside of the party. Her grief pools around her, like the length of her hair. She sits, surrounded by cars. The cool metal soothes her skin. Tears still stream down her face. I'll stay out here until Artemis is ready to leave. Feeling safe in her hiding spot, she lets the alcohol and her tears lull her to sleep.
"Excuse me? Miss?" A deep voice appears in her hazy dream, it sounds familiar. His voice reminds her of home. "Are you ok?" Persephone's eyes barely open. Her body still feels so heavy, her mind adrift. "Do you have a ride home?"
"I lost my friend." She says quietly, her eyes closed tight again, tears brimming her lashes. "I've lost her…" Her voice breaking at the weight of the words.
"I can help you find your friend," He offers, allowing one hand to hold her up as she slouches against the car. She shakes her head, tears silently streaming down her face. Hesitantly, he reaches for her face, wiping away tears with a handkerchief. "I'm really sorry to keep pressing, but perhaps we should try to find her, it's getting late." She shakes her head again. "If you'd like, I can take you to your home… ?"
"You can't take me back there." Tears fill her eyes again, as much as she misses her mother, she worries about what her mother would say to her drunkenness. Her eyes briefly meet the kind stranger's face.
"Where can I take you?" He asks, his brow furrowing, eyes widening with concern. "Would you feel ok at a hotel? Or here, with Hera and Zeus?" He brushes the falling strands of hair out of her face.
"I'm too tired." She mutters. Her eyes close again and she drifts back into the ocean of her thoughts. Hera would tell her mom…and how would she explain this? She just wanted to sleep and ignore daunting explanations and mountains of questions.
"You're welcome to stay in my guest house, if you'd like? And I can take you home in the morning?" She nods. "Are you sure?" She nods again. He picks her up and helps her into the backseat of the car she's been leaning against. "Rest, and I'll wake you when we get there." He lays her gently across the seats.
She sleeps, letting the hum of the car guide her into a dream world. She sees the kind stranger clearer. His smile and blush when their eyes meet. They're sitting across from each other, in a room of her home in the mortal realm. His skin feels so warm. His hands, strong. The smell of a crackling fire fills her lungs. The dream weaves in and out.
She hears a dog barking and feels her shoes being peeled from her feet. "I'm sorry," She hears him say. Her hands float to his cheeks, she lets her hands explore the planes of his face. She can feel a shy smile pull at his lips. "Goodnight." And the sad, lifeless eyes flood her mind again. Tears begin to prick at her eyes and she's awake.
He holds her face, his eyes searching hers. His concern was palpable. "Everything will seem a thousand times better in the morning." He says, sweeping his thumb across her cheek, to catch the last tear rolling down her face.