Seeds: Volume Two (19 page)

     Hekate led her on further, walking down a path that was no longer visible.

     “How do you know which path to choose, where to go?” the younger deity asked, recalling the identical paths diverging from a single point. “Do you create these paths?” It seemed logical, given that Hekate was the Goddess of the Crossroads.

     “Yes and no. All parts of Dis are connected by paths, literal and figurative. I simply made my own representation of the links between each realm and area. Each of us has our own way of traversing these paths in this world, and on the surface realm as well. Of course, I would be glad to teach you how to make your own. You can imagine it any way you like and create your own network. But we will work on that later, since we are now at our destination.”

     Persephone looked down, seeing a dusty, sparkly spiral under their feet, but it provided no radiating illumination, for the darkness swallowed it. This was unlike anything she had ever experienced, and she was thankful for the feel of solid if slightly springy surface under her sandals.

     “Greetings, sister Goddesses.”
Nyx's velvety voice greeted them.

     “Hello, Nyx. We thought it would be nice to have a visit.” Hekate replied. In front of her, Persephone could almost swear that she saw the darkness...
rippling
, before Nyx's dusky face emerged from it.

     “
But of course. Come, make yourself comfortable.”
Nyx's voice was deep and smooth and soft, rolling over Persephone and causing her to shiver slightly.
The allure of night...

     “Now it is just us three women. Persephone tires of the antics of menfolk. Something we can all understand, hmm?” Hekate smiled, showing her dimples as she winked at Persephone before turning back to Nyx.

     “I would be honored to acquaint myself with you further,” the youngest Goddess stated eagerly. She had not seen Nyx since the banquet. A human certainly would have taken notice of the time that passed, but to such a deity as Nyx, that was a mere blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things. Time really was different here.

     “
As would I, youngest sister.”

     “Sister? I am sorry, but I am unsure of what you mean by that.”

     “You are now one of us, a deity of Dis.”
Persephone had to resist a retort of denial, and nibbled her lower lip as Nyx spoke,
“We of Dis are a family of our own, with stronger bonds than that of the many who reside above; you are now part of my fold. And you are my twin's great-granddaughter, which also ties us by blood.”

     She was actually related to this alluring Goddess of the Night? Persephone was the granddaughter of Kronos and Rhea through both her own parents, and Kronos and his sister were born of Gaea, the original Hellenic Earth-Goddess, and Ouranos, the Sky. But the overwhelming majority of these gods remained above, many of them living among the mortals. As far as Persephone was concerned, these gods of Dis were far-removed from their Olympian brethren. She hadn't considered her relationship with them. But Nyx and Gaea,
twin sisters
? To her, it seemed like the difference between day and night, which in this case was quite literal, when she thought about it.

     And here she was in the Underworld, plucked from her parent's world for a greater destiny here – or so the Fates had said – and wondered at the circumstances. Hades had the same parents as his siblings, yet he had left the world above and was happy about it. So had Hekate. This place really wasn't Hell. She could not help but recall Hades' hurt when she would defy him or swear at him.

     “Really? I had never contemplated that. So we are all related... in one way or another.” The Titans were cousins to the Olympians and in some cases, even brother or sister, or parent. But nobody on the surface seemed to know that even these mighty surface gods might be in some way related to the gods of Dis.

     “
Relations are different down here. Hades is more closely tied to us than them, as you will be. But do not worry about any of that. Things will happen in due time.”

     “Speaking of relations, is there a chance we could meet Erebus while we are here?” Hekate asked.

     “No, not at the moment. He is elsewhere. Now tell me, Persephone... how is life down here? Are you happy with your Lord?”

     “Life here is... interesting.” That much was the truth. She was never bored, and found herself mentally stimulated, pondering things she had never thought of before and learning things she had never contemplated. And she liked that. She genuinely enjoyed the locales of the Underworld she had already seen, and was eager to explore further, one step at a time.

     “Interesting? That's all you have to say?”
Nyx sounded almost teasing.

     “Yes,” Persephone replied quietly, not wanting to get into the specifics.

     “There is no need to speak of men here,” Hekate interjected as she sensed her companion's discomfort. “I am sure she would rather hear one of your stories. Perhaps you could tell her the one of how you and Gaea came to Hellas.”

     “Oh, yes. I love stories!” Persephone stated enthusiastically.

     “Sit down and make yourselves comfortable, then.”

     Persephone was about to point out that there was no furniture before she felt something soft against her back. She relaxed, and felt velvety substance mold itself to her back, legs, and rear end, making for an extremely comfortable seat, indeed.

     “Many thousands of years ago, Hellas was not the lush and civilized land it was. There were no people, and it was a very cold place. However, the earth started to warm, and the slumbering land came to life. Out of Chaos I was born, and my sister came soon after. For many, many years it was just the two of us, and we wandered over the world, looking for a place to settle. Much of it was covered in ice, and there were few humans back then, making their living the best they could in such a world, their existence concentrated on their survival and little more than that. They hunted the great big cats with fangs like daggers, and hairy creatures with tusks such as you have never seen before, although neither of them exists anymore.

    
For a long time, we had no real home. We wandered, seeking purpose in our lives. Unlike the mortals, we could not die, and wondered what our purpose in this world was. Our wanderings brought us to Hellas, where my sister said she wished to remain. The place called to her, she told me. Wearied by our travels I was as well, and chose to remain at her side.

    
She stayed on the earth and I took to the heavens while she used her gift to shape and mold Hellas into a better place to live. She dug valleys and formed hills, and all the water that had melted from the great ice flowed where she told it to, forming springs, lakes, and rivers. All of this I watched at night while during the day I retreated to the shadows to slumber. She would sleep safely in the darkness while I kept guard over her, The earth was hers to form and shape as she pleased, and it became such a wonderful place that animals came to live there, enjoying the bounty she had to offer them. And then humans followed, settling into a place that was far warmer and hospitable than their ancestors had known, becoming the ancestors of the civilizations that worship us.”

o0o

     Persephone sat under an olive tree in Elysium, staring out at the Sea of Eternity as she fiddled with her bracelet, considering her next course of action. She had no desire to go back to the Palace, not when she was still feeling so hostile towards her warden. She hated the fact that whatever she did – whether it be calm reasoning, heartfelt pleasing, or just out-and-out throwing a fit, he remained unmoved in his decision regarding her life.

     It was
her
life! She didn't tell him what to do with his life!

     Down on the beach, she saw several children laughing and playing, collecting rainbow-hued shells along the shore or making sand-castles. Of course, she knew that children died too, but this brought a fresh surge of resentment against the Fates. Why did children have to die? They didn't do anything wrong!

     She wished her father was here, and for a moment regretted telling him to go to Lethe. It would be so nice to have him here to talk with. She was in desperate need of a hug.

     Cloe appeared before her, the clear and warm light in Elysium causing the shade's wispy form to look even greener than it usually did. It raised a smoky arm, making a beckoning gesture. Its meaning was clear – Hades wished for her company.

     “No!” was her defiant response.

o0o

     “Hades forbids me to get involved in the conflict between Persephone and himself. But it hurts me to see her pain and frustration.”

     “
Her mother is in no less pain,”
Nyx responded, nodding her head.
“She laments for her child and does not sleep. She has been greatly wronged by the man who sired her child.”

     Hekate's eyes widened with surprise. “You know who her father is?”

     “I am the Night. I see everything that happens under my cloak, and there are no secrets that can be kept from me.”

     “Are you telling me that he really is responsible for this?”

     “He gave his blessing for it to happen, yet he disregarded the feelings of Demeter and her daughter.”

     “That's awful!” Hekate exclaimed with righteous indignation. “Who would be so callous and insensitive?”

     “A god who has often disregarded the feelings of women in the past and will continue to do so,”
Nyx replied smoothly.
“He has had more lovers than he can remember, and his children are counted in the hundreds. What are the feelings of one woman and her daughter when he is more interested in being on good terms with his brother?”

     “... Zeus?” the younger goddess gasped. No wonder Persephone was embarrassed to name him, especially after what had happened to her! She would be keeping her lips sealed on the matter of her friend's paternity, to be sure. That was the least she could do for Persephone.

     “The one and only.”

     Hekate's mind was racing with all sorts of possibilities. She could lay a thousand curses on Zeus for all the women he had hurt. Like Hades and Nyx, she had an array of dark Gifts at her disposal.

     “The Lord of Dis may forbid you to help Persephone leave his realm, and while cursing Zeus might sound like fun, there's a more effective way you can help our friend. After all, knowledge is power.”
Nyx's smile was mysterious and knowing.

     After a moment, a smirk spread across Hekate's face as she realized an option that would circumvent Hades' decree. Knowledge
was
power, and she intended to use it to help her friend and her mother.

Chapter XXX

o0o

     As the rainbow-hued sky over Elysium darkened to a beautiful blue-purple that glittered with scattered diamonds, Persephone watched a small group of young women walk by, chatting and laughing, all of them rosy-cheeked and wearing finer garments than they had ever worn in their mortal lives. There were flowers in their hair, and their linen garments were of light and cheery colors, woven with flowers, patterns, waves, and the like. Persephone remained out of sight, standing under a tree up the hill as she observed the happy scene before her. No matter what anyone was doing, it always looked like fun, and there was never a complaint.

     People who died in their old age found that here, they were free of their infirmities and pains. Their eyesight and hearing would better than it had ever been in their mortal lives, their mouths equipped with a full set of healthy teeth, their hands no longer veined and knobbed from years of hard work or arthritis. And if they chose, they could be young again, though some of Elysium's citizens preferred to look middle-aged, enjoying the dignity this appearance gave them.

     Orphaned children who had been left to die or been mistreated in their lives by abusive relatives found themselves adopted by – or reunited with – loving parents. And those who had gone through difficult lives – girls married off to cruel husbands, people raised by uncaring guardians, or just people who had led unfortunate lives and were lonely – found new friends and much happier afterlives here in Elysium. Truly, this was a wonderful place for the good of heart.

     There were also animals here, birds and dogs and cats among other creatures to accompany the people who enjoyed the presence and care of these feathered and furred beings. Persephone wondered if they were the souls of real animals.

     She had removed all her jewelry and hidden it under her clothing so she could pass as one of the citizens of this dreamy place. Her presence had drawn unwanted attention at first, and she was tired of being approached by people acknowledging her as Queen. She simply wanted to enjoy herself, and had done so, going to various amusements. She had watched dancers, musicians, acrobats, and actors. Here, women could act – something that was normally reserved for males above – and there were also singers. Many people discovered or explored talents that they had been unable to in their mortal lives. As long as she kept her cowl over her head and drew no attention to herself, she was regarded as an ordinary citizen in this extraordinary place.

     She was determined to stay here for a while, ignoring Hades's summons as she moved from place to place, returning to the locations her father showed her. Here and there she saw people enjoying the food of the dead, and her stomach growled as she watched various food passed around and shared wherever people gathered. It was also offered to her whenever she came near, but she always demurred, however tempted she was to sample the food without Hades watching her. But Hades seemed to know whatever was happening in Dis, and she saw shades here as well, though they tended to be tinted in warmer colors to match the climate of this place.

     Cloe had been persistent, calling attention to itself several times as it tried to beseech her to answer Hades's summons. But she always turned down its entreaties.

     When the sky was dark, people did not automatically go to sleep, though the activity did diminish somewhat. There wasn't as much bustle, but a fair amount of people stayed outside, continuing to enjoy themselves. Despite the happy surroundings, she could not help but feel out of place.

     She found a quiet spot in the orchard near the beach, sitting next to a spring that bubbled up cheerily and trickled down the slope to the Sea of Eternity. It was surrounded by more colorful versions of the flowers she was familiar with on the surface world. Idly, she started plucking flowers, braiding them together to make a rope to distract herself. Even though the sky had darkened, she could still see very well.

     The silence that surrounded this place was almost eerie. Despite the bubbling of the spring and the gentle crash of the waves, the absence of life remained a constant void in Persephone's consciousness of the world around her.

     She looked up quickly as she felt a familiar tingle on the back of her neck, but ignored it as she continued braiding the rope of flowers, choosing various flowers to create a pattern as she fiddled around with the stems, welcoming this distraction of her fingers and mind as she steadfastly refused to acknowledge the presence of her captor. She did not look up or give any indication that she knew he was there, and it took all of her concentration to maintain the even pace she had on her project, since she was tempted to just get up and leave.

     She heard the rustle of grass as he walked forward, and, though her body tensed, she kept her eyes on her work. She could feel her heart pounding within her chest and swallowed thickly, feeling his presence as he drew near. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the swish of his black cloak. Dropping the flowers, she bolted off, picking up her skirt so she could run easily. She was as agile as ever, sprinting between the trees, her loose hair flowing behind her, its curls and waves bouncing with each step as she sought to escape her pursuer.

     Suddenly, Hades appeared in front of her and before she could swerve around him, his arm wrapped around her middle, scooping her up as she kicked and flailed her arms.

     “You should know by now that you cannot hide from me,” he chided as he pulled her arms down with his other arm, grimacing as she kicked him. “Now, do not do that, or I will need to bind you again.”

     “Let me go!”

     “I just want to talk.”

     “No! Let me go!”

     “If I set you down, will you listen to me?”

     “I don't know.” She glared at him hotly.

     After several terse moments, he eased her back on the grass, but kept a grip on her arm so she could not flee. She kept her face averted, pointedly hiding from his searching gaze.

     “My love...”

     “Do not call me that!”

     Hades stiffened, but maintained his grip. “I thought about what you said before. And you are right.”

     Persephone was silent for several moments, stunned by her captor's frank admission.

     “About time you said that,” she finally replied, lifting her chin. He smiled ruefully.

     “I honestly never had any desire to have your mother wander around indefinitely. I guess... it was just easy for me to put it off with each day.”

     “Are you going to tell her now?”

     He sighed and did not reply. She glared at him, but before she could make an angry exclamation, he spoke.

     “I mean not today. But hear this. She will know by the first day of winter.”

     “You promise?”

     “I swear by the Styx that she will know on this day. I will go to her and explain what has happened. If she wants to visit you and promises to not stir up trouble, then she may see you.”

     “What about me?”

     “She will try to take you back to the surface. That I will not allow,” he replied, his tone in all seriousness as he regarded her. She did not doubt that he would be able to overcome Demeter if he had to.

     “She is my mother, can you blame her?”

     “No, but you are no longer a child.”

     “Right.” She looked down, relaxing in his grip. When he slowly let go of her arm, she did not bolt. The winter solstice was three months away. Not as soon as she would have liked, but she knew what time was to an old god like Hades, and even Mother. Compared to what he could have decided, three months was a remarkably short period of time.

     “Persephone, I do care for your mother. I wish I could have gone about this a different way. But your mother would have rejected me, what else could I do? I love you. I have waited for years. There were so many times that I wanted to snatch you up and carry you away. Out of all the women in the world, I desire only you.” He reached out for her again, pulling her closer. “You may consider your abduction a rash or irresponsible act. I will not contest that. I have no desire at all to hurt your mother, and she will know the truth. But I hope you do not think too harshly of me for what I have done.” He dropped to his knees, looking up at her as he clasped her hands.

     “I cannot live without you,” Hades declared as he bowed his head to kiss her hands. “You are the greatest treasure in my Kingdom. My heart is yours.” He squeezed her hands. “It is my fondest hope that one day, you will love me as much as I love you. Is that an impossible wish?”

     She felt a blush come to her cheeks under his intent, earnest gaze and averted her eyes, her heart pounding. When he wasn't being such a stubborn ass, he certainly could be a sweetheart. She did enjoy his company, in or out of bed. She would be hard-pressed to imagine any man better than Hades, and knew very well that the situation could be a whole lot worse. Look at her life. She was a queen, given freedom to roam anywhere in the Underworld that she might desire, and allowed to do as she pleased. She missed the surface world, but she didn't want to give this up, either.

     “No, it is not an impossible wish. But there is a certain thing that you want me to do, and a certain thing that I want from you. As long as we remain at an impasse regarding that matter...” she trailed off calmly.

     “Do not think of eating the food of the dead as a death sentence. Being bound to this realm as its Queen is hardly a dismal fate. And being bound to me... will being freedom.”

     “No riddles, please.”

     “It was no riddle.” He smiled faintly. “It is fact.”

     “How could it be freedom if I am bound?”

     “I...” Hades paused, frowning thoughtfully. How could he truly explain? Once he had bound himself to Dis, he had been forever changed. None of the Olympian brethren could ever understand it. It simply couldn't be put into words. “I cannot explain it. You have to see for yourself.”

     She shook her head. “I cannot face what I do not know. I do not wish to lose the things I do know,” she replied in an almost inaudible voice.

     “Do you trust me?”

     “I know you would not hurt me.”

     “Then trust me when I ask you to bind yourself to me.”

     “I cannot.”

     “Why? Are you afraid of me? Do I overwhelm you?” He glanced up at her with a soft smile, hoping to lighten the mood. After all, he did know that she could be overwhelmed by his passion at times.

     “Maybe.” She hid the beginning of a smile behind the fingers of her other hand.

     “But it is I who am overwhelmed by you. I am Lord of the Dead, but my heart is very much alive. But before, it was a lump of stone, as the mortals say. Only you could ever make me feel alive again.”

     “Oh, Aidon.” Her expression softened as she looked down at him. It was so easy to be swayed by that handsome, pleading face, his deep blue eyes seeming fathomless. She blinked and shook her head, refusing to be swayed by his dark charm. Gently pulling her hand out of his grip, she took a step back.

     “Love, what can I do?” He rose to his feet, a tall and handsome figure gazing down at her.

     “Give me time. Let me get to know you better. Grant me the privilege of telling Mother that she has no reason to be afraid.”

     He glanced at her wonderingly for a moment before nodding.

o0o

     Sometimes Persephone wondered what it might be like to hop aboard a boat and simply sail into the Sea of Eternity. According to Hades and the maps he had shown her, the mortal world was by no means flat and one could not simply sail on over the edge, but that world was also finite. A sailor or explorer could set out in any one straight line and end up back where he had been, in due time. But Dis had no physical borders. The thought of going forth onto that ocean and following a path into infinity was overwhelming.

     Occasionally, when contemplating such things, she would feel unable to articulate her thoughts, unable to put the enormity of this knowledge into simple words. It was awe-inspiring and terrifying. How different this was from what she had known as young Kora, back then in these sheltered, naive days. She knew she could never be that little girl again. She had learned and understood too much.

     There was a rare moment here and there where she missed that innocence. Her old life was of sunlight and Nature, and she knew she was tied to it. Like her mother, she felt a rapport with the earth. With these ties severed... well, not even the most pleasant or intellectually stimulating distractions could make up for the fact that she might be forever cut off from the element that had nurtured her so. However fulfilled she might be here, under Hades's care and attention, he would never be able to satisfy that one raw, basic need.

     She kept this to herself, allowing Hades to court her and try to win her heart and trust. The Underworld was an enjoyable place to be, and she intended to take full advantage of it, and him. She could see the love and ardor in his eyes, and she hoped that by spending more time with him, she could convince him to give her what she wanted. Cyane and Hekate had spoken of manipulating men, and Persephone knew that there were quite a few ways to challenge or entice Hades, whatever mood she was in. One way or another...