Seeds: Volume Two (2 page)

     “I knew you were coming. I have known for a long time. Before you came, our circle of Underworld gods was incomplete. The visions kept telling me that there was one more. I am glad you are here. I was hoping it would be a girl, too. It is enough of a boys' club as it is.” She grinned. Persephone was happy that she was at least welcome here, but she had to let this goddess know the truth.

     “I... I did not come here on my own. Hades kidnapped me,” she replied in a quiet but clear tone, staring off at the weeping willow trees. The leaves were rich and dark-green, and made for a lovely screen for anyone who sought its shade and privacy.

     “Really? My visions never said anything about that.” Hekate was now glancing at her with open curiosity. Persephone shrugged.

     “Could you help me escape the Underworld? Mother is doubtless worried about me, and I do not belong here.”

     “But Hades... he clearly cares for you. I have never known him to be interested in any women before. And I have known him for a long time.”

     “Oh, Hades
is
very kind. I... do not hate him or wish him ill. But I cannot stay here. Please help me. Surely you must know a way out of here. You are able to travel to the surface, are you not?”

     Hekate held back a frown, and kept her face as calm as she could. On one hand, if Persephone had been kidnapped, a wrong had been committed. But Hades was an honorable man, and this captive bride admitted to the Lord of the Dead's kindness. She had known Hades for many centuries, and not once had he expressed any need for a bride or even a lover. Yet this daughter of Demeter had caught the Lord of the Dead's attentions – not for a simple tryst but to stay at his side as Queen. Hades was serious about this marriage, that much was obvious. And she could not go against her longtime friend, not if Persephone wasn't harmed in the very least. There was more to this situation than met the eye.

     “I belong down here. I cannot go to the surface as often as I would like,” Hekate replied. It wasn't quite the truth, but close enough.

     “But when you can, could you...?”

     “But you said that Hades was kind. Is it so terrible being with him?” Hekate asked, evading the question.

     “No, it is not. But...”

     “He has not forced himself upon you or anything, has he?”

     “... No.” Persephone blushed faintly, but shook her head. “No. He promised that he would never force himself upon me. He has been...” She glanced at a point beyond Hekate's shoulder as she carefully considered her choice of words, “very respectful.” There. Respectful. Of course, Mother wouldn't consider the attentions that Hades gave her as
respectful
, but then Mother wasn't here and she was going to do as she pleased, and having the Lord of the Dead as an attentive lover was definitely pleasing.

     “Oh, good. I did not think he would ever actually try to... harm you, but I just had to make sure. You certainly are very well cared for, on top of that.” Her pale eyes moved along Persephone's elegant clothing and the diamonds that glittered on her almost-white flesh.

     “Indeed.” Persephone said distantly. She was disappointed at the lack of a quick escape, but she was grateful for what the goddess was able to offer, and she had already figured that Hekate was a wealth of information to tap. Might as well take advantage of that. The library and the new things she had learned roused in her a passion to learn, a desire that had never been truly nurtured on the surface world.

     When she thought of the library, she questioned her desire to leave the Underworld. She wanted freedom, but she also wanted knowledge. Was there a way for her to have both?

     “So, how about you tell me about this circle of Underworld deities?” the younger goddess asked, changing the subject.

     “Oh, sure.” Hekate's smile was easy, and she flipped her hair over her shoulders. “Hades is the Lord of the Dead and it's a very important responsibility, but he's not the only god of Dis. We all have our own Gifts and responsibilities. The first two are Erebus and Nyx. They have two sons, Hypnos and Kharon, who are also part of our circle.”

     “Why was Erebus not here?”

     “Oh, that is simply is how he is. He does not come out often, so it is nothing personal. He is a very primordial deity and rarely speaks to anyone. I see him once, maybe twice a century if even that. You might be able to meet him tomorrow, or maybe not for fifty years.”

     “Mhm.”

     “Next is Morpheus, Lord of the Dreaming. Hypnos's son. He creates and sends dreams. If one is lucky, he might send visions, but he's like Erebus and prefers to be in his own dark realm. After that comes Styx.”

     “The river?”

     “One and the same, but she's also a goddess. The Styx is what divides this world from the other one. Nobody has ever been able to cross it. Only Kharon can guide souls safely across that oblivion.”

Oblivion
. That was what the river had threatened her with. A shiver passed through her, and she swallowed at the memory. Oblivion was indeed a most appropriate word. She was glad that Styx hadn't been at the dinner table...

     “And there's you and Hades.” Persephone replied. Seven and eight.

     “Naturally. Can you guess who else?” Hekate challenged. The younger goddess stroked her chin thoughtfully.

     “The Fates?” That would make eleven...

     “No. The Fates are not of this world or the other. But that is a good guess. It was kind of a trick question. Nobody outside of our group even considers it.”

     “Then do tell me.”

     “The Judges. They're not full gods, but together, they count as one. After all, this place needs Judges, and three ensures that no one person alone judges souls.” Hekate explained. Persephone nodded.

     “Next are the Furies. Like the Judges, they are counted as one.”

     “What are they like?”

     “Not too bad. They are not exactly cheerful since they spend all day tormenting wicked souls, but they will respect you if you respect them. And they work with Kampe, who is also part of the circle. She holds the keys to Tartarus and is warden of the condemned souls and the Titans who sought to destroy Hellas rather than let the Olympians have it. Kampe and the Furies don't really care for... companionship. I guess eternity around anguished souls numbs them. Nyx is great, but she spends a lot of time alone or with her mate. I know I sound selfish right now, but I am glad Hades brought you here. You are so nice and I see the way Hades looks at you. Would you be willing to give me a chance? I can show you some of the sights around here, and there are few amusements to be had.”

     “Sounds good,” Persephone replied with genuine enthusiasm. Hekate didn't treat her like a little girl or a newcomer. How did a friendly goddess gain such a mysterious and dread reputation?

     When she thought about Hades, her question was answered. She knew that Hades purposefully maintained a cool and aloof presence above, but down here he was warm and kind. Doubtless Hekate had adopted the same strategy. And Nyx, despite her seemingly distant mien, did seem kind, speaking to Persephone in a friendly way. Apparently mystery and dread came with being a chthonic deity.

     “Are there other gods? I mean, you mention a circle down here, and the Olympians have their own circle of twelve, but there are plenty more gods on Olympus, too.” It was one of the things she had known since her childhood. It was general knowledge to the mortals as well. There was Zeus and Hera, and Demeter and Poseidon. Hestia had given up her seat to Dionysus, preferring the comfort of her hearth. Apollo and Artemis, along with Athene, Hephaistos, and Ares made ten. Aphrodite and Hermes completed the elite group of Olympians. And the rest of the gods of Hellas were offspring, siblings, or cousins of the Twelve Olympians themselves.

     Hekate shook her head. “I know what you mean, but it is not quite the same here as it is up there. There are a few others here, like the Oneiroi. But down here, the gods are a lot easier to remember – and keep track of! You will not have all the drama down here that you would find up there. We are a quieter and more steadfast lot who appreciate the peace of Dis. You will like it here. I know I do.”

     That wasn't hard to believe. The Underworld was so well-organized, and Hades was apparently nothing like his brothers. The trio took their duties seriously, but Hades wasn't inclined for trouble like Zeus. Personally, she was glad for that. She didn't want to deal with the frustration she was sure that poor Hera must deal on a regular basis, and was surprised at the feeling of jealousy that that thought provoked. She didn't want to share Hades with anybody else! How could she feel so strongly for him when she had been here for only a week?

     Their stroll led them under the wide canopy made by the weeping willow. Several fireflies buzzed around lazily, glowing in the semidarkness, and Persephone smiled faintly. Their light was more white-blue than the yellow she had seen in the world above, and also brighter, seeming more like hovering lamps than insects. Their buzz was also smoother and more sibilant than their earthly counterparts.

     “The gardens down here are beautiful,” Persephone whispered as she lifted one hand, palm upraised. One of the fireflies drifted over, landing on the preferred palm. “It is a lot like the surface world, but when you look closer....”

     “That is what I like about this place. Places like this are familiar, but... different. The food, the material, the plants and animals...”

     “Do you ever miss the surface world?”

     “No. I was born and raised up there like you, but I had the constant feeling that I did not fit in. I did not hesitate to eat the food of the Underworld. I have never regretted my decision.”

     Of course. Hekate – and everybody else – had to notice that she hadn't eaten anything at the table.

     “Why does the food bind you here?” Persephone asked. What was its unique property?

     “It is not so much the food itself as... the commitment you make when you eat it.” Hekate tapped her chin as she frowned thoughtfully. “That is just the way things work. I do not make the rules of Dis. But do not let yourself go hungry; you do a disservice to yourself.”

     “Your vision said that there was one more person left to complete the circle. But it did not say who, right?” Persephone asked. Hekate nodded.

     “Then it could be
anybody
.”

     “Yes, it could have been anybody, but that time is past. It is you.”

     “Just because Hades brought me down here...”

     “Visions are fulfilled in a variety of ways. Things happen.” Hekate was speaking so calmly, her smile faint but pleasant, and that smile now irritated Persephone.

     “No matter what I say, you are just going to have an answer, huh?”

     “Yes.” Hekate smiled cheerfully.

     “Hmph.”

     “I will not say that you being kidnapped was right. I did not think Hades might do that! Why did he not try to court you?”

     “I...” Persephone sighed softly, waving her hand as the firefly buzzed off. “Mother. She was very... protective, and refused to allow any man near me.”

     “Any man?”

     “
Any
man. God or mortal. I was surrounded by nymphs and before Hades kidnapped me, I had not seen a man in over ten years.” Of course, this didn't include her confrontations with Hermes or Ares, but she was not in the mood for a lengthy explanation.

     “I have lived for many centuries, but even a decade is too long when it comes to such matters! Artemis would not care since she does not even like men at all, but goodness! You must have been bored.”

     “Yes. Dreadfully so. One could only frolic with nymphs for so long, or so often.”

     “And you
want
to go back to the surface?”

     “I... yes. It is not because the Underworld is a terrible place. It is just... down here, there is no warmth, no life. However comfortable Hades keeps me, there is a certain... coldness to this place. Up there is the sunshine and the earth. I have the same Gift as my mother, and I cannot use it down here.”

     “Mmm. Now I understand your problem a little better. Demeter's Gift is part of the life-energy up there. You are right, there is none down here.” Hekate seemed genuinely concerned. “Have you talked to Hades about it? He loves you. He
should
make an accommodation for that.”

    
Yes! Thank you!
Persephone almost cried out.

     “He says I will just get used to it,” Persephone replied.

     “Typical male. They are bossy and they think they know what is good for women,” Hekate replied with a defiant toss of her head. Persephone smiled. Hades was right, she already liked Hekate. Before either goddess could speak further, she heard Hades call out their names. Persephone frowned. It was almost as if Hades had known what they were talking about and had decided to stop the conversation from going further. Mind-reading wasn't part of Hades's Gift, was it?

     Hekate lifted her arm, making an opening in the screen created by the drooping branches to see Hades standing near the steps, his eyes moving along the garden.