Seeds: Volume Two (9 page)

     No.
That was a horrible lie. Hades had treated her wonderfully, and it would be cruel and unfair to make up such a story about him. Angry as she might be with him, she knew he didn't deserve to be slandered. She shook her head in response to his question.

     “So it is just the usual marital spat?” he asked. She shrugged. Should she tell him of the circumstances that brought her here? No. At least, not yet. Just because he had been helpful in answering her questions didn't mean he would help her escape Hades, especially since Hekate offered her no aid. She simply didn't know him well enough to guess what he would do in any given situation, and she wasn't going to go crying to everyone she encountered down here and beg for their aid.

     “Then why are you unhappy?”

     “That is not something I am going to discuss either.” She raised her chin. After all, like Hypnos said, she was Queen of the Underworld. It wasn't a title she wanted, but she saw how important it was to act a certain way. She would keep her life close to her heart as she worked her way through her dilemma.

     “Then what do we talk about?” Hypnos asked in a light tone, hoping a bit of good-natured jibing might make her less reticent about herself.

     “You.”

     “Me?”

     “If you are going to ask me personal questions, then you better be ready to talk about yourself.”

     “Fair enough. But I must be honest, I do wonder about one thing.”

     Persephone nodded. If she didn't like the question, she wouldn't answer it.

     “That you are a goddess I do not doubt. But where do you come from? I had never heard of you or seen you before. Who is your father? I know that Rhea has a hair color similar to yours, only hers is a bit less red.”

     Persephone hesitated. It was a reasonable question. Did she want to answer it? What would Hypnos do?

     “I... do not wish to speak of my parents.”

     “... Very well,” the pale-eyed God of Sleep replied. Persephone glanced back at him calmly. Let him make of it what he would. Meanwhile, Hypnos was even more curious. Why did this lovely goddess not wish to discuss her parentage? If she was Rhea's granddaughter, then she would be a daughter of either Zeus or Poseidon. Hades? That was laughable. Relationships between fathers and their children was frowned upon, even within Gaea's brood.

     “So, what do you think of the Underworld?” Hypnos asked, changing the subject.

     “Much better than I had thought it would be.”

     “I certainly hope so,” he replied dryly, winking at her. She smiled faintly, but it was a pretty smile. They continued their walk, talking about Dis for a while before he stopped, turning to her.

     “My lady, I fear we must part. It has been a delight talking to you. If you wish to see me again, you have but to summon me.” He took her hand before she could react, and raised it to his lips, kissing it.

     “I do not think Hades will want you doing that,” she commented.

     “It will be a secret between us,” he teased. “But neither of you need worry. I am a gentleman who is merely paying his respects to a lady.”

     She nodded.

     “Until then.” The sunny landscape faded away to black, and Hypnos disappeared from sight.

o0o

     Persephone gasped softly as she opened her eyes, seeing the garden around her, its colors brilliant despite the gray sky that hung above her head. Wait, gray? Had she been out here all night? From the color of the sky she calculated it was early morning, and wished that there was a sun down here so she could figure the time more accurately. She loved sunrise and sunset, seeing all the brilliant colors splashed along the heavens.

     As she sat there in her ruminations, she slowly realized that there was a tube-shaped pillow behind her neck. When she reached up to touch it, she felt soft velvet under her hand. It was one of Hades's pillows. Had he come down here to make sure she slept comfortably? She blushed faintly at that thought. He could have easily put her in his bed, though she knew that would have irritated her. In her other hand sat the pomegranate.

     She remembered the visions she had. Had all of that been Hypnos's doing, or was the image of the pomegranate of her own imagination? When had she fallen asleep? She remembered being angry with Hades and coming down here, and taking the pomegranate, feeling its cool weight in her hand. She ran her fingers along the crown, tempted to grab hold of one point and peel it back to reveal the seeds within. Her stomach grumbled, and she shook her head.

     She knew that Hades loved this tree. Sometimes he would sit here by himself and think. It was the only tree or fruit within this garden, its branches heavy with the omnipresent ruby-colored fruit.

     Persephone picked up the pillow and tucked it under her arm, processing the events of last night. She was fairly sure she had been awake when she had the vision about the pomegranate; it had been in her hand when she woke up. Hypnos was amicable enough, but now that she was awake, she felt irritated again at his tone and manner. His smooth, sleepy expression was impossible to read unless he changed it with one of his smiles or other rare forms of expression. Oh well. She would just deal with it, for he was a valuable source of knowledge about the Underworld, and he had been pleasant to her.

     She climbed up the steps to the marble terrace. As she entered Hades's chambers, she left the pillow and pomegranate on the table before tiptoeing to the doorway of the bedchamber. He looked so sexy even when he was sleeping, the blankets pulled up to his waist, leaving his arms and chest bare. Despite the issue with her body that she was dealing with, she still felt a warm flutter of arousal within her loins.

    
It's so easy to be angry with you... yet it's also so easy to appreciate and desire you.
She held back a quiet sigh as she retreated to her room.

     Cloe appeared, and Persephone slid off her clothing. Hesitantly she lowered her underwear, afraid of what she might see. There wasn't much of a difference from what she had seen last night.
I can handle this.
Her breasts were still a bit tender, but she no longer felt so panicked. Hypnos was right about one thing. Sleep
did
help to clear the mind.

     Right now, a hot bath would feel good, but she didn't want Hades waking up and joining her, and she was bleeding. She glanced at the fountain in the corner, frowning. It wasn't what she wanted, though it would have to do. With a sponge, she attended to herself, shivering as the cool water hit her skin and silently cursing the lack of warmth in the general atmosphere of Dis.

     Her bath was quick and perfunctory, and she donned clothing of deep purple. Cloe arranged her hair in a crown much like her mother often wore, pinning it back with amethyst-studded pins. What would she do today? She had plenty of choices, but there were a couple of things that were on the top of her list. Hmm...

     Her thoughts were interrupted as the door opened slowly. She had been seated on her divan, and she glanced up calmly as Hades entered. He was wearing a dark blue tunic that set off the color of his eyes, with a black himation that draped off one shoulder, held by a thick silver pin that matched the silver band that sat atop his head.

     “Good morning,” Hades said softly as he glanced at her, almost as if he was fearful of her reaction.

     “Good morning to you too,” Persephone replied. She had no desire to get into another fight, and had decided to make this day as enjoyable as possible. “Thank you for the pillow. I am sure I would have woken up with a sore neck if you had not done that.”

     She was gratified to see his eyes widen in surprise, and held back an amused smile. Her eyes moved to the pomegranate Hades held in his hand, but she said nothing about it.

     “I was thinking we could go for a walk. Would you enjoy that?”

     “No breaking the fast?” she asked, wanting to make sure he wouldn't make her sit through another tantalizing meal.

     “You brought me my morning meal,” he replied with a smile, lifting the pomegranate and admiring it briefly before glancing back at her.

     “Oh, good. Enjoy.”

     “I intend to.” He extended his free hand. She rose off the divan and reached for it, feeling his fingers wrap around her own. Without a word, he led them outside. She found his grip reassuring, even more so when he gave it a gentle squeeze.

Chapter XXV

o0o

     Hades didn't seem to have any particular destination in mind. Before, when they had gone down to the Styx, the path had been rather direct. But now as they walked down the same path – at least Persephone was fairly certain this was the same one they had started on before – she wondered if Hades guided her down a turn she had not noticed. Along the path were black and twisted trees with leaves that appeared to be made of pale crystal, and stretching out at either side was a grim landscape of grays that disappeared into infinite blackness. There was not one sound to be heard except for that faint whispering that she sometimes heard if she really strained her ears.

     With Hades's arm draped across her shoulders, Persephone felt safe and warm. She appreciated the comfortable silence between them as she ruminated over her own concerns. She still felt hurt by Zeus's compliance with Hades's decree and by his refusal to even include her in the decision. The mighty King of the Gods couldn't even manage a
'Hey, Kora! How are you? Long time no see! Oh by the way, Hades said he wanted your hand in marriage. He is not a bad guy, really, and he will be a good husband! So he will be here to pick you up in so-and-so months. By the way, tell your mother I said hi!'
Would it have been so hard for him to do that? Yes, Mother was fiercely protective of her, but goodness! Zeus was the King of Olympus and the man who had sired her! What if Hades had asked for one of his other daughters? Would Zeus have been so compliant if Hades had asked for Athene or Aphrodite?

     She looked up at Hades as he stared forward thoughtfully. Seeing her turn her head, he glanced down at her.

     “Hades..... I would like to see Olympus and meet the others gods. After all, they are my family... I mean, I would just like to be able to see them and meet them. You say that knowledge is important. I learn new things here every day. But there are also things up there to know, and you can't learn about everything simply by reading about it or listening to stories.” She hoped she didn't sound too imploring in her request, and felt his hand squeeze her shoulder.

     He stared down at her for several moments. The stark, gray sky above their heads made Hades's skin look nearly white.

     “It is not an untoward request you make of me,” he finally responded. No impatience, no anger. But he said nothing more. He lifted his arm off her and raised the pomegranate in his other hand. Taking hold of one of the tips of the crown, he pulled it back, revealing seeds that glittered like rubies under the clear sky.

     “Eat with me, Persephone. To you I offer my kingdom and my heart. Be my queen.” He fished a seed out of the pomegranate, lifting it to his lips.

     “Mmm. Sublime. Like you.” He smirked faintly. “You wish to learn more of the world and of the gods? As my consort you would enjoy the privileges that come with being bound to the Lord of this realm.” He lifted the pomegranate again. “Do not see this as some kind of death sentence, love. It is... merely a commitment to a new life, to me. A life that is more glorious than your old one.”

     She stared down at the fruit, considering her options. Finally, she shook her head slowly.

     “No.” She looked away.

     “Very well. I guess I will have to eat this pomegranate all by myself, then.” Hades ate several more seeds, walking at her side in silence.

     “Look, Persephone... I understand that you are hurt by what Zeus did... or did not do. It would have been wise for him to talk to you, but I suspect he did not want to deal with your mother.”

     “You did not want to deal with Mother, either,” Persephone reminded him, wagging her finger.

     “But you had my late-night visits,” he shot back, wagging his own finger. “I know you are not exactly thrilled that you were kidnapped, but I am a loyal mate. It is only you that I desire. I am not like my brothers or nephews. Surely you have seen that?”

     “I have not even been here for a moon. What will happen after a year? A century? People change. Look at me!” She gestured to her own body.

     “The change in your body does not lessen my desire for you. Your body is growing to match who and what you are inside. You are not a child. You are a goddess, a powerful one. Here I let you do as you please. I love you, you know that. I have told you before and I am happy to say it again. Trust me, Persephone. It is here that you can reach your potential.”

     “I have no power down here. You know it. I cannot use my Gift.” The Fates had told her that she had other Gifts, but she saw no indication of them.
You have but to embrace it,
they said. Did these new abilities come with her womanhood, or from surrendering to Hades and eating his offering? Would she be able to pay another visit to the Fates and ask them questions to clarify her options? Hmm...

     “You do have power. You simply have not learned how to channel it. How about this, I will do my best to help you augment your Gift. No one god has any Gift exactly like any other god. You might have a Gift similar to your mother's own, but it cannot be an exact copy.”

     “Really? Nobody has the same exact Gift?”

     “Indeed. Some might be similar to others. Children of one god might share Gifts that are a lot alike. The offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite are ocean-gods. But some of them control the rain, while others the waves. Up there on the surface, you were able to sense me. Nobody else has ever been able to do so, not even your mother. I am sure that with time, you can discover other facets of your Gift.”

     “And you really will help me? You will do nothing to hold me back?”

     Hades smiled. “I do not want a weak and pampered wife. I want to see you achieve your fullest potential. I would be a rather poor husband if I thought otherwise.”

     “... I do not know of any other man who would ever say that to me,” Persephone responded quietly, looking down at the ground, feeling her cheeks warm further with unexpected pleasure from his words.

     “Would I be such a bad husband? I have already committed myself to you, I merely wait for you to do the same.”

     “The truth...” The young goddess let out a quiet sigh before looking up at him, “I do enjoy your company. I simply cannot bear the thought of binding myself to this place, to cut myself off from the other world. Please do not ask me to cast myself away from the light forever.”

     Hades nodded, offering no argument. Like Persephone, he was determined to make the best of the day, and so far, that resolution appeared to be working just fine.

     “I can understand... and respect that,” he conceded. “Dis is a mysterious, and to many, frightening place. I do hope that you would not be averse to seeing more new places here or giving me a chance to impress you.”

     “Not at all.”

     After another companionable silence where Hades finished most of the pomegranate, Persephone spoke again.

     “What if I were to wish to do something else now?” she asked.

     “You have but to ask.”

     “I have not yet seen the Judges at work. I would like to observe them. You can keep us invisible, right? I just want to watch quietly.”

     “Certainly.” He bowed his head before draping his arm across her shoulders again. She leaned into him comfortably, feeling him squeeze her.

     The path they walked on led them to the large clearing were the souls waited, observing the Judges at work. Nobody looked their way, and Hades guided her over to one side of the podium where the Judges sat, seats forming out of shadow for them.

     “Normally, the judging of a soul is a quick process. As the Judges of the Underworld, the three of them share a Gift of being able to distinguish between good and evil, to see how much of each lies within the balance of any soul, and the record of their life is written in that very balance.”

     The soul of a young woman was ushered forward by a shade. As she approached the Judges, she glowed white faintly. Minos glanced at her for a moment before nodding.

     “You are a soul worthy of Elysium, but a bit of time in the Asphodel Fields will give you the contemplation you need.” She was led away by the shades without protest. Persephone observed the proceedings. Most souls had a faintly white or gray tinge, causing them to be sent to the Asphodels, whether for a bit of time or indefinitely. Sometimes a soul would glow more brightly and thus be sent directly to Elysium, while a few were dark gray or black, bearing the stigma that would send them to Tartarus despite their pleas.

     Of course, there were a few souls who would plead with the Judges to be allowed to go back and take care of their loved ones – such as a mother who had died in childbirth, leaving a newborn and three other children behind. Persephone stirred at that, and felt Hades's hand on her shoulder.

     “They are already dead. Their bodies lay buried in the earth or lost at sea or burned up. Atropos has cut their threads, and here all must come. If Fate has decreed it, nothing can change it. But see? She glows white. Elysium awaits her. Do not feel sad about it.”

     So Persephone watched silently. These people came from all walks of life. She saw types of people that she had never encountered before – sailors, wealthy merchants, royal servants, hunters, priests, warriors and the like – and listened to their commentaries and pleas. After a while, she started to feel restless. She had watched a good amount of people being judged, and felt that she had seen enough for the day.

     “Thank you for taking me to see this, but I am ready to move on,” she whispered. He nodded and took her hand, helping her off her chair. If there was one thing she enjoyed about being with Hades, it was that he didn't smother her or keep her under constant supervision, nor did he schedule things for her to do without her consideration.

     “Might we go for a ride in your chariot?” she asked. Hades grinned at her.

     “Why not?”

o0o

     Judging souls was no easy task, and had he still been mortal, Minos knew that he would have had a much harder time in his task. Judges in the realm of the living could be bribed or lied to. No matter how good or fair a judge was, there were also skilled liars and manipulators who could worm their way out of a guilty verdict, or those who escaped justice altogether and never came before a judge.

     As one of the trifecta of ethereal Judges, Minos had no need to worry about lies, for a soul's sins showed plainly in the color of its heart. Those who were unfairly punished in life were assured justice in their death, and those who had been confident that they could escape consequences in death as they had in life were swiftly corrected by judges who could not be bribed or lied to.

     Though he would not say it out loud or boast to the ones that he judged, Minos could freely admit to himself that he loved this job.

o0o

     The horses sped along the path, their hooves churning up a cloud of dust as the chariot careened along. Persephone was holding onto the rim of the vehicle for dear life and enjoying every moment of it. Hades stood proud and tall, his cloak billowing out behind him, the wind whipping through his hair. The horses moved at a speed that their mortal counterparts were never able to achieve, and still she laughed for more, her grip white-knuckled as she stared up at him.

     “Hyah!” Hades carried no whip, but his command was just as effective, and the horses pushed forward. In front of them, several slopes defined the path, and every time the horses sped over one, the chariot was actually up in the air for a couple of moments before landing as the steeds of Hell made their downward descent. At such a dizzying speed, Persephone knew she should feel concerned. Mother would no doubt break into conniptions if she saw her precious little daughter in such a recklessly speeding vehicle!

     With one of Hades's arms wrapped around her, the goddess did not feel afraid at all. She found the whole experience to be one exciting thrill ride – literally and figuratively. The path grew more interesting when cliffs appeared at either side, showing off layers of various thickness of mostly gray, but interspersed with a brief flash of black, blue, or purple. One side fell away, revealing a great expanse of blue-black ocean, its waves crashing solidly onto the ebony-and-gray sands.

     “The Sea of Eternity,” Hades pointed out as the chariot slowed down for a bit so that Persephone could better appreciate the vastness before her.

     “Does it really go on forever?”

     “Indeed.”

     “Wow!”

     “You can also see the sea from Elysium, though over there, the water is much lighter and bluer than this.” Hades explained as Persephone stared out at the shore, where the waves continued to lap at the sand rhythmically.

     “It is hard to not stare, is it not?” he asked gently.

     “Mhm.”

     “I find it a good place to meditate. There is a shortcut from the Palace if you would like to try that. I can show you when we get back.”

     “That sounds good,” she responded with warm appreciation.

     “Shall we keep going or do you want to stay a bit longer?”

     “Keep going.” Her eyes were a bright, warm green and blue, filled with excitement and enthusiasm. It was infectious, and Hades started to feel a bit giddy.