Seeds (29 page)

     “Very creative,” Persephone commented, a tinge of admiration in her tone. “But what if I wanted to speak to them?”

     “You could if you wanted to, though I need to make one thing clear. Be careful. If they know the Queen of the Dead is amongst them they will crowd you, asking for favors, begging you to let them go to the Lethe waters,” he explained. She frowned contemplatively, remembering his earlier words about not wanting to be worshipped because of the obligatory demands that would be made of him. If he didn't establish himself as a cold and hard god, prayers to him would be filled with pleas to save one from death or bring back loved ones. How many prayers he must hear from those who were brave enough to appeal to him nonetheless! Yet she could not help but sympathize with those who would petition the Lord of the Dead. How often had she wished for Daddy to come back to her?

     “Oh, you are right.” She tapped her chin. “Is there anything else you want to tell me about this place, or can we go on?”

     “We can go on. The next point on this road is Tartarus,” he said, pointing down the road. Paths connected the main realms of Hades to one another, and more paths connected each realm to the Judges. The paths leading to Elysium had been lined with pale, ghostly, leafless trees, starkly beautiful despite their bareness. The trees near the Asphodel gate were like the ones along the path to Hades's Palace, black and twisted, but posing no specific threat.

     “Do you want to see it?” he asked. She nodded.

     “I do not want to go in just yet, but could we pass by the gates?”

     “Of course.”

     The trees that appeared along the path as they neared Tartarus were black, and their branches looked like claws, ready to maim anyone who went near them. Several large black birds sat on the branches, their eyes red and baleful as they stared down at the chariot. Persephone shrunk back against Hades, and he tightened his arm around her reassuringly.

     “Do not fear them, Persephone. These creatures are pets of the Furies, and sometimes sit out when they wish to...
welcome
damned souls.”

     “Will... I meet the Furies later?” she asked.

     “Of course. As Queen, it is your duty to familiarize yourself with your subjects. You will not have to do it all in one day, of course. But I assure you, you have nothing to fear from them or anybody else. I told you I would not let anything happen to you.” He squeezed her shoulder. The birds still stared down at them, their eyes glowing. Even when the chariot passed under the branches, the birds only stirred just a bit, giving out a squawk here and there.

     The sky above them was a garish blood-red, and she swallowed as they came to a stop at the fork of the road. The left continued under more menacing-looking trees, and the right went across a bridge set over a river with water that looked like fire, terminating at a black-bricked wall holding a large brass gate.

     “Lord Hades, is that actually
fire
?” she asked, pointing at the churning, eddying brightness.

     “Yes, my lady. That is Phlegethon, and it circles Tartarus just as the Styx wraps around my realm.”

     Gently, Persephone pushed him aside so she could climb off the chariot. She approached the bank of the river, seeing the black, charred sand along its edges. Kneeling down and placing her hand above the water, she felt its warmth. She looked over her shoulder to see Hades standing behind her.

     “This place is like nothing I have ever seen,” she said as she rose to her feet. This region seemed to be made out of nothing but red and black, and those two colors suited this place entirely. There was no sign of Elysium or any other place from where she stood. She could feel the despair of the condemned behind the wall, and suddenly a wail reached her ears. She gasped and shivered, and he reached out with a comforting hand.

     “Do not feel sorry for the ones behind the wall. Their punishments have been earned rightfully.”

     “It's just... that
scream
...” she uttered. He nodded and she let him lead her back to the chariot. There were a couple of other places she would need to familiarize herself with, but not today.  He was starting to feel hungry, and wanted to sit down and relax. There were a few things at home he needed to show her as well, to help her settle in so she would be comfortable while he was busy.

o0o

     Rather than use the front door, Hades used another shortcut that led the chariot to the back of the Palace, where he had his private garden. This area was filled with his favorite flowers, including the iridescent blue-black ones that Persephone had glimpsed before she had been kidnapped, and a pomegranate tree as the centerpiece of the garden, the branches heavy with perfectly ripe fruit.

     The horses were and led away by shades, leaving them alone at the edge of the garden. Persephone immediately recognized the black-blue flowers, and saw a myriad of other exotic plants. Many resembled plants that grew above, but a few were completely unlike anything she had ever seen before.

     “My private garden. I like to come out here and meditate,” Hades explained as he led her through it. In one corner, against the black marble wall, was a fountain made of the same material, devoid of a statue or anything else resembling the human form. In fact, this garden was devoid of statues, and she could not help but wonder at that as she remembered how Zeus's garden had statues of lovely nymphs in various poses that showed off their feminine charms.

     Hades plucked a pomegranate from the tree and peeled back part of its skin, revealing the tightly clustered kernels inside, plucking some out and savoring their tart and sweet flavor.

     “Mmm,” he murmured, stretching his arm out and offering her the fruit, inviting her to take some seeds. She shook her head firmly, and he sighed softly.

     “Come now. Do not starve yourself, love. The seeds are just the right amount of sweet and tart. My vintners make a wonderful wine with this as well.”

     “I am not eating the food of the dead,” she replied as she frowned at him. “You can keep offering it to me, but I will just keep saying no.”

     “I hate seeing you go hungry.”

     “Well, I am a goddess, so it's not like I can die from hunger, right?”

     “Gods do not die, but our bodies still require consideration.”

     “You get to enjoy the food and go to the surface,” she reminded him.

     “My duties bind me to this place, my lady,” he replied casually. She hmphed and crossed her arms.

     “Come now, love. Look at these seeds. Smell the pomegranate.”

     “If you want to see me eat, you will need to bring me food from above. Or some ambrosia and nectar. I have never tasted any.”

     “Not going to happen,” Hades replied smoothly as he pressed the fruit into her hands. She frowned as she looked down at it. It had the weight and appearance of a pomegranate. But if there was no life in Dis, how could things grow? She approached the tree as Hades watched curiously, and she closed her eyes.

    
Grow some flowers
, Persephone thought as she concentrated. All of the tree's fruit was fully ripe – even though it was not the right time above for them to be ready for harvest. But there was no flow of life, no response from the tree.

     To cause things to grow at an accelerated rate, Demeter and her daughter had to concentrate on the pulse of life within the earth, harnessing and channeling it to enable the plants to follow their commands. But here, without life-energy, how could the Goddess of Spring use her Gift? If the tree did not need life-energy or sunlight to grow, then how
did
it grow?

     “This food... it is not real,” Persephone insisted as she looked down at the fruit before throwing it at Hades's feet.

     “It is. You felt its weight. And you felt the bark of the tree under your hand.” Hades raised a quizzical eyebrow.

     “How can things grow without sunlight and warmth?” she asked.

     “Aha. I see. Like I said, Dis has its own rules. This is the realm of the dead, but it is so much more than that. Life belongs in the other world. This world is eternal. These flowers, the pomegranates... there is no decay, no wilting.”

     “That is not... natural.”

     “In the other realm, you would be correct. But here in Dis, if there is no life, how can there be any dying or wilting? Everything you see here fits my needs. If I want a pomegranate, I do not need to wait for it to be in season, and I am assured that it is free of rot or insects. Just remember here, the laws of Dis are different from the laws of nature that governs your mother. And then you will understand. Everything here is just as real. Sometimes better.”

     She remembered the feel of heat from the Phlegethon. The pleasant and sweet air of Elysium. The sound of the churning waters of the Styx. The colors of the changing skies to reflect the separate provinces of Hades. And suddenly she knew the pomegranate here would taste like the ones on the surface world. Perhaps even better, without the imperfections of organic life. Hades bent down to pluck up the fruit from the thick grass it had landed on, eating a few more seeds from it. She saw his tongue flick out to lick a bit of jelly from his lip.

     “Come. Let me feed you some. It is cool and refreshing, and I am sure you would appreciate this treat after our ride.”

     Persephone licked her lips, feeling the dryness on the roof of her mouth. She had not had one thing to eat since breakfast yesterday – a slice of feta cheese and freshly baked pita from Demeter's oven along with honeyed dates and a jug of fresh spring water. Right now she would give just about anything for one of Mother's simple but delicious home-cooked meals. Her stomach rumbled hungrily and without thinking, she placed her hand over it.

     “Come. Have a few seeds, they are delicious. And when we go inside, a feast for supper. Anything you want.” He picked out a seed and placed it between his lips, letting his tongue dart out to catch it. Persephone shivered before looking away at a patch of the blue-black flowers. Hades was a Dark God set out to tempt her into the shadows. His caresses were loving, his whispers like velvet, his attentions exhilarating. Eating these seeds promised her eternity down here with this alluring male, this dedicated and faithful – at least, according to his word – lover.

     But she was not a creature of the darkness. To eat this simple offering would be cutting herself off from the other realm. She would miss Mother, and the fresh air, and the warmth.

     “I cannot,” she replied in a quiet but resolute tone.

     “I hate to see you struggle so.” Hades approached her. “Do not deny yourself the pleasures of the flavors here. In the gardens grow spices not found in Hellas, and all sort of plants like you have never seen. Each and every meal is fit for a king. Or a queen, of course.” He nudged her in a friendly manner, hoping to make her smile at his little comment.

     “A bite of this food does not change your fate. But it changes mine. Please,” Persephone implored. He held back a sigh and nodded, withdrawing the fruit.

     “Would you like to see what treasures you now own?” he asked, looking for a change of subject. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity, and Persephone was silently thankful that Hades hadn't sought to argue the matter of food further.

     They ended up in Hades' apartments, standing in the main chamber as he waved his arm to one of the closed doors. She was curious to see what marvelous gifts he had decided to bestow upon her, and pushed the door open. It swung open smoothly, revealing another grand chamber of black marble. Jewel-encrusted chests lined the walls, and there was a large mirror against the wall opposite the windows which were framed with burgundy velvet drapes. Next to the mirror was a counter littered with ornate jewelry boxes as well as various pieces of jewelry and several crowns, all put out in a pleasing arrangement. There was a velvet-covered divan in front of a fireplace, and several pieces of varying hues of velvet and silk were draped along one side of the sofa, revealing themselves to be gowns.

     The floor had thick and soft rugs on it, and there were several white marble busts of faceless women atop pedestals, adorned with necklaces and other pieces of jewelry for Persephone to choose from. On several small black-topped tables scattered through the room were gemstones, some uncut – Persephone's eyes widening as she recognized these stones from her collection from the surface world – along with cut and polished ones, glittering in the clean light that came in through the open windows. Among this collection of gemstones were flowers wrought out of precious stones and metal or large pieces of gems carved into the shape of a flower.

     More faceless statues stood near the walls, various veils, bracelets, girdles, and scarves draped along their bodies and outstretched arms, giving her a seemingly infinite variety of wardrobe choices. Even Aphrodite herself would have been jealous of all the gifts Hades had to offer.

     Her fingers slid along the counter as she walked beside it, examining the jewelry that, according to Hades, was all hers. Hades had the benefit of having long-dead blacksmiths in his employ, honing their skills through centuries of working the forges of Hell and having the vast wealth of the Underworld as their medium. Her fingers came against a heavy object, and she looked down to see a silver-backed comb, an intricate design of grapevines, leaves, and clusters of grapes in relief against its back.