Seeds: Volume Two (26 page)

     “Oh, of course. Pirates, what a dreadful thing! Why must people turn to such evil these days?” the older woman replied. “Welcome to Eleusis, Doso. I am Queen Metaniera. We might not have much to offer, but you are welcome to rest here until you find a place of your own to stay.”

     “Your hospitality is much appreciated.” Demeter took several steps forward, eying the bundle in the Queen's arms. “When I was outside, I heard a cry. Was that from this baby?” she asked. Metaniera sighed softly and nodded, sadness written clearly on her face as she glanced down at the child. As if on cue, the baby started crying again, and like before, his wails were lacking the robustness that a healthy child possessed.

     “Might I see him? I am good with children, and I can try to comfort him.”

     Normally, Metaniera was wary of anyone else handling her child, but Doso's eyes were filled with such warmth and kindness that she could not help but feel a bond with the old woman. She nodded, and gently deposited Demophon into Doso's waiting arms.

     “Oh, look at you,” the old woman clucked gently, rocking Demophon gently as the child squirmed and cried.

     “We have tried everything. But no matter what we do...” Metaniera shook her head.

     “Oh, I know. This child is not sick for lack of love or care, I can see that. At least the Fates have been kind enough to give him a mother who loves him.” Doso's tone was understanding, and Metaniera found herself liking this woman more and more. As she watched, Doso crooned to Demophon as she rocked him, and the child's fitful crying ceased.

     “I can see that his sickness has taken a toll on you. Would you let me earn my keep by taking care of him when you have other things to take care of? Even mothers need rest.”

     Metaniera glanced at the wizened crone thoughtfully, seeing how peaceful Demophon looked in her arms. It was a given that Demophon would die soon, but if this woman could offer some comfort to him in the final days of his short life, then so be it. Perhaps Fate had brought her here for a reason.

o0o

     Persephone stared up as the sky above Hades's garden started to darken, tightening her wrap against the cool air, thinking about her dreams and the unsettling visions she had. Mother was angry, that much was starkly clear. What exactly was she angry about? Had she finally learned where her daughter was? She wondered if her mother would ever accept the fact that her daughter was no longer a little girl.

     She would never be Kora again. That girl was dead in a sense, lost to the inevitable march of Time. Considering how fiercely Mother had shielded her from the outside world and tried to keep her a girl, going so far as to stunt her physical growth, Persephone had to admit that while she missed her mother, part of her was actually afraid of facing the woman who had given birth to her. What if Mother tried to change her back to a girl? Doubtless Mother would try to prevent her from ever seeing Hades again.

     If she was ever to have a relationship with her mother again, things would have to be different, because there was simply no way that things would go back to the way they had once been. Nor did she wish to return to Mother's custody, with Demeter breathing down her back whenever she wasn't off performing her duties as a Goddess. Persephone looked down at her hands. What kind of Gifts did she have other than making things grow? What could she be a Goddess of? What were the abilities that the Fates claimed she had?

     She closed her eyes, dozing off lightly as she sat there, meditating.

     “Surely you would be more comfortable in my bed rather than under the tree.” Hades's playful voice broke through her reverie, and she opened her eyes, seeing him standing there with an open pomegranate in one hand.

     “Hmm... oh! I just dozed off when I was meditating,” she replied. He shrugged and smiled, sitting with her as he popped several seeds into his mouth. Persephone had adjusted to the lack of sunlight, so in the darkness she wasn't blind. The seeds glistened wetly amidst the pale flesh of the fruit, and she stared at it for several moments, wondering what it would taste like.

     Hades did not miss her scrutiny of the pomegranate, and extended his hand in offering, seeing her subtly licking her lips as she eyed the fruit. The seeds shone like polished garnets, promising a juicy reward to whoever ate it. It was forbidden fruit, so why did she want it so much? She longed to pluck a seed and pop it into her mouth and just bite down on it, and suck down the sweet jelly...

     “Please share this with me, love,” Hades whispered, his voice both pleading and seductive.

     “You just love tempting me, do you not?”

     “Temptation implies that I am trying to get you to do something naughty,” he shot back lightly.

     “You certainly have tempted me often enough.” She smirked, her eyes twinkling at the memories of shared pleasure.

     “Very well then,” he shot back just as playfully, “But you must admit, being naughty is fun.”

     “I do not know about that...” She batted her eyes at him.

     “You do not know? Mmm, let me remind you.” He leaned in, pulling her in for a kiss. She parted her lips eagerly, glad for a distraction from that damned fruit. She ran her tongue against his lips, and jerked back violently as she tasted the sweet, lingering flavor of pomegranate. Hades blinked and frowned with concern, staring down at her intently.

     “What is the matter?”

     “Your lips... I could taste the pomegranate.” The taste still lingered in her mouth, tart and sweet and rich. She actually wanted more!

     “Oh.” He touched his lips with his fingers. Persephone felt light-headed. What if that taste forever condemned her to the Underworld, to never see the surface again? She felt his hands on her shoulders.

     “Do not look so frightened, Seph. A kiss does not count as food of the dead.” He lightly pressed his fingers under her chin, tilting her face up to look at him.

     “Really?”

     “Certainly. I have no desire to trick you. You can enjoy my kisses all you want.”

     “Promise?”

     “Promise.” He smiled before he lowered his head to kiss her again. She kissed him hungrily, relishing the lingering flavor of the fruit.

     “Aidon...” she sighed softly as he broke the kiss to nuzzle her throat, peppering it with even more kisses. Suddenly, he lifted his head, and she looked at him quizzically before following his gaze, seeing a shade hover several feet away. The shade spoke in its odd, almost inaudible whisper-hiss, and Hades nodded, rising to his feet. He turned back to her, offering his hand and helping her to her feet.

     “Get ready for bed, love. I will join you shortly.”

     “Where are you going?”

     “I am needed urgently.”

     Before she could ask him to be more specific, he ushered her up the stairs firmly.

     “Is something the matter? What is going on?”

     “Just something I need to do as Lord of the Underworld.” he replied evasively before disappearing. When she tried to leave the lavish apartment, she discovered that the door was sealed, much to her irritation.

o0o

     Hades's dark robes billowed around him as he appeared on his throne, startling Hermes and causing him to flinch back.

     “Hey, warn people when you do that!” the younger god muttered. His uncle merely smirked coldly at him.

     “Just tell me why you are here.” the Lord of the Dead stated. “I assume you have a message from Zeus or some such.” He sounded almost bored, as if what Zeus or anyone else might say was of no concern to him.

     “Demeter is angry. Please, return Kora to her!”

     This news did not surprise him. He knew of what had happened with Styx. How had his sister found out? Had Zeus finally confessed to her?

     “No.”

     “What? Why?” Hermes sputtered.

     “Because she is mine.”

     “Why her? Why not anybody else?”

     “Because she is the only one I desire.” Hades's tone brooked no argument.

     “Demeter is ravaging Hellas and says she will not stop unless she has Kora back. Zeus has commanded that she stop what she is doing, but she refuses. And now, nobody can find her!”

     “My sister does have a flair for the melodramatic at times.” Hades stroked his chin.

     “She will stop if you let her see her daughter.”

     “She will just take Persephone away from me.”

     “... Persephone?”

     “Kora is an unsuitable name for her. She is no longer a little girl.”

     “... Oh.” Hermes stared at his uncle. “But what about the mortals above? Demeter has said she will not restore the harvest until her daughter is returned to her.”

     “That is out of the question. Once she accepts the fact that her daughter is no longer a child, then I will consider allowing them to see one another.”

     “That is what you want me to tell her?”

     “Certainly. Feel free to assure her that Persephone is safe and well. Doubtless she has feared violation, but you can also tell her there has been no such thing.”

     Hermes looked at Hades with curiosity. “No violation? But, you kidnapped her and...”

     Hades's expression hardened. “I am not a brute like Ares.”

     “Very well, then. So I am supposed to tell Demeter that her daughter is safe, but you still will not let her see her. That is not going to help.”

     “You can tell my sister that I never had any intention to hurt her. I do care for her. I did not do this to spite or worry her, but she would not have allowed me to court Persephone. You have seen what happened with other men. I saw no other recourse, though I wish things could have worked out better.”

     “What if Demeter still refuses?”

     “Then I have no choice but to keep Persephone down here.” The Dark God's tone was calm, but carried an undertone of iron-hard certainty. Hermes swallowed. As formidable as Demeter was, Hades was a more than adequate adversary for her.

o0o

     After his trips to the Underworld, Hermes was always more than happy to return to the surface. He did not lose his Gift in the Underworld, but his winged sandals no longer worked, so he had to ride with Kharon, just like any other god or dead soul.

     From his tunic, he pulled out a round amber gem. It had been given to him by Demeter, to maintain contact with her. If not for this gem, it would have taken considerably longer to get in contact with her, seeing as she had disappeared after ravaging much of Hellas.

     “Demeter?” he whispered, his voice low even though there was nobody else around. There was silence for several moments, and he feared that perhaps she had cut herself off from all contact. But suddenly, a baby's cry pierced the silence, even though he was miles away from any human being. There was the sound of gentle shushing, and the cries fell silent before he heard his aunt's voice.

     “Hermes?”

     “Yeah. I just came from Hades.” He dreaded giving her the news, but it had to be done. “I wish I had good news, I honestly do, but...”

     “Just tell me.”

     “He says your daughter is safe, but he is not letting her go.”

     He heard something that sounded like a growl, and he couldn't blame her.

     “I pleaded with him. I told him that you were upset, and that you were ravaging Hellas. But nothing would move him. He says that you would just take her away.”

     “But of course! What else would he expect?”

     “Wait, wait. I am not done. He did tell me something. He says that he had no intention of ever hurting you or making you worry. He said that you would not have allowed him to court her, so what recourse did he have? He wishes things could have been better. His words, not mine.”

     “So that is it? He is not going to return her to me?”

     “He said that he had no intention of letting you try to take her away, and that he would only let you see her when you were ready to accept that she was not a little girl.”

     The stone trembled violently as Demeter's wrathful tone poured from it, “That presumptuous man! Does everyone think they can tell me how to raise my child?”

     “I did not say it, he did. I am just a messenger...” He heard the crying again, and more gentle shushes.

     “Do you have a baby with you?” he whispered.

     “None of your business!” came the tart response. “You can tell Zeus and Hades that things will continue as they are until Kora is returned to me, and that is the end of the matter.”

     Hermes didn't even want to tell her that Hades had apparently changed her name to Persephone, so remained silent on that detail.

     “Yes, Aunt. I will contact you again if I get any updates.”

     “See that you do.”

o0o

     The threads of the cosmic tapestry that the Fates wove resembled a spider web in a way, and often manifested itself as such to the mortal eye. In mortal art and visions, Fate took many different forms, and to some, she – or they – was a spider that forever spun the threads of life, designing a web far more intricate than anyone – mortal or god – could ever imagine.