Third part of the series. I looks like it will be split into 4 parts.
First and Second Parts, if you haven't read them.
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I sat beside Hades on his couch,
watching Hermes bow before us. He lazily twirled a lock of my hair between his
fingers. My hair had grown to a dark brown color during my months in the
Underworld. I had noticed my skin had paled as well. I sat up straighter, my
body leaning towards Hermes as something fluttered in my chest. In my time here
I had not seen one person from above. Was this my freedom?
First and Second Parts, if you haven't read them.
“Rise,
Hermes.” Hades said casually. “Why have you come?”
“Lord
Hades, I come in behest of my father, your brother, Zeus. He has asked that you
release Persephone to her mother. In her grief, Demeter has kept seed from man.
Her sorrow has frozen the very earth itself. For the sake of the world, please
return life to the earth.”
The
Lord of the Underworld sighed, sitting up and stared down at the Messenger.
“What would I benefit from this? I do not reside above the world. In fact, such
a thing would bolster my ranks.”
“You
would have the gratitude of the King of Olympus.”
I
watched him contemplate this, and he looked back at me. “What of you, my love?
Do you still wish to return home?”
I
nodded slowly. “Don’t misunderstand, my lord. I now understand what you have
meant, but my mother needs me.”
His
smile, which was no longer cold, held a hint of sadness. “I suppose I cannot
deny you then. You may return to your mother.” He looked to Hermes. “Tell Zeus
that I accept his gratitude.”
He
stood and held his hand out to me. When I took it, he pulled me into his arms
and pressed his lips to mine. I felt some tiny seeds pass through my mouth as
we kissed. I pulled away, wide eyes, with the taste of pomegranate on my
tongue.
He smiled
arrogantly at me and whispered. “I’ll never truly let you go.”
Dumbfounded,
I allowed him to lead me to Hermes. “Guide her safely to her mother.”
The
Messenger took me into his arms, gently and lifted into the air. The winding
caverns of the underworld passed by in a blur. We passed through the gates and
I had my first gaze and triple headed Cerberus, who merely opened an eye to watch
us pass. Then we were over the river Styx and through more caverns. Finally, we
reached the surface. I covered my eyes when the light of the sun hit my face.
It had been many months since I had seen Apollo’s rays and they were fierce
against my skin.
I
looked around in shock. The ground was covered in several inches of icy snow as
far as I could see. The trees were bare of any life, just gray pointed
branches. “My mother has done this?”
Hermes
nodded. “She was in morning at your loss.”
“Daughter!”
I
barely had time to turn before I was in my mother’s arms. I heard her sobs of
joy and relief. Her hands ran over me as if to reassure herself I was there.
“Are you alright? Did he do anything?”
I
embraced her, relieved to be with her again. “I am alright, mother. I have
returned to you.”
She
pulled back and inspected me solemnly. “Persephone, think very hard. Did you
eat anything during your stay?”
I
opened my mouth to assure her that I didn’t and stopped, remembering our
parting kiss. “Not intentionally, mother, but in the end he tricked me into
eating three pomegranate seeds. It is only seeds. Surely, I could not be forced
to stay for only three.”
Her
eyes burned and the air around us began to form tiny crystals. She took my
hand. “Come. We will speak to Zeus about this at once. Hermes, take us to your
father.”
