The realms will never be the same to me now. I saw my father as powerful, and he does indeed have power over the gods and goddesses of Olympus and over the mortals.
His powers have not protected him from his fears. He thinks one of his children will surpass him, and he cannot stand the thought.
It made him poison me.
The rage I thought I let go emerges once again, but I breathe deeply for the sake of my mother. “I am not his only child.”
This, too, makes everything look different in my memory. I think of Athena saying he only tries to kill his favorites to my mother and wonder how many times he has plotted against his children. If he plots against all of us. If he fears all of us because we might one day discover that we have powers he cannot dream of.
For how could he dream of something new when he spends all his time watching to see if one of his children is stronger?
I am stronger. I have never poisoned someone innocent out of fear. I never would. I have surpassed him already. If Zeus stood in the courts, I would suffer great difficulty sentencing him.
“But you are one of the most powerful,” my mother says, and drops her hands back to me. “You are my daughter, Persephone. And whether you have powers or not?—”
“I have them. I found them.”
“I know it. But they are not the most important part of you. I would fight for you if you were a mere mortal. I will fight for you no matter what.” The softness disappears from her face, replaced by determination. “If what you desire is to dwell in the Underworld, then I cannot prevent you from going there. But if you are away from me where I cannot reach you, there will be consequences. My grief will be felt and I cannot help it, my child. In the times you are away from me, the mortal realm will feel the loss. I cannot and will not change that for that loss is too real and too significant to be ignored.”
Hades
There is trouble in the skies above the Underworld.
From the towers, the flashes of lightning strike one after the other. There’s no answering roll of thunder, and at first I think I am only imagining them—but no, they are there, splitting the morning colors. The cracks are bright and only last for a moment. They are not of Zeus’s power.
Cerberus runs to my side, carrying a stick in the mouth of his left head. I take it and toss it for him, then watch him dart around the grounds to find it. He stops for a minute and barks at the sky with all three heads, then peers at me.
“Cerberus,” I call, and he comes. I take him with me as I walk the path, surveying my realms. It is calm for now. New souls are arriving, although many are holding fear of demons or suffering from the pain of those inflicted by them. I have already sat in judgment of them this morning. The meadows and fields are quiet, but not empty. I cannot remove the demons I’ve unleashed, the mortal realm will remember she was taken from me and the pain I felt for all eternity. Such is the ways of gods and mortals.
Another flash of lightning hits the pale blue sky, forcing it to darken. Chills run down my spine as I think of my love.
Up ahead, Minox slips out from a shadowy part of the forest, looks in both directions, and hurries toward me. He does not run, but he moves with an urgency that is unusual for Minox.
“Minox,” I call as soon as he is close enough to hear. “What is it?”
“My Lord.” Minox is slightly out of breath as he approaches. “I have news of Olympus.”
My blood turns hot as I command, “Come with me.”
We return to my rooms. I will not have this news delivered where any souls may be privy to hear the gossip of gods. The peace in my realms is fragile enough as it is. They do not need to concern themselves with what the gods are doing on Olympus.
“Tell me,” I demand, as soon as the door to my chambers is shut.
“There is to be a meeting of the gods and goddesses,” Minox informs me. He steadied himself on the much-faster trip back to my private rooms, Cerberus racing ahead of us, caught up in my urgency. Now the dog is at the window. “On Olympus. About the trouble in the realms.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Has Demeter called this meeting?”
He shakes his head. “Zeus.”
“And I am supposed to sit here and wait for word? Persephone is on Olympus. My queen is there.”
“My Lord?—”
I hold up a hand to silence Minox. It’s not just news from Olympus I have been waiting for. “Have you heard from Hecate?” I am bound to the Underworld. Physically incapable of leaving. The golden threads tie me to this place, and I’ve never felt like a prisoner until I laid eyes on Persephone.
“Not yet, my Lord. But I will try?—”
Minox is interrupted by a thunderous crack from outside. It splits the sky in two violently. Cerberus barks before howling and his call is joined by two hounds.
