Persephone

39. Narcissus ✔

Persephone

She gives me a wicked smirk and sits down on the couch across from us.

Hades and I quickly fix ourselves; we look at each other and I can already tell, he is not happy about her being here.

"What do you want Demeter?" Hades asks in annoyance,

"That is no way to welcome your mother-in-law, Hades,"

"You come into my house unannounced, and you expect me to welcome you with open arms," Hade fumes.

"I don't expect anything from you demon, just respect," she spits.

"Okay, Demeter, what do you want?"

She opens her purse and takes out a box of cigarettes and a lighter, she puts a cigarette in her mouth and lights it.

"I'm here to collect my daughter," she says blowing out a puff of smoke.

"Me? What are you talking about?"

Demeter laughs, "This is between us adults honey, you can play outside."

I hear growling behind me, and I turn and find Hades, staring at Demeter with evil intent, he's turning into him again.

"Baby, calm down, it's okay," I say and forcing his face to turn towards mine, he looks into my eyes and instantly relaxes.

"She stays Demeter, she is my wife," he says.

We both sit down on the couch across from hers. This woman has some nerve coming here and disrespecting my husband and I like that.

"Hades, you know damn well what you did, how could you?" Demeter says furiously.

"Demeter, I can't trust you with her, we never did and yes I did what I did to protect her from you. I didn't want her to be corrupted by a malicious witch like yourself, she deserves better,"

"She deserves to be with her mother," Demeter throws her cigarette on the floor and steps on it with her Louis Vuitton heels.

"Says the woman who didn't want her. you've tried this before Demeter, but you failed. So, take your 'L' and leave," Hades says standing up from the couch.

He stalks towards her, and I jump up and stand between them both.

"You too, need to stop it. Hades what deal is she talking about?"

Hades shakes his head, "It's not important."

Demeter chuckles, "Still keeping secrets from your wife, you never fucking change. You gods and your egos, for once, accept responsibility for your actions and be honest."

"Demeter, shut up or so help me god, I will –

"You will what? Kill me, report me to the council, you know damn well that that would be a big mistake Hades." She challenged.

Hades sighs, "Why won't you just crawl back into the hole you crawled out of huh? No wonder your husband left you, you are a living –

"You know my father?"

Both Demeter and Hades curse.

"Oh, now y'all ain't got nothing to say huh? You both keep secrets from me, yet you claim to love me, when does it end with you people."

"Nice work, Hades,"

"Persephone, listen."

"No, you two fucking listen, I don't know what the fuck happened between you two, but I don't give a rat's ass, y'all need to grow up. I am sick and tired of the lies, the secrets the riddles and the puzzles, it never ends."

"Baby I –

"Shut up, I'm not done talking. I want to be happy, fully happy, knowing my mother and my husband are getting along. Knowing that my twin cousins-in-law, aren't a sadistic asshole, trying to kill me or the gods know what else," I ramble. "The only person who has been entirely honest with me is Hecate and y'all can learn a thing or two from her."

"Persephone, my child. I'm so sorry. It's just that, they are keeping you away from me and I want you in my life."

"But why?"

Demeter's eyes swell up and she takes in a deep breath, "It was after your father left. I had just found out that I was pregnant with you and for the life of me. I couldn't understand why, so I turned to alcohol, when Rhea and Cronus found out, they were livid. They took me in and took care of me. After giving birth to you, they barred me from seeing you, they even sent me into exile," she explains. "But when I heard the news that you had met Hades. I tried to come back but Hades knew of the agreement and tried everything he could to stop me from seeing you."

"Really? That's the story you're going with," Hades comments with discontent, "A liar is what you are and always will be."

She can't be lying, is she?

"He left you because you just couldn't stop hurting people. Your idea of power was fucked up, so he left and then because you couldn't handle having his child. You tried killing it by drinking and doing drugs," Hades explains.

"You have no proof of that," Demeter argues.

At this point I am confused. I don't know who to believe, my mom could be telling the truth. My father did leave and yeah maybe to cure the heart attack she turned to alcohol.

I sit down on the couch and cover my face with my hands and cry, I just can't do this anymore. I can't.

"See what you've done Demeter, just leave okay,"

Demeter stands up and picks up her purse, "I love you baby girl, and I would never do anything to hurt you in any way."

"Just leave okay, I don't want to see you right now, to until I figure things out," I sniff.

"I will respect that baby but if it's the truth you seek, go and find the Oracle."

"Stop filling her head with nonsense Demeter, now go," Hades yells.

"I just hope that you'll be a better mother than I was to that baby girl, you're carrying sweetie."

FUCK!

And with that, she leaves.

"Persephone, what is she talking about? What baby?"