Aides (COMPLETED)

Fifty Five

Kore

"Oh, it is so hot!" My mother snatched her fingers from the fire of the iron stove, waving them into the air to cool them down. She turned her neck towards the door as I entered in. "Kore! Good! Your back! I prepared a stew of fresh tomatoes and sage. There is no veil or game left since —-" she halted her words before looking away.
She should have finished them.

"Since she destroyed the earth and all of humankind is what she meat to say mother?" I say aloud, sitting at the table and watching her as she ran across the legnth of the kitchen.
It was a mess.
The house was in disarray. Pots and pans were thrown and spread every which way. Flasks of oil and filth littered the floor. It was a bit cleaner than when I first saw it was  still a far cry from its former glory.

"I baked fresh bread with what was left of the wheat"
And again she was lying. The earth was desolate and wheat hadn't grown since the winter solstice. It was probably made of dirt.

"Mother" I interrupt her tedious announcements.

"I also baked a basket of dried figs and—"

"Mother" I say a little louder, this time, I pushed a finger to my temple. I was growing impatient.

"Demeter!!!" I yelled, finally forcing her to halt her actions. She stopped her announcements of accomplishments and stared, looking into my eyes before lifting her palms to the top of her stomach.

"Oh...I suppose you are not that hungry?" She muttered ever so defeatedly.
How naive was she?
Pretending eveything was fine? We had been distant since my arrival; our relationship strained? I had been here for 10 long and strenuous days and I had hated every second of it.
And yet, she sits here weaving baskets and making food as if all was well.
How dense was she?

"I am not hungry mother"

"Surley you must eat! You have been eating nothing but berries and dried fruits. It almost spring Lore. It would help if you wore something more bright in color—"

"DEMETER!" My voice was icy. She nodded and carefully slid into the seat at the table. She knew I wanted to speak with her about something important.

She looked across the table, taking in my features with careful regard.

"What was the one wish you asked the great mighty Zeus." I said. I made sure to paraphrase what Poseidon had told me to ask. She stopped playing with the bowl of fruit in front of her hands as she heard the words.

Fear dripped into her soft golden orbs as she heard my question. She looked into the distance as if she was in a trance. Remember something, or perhaps trying to forget it?

"Mother!" I snapped her out of her stupor, patting table impatiently. She snapped her head back and smiled.

"A wish? No, there was no wish Kore" She snapped, dismissing my words as juvenile.

"Persephone" I reminded her. She tilted her head in spite before looking away. "Why do you still keep things from me?"

"I don't Kore. There are things you are not meant to know" she defended, scooping a healthy portion of her unappetizing stew.

"I have seen death.
I was taken in the fields while playing.
I almost died in a forbidden forest cursed by a goddess to see realities even scarier than life.
I am not your innocent little maiden.
I am Persephone, ruler of the underworld."

I hadn't realized I was standing. I guess my little speech had impassioned my plea for independence. "Now tell me Demeter, what wish did you ask the great god Zeus?" I made sure to repeat myself more clearly this time. "What deal did you make with my father?"