The God & The Shadow

Chapter 51

PERSEPHONE

For the rest of the week, Persephone avoided her fiancé. Though Nixon usually left the house before sunrise to train and came home after midnight, she usually stayed out in the garden, reading a book or just watching as the sun gave way to the moon.

Only a day separated her from the inevitable throne. She always found it odd how a spring goddess like her was born to rule such dark creatures, but she guessed that she shouldn't be surprised at this point with the many schemes of the world.

And the wedding. She was also set to become Nixon's bride, her husband and king.

Of course, he was only marrying her for the angels. Persephone found out before that he was indeed one of the celestial beings, but she wasn't sure if he were on the light or dark side, given that she'd never really seen his wings and she never really asked.

But that was beyond her now. The memory of him hurting her from a few days ago felt numb after she'd replayed it over and over again in her head. She'd never seen him in that state, she didn't even know he was capable of doing such a thing.

How cruel, she thought, for her to live a life limited to such things. At such a young age for a god, she was to rule and be chained to a person forever. Then, she's meant to eradicate all that breathe in the Twelve realms.

Ironic how she was goddess that was supposed to create life, but she was destined to destroy it instead. It made sense, though, how instead of growing plants like her mother, she made them wither at her touch.

"Gods," She cursed out quietly as she snapped the growing dark vines intwined through her fingers into two. The thorns on the withered plants she created never really hurt her and she always thought it a good thing, but she wanted nothing more than for it to pierce through her sensitive skin if it could channel some of the pain somewhere else instead.

Persephone stood and sighed, running her hands through her hair. Was she really doubting everything she'd worked for now? Azura, Brie, Nixon, and Demeter had done everything for her, shaped her into the Queen-to-be she was today. Was she really going to let all of that go to waste?

In a blaze of fury, her hands clenched in fists of rage. Her power replied to her easily. Demeter's plants, the one's she had been tending to just a few days ago, started wilting and turning into a darker versions of it, growing dark flowers and poisonous fruits.

It was wrong, she knew, but her mother could easily revert it if she wanted to. It wasn't a big deal for the goddess, it never was. To bring life. To make life.

And Gods, she even almost killed someone days ago. In the alley, where the mortal nearly bled to death because of her.

She didn't know if the stranger's abrupt arrival was a curse or a blessing. She didn't even know his name, and still he helped her.

Slowly, the girl looked down and examined her wrists. They instantly healed the moment the stranger disappeared, even the dried blood What was he, really? What did he mean when he told Persephone to simply listen in exchange for the mortal's and her own healing? Did he mean they'd meet again soon?

A sigh caught Persephone's attention, and she turned quickly just to roll her eyes at the sight of her. She was leaning against the willow tree, arms crossed and white curls gathered into a lousy ponytail.