Pat Twice

Chapter 20

When Persephone and her mother returned to the mortal realm, Persephone begged her mother to change her mind. She promised to focus more, get higher grades, and forget about Hades. She said anything she could to convince her mother, but nothing worked. Her mother replied by simply saying that Persephone was too naïve still. Just a mere child in a world that will take advantage of her. She was better suited in the mortal realm.

From that moment, Persephone took a vow of silence when around her mother. She didn't see the need to communicate with her. What was the point in wasting her words on closed ears?

Spring came and went. Over and over again. Persephone fulfilled her duties each year, when she felt like it. Some years she tried something new. Her mother complained during those years.

One year, Persephone allowed the grass to grow rapidly, with irregular heights. Children loved to run through it. Her mother hated it and wanted it to be even. Another year, Persephone felt particularly defeated. She brought down rain for months. Nothing would grow, crops were ruined. There were floods. Persephone didn't see the point in trying. Her mother scolded her and tried to right the wrongs.

Persephone tried keeping track of the years that had passed on Olympus, but eventually all the years blurred together. Time moves differently in the mortal realm when compared to Olympus. Each spring felt the same because none of them mattered. Persephone's job felt meaningless.

Of course, she didn't allow all sulking. She improved her skills when it came to her abilities. She learned how to control her height ability with ease. She learned to control her emotions well enough that her hair no longer grew when she was upset. One morning, she discovered her ability to heal after she found a flower nymph injured. She placed her hand on the girl, and the wound began to heal slowly. She's worked on her skills and is able to help heal most ailments. She even dabbled with soul shifting. She only tried it with small creatures. But, for brief moments, she was able to take over the body of another living thing while her own body remained in a trance-like state. Yes, Persephone was was becoming a powerful goddess in secret. 

Persephone grew up, just like her mother wanted. She learned the lessons of a harsh world. She learned that no matter how hard you try, some people will never believe you. Or believe in you. She learned that even if she works on herself, she may never achieve her goals. She even learned that if you follow all the rules, you may never be rewarded.

She encountered the last rule with each day that passed. Years came and went without a whisper of Hades. No visits, messages, or clues of him. 

Persephone assumed that he moved on with his life. She could picture his life now, after all this time. Perhaps he was married to Minthe? Maybe they started a family? She thought back to his description of a perfect family and she hoped that he was able to get it. She wondered about all the new dogs he probably has now. She wondered about his happiness, if he had everything he ever wanted, and if he forgave her for their last conversation.

She didn't spend a moment thinking about Apollo. 

Sometimes she saw other gods that came to visit her mother. Hermes was a frequent visitor. However, per her mother's request, he wasn't allowed to speak to Persephone alone. This meant they didn't speak at all, seeing how Persephone was silent around her mother. Although they didn't speak, Persephone could still read the looks on Hermes' face. Sometimes pity, sometimes anger, sometimes longing for the life they all used to have.

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"It looks beautiful," Daphne breathed out. She and Persephone had just finished working on a meadow together. The flowers were in full bloom, it couldn't have been more perfect.