Pride & Pomegranates

The Grove

"Love, which absolves no one beloved from loving, seized me so strongly with his charm that, as you see, it has not left me yet. Love brought us to one death."

― Dante Alighieri, Inferno.

    "Please go straight home Seph. Your Mother nearly bled me out like a boar the last time you were here. I'd walk with you but-" Hephestus motioned to his deformed foot.

    "Yes, yes, I know. No wandering. No dilly dallying. No mortals. No, no, no, no. Everything is no. It's a wonder I am allowed outside the grounds of the Villa at all," Persephone grumbled, rolling her lilac eyes.

    "Aunt Demi is just a worrier."

    "She's paranoid and overbearing."

    "At least your mom cares," Hephestus's shoulders slumped as he sighed sadly.

"Oh Heph I am sorry, I know I shouldn't complain. I just wish she would let me LIVE. I will be twenty-two soon, I'm not a child anymore!" 

"Maybe after your party you can stay with Father for a while. He'd like that and you'd have plenty of freedom on Olympus."

"If she knew I was even considering that, Mother would lock me away in the greenhouse forever and throw away the key! To be honest I'm surprised she's allowing him to throw the party at all."

"Aunt Hestia may have something to do with that."

"Thank the old Gods for Auntie. You're going to come, right?"

"Seph," Hephestus hesitated.

"Oh please! Please promise you will be there, it'll be such fun!"

"I don't know. Between my mom and Ares I don't think it will be much fun for me," Hephestus's sad golden eyes met Persephone's large pleading ones, "but yes. I will be there."

"Oh thank you Hephestus! You won't regret it I promise. It will be a night to remember!" Persephone spun around excitedly, letting her pale pink gown catch in the wind.

"Alright, alright. Be gone with you now Sister, I have work to do."

"Is it my present?"

"Maybe."

"Oh it is! I know it is!" Persephone kissed her step brother on the cheek affectionately. "Ok, I'm going, I'm going. I will see you in two weeks! Don't forget it is FORMAL. No forge clothes," she motioned to his soot covered leather apron, "and brush your hair!" Persephone giggled as she spun away heading towards the sea and her mother's villa.

"Now you're pushing it," Hephestus called after running his scarred and calloused hand through his unruly red curls , "remember RIGHT HOME!"

..............................................................

Persephone, as usual, was in no rush to return to her mother's home. So she was strolling through the fields surrounding Mount Etna leisurely- in the general direction of the villa- when she came across a patch of fragrant wildflowers. She began to pick a bouquet of the most vibrant ones she could find, singing softly to herself.

"Maybe Mother will like you and grumble less about me being late for dinner again," Persephone whispered to the flowers that seemed to lean towards her voice as she spoke.

A gentle breeze swept through the field along with the scent of honey and gardenias.

"Gigi? Is that you?" The breeze began to pick up and play with the ends of Persephone's long mulled wine hair and the scent of her beloved great grandmother grew stronger. "Oh Gigi, where are you?!" Persephone giggled as she spun around trying to spot her on the horizon to no avail- as usual. Gaia had gone to sleep beneath the earth along with her daughter Rhea ages ago but would occasionally visit Persephone in dreams- or like this- using her strange powers to lead her favored great grandchild into some type of mischief.