𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 ➤ 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆

xxiv. desperate times call for desperate measures

author's notes: it's about time we focus on Demeter and her immense sorrow. enjoy ^^

Unbeknownst to the Lord of the Underworld and his beloved goddess, the Earth was in turmoil.

It had been a month since Persephone's disappearance, and the world seemed to mirror the despair she had left behind.

The world was engulfed in a relentless blizzard, blanketing it in an oppressive sea of pure white. Snow descended in a relentless onslaught, driven by fierce winds that robbed warmth from all in its path. As ice weighed heavily on them, trees moaned and cracked, while rivers and lakes solidified into icy expanses as unyielding as rock.

The entire world appeared to be mourning the loss of the Goddess of Spring.

The mortals initially sought refuge in their homes, hoping to avoid the dreadful plague. Every day, the fires were fueled more, and their prayers grew stronger.

However, the storm's fury grew unforgiving. As a result, they were forced to flee to safer territory, leaving many to freeze or starve to death.

No one mourned more than the Goddess of the Harvest. She still vividly remembered the day her life was turned upside down.

It happened when Demeter was returning home
from her temple in Naxos. It was a hectic day, listening to her devoted followers' prayers and graciously accepting offerings in the hopes of a bountiful harvest or a successful marriage and family life.

It was late afternoon. She was looking forward to returning and seeing the lovely flowers Persephone had chosen for their upcoming festival when she noticed Persephone's entourage of Oceanid nymphs rushing from one location to another.

Demeter paused when she noticed her nieces, Artemis and Athena, exchanging worried glances as the nymphs sobbed.

It was strange enough that her nieces were in the fields with these fertility deities.

It was even stranger that they were crying.

"Ladies," Demeter said hesitantly, "what—"
But, before she could finish her question, Artemis raised her head, and the shattering heartbreak in her large brown eyes cut through her like a knife.

She stumbled back a step, sensing something was wrong.

"She's gone," Artemis whispered. "Persephone's gone."

For a moment, Demeter was convinced she had misheard.

Her daughter couldn't be gone... or worse...

"Gone?" she repeated. "What do you mean?"

"She went missing," Artemis said shakily. "She vanished without a trace."

Demeter shook her head in utter disbelief. "You are mistaken," she told Artemis, clutching her niece's shoulder and shaking her frantically. "You must be mistaken."

Athena explained, "We were helping her pick flowers for your festival when she told us to split up and search."

"Then what, Athena?"

"We heard her scream," the Goddess of Wisdom whispered. "We quickly returned to where we had left her. But she wasn't there. We searched for her everywhere—"

"Why were you two even with her anyway?" Demeter raised her voice, tears threatening to flow from her eyes as she pointed a finger at the two. "I forbade you and your siblings from talking to Kore two months ago! How come her entourage was not present when this happened?"

Athena simply stared at her with an eerily blank expression. "They were foolish enough to fall asleep. My sister's frantic screams startled them awake."