Hope for the Underworld

19

Hades left the clinic in a daze; he felt bereft, but also furious. He allowed his feet carry him along the path, but he didn't pay any attention to his surroundings, while his mind attempted to make some sense of the situation.

Cora was gone!

Someone had poisoned her.

And they almost succeeded...

No! he corrected himself, they did succeed! She was back in the mortal realm, barred from returning to the Underworld and to its ruler, bound to forget everything... to forget him.

He fell to his knees in the dirt and screamed in anguish; just like he had done before, when his pain had managed to bring his beloved Cora to him.

But this time, there would be no miracles.

*

When he reappeared at the entrance to his palace, he did not look like a god, nor a king; he looked broken and defeated, dirty and dishevelled, with tears tracing lines on his dusty skin.

The shadows swirled around him with deep concern but knew better than to say anything. They followed him along the corridors and into the bedroom, where Hades fell to his knees again and buried his face in Cora's night dress; it still smelled of her, as if she was nearby, ready to wear it again. Tears streamed from his eyes once more when he crawled onto the bed and lay on her side, shuddering with pain and impotent anger.

The shadows withdrew, leaving him to mourn his loss.

*

There was a loud banging at their apartment door. 'Uncle, Cora... Are you decent?... I'm coming in!' Hermes opened the door; his eyes were closed, and he theatrically extended his arms in front of him, as a blind man would.

There was no response from within.

The young god opened one eye and peeked around; there was no one in sight, but the door to their bedroom was slightly ajar, so he went towards it. 'Are you in here?'

There was still no reply and Hermes thought the room was empty. But then he heard something; something that sounded like a whimper. Alarmed, he stepped quickly over the threshold and... froze on the spot in shock.

Hades was on the bed, rolled in a ball; his body racked by heaving of his chest. His usually immaculate clothes were dirty and dishevelled.

'What has happened?!' The Messenger rushed to his uncle's side. Hades remained unresponsive. But the dress he was clutching, burying his face in, was indication enough. 'What has happened?' This time Hermes directed his question to the swirling mass in the corner.

'It's... not our tale...to tell...' Came in reply.

'Lord Hades needs help! I must know!'

'Lady... Joy... is gone...'

'What?... How?!' But there was no more from the shadows. Hermes clicked his fingers and a goblet of ambrosia appeared in his hand. 'Uncle, you must drink this!' He lifted Hades' head and brought the cup to his lips. 'Please... I need to speak with you!'

Eventually, he succeeded in raising Hades a little. The Lord of the Underworld sat up and reached up to his face to wipe off the tears. He looked down at Cora's dress and his breath shuddered.

'Tell me, uncle!'

'Cora... is... gone.'

'But how?!'

'Someone poisoned her food with water from the River Lethe.' As he was speaking, an angry glow appeared in his steel-grey eyes. 'She choked on a bit of fruit and... and would have died, if I didn't take her back... By now, she will have completely forgotten about the Underworld and... me'. His voice broke.