The Perfect Life - Dionysos' Challenge

7. A Journey for Assistance

Persephone wound her way through the pomegranate trees of Haides's grove. It was here, and only here, in this section of the underworld where the fauna resembled the surface of earth. She reached up to pluck one of the ripened fruits, reminiscing because this was why she spent at least half her time down in the underworld to begin with. She shrugged. The goddess had made the best of it, and if she really thought about it, after all this time, it hadn't been all that bad.

Askalaphos emerged from the fig trees, smiling at his queen. "Greeting, my Lady."

"Askalaphos!" Persephone smiled. "How goes your day?"

"I have nothing to complain about. The trees fruit, the flowers bloom and the vegetables thrive. Haides' grove is productive and beautiful, despite the underground domain." The keeper bowed. "I work hard to please you and Master Haides." He reached out, offering to open the fruit in her hand.

Persephone dropped it in the daimon's outstretched hand and looked around. Indeed, the grove continued to thrive under his ministrations. "What are you about this day, my queen?" he asked as he opened the pomegranate fruit.

"I am on my way to visit Hekate and Nyx." Grateful for the help in opening up the sweet fruit, she took it from Askalaphos. Popping several seeds into her mouth, she savored the taste. "I need their opinion on something I am doing, or at least considering doing."

He nodded. "If you pass by your grove, and think of me, would you do me a favor?"

She raised her eyebrow. Rarely did anyone ask her to do something for them in the underworld. It seemed they thought it was beneath her to serve someone else. "Of course, Askalaphos. What do you need?"

The daimon's face turned crimson for a moment before he continued. "I...well, I wanted to see if I could possibly try to cultivate the citrus trees you were gifted by Guanyin from the east. For all I know, it could be a lost cause since your grove is in Elysion Fields."

Persephone smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. "What do you need to do this?"

A large smile broke across his face. "Two or three good cuttings from different trees to ensure diversity. I have just the place set apart, where I had hoped to introduce something new one day. Thank you, my queen."

"I will have Alekto, Megaira and Tisiphone bring them to you once they are cut and secured." She watched the orchard caretaker bow deeply, then turned back into the trees with a small pop in his step. The goddess laughed to herself at what such a small gesture did for the daimon.

Continuing her walk, she exited the orchard and headed for the gate that separated the palace grounds from the Fields of Asphodel. She took the path to the west, towards the Elysion Fields, where she would cross the river Lethe in order to get to Hekate's realm.mWith a thought, she summoned the Erinyes and waited for the sound of their feathered wings.

Souls scattered before the sound of the three companions reached Persephone's ears. She sighed, but she couldn't blame the dead. It wasn't like her three companions were well liked by many of those who lived among the asphodel. Of course, none of them were there by the women's hands, but they were terrifying to behold nonetheless.

"My lady," the three said in unison when they landed.

"My dears, I have an assignment for you. But don't get too excited..." she watched their eyes light up. "It's quite mundane, but I promised Askalaphos something from my grove. If you could take some time out from your work in Tartarus and fetch several choice cuttings from the different citrus trees in my grove for him, I would be grateful."

Megaira looked at her sisters, blinking. "Tree cuttings? This is a first."

Alekto giggled. "Usually, our cuttings are more... of softer things."