Persephone (Book 1 of the Pure Heroine series)

Évas

I stare at my reflection in the small pond. A face I've known for over ten thousand years. I smile as a leaf from a nearby tee falls into the water making it ripple. I stand up and walk out of my garden. Of course I've got more than one garden. I'm Persephone for crying out loud. Goddess of nature. It's a great thing to be born with; at least to me. It's just I've picked that one as my favorite, though I cannot explain.

"Persephone! Persephone!" I hear and whirl around, shutting and locking the gate for my garden. Under my breath I chant, "Na κλείσει," and I hear it lock. The female messenger stands before me , well bends before me.

"What is it you want?" I say lightly.

She stands and I almost wish she'd bend back down. Her face is oily and sweat mixed together and her mouth has crust all around it.

"King Zeus, Lord of lightning and heav-"

"Skip the labeling please." I say a little pissed.

"He wants you." She says with a bow of her head and she sprints down the road. If a messenger was only sent to tell me that my father wanted me, does that mean it was top secret information? Or something he didn't want to share for the messenger, back to me? I shrug and walk down the road of Olympus to The House of God's and Goddesses.

When I walk through the doors, everyone's engaged in some whispering argument.

"She's too nice. She definitely try to talk to him." Athena says.

Aphrodite rolls her eyes. "Well of course. If you were sniffing flowers all day wouldn't you be friendly?"

I silently gasp at how rude Aphrodite is being.

"That'd mean the flowers had some spell or something on it that puts in a fake good mood..." I hear Athena consider the answer.

"Exactly." Aphrodite giggles.

So now it's obvious. They're all talking about me.

"Persephone, how great of you to have come" Aphrodite says, putting on a smile that would've worked for others under her charm spell. I ignore her. Everyone finally begins to notice me. I smile.

"Zeus, I am here." I wish I could take that back. It was probably the stupidest thing I'd ever said to Zeus. But I was always nervous and afraid of him so it all worked out anyways.

"Eh, Persephone. We've been discussing something concerning you." Demeter says in a worried tone.

Obviously.

"Its rumors about..." She pauses "Hades, God of the underworld. He's decided to come from the underworld to come and dispute the hatred his brothers are giving him."

I hear 'hmph' from Zeus. Or maybe it wa Poseidon. Either way, it does work out since they're both Hades' brothers.

"The point is we want you to stay away from Hades. He's dangerous, and he has a very bad temper." Demeter finishes. I bow.

"Thank you Demeter. I say as I hurry out of the room.

They think I'm gullible? And stupid? I feel a lot if hurt that I didn't know anyone could feel. I know that because I'm the youngest they treat me like, well a young person. I'm 10,000 years old and I still can't do what I'd like to do. Well, partially.

I grumble to myself and walk in different directions that goes wrong ways. Weird turns small paths. What the hell am I doing? I know what it is. The flowers. They're calling out to me and I'm just following their voices. I can hear them now, screaming, "Persephone! Persephone!"

I am at a beautiful dark gate with vines wrapped around it. There's roses on every tip I smile. This isn't my garden, but it is beautifully crafted. I open the gate without a charm because it's already unlocked. I walk and the scent of flowers like Queen of the Night Tulip and black irises hit my nose and I fall on my knees to touch one. It's silky and smooth and...

"What are you doing?" I hear a deep males voice, yet very... my age.

I turn my head and Hades stands behind me.