When Life Meets Death

Chapter 1: Son of A Titan

Summer had slowly fading, the chilled air that accompanied autumn seemed to have stolen its last breath like a thief in the night. The life of the earth was beginning to drain, made visible in changing of the leaves from its vibrant greens, to hues of yellow and red, until it finally it would rested in its brown tint of decay.

The cold morning breeze caused slight goosebumps to appear upon Persephone's tan skin, but she did not seem disturbed, nor did she seek warmth and remove herself from the wet grass that she laid upon. 

This is what she always loved, the sudden approach of autumn creeping upon the earth, slowly stealing away the warmth—that is when she felt most alive. 

She loved the way the world turned golden, warmer and more magnificent radiance than Mount Olympus itself—but she'd never tell her father, Zeus, that. She had made that mistake with her sisters, causing them to look at her incredulously, thinking it could be almost impossible to find death so magnificently beautiful.

But she did, and she couldn't help it.

There was, however, one thing that she disliked about autumn. Since it was the season of death, she found that her duties of bringing life to the plants of the earth were very limited.

To say the least, Persephone was incredibly bored.

From her hilltop, she could see the landscape of a mortal city where it was slowly beginning to buzz with life as the people began to wake up and go about their day. She watched as one watches an anthill, first with fascination at their activity, but soon after with a wearisome gaze.

Frowning, she tore at the grass in thought. If mortals can find frivolous work, why can't she find anything for herself to do?

Staring down at the bald patch she had caused upon the field from her plucking, she quickly stopped and apologized to the uprooted shoots. Kissing the soil, she grew some new small sprouts, covering the damage she had caused and watched as it shivered and swayed against the frigid autumn air.

Frowning she rolled onto her back, watching as dark clouds began to gather in the sky, seeming different from the first sign of a storm. This one loomed with an eerie ambience, and it seeming almost like a dark omen trying to warn her that something, very soon, was drawing near. 

"Rhea should have been back by now," Persephone said as she sat up, seeing how Helios's position in the sky almost indicated high-noon.

Her sister never tarried with the daily exchange, she was already terrified of the underworld enough, she would never allow herself to linger any longer than was necessary. She usually left before dawn and made it back before it approached late-morning.

Zoe's eyes fleeted towards Persephone, eyeing the stray leaves that had clung to her golden hair reproachfully before replying, "Rhea may be reluctant to work, but she gets it done well enough. You mustn't worry."

Persephone allows the auburn leaves to grow around her head like a fiery crown, earning another stare from her sister before she turned back to her books. She was constantly analyzing the incoming and outgoing demands of the harvest, almost religiously. 

"But what if she got caught by another Chimera? Those always get her in a sour mood." Persephone said as she eyed her sister cautiously, gauging her openness before she offered,"perhaps I could check? Pop in and see if she needs help."