Love Lines

23: The Start of The Prophecy

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Oracle..."

His tone betrayed his irritation but before he could begin scolding me or what not, the world around us blurred yet again until we were standing outside the gray blob that was the miniature. The stillness took over me again, making me feel more like a tree than a semi-human as I stood there, staring down at the miniature. Hades looked at me, a puzzled expression on his face before the first clue as to what was happening to me, to everything and everyone, came out.

My jaw was forced open and a bluish-green smoke poured out almost like hot breath on a freezing cold night. I could feel the life lines on my face and if I had to, I would bet my life that they were giving color to the smoke.

To locate your Queen, Lord of the Underworld, you must first understand

The beginning and where she comes from

She is drowning, suffocating from misery and despair

Torn between a duty, an enslavement, that she never wanted and a freedom she's always craved...

My jaw clicked closed, even though I could feel it wasn't finished, whatever my particular wanted me to say. The words were built up in the back of my throat, locked inside my voice box until it was time to expel them. A burst of red flew out from where my hand was still gripped with Hades, the seed triggering all of this. The burst formed a red mist around us, engulfing everything including the miniature I could've sworn was only inches in front of me but was now nowhere in sight. Inside the red mist, a good distance away, several scenes appeared like frozen images on a TV screen. It was set up in panel form, like when we were down in Neptune's palace. Each panel was eight feet tall and the moment my eyes landed on the first one, the scene started. The argument of what would happen to Persephone since she ate six seeds filled my ears and eyes, transporting both myself and Hades so we were once again transparent bystanders while everything played out.

Persephone sat before the six original gods: Hestia, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, and Zeus. Past Hades was also seated with them but he was rim rod straight in his chair made of black smoke. His carefully controlled expression held back what he was truly feeling. He refused to look at her as the other gods scolded her for her actions, excluding him from blame. Demeter demanded her daughter be released from the contract she sealed herself into but the other gods were not as willing or forgiving to let her off the hook. Hera stated if the girl wasn't certain about staying with Hades, she never should've eaten the seeds. Hestia said youth is full of foolishness and it was obvious neither Hades nor Persephone wanted to be tied to the other any longer. There was no harm in letting Persephone off with a mild punishment. While the three women debated Persephone's fate, the two brothers remained in silence. Poseidon watched his oldest brother with unblinking eyes. Zeus's face was blurred somehow, as if I wasn't allowed to see him. The only way I knew who he was Zeus was by the amount of power surrounding him. The authority and control radiated off him as a bright golden hue to his skin. Neither brother said anything in defense or damnation of Hades actions, just watched the oldest of them as he shifted in his chair so his arm was propped up, allowing his long fingers to cover his mouth. Persephone continued to look down at her lap, fiddling with the bracelet still secured around her wrist.

"Silence," Zeus finally boomed. "I will speak with my brothers alone on this matter and only then will I make my decision."

The scene went black and the next one on the series of panels picked up. The women and Persephone were gone, leaving the Three Brothers. Poseidon remained in his chair but Zeus rose and walked over to his older brother.

"Hades..."

"Let her go. I never want to see her again."

"You will have to see her again. One day she will die and..."