Hades' Curse

Prolog

Early Greece

In the valley not far from a shrine of Demeter, three maidens played amongst the blooming flowers of spring. The leader was a young goddess, no more than twenty, with flowing blond hair and piercing green eyes. Her two companions laughed with her as they chased one another around a giant tree. Smiling, Persephone lay down on the grass and enjoyed the sunshine.

Absent mindedly, her fingers toyed with the silver locket around her neck. It was beautifully decorated with small emeralds and carvings of flowers on the outside. Her mother; Demeter, goddess of the harvest, had given it to her when she was ten years old. She claimed that when opened, the pendent had many powers.

Thus far, the locket had only resided as a symbol of her mother's deep love for her. Persephone though, was too naive to really understand just how much. The two fought constantly over her rebellious attitude, causing crop less summers and for many families to go hungry.

"Lady Persephone, come have some fun with us!" Her friend, a brunet with blue eyes, called over to her. Her light skin glowed against the dark blue of her chitin. (Greek Dress) 

Not wanting to move, Persephone only sighed. “Maybe in a moment, Olivia. I'm too confortable right here."

The girl frowned and went to sit by the goddess. "Oh please, my lady. Atlanta is being mean to me again."

Atlanta was Olivia’s older sister, with shimmering black hair and dark rimmed eyes. Scowling, she yelled over, "Am not! Olivia, stop lying."  Her white chitin clung beautifully to her natural curves.

Persephone smiled with hidden amusement. Her two best friends always found silly excuses to pick on one another, but the sisters never left each other's side. As if intertwined, they protected each other from disgusting suitors and their mother's harsh scolding. Deep down though, Persephone envied them.  What she would give to have someone love her like that...

Suddenly, Olivia’s laugh interrupted the goddess's thoughts.  "As if."

Atlanta got up and sat on the other side of Persephone rolling her eyes. She smiled, lazily looking over the valley. 

"I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be married."

Olivia and Persephone were startled by the question. What brought this up? Just a few moments ago, the three were laughing like the little girls they once were. Now... it seemed reality had forced into their faces. Many would consider the three girls lucky, because it was very common to be married off at the age of sixteen.

Human girls, she had to remind herself.

Being a goddess  put a whole another twist on one's perspective. It was simple really, but she refused to face the facts; she would live forever and her friends would die. Persephone was young, but in that youth she felt more human than she did God. Maybe it was her lack of wisdom, Persephone didn't know. It just felt like slowly she was losing herself to humanity.

Olivia sighed, "One word: boring. We'd stay at home, while the man has all the adventure. I couldn't live like that. I wasn't meant to be put in a cage and showed off to a bunch of fancy politicians; no, I want to see faraway places. Maybe even flirt with some handsome foreigners." She winked, causing the two of us to burst out laughing.

Atlanta jested, "Oh yeah, but as soon as they saw your face they'd probably run away screaming."

Olivia looked sneakily at Persephone, and then launched herself at the unsuspecting Atlanta. The sisters rolled around in the grass, yelling curses at one another playfully.

Suddenly, the Earth started to shack. The three maidens jumped to their feet, and started to run towards Demeter's shrine. They knew that this not just some Earthquake, something bad was coming. Demeter was the only one they could save them. Olivia fell, her ankle making a sharp cracking noise over the Earth’s rumble.

"Help! Persephone, Atlanta! My ankle is broken." she yelled out as her two friends tried to come to her aid. Atlanta clasped her sister's hand, and pulled her up to her feet. Persephone was at her other side doing the same thing.

"Hang on, we're almost there! Come on!" The three of them ran, but was stopped cold at the sight before them. Out of the dark Earth, arose a chariot of shadow. The horses pulling it were made of bone, but their eyes glowed red. Atop the chariot was a man covered in Greek armor, black metal with bronze details covering the shield and breast plate. He was running straight for them.

The girls tried to flee, but Persephone was grabbed by her hair. She yelled out as his rough hands lifted her into his chariot, pulling her locket off in the process. She screamed and fought, but it was in vein. His dark laughter rang over the frightened yells of Olivia and Atlanta.

In her ear he whispered, "At last. You are mine."

The young Persephone didn't have a prayer as the Earth swallowed them both; straight into the darkest pits of the underworld.

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