Hades and Persephone
Finally I had a moment to myself. I love my mother deeply but honestly she could be a little bit too protective. I sometimes feel as though she sees me more a collectors item than her daughter. This is why I always tried to find time for myself.
My favorite thing to do? Sit in the gardens and look through all my flowers. Being the Goddess of the Spring came with duties and I always had to make sure that I kept my powers fresh and at the ready.
I stepped out of my mother’s house quietly as I could. As soon as I was sure I wasn’t being missed I slipped down the walkway and onto the forest path. Although others knew where my garden was, they never bothered it. Not even my controlling mother. She just called it “a place that radiates my perfection and innocence”.
Innocence. A word I have not only gotten annoyed with, but it’s a word I absolutely hate. Everyone sees me as Demeter’s shadow. Or “Innocent Persephone.” Gods haven’t even asked for my hand and none of them will. My mother stands in the way, always taking away any means of me to grow up. To become a woman.
I am distracted from my thoughts when I finally reach my garden. I grin and lift my robes and run to it. Everything is bright and beautiful. I go to one of the roses lift it and smell it. The aroma is so strong and rich, I have to close my eyes. Even though this place radiates perfection, it’s my own perfection. It’s something I create. It’s me.
I started to hum a tune as I went through all of my beautiful budding flowers. Every step I took, my flowers came more to life. I smiled as I reached down to pat the dirt that my roses were growing out of. The moment I stood up, I felt someone was watching me.
I turned around, expecting it to be my mother. But it wasn’t. It was a man. A tall one at that. His cloak was long, black, and had a certain beautiful language all through it. I couldn’t see his eyes but what I could see of his face showed me how handsome he was.
But this man: he was dark. Everything about him radiated a dark presence. He just stood there and watched me and I watched him. He took a step into my garden and all the flowers petals closed. I took a step back, not sure what to do. I should have ran but I didn’t...I couldn’t. It felt like I was frozen. When he was a mere 3 feet away he spoke.
“Now you…I have never seen before.” His voice was smooth and held dominance. At this point I could see his eyes. Those deep dark blue eyes.
I cleared my throat. “I have never seen you before either.” He looked surprised at what I said. I glanced away.
“What’s your name?” His hand reached for mine and grasped it. I held my breath. His touch was warm. And breathtaking.
“P-Persephone.” I said in a whisper. His eyes held mine as he kissed the inside of my wrist. I gulped. Kissing a woman on the back of the hand showed respect; but the inside of a woman’s wrist? That meant something different entirely. It meant affection. It meant love.
“Persephone.” He repeated breaking away from our stare and looking at my wrist. “Goddess of…?”
“Spring.” I said still looking into his eyes. “My mother is Demeter.”
At that a look of disgust came on his face. He let go of my wrist. “Yes…I know of your mother. She is an interesting one. There was a rumor that she kept her daughter locked away. Like a prized elephant.” He glanced behind him and then looked back into my eyes. All disgust gone. He took a step toward me. “You are beautiful Persephone.”
My heart leapt as he closed whatever distance we had. This is the first time I have ever talked to a man that wasn’t my father. And he believes I am beautiful! I smiled. “Thank you, Sir. If you don’t mind me asking…who are you?”
