Persephone and Hades

Flower of Death - Chapter 10

"My home." He says as he lifts his hands up and presents this magnificent display.

"Your home..." I repeat with awe as I am struck with the shocking reality that someone could casually inhabit such a place as this. "You live here?"

"Yes but come with me and we can take a tour of some of the more interesting places." He turns toward me and grins with a sort of cheery childishness that automatically warms my heart and sets me at ease. I feel myself abandon the caution that I felt earlier and all objections to further entering and exploring this strange man's house tumble from my thoughts.

"Let's head out to the field of lilies. Come with me" We walk side by side to a pair of gigantic golden doors with intricate design carvings. 

I'm absolutely captivated by the reality of  of what is happening to me. I feel all these restrained emotions of excitement blossom within my heart. 

He looks over to me, "I think you'll like this place. The enchanting beauty of these flowers is contrasted by their extreme toxicity. A truly romantic combination, wouldn't you say?"

I can't help but smile. I'm impressed by his way of speech -  as elegant as the night before - with a humble hint of great intelligence and gentleness. I nod my head in agreement. My thoughts are so occupied by my curiosity that adding ideas of my own to the conversation completely passes me.

We approach the grand doors and they push open of their own accord, pulled seemingly by imaginary strings. But that hardly draws my attention, the gods have many unseen servants to do their bidding. However the scene that the opened doors reveal stops me in my steps. 

The ballroom fades away from around me like evaporating mist. I'm suddenly standing in the middle of a field of blood red flowers. Their colour so vivid and sanguine they seem to push into a separate dimension of reality. Like they exist on another plane.

I reach out to touch one near the skirts of my dress, the filaments that spread out like spider legs give me an eerie chill. "I know these flowers. The Latin name is Lycoris Radiata: Spider-lily." I look up to face him and to validate my statement. He watches me with an unreadable expression then approaches, kneeling by the bundle of flowers.

I match his position, wondering what is so minutely captivating for him. Instead I focus on his eyes that have taken on a distant stare. He's looking at the flowers like they aren't even there. Like he's lost in a far off memory. 

"Yes, you're right. The flower of death."