Short Tales

Persephone&(Hades)&Demeter -- (For School)

I'm (You're) on my (your) back 

again

Dreaming of a 

time and place

Where

you and I'd (she'd) remain 

The best of friends

*

Even though you're

cold & dead

...

Can we pretend?

-

It's fun to fantasize-size!

* * *

The waning sun cast a red glow unto the clouds, conjuring the rosy hue so familiar to the inhabitants of Los Angeles. Demeter had gotten a singular table for herself to wait for her terminally late daughter. These days, Demeter was glad to have at least that one thing stay constant about Persephone.  To this very moment, she still couldn't believe her. First, you run away from a full ride scholarship and a future of promise, then you shack up with some rapper?

It didn't matter how many times she tried to convince her of what was right, what she knew was best, she'd always hang up before she could finish or make up some excuse and say she had to go. Well, she wouldn't be able to hang up on her in person. How could you love someone that sang about such filthy things? Murder, sex, drugs; he revelled in it. 

Ah, there she was. No matter how much she changed, Demeter would always recognise her daughter. It was a mother's way. 

She strode through the door with what Demeter felt was an unearned and gaudy air of self-importance. Laden with bags filled with the latest designer clothes and draped in gold, diamonds and runway clothes, she was a sight to behold even in L.A. She took her time walking to her table, soaking up the awed glances of the nouveau riche and beaming kind smiles to her waving fans. Her wide hat and shades shielded her thinner face from the harsh Californian sun until she found herself under the foyer with her mother, who was forcing a close-lipped smile.

"Mom! It's so nice to see you!" she said, leaning in for a kiss to the cheek after dropping all 8 of her bags.

"It certainly has been a while. Have you lost weight?" Demeter asked. 

"Well, shopping's hard work. I've gotta be fit to carry all these." she chuckled out, gesturing to her bags. 

Demeter repeated her tight-lipped smile to keep herself from blurting out: "What are you doing?!" Instead, she ordered from the menu and continued with the small talk, biding her time. 

"How is Marcus, by the way?" Demeter questioned

"You mean Hades?"

Demeter recoiled at the ridiculous name. What does that even mean, anyway? 

"Yes," she forced out. "How is he?"

Persephone's smile widened into a grin as she began. 

"Well, he's everywhere! Like, if you ever learn to switch radio stations, Mom," she said, looking at Demeter pointedly, who just chuckled; genuinely this time

"You'd hear some of the tracks off of his latest album. He's trying to 'clean up his act' according to him. He doesn't want our kid to think of him as 'Mr. Murder'. He's trying the 'conscious'..."

Demeter had frozen with her fake smile on her face while Persephone continued on about...Hades. The name just felt wrong to her. Kids? Is she already thinking about kids? For god's sake, Demeter thought, she was only 20! She had a career to think about! A life! This rap fad would pass and then what? She would be stuck with a deadbeat and kids! She'd be trapped in the lower class with no way out! She did not raise the perfect daughter in the perfect house for some idiot spewing trash to take her away! 

"Persephone," Demeter interrupted. Persephone had been prattling on about some inconsequential 'beef' and Demeter needed to speak now. "Are you sure that you want to do this?" she asked in that tone. If you have a mother, you know that tone. The one that says 'I know better'. 

Persephone's smile turned saccharine and her tone turned with it. 

"Of course, Mom. I love him."

She always did this, even over the phone, but this time Demeter would get her to realise, Persephone's emotions be damned.  

"Come on, Persephone. You are a smart girl. We both know that this rap thing is just a passing fad, not to mention how unstable the arts industry is. He'll fade out in a year or two. Why don't you go ba--" 

"Mom, please," Persephone said, cutting off Demeter this time, her sweet smile never even fading. "You know I always plan for everything, which is why me and Hades are doing modelling. Speaking of modelling, by the way, I wore this Chanel jacket on the runway and it is to die for." 

"Persepho--"

"Hold on, Mom lemme get it out. It would look amazing on you. And these D'Luca pumps go with it so well."

"N-no need," Demeter said, her voice cracking. 

I've lost her, she thought as she called for the check.