Persephone

7. Lilac ✔

Persephone

Next Morning

Ring, ring.

"Hello?"

'Miss Jones, dinner must have been so good last night that you overslept.'

"Oh shit, Mr Wilson," I quickly get up and check my watch.

09:45

"Oh gosh. I'm so sorry. I'll be there in 20 minutes," I say as I scramble out of bed.

'Don't worry about it, get here when you're ready. I'm home all day.'

"Thank you, sir," I sigh and hang up. I quickly get out of bed and run to the bathroom to get ready.

I pull out my outfit for the day, a long-sleeved top, and boyfriend jeans. I put on my wig on from the previous night, too lazy to do my hair and put on my vans. I head downstairs and make a cup of coffee to go.

I grab the keys to the trunk and make my way to the flower shop. Luckily, I had asked Hermes to handle my deliveries for today, so I make my way to Mr Wilson's mansion. I had packed my kit the night before. I arrive at his mansion, and the gate opens. I drive to the backyard, to find Mr Wilson talking on the phone.

"Parakaló̱ na synanti̱thó̱ me to symvoúlio apópse eínai epeígon," he says, strangely enough, I could understand what he was saying.

How do I understand what he's saying?

He wants to meet with the council, he must be a very prominent businessman.

"Parakaló̱ Hermes eínai i̱ dikí̱ tou ti̱n vrí̱ka."

Hermes?

"Sas ef̱charistó̱ sas chro̱stáo̱," he smiles and hangs up.

"Persephone didn't anyone ever tell you that it was rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations," he chuckles.

Oh shit.

"I'm sorry, sir," I blush.

He walks over to me and looks down at me with a smile, "You're cute when you blush."

"Thank you," I giggle.

He leans to kiss me, but someone interrupts us again.

"Ah, Persephone."

"Don hi, how are you?" I smile backing away from Mr Wilson.

He pushes Mr Wilson aside and hugs me, "Good, and how are you?"

"Good," I mumble into his shirt.

He lets me go and I smile at him, "How's Fifi? I miss her."

"She's good, she's in the house. Maybe you can come to see her during your tea break," he suggests.

I grin, "Of course."

"Great", he turns around and looks at his brother, "Hades, Hecate needs to speak to you."

"I'll be with her in a few, I just need to speak to Persephone about the roses."

He nods and walks away.

"I'm sorry about my brother."

I look at him, "He's growing on me, I wish I had an older brother or siblings for that matter."

"Only child," I walk towards my truck and offload my equipment.

"I'm sorry," he frowns, "So where are you, parents?"

"Upstate", I put my gloves on and then my apron.

He smiles at me, "You look so cute in that apron, but I think you'd look better in just that apron."

My body tingles, dammit Persephone, pull yourself together.

"Let me walk you through your new workspace," he smirks.

As he guides me through the duties, I can help but notice the tattoos on his neck and the side of his head, he was a walking Picasso painting, defined and detailed. Honestly, I am not even paying attention to him.

"So, did you get everything?"

"Uh, what?" I ask looking at him.

He chuckles, "You weren't paying attention, were you?"

I shake my head shyly, "I just couldn't help but stare at you. You're a work of art Mr Wilson."

His cheeks turn pink, but he clears his throat and puts on a stoic face, "Uhm thank you, Persephone."

"If you could please go through everything one more time. I'd appreciate it."

He clears his throat, "Yes of course."

He goes through everything one more time, and this time I listen and take notes. He leaves me alone to do my work, and I start trimming down the roses and shaping them.

Frankly, I do not know how to feel about this job. It is fun, I have never worked with black roses before, but something about these roses spoke to me. They were more than just roses, these were alive and why he wants me here is just beyond me.

Persephone.

Persephone.

Nope, I am not answering, I say to myself not wanting to believe that I was hearing things, or that the flowers were talking.

Persephone! The voice shrieks and I drop my garden scissors to cover my ears.

'You can't escape us. Persephone, listen to us talk. Persephone, for you, have sealed your fate, in the world of hate, now this burden is yours to take.'

"No please stop," I scream in fear.

NO!

I scream, "No!"

'Kill her! End her!'

I see blood dripping, and I realise that my nose is bleeding. I start to feel lightheaded and start running towards the mansion.

Stop! Do not go in there!

I begin to cry at the door, "Someone helps me, please! Help."

I hear a scream, and I block my ears, but it does not work. I can still hear it.

God, please help me. I do not know what is going on!

Suddenly it stops, and it is quiet again. I open my eyes and find myself lying on the ground in the garden, with Hades kneeling beside me, looking terrified and as pale as a ghost.

"Persephone, are you okay?" He asks worriedly.

I sit up, wincing. My head pounding, "Ah, what, what happened?"

"I don't know. I heard you screaming from inside, and I came out to see if you were okay and you were sitting on the floor, having a panic attack and then you blacked out afterwards," he rumbles.

I touch the bottom of my nose, and there is no sign of blood, I look at Hades and quickly get up, he reaches out to help me, but I push him away.

"Persephone, what happened?" He asks worriedly.

I let out a shaky breath, "I don't know."

I see Don rushing up the pathway and calling out for Hades.

"You need to come to see this, the both of you," he says.

He looks just as scared as Hades did even more.

We quickly follow him, which gives me terrible whiplash, but I make it into the house, and he takes us into the lounge. The whole place was a mess. It looked like a tornado had ripped through the entire room.

"What happened in here?"

"Sirens," Don says.

Sirens?