Hades

minestrone

Hades

Stella was waiting, and I wanted to explain to her, how and why she was here. Work just couldn't be put on hold. And some people just didn't get that it wasn't some almighty God who awaited them. I was such a disappointment.

They didn't want to meet Zeus, that's for sure. Even though they thought they would once they met me.

I went to the dining room, only to find it empty and then walked to the kitchen. It was hot in there, and Stella sat perched on a chair, Lucinda was cooking.

I leaned into the doorway, watching them.

Stella didn't utter a word. She wore her leather jacket, the black shirt and the tight jeans. And boots, still. Her hair was in a ponytail. Lucinda was chatting away about the meal. At some point Stella must have told she liked minestrone soup, because that was what Lucinda chattered about. Her hair was in a thick braid down her back, and she was wearing an apron. Bread was in the oven.

"Do you want to eat in the dining room? Or will here be fine?" Lucinda asked and looked at Stella.

Stella shrugged.

"Here is fine," I said.

Lucinda looked at me, her gray eyes bright and happy. "Neat! I'll just make the table then!" Two minutes later and the food were served. Lucinda grabbed a bowl for herself and left with a wink in Stella's direction.

I sat and ladled soup into my bowl.

Stella sat quiet as a mouse.

"So," I said and folded my hands on the table. "Let me put this straight, you're not supposed to be here."

That caught her attention. Her eyes were wide and blue, and she looked so small and innocent, I felt bad. That rarely happened.

"You most likely will survive, it would surprise me otherwise, yet you're probably in a coma or something right now. Modern technology, man." It went so fast. Which was awesome, but still weird.

She put a strand of hair behind her ear. "So, I'll go back home at some point?" she asked, her voice so hopeful.

I nodded and took the spoon in my hand. "I can't promise when or how long you'll stay, but ninety percent of those, who end here and who aren't supposed to, go back to their lives. But Stella, time here moves at a different pace, so while a day here may seem a long time, it cannot be compared to that of the time on Earth."

She nodded and looked at the steaming soup.

"Now, eat," I said. "You need your strength. It will affect your body on Earth."

She smiled a careful smile. "How come I'm the only one here?" she whispered.

"Well, you're the only untimely dead as of right now. Most doesn't get in here, and those who do are usually looked after in the waiting room."

"Then why am I here?" she asked and helped herself to soup.

"Because it is a curious matter that I wish to look into, and I'd prefer to keep you someplace safe, which is here, in the meantime. The waiting room is always filling up and being emptied, and I don't want to scare you."

She tore a piece of bread of a slice and dipped it into the soup. "I didn't think Greek mythology was real."

I smiled. "Nah, most people doesn't. But it's true. And, honestly? I don't care who or what people believes in or doesn't believe in, once they get here, they know what's true and what isn't."

Stella nodded.

"Do you remember what happened?" I asked.

"I think it was a car crash, but I don't remember it. The sound of screeching tires is the only thing I remember."

I nodded. Not as bad as I feared. She would be able to feel herself once she woke. But the bastard who drove the car wasn't supposed to drive into her at that point.

"Do you know what happened?" she asked.

I nodded. "I always do." I muttered and ate more soup.

Stella looked at me, her eyebrows raising. "Then tell me?"

I smiled. "I can't." I said.

"You've got to be shitting me."

"No, unfortunately not," I said. "It's confidential. Can't have people coming here waking up and knowing what happened, if they were supposed to have been unconscious or something at the time."

Her shoulders slumped. "Fine!" she snapped.

I smiled. "Eat up, pretty. Long day awaits tomorrow."

"Why?" she asked and ate a spoonful of pastas.

"You're going shopping with Lucinda," I stated.

Stella blew that same strand of hair out of her face. "Why the fuck is it that Hades and Greek mythology is a thing?" she asked. "No disrespect, but why all those other religions?"

I shrugged. "It made better sense? For some it seems more logical that one big man is behind all."

She tightened her ponytail. "Will you show me to my room? I don't remember the way."

"Sure," I said. "Please bring some food, if you're not going to eat more. There is a fridge in your room."

She nodded and stood, found a container for the soup, took some bread, a jug of water and a glass and put it on a tray.

I stood, took the tray from her and carried it to her room. She trailed behind me.

We didn't say anything.

She let me put the tray on the desk. "Thank you."

"If there's anything, just call my name, I'll hear it."

"No matter where you are?" she asked, doubtful.

I smirked, I couldn't help it. "If I'm in the castle, I'll hear it."

She nodded. "Thanks."

"Sleep tight."

She shut the door and I went back to the kitchen to finish my dinner.

Lucinda was making some sort of dough.

"I'm making cookies because I feel like it, and I feel like we could all use some sugar tomorrow," she said, before I'd even sat down.

"Great."

She looked back at me. "Is she okay?" concern filling her gray eyes.

I ate bread. "She'll be okay, I think. It's a lot to take in, especially when she's so young." Lucinda was born here.

Lucinda nodded. "I'll make sure to wake her tomorrow, so she won't get lost."

"Persephone is still here," I reminded Lucinda.

She nodded and looked back down at her dough. "It seems there is a long way until end of spring."

I smiled. "Yeah."