Aides (COMPLETED)

Fifty

Aides

For days I was holed up in my room. I couldn't eat nor sleep thinking of all that happened. I refused to believe what Kore had done...how she had betrayed me.
But why?
It wasn't like her...it wasn't in her nature to kill someone out of selfish disdain. And the name she called me when we made love? It was a name I had told no one but...

"Aideoneus!!" Hera runs into my throne room, throwing her arms around me. Zeus trailed behind her, watching me as his wife cried into my neck.

"I have just heard the treachery of that little flower girl! To think that innocent girl would do that! I guess madness runs in the family?" Hera hinted, making sure to remind me of her mother.

Zeus leaned against the wall of the adjacent corner, watching the fire of my throne room rise into thick blue flames. He had never paid me a visit before to my realm, always keen on staying on Mt Olympus. He held no power since we had found him guilty at the trial a couple of months ago. I suppose no women cared to warm his bed anymore...

"Aides we rushed over here as soon as we heard the attempt on your life! How could she?" Hera cursed. I grabbed her hands and led her off my neck, curious to know how she had learned of the news...it had only been a couple of days?

"And who told you?" I looked at Hera with concern. I knew news traveled fast amongst the gods but it had only been 3 days?

"Oh! You know...Hermès and...and gossip Aides" she confesses, before turning to pull me to her side. "I am starved Aides, please let us eat! We came here to visit you and comfort you in your darkest time but that does not mean you do not need to feed us" she declared changing the subject ever so quickly before clapping and leading me to the dining room.

____

Kore

I do not know how many days had passed.

It was three? Maybe 4?

My sanity dwindled each day and each minute as I remembered the look of betrayal in his striking brown eyes. He had chained me to my bed post, refusing me the decency of even addressing him.

How could he not know it wasn't me? How could he be so quick to assume that I would be the woman to try and kill him?

I loved him more than life itself!
Even more than my own life?
How could he believe I was the one who would decide to end his life?

Maybe because only 12 months earlier, I was the woman who agreed to do it.
But that was before. I would have never done it!

He came into the room I was chained in, pulling off the dark black hood that covered his handsome face. His eyes were dark and sunken, each orb was filled with sadness. "Aides... please... if you would just listen to me." I begged, walking over to touch him but he snapped away from me, walking over to a small table in the corner to think.

He continued to ignore me, mixing together a dark red liquid with a clear white vial. It burst into a thick cloud of smoke before he lifted it to his lips and drank it. Once he came to its halfway point, he turned to me and walked over. "Drink it" was all he said.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

"Drink it Kore, before I make you." he snapped; his tone was lethal.

"Aides...please! It wasn't me." I explain, trying to remember who it was but...for some reason...I couldn't. My memory was dwindling the longer I stayed in the darkness of my room. Someone must have put a spell on me...but who?

"All I remember is the three witches...and going into the room" I rambled on but he grabbed my jaw violently, pushing my neck to the wall and watching me with rage. "Drink it" he said, pressing it against my lips.

A thick hot tear dripped down my cheek as I felt his grip around my throat. He had never laid his hands on me like this.

"Aides.. your hurting me" I frown, pressing my palms against his arms.

"Just as you hurt my heart and soul?" he answered, gently letting his grip lessen.

I couldn't offer a rebuttal for it was true. Although I I knew it was not me who tried to take his life, he would never see it that way unless there was something to prove my innocence.

Carefully, I opened my lips and he poured it into my mouth, making me drink every last droplet. He finally let me go and I collapsed to the floor, choking on the thickness of the liquid. "What ..what was that" I coughed, trying to regain my breaths.

"A drink that will no longer bind you to the underworld. After today, you are no longer bound here. You will be returning to earth to live among the mortals."

"No..no Aides!!" I yelled, standing over to hug his back. "I love you! Why won't you believe me!"

"Surely that is hard to believe coming from a woman who tried to crash a knife into the reigning ruler's back?" he smiles, trying to hide his hurt.

"No! Aides, please! It wasn't me. I love you!!! You have to listen to me!!" I frown, holding his arm with care.

He drops his head to the floor before lifting his gaze to me. "You have gotten your wish wife.
You wanted freedom? You received it.
I want nothing more to do with you Kore" he confesses looking into my eyes before calling for the guards. "Guards." he yelled, opening the door to let them in, "Make sure Kore is packed and ready to leave the underworld by tomorrow morning. Pack all her things from here and escort her to earth once morning comes. She is no longer queen of this realm. And if she protests..." he pauses looking into my eyes. "Do what you must" he said finally before exiting the room. She is a menacne to the underworld" he says, his words paining my ears.

"Aides..no!" I begin to cry but he didn't care for my tears. The servants begin packing my things, carefully stuffing each chest and case with my clothes and belongings.

And I only stood idle; helpless... accepting my reality and dropping to the floor, cradling my body into my cold arms.

I had finally received my freedom.
It was what I had been asking for since I was taken from earth and forced to be queen of this realm.

But why was it that I felt so shackled?