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“Asclepius, damn it, you cannot keep snatching these corpses from the grave, as if you are a god.”  Hades motioned toward one of the patients kneeling by the doctor.  “This man, right here, he is more dead than alive.  By all rights, he should be standing on the shore of the Styx.  I will not tolerate this thievery any longer.  You have been warned!”

“Hades, please, it is the compassion of man that drives him to help his neighbor when injured or in need.  I am simply satiating that natural desire,” Asclepius pets the head of his subject.  “He needs help, and I can give that to him.”

“Not when he is dead!”  Hades raised his hand to his ear and then quickly dropped it to his waist.  “This is your only warning.”  The body fell to the floor.  Asclepius knelt down attempting to find a pulse.  Hades jerked back the reins of his horse and left the man, his corpse, and his temple.

Hades headed back to the Underworld by way of a small grove he made sure to see anytime he was in the light.  The small grove was in front of a forest, and was made up of five large willows.  A group of girls often played there; a group of girls and one young goddess.  Hades thought he could calm his nerves by watching the innocent.  He had watched her here often, and each time he stayed a little longer.  I wonder if she knows about me.  Hades was very secluded from the rest of the Olympians.  One of the few times he was atop The Mountain, he saw her and her mother in the foyer.  But as he is prone, he walked past without a word.  He neared the grove through the woods and slowed the horse as he approached.  He cinched the reins close to his thighs and brushed the dark mane of his horse.  One of the girls definitely stood out to him.  It had been quite awhile since he was here, but had it really been that long?  She had matured well past the other girls.  Raven hair down to the mid of her back and her skin was very pale with a slight peach undertone.  She had grabbed one of the smaller girls, and began to spin her around by the arm then suddenly let go.  The small girl spun around a bit and then stopped, frozen in place.  She continued to repeat the process with each of the remaining girls.  Finally, each stood like tiny statues.  She began to dance around each of them, tapping their shoulders as she passed.  When each girl was tapped, they joined in the dance with Persephone. 

“Demeter, Demeter,” the little girl breathed heavily, “he took her.”

Demeter pushed aside her handmaiden, “What do you mean?”

“A large dark man on a horse took Persephone,” finally getting her voice from the long run.

“What, where, take me there!”

The little girl began to run and Demeter picked her up, “Point to where.”

“Over by the grove of the five trees.”

Demeter ran holding the little girl close to her chest.  “The man came and took her and we all ran.”  They reached the grove and a few of the girls stood motionless.

“Where did he go?” Demeter put the child down.

“I didn’t see.”

“Where did he come from?”

“I don’t know.”

“Over by the forest,” another girl piped up.

“Where, which direction?” Demeter crossed over to the girl.

“Over by that tree,” she pointed into the woods.

Demeter placed a hand on each of the child’s upper arms, “Think!  What did he look like?”  The girl stood looking back at Demeter and shook her head.  “Where are the other girls?”  Demeter walked over to some children kneeling by a willow.  “Did you see him?”  The girls looked back at Demeter and didn’t move.  She spun around and screamed, “Where did he go?”  No response.  Demeter ran into the woods, “Persephone, Persephone!”

She was kicking at the underbelly of the horse, and was pulling at his hand with her one free arm.  “Stop it!  You are going to fall,” he bellowed as he looked at the rocks and thorn bushes below.  They were racing about ten feet above the ground.  Persephone continued to kick and pull.  The horse winced at a well-placed heel.  Hades tried to steady the horse, and lost his grip on Persephone as she began to fall.  He steered the horse down and plucked her up before she hit the ground.  “Damn it!  You can still feel pain.  You know that don’t you?”  He had her pinned on the ground and the horse milled nearby.  “Would you rather walk?”

“Take me back!”

“No!” he yanked her up from the ground by her elbow as he stood.  He wrapped his arm around hers, pinning them to her waist, and began walking.

“So you’re not going to eat?”

“I want to go home.”

“You’re not going home, eat.”

“When my mom finds out…”

“Your mother will do nothing!  I have chosen you for my bride, that is the way it will be.”

“You can’t just keep me here.  I don’t want to be here.  I’ll never eat anything if you keep me here.”

“Your childish tantrum won’t last forever.  Believe me, it will pain you more than me.”

“So, is this what you want, a starved child bride that can’t stand to look at you?  What kind of god has to kidnap a bride? A poor wretch of a god, does no one love you?”

“I’ve got what I want,” he walks over and brushes her hair with his hand.  “Willing or unwilling, I have what I want.” 

She pulls his hand from her head and holds it by her shoulder.  “Can I see my mother?”

He turns his kept hand to grasp hers, and brings it down to her waist.  With his other hand, he clasps her chin, “I know you are young and this is hard for you to understand.  You are my bride, and you are not leaving.  Your mother can visit anytime she feels fit.” She pulls away from him, “What if she doesn’t know I’m here?”

“That is not my concern,” he turns to leave.

“Wouldn’t you rather have someone who wants you too?”

He paused and then continued out the door, locking it behind him.

She sat cross-legged on the thin mat in the middle of a small bare room he decided to lock her in, as if that could keep her mother out.  She sat there staring at a bowl of fruit.  She was accustomed to eating, but knew she didn’t need to eat.  But those strawberries smelled as if she had just picked them from the thicket by the grove.  And grapes, it had been so long since she had had grapes.  No you can’t!  She thought about how her mother told her about the bond you create when you accept food from someone.  He might think you like it here, and then your mom will never come get you.  Where is she?  She has to know by now.  I wonder if she needs permission or something to get here.  What if he lies and tells her I’m not here?  How will she ever find me?  I should make noise; constant noise day in and day out.  I should be really loud in case she can hear.

She picked up the bowl and tossed the fruit on the ground.  She used the bowl to bang on the walls and all the while yelling, “Help!  I’m in here,” over and over.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m being as annoying as possible so you’ll let me go.”

“You are not going anywhere.  You can scream until you are hoarse, but you are not leaving!”

“What do you want?  Your dark scruffy face; who could love you? Or respect you?  What kind of god can’t even grow a proper beard?  That’s why no one loves you, because you’re disgusting.  I don’t love you!  I won’t!  I hate you!  I never want to be around…”

“Enough! Or I’ll lock you up in Tartarus!  See, silence.  You respect fear, as you should.  You don’t want to go there do you?  No, always remember, I control your destiny, not you and not your mother.  You are my bride!”

The strawberries lay slightly bruised and very dirty near the door to her cell.  Persephone held her knees close to her chest and methodically rocked back and forth on the mat.  Rocked and stared at the strawberries, rocked and stared.  How long have I been down here? Certainly many days, my mother must know where I am by this time.  Zeus must know.  Someone has to know I’m here.  A grouping of fruit flies circled and landed on the strawberries.  Persephone stopped rocking and pushed herself off the mat, and crawled to the strawberries.  That’s not supposed to happen.  I didn’t think anything natural could survive down here.  Oh Zeus, why do I even care?  I’m going to fade into boredom.  Right now, I’d even welcome a fight with Hades just to stay awake. Persephone waved the flies off the strawberries and placed one of them in her hand.  They looked a lot less appealing then when they first tempted.  She rolled the strawberry around her palm with her thumb.  Just the slightest pressure and it began to bleed into her hand.  She wiped the strawberry back onto the floor and her hands on her dress.  She stood and looked around the cell spotting the other discarded and rotting fruit.  He’s not even trying anymore, like he doesn’t have to or doesn’t care.  This must be like a trophy case.  I wonder what he’ll put in here next.

“My ears are burning, you must have been thinking about me.”  Hades closed the door with both hands behind his back, and rest against the door. 

Persephone sat back down on the mat, and brought her knees to her chin circling her arms around her shins.  “You wish.”

“Indeed.  I’m sorry that I haven’t visited in awhile.  I wanted to let you cool down a bit.  You were a little hostile.”

“Oh, you are so right.  Where are my manners?  My uncle kidnaps me from my home for incestuous purposes, and locks me in a cell with rotting fruit. Please excuse me for not being more grateful.”

“Obviously, you have been in here too long and it hasn’t helped to harness your temper.  How would you like to tour your massive kingdom?  Contrary to what you have been told, the Underworld is beautiful!  From the Isle of the Blest to the banks of the Styx, it is a more vast, important, and wondrous kingdom then those of all the gods.  You must appreciate how this move has elevated your status as an Olympian.”

“What move?  You took me!  I know the majority of your time you stay in this dreary world with no one, and entertain yourself with fantasies, but we are not married.  Zeus and Hera have not blessed us in a ceremony of unity.  We are not married!”

“You do not need a ceremony.”

“No, but you need the blessing of the goddess of Marriage.  I’ll never ask for that!”

“Please, calm down, at least come to the throne room with me, it is a bigger room.”

“No.”

“Would you like a chair, pillow, bed?”

“If you choose to put a pillow in here, I cannot stop you.”

“Ok, ok, I’ll bring many pillows and a blanket.  And I’ll get some one to clean up this fruit.  Would you like something else to eat?”

“No.  You have other people here?”

“It’s not what you think, they’re dead.  I let some of them do minor chores for me occasionally.  It allows them to escape their eternity for a moment.”

Hades leaned forward from the door opened it behind him stepped backward and closed it in front of him.  Never once looking away from her.  Persephone shook an audible chill into the room.  He is intense.  What if I do have to stay here?  Should I always stay in here, in this room?  But he is so creepy.  I couldn’t stand to be around him.  Maybe he’ll keep putting furniture in here.  I could get him to bring me pots filled with dirt and bulbs and seeds.  I guess if I had to, I could get used to it here.  But not him!   I could not get used to him.

“Zeus it has come time, and I have chosen a bride.  I have come here for you and your wife to bless my marriage.”

“Why certainly, I am thrilled.  Who have you chosen for a bride?”

“Persephone, she is at the throne as we speak.”

“Well, of course then, a slightly odd choice for such a sun-loving creature as my daughter…”

“Honey do not make light,” Hera scolded.  “Hades we are delighted to bless your marriage.”

“Yes,” Zeus pipes in, “I fully support this union. Give her my love.”

The door opened slowly and Persephone picked up her head.  Hades walked halfway across the threshold.  “I brought some of them with me to clean up and furnish your room a little.  I wanted to warn you before you see them.  They are not alive.  They do not look normal.”  Hades walked forward into the room and from behind five bodies hurriedly picked up the rotten fruit, and placed couches and pillows in the room.  Persephone’s blank stare twisted into disgust, as she saw the gray shells scurry around the room.  Hades had not looked up from Persephone. He walked over to her and kneeled beside her.  “It is alright.  They won’t do anything…”

“I never knew; they have no eyes.”

“No souls, no eyes.”

She whispered, “They’re hideous.”

Hades motioned for them to go and got up and walked through the doorway.  He walked in again, but this time backwards.  He turned and Persephone’s eyes widened, as she saw a beautiful plant in an ornate pot.  He offered it to her, “ I wanted to make amends.”

“It is amazing.”  She took the plant from Hades and returned to the mat and sat it directly in front of her.

Hades clapped his hands together, as to announce a speech, but Persephone did not look up.  “Well, dear, it is official.  Zeus and Hera gave us their blessing, and we are wed.”

Persephone looked up and stood to her length. “No!  He couldn’t.  He wouldn’t.  What about my mother?”

“She was no where to be found.”

“What?  Didn’t Zeus look for her?  Didn’t he want to know where I was?  Doesn’t he need my permission too?”

“Listen, I haven’t been fair to you. I know you are not very happy with me, and that is my fault. I really have treated you poorly, but I didn’t want you to leave.  But, now that I have spoken with Zeus, I’m no longer worried.  Come with me,” he held out his hand to Persephone.  She reached for it, as an automatic gesture, but her eyes were fixed on the floor with the thought, Where is my mother?

“I want to show you, our kingdom.”  Hades placed one hand on her waist and kept lightly holding her other hand.  He guided her through the doorway and into a long hallway.  The walls were dark blue, jagged rock, and the floors were uneven, but very smooth.  The hall ended at a wooden door.  The wood was unusually light for the surroundings, maybe an oak or sandalwood.  In the center of the door, a large thin disc was fixed.  Hades pulled it toward him, and as the door opened, Persephone had to shield her eyes.  She was not used to the light with her time spent in his cell.  And this light was quite brilliant, and slightly hazy.  Persephone tried to focus, but couldn’t tell if it was her eyes or the light.  It seemed as if you could grab at the colors speckled in the air.  She reached her hand out.

“It’s amazing isn’t it?” She had almost forgot about Hades standing next to her, holding her.

“What is this?”

“This is the Elysian Fields, your kingdom, but this is only the beginning.”  He pushed her forward slightly until she began to walk forward on her own. 

The air was thick and left a sweet taste in her mouth.  The air smelled like lilies and lilacs.  The ground, she had almost failed to notice.  She was on a soft path of white sand, and around it thick grass bordered.  She traced the path with her eyes, and saw an awesome field unfold.  It was filled with flowers, weeds, small bushes; red, blue, green.  She inhaled deeply and exhaled a wide smile.  She ran into the field with her hands high above her head, screaming relief.  She dove into a patch of crocus with her knees and hands, and gathered a great bundle to her nose. “This is so beautiful.  I don’t understand.”

“Persephone, this is Elysium.  Death is not all punishment.  Many people lead pious, noble lives and deserve to have this awaiting them when they die.”

Persephone realized then, “You mean these colors…”

“They’re souls; souls of great heroes, and pious men and women.  Here is my most beloved, in my entire kingdom.  The smells, colors, the breeze, it is so warm.” 

“You like this?”

“I’m not a demon, no matter what you have heard, or what you were led to believe by my earlier behavior.  Why do you think I choose you?  This is you, you are this, everything!  You embody these smells and colors and warmth.  I knew, when I saw you, you are my Elysium.”

“You don’t know me.  I’m not this.  I like this.  It is pretty, but you do not know me.”

“I know you are beautiful.  You love flowers and spring.  You’re strong-willed and full- of-life, and you most often dress in peach because it brings out the color in your skin.”

“What, do you stalk me?  Oh, wait you did.”

“No, I have just happened upon you playing from time to time.  I’ve noticed.  I’m very observant, and I must say, you are the nicest thing I have ever observed.”

“Thank you very much, but I am not a thing.”

“I know that.”

“No, I don’t think you do, or you never would have decided that you deserved me in the first place.  I’m not an object.  I do not know why you think you can just keep me, possess me.”

“Persephone, I’m sorry; I’m arrogant.  But look at this!  This belongs to you. You belong here, with all of this beauty.”

“Where is the Isle of the Blest?”

“Ahh, you want to see more.  Come, I’ll show you.”  He helped her up, and guided her by the waist back through the door.  The two again entered the dark hall and traveled along another corridor.  The rocks on the floor were rough and sharp compared with the previous passage.  The walls narrowed the further they went.  Soon it was hard to see clearly, and Hades moved his arm from Persephone’s waist and stepped in front of her.  He reached behind himself and grabbed both of her hands.  He continued to lead her to the end.  He brushed past a series of dark, velvet curtains.  The light slowly filtered in as they passed more curtains.  Hades stopped and dropped Persephone’s hands and turned toward her.  He placed his hand again aside her waist.

“Are you ready?”  Persephone nodded and he drew back the final curtain.  The air was not as sweet as in Elysium, and the light was not as bright.  Instead of a warm breeze, a cool mist hung in the air.  The Isle was covered with trees separated by small patches of grass.

“It feels like early morning by the five tree grove.  It is so quiet.  Are they here?”

“Somewhere, you probably wouldn’t recognize them.  Everyone who comes to the Elysian Fields has the chance to be reborn, and if a soul lives three remarkable lives, they come here.”

“It is very peaceful, very tranquil.”

“It is spectacular!”

“You can feel it, can’t you?”

Hades inhales deeply and then looks down at Persephone.  “Do you know how lucky you are?  This is yours, the feeling, the smell; damp, crisp, wonderful.”  He placed his hand under her chin and raised her face to his, “There is fascination in everything, but to be able to immerse yourself in this deep is hard to fathom.  Do you understand?”  Persephone blinked. “You’ve only known the everyday, the human joys and sorrow.  This is immortal bliss.”  Persephone shook.  Hades unhitched his cloak and wrapped it around her arms.

“What is this?”  Persephone pulled out a pouch that hung from the inside of the cloak. 

“Oh, Pomegranates.  My one true human vice.”  He takes the pouch from her, and took out one fruit.  He sank his nails into the skin and thrust his hands apart.  He ripped open the fruit and split it in half.  He smiled at Persephone and grabbed a couple seeds.  “I have to admit, I do go up occasionally just to get a few.”  He hands half to her, “Would you like some?”  Persephone hesitates.  “Still on your hunger strike?  Don’t you find that rather pointless now?”  She looks down at the half and puts out her hand.  He drops the fruit in her palm with the seeds staring back at her.

“I’ve never had a Pomegranate seed.”  She tries one, “Sweet.”  She takes another. 

Hades pulls the curtain back, “Let me show you the throne room.”

She grabs a couple more seeds and pops them into her mouth.  With a smile she hands the fruit back, “They’re good.”

“I know.”

  “Persephone!”  Demeter stood ankle deep in moss and mud.  “Persephone!”  Running for days throughout all of the woods, she had searched every inch.  “Persephone!”  She began to cry, again, and sank her knees into the mud. “Help me!”  Sobs rolled down her cheeks and her hair fell into her face, as she braced her hands on the protruding root of a nearby tree.  She lifted her head and saw a hazy light approaching.  Hecatè stood before the goddess, and reached a hand down to her.

“Hecatè, my daughter…”

“Shh, I know Demeter.  Listen, she is safe.  She has not been harmed, and will not be.”

“Where is she?”  Demeter nearly pulled Hecatè into the mud she so feverishly climbed her arm up from the ground.  Demeter stood holding Hecatè by the shoulders.  “Please, take me to her.”

“Demeter, take a breath.  I told you she is being taken care of, so hold your worries for a moment.  I must tell you this is a very serious issue, and a very delicate one.  The world has settled now and we cannot have wars between gods, like the war with the Titans.  This has to be handled very diplomatically.”

“Does a god have her?”

“Yes.”
”Who, where?  Tell me!”

“Demeter, remember she is fine.  You must go see my grandfather, Helios.  It is not my place to deal with this here.  Helios witnessed the abduction and can give you the best information and advice, it is not my place.”

“He saw her being taken and did nothing!”

“I told you this is a very difficult situation, it needs mediation.  Please go to Helios.”

Demeter dropped her arms to her sides, and Hecatè led her through the woods.

“Demeter, I’m glad you have finally come to see me.”

“And why didn’t you come to see me.  Are you a coward Helios?  Watching an innocent girl be …”

“Demeter quiet yourself, she is fine.  I knew she was fine when she was being taken.  Hades has chosen her for his bride.”

“What, no, what, he took her?  And you thought that was fine?  She is down there with him, and that is just fine!  No, I will not allow it.”

“It is too late, Demeter.  Zeus has granted and supported the marriage.  They have Hera’s blessing.  Go to Zeus, he wants to see you.  Your crops have dwindled, and many villages cannot afford to make proper offerings to the Gods.”

“He allowed my daughter to be taken by that Ghoul, and he wants me to attend to his crops.  I will not! If he wants me, he can give me my daughter back, then I’ll tend to his precious crops.”

“Demeter, watch what you say.  Zeus is fickle…”

“I do not care!  I want to see my daughter!  I will starve the gods and mortals until I see her.  Tell him that.”  Demeter exhaled, looked at Helios, and hung her head.  She dropped first to her knees and then rested on her ankles.  She pressed her fingers to her forehead, and then slid them down to her eyes, as tears leaked through to her palms. 

Helios stood before the pitiful goddess at his feet.  “Please, go to Zeus.  Maybe you can reach an understanding.”

“An understanding? He gave away our child; he gave away my baby girl.  I’ll never understand him.”

Demeter got up and began to walk.  She walked down the mountain, walked across the pebble beach, walked through the woods, walked beside the rolling hills, walked along the cart trails, walked in the fields.  She neither bathed, nor ate, nor drank, nor slept.  She walked through many days and many nights.  I’m lost, lost forever in my heart.  I don’t know what to do.  If she were dead at least I could mourn like a human; kneel by a stone and speak as if she heard.  Where am I going?  I can go nowhere.  I can do nothing.

She stopped and sat by a well.  Her elbows rested on her knees and her hands cradled her head.  The night fell.  The dawn broke.  She did not move.

“Do you think she is alive?”  One of the three girls began kneeling by the well.

“Don’t wake her!” Another girl was walking behind the old woman.

“Hello, ma’am, are you alright?” Callidice stood looking down, she was the more vocal of the sisters.

“No, I have been through a great ordeal.  I don’t even know where I am.”

“This is Eleusis.”

“Eleusis, I am far from where I began.”

“Do you need help?”

“I have no way to pay for…”

“Oh, we need no money our father is Celeus.  He is a notable man here.”

“How nice.”

“Are you hungry?”

“I have not eaten for many days, maybe.”

“Come with me, my mother can attend to you.”

“Hello, my daughter told me you have suffered a great hardship.  If it doesn’t pain you too much, might I inquire?”

“I’m sorry.  I don’t mean to impose.  Your daughter said I would be welcome.”

“Oh, and you are.  We always extend our home to a guest as is proper.  I’m sorry my name is Metaneira and my daughter here is Callidice,” she pat her daughter’s head.  “I did not mean to pry.  I just wondered if there maybe some way we could be of help.”

“No, I’m sorry.  I can’t be helped.  My daughter was taken from me and the gods will not help me.  I have no idea how to get her back.  I just miss…I, I walked for days. I just…”

“Oh, my!  I am so very sorry for your loss.  Please, stay here for a while.  If you don’t mind, maybe you can draw some comfort from helping with my young son.”

“You have a baby?”

“Yes,” she left the room and brought back a bundle of blankets and placed them in Demeter’s arms. “His name is Demophon.”

“Oh, he is gorgeous. Hello, hello.  How are you, baby?  Yes, oh my yes.  My you are strong.”  Now directing her attention back to the mother, “Look at how he holds my finger.  What a beautiful baby boy!”

Demeter held Demophon in her arms, while she sat in front of the fire.  She had removed his blankets and now he slept upon the pelt of a deer.

“You could be a great man, but an even greater god.  You are already so strong, so healthy.  I remember when Persephone was this small, such a short time.  You’re already struggling to talk.  You shall take Olympus by storm.  No more quivering, mindless decisions, and no more old boys network. You’ll be tall and smart and great.”

Demeter gently dipped the baby into the fire.  The brilliance that surrounded her and the child slowly burned away the mortal flesh.  Charred hair and fat mixed together a putrid aroma.  Outside in the hall, the servant, Iambe, bellowed, “What is that smell?”

Demeter quickly retrieved the child, as Iambe flung open the door, “Do you smell that?”

“Shh!  He is sleeping.”

“Oh, sorry,” Iambe slowly retreated out of the room, closing the door as she went.

“You will be a great god!”

The throne room was dark as was the norm there.  The two chairs were made of a dark mahogany, the legs curled upwards at the feet.  The head of the chair had an ornamental design, which resembled a branch of thorns.  The seats themselves were cushioned with deep red velvet.  The backs of the chairs had two rows of velvet buttons that lead to the seat.  The seat was dimpled with four velvet buttons evenly distributed on the cushion.  Hades’ chair was notably taller and included and ivy design stitched in gold along both the back and bottom.  On the left of Hades’ chair, and the right of what was to be Persephone’s chair, torches were mounted to the wall.  The room was dull.

“This is it?”

“You don’t like it?”

“There is nothing here to like.”

“You can change it, if you’d like.”

“Take me to another place.  Where do the wicked go when they die?”

“Unless they are truly evil, their souls wander along the Underworld, plagued with their own memories and fears.  The truly wicked, as you call them, are sometimes assigned a punishment for eternity.”

“Who decides?”

“I do.  That is what this is for,” he points down to a mosaic inlaid on the floor.  It was two concentric circles of blue and black rocks surrounding white rocks.  The white rocks were arranged as two interlocking triangles.  “This is where judgment is passed.  Do you think you’d really like to see them?  It isn’t like you.”

“I told you, you do not know me.”

“Alright come with me.”  This time he did not guide her with his hand at her waist.  He started down a hallway to the right.  The hallway was an assembly of wooden planks that creaked with each step.  The walls were well carved out and smooth.  Hades had a quickened pace and Persephone was alarmed by it.

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.  I’m trying to keep a good distance ahead of you.  When we reach the door, you’ll see the embodied re-living all of their mistakes and worries; the aftermath of a poor life.  I have to make it quite clear to them that you are to be as feared by them as I am.  That way they won’t mob you or show you disrespect!”  Hades approached the silver door.  It was sealed with a number of locks, as if it held a great treasure.  “Stand back!”  Hades opened the door only slightly and slipped through.  “Listen! Listen! My queen has come to inspect your miserable existence.  She is not to be spoken too, looked directly at or stood near.  Back away or you will suffer a fate worse than Tantalus!”  Hades leaned back against the door opening it completely.  Persephone stood in front of a dead, sparse forest.  The ground was filled with curled leaves that crunched as she walked forward.  The trees were almost completely stripped of their bark.  It looked as if someone took large pieces of driftwood and stuck them upright in the ground.  The dead stood completely still.  Gray, the only color, each body, tree, everything was gray.

“If sorrow was a place, it would be here.”

“Don’t speak to them, they will try to get your pity and help to change their fate.”

Persephone walked closer to Hades and looked around at the bodies.  Nearby, a woman sat with her head folded in her arms. “Do you know why she is here?”

“Of course, these people are all I know.  She had twin boys that she slowly dismembered as her food grew scarce.”

“She ate them?”

“She cannot forgive herself, neither can I.  The man by the thorn bush, he sold his daughters to men nightly.  The older man on the left, he felt a suitable disciplinary action for his grandchildren was burning.”

“No!”

“All the child abusers crowd near the entrance.  I’m not sure why, but there always right here by my feet when I come.”

“Why don’t these people have bigger punishments?”

“What?”

“Why aren’t they forced to push a rock up a mountain for eternity, or have their guts eaten out by a raven everyday?”

“They are remorseful.  Their internal and eternal grief and guilt is much greater than any punishment I could assign.  Those punishments you speak of are for the unrepentant, the pompous and impious.”

“Can I see them?”

“You are far more morbidly curious than I imagined. Follow me; remember not to talk to anyone.  Stay close.”

“Can we see Prometheus?”

“That is a couple day hike, are you up for that?”

“Yes,” her eyes widened.

“Callidice, please, be more careful.”  Metaneira sat in her garden folding linens.  Callidice was on the ground from spinning in circles too fast.

“Metaneira!”

“By Zeus! You startled me, Iambe.  Please do not approach me from behind like that again!”

“I apologize, Metaneira.  That women, that Callidice brought here, she is not right.”

“What on earth do you mean, Iambe?”

“I think she is a witch.”

“A witch?”

“Yes, I heard her chanting something to your boy, and I saw smoke and …”

“Iambe, please stick to the truth.”

“She is doing something to that boy.  I’m not lying to you.  I heard!”

“Here, Iambe,” Metaneira piled a stack of linens into Iambe’s arms.  “Take care of these.  I’m going to take a nap.”

Metaneira pulled herself up by Iambe’s shoulder and headed into the house.  As she passed Demophon’s room, she slowed and pressed her ear to the door.  She heard nothing. “Iambe,” shaking her head.  Suddenly she smelled burning, a terrible burning smell, like flesh.  She pushed the door open slowly, and her jaw dropped.

“Get him out of there!” Metaneira shrilled as she ran at Demeter.

Demeter grabbed the child close to her chest and grew to the height of the room.  “You stupid mortal!  How dare you yell at me.  I was making your son a god.  You idiot!  Now your son will never taste ambrosia.”

Metaneira sank to her knees and grabbed the hem of Demeter’s dress.  “Please, forgive me glorious goddess, I did not know.”

Demeter yanked her dress from the mother’s hands and shoved Demophon into Metaneira’s arms.

“Oh, I do not care about you.  Take this boy. His fate is your folly.  I shall leave you now and forever.  The house of Celeus has brought me much pain, and you should make amends!”  Demeter ducked out of the doorway, out of the room and out of the house.

Halfway through the second day of their hike up the mountain to Prometheus, they reached a ledge. 

“We can rest here for a moment.”

“You have been going so fast.  You’ve been like ten feet in front of me this whole time.”

“I’m sorry.  I’ve just been so delighted to be showing you our kingdom.”

“Showing me?  You haven’t shown me anything since we began this hike.  It’s like you’re running from me.”

Hades turned quickly and pulled Persephone into his arms.  “I’m trying to control myself, but your smell.”  He inhaled and tightened his arms around her waist.  He curled her in closer to his chest.  His eyes were chasing her darting glance across her face. “Persephone, look at me!”

“Hades, please, you’re hurting me.”

He shoved his face into hers and clamped his mouth onto her lips.  He held her so close, that it was difficult for her to push away.  All of her attempts to wriggle free amounted to a slight rubbing of her body against his, which was not helping her situation.  Hades slid his leg between hers and began to lean her back onto the ground.

Persephone jerked away from his head.  “Hades, stop!”

He released his grip and dropped her to the ground.  “Didn’t your mother teach you anything?”

“What?”

“Men, about men, what has she told you?  Did she tell you what a wife does for her husband?”

“No, she wasn’t really planning on me marrying you.  Neither was I!”

He yanked her back up by her wrist, “Listen, I am not going to wait much longer.”  He flung her hand down, “Now keep up!”

Hades continued to quickly scurry up the rocks to the large boulder on top. Persephone pulled herself over the large rock and brushed herself off.  She looked over and saw Hades standing beside a man chained to a boulder with a huge gapping would where his intestines should be intact.

“Prometheus!”

“Here he is bound for eternity.”

Persephone walked up to the great rock and poked her finger into Prometheus’ wound.  The Titan howled.

“What are you doing?” Hades hurried over to her.

“Good, I’m glad it hurts.  You should never disobey Zeus.  Now you’ve got an eternity to think it over.  But you’re so ignorant, even now you’d probably have given those humans fire.”

Hades grabbed her by the upper arm, “Leave him alone!”

Persephone wrenched her arm free, “What? Do you feel sorry for him?”

A distant fluttering suddenly got louder, and out of the corner of her eyes, “Hermes!”

“Hades, Zeus has ordered Persephone be returned to her mother for now.”

“What?  What are you talking about?  He blessed…”

“I’m not here to discuss it, just to do it.” Hermes lifted Persephone into his arms and left.

“What, what do you mean?”

“He offered me a Pomegranate seed and …”

“But you know, you know that bonds you.”

“But you weren’t there.  I wanted you to come and then he went to Zeus and you didn’t come and I thought you wanted…”

“What? I don’t understand you, slow down.  Honey, I didn’t know where you were until Helios told me Zeus had given permission to Hades to wed you.  Hera even blessed the union.”

“Wait, wait…wait, I was gone for several days before Hades went to Zeus.”

“I was panicked, the little girls you were with said he went into the woods.  I didn’t know it was Hades.  I had no idea.”

“But why not go to dad?”

“He gave you away!”

“Not at first.”

“What?”

“At first you should have told him I was gone.”

“What do you mean?”

“There were days, many days between Hades taking me and then talking to Zeus.  What were you doing?”
”I, I was looking, frantically.”

“But why, why didn’t you tell him?”

“I don’t know, I wasn’t thinking.  I, I don’t know.”

“I thought you didn’t care, because you weren’t with Zeus when Hades… Oh no!  He knew.  He knew that was what I thought.  That is why he offered me the fruit after. He even made it seem like it was my idea, because I found it.”

“How could you trust him?  How could you just forget everything?”

“You don’t know mom. You weren’t there.  It is not like what you said; it’s glorious.  I loved it there, but I hate him.  I hate him!”

“Listen, calm down, we must see Zeus now.  I told him if he would bring you to me, then we could settle this for good.  He will understand that this was all a set-up.  Hades tricked you, Zeus, and Hera.  That marriage can’t be upheld, not when Hades did all of this maliciously.”

“Hades you tricked me!”

“No, Zeus, I told you exactly what you wanted to hear.  I chose her as my wife and she was at the throne.  You didn’t ask to see her or her mother.  And why should you?  I deserve any mortal or goddess I see fit to rule the Underworld.”

“I wasn’t in any damn throne, you had me locked up in a cell!”

“You locked her up in a cell.” Hera finally piped in with disgust.

“She was not acting appropriately, she needed time to cool down.  Why don’t you ask her about the Underworld?  What does she think of it?”

“Persephone, first of all, did he harm you at all?” Zeus tried to remain judicial.

“Well not really, just stole me, I guess you don’t consider that bad.”

“You will respect me child.  I am trying to get to the bottom of this.  Now, what did you think of Hades kingdom.”

“I won’t lie.  I did love the realms.  It was more than I had expected.  But it is like going on vacation.  I don’t want to live there.”

“Ask her how she feels about Hades?” Demeter darts a chill at her brother.

“I hate him!”

“Persephone, calm down.  Wait until I ask you to speak.  That is the way.  You said he did not physically hurt you, right.”

“Yes, but …”

“Ok, then why do you hate him?”

“He tricked me.  He stole me from my home. He left me in a cell with rotting fruit and nothing but a mat to lie on, for days and days. He convinced me my mother did not love me and then he made me think the Pomegranate was my idea.”

“And now brother, here it is at last.  Persephone and I enjoyed Pomegranate seeds together on the Isle of the Blest.  We are bonded.” As if in victory, Hades walked to the throne and turned to glare at Demeter.

“Is this true Persephone?” Hera removed Hades hand from the arm of her chair.

“I only ate four, and it was because he had already tricked me.  I had never had any before.  Hera, you must see that. I thought I had to stay there so he was filling my brain with ‘your kingdom,’ and I thought I had to make the best of it.  I didn’t think I had a choice then, you have got to believe me!”

“Hera and I will deliberate on these issues and get back with you.  In the meantime, Persephone will remain with her mother.”

“I’ve added a couple of couches and plants to the Throne room.  I hope you like them.”

“Don’t try to be civil to me.  I am not going to be for you.”

“Persephone, you do love this place.  Try to enjoy it for the four short months you get to stay here.”

“I’ll enjoy here, just not you.”

“Your anger will fade, in time.  I know you.  Your light-hearted, girlish charm will come out, and you will be begging me to take you back to Elysium.”

“You are incredible!  You don’t know me.  Not even slightly.  You’ve imagined me up.  Right there in your head,” she pokes at his temple.  “You’d come around once and a while, and see me playing some game.  So, you decided to make me the main character in your fantasy.  I’m not that sweet little innocent you swept off her feet, quite literally.  And I won’t be that girl!  So overwhelmed by your vast kingdom of death, she just swoons and fawns all over you like a quivering mass of passion at your feet.  But you don’t know me.  I told you.  I’m not what you’ve pictured.  And while I may be forced to reign in this kingdom for four months every year, I am not your queen!  I will do what I want down here; whatever entertains me.  And I will have a say in all of the souls that pass by here.  It’s time for a suitable punishment. No more allowing for an eternity of self-pity, because you feel compassion for those child abusers, being one yourself.  No, I’ll say what happens to them, a victim should be allowed that much.  And I’ll have my own quarters, separate from you.  So here you are, here is your bride just as she has always been.”  She smiles, “Hell, you think you know hell?  You’re just beginning to know.”

“Ahh! ENOUGH!!”

He pushed Persephone down and she landed on the inlaid mosaic.  He pinned her arms above her head and straddled her hips. “I told you I would not wait much longer.”