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Persephone Reimagined: Chapter 4

I’m having such a fun time writing Persephone Reimagined! Persephone, Hades, Demeter, Zeus, and all of the other characters in Greek mythology have always been so interesting to me, and I love being able to fill in the rest of the details the stories never give us.

I admit, I had a hard time deciding how to write Hades at first. Then, it hit me. He’s just like the rest of us. Writing Hades has become natural because, in a big way, his personality is my own. Both Persephone and Hades are, in many ways, writing different parts of myself. (No, I’m not a god. No, I was never kidnapped or made a queen.) It all comes down to the basics: What do we want from life, and how has it affected who we’ve become?

Read the first chapter of Persephone here. 

Chapter 4 
HADES 

I fled gracefully from Olympus (meaning I stumbled to my chariot and tripped over my own shoes a few times along the way).

Thankfully, my horses knew their way home, because I was not exactly coherent.  


Which is probably why I should not have been making decisions right then. As we approached the ground, I stopped us short, and the wheels rested on the grassy field beside one of the few entrances to my realm.  


I knew where to find her. Everyone knew where to find her. I’d just never had any interest in doing so before. But now, I was morbidly curious. I’d just sneak a peek and go. Nothing had to be done today. Zeus had given me free rein on that, at least.  


On foot, I walked slowly toward the Oceanids’ grove. It was a truly beautiful place. Probably one of the few on earth I might ever want to visit. A stream gurgled quietly. Fragrance from the blossom laden trees filled the warm air, and birds sang sweetly.  


Wait. That wasn’t a bird.  


The violet garlanded, fair-haired daughter of Demeter painted delicate lines on a group of tiny flowers and sang to herself. 
It was as if a spell had been cast upon me. I was entranced.  


She breathed, and dark highlights shaded the petals. They were breathtakingly perfect. She added one to her golden hair. Her unruly curls flittered and danced in the breeze. 


I shook my head. I was Hades, lord of the dead, king of the underworld. No spell would hold sway over me. I must break it.  


The grasses wrestled as I stepped forward.  


The goddess’ head turned sharply. She arose with a gasp. 


“No,” she nearly growled. 


“Uh,” I stared blankly. 


“I said, ‘no’,” she repeated. “Go away.” 


“I…” 


She sighed and walked toward the trees, away from me. 


“But,” I muttered, then collected myself and stepped forward. 


“My lady,” I said. “I’m sorry to have offended you, but I beg your pardon?” 


She turned back. Irritation plain on her face. 


“I’m not offended,” she replied tartly. 


“Then, what do you mean by ‘no’,” I asked. 


She rolled her eyes.  


“I mean no,” she glared and crossed her arms across her chest. 


“I’m not sure I understand.” 


“You are a bit slower than the others, aren’t you?” 


My eyes widened, and I gaped. Slow? 


“My wits are perfectly sharp, I assure you,” I replied tightly.  


“Then you will understand that I’ve told you to go away.” She waved her hand dismissively. 


“I understand that perfectly,” I said. “But, if you don’t mind, I would at least like to know the reason you wish for my departure,

even though we have not, as yet, been introduced.” 


”I wish you gone because I will not marry you, and I’ve had enough suitors to last me an eternity. You’re all nothing but trouble. I can’t believe I ever though,” she trailed off. 


“I…” I started, yet very intelligently again. “I did not come here to ask for your hand.” 


Her eyes narrowed. “What did you come here for, then?” 


What could I say? I’m here to eventually marry you, but I’m not interested today because I’m still trying to find a way out of this cruddy deal, but I was dumb enough to want to come see what I was getting into? 


“I, uhh,” I mentally stumbled over the right words. Curses! “I came for a flower.” I finished strongly. 


A flower? What was I thinking? Walk away, buddy. You were done before you even started. 


“A flower,” she said, an eyebrow raised. 


I took a hesitant step forward.  


“Yes, a flower.” I once again poured all my intelligence into a single sentence.  


“You’re serious,” she asked doubtfully. 


“Of course,” I replied, solemnly and nearly tripped over my own feet. This had to be a gracefulness record somewhere. 


She giggled. “What do you want with a flower? Who are you anyway?” 


“I, err…” What could I say? I didn’t want to scare the girl or overwhelm her with my awesomeness. She was a well-known shut-in. The wrong word might break her—send her fleeing to Demeter. Which was exactly what I didn’t want. How to ease her into it? 


“My realm is nearby,” I hedged. “I…” 


“Are those your horse,” she gasped. 


“My what?” My eyes followed hers. “Uh, yes. Would you, um, like to maybe see them?” 


Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I groaned inside, and internally smacked my head against something hard. 


“Yes,” she exclaimed, and rushed toward them. 


I raised a hand in warning, then dropped it as my horses didn’t trample or eat her on sight.  


Heh. This girl was fearless. She talked quietly to them and nuzzled their faces.  


And you know what? My traitorous nags leaned in and nudged her for more attention. They never did anything like that. They only showed any sort of affection toward me, their lord and master. And they never asked me to scratch behind their ears… 


Her triumphant smile was radiant. It lit the meadow in a bright glow.  


“Have you much experience with horses, my lady?” I asked. 


“No,” she grunted, and scratched vigorously at a much too contented horse.  


Some deathly charger you are. I shot the stallion a glare. 


“Unfortunately, I’ve rarely had the opportunity.” She said. “Mother’s dragons tend to eat or scare all the horses away.” 


“Of course,” I muttered. “Dragons do that.” 


Dragons. I hadn’t seen Demeter’s dragons in ages. I’d considered a pair for myself, but it wasn’t exactly the image I was going for.

Goodness knows, I was terrifying enough with my, until now, flesh eating horses. Dragons would only worsen my reputation. So I assumed. 


“Do you not prefer dragons to horses?” I asked. 


“Not thus far,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love our dragons, but they’re not nearly as affectionate as these pretty babies.”

She cooed.  


I lifted my head to the sky and tried not to scream. Hera help me, I pled. I would not kill this child.  


“What are their names,” she asked breathily. 


“Names?” 


“Yes. Surely they have names.” 


“I, uh… No. They haven’t. There’s just the mean one,” I pointed. “And the onery one.” I pointed to the other.  


“How could you own these darlings without giving them names,” she asked in baby-talk.  


I couldn’t take this anymore. 


“Because warhorses don’t need names. They do as they’re told and take me where I need to go.” I folded my arms. 


“War horses?” she laughed. “These two?” 


I was indignant. “Yes, these two. They’re some of the finest war horses ever created.”  


“I’ve seen Ares’ warhorses,” she giggled, not bothering to stop fawning over them to look at me. “These are little sweethearts.” 


Ares. Of course Ares would have courted her. Aligning himself with the daughter of a powerful goddess would only increase his own power. That dirty, arrogant excuse for a god. He played with men’s lives as stones on a game board. Meaningless death.

Countless souls buried without the proper funeral rites, condemning them to wander the banks of the river Styx for one hundred years before they could rest. 


“Were Ares’ warhorses,” I emphasized the word. “As much to your liking?” 


“Not at all.” She frowned and straightened. “That is, from what I saw of them from a distance.” 


I moved in to catch her in her own lie. “Ah. You haven’t really any experience with warhorses, then.” I challenged.  


She blushed. “I may not have touched them, but I learned a great deal from the encounter.” 


“Did you,” I smiled indulgently.  


She stepped back and glared.  


“Who are you anyhow,” she demanded.  


“Oh,” I said. “That.” 


I shuffled. 


“You said your realm is nearby?” she asked. 


“It is,” I smirked. “You could say that it’s very near.” 


She rolled her eyes. “Hades, then. I should have known it would come to this.” 


She backed away and rushed back toward the grove. 


“Wait,” I called. “What do you mean?” 


I followed in a rush. 


“My lady,” I called. 


She turned and stabbed a long finger into my chest. “Don’t you ‘my lady’ me. I’m not going anywhere with you. I know exactly

what you’re up to.” 


I stopped dead in my tracks. 


“You do?”  


“Of course,” she fumed. “Same as every other stupid god who’s had the nerve to show up. You’ll not have me. I’ll give my hand to no one.” She shouted. 


I was flabbergasted.  


“Your hand?” I sputtered. “I don’t want your hand or any other part of you!” 


She looked at me askance. “You don’t?” 


“Of course not,” I exclaimed. “I haven’t even known you for more than like five minutes.” 


“Never stopped anyone before,” she said quietly.  


There was obvious pain in her voice. I didn’t like that. Why should this poor girl be hurt by so many selfish gods? 


“Well,” I bowed. “I am not just ‘anyone’. Would you mind a proper introduction?” 


She half-smiled. “That would be a change.” 


I took a hesitant step forward. “I am Hades.” 


She snorted. “What? No ‘lord of the underworld’, ‘king of the dead’ or other rubbish meant to impress me.” 


I sighed. “I could tack those on, if you wish it.” 


“No, thank you.” She smiled the rest of the way. “Lord Hades, I am Persephone Kore.” 


“It is my pleasure to meet you.” I reached to kiss her offered hand, but stopped short. That was not the sort of intro I really wanted.

Was it?  


I shook her hand instead. 


Her laugh was instant and broke the silence in a musical tone.  


“Your horses truly have no names,” she asked. 


“None,” I replied sheepishly. 


“You do them a disservice.” 


“I shall apologize to them directly. Should I offer them extra grain or meat as recompense?” 


She started. “They really do eat flesh, then?” 


I nodded. 


“I’d heard rumors, but… Do you have a three headed dog as well?” 


“Cerberus?” I asked.  


“So, why does he get a name but they don’t?” 


I sighed. “Just never got around to it, I guess. Always too busy.” 


“You don’t seem busy now.” 


“One of the rare times, I assure you. Running the underworld isn’t quite the picnic everyone seems to think.” 


“Don’t you just sit on your black throne and judge the dead?” she asked lightly. 


Hand on my forehead, ever patiently, I explained, “Not exactly. There’s a bit more too it than that. First of all, I don’t actually judge anyone. The tribunal of Minos does that. I will, occasionally, overrule their decision or settle an argument, but overall, men are judged by the wisest of mortals.” 


That eyebrow of hers raised again. “Is your throne even black?” 


A short laugh burst out of me. “Ebony, yes. That’s true, although, I don’t spend much time sitting on it. It’s terribly uncomfortable, after all.” 


“Then, what exactly does the lord of the underworld do?” 


I shook my head incredulously. This is what comes from letting rumors and mortals tell whatever they wanted about you. 
“I work.” 


“Work?” 


“Yes,” I replied defensively. “I do the job no one else wants. Gets things done and keep things running smoothly so they don’t upset everyone else’s lives.” 

Read the next chapter of Persephone here!

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