Page 10 of Tempted By Hades

Persephone stared at them and then burst out laughing at her friends’ antics. Still, no matter how much they teased her, their friendship was a treasure beyond measure.

“But it’s nice to see Persephone like this, right?” Geri said to Adonis, her tone teasingly conspiratorial. “I mean, she’s usually surrounded by plants and flowers. A little romance never hurt anyone.”

Persephone shook her head in mock exasperation. “You two are impossible. I’ll be back in a moment. Don’t wreak havoc in my absence.”

Persephone walked toward the back of the shop, leaving Adonis and Geri giggling.

Persephone ascended the stairs to the cozy apartment above the plant shop. The space reflected her sunny disposition, bathed in warm hues and adorned with vibrant tapestries and artwork. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow upon the walls, creating an inviting atmosphere.

She knew that the customer who had inquired about the asphodel was more than he appeared. A god, she thought, her intuition tingling with a subtle, otherworldly recognition. It was the reason she used her magic in front of him, knowing that he wouldn’t freak out when the star-of-Bethlehem suddenly blossomed.

In the living room, a wall of shelves stood proudly, holding an assortment of photo albums and ancient tomes. Among them were the memories of ages past, captured in photographs that chronicled the life of her mother, Demeter.

She ran her fingers along the spines and reached for one of the albums, its cover worn with the passage of time yet filled with the timeless stories of her mother’s existence. As she flipped through the pages, she was transported through the ages. The fading photographs revealed Demeter’s beauty, eternal and unyielding, mirrored in her eyes that held the wisdom of millennia.

The clothes in the photos reflected the changing styles of centuries, from the flowing robes of ancient Greece to the intricate garments of the Renaissance. Each image told a story, capturing joy, determination, and quiet moments. There were pictures of Demeter with Persephone as a child, her mother’s smile as radiant as the sun, and images of Demeter with other gods and goddesses, the camaraderie evident in their eyes.

Her fingers traced the edges of the photographs, feeling the connection to her mother and the legacy of their divine lineage. The images offered a glimpse into the vastness of time, reminding her of the ageless nature of their existence.

As she continued to peruse the album, she marveled at the resilience and grace that her mother exhibited over the centuries. The photographs were not just a record of the past but a testament to Demeter’s enduring spirit, a spirit that had weathered the passage of countless years and still burned brightly within her.

Driven by a mix of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, she pulled out a weathered volume, its pages yellowed with time. The book was filled with stories of gods.

As she flipped through the pages, Persephone’s eyes widened at the tales of gods walking among mortals, their true nature hidden behind illusions. Could the stranger be one of them? A deity, perhaps, mingling with the everyday world? The possibility sent shivers down her spine.

She sat on the couch, the book about the gods who defeated the Titans cradled in her hands. Her thoughts drifted to her mother, Demeter, and the deliberate choice she had made to live on Earth away from the machinations and politics of Olympus. Demeter’s decision had shielded Persephone from the complexities of godly life, leaving her unacquainted with the pantheon of deities who ruled over the celestial realm.

Persephone had no memory of what it was like to live among gods and goddesses. Once she was born, they had left Olympus and the entire divine world behind, and it had always just been the two of them. Eventually, she became curious about her past. And so, when she was a young child, she asked her mother why they lived on the Upperworld instead of being around others of their kind. The question had made Demeter sad that she couldn’t answer her. From then on, she never asked her about it again.

In fact, she didn’t ask her mother anything about their past again. At least, not until about a hundred years later, once she was fully grown. A question had lingered in her mind since she had grown conscious of everything around her and how things worked. How people formed relationships and families and grew up and formed their own families. The questions burned inside her until she could no longer keep it inside, and she confronted Demeter about the one subject that never came up between them—her father.

Who was he? Why did they not live with him? Where was he now? The questions drew Demeter down to even deeper depths than her previous one did, but this time, she did provide somewhat of an explanation that Persephone accepted. She didn’t probe further, especially since her mother remained desolate for the next few months after that.

She continued to leaf through the book. Tales of divine battles and cosmic triumphs projected from the ancient pages. It could be read like books by mortals or viewed like a film. She loved to read but also enjoyed seeing the scenes play out; it was like watching a movie. As she delved into the stories of gods and Titans, she found herself entranced by the rich history. With their immense power and timeless struggles, the gods seemed like characters from a distant yet profoundly influential epic tale.

Turning the pages, her eyes were drawn to a section featuring photographs of the gods who had united against the Titans. Among the divine figures frozen in time, she noticed her mother, Demeter, her essence captured in a single frame. Persephone’s gaze lingered on Demeter’s serene yet determined expression, a mixture of strength and gentleness.

Her eyes widened as she stared at the photograph. The man who had walked into her shop, inquiring about the elusive asphodel, stood immortalized beside Zeus, King of the Gods, and Poseidon, God of the Sea. She ran her finger down the photo caption.

Hades.

She whispered it in her mind, afraid to say it aloud as if that would summon him.

He appeared enigmatic, his eyes carrying a weight of ancient wisdom. Her heart quickened with intrigue, and her mind whirred with questions. As she traced Hades’s image with her fingertip, she sensed a more profound mystery unfolding, one that would unravel the secrets of her mother’s past and, perhaps, illuminate the path of her own future.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the hours passing, the fading sunlight casting a golden glow across the pages.

“Kore,” the familiar voice, soft yet commanding, echoed through the room, causing her to startle. Only her mother called her by that ancient name, which held a weight of history and tradition.

She looked up, and standing before her was her mother with a questioning look. The room glowed with the presence of the goddess of harvest and fertility. Mixed emotions ran through Persephone, from joy at seeing her mother to a tinge of apprehension, wondering if Demeter had sensed the mysterious undercurrents that had recently entered their lives.

“Mother,” she said, her voice filled with relief and curiosity. “You’re here.” She quickly closed the ancient book. “I was just…bored. I thought I’d explore some of your old photo albums and books. You know, to pass the time.”

Demeter regarded her with a knowing smile. “My curious little Kore, always finding adventures in the pages of the past. But I’m sure you have better things to do than look at ancient history.”

Persephone felt a pang of guilt for her curiosity but managed a sheepish grin. “I suppose I do. I just got carried away, and you know how it is.”

Demeter’s smile softened, her eyes reflecting understanding. “Curiosity is a precious trait, my dear. Just remember that the present holds its own wonders, and the future is waiting to unfold its mysteries. Now, why don’t you come downstairs? There’s a new batch of flowers that arrived today. Your touch could bring them to life.”

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