Page 136 of Hekate: The Witch

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the strange beast-God.

‘Did you steal that from

the Hesperides?’ he asked,

and I could hear the laughter

tucked in the corners of his question.

He was referring to his four sisters,

named after the setting colours of the sun,

who guarded a garden full

of golden apples with untold secrets.

I decided I liked the sound

of his amusement.

‘Promise me you will not tell Hermes.

I stole it from the Elysian Fields.’

And this made his amusement

turn into a deep, warm laugh.

Hades’ Throne Room

Every throne room in this palace

spoke of the blood after which

they were created.

Hades’ throne room

was no different. Like him,

it was not opulent.

The only soft furnishing

was the black carpet

that led up to the throne

made of skeletons

and old bones dipped

in molten hematite so they shone.

The austerity made them stand out,

the three Goddesses in gold.

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