CHAPTER XXV - COLLECTING PIECES

Hours later, Hades, Persephone, and Leuce gathered in the throne room. Hades was in his Divine form, and Persephone, too. They sat side-by-side, Hades on his obsidian throne, and Persephone on gold and ivory. Leuce stood by Persephone, shaking.

“She will lash out,” Leuce said. “I am sure of it.”

“Oh, I expect it,” Persephone replied, and look at the nymph. “She is my mother.”

“Hermes has returned,” Hades commented. He’d sent the god to retrieve the Goddess of Harvest—a task he hadn’t been eager to accept.

“I think you just want her to disfigure my face,” Hermes said. “She will bite my head off when I tell her you’ve commanded her appearance in the Underworld.”

“Then don’t tell her Hades sent for her,” Persephone replied. “Tell her I command it.”

Hermes grinned, just as Persephone was doing now.

She felt empowered in a way she had never felt before, and she couldn’t really explain why. Maybe it had something to do with what Hades had said the night of the solstice celebration—that he loved her for who she was, and it was those qualities he wanted in his queen.

It meant that she could be herself without sacrifice and the first step toward that would be dealing with her mother.

Hermes escorted Demeter into the room, and despite the severe mask she attempted to maintain, Persephone recognized the look of contempt on her mother’s face when she saw Hades and Persephone sitting side by side like royals upon the dark precipice.

Her lips were pinched, and her stare hard and cold. She halted when she reached the center of the room.

“What is this about?” Demeter demanded; her voice tinged with fury.

“My friend tells me you have threatened her,” Persephone said. If Demeter wasn’t going to feign pleasantries, Persephone wouldn’t, either.

Demeter glared at the nymph and then looked at Persephone. “You would believe your lover’s whore over me?”

“That is unkind,” Persephone said tightly. “Apologize.”

“I will do no such—”

“I said apologize,” Persephone commanded, and Demeter was sent to her knees, the marble beneath her cracking with the force of her fall. Persephone didn’t mean to use so much force, but the result had the desired effect. Demeter’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected to be taken to the ground by her own daughter.

Her expression quickly turned into a glare, her anger filling the room.

“So,” her voice shook. “This is how it will be?” Persephone said nothing. Demeter had chosen this path with her actions.

“You could end your humiliation,” Persephone said. “Just…apologize.”

Those words were like declaring war.

“Never.” The word left Demeter’s lips in a shuddering breath.