Hades and Persephone

Chapter 22: It

"I'd like to see you try, you old bat!" A bolt of lightning flung at his face.

"Father! You are not helping any of this!"

"I don't even know why you try, boy! Anyone knows that a woman during her time is a curse—"

"Say that again, man-whore!"

"Mama! Sit. Down. Now." Zeus bellowed as she did as was commanded of her. Hermes turned, accusing finger pointed in his direction. "You too!" With a huff, the god obeyed his son.

"Now," began Hermes. "We are going to talk this out like civil people.

"You two are going to talk to me not each other. You two are not going to respond to each other. And you two are not going to start throwing lightning again! Either of you!

"Is that understood?"

"Yes," the two gods pouted.

Hermes crossed his legs—sitting as a child would on the floor—between his parents. "Now, father, how long have you been married to Mama—"

"Of course he tells his side first!"

"Mama!" Hermes gave his best death glare; the one he had learned from her.

*****

The storm calmed and the ice stayed behind to battle the sea. The hunched woman left the pirates and their ship behind. If anything was left of them perhaps they would make it to shore; or perhaps they would stand there between a war of elements.

With thirst fresh on her mind she hobbled towards a near town, the members hiding away from the storm in their homes. The still of the air was unnatural, nothing of nature or mortal trusting that any storm was over.

Stilled water reflected the world above, taunting mortals with a glimpse of the gods above. Or, more accurately, the decrepit crone gazing into it. Slamming her fist into the water, it froze at her touch.

How dare it leave. How dare it leave me.

Tears streaked down her face. Not ones of sorrow, but ones of rage. Nothing could remind her more of it than the broken cracks of her face and her jagged eyes.

"Ma'am?" A soft voice called. "Are you all right?"

*****

"What's next?"

"Man, died at sea, cursed."

"What'd he do?"

"Stole a sacramental offering."

"Fields."

Hades raised an eyebrow. "You seem quick to judge."

"If he'd have stolen for survival you would have led with that."

"Touché."

*****

The poor thing brought it—her—to her home. Poor thing.

Stupid thing.

They welcomed her me with open arms. A father who claimed to be richer by birth of children and the love of his wife.

Stupid daughters that brought a crying woman in from the cold. Kindness.

Liars.

All of them. Lies. If it was not for that poor innocent on that stupid mother's hip, I might have just left them like it did me.

Rotting from the inside.

But perhaps innocent can fill me.

*****

"This is stupid—"

Hermes made a noise and a motion for silence. "Do you see the stick?"

"Yes—"

"Who's holding the stick? Are you holding the stick?"

"No, but—"

"Then no talking!

"Now," Hermes turned back to Zeus. "Father, you feel as though Mama has been ignoring you on multiple levels and is being uncooperative."

"Exactly! And—"

"No 'ands'. Only 'yes' or 'no'."

"Yes."

"And, Mama"—he turned to look at her—"you feel as though father is making assumptions and not listening." With no reply, he took her grumble as a yes. "Father, why do you feel she is feeling like this?"

"What does it matter! I just need her to let Kore back on the surface so the mortal realm can stop dying!"

*****

"What does—"

"Left stranded—" the two began at the same time. "Sorry," Hades apologized. "I have been distracting you from your reading."

"What does this word mean?" Persephone pointed at the passage, turning to him for an answer. How was this word even pronounced? Agel, ajel, gelas?

"Agelastus," he answered. "It means a melancholy countenance."

"Now you're just speaking gibberish."

"Face. A sad face."

Hades hadn't realized he was as comfortable as he was. Thankfully, Persephone hadn't realized his true form was showing the entire time.

*****

The family is asleep in their beds. Such a precious innocent to give its own room.

Such stupid mortals.

The babe looked up at the woman above it. Nothing but a kind smile of someone too naïve to know and too innocent to care. He reached up with open fist, wanting to grab onto the silver hair that matched his favorite blanket.

With a gentle grip she grabbed the babe.

Perhaps the worry was for nothing? Perhaps my mistrust of Doso was misplaced?

The mother watched from the corner as "Doso" held the babe to her breast and cared for his small form. Of course, a mother's intuition is always correct.

*****

"Why would I kill a child?! She did not ask to be born and most certainly she did not ask to be your spawn!"

"What," Zeus asked almost in disbelief.

"I mean, why the in the name of Styx would anyone choose to be your child?!"

"Hermes, tell Hades to return her."

"I will after we finish this session—"

"I said now Hermes!"

*****

Two figures burst in almost simultaneously. First was Thanatos, a note in hand. With one glance at his defeated face, concern threatening to spill to tears, both gods knew something went wrong.

Hades flung up and took the note, he could only half pay attention to Hermes' words. All he heard was a command to send her back—something he was debating following up until that moment.

Demeter no longer existed, he knew that now.

"Persephone," he heard himself say. "Get out of my realm."