Dead End Florals

dead end florals 02

Demeter's mouth curled up into a smile.

"Sir, welcome to Divine Right Florals. I am Demeter. Proprietess of this establishment. But, I'm sure you already knew that."

The voice who was there was brash. "Cut the act, Demi. We're here for some flowers. You have over ten million here alone according to the lovely love guru herself? You know I need some for my ladies."

"Apollo, dear brother. Do you really think that you need any more children?"

"You should have that conversation with the big man himself. But Hera does clean up the mess for him, you know when he is a bit--"

"Sloppy."

"I know you disapprove of my relations, but we are here for--say since we are talking about women Hermes was saying there was a very beautiful mortal girl named Kore who was working--"

"A flower in a flower shop who will bloom and die with time. Why would a single flower tempt Apollo? I like pruning and I'm not keen on the flowers being picked before they're ripe"

"Strong words for one merely changing seasons. If I didn't have a thousand years to show for it, I would wonder what it is you're hiding under all that dirt, but today I am here for flowers. Not for a special one. I just wanted you to know that word was getting out. I don't care too much for your business. Get me some of those daffodils wrapped in silver paper before thursday I'll pay you then as well."

There was a snigger followed by the doorbell ringing again as the occupants quickly vacated the premises.

"Perse, you can come out and resume normal business now."

Persephone peaked her head out from where she was hidden and slowly resumed to full height. She said nothing about what had happened and simply rearranged gardenias until Demeter returned to check on her store. Immediately as the heels retreated, Perse was enveloped in a cloud of chattering animals. A parrot on her shoulder, a lizard that entwined between her fingers, beetles up her back--soothing and massaging. She luxuriated in the sensations. She cooed and reassured the animals she was all right.

Then in the midst of her calming them the bell rang again and the animals scattered.

Persephone perked up and smiled. "Welcome to Divine Right Florals. I'm Miss Kore. But, you can call me Perse, What can I help you with?"

The customer odder than any god or mortal Persephone had ever seen. His body was sinewy like an athlete, but his elbows and knees stood out with sharp angles. He was both a vision of health and somehow disturbingly bony. There was a strange ashen texture to his skin like he didn't go out in the sun often. Even with this allure, he had such a genuinity about him that it was hard to believe he would be dishonest in the slightest. His hair was a slicked back jet black, wrapped with a youthful bandana of the same color.