Forever Yours

Chapter Twenty-Three

The weeks went by without incident.

The spring equinox was approaching and with it the fact that the Goddess of Spring would have to leave her home. Persephone wasn't looking forward to leaving. She wanted to stay with her husband, rediscover their relationship and build on it. However, she also knew she had a duty to do, one that required her to leave the safety of her home and family. There was just one little problem with all of it: Makaria.

What was she supposed to do with her daughter?

Makaria was learning how to use her powers, with Ian's help of course, along with Kaethe and Quinn's input. She was getting better at controlling her emotions, but it seemed as if they still played a big part in the whole scheme of things. Persephone didn't want to take her away from her training. She needed to learn and control what was inside her, and unfortunately, she couldn't do that in the mortal realm.

"C'mon! Aim for his head!" she heard Quinn call out from the practice field. He was cheering Makaria on as she threw fireballs at Ian, who kept appearing and disappearing as a moving target. Persephone watched as her daughter's friends laughed when a purple fireball went sailing over Ian's head, almost catching his hair on fire. Ian had ducked out of the way in enough time, but that hadn't helped the tree that was now engulfed in flames. She watched it burn, the flames licking around the dark trees branches before Persephone gave a small chuckle herself. She watched in wonder as Makaria waved her hand.

The blaze went out instantly, smoke rising towards the cavern roof. When Persephone looked at where a charred hollowed-out tree should have been standing, there was a beautiful birch tree in its place, the white bark a bright contrast to the dark landscape.

Seems her daughter had learned to control a certain part of her powers. The light within her was far more controlled than the dark side. However, Persephone knew that Makaria needed to learn how to control both parts, equally in order to control herself.

Hades came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Persephone never knew a time when her husband wasn't affection with her, always hugging her or holding her hand. It seemed as if he needed to touch her in order to make himself believe she was real. "Have you spoken to our daughter?" she quietly asked as she leaned into him, her head resting on his hard chest.

Hades was silent for a minute before he shook his head. "No, I haven't," he answered her. "I really haven't had time, Kore; not with the issues pertaining to Athena or with my full-time duties."

"I know, but you still must make an effort, Hades," Persephone reminded him. "I leave in but a few days."

Hades gathered her close, his chin on the top of her head. "I wish you didn't have to," he confessed to his wife. "I've missed you."

Persephone was silent, watching as her daughter threw yet another fireball; this one landing just inches from Kaethe's feet. The blond looked up from the burning ground to her friend, eyes wide. She heard Kaethe's yell and chuckled again. "I know, however with the spell Mother cast upon my disappearance, I have no choice. I must return to the land above in order for Spring to come."

Hades hugged her closer to him. "I know," he replied. "What are we to do with our daughter?"

"That's the burning question right now," Persephone said. She watched as Makaria ran from Kaethe, Quinn and Ian laughing on the sidelines. "Her friends must return to the mortal realm soon and I fear she will want to follow them. Thánatos has been away from his duties for far too long so he must remain here otherwise they're going to start roaming." Hades needn't ask who 'they' were, he already knew.

"He won't leave her," Hades commented, his eyes going to the god who watched his daughter's every movement.

"Hence lies our problem."