Persephone Ambrose was proud to say that she was a direct descendant of a 17th century Italian woman named Giulia Tofana. Giulia lived in a time where women had very few opportunities and even fewer rights. Their options were marriage or squalor. A perfect fairytale ending was deemed impossible for any woman to achieve in a patriarchal society... Until a fairy godmother emerged and presented women with a third option: Widowhood. For women stuck in loveless and abusive marriages, becoming a widow would grant them freedom and a chance to escape. A touch of death could give them life.
A fact that is hidden from normie history books is that Giulia Tofana was an outcast with a power that would be passed down her family tree. But Giulia decided that she wouldn't use her power to simply grow pretty flowers, like many men would expect of a young woman like herself. No, she would grow the plants she needed to create deadly poisons and offer women across Italy a chance at liberty and independence.
Poison is a woman's weapon, and no one did it better than Giulia. She was an apothecary, selling cosmetics to women in order to enhance their beauty and to avoid suspicions over her most popular product. Aqua Tofana was sold in a bottle or powder case advertised as a healing ointment for blemishes. The recipe behind the highly desired item was lead, arsenic and belladonna. Clueless husbands would be left unaware that their ultimate demise was tucked away amongst their wife's beauty routine.
The tasteless, colourless liquid was virtually undetectable and was so discreetly proficient in killing its victims. Just a few drops could send the victim straight into Death's awaiting hands, leaving doctors to believe they had died from a mysterious illness and their wives to continue on as liberated widows. Giulia admitted that her poison had killed over 600 men.
History differs on how she met her end. One version of the story says that one of her customers got cold feet and ended up revealing her plans of murder to her husband, revealing the crimes of Giulia and her trusted accomplices. She was subjected to horrific torture and then supposedly executed in 1659. However, many historians believe she died peacefully in her sleep in 1651 with no one aware of her poisoning abilities.
Whatever way her chapter ended, the story carried on. Giulia's legacy was passed through future generations and she was remembered as the pioneer of their family. Each new generation became an expert in poisons, growing their own plants to supply their business. Belladonna, or Deadly Nightshade, was their iconic ingredient and their talent for growing it was unrivalled. No one could make it more deadly than the Tofanas and Aqua Tofana was their specialty.
Persephone's mother was named after the plant that brought their family so much success and Belladonna would go on to grow their notoriety even more. Her book, 'Pick Your Poison' provided detailed recipes for many of the deadly poisons that her family has perfected over the centuries. But the deadliest of them all, Aqua Tofana, was kept as a family secret to be passed down like a precious heirloom. The only person alive who knows the recipe is Belladonna and she will pass that knowledge on to her daughter.
When Persephone was born, she was adored from the moment she took her first breath. Their beautiful girl was the spitting image of her mother with her father's warm brown eyes. But Belladonna knew the girl would be more powerful than any woman who had ever come before them. Her powers were evident from the start, an unusual trait as their plant abilities usually took a few years to manifest. Within hours of her birth, Persephone had reinvigorated the withering pot plant on the window sill and immediately made the bouquet of flowers soaking in a vase bloom magnificently. Out of a family that had made a living out of causing death, came a little girl who seemed to radiate life and creation.
Persephone Tofana Ambrose. Named after two strong women who people repeatedly underestimated, their kindness often foolishly mistaken for weakness. Belladonna and Malakai raised their daughter to have a kind heart, a fierce mind and a brave spirit. But Belladonna knew the day would come where she would need to sit Persephone down and explain the dark side of her powers in this exploitative world.
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Persephone was sat across from her parents at a table in the Quad. She had chosen the most secluded area she could find so she could discuss her outburst during the Poe Cup without people overhearing. Her mother and father listened intently as she described what happened with the trees, the earth and the rocks.
"... it was like, the whole forest was alive. Like... every living thing was under my control." Her explanation was met by silence from her parents, making her panic. "Am I going insane?"
"Absolutely!" "Not at all." Her father answered with cheerful sarcasm as her mother tried to quell her daughter's negative thoughts. One glare from Belladonna had Malakai's grin disappearing from his face and hurried apologies escaping his lips.
"Persephone, you're not going insane and there's absolutely nothing wrong with you." Belladonna assures her, reaching across the table to squeeze Persephone's hand. "You have always been pressured to follow what people expect of you. Growing what they tell you to grow, doing what they tell you to do... I believe that has limited you. Something at Nevermore has unlocked your confidence and allowed your power to flourish."
Persephone contemplates her mother's words, biting her lip. Her eyes briefly flicker over to Hades who sits on the other side of the Quad with his family. He's listening to his younger brother ramble about all the mischief he's caused at home. Instinctually, a smile tugs at the corner of her lips as she sees him. This moment was not missed by Belladonna, who begins to realise what (or who) was the cause of her daughter's power surge.
Playing dumb, Belladonna continues to prompt Persephone. "Well, it must be something fairly new. Something that arrived in the last few months, maybe?" She eyes the younger girl, hoping Persephone catches the hints she's giving. "Or perhaps it's not a something... but a someone?"
Persephone's head snaps up to meet her mother's knowing eyes. Malakai glances between his wife and daughter in confusion. "What is happening right now?"
"Why don't you go and catch up with Gomez, my love?" Belladonna suggests, knowing she needs to have a boy talk with Persephone. Malakai eyes his love with suspicion as she smiles sweetly at him.
"Honey," Malakai reprimands playfully. "If you wanted me to leave, you could've just asked."
Belladonna just smiles innocently. "I didn't want to hurt your feelings."
Malakai leans in and pecks her cheek before standing up. "You could run me over with a truck and I'd say 'thank you'."
"Noted." Belladonna smirks as Malakai sends her a cheeky wink and strides away. Persephone tries her best not to cringe. As cute as they are, those are still her parents and she would appreciate it if they didn't flirt in front of her. "Now, my dear... spill. Who is it?"
Persephone knows her mother is persistent and there's no use in trying to avoid the topic. She sighs in defeat. "Hades Addams. When I caught him stealing one of my roses, I held a knife to his throat and then we became friends. He switched assignments on Outreach Day so he could go with me, he helped us win the Poe Cup, he saved my life, we went to the Rave'N together."
"Is that what young people are calling friendship these days?" Belladonna asks sarcastically, making her daughter roll her eyes at the teasing. "If that's the case, then I'm sorry to say this darling, but your father and I are just friends."
"Mom!" Persephone hides her face in her hands as Belladonna chuckles.
"The best love stories happen unexpectedly." Belladonna explains softly as Persephone peeks out from behind her hands. "You are each other's greatest weakness... but you are also each other's greatest strength. Never underestimate the power that comes with finding someone who allows you to be yourself. The two of you will be a formidable duo."
Persephone smiles softly. "Like you and Pa?"
"Yes, like me and Pa." Belladonna's smile is identical to her daughter's, it's like looking in a mirror. Suddenly, Belladonna remembers the warning she has to give Persephone and her face drops slightly. "Persephone, you should know that not everyone who takes an interest in your power has good intentions. There may be people that will seek to manipulate and use you."
"Wait why?"
"You hold the key to unlocking the secrets of Aqua Tofana, one of the deadliest poisons in the world, with the potential to kill someone quicker than Nightshade. Many people would kill to get their hands on a power like that." Belladonna's face is humourless and solemn, letting Persephone realise the seriousness of the conversation. "You must be very careful about who you trust."
Persephone nods sincerely. "I will try my best."
Belladonna cups her daughter's cheek lovingly. "I know you will. I'm proud of you no matter what." Belladonna decides to reveal their family's best kept secret, as her mother did the same when she was Persephone's age. She removes the necklace from around her own neck and hands it over to her daughter. "Should you ever need to pick your poison, find your Father and I in the Nightshades Library and remember this necklace. It belonged to Giulia and is the key to life and death."
Persephone admires the silver obelisk pendant with intricate architectural arches and delicate engravings. The silver seems to be encasing a vial with a red liquid swirling within it. A modern silver chain loops through the hole at the top of the pendant, obviously being a more recent addition to the heirloom. "It's beautiful, Mother. Thank you. What's inside it?"
"That is for you to discover. I was given this when I was your age." Belladonna explains sadly, recalling fond memories of her mother teaching her about the family history. "It warms my heart to be passing it on to you. There was never anyone more deserving. I know it is in safe hands."
Persephone was slightly puzzled by her mother's enigmatic instructions on what to do with the necklace but she understands the gist of it. So many generations have possessed this necklace, she hopes she can live up to the name.
a/n:
fun fact, giulia tofana was an actual person :)