by Cerys du Lys
Persephone looked back and forth between Aidon and the old woman. “I think I like this one.”
Hecate laughed—cackled, really. “Not such competition for your new lover’s attention in this form, am I?” The old woman squeezed Persephone’s hand. “I have no designs on him. Besides, he seems only to have eyes for you.”
Even as Aidon spoke to the two men, he kept glancing over to where Persephone stood, his eyes glowing darker every time he looked at her. Hecate pulled her closer so they stood by Aidon’s side.
“Does this have anything to do with the damned Calydonian Boar Artemis let loose?” Aidon asked with a sigh.
“The young hero Meleager offered the boar hide to his mistress,” Hecate explained to Persephone. “His uncles here took great offense to the prize being given to a woman.”
Persephone frowned. “So Meleager killed his uncles?”
“I’m afraid so.” Hecate shrugged, turning to Aidon. “I told Kometes and Prothous you might grant them admission to Elysium.” Hecate used her heatless torch to point to each shade in turn.
“Elysium?” Aidon gaped at her. “It is reserved only for the greatest heroes and—” Both men began to wail loudly and Persephone covered her ears. Aidon sighed, holding up his hand. “I meant no offense, but—”
Hecate, much shorter now in her old-age appearance, stretched up to Aidon to whisper, “Tisi will never think to look for them there, will she?”
The realization dawned on Aidon’s face and he shook his finger at the old woman. “You are too sly for your own good, Hecate.” He turned to the shades. “So be it! Off to Elysium with you both!” The two shades didn’t have to be told twice. They lost themselves in a sea of shades before Persephone could even turn her head to seek them out.
“Well, that settles that.” Aidon looked pleased as he slipped his arm around Persephone’s waist. His large hand massaged her hip as he pulled her close and his eyes darkened again when he looked down at her. “Shall we go back to bed?”
She smiled up at him and blushed. “I wouldn’t say no.”
“Hades!” A man on one of the three thrones was waving to him.
“Minos!” Aidon sighed, waving back, and gave her an apologetic look. “I guess duty calls after all. Hecate, will you show Persephone around? I’ll catch up with you both later.”
He didn’t wait for Hecate’s response. Pulling Persephone to him, he kissed her—long and hard and full of lust. His tongue pressed hers, teasing, making her knees weak when he let her go. She stumbled and Hecate’s hand caught her arm as Aidon winked at them both.
“Just something to remember me by.” He squeezed Persephone’s behind as he walked past, making her jump in surprise.
“I thought Hades was the God of the Underworld?” Persephone frowned at Hecate as she watched him approach the three smaller thrones.
“Those are just the judges.” Hecate’s voice had changed and Persephone turned to find yet another woman standing beside her. “Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanthus.”
Startled, Persephone stared at the goddess’ full hips and thick waist. Her face became rounder, too, softer, and definitely older than her maiden form, but much younger than the crone. “You change form faster than Zeus when he’s running from Hera’s wrath! This is the mother-goddess, then?”
“Yes. I like to keep everyone on their toes.” Hecate winked. “Besides, you should know all my forms, as Queen of the Underworld.”
Persephone stared at her for a moment. The thought of being Queen of anything hadn’t really been at the forefront of her mind since she’d been brought here. “I suppose…there’s a lot I should know…as Queen of the Underworld?”
“When the mortals die, they come here to be judged.” Hecate explained as she took Persephone’s hand and pointed toward the three smaller thrones where Aidon stood deep into conversation with one of the old men. “They were all appointed by Zeus after their deaths as judges here in the Underworld.”
“I see. And I understand the pool of forgetfulness,” Persephone said as they walked beneath the tall, white-lit cypress tree between the two deep pools. “But I still don’t understand what the pool of memory is for.”
“Ah, the Elysian Mysteries…” Hecate hesitated, stopping between the two pools. Shades slipped into the ghostly water of the Pool of Lethe, their faces sad, eyes pained. “Our ways must seem so strange to you.”
“A bit,” Persephone admitted, watching as the shades emerged from the pool of forgetfulness, the pain in their eyes disappearing the moment they stepped out and headed through one of the three tunnels at the end of the cavern.
“That is the crossroads,” Hecate explained when she saw Persephone looking at the tunnels. “I am the goddess whose torch lights their way.” The dark-haired goddess raised her torch with a smile.
“Aidon hasn’t had a lot of time to explain…” Persephone apologized, hiding her blush as she turned to glance back at Aidon, who was now sitting on his throne and talking to another shade. They hadn’t had much time outside of the bedroom until today. Hecate smiled and nodded her understanding, her eyes showing she knew very well Aidon hadn’t given Persephone much of an explanation.
“Most of these mortals will be judged and sent to the Plains of Asphodel.” Hecate nodded toward the tunnel in the middle where many of the shades crowded through the entrance. “They no longer remember their old lives and will experience neither joy nor sorrow there.”
“Aidon didn’t show me that place.” To Persephone, they looked like zombies, their memories gone, their lives forgotten, trudging their way single-file toward an eternity of gray and colorless existence. Much like their lives, she thought, frowning.
“I imagine he didn’t show you Tartarus, either.” Hecate nodded her dark head toward the tunnel on the left that glimmered with a fiery orange flicker at its entrance. Aside from the eerie white of the Cypress tree, it was the only glow of light in the cavern. “It is the true hell, for those who have led very wicked lives. Not many end up there.”
“I should hope not.” Persephone shivered, rubbing her hands over her arms, although she wasn’t really cold.
Hecate pointed toward the last tunnel, the one on the right. “But it’s also true too few mortals find their way to Elysium…”
Persephone remembered the beautiful fields Aidon had shown her, so like the ones at home. Home. It was a word that made her suddenly miss her mother. A stab of homesickness overwhelmed her as she watched a few of the shades enter the tunnel that led to Elysium.
“I wish more could reside there.” Persephone sighed. “It’s so beautiful…so perfect…very much like my own home…”
Hecate nodded in understanding. “But many who experience the Elysian Mysteries will find their way home again. That’s the purpose of the Pool of Mnemosyne.”
“Memory…” Persephone stared at the shining, empty pool. “But what do they remember?”
“Their eternal nature.” Hecate took Persephone’s hand and they began walking again. “When mortals are born, they pass through the Moray, the three Fates, and then the river of forgetfulness. They do not know their destiny, although they are compelled to fulfill it.”
“But no mortal is allowed into the Underworld,” Persephone said, nodding toward the shades.
“Oh, only their spirits venture here,” Hecate explained. “The pool always appears empty, but that is because it is their souls and not their bodies that enter and remember. Unlike the shades, they are completely aware and understand the significance of their Underworld journey.”
“And they are the Initiates?” Persephone asked. “The ones who end up in the Elysian Fields?”
Hecate nodded. “Yes. Many of them do…along with the heroic and the virtuous. Unfortunately, among mortals there are few of either.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” A masculine voice interrupted them. “Don’t tell me this delicious creature is our illustrious leader’s new bride?”
“Persephone, this is Thanat
os.” Hecate sighed as she introduced them. “The God of Death.”
“I’d heard you were beautiful, but words don’t do you justice!” Thanatos took her hand and kissed it, and Persephone stared at his bent head in surprise. He was as light-haired and fair as she! This was the great God of Death? But when he lifted his face and smiled brightly at her, he revealed rows of gleaming teeth that made her stomach lurch when she saw them.
“Th—thank you.” Persephone pulled her hand quickly away from his mouth. “I have to admit, I didn’t expect Death to be so…charming.”
He winked at her. “I surprise a lot of people.” When he laughed at his own joke, Persephone took another step back, edging closer to Hecate. His teeth gleamed, impossibly sharp, and there had to be hundreds—thousands—lined up in close, pointed rows. “I’m about to surprise one, now. I’m heading down to Tartarus to chain a particularly nasty mortal in hell for the rest of eternity. Do you two want to come?” He said it as if inviting them to a great party.
Persephone swallowed, looking between them. “I…uh—”
“Not this time.” Hecate winked at Thanatos. “I think we need to ease our bright beauty into the ways of the Underworld a little at a time.”
“Are you sure?” Thanatos cocked his head at them, his blue eyes incredulous. He made it sound as if they were passing up the chance of a lifetime. “This Sisyphus character is one of the most despicable, devious, dishonest—”
“I’m sure he’s lots of other D-words, too, Thannie!” Tisi came up behind them, her own fangs flashing brightly as she smiled and slapped the God of Death on the back. “Including ‘disappearing’ if you don’t get a move on, huh?”
Thanatos bared his teeth at her and growled. “He’s in Tartarus, love. Where do you think he’s going to go? Home?”
“I’m just sayin’.” Tisi held up her clawed hand, waving him away. “I wouldn’t leave my mortals unattended.”
Thanatos snorted. “He’s dead, darlin’. He shuffled loose the ol’ mortal coil, oh, about two hours ago.” He rubbed his hands together and grinned. “Now it’s just a matter of deciding his punishment.”
“Let me guess—chains?” Tisi rolled her eyes at Persephone and tried to hide her words behind her hand. “He’s so unimaginative.”
“What’s wrong with chains?” Thanatos frowned. “They’re a classic, I’ll have you know!” He flashed a toothy smile at Persephone. “It was nice to meet you, goddess. I do have to go find my charge, but I’m sure I’ll see you around!” They all watched as he headed into the tunnel on the left, which glowed a fiery orange.
“Good to see you changed your mind about the place.” Tisi’s fangs showed as she smiled at Persephone. “I saw you and came over to introduce you to my sisters…this is Meg…and Alec…” The two quiet Furies behind her bowed their heads full of snakes instead of hair. Persephone still hadn’t gotten used to the hissing sound or the writhing sight as each slender serpent undulated. Meg’s were a deep, dark red, as were her wings. Alec’s were strangely white, a bright sight down in the darkness.
“Nice to meet you.” Persephone held her hand out to each of them as they bowed before her. She couldn’t help leaning back away from the snakes, even though she knew they wouldn’t harm her, and Tisi grinned.
“So, Hec,” Tisi turned to the dark-haired goddess. “Are you showing the new Mrs. Underworld around?”
“New?” Persephone raised her eyebrows and glanced over at Aidon’s throne. He was still in conversation with a shade.
Hecate rolled her eyes. “Don’t let her fool you. Aidon doesn’t take many women to his chambers.”
“Not for lack of trying, though, right, Hec?” Tisi grinned and winked at the dark-haired goddess, whose red face was slowly fading in and out, along with the rest of her body.
“You always assume the worst, Tisi.” Hecate’s form appeared solid again for a moment, then shimmered out. Persephone blinked and she was back again. “There never has been anything between me and Aidon—”
“I know.” Tisi nodded, clasping her hands behind her back. “Like I said, not for lack—”
“Did you all hear about Atalanta and Meleager?” Meg’s voice broke into her sister’s sentence, the red snakes on her head hissing in unison. Tisi gave her a dark look, but Meg went on, ignoring the dark fury on her sister’s face.
“Meleager?” Persephone frowned. The name was familiar. Wasn’t he the young hero who had killed his uncles? Kometes and Prothous, yes—Hecate had just suggested Aidon send them to Elysium! Persephone opened her mouth to say something, but Hecate grabbed her arm, her eyes wide, and shook her head almost imperceptibly. The dark-haired goddess’ eyes went quickly and pointedly to Tisi, and Persephone remembered how much Tisi hated family violence.
“Atalanta is one of Artemis’ girls, Meg.” Tisi scoffed and waved her sister’s gossip away. “She wouldn’t touch a man with a ten foot pole.”
“She touched him with more than that.” Alec grinned, her white wings spreading wide.
“It’s true.” Meg nodded. “He’s so gone on her he took her on the Calydonian Boar Hunt!”
“Well, she is a fierce huntress,” Persephone remarked. They all looked at her and she flushed. “I…know Artemis well. I met Atalanta a few times. They were very close.”
“See?” Tisi frowned. “This Meleager may be gone on Atalanta, but she—”
“Your sister speaks the truth.” Hecate was now back to her maiden form, her long dark hair hardly covering her bare breasts. Persephone blinked, shaking her head. Her changing was very disconcerting.
“How do you know?” Tisi crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
“I swear, it’s true!” Meg’s red wings quivered in agitation. “Atalanta has fallen in love with the youngest of the Argonauts and has killed the Calydonian Boar!”
“Meleager’s married,” Tisi reminded her with a frown. “And I could care less about the stupid boar.”
Hecate snorted. “When has that ever stopped a man? She’s right, Tisi. I heard it from Zeus myself.”
“Really?” The dark Fury sighed. “Well, there goes my hope for humanity.”
Meg grinned. “Like you had any to begin with. I hear they’re very much in love.”
“In lust is more like it.” Alec rolled her eyes. “I heard they both nearly got trampled by the boar when they were out trysting in the woods. That’s how they caught it.”
“Sounds like they got caught themselves,” Tisi snorted. “I have no sympathy for adulterers. The only thing worse is someone who would kill their own family.” Her sharp fangs showed in a sneer and Persephone swallowed hard, glancing at Hecate. “Now I’m in the mood to torture someone. Hey, Meggie, weren’t you telling me about some woman who killed her child and fed it to her sister’s husband?”
Meg nodded, shrugging and giving Hecate an apologetic look when the goddess waved her hands behind Tisi’s back, trying to quiet her. “Her husband raped her sister and cut out her tongue…so she took revenge by killing her own child and feeding him to her husband…”
“Now there’s a woman who’s got some imagination.” Tisi winked at Persephone. “Let’s go, Furies. We’ve got work to do.”
The three of them took off at once, their wings spread wide—a flurry of white, red and black—as they sailed toward the exit. Persephone turned to stare open-mouthed at Hecate. No wonder the goddess had gone out of her way to keep Meleager’s poor uncles’ deaths from the Fury!
Hecate sighed and, as if reading Persephone’s mind, said, “If Tisi even got a whiff of what Meleager did to his uncles, the young hero would be doomed. Hopefully, she’ll never think to look for them in Elysium.”
Persephone glanced toward Aidon, who had made the decision to send the two shades to their eternal fate in order to keep a young man from Tisi’s wrath. He was still engrossed in conversation. “This place…is very different.”
“It takes some getting used to.” Hecate nodded sympathetically. “So—which tunnel wou
ld you like to explore, goddess?” She waved her torch toward the three—Tartarus, Asphodel, and Elysium.
“I’ve had enough of death and sadness.” Persephone made a face. “Take me back to Elysium. It’s more like my home.”
The dark-haired goddess took her hand and together they headed toward the entrance to heaven.
Chapter Four
“This soooo reminds me of home.” Persephone stretched her arms toward the sunless sky and danced in the field of wildflowers. Her golden hair streamed behind her as she twirled, laughing and collapsing next to Hecate, who was watching quietly while leaning against a tree.
“Do you miss your home?” Hecate patted the ground beside her and Persephone wiggled next to the dark-haired goddess. She was in her maiden form again, her black hair shining almost blue in the light. The simulation of a summer day was nearly perfect, except for the absence of sun and clouds. The light was bright, warm, and there was even a gentle breeze blowing the golden groundsel against their bare ankles, just like home.
“Yes, I do miss it.” Persephone sighed, looking across the field and remembering her mother’s home, her mother’s smile, the warm smell of bread baking as she came home from an afternoon picking flowers. She knew she had missed the festival, and all of the fun. She wondered if Demeter had cancelled it when she discovered her daughter missing. She must be worried sick. Persephone tried to shove the thought away, shading her eyes to see at a man and woman coupling in the distance. “Although, I have to admit, we didn’t have sights quite like these at home.”
Hecate chuckled. “I imagine not. There are no inhibitions here in the Underworld. Yet another thing it will take you time to get used to, no doubt.”
“I’m learning.” Persephone winked, looking down at her own nude form, and then at Hecate’s. Walking around naked was incredibly freeing, she discovered. She felt proud of her body in ways she never had before—especially when Aidon looked at her. No humans resided here to ogle her, like men did back home whenever she chanced upon them. She knew Demeter had been right to worry, to give her the necklace for protection. But down here, she had no need for the charm of her mother’s love—she had Aidon. She was, ironically, safer from prying eyes down here than she ever had been when she was living with her mother. The shades were only drawn to one another, and the rest of the Underworld crowd seemed to understand Aidon’s word as law.
