Persephone the Phony

by Joan Holub

  “I’ve seen you with them. Your friends,” Hades said casually.

  She’d been surprised that he knew her name, and that she got As, but the fact that he’d noticed her with her friends made Persephone feel happier than she’d felt all day. When it came to godboys, it was usually Aphrodite who drew all the attention. Blushing, she said, “Really? So who do you hang out with?”

  Hades pushed on his stick so hard it broke in two. “I’m kind of a loner,” he muttered darkly. Then, lightening up a little, he shot her a glance and said, “Tell me more about your friends.”

  Persephone would have liked to ask why he didn’t pal around with the other godboys, but since it was obviously a sore subject, she was happy to talk about her friends instead. “Athena is so smart, she invented the olive,” she said. “And no one knows more about fashion than Aphrodite. Then there’s Artemis. She’s the best archer in the Academy! And she has these three dogs. Once they got ahold of Mr. Cyclops’s sandals. What a drooly mess—”

  “I heard!” interrupted Hades, laughing again. Persephone liked the deep, rumbly sound of his voice. “I’ve got a dog too,” he said. “Mine has three heads. Cerberus. But he’s a working dog. I can’t bring him to school.”

  Persephone nodded. “Yeah, I’ve heard about him.” He guarded the entrance to the Underworld and kept souls from escaping. She shivered just thinking about it. It seemed so creepy.

  “So now tell me about you,” Hades said. “What do you do best?”

  “Well, I can garden a bit,” said Persephone, surprised. Usually people liked to talk about themselves. It was weird to have someone ask about her. “My mom’s Demeter.”

  “Goddess of the harvest and bringer of seasons, right?” said Hades.

  “Yes,” said Persephone.

  “You take after her,” said Hades.

  “I can make things grow, anyway,” said Persephone, shrugging.

  “Show me,” said Hades.

  “Huh?”

  “Show me how you can make things grow.” He sat back, almost daring her, resting his weight on his hands.

  “It’s really not that big a deal,” Persephone protested.

  When he just stared at her with those dark eyes of his, she shrugged and reached into her lap for her daisy chain. By now all the little daisies had become limp. But as she held up the chain and gently stroked the flowers, their green stems and white petals straightened and grew strong again, as if they were still in the ground.

  Hades’ jaw dropped. “Cool! Where I come from almost nothing grows—except asphodel. You’ve got skills!”

  Persephone smiled. “Thanks.” She couldn’t imagine a place where things didn’t grow. Asphodel was nice, though. She’d always liked the star-shaped white flowers, which grew atop tall stalks. Before she could ask Hades more about the Underworld, a chariot drawn by two wheat-colored horses swooped down from the sky.

  “Oh, no—my mom!”

  Beside her, she felt Hades stiffen. It was almost as if he’d learned to always expect trouble.

  Demeter jumped down from the chariot as soon as it landed, and hustled over to Persephone. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” she scolded. “You should’ve been home an hour ago. What are you doing in this awful place?” She herded Persephone onto the chariot. Then, whirling around, she gave Hades a look that would’ve killed if he hadn’t already been immortal. “Stay away from my daughter, godboy!” she warned him.

  For a second, hurt flitted across Hades’ face, but then his features hardened into an unreadable mask and he turned away.

  “Mom!” Persephone’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as the chariot lifted off.

  Demeter urged the horses on. “If you don’t like me hunting you down, you shouldn’t wander off on your own without telling me where you’re going and when you’ll return,” she replied as the chariot picked up speed.

  Persephone tried to swallow the knot of anger that had become lodged in her stomach. It wasn’t the first time her mom had come looking for her. In fact, Demeter was the ultimate chariot mom, racing here, there, and everywhere to keep tabs on her daughter. But whenever Persephone complained to her friends, Aphrodite said she should feel grateful she even had a mom. Having sprung from sea foam, Aphrodite had no parents at all. And Athena’s mom was a fly! They just didn’t understand.

  “Who was that godboy, anyway?” Demeter demanded after a while. “I didn’t like the look of him at all.”

  Persephone shrugged. “He didn’t say,” she lied.

  Demeter pursed her lips, and they rode in silence a few minutes longer. At last she said, “Promise me you won’t go off on your own again without telling me beforehand.”

  “Fine,” Persephone said stonily. At times like this, she couldn’t help thinking that Aphrodite, Artemis, and Athena were fortunate not to have moms around. Feeling rebellious, she vowed to return to Earth as soon as possible. And with luck, she’d see Hades at school tomorrow.

  3

  The Missing Sandals

  ALTHOUGH PERSEPHONE LOOKED FOR HADES in the hallways at school the next morning, she didn’t spot him. Maybe he was skipping classes again. What a letdown. She’d been so hoping to see him again.

  Now, as she sat through a boring lecture in Mr. Cyclops’s Hero-ology class, her third class of the day, she moodily toyed with her hair, pulling at a curl and letting it spring back.

  She hadn’t wanted to lie to her mom last night about knowing Hades’ name. But if given that scrap of information, her mom would’ve pursued it like a bee after pollen. Demeter had always checked out Persephone’s friends and never hesitated to criticize them. In her view, Aphrodite was too obsessed with her looks, Athena was too smart for her own good, and Artemis spent far too much time traipsing about in the woods with her dogs. It was a miracle Persephone was even allowed to have friends!

  Since she wasn’t paying attention, she was caught unawares when Mr. Cyclops asked her a question. “Could you repeat that?” she asked, sitting up straighter.

  Her teacher rolled the single humongous eye in the middle of his forehead. “I asked if you knew where they went.”

  Where who went? Persephone’s cheeks flushed. She hadn’t a clue what he was talking about. She couldn’t very well ask him to explain, though. Then he’d know for sure that she hadn’t been listening.

  “Well?” asked Mr. Cyclops, tapping an enormous bare foot.

  “I’m thinking,” said Persephone. He’d been talking about heroes, of course. He must have asked where they went after they died in battle. “Heaven?” she guessed.

  The class roared with laughter.

  Mr. Cyclops’s huge eye blinked. “I asked if you knew where my sandals went. It would be quite amazing if they found their way to heaven.” He paused. “Though, of course, they do have soles.”

  Everyone groaned at the pun. Why had Mr. Cyclops asked her about his sandals? Persephone wondered. Students were always hiding them. Even if she did know who had taken them this time, she wouldn’t have told. She was no snitch.

  A girl with short, spiky orange hair waved her hand in the air. It was Pheme, the goddess of gossip and rumor. “I heard that some godboys dragged them down to the River Styx to go rafting last night.” As she spoke, words puffed from her lips like miniature smoke writing.

  Snickers drifted over the class.

  Mr. Cyclops sighed. “I’ll make a deal. Whoever finds my sandals and brings them back can skip the next two homework assignments.”

  Persephone’s interest perked up. She wouldn’t mind getting out of a couple of assignments. And looking for the sandals would give her an excuse to return to Earth. Maybe she’d see Hades again! She didn’t need to tell her mom first either. Persephone had only promised not to go off on her own. She’d convince Aphrodite, Athena, and Artemis to go with her. If they did find the sandals, it would take all four of them to carry them back, anyway.

  Ping! Ping! Ping! The lunch lyrebell sounded, and she headed for the cafeteria. The
octopus-like lunch lady handed orange clay bowls decorated with black silhouetted figures to her and the next seven students in line. Persephone sniffed the contents appreciatively. Mmmm. Yambrosia. She grabbed a carton of nectar from a tray and headed for the lunch table where she and her friends always sat together.

  “Mr. Cyclops’s sandals are missing,” she said as she sat down. “Whoever finds them gets to—”

  “—skip the next two homework assignments,” finished Athena. As usual, a bag of scrolls lay on the bench beside her. She pushed a straw into her carton of nectar. “He’s been asking about his sandals in all his classes, making the same offer to everyone. Aphrodite and I heard about it first period.”

  “And I found out during second period,” said Artemis. She was still wearing her quiver of arrows, but she’d leaned her bow against the wall behind the table. At her feet lay her three dogs: a bloodhound, a greyhound, and a beagle. They followed her everywhere, even to class. She must have seen Persephone looking at them, because she said, “You don’t mind, do you?”

  The dogs were kind of smelly, but Persephone knew how much her friend adored them. “No, of course not.”

  Persephone quickly shared what Pheme had told her class about the sandals. “Of course, it’s only a rumor.”

  “Most things she says are,” said Artemis. “But it might be true.” She set her half-empty bowl of yambrosia on the floor for her hounds to finish off. As usual, Amby, the beagle, beat the two older, bigger dogs to the bowl, gobbling down far more than his fair share. Running a hand through her short black hair, she said, “I think we should check it out at least. Missing two homework assignments would give me extra time to practice archery. There’s a big contest coming up, and I want to be ready.”

  Athena’s nose popped out of the plum-colored scroll she was reading. “I could use the time too. I’m swamped.”

  No surprise there, thought Persephone. Athena loved studying and had signed up for more than a full load of classes, plus some extracurriculars.

  Aphrodite tossed back her beautiful golden hair. “Let’s do it! Off to the river, then?”

  Persephone smiled. Convincing her friends to join in the search had been easier than she’d expected. In fact, they’d convinced themselves. Now she just had to hope she’d see Hades!

  4

  The Search

  THAT AFTERNOON, BEFORE HEADING TO Earth, the four friends made a quick stop at Aphrodite’s dorm room so she could change into her “search party” outfit. Persephone wasn’t sure why a different outfit was necessary, but the navy chiton, patterned with little white sailing ships, certainly looked good on Aphrodite. Everything did, of course.

  On their way out of the dorm, the four friends grabbed winged sandals, then raced toward the River Styx. Its source was a spring that plunged down a rocky cliff high above them.

  Unfortunately, Pheme’s rumor had spread faster than fire on a windy day. All the godboys and goddessgirls from Mr. Cyclops’s classes were out searching for the giant sandals along the river, the boundary between Earth and the Underworld.

  A large eagle soared over Persephone’s head to land at the river’s edge. When the huge bird morphed into Ares, the goddessgirls nearby squealed with delight at the handsome godboy’s arrival. Most gods and goddesses could shape-shift. Taking on the forms of animals at will was easy. Persephone herself often took the form of a dove when she flew places.

  As the four goddessgirls skidded to a stop near the river, a golden-haired godboy with pale turquoise eyes and skin emerged from underwater with a triumphant grin on his face. Thrusting his three-pronged spear in the air, Poseidon exclaimed, “Found one! Someone’s pinned it down to the riverbed with a boulder so it won’t float!”

  Persephone and all the other godboys and goddessgirls glanced suspiciously at Atlas. The academy’s bulky champion weight lifter, he was likely the only godboy in the whole school capable of moving such a boulder.

  Atlas shrugged. Pheme was right, thought Persephone. And Atlas must have been one of the godboys who had taken the sandals. Now he and Ares waded into the water to help Poseidon bring up the one under the rock.

  “Where’s the second one?” Aphrodite shouted from shore.

  Atlas raised both hands, palms up. “Don’t know.”

  “It could have washed up near the riverbank,” said Athena. “Why don’t we spread out and search?”

  Persephone moved toward some tall clumps of grass. Suddenly she heard a loud crack behind her. She whirled around. Hades! A blush stole across her cheeks as he emerged from the ground atop his stallion.

  “Hi,” he said, leaping down. “What’s everyone looking for?”

  “Haven’t you heard?”

  Hades’ dark ringlets swung from side to side as he shook his head.

  Then Persephone remembered that she hadn’t seen him in school all day. Pointing to the sandal that Poseidon, Ares, and Atlas were now dragging toward shore, she explained about the reward Mr. Cyclops had offered.

  Hades gave her a half smile. “Those things usually come in pairs, right?”

  “Right,” said Persephone. “Have you seen the other one?”

  “Maybe,” Hades teased.

  “Show me,” said Persephone.

  Hades cocked his head. “What about your mom?”

  Persephone sighed, feeling annoyed. “What about her?”

  “I don’t think she likes me.” Hades’ brow furrowed. “She probably wouldn’t like you going off with me—even to rescue a teacher’s sandal.”

  Persephone pursed her lips in exasperation. “Ugh, my mom is always so worried! She probably thinks you’d kidnap me, given half a chance.”

  Before Hades could respond, Artemis ran up with her hounds at her heels. “Oh, there you are!” she said to Persephone. “Is this godboy giving you trouble?” She glared at Hades while her dogs stood at attention, their teeth bared.

  “No, why would you think that?” Persephone replied. Then she noticed how tightly Artemis was clutching her bow. Hades’ hands were balled into fists at his sides, and his feet were planted wide as if he expected an attack.

  “Godness!” Persephone exclaimed, stepping between them. “Relax, Hades. Artemis is my friend.”

  She turned toward Artemis. “I don’t need protection. Hades is a friend too.”

  “If you say so,” Artemis growled. Her grip on her bow relaxed, but she continued to glare at Hades. Her dogs growled and glared too.

  Moments later Aphrodite and Athena also ran up. Sandwiching Persephone, they slipped their arms through hers. Aphrodite arched an eyebrow at Hades. In a frosty voice, she said, “So sorry, but Persephone has to go now.”

  Before Persephone could protest, the two goddessgirls practically dragged her away. Artemis followed with her dogs. When she overcame her shock, Persephone began to struggle, but Athena and Aphrodite held on. “Keep walking,” Aphrodite said sternly.

  Persephone twisted her head to look over her shoulder, but Hades had already disappeared. She scowled at her so-called friends. “Why are you doing this?” Then her eyes narrowed with suspicion and she groaned. “Don’t tell me. My mom put you up to this, didn’t she?”

  5

  The Second Sandal

  APHRODITE AND ATHENA LOOSENED THEIR hold on Persephone. “Your mom?” Aphrodite asked blankly.

  Persephone frowned. “Yes, my mom. It’s just the kind of thing she would do. She’s as overprotective as a suit of armor. Hades and I are friends—at least, we were starting to be.”

  Athena snorted. “Demeter has nothing to do with this.”

  “It was our idea,” Artemis agreed. “You cannot be friends with Hades.”

  Persephone’s eyes widened. “Why not?”

  “Because,” Aphrodite said, speaking slowly and clearly, “he’s from the Underworld.”

  “So?” said Persephone. “Just because someone comes from the wrong side of the world, it doesn’t mean they aren’t worth knowing.”

  Athena nodd
ed. “True. But Hades is trouble with a capital T ! Everyone says so.”

  “Well, I don’t believe it,” Persephone said stubbornly.

  The goddessgirls climbed to the top of a hill overlooking the river. “Anyway,” Persephone added, “he was about to show me where Mr. Cyclops’s other sandal is hidden.”

  Just then shouts came from below. The four goddessgirls looked down. Pheme had found the second sandal. After an impromptu celebratory dance, she hoisted it over her spiky orange head with the help of two other goddessgirls.

  Artemis eyed Persephone. “You were saying?” she said dryly.

  Persephone blushed. “He must have shown Pheme where it was hidden instead.” But though she scanned the faces near Pheme several times, she didn’t see Hades.

  Aphrodite shook her head. “We’re your friends, Persephone. Take our advice. Stay away from Hades. He may be cute in a gloomy kind of way, but he’s bad news.”

  Persephone opened her mouth to defend him again, but then she closed it. What if her friends and her mom were right? What if Hades had lied about showing her where the other giant sandal was? How well did she really know him?

  By the time the goddessgirls returned to Mount Olympus and Persephone arrived home, she’d decided her gut feelings about Hades must have been wrong. After all, how could she be right about him when everyone else thought differently? Still, she felt sad to have to end their budding friendship.

  * * *

  Arriving at school the next day, Persephone crossed the courtyard and began to climb the wide granite steps to the bronze doors of the academy. She was halfway up when Hades stepped from behind a tall pillar and came toward her. Persephone pretended not to see him and swerved to avoid him. Spotting Athena and her mortal roommate, Pandora, she raced to catch up with them.

  “Where did you come from?” Pandora asked right away. Gold streaks in her blue hair glinted in the sunlight. And because she was mortal, she didn’t have shimmery skin like Persephone and the other immortals. “You were down at the River Styx yesterday, weren’t you? Do you think someone will take Mr. Cyclops’s sandals again?”