"What business do you have in my garden?" the goddess said, keeping her voice from cracking with anger.
"I just want to see for myself why Hades took interest in the like of you," Minthe said, glaring at Persephone in detest.
Then the Cocythian nymph began to complain loudly with overweening words and raved foolishly in jealousy. She went on saying that she was nobler of form and more excellent in beauty than the bright-eyed Persephone, and she boasted that Hades would return to her and banish the other from her palace.
Of course, Persephone should have expected it. It was normal for the gods and goddesses to take lovers, but she found it unbearable to hear what Minthe claimed, and her anger started to rise from the depth of her chest.
"Go away!" Persephone finally cried out in fury, "I have no needs to speak to you! Just leave me alone!"
"No, you took Hades away from me! I despise you and your innocent face!" Minthe sneered back, stomping towards the young goddess unafraid, "You are the one who should leave! Go back to your mother; go back to where you belong!"
The nymph, wild with envy, reached her hands out in an attempt to strangle the goddess, but before she could lie a hand on Persephone, a cloud of black mist burst between them. Then emerged the Mistress of Death herself. Hades had one of her hands curved around Persephone's dainty form protectively.
"Hades?" Minthe squeaked.
The Goddess of the Underworld turned her face to the scornful nymph, who stumbled back and fell to the ground at the fearsome sight of her.
"Begone with you!" Hades shouted, eyes blazed with rage, "And never let me see your face again!"
Minthe's face went white and then she burst into tears.
"Hades!" she cried, "Did you forget that I have laid in bed with you?"
"I will hear none of that! You have upset my queen," the dark goddess growled, "Leave now before I banish you from my realm, or worse, fling you down the pit of Tartarus and let you suffer forever!"
Minthe bit back her tongue. She still feared Hades's wrath. The nymph picked herself up and swallowed her pride, but before she turned to leave, she lanced a dark hateful glance at Persephone. The young goddess was too shocked with this wild behavior and only stood there riveted to the spot. She had never been treated with such hostility in all her life.
After Minthe stumbled away with a hurt look and was gone, Hades turned to her darling maiden with concerns marring her face. But when the dark goddess reached out to her, Persephone pushed her away and took a step back.
"Haven't you just dismissed the wrong person?" the maiden asked with a strong hint of resentment. Her eyes pierced back at Hades's.
"Why did you say that, Persephone?"
"You know what I meant," the girl said, "If you already have a lover, why did you bring me down here?"
"I do not love Minthe the way I love you, Persephone," Hades explained, "Having passed this stage, I can boldly say you now took her place eternally."
"I don't want to be the target of her disdain," the younger goddess replied. "You should go back to her and leave me alone."
Hades arched her elegant brows in distraught.
"Believe me, there is no one I should go to but you," she said, "Even with all my sorrow pent up in this heart of mine, you're still the one I truly desire."
Then the tall goddess came forward and brought her hand to Persephone's lovely cheek. Hades’s touch calmed the maiden's anger with its gentleness.
“Forgive me, my lovely one,” the dark goddess whispered, “You’re the light of my world. I long for you since the first glance. You do not know how much it agonizes me to want something so ardently as I do.”
"On contrary, Hades, I do know what is stirring in that heart of yours,” Persephone said in a low surrendered voice, “for I, too, feel the same anguish. I had hoped by keeping away from you, I might cease to long for you and escape my taunting feelings."
Hades’s eyes widened in sheer surprise upon hearing those words. It was the first time the young maiden had shown her suppressed desire towards her. She had not expected this event would lead to Persephone revealing her hidden longing for the dark goddess.
"Oh, sweet Persephone..." Hades whispered. The taller woman then closed the short distance between them. She tilted her head and brought Persephone's lips to her own.
The young goddess opened her mouth willingly and let Hades’s tongue cherish hers with warmth and passion. There were no words in the world to convey their feelings.
Persephone ran her hand through the silken strands of Hades's black lock. And as they shared their fervent kisses, she found herself falling and falling ever so slowly into an abyss deeper than the Underworld itself.
The wind blew gently through the dense foliage, and there, in the glowing garden, the two goddesses stood with their arms around one another, their mouths explored each other in tandem with the beating of their immortal hearts.
CHAPTER ten:
the pomegranate
Meanwhile the goddess of spring still longed for the view of the lush green earth and the blue of the sky; she had also grown accustomed to the world beneath and no longer found Hades's palace oppressing or the barren fields dreary.
There were so many things to amuse her. Persephone liked to wander in the Elysian Fields and dance with the happy souls. She was still fascinated by the lives of the deceased, and how Sisyphus rolled his stone uphill endlessly and the ever-hungry Tantalus in his own torment.
Yet, she enjoyed the garden that Hades gave her the most. Her flowers grew so beautifully even in the shadowy gloom. The black grapes were all plump and ripe with rich juice, and which, out of boredom, Persephone would crush them into black deadly wine. No mortals should ever drink it for it would poison them except the gods.
Since the fate was sealed between her two parents, Persephone shall return to the life she had known unless the young goddess remained as pure as the day she left her mother's home. Part of her missed her mother horribly, but another part had grown unhealthily fond of the goddess Hades. Day by day, she had become aware of her passionate feelings towards the grim woman. It made her difficult to tell what her heart truly wanted.
There was a rapid increase of the dead ever since Demeter stopped granting her care for the earth, and one afternoon, while Hades was too busy minding her court with the three judges and dealing with the new arriving souls, Persephone wandered, childlike, in her garden.
The goddess went through the orchard trees from a low branch, half-hidden in the clump of nightshade; she found a healthy fruit tree. As the fate permitted, she was mesmerized by the sight of the cluster of lustrous red fruit - the pomegranates. Persephone's mouth watered and her stomach growled. Her hands clenched to her sides.
'You're alone', a voice inside her head whispered. 'No one will see you. No one will know.'
The goddess looked around herself. It was true. Even her helper was nowhere to be found. No one could see her. She felt her hands acting by themselves, as though she had nothing to do with them. She watched as the fingers curled savagely and ripped the fruit from the tree. She watched her nails dug into the heavy red pomegranate, peeled the yellow rind and found the seeds sparkling like red gems. Saliva flooded her mouth, and at last, Persephone broke her fast and nibbled seven.
She thought she had never tasted anything so sweet as these tiny tart juicy seeds. Just as she swallowed her sixth seed, a great chill shot through her spine. Persephone gasped as she had just woken up from a trance. She dropped the pomegranate to the ground, but it was too late. Her mouth stained with red juice. She wiped her lips roughly and started to panic. Then from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of her gardener, Ascalaphus, who was watching her from under the trellis. He was the only one who bore witness. The goddess quickly turned on her heels and raced out of the garden.
Persephone was terrified of what she had done. The young maiden ran heedlessly until she reached the black bank of one of the great rivers. She dropped to her knees an
d sobbed. The scent of pomegranate and its sweet taste still lingered in her mouth, reminding her of her mistake.
She looked at her own reflection on the black water. Her golden hair was disheveled from running. Then she realized she had arrived at Cocytus, the name of the river of lamentation, abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate that sent a shudder through all hearers.
Suddenly, a rush of water came up and enveloped Persephone. A pair of pale arms wrapped around her neck and pulled her down with a strong grip. The goddess was devoured by fear. She realized with horror what had possessed her.
It was Minthe, the Underworld Nymph of Cocytus, who had malicious intentions since their first encounter. The nymph dragged the startled Persephone off the shore. Minthe pushed the goddess's head under the water, choking her in the murky liquid.
"You stole Hades from me!" Minthe hissed. "You shall be trapped here in the river of wailing forever!"
Persephone thrashed, screamed and choked. She tried to pry Minthe's scorching hands off her skin and pull herself away. The goddess prayed to her mother, but at the same time, she wanted Hades the most.
The all-powerful four rivers that joined with the River Styx can keep the souls for eternity, but Persephone had the golden blood of the Olympians - she would not let this naiad drown her with her madness and hatred. The goddess's quick recovery released her from her crippling fear, and she lashed back with all her immortal strength.
Using her both hands, she grabbed a hold of the nymph and dragged her back inland. Minthe was surprised at the sudden vigor of the dainty goddess. The naiad lost her power as soon as her body was out of the water.
But just as quickly, Minthe recovered and jumped atop Persephone with her hands clutched around the goddess's neck. The two of them continued to struggle against one another.
Persephone's eyes went bleary, her mouth gasped for air. But then something miraculous happened. Minthe screamed and fell away. Her pale skin began peeling off from her bones patch by patch and slowly burning into ashes. Soon her red hair caught on fire along with the rest of her body. The nymph was shocked beyond words. She screamed and screamed until her existence was turned to dust, and Minthe screamed no more.
Persephone finally freed herself. She could breathe properly again and staggered back to her wobbly feet. Her eyes burned with tears as she looked at the pile of ashes on the ground.
The goddess was relieved that Minthe was no longer a danger to her, but she was also saddened by the outcome of the event. A great sympathy took hold of her heart for the nymph was destroyed by her own jealousy.
"Poor Minthe," Persephone whispered and waved her hand. Then from the pile of the nymph's ashes sprang forth a weak mint herb that bore her name.
CHAPTER eleven:
departure
As soon as Hades saw her maiden walking into the dimly lit hall, her crimson lips parted and dark eyes widened. The sight of her tattered dress and disheveled hair shocked her being with great concerns. The goddess descended from her throne and rushed to meet Persephone.
"Persephone," she said in a voice of deep concern, "Are you alright?"
As the maiden stood, shivering mutely, Hades conjured a comforting fleecey cloak and quickly wrapped it around the goddess. Persephone looked up at Hades's distraught face as her eyes swept the length of her dirty form.
"I met Minthe by the River Cocytus," she began in a sad exhausted voice. "She tried to overpower me...it happened so fast...and I did not mean to..."
"Worry not, my love," Hades interrupted her. Her tone was soft and comforting. She already understood what had befallen her beloved maiden. "Hateful to me is she who wishes harms upon you. Persephone, you are not at fault."
Persephone swallowed the lump in her throat. Though by the grace of her divinity, Persephone had turned Minthe's form to fragrant mint in sheer self-defense, the kind-hearted goddess was conflicted, shocked and humiliated by her action. But the stern ruler of the Underworld made no words of accusation. Hades coaxed her chin up with the tips of her fingers. Their eyes entwined.
"Come with me, Persephone," Hades spoke, and there was something about her warm and caressing words that made her follow.
Hades took Persephone back to her own chamber. The dark goddess ordered the maids to tend to her. They immediately escorted the goddess to an indoor pool, full of fragrant warm water. After they bathed her and anointed her hair with perfumed oil, they dressed her in a fresh set of silk garment.
When Persephone went back to the bedroom, the thought of her tragic day came back to haunt her again, but that wasn't the only thing that troubled her mind. She could still smell that redolent scent of the pomegranate. Her heart felt both light and heavy all at once, and she wondered whether or not her gardener had already told Hades about it.
Presently, she could feel the presence of another goddess in the room. She knew the other was there, watching her, waiting patiently.
"Where are you, Hades?"
"Here."
Her powerful yet melodious voice spoke to her softly from nowhere. The maiden reached out her arms. She felt the slender shoulders of Hades. She felt herself being enfolded by the goddess's embrace. She buried herself into its warmth and reassurance. Hades strangely made her feel safe in her arms.
"Why don't you let me see you?"
There was a long silence in the room. Persephone could hear the heartbeat, it was fast and loud, but it wasn't her own.
"I am the one to blame. I have brought this evil woman to you," Hades said honestly. Her voice filled with so much remorse and self-hate, it shocked the young maiden like a blow. Hades was extremely upset for what happened to her.
Persephone stepped back from the invisible goddess. She lifted her hands, hesitated for a moment but then reached up and wordlessly removed the helm.
"Persephone," Hades whispered with a hint of surprise. Staring back at her with those impenetrable black eyes, her beautiful face startled Persephone once again with its glowing irradiancy. The helm fell from her hands and dropped to the carpet floor by their feet.
Heat crept upon her cheeks when her eyes trailed over Hades's mouth. Persephone's lips parted in suppressed yearning. Her heart pounded like thunders in her chest.
"Hades...I…" Persephone finally understood the pain of rejection she had inflicted upon the taller woman.
Then as if the earlier event had taught the young maiden how to be strong, Persephone finally had the courage to reach those tender lips with her own. The hunger was even more intense than the time she tasted the sweet pomegranate.
She kissed the Goddess of the Underworld with all the passion she had buried inside her. A swoon of happiness enveloped her mind. Her body trembled, both from the chill and fire of their kiss, which Hades deepened with her own burning desire. It blossomed and grew and raged with love.
But all of a sudden, a high glad yelling cry split the air. It was a cry that any god recognized - Hermes's keen herald shout, meaning that he was coming with news, good or bad, but worthy of high attention.
The two goddesses broke apart from each other. The sweet miraculous moment they just shared was gone. But now Persephone was enthralled. Her undying hope to leave the Underworld had returned, filling her heart to the brim with uncontrollable joy.
"Hermes!" she cried.
Hades's face hardened instantly, but there was nothing she could do to prevent what would happen.
Once they entered the throne hall, sure enough, it was her nephew Hermes, the messenger god. His hair tumbled from the wind, the wings on his ankles still fluttering from the speed of his going.
He entered the hall of Hades and bowed to the goddess of the dead, who was sitting on her grand ebony throne, scowling blackly at him. She knew the news-bearing Hermes was sent by the King of the Gods from Olympus. And she had a feeling that she wouldn't like what she was going to hear.
"O Hades!" he cried cheerily. "I bring you a message from Father Zeus, ruler of the blessed gods. He bids me bring noble Perse
phone forth from Erebus, so that her mother may see her with her eyes and cease from her dread anger with the immortals; for now she plans an awful deed, to destroy the weakly tribes of earth-born men by keeping the gift of grains, and thus she makes an end of the honors of the undying gods. You must return fair Persephone immediately."
"No," Hades spoke tersely. Her face had become solemn like a white mask. Only Persephone noticed the flicker of grief in her coal-black eyes.
"But this is the decree set by the hand of the King of Heaven, and you must obey! Demeter keeps fearful anger and does not consort with the gods and only sits aloof in her cave, dwelling in the rocky hold of Eleusis. The gods are on the verge of perishing from the goddess’s wrath. Giving the maiden back is the only way."
Then Hermes turned to Persephone, who was standing there in silence.
"How are you, sweet cousin? You don't look too excited, do you?" the god said. "Your mother wants you back. She has frozen the whole earth mourning for you. Haven't eaten anything here, no? I hope so."
Persephone turned her face to look at Hades with conflicted eyes. The Mistress of Soul gazed back at her so steadily, and she could almost feel the pulse of Hades's begging heart with her own. But her mother yearned for her company on earth, and the maiden must save her own dying realm.
Forgive me.
"No, I haven't," Persephone replied to Hermes.
"Good! Then let us be on our way!" the messenger god came to escort the goddess of spring from the hall. Hades stood up from her throne and rushed over to take Persephone's hand.
"Please, pity my heart. Don't leave me," she whispered, deeply saddened.
Persephone stared at the mighty goddess of the Underworld, speechless. She didn't know deep down in her innocent heart, she had wanted Hades from the moment they first met on Mount Olympus. But it was too late to confess it now.
"I have a mother waiting for me," the young goddess said and pulled her hand back slowly from Hades's grasp.
Then the winged god put his arm around Persephone's waist, and they both rose into the air and flew away from the hall and out of the palace.
Hades: Goddess of the Underworld (Lesbian Version) Page 6
