requires changing. I don’t know why you thought it would be smart to bring a child into this world, but I can promise you that it’s not something I would have done. I’m sure she’s an adorable little baby, but we have work to do here. You have work to do. And I need you to focus while you’re in the mortal realm with me.”
And that was that.
Persephone couldn’t argue with her. She did have a lot of work to do here, and in the long run, she had to do it. The mortals needed her so that Demeter would give them a good harvest. For all her power, Persephone wasn’t able to ensure the earth provided them bounty. That was Demeter’s role, and Persephone could only play her part.
So she did.
Persephone did everything her mother bid. She was kind to the mortals. She went to their festivals and danced when they wanted her to. She whispered words of encouragement to new mothers who had heard the rumors that she had a child. And when they wanted to see magic, then she was particularly good at ensuring they saw it.
Six months of hard work. Six months of convincing her mother that nothing was wrong, of course not. She wasn’t crying herself to sleep at night.
The nymphs saw the difference in her. They knew something was wrong, and they wanted to help. Their bright light of a wonderful goddess had somehow dimmed. Turning darker and more dangerous with every day that passed. The Underworld looked out through the eyes of their beloved Persephone. And that made them afraid.
As far as she was concerned, they should be afraid of her. She’d taken a long time building all the power within her breast. She’d convinced the humans to worship her, and even the cult-like group that now followed both her mother and herself, thought Persephone the stronger of the two.
To entertain herself, she whispered wild stories in their ears. How she was the one to be afraid of in the Underworld. How she judged the souls and punished them when they needed to be punished. She built a name for herself of terror and brutality.
Demeter hated what she was doing. The amount of scolding she received daily would have put her into hiding back when she was young.
Now, Persephone assumed she was doing something right if Demeter was angry.
Compared to the first time, these six months dragged even worse. Yes, the harvest was wonderful. The humans worshipped both her and her mother far more than normal. But she was tired.
Persephone was so damned tired.
And when it was time to leave, Demeter called her daughter to her side and hugged her close. “I’ve so enjoyed these months, my dear.”
“So did I.” But the words felt like a lie.
She felt guilty for them. She only had one mother. Demeter was the only person she had in this world who was family, and she should give her more time. More love.
But then she remembered that the Olympians weren’t really mothers, and that Hades and her were the outliers in their families. No one was like them, and Demeter wasn’t the supportive mother she liked the mortals to think.
Demeter didn’t care if Persephone was here. She only cared if people thought Persephone was here.
Pulling away from her mother’s arms, she let out a long sigh and relaxed for the first time in so long. “I’m ready to go home, Hermes.”
He gathered her up into his arms, and together, they sought the nearest portal that would bring her home.
Chapter 45
She landed in the Underworld and raced away from Hermes. Though she should have said goodbye, there wasn’t time. Her child had likely grown. Her husband was so far away from her, and she needed to feel his lips on hers again.
She had missed this place with every fiber of her being. No matter how hard she had dreamt about the Underworld, it wasn’t the same as feeling the black sands underneath her feet or the misty air on her cheeks.
Her feet pounded down the shore until she reached the castle. Bursting through the doors, she darted for his office. He wouldn’t be in the bedroom this time of day. And Cerberus hadn’t beaten her to letting his master know that the queen had returned.
She wanted to surprise him herself. She wanted him to see her coming back to him before anyone else knew.
Just a few moments with her family. Alone. Before everyone wanted to welcome their queen home.