arms. “The mortals are not mine to guide while they are alive. They are mine once they are dead, and I will keep them.”
Demeter’s eyes grew wider with every word until she finally relented. All the power drained from her mother’s hands, sinking into the ground where tiny asters grew. “So be it then. If you wish to damn yourself to that monstrous realm and that horrible man, then I can only try to convince you to stay with me. Is that what you’re trying to say?”
Persephone would not let her mother think she could win this argument. “I ate six pomegranate seeds, mother. I will return to the Underworld. Whether or not you like it.”
Her mother’s flinch shouldn’t have been as satisfying as it was. Persephone once would never have wanted to hurt Demeter. The mere idea had made tears gather in her eyes because she had loved her mother blindly.
Now, she knew her mother’s love was really a form of control. Demeter would do whatever she could to keep Persephone happy, but only if Persephone listened to every word Demeter ordered.
Maybe she’d always known that. But now that Persephone was a full grown woman and Demeter couldn’t actually control her, her mother was less interested in the child she’d born.
“I think you should stay longer than six months here,” Demeter grumbled. “You are needed here.”
“Am I?” she asked. “Why would I stay here when the Underworld is where I can be most useful?”
“Because I missed you.” Demeter’s eyes welled with tears. “You’re my only daughter, you know. The only child I ever had, and the only one I will ever bear.”
Yes, she was. And Persephone could only imagine that tore at Demeter’s heart to know that her own daughter was gone.
She sighed and walked into her mother’s arms. “I missed you too, mother. More than you know.”
“Then why won’t you stay?” Demeter whispered into her hair.
She wished she had words to explain the feeling squeezing her heart. But she knew Demeter would never understand how she felt. So Persephone remained quiet, plotting her next way to escape and return to her home.
Back to her husband.
Chapter 35
Hades tried to continue his days like normal. First, he’d awaken and check the portals with Cerberus by his side. Then he would speak with Hecate and Thanatos, making sure no one was misbehaving when they should have been working. Even the heroes weren’t causing trouble for him. Surprisingly, considering they usually wanted to at least argue with Hades.
Maybe everyone knew he’d lost his wife. He wouldn’t be surprised if the rumor mill had already spread throughout the dead. Spirits loved to know what was happening in the lives of the living. And knowing about the gods was their favorite.
Now, he’d already done all the things he had to do. He’d already checked in on everyone. He’d even gone into Tartarus to test the chains that kept the Titans bound.
They were all too happy to mention how adorable his wife was, and how tasty she would be if they were to feast on her flesh. Their threats hadn’t helped his worry.
What was she doing in the mortal realm? Demeter had proved herself to be a decent mother, at least in keeping her daughter alive thus far. Which could only mean that she could keep Persephone safe in the mortal realm now.
But when Persephone had originally been with her mother, the mortals hadn’t been worshipping her. She hadn’t been connected to the King of the Underworld, and that painted a rather large target on her back.
Mortals would do anything to stay away from death. They desired immortality, although he couldn’t imagine why. As an immortal himself, he knew how horrible that life was. Always clinging to life, even though it sometimes was horrid.
Like this moment when all he wanted was to be in the arms of his wife.
Running his fingers through his hair, he turned away from the castle and headed in a different direction. To a place he hadn’t been in a very long time, mostly because he hated the fields more than any other place in the entire Underworld.
But right now, with the way he was feeling, the Mourning Fields might be the only place for him.
They’d created the fields for the souls who couldn’t go anywhere else. It was a rarity for anyone to even ask to go there, for that place was almost worse than Tartarus in his opinion.
Some souls were brought to the Underworld before their significant other. Or