Chapter 8: The Gift

Persephone's efforts to stave off Hades's advances while she was in her present condition had thus far proven fruitless. She could see that her lot was not going to be an easy one. She had no one to whom she could turn to for advice and sympathy.

Then one of her handmaidens arrived with a message from the dark goddess.

"Hades has sent for you, my lady," the nymph said to her with a bow. "She said you have stayed in your chamber far too long. At the court, she has no government business to attend to and wishes to divert your mind to some leisure time."

Persephone was mystified by the formal invitation but she could not refuse it. Ever since she had entered the Underworld, she had been living in constant confusion and surprise.

Later when the black sky was not too overcast above the horizon, Hades arrived at Persephone's chamber. As the doors of her room groaned open, the golden-haired maiden felt as though it was her meeting with the older woman for the first time.

Hades was in her usual black robe - all glorious and mighty as she had always been, but there was something different. Hades's night-black hair was braided down to one side over her slender shoulder. She just stood there in the light of the glowing torches like a rising sun over the rim of the mountains. Persephone found it extremely strange that Hades could appear so grim and somber one moment and then so radiant and lively the next. This had begun to unsettle Persephone's mind.

"I apologize for the short notice, Persephone, but I hope you are ready for a walk with me," Hades said to her in a gentle voice. "Seeing you again has moved me so deeply. I can't wait to show you a special gift."

Strangely, after hearing Hades' affectionate words, Persephone noticed there was no more animosity or palpable anger in her heart. She still tried to compose herself and remained unaffected.

"I told you I want no more gifts from you."

"This one I am sure you will find to your liking," Hades replied.

Persephone could have given a more bitter refusal, but now what was left in her young heart was a strong sense of intrigue and wonderment. In fact, Persephone did want to go outside, but the notion of having a stroll with Hades made her insides tingle and excited rather than frightened. This fact astonished her even more.

"Alright," came her soft response.

Hades' face shone brightly with joy. Then the dark goddess held her hand out to the maiden. Persephone stared at it and then back at Hades' bright twinkling eyes, which made Persephone's heart pump unevenly. The young maiden felt her own hands twitching, urging her to reach out for those beautiful slender fingers; but she decided against it and just turned away from the goddess and walked out of the room. Hades swallowed the slight embarrassment and simply followed her.

As they walked down the quiet hall, Persephone could hear the drumming of her own heart. Hades now walked soundlessly ahead of her. Her graceful movement and the soft sound of flowing silk upon her flawless skin made the young maiden feel strangely fascinated.

When they were out of the grand palace with only the Underworld plains to greet them, Hades led the way through the black hills and crooked leafless woods. They continued on like this in complete silence. Once in a while, a sound of chattering and murmuring drifted through the foggy air. Persephone wondered where they were headed, but she didn't dare to ask the taller woman in front of her. For some reason, the young maiden felt neither fear nor apprehension.

After a while, they reached a low plain. There erected a beautiful pergola and several trellises for plants to grow on. All around, large stones were intricately carved into authentic shapes and encrusted with glittering gems. Persephone's mouth fell open as she stared at the place. She turned back to Hades speechless.

"I have set aside a corner of the field for you," the dark goddess said, "This is your own garden, Persephone. You can grow flowers and plants to please your lovely self."

The younger goddess walked towards the garden and looked about herself in pure awe.

"My own garden?" she asked as she went further through the arbor. Hades nodded with a tiny smile back.

For a moment, Persephone felt her heart flooded with joy and excitement. She had missed her daily routine, planting flowers and painting them colors. And now, this very gift from Hades had finally delighted her.

But then she remembered where she was and a great disappointment marred her face.

"There is no sunlight down here and everything is cold and harsh," she said. "This garden will bear no growing things."

Hades just stepped towards Persephone. This time, the golden-haired goddess didn't recoil. They stood inches apart from each other, staring at the other's face.

"I know you would say that," Hades said almost with a hint of amusement in her silken voice. Then she held up her palm and a small black cloth sack magically appeared out of a whirl of golden dust.

Persephone looked at it and back at the monarch in confusion.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Open it," Hades said.

Persephone's hesitant hand inched towards the bag and slowly unbound it, revealing some healthy seeds inside.

"Some rare seeds for you to plant," Hades added with a soft beam, "They're magical blooms that do not need the sunlight."

Persephone's breath was hitched in surprise and her eyes were blurred with tears of thrilling elation. Her lovely face broke into a wide brilliant smile that knocked the air out of Hades' lungs. Hades had never seen a smile so bright and so joyful like this.

Persephone wished she could give the dark goddess a hug out of gratitude. She almost did so but had to stop herself from doing it. She blinked her eyes and turned her face away from the mixed emotions she hadn't experienced before. A short awkward silence between them followed.

Then Hades offered the bag of seeds to her.

"You can grow your garden now, Persephone."

The goddess of spring made no delay. With gleeful steps, she took the bag of seeds and started out to plant them in the black fertile ground. The moment she sowed the tiny seeds into the loose soil, each one began to sprout fast and strong. Even Hades, the powerful goddess herself, was astonished by it. Her eyes followed Persephone as the girl moved about the garden, her lovely ankles flashed like a dancer's.

Persephone grew a species of black orchid here and nightshade there. The young goddess worked in excitement, planting, and helping the seeds to grow. It didn't take long for the garden to blossom with flowerbeds of the blooming henbane, blue hydrangeas, and purple hellebore. There were now vines climbing up the trellises and bearing big black grapes. Every corner of the place was becoming alive and beautiful, filling the air with magical fragrance, and it made Persephone forget all about her sadness and her hunger.

For the first time, she was truly and utterly happy.

"Do you like it?" Hades asked. Persephone turned back to the goddess, her young innocent heart so full of joy it felt like bursting.

"Yes, yes I do love it!" she said, grinning back at the taller woman, forgetting her own grievance and bitterness for once. Hades was surprised by the effect and she did return the smile, the most genuine smile she had ever felt. It made her onyx eyes sparkled and her whole face glowed.

Hades was indeed very beautiful, Persephone realized.

As she was still lost in the realization, the dark goddess came forward and took both her hands.

The divine maiden wanted to pull away from Hades, not from distrust but out of self-consciousness. Her hands were dirty from planting seeds, but Hades paid no heed and leaned over to kiss them with loving tenderness.

Persephone watched Hades's thick black lashes cast shadows over her pale cheeks and felt those soft cold lips upon her skin. The same glittery gold dust lingered where the kisses had landed. Hades lifted her face to her again.

"I am utterly blessed that you enjoy this gift," she said, staring deep into her eyes. "Ever since you came here, everything in my world is beautiful beyond words. If you kindly allow me, I promise I will spend the rest of my eternity to please you and love you always."

Hades gingerly took a step closer, unsure of how the maiden would react, but when she saw that Persephone didn't shy away like she usually did, the dark goddess was emboldened. Her heart pounded exceedingly as her hands slowly enfolded the maiden into her arms. Her long silk robe enveloped Persephone like a black mist around a dainty flower.

They stared at each other's face for the longest moment. Persephone drank Hades in, her long straight nose and lustrous lips, her night-liquid eyes that flashed whenever they looked directly into hers. Persephone could not find the will to protest the graceful woman anymore, it was as if everything about Hades had hypnotized her mind and captured her soul.

Hades gently tipped the girl's narrow chin up and leaned in to kiss her forehead. Persephone closed her eyes, savoring the wonderful tingles. Then Hades drew down her lips and kissed her mouth. Persephone's breath came to a halt. She felt as if her chest would explode. But a sudden calm quickly replaced the tremor in her heart and she let herself be carried away by an unnamed sensation.

Hades was astounded and enthralled by the maiden's submission. Her hands wound around her small delicate frame, feeling it shiver in her embrace.

"Hades..." a soft breathless gasp sounded from the younger goddess.

It made Hades crave her even more. She drew Persephone closer to her heart, letting her mouth caressed hers like she was tracing pictures with her lips. The young maiden placed her hands mindlessly back around the older woman's neck, over her elegant shoulders, and beneath her flowing black hair.

Hades's heart beat fast and loud, she craved the girl so much, she couldn't make sense of the depth of it - the deep endless pools of wanting that made her hover by Persephone's doors each night. All Hades could do was relishing in this rare golden moment forever.

She kissed down her chin and to her slender neck. Hades tightened her hold and moved her tongue wetly to the valley of those supple sweet breasts. Persephone felt hot like there was a fire burning underneath her skin and down the region of her belly.

"I love you, Persephone," moaned Hades, branding the words hot on the maiden's blushed breasts.

The daughter of Demeter could feel herself losing her determination. Her hunger was making her weak-willed. Then with great effort, Persephone slid back from Hades's embrace and placed her palms against the goddess's chest to push her away.

"No, I can't do this," she whispered and shook her head to herself.

Persephone was overwhelmed with so many feelings. She needed to escape those piercing black eyes as they stared back at her, hoping and pleading. There was nothing she could do but to let her wobbly feet carry her out of the vivid garden and away from Hades's spell. That was what she did best.

Persephone ran.