The Armageddon

2. A Black Rose

         Kore was couldn't stop talking about the rose she had found and was earnestly trying to convince Athena and I to accompany her to look for it again.

"I think ill pass this time Kore" Athena said uninterestedly.

"Do you not want to see it? it was truly fascinating"

Athena Huffed "what is so fascinating about a rose? haven't you seen enough of those in your mothers gardens?"

"Yes, but none like this".

I had a sudden flash back. This was the day that Kore was kidnapped by Hades to queen of the underworld.

"This is my only chance. Mother never lets me out of her sight. Its a miracle I was able to get away today." Kore complained.

There were several thoughts Passing through my mind. If I let Kore go, she was going to be kidnapped and her mother would wreck havoc on the earth. on the other hand, if I were to stop it from happening, something was definitely going to change in the future. The problem was I didn't know if it would be good or bad.

"I'm going to the Arena. Nike could accompany you." Athena suggested snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Oh will you Nike" Kore asked hopefully.

Finally I made my decision. Even though it was going to be hard, as Kore was my friend, there was no one else i would rather have be queen of the underworld.

"Of course I'll come with you Kore" I replied with a smile.

"Yes!" she squealed happily.

"you are such a child Kore" Athena sighed.

"But you love me anyway, sister" Kore giggled.  Kore was Athena's half sister and she was extremely young compared to the other gods.

After some time, Athena left for the arena while Kore and I headed into the woods where she had seen the flower. A few flower nymphs which Demeter commanded to watch Kore also tagged along. I felt like the evil villain of this story knowing what was about to happen. I felt like a traitor leading her to a trap, but sometimes bad things happen to allow better things fall in place. Even though I knew this, I couldn't help but want to tell someone about this.

Since this started, I had contemplated flying up to Zeus and telling him what is happening, or rather, what willhappened.

We kept walking and from the corner of my eye I watched as Kore caressed the flowers we passed by with a wide smile on her face. She was absolutely brilliant as sun shined on her with her beautiful big brown eyes and fiery red hair. She was as sweet girl.

I knew just how much Hades loved and I knew he would never hurt her. He had fallen in love with her one day when she was out picking flowers. That was the day she had seen the black rose. Hades had kept the rose alive and didn't allow it to wither so that she would keep coming back to it and he would be able to watch her caressed the mysterious flower. He had been watching her from a distance.

We came to a clearing where there were flowers of different kinds and at far end there stood the only odd flower. A lone soul, a black rose.

Kore headed straight for the flower with me trailing behind.

"Isn't it wonderful?" she asked with a huge grin.

I nodded. it was indeed magnificent and …unique.

took a few moments to look around and observe my surroundings. Hades wasn't here yet but he would be soon. i had to leave.

after a few more minutes, I told Kore that I had some issues to discuss with Hermes, as I was sometimes the messenger of the gods and so was Hermes. I bid her and the nymphs farewell as I walked away from the clearing. i hadn't bothered to send the nymphs away because I knew the were no match for hades and would not be able to stop him from taking Kore away.

I didn't go far. I concealed my aura, shrunk in size and flew up a tree to hide. I place a barrier to stop anyone from interrupting because I knew Demeter would be here any second. she was over protective of Kore and would never let it happen.

A few moments passed and the ground began to shake like a earthquake. kore and the nymphs panicked. the ground cracked open and what looked like fire and lava spilled out. the nymphs were terrified.

"My lady you have to run" one of them said to Kore, and so she did, or at least she tried to.

She didn't get very far when a ring of fire suddenly surrounded her halting her movements. The cracks in the ground grew wider and a pair of midnight black Stallions with a golden chariot charged out of the ground.

'What a dramatic entrance' I thought to myself. Couldn't he be a little more subtle? Like scaring a girl to death is going to make her fall in love with you. I rolled my eyes.

One nymph ran back to go and find Demeter while the other two tries to reach out to Kore but the ring of fire only burned them.

Standing atop the golden Chariot was Hades himself looking as dark and mysterious as ever. He looked Handsome with his dark hair and matching as.

"Hades?" Kore whispered in shock before she gained her composure.

"To what do I owe this unpleasant visit?" She spat venomously " and what is the meaning of this?" she asked annoyed.

You see Kore never like Hades and thought of him as cold, evil and unfeeling just like the realm he ruled. Little did she know how hard she was also goin to fall for him. He might seem evil and cold on the outside, but everything is not what it seems.

He calmly and collectedly stepped down from his chariot with his hands folded behind his back and walked towards her. He passed right through the ring of fire like he was walking through air and stood in front of her.

Kore visibly gulped. She was afraid. She was no warrior, just a simple goddess who loved and tended to nature.

"I have come to bring you back to the underworld with me Kore" Hades said in a deep baritone voice.

"Why? and who says I want to go anywhere with you?" She asked.

"To be my bride of course and I was merely informing you" he  answered coolly.

Kores mouth dropped open and I facepalmed myself. Smooth, real Smooth. What happened to being a gentleman and wooing her. This guy really needed a dating manual. He didn't have to be so blunt.

"I see living amongst the dead for so long has left you gormless" Kore shook her head.

"Come now you will make a fine queen, seeing as you already have the gall to speak before me in such a manner" he replied.

'Oh for the love of everything sacred, I beg the sisters of fate not to fate me with one as unromantic as Hades' I mentally pleaded.

Kore huffed ' the nerve of this man' i can almost hear her say aloud.

By now the fire surrounding them had died down.

"I'm going Home" she muttered before strutting away. Once again, she didn't get far before hades grabbed her by the waist and threw he over his shoulder. 

He muttered some incantations and a mark appeared on Kores neck and it hurt like hell.

she kicked and punched his back but he didn't budge. He casually strolled back to his chariot and got on.

"Put me down now you brute" she roared. "Mother is going to cut your head of for this once gets her hands on you." 

"If … she gets her hand on me"

He took the reigns in his free hand and and guided the stallions back into the ground. Kore let out a string of unholy words and screams as the ground sealed shut as if they were never there. Only the charred ground from the circle of fire was left. 

I let out a breadth and released the barrier. almost immediately, Demeter came stomping into the clearing. she glanced around and took in the charred grass and the two injured nymphs sobbing at an angle and her face paled.

"Kore?!" she screamed. "Where is my daughter?!" she yelled at the Nymphs.

They scooted backwards in fear. "Where is She?!" she asked again with more force.

"He . . . he took her" one trembled as she answered.

"Who?!" Demeter bellowed.

"H … H... Hades" she stuttered.

She demanded they told her what happened and when they did, she broke down in tears. All the plants and trees around her instantly withered due to her rage.

Demeter Suddenly Vanished and I was sure she was charging through Olympus To Zeus' temple right now.

MOUNT OLYMPUS

"Zeus!!!" Demeter scream was so loud it would put a banshee's to shame.

Hera was the first to step out blocking her path.

"Demeter!" Hera greeted with a fake smile. "Its been while." Hera had grown to hate Demeter after she had slept with her husband Zeus to conceive Kore. Hera was a very jealous woman, but Zeus couldn't seem to keep it in his pants.

"Where is he? Where is Zeus?' Demeter ignored her greeting and asked.

"I don't believe that is any of your concern Demeter" Hera scowled at her.

Demeter pushed past Hera and continued on her path. she didn't have time for this.

"Zeus!!!" she yelled again but Hera grabbed her arm and pulled her back, her face red with rage.

"Where my husband is or what he does is none of your concern Demeter. Now WHAT is it that has caused you barge in here raving like a madwoman" Hera yelled in her face.

"Kore... You have always hated both of us. Maybe it was you who Sent Hades to take her from me" Demeter wailed.

"What nonsense is this that you speak of?" Hera asked confused but before Demeter could answer, they were interrupted.

"What is going on here?" Zeus asked.

"I want my daughter back Zeus."

"And why Are you asking me for her?"

"Don't act coy with me Zeus. you sent Hades to take her."

Zeus looked at her like she had grown a second head.

"I did no such thing Demeter. and what are you even speaking of?"

"Hades took her against her will to be his queen. He marked her"

"What? I didn't even know about?"

"Of course you didn't. You never Cared." said with tears streaming down her face.

"Of course I care. Kore is my Child too Demeter." Zeus said softly.

Hera's heart clenched painfully hearing her husbands words. Zeus had many affairs and many children outside their marriage. she should have been used to it by now, but she still loved her husband and it hurt greatly every single time.

"If you really care then do something." Demeter screamed at him.

"He has marked her. She is bound to him and if we try to take back from the underworld, she will Perish." Zeus screamed back at her.

Demeter fell silent as her heart broke further.