My mother's hands gripped mine tightly, her whispered words were meant to be encouraging, but their meaning was lost on a wave of pain so immense I was sure I would die. A scream was ripped from my throat, flowers rising from the Earth around the two of us. All the Earth was keen to see what had caused such a sound of anguish to rise from a Goddess.
Another wave of pain racked me and I squeezed Demeters hand with all my might, my feet pushing into the ground hard as my back arched. My mother’s hands found my shoulders, forcing me onto the hard Earth, urging me all the while to remain calm, surely Gaia would help us.
I screamed again and suddenly my eyes shot open, coming to land on the dark-haired individual standing by my feet. His eyes roamed my body carefully before they met mine. I
