The Consort

The Light

Light streamed over my face and light hands moved over my face, casting strange shadows over my eyes as I blinked. I had almost forgotten the hazel flecks that appeared in my mother’s eyes when she was worried. Several of them danced in her iris’ before disappearing, her worry eased with seeing me awake. 

Her arms wrapped me in her embrace, her breath hard and I felt a drop of water land on my shoulder as the skies opened up in response to my mothers emotions. The onslaught began as I was ushered to sit up, my legs folding beneath me as an umbrella unfurled itself over our heads. Demeter grasped my hands in hers.

“Your friend told me everything. Daughter, you must not see Cronus alone.” As her words sunk into my skin far Thanatos appeared in the corner of my periphery carrying a silver tray lined with teacups and a ornate kettle I had never seen my mother use. 

“I will ensure that she is never left alone.” The double entendre was clear enough to my ears, though my mother smiled at him lovingly. Thanatos placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze before taking a careful seat between the two of us.

My mother sipped at her tea, her face melting into complete bliss as the taste assaulted her tongue. I did the same, offering Thanatos a constrained smile as a thanks. “What do you know about him?” I asked of my mother, setting my tea to the side and bracing myself for information I may not be ready for. 

Demeter finished her tea demurely, setting the porcelain teacup on her lap, lacing her fingers together and taking a deep breath her eyes wondering the sky momentarily. “We should not dwell on the darkness here in such light. You should show your friend around, the plants have missed you.” 

After a moment of staring at her I placed my bare feet on the soft grass, and as if to accentuate her words little sprouts popped in-between my toes, the purple petals revealing themselves after a moment. I felt my mother's smile on me as I stepped carefully over to Thanatos, the flowers following in my wake, hungry for attention.

I held out my hand which Thanatos took lightly, his gaze drawn to the connection as I pulled him towards my garden. My mother's garden was the world, but she afforded me a hectare of it for my own uses. I had grown every plant there was to grow and had begun the process of hybridization before my father had called me to Olympus. Now, staring out of my little corner of the world I felt the tears welling up inside, my plants had become overrun with weeds, and many of them died in the time I had been gone. 

My hand dropped from Thanatos’ and the plants receded knowingly as tears stained my cheeks before dropping into the soil. I covered my eyes, my frustration and fear coming in torrents. The man behind me grabbed me, barreling me into his chest hard, wrapping me in an embrace that was warm and kind. He wiped my eyes every time a tear escaped until they were gone, and even then his fingers still worked over my cheeks calmly.

“Breath, Persephone.” His order was perhaps the only reason I did so, taking a big gulp of stuttering air. “It’ll be alright.” 

I looked up at him sharply, uncertain how he could dare to promise me such when nothing in this world was promised. He smiled at my anger, his hands working their way into my hair before he laid his lips on mine. The kiss was different then perhaps any other we had shared. It was a slow burn in contrast to the fiery heat of the others. But it ignited nonetheless, deepening when I pulled him closer to me. His lips moved against mine effortlessly, our tongues mixing in an elaborate dance as his hands gripped the sleeves of my dress and pulled roughly. 

My chest was bared and his body pressed against me eagerly, my hands roamed his chest, nails raking over the firm muscles lightly. A light sound to the side separated us, Thanatos still holding me close, eyes dark as if ready to petrify any who would interrupt. The demon boy looked between us, his eyes dropping to where our bodies were pressed together. 

“What is it?” I questioned, my voice high, nervous energy racing through my veins.

“Queen…..Persephone it’s your…..It’s the King. He has taken a turn for the worse.” In a puff of black smoke the apparition disappeared leaving behind a ebony piece of paper with masculine writing littered on top. 

Hades. 

The thought struck me where I stood and I pushed Thanatos away wrapping myself in the golden glow of the land and transporting myself back to the underworld.