A swaying shadow slides
down the endless, dark corridor. Quivering flames of the rare candles
shake as the apparition passes them by, threatening to extinguish. Infuriated
shades are dancing on the dank walls. The rustle of a dress is the only
sound in this eerie wasteland. The apparition staggered, unsteady on
her feet, but didn't lag, hurrying to reach the orange light that finally
appeared somewhere in the corridor's depths. At the few steps from it,
she paused, hesitating to enter what apparently were someone's quarters.
- Come in, Athena ! I've been expecting you sooner... - came the melodic
voice from the warm light.
The apparition called by this name tentatively stepped forward, the
light instantly swallowing her, transforming the previous shadow into
a young girl. Her head is bent, and the long, violet hair falls freely,
covering her face. Her vestment is glaring unnaturally, with the golden
glow of a deity.
- Demeter... - spoke the trembling voice, addressing the woman who was
sitting on the sofa in the very bottom of the room. Meekly sprawled
and wrapped in silk folds of her white robe, the woman of a great beauty
and indeterminable age, was curiously observing the newcomer with gentle
blue eyes, clear as a sky. Finally she stood up and approached Athena.
Slowly lifting the girl's chin with the tip of her index, she looked
her in the eyes.
- What are these tears for, Athena ? Why the despair ? We should be
rejoicing... You and I... The happiness is finally here. - the woman
said, pausing for a moment to wipe the girl's tears with her white handkerchief.
- I've been camping on so many doorsteps asking for help, and yet, everyone
remained deaf to my pleas. Everyone but you... I can finally have my
daughter back. And I only have you to thank for that !
No answer came from the lavender-haired girl, which only urged the lady
in white to continue.
- Confide in me, my child. You know that I'll do my best to help you
if it's within my powers.
- You would do that for me ? - muttered the girl, hope raising in her
voice. But then she shook her head. - No, I cannot hope, because I can
neither lie to you. I haven't fought Hades for your daughter's sake,
Demeter. Hades was menacing the humankind, and that was the sole reason
for this war.
- I'm already well aware of that, my dear. Come, sit beside me - she
said, patting the place on the sofa beside her. - And please, pay no
heed to the looks of this terrible chamber... My son in low had everything
in abundance, except for a good taste. He was in dire need of that.
Believe me, this room is still the best decorated one in this castle
of his...You saw for yourself what the corridor looks like. When I only
come to think where my dear daughter had to live...
Athena sighed, only listening roughly. Will Demeter grant her wish ?
Wasn't that what
she was going to ask too much, even for a Goddess of fertility and underworld
? There was only one way to find out.
- Demeter...
The women paused and smiled.
- I'm listening, Athena... Tell me, whatever is that troubles you.
- Is it... possible, by any means... to bring a dead back to life ?
Demeter's blue eyes widened, surprised, then frowned.
- Have I heard you correctly, my child ? What is running through that
little head of yours ? Bringing a dead back to life, you say...
Athena lowered her gaze.
- Answer me, child, do you have someone specific in mind ?
- Yes... - whispered the girl. Demeter suspiciously eyed her.
- I'm really surprised. You have never been this compassionate for the
lives of mortals, before. I don't think it's the Goddess of Wisdom who
is now speaking through your lips, - she added, - but the girl whose
body you're using... Am I right ?
- Probably yes...
- There you see !
- ... but that doesn't change a thing.
Demeter raised her brow.
- Still... if you're already aware it comes from her...
- But I *am* her. Saori will always be here, as she always had been...
- I see... An incarnation in a mortal body obviously has its undesired
effects...
- Please, answer me... Is it possible, or not ?
- In principle, it isn't impossible. With Hades ruling the Underworld,
Zeus had been the only one who could interfere. But now, the things
have changed a little...
Demeter laughed impishly, but composed herself soon enough.
- However, Athena, you know that things like that are generally frowned
upon at Olympus. I can help you, but it would have to remain a secret.
You must promise me !
- Anything you want, Demeter, I promise ! - said the girl, her voice
shaking. Moved, she was barely containing herself from bursting into
tears. "Could it be... could it possibly be that I'm going to see
him once again" - she whispered in her thoughts, still not believing
Demeter had agreed to help her.
- It's about your Saints who died today, isn't it ? - quietly asked
the Goddess of fertility.
- Yes... They gave their lives so this World could go on. My wish is
that they could live to see my gratitude and taste the fruits of their
own fight, for once.
- Huh... Athena... or you maybe prefer that I call you Saori ? -smirked
the Goddess, - Those who entered Hades alive and survived, they can
go back without any problem. However, those who fell... They're in the
Fields of Elysium right now, truly resting for the first time in their
lives. Are you sure you want to deny them this, in blood earned rest?
Saori's eyes filled with tears.
- They died, without ever really living ! I have to make that up to
them ! I have to get another chance ! Help me, Demeter, I'm begging
you...
- All right, Saori, - sighed the woman heavily, - but you do know that
there is no paradise on Earth, don't you ? And you do know, that not
long will pass until some other danger hangs over your Saints ?
- I know, - whispered the girl, - but at least I have to try.
- Then it will be the way you want it. - solemnly said Demeter.
At the same moment, an icy voice came from the darkness, from behind
the crimson curtains at the other side of the room:
- But not so fast, mother !
Startled, both Demeter and Athena turned around towards the apparition,
who rose, as if out of nowhere. Upon recognizing the voice, Demeter
went pale :
- Core... you...
Out of darkness came out the girl with huge blue eyes and childlike-pretty
face, its features irresistibly resembling those of Demeter. Her long,
blonde hair was collected into a loose bun, its wayward, curly strands
falling lovely against the white cheeks and swan-like neck.
- I'm Persephone now, mother. And I think that as Hades' wife, I should
also have a word or two in this.
- You're mistaken, my daughter, - sighed Demeter, recovering from the
first astonishment, - Athena came to see me for personal reasons. This
have nothing to do with you.
The girl's eyes flared.
- I knew you would say that. After all, that's what I expected from
the one who never cared about my wishes. It always had to be your way
and you were always conspiring behind my back, just like you're doing
now. Isn't that so, mother ? - and a dark smile danced on the girl's
lips, - That's why I've turned to my father this time !
- You've done what ?! - cried out Demeter.
- I've got a permission to collect the payment for my pain ! From her
! - shouted the girl, bitterly pointing her accusing index at Athena.
"So my last hope is lost," - sighed Saori, tears glistening
in her eyes.
- Persephone... - she muttered.
- Not a single word from you Athena ! This time you are the one who
will listen. You thought you could invade my Kingdom just like that,
demolish it and kill my Ruler ? Well, think again, sister ! Because
you're still to meet my revenge !
- Persephone, - interfered Demeter, - I offered my help to Athena, and
I will keep my promise, even if that would mean bringing all the Zeus'
anger on myself !
- And what happened to the promise you gave to me, by giving birth to
me ? - shouted Persephone in a trembling voice, - Wasn't I the one who
should have been the most important to you ?
- You are the most important to me ! All this is because of you... For
you could be by my side again ! But the word of a Goddess has its weight
and I must keep it, no matter how terrible Zeus' anger might turn to
be...
- But I don't want that to happen ! You'll be the one who'll suffer,
while it should be her instead !
Athena lifted her head.
- Persephone, you need to understand something... Hades was the first
who attacked! He wanted to destroy something that was confided to me,
something that was in my responsibility - Earth. I didn't have any choice.
And neither did those who had given their lives defending the Earth
! I used them for my fight, and it's for them that I'm now begging mercy!
- You must be kidding ! - exclaimed Persephone. - That bunch of hired
assassins ! Them to go back freely to life, while I'm to spend the quarter
of each year till the end of Time, in this Kingdom they've demolished
on me ? Naaah, I don't think so !
Demeter looked at her daughter, her eyes wide.
- Yes mother, - smirked the girl darkly, - is it possible you've forgotten
that your daughter had tasted the pomegranate from the Garden of Underworld
? With Hades or without him, I'm forever bound to Tartar !
- I had disregarded that... - muttered Demeter. - But don't you worry,
from now on I'll be coming here together with you... And you know that
Hades will return, don't you? It's impossible to destroy a deity...
- I wish it was some consolation, mother. But who knows when, and in
what form will my consort return... And when he does return, maybe he
won't have me anymore, or, just maybe, I won't have him...
- And what is it that you want in the end, my daughter ? - asked Demeter,
her voice a bit tired.
- I want Athena and her murderers to pay dearly!
Demeter shook her head.
- I'm sorry my child, but I told you I had already given my word.
- You know that I can stop you, with the help of the Father ! But since
it's not you who I want to harm, - said the girl grimly, - I will let
you keep your promise. But it will be on my terms !
- And what are your terms ? - asked Saori gravely.
- That you're to stay here, Athena, till Hades comes back !
Saori recoiled, disagreeably surprised.
- What ?
- You heard me ! In the meantime, the Sanctuary will be governed by
a man whom I will choose. As for your Saints, I will allow them to go
back to the Upper World, but not before the three months have passed,
the ones I'm still to spend in the Underworld this year.
Persephone continued, as Saori listened in disbelief.
- During that time, they will nicely roll up their sleeves and rebuild
everything that they had destroyed. And when they finally return up
there, they'll respond to my man ! And that's how it's going to be,
till yours and Hades' return.
Saori cast her an angry glance.
- Persephone, you know very well that I can't possibly assent to this
! I have to remind you that we're the winners in this war, while your
demands sound as if it was the other way around ! We've fought through
hell and back for the peace, and here you want to appoint... gods know
who, to govern that peace ! Your terms are unacceptable!
Persephone's lips curved in a derisive smile.
- Oh, but then, Athena, feel free to return to the Upper World this
very instant, and enjoy in your victory. Celebrate it for all it's worth.
I'm not stopping you.
Saori's face flinched at her words, while the young Goddess mercilessly
continued.
- I'm only afraid, that there won't be many people who'd attend that
celebration of yours... At least not those who matter, that is. Too
bad.
And Persephone laughed resonantly at the expression on her foe's face.
- So Athena, you might want to reconsider my offer.
Demeter silently looked at Athena. She so wanted to give a word of comfort,
but couldn't think of anything to say. She knew that, no matter what
decision Athena took, the thorny path is yet to be passed, and no words
could ease it for her. She slowly averted her gaze towards her daughter.
This one stood straight, as cold as a marble statue. "She changed
since she married Hades... She's so stern and determined. She even became
prettier... Indeed, my little girl has grown up..." - thought Demeter,
even inadvertently full of pride.
The silence fell heavily in the room. Athena wasn't about to speak out
at all. She stood brokenly, her gaze lowered to the ground. Persephone
was eyeing her, expecting the answer, but as the later wasn't about
to come, the young Goddess got bored by the silence. She sighed, rolling
her eyes and accosted Saori again, her voice impatient.
- All right, Athena, I'll make this easier for you. I am not evil and
I don't want any war on Earth. My man won't misuse the trust and will
do what he's told to. No more, no less. But your waywardness and governing
without control must come to their end !
Athena finally lifted her dull gaze towards Persephone.
- Whom did you have on your mind ? - she asked quietly.
- You know him. It's the brother of the priest Giga. Strimon.
- Strimon ?! - cried Athena in shock, - You must be joking !
- I have never been more serious. Take it, or leave it. - brusquely
said the girl.
Athena's shoulders were trembling. She already barely stood on her feet,
so she leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. The room started
to turn around her, horror filling her chest because of what she was
about to pronounce. After the short moment of pause, she whispered one
"Alright" in an exhausted voice and fell to the ground, unconscious.
Mother and daughter remained standing above her, exchanging indescribable
gazes.
