“Why?”
“It would comfort them. Right now, you are no different than any soul in the Underworld. As a goddess, you are someone they hold in high regard.”
Persephone started to protest. These people did not know her name—how would her Divine form ease their fears?
Then Yuri added, “We worship the Divine. You will bring them hope.”
Persephone did not like her Divine form. She had a hard time feeling like a goddess before she had powers, and that hadn’t changed even when her magic flared to life, encouraged by Hades’ worship. She quickly learned it was one thing to have magic, another to use it properly. Still, it was important to her that these new souls felt welcomed in the Underworld, that they see Hades’ realm as another beginning, and most of all, she wanted to ensure they knew their king cared.
Persephone release the hold she had on her human glamour. The magic felt like silk slipping from her skin and she stood in an ethereal glow before the souls. The weight of her white kudu horns somehow felt heavier now that she was exposed in her true form. Her curly hair was brightened from a brassy gold to a pale yellow and her eyes burned an unearthly bottle-green.
She smiled at the souls again. “I am Persephone, Goddess of Spring. I am so pleased you are here.”
Their reaction to her radiance was immediate. They moved from trembling to worshipping on their knees at her feet. Persephone’s stomach hardened, and her heartbeat quickened as she shot forward.
“Oh no, please,” she knelt before one of the souls—an older woman with short, white hair and paper-thin skin. She touched her cheek and watery-blue eyes met hers.
“Please, stand with me,” she said, and helped the woman to her feet.
The other souls remained on the ground, heads lifted, eyes transfixed.
“What is your name?”
“Elenor,” she rasped.
“Elenor.” Persephone said the name with a smile on her lips. “I hope you will find the Underworld as peaceful as I do.”
Her words were like a string, straightening the woman’s sagging shoulders. Persephone moved to the next soul and the next. Until she has spoken to each one and they all stood on their feet again.
“Perhaps we should all walk to the Field of Judgement,” she suggested.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Yuri interrupted. “Thanatos!”
The winged God of Death appeared instantly. He was beautiful in a dark way, with pale skin, blood-red lips, and white-blonde hair that fell over his shoulders. His blue eyes were as striking as a flash of lightning in the night sky. His presence inspired a sense of calm that Persephone felt deep in her chest. It was almost as if she were weightless.
“My lady,” he bowed, his voice melodic and rich.
“Thanatos,” Persephone couldn’t help the wide smile that crossed her face.
Thanatos had been the first to offer her insight into Hades’ precarious role as the God of the Dead during a tour of Elysium. It was his perspective that helped her understand the Underworld a little better, and if she were being honest, provided what she needed to fully give herself to Hades.
She gestured to the souls gathered and introduced them to the god.
His smile was slight, but sincere as he said, “We’ve met.”
“Oh.” She cheeks flushed. “I’m so sorry. I forgot.”
As the reaper of souls, Thanatos was the last face mortals saw before they landed on the shores of the Styx.
“I was just about to escort the new souls to the Field of Judgement.”
She noted that Thanatos’ eyes widened slightly, and he looked at Yuri who spoke quickly. “Lady Persephone is needed back at the palace. Could you take them for her, Thanatos?”
“Of course,” he replied, bringing his hand to his chest. “I would be delighted.”
Persephone waived goodbye to the souls as Thanatos turned toward the crowd, stretched his wings wide, and vanished.
Yuri wound her arm through Persephone’s, tugging her away from the banks of the Styx, but Persephone didn’t budge.
“Why did you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“I am not needed at the palace, Yuri. I could have taken the souls to the field.”
“I am sorry, Persephone. I feared they would make requests.”
“Requests?” her brows drew together. “What might they request?”
“Favors,” she explained.
Persephone giggled at the thought. “I am hardly in a position to grant favors.”
“They don’t know that,” she said. “All they see is a goddess who might help them get an audience with Hades or return to the living world.”
Persephone frowned. “Why do you think that?”
“Because I was one of them.”
Yuri tugged on her arm again, and this time, Persephone followed. Strained silence filled the space between them, and Persephone frowned.
“I’m sorry, Yuri. Sometimes I forget—”
“That I’m dead?” She smiled, but Persephone felt small and silly. “It’s okay. That’s one of the reasons I like you so much,” she paused a moment, and added. “Hades chose his consort well.”
“His consort?” Persephone’s brows rose.
“Isn’t it obvious that Hades intends to marry you?”
Persephone laughed. “You are being very presumptive, Yuri.”
Except that Hades had made his intentions clear. You will be my queen. I do not need the Fates to tell me that. Her chest tightened, the words forming knots in her stomach.
Those words should have made her heart melt and the fact that they didn’t disturbed her. Maybe it had something to do with their recent breakup. Why did she feel such apprehension when Hades seemed so certain about their future?
Yuri, oblivious to Persephone’s internal war, said, “Why wouldn’t Lord Hades choose you as queen? You are an unwed goddess and you haven’t taken a vow of chastity.”
The soul gave her a knowing look that made Persephone blush.
“Being a goddess does not qualify me to be Queen of the Underworld.”
“No, but it’s a start. Hades would never choose a mortal or a nymph as his queen. Trust me, he has had plenty of opportunities.”
A shock of jealousy shot down Persephone’s spine. It was like a match landing in a pool of kerosene. Her magic surged, demanding an exit. It was a defense mechanism, and it took her a moment to tamp it down.
Get a hold of yourself, she commanded.
She wasn’t ignorant to the fact that Hades had other lovers throughout his lifetime—one being the red-headed nymph, Minthe who she’d transformed into a mint plant. Still, she had never considered that Hades’ interest in her might be, in part, due to her Divine blood. Something dark wound its way around her heart. How could she let herself think this way about Hades? He encouraged her to embrace her Divinity, worshipped her so that she might claim her freedom and power, and he’d told her he loved her. If he was to make her his queen, it would be because he cared for her, not because she was a goddess.
Right?
Persephone soon distracted from her thoughts as she and Yuri returned to the Asphodel Valley where she was swarmed by children who begged her to play. After a short game of hide-and-seek, she was dragged away by Ophelia, Elara, and Anastasia who wanted her opinion on wines, cakes, and flowers for the upcoming Summer Solstice Celebration.