If need be, she could probably even bear pretending to make friends with some of the female centaurs.
From a short distance, Persephone heard pebbles crunching as if someone had stepped on them, and she asked sharply, “Who’s there? Show yourself to your queen!” Anyone would be fine, Persephone thought, as long as it was not Thanatos. That stupid demon just hated her guts, and there was no reasoning with him.
More pebbles crunched, and Persephone scowled at the continued silence. How disrespectful of this creature! It was all Hades’ fault for being so lenient with his subjects.
Finally, an outline started to form in the dark as it came nearer. Persephone waited impatiently, and when the figure emerged in the faint light provided by the fiery waters of Acheron, Persephone was stunned.
Why, it was none other but the mortal herself!
Even though Persephone hadn’t bothered to ask for a photo or description from her guests, she was sure that the young girl with plaited blonde hair and blue eyes in front of her was the one that had the world of immortals in an uproar.
Everything about the girl screamed human, and as this was the Underworld, only a usurper such as this girl could have entered the kingdom in spite of her still-beating heart.
The likes of you shall not steal what rightfully belongs to me, Persephone thought malevolently.
It didn’t matter that she had been the one to throw away the crown, the one who had turned her back on her vows. She, Persephone, a goddess and daughter of an Olympian, was the rightful Queen of the Underworld and she would make sure it stayed that way – no matter what it took.
Ever found it impossible not to gape at Hades’ first love. So this was Persephone. The daughter of Demeter was stunningly ethereal, stunningly slender—-
Stunningly everything, actually, she thought and tried unsuccessfully to not let the fact distress her. The goddess had a wreath of pink flowers on her head while her gown, cinched tightly with a golden cord around her tiny waist, had a long flowing skirt of iridescent hues and which seemed to dance around her body with the tiniest movement.
“You startled me, child,” the goddess exclaimed. As she turned to face Ever, her skirt swirled to the side, baring one endlessly long leg.
The sight of it crushed what little confidence as a woman Ever had left, and she couldn’t even bear to feel insulted at being called a child. Next to the goddess, she was one. Or at least her curves would look like baby fats she hadn’t ever outgrown.
When the mortal remained silent, Persephone feigned a look of uncertainty. “Do you know who I am?” At the mortal’s nod, she said in relief, “I’m glad. And please, I hope you do not think I have come here to quarrel with you.”
As the former queen spoke, she pressed the back of her hand on her forehead, picture perfect in her feminine upset, and all Ever could do was stare in sincere fascination. Was this how all goddesses were? Every gesture Persephone made was like an ideal pose for a portrait artist.
Turning her faraway gaze to the river of woe, Persephone let out a long, melancholic sigh. “I have never thought to come back here, but when news reached me about the god of the Underworld’s new queen—-”
She turned once more to Ever, her big blue eyes filled with tears. “I knew I had to come.”
Ever couldn’t help being moved. This was Persephone, the goddess whose journey to love she had cheered for her whole life. That the two of them had fallen for the same man surely shouldn’t mean she had to dislike Persephone.
“May I ask you to hear me out, child?” The goddess took hold of her hands as she made her request, and Ever couldn’t help comparing her rough and callused palms to Persephone’s soft and tender ones. The thought that Hades had most likely noticed the same thing made Ever’s heart squeeze painfully.
Oh, Hades. No wonder the god couldn’t love her. How could he like someone ordinary when he once had perfection in his arms?
Persephone drew Ever’s attention back to her as she said entreatingly, “May I?”
Ever nodded jerkily. She knew she should say something, but it was as if Persephone’s flawlessness had rendered her dumbstruck. And the longer she looked at Persephone, she more she thought she was dumb.
Persephone was a natural-born beauty, a goddess of her own right, and most of all – she was Hades’ first love.
How can I even think of competing, Ever thought hysterically.
Letting go of the mortal’s hands, Persephone asked shakily, “Do you know of the prophecy?”
Ever shook her head, even more determined not to speak now. In spite of her visible despair, the goddess’ voice still sounded like a musical masterpiece. If I speak now, Ever thought, I’m just going to sound like a frog following that.