262. A Voice in the Darkness
A Voice in the Darkness
It startled us all…
The sound of a deep abyss
coming from the door.
‘All is not lost.’
I turned to see Hades
standing at the door.
His head was bowed.
If I did not know Gods better,
I would almost say I saw guilt.
He walked into the room,
his gait was slow,
Kore had stopped crying.
Instead, she was staring at him
with exhaustion and suspicion.
He kneeled beside her
and reached to touch her face.
She edged back from his touch.
He sighed and withdrew his hand.
‘All is not lost,’
he said again,
his eyes full of longing.
‘How much of the pomegranate
did you eat, Kore?’
he asked her tenderly.
I could see he loved the girl.
But in his desire he had not cared
what she wanted,
not understood the damage
he was bringing upon them both.
A marriage should not begin this way.
Kore answered quietly,
‘Six seeds.’ Even now, full of fear
and anger, her voice was gentle.
‘Six seeds.’ Hades looked crestfallen
and then said softly,
‘This gives you two seasons
with your mother.
Would that please you?’
His face was so hopeful.
Kore’s eyes narrowed.
‘And the rest of the seasons?’
she asked him pointedly.
He sighed and said,
‘You will rule here
with me. As my queen.’
Kore’s face crumpled for a second.
But then I watched a Goddess
being born.
She looked him in his eyes
and told him,
‘I will agree to this.
However, I will only
accept this if you bestow
half your entire realm to me.
If I am to be your queen,
I will be your equal.
You will take no other lovers.’
Hades looked surprised
at these words,
and for a moment,
I thought he would refuse.
But to my surprise,
he smiled and nodded.
Kore wiped her eyes
on the back of her hand
and drew herself up
to her full height.
Hades nodded at Styx,
then spoke to me.
‘Hekate, I ask you
to be Kore’s escort.
Please take her home.’