263. Styx Took Kore Out of the Cottage
Styx Took Kore Out of the Cottage
but I lingered for a moment,
looking at Hades’ form,
half-covered in shadow.
For a moment neither of us
uttered a single sound,
but finally I had to ask.
‘What convinced you to let her go?’
My words hung heavy in the air
as I saw his pale face,
tired in the dim light.
‘I wanted,’ he said slowly,
‘to be better than my brothers.’
I waited. So he continued.
‘At the end of that war,
I no longer recognized them.
Their wants and desires
overtook their initial will
of overthrowing Kronos to do good.
If I treat Kore like a possession,
force her into my arms and my bed,
how am I any different?’
He looked out the door
to where Styx and she waited.
‘Keep her safe, Hekate.’
This was all I needed to hear.
I smiled at Hades.
Perhaps that tender part of him
was not dead after all.