The Flower of Hades

A small bird delivers a message to him, a little scroll clutched in it’s talons, “Our chariot is here,” he says. I make the final touches on my look, beaming with pure happiness. Inside of the chariot, my eyes are wide as I stare out of the polished window. Our nameless driver seems to be leagues away, and I watch as the surreal scenes pass before me. The road to Olympus is not one any mortal can travel. I would not call it a road either, more of a set path within a sea of light and fog. I feel my spirits lift the closer I get to the hallowed city that is supposed to be a rejuvenating respite for all gods. For my whole life, my father resisted it. He took me away to raise himself, without the influence of the other gods, and it was the last time he set foot there for a century. We arrive at the gates of the palace, it’s enormous, and fit for all of us to have our own apartments. A servant, an unusual looking air nymph, opens the door to the chariot, and we step out in our matching attire. I am proud to be presented alongside my father. We both look about the same age now, and his features remind me of a field at sunset, his tanned skin and sandy hair. His eyes a bright gold, with flecks of green. I am like a…paler version of him. Lighter hair, green eyes, yet unmistakable as his son. He leads us inside, and already I am transported. It is overwhelming. Music plays softly in the background, and immediately I take in the sights of the statues, paintings, and gorgeous architecture. Everything here is truly fit for the gods. Hera stands in the center of the entryway and walks up to us, he’s unmistakable with his long hair, and the golden circlet around his head. We have never met, yet I immediately can recognize him from all the stories that heralded his beauty. He is Zeus’ husband, after all. He wears a sharp black and grey himation, and drinks me in, “He’s a lot cuter than what you mentioned in your letters, Demeter,” he scolds my father. Hera hugs me tightly, as if we had known each other for years. “Finally Kore, your father has let you out of your gilded cage,” he says brightly. I look to my father—I suppose it makes sense that others knew about me. I was born here after all. “Ah…yes, it’s nice to meet you,” I answer. For so long, I believed that the members of the pantheon were all backstabbing manipulators, but being in the warmth of Hera made me believe the exact opposite. “Hera,” my father says. The god of marriage gives him a look, as if they had this conversation many times, “It’s time to start letting him go. There hasn’t been a god born that’s been this pure in centuries, and we have waited long enough for you to raise him,” he says. How Hera looks at me is as though I’m some sort of present, I feel suddenly to put on the spot, stuck between my father and Olympus itself. “You will have to forgive Hera,” my father’s tone is even, “He’s been trying to get you to come here for a while now.” “You knew about me?” I ask. Hera laughs, “Believe it or not, Demeter and I go way back. Besides, when I see an unmarried attractive young man, I can’t help but think about who to set him up with,” he winks at me. He leads us up a wide set of stairs, “I put your apartments next to each other.” “Apartments?” my father asks. “Demeter, really? He’s already of age. He can’t simply be your son forever, so yes. Separate Apartments,” Hera shot down my father’s concerns immediately. I am quiet, but on the inside I’m so excited, “You’re on Olympus now. No one is going to steal him or anything, and if they did well—we would know,” she said, trying to make my father calm, “How do you expect his abilities to grow if he’s underfoot for eternity?” “…Fine,” he did not put up much of a fight. It’s so strange seeing someone speak to my father like equals. We stop in front of a gilded door, “These are your rooms Demeter,” he says, and points to another one at the end of the hall, “And that one is Kore’s. It’s close enough,” he says, “You two freshen up. Arrive promptly in the dining hall in one hour.” I can see the look on my father’s eyes, but he does not protest. I suppose he understands it’s time to let me go too. I walk inside my private apartment and I’m awed at everything. My father always preferred living like the mortals. We live in a simple cottage in the middle of a dense forest, with a mostly vegetarian diet—partially because it’s the easiest for us to harvest since we are, well, harvest gods. And partially because both of us have never had the stomach to kill for food. The hour passes quickly, and I can’t help but constantly fix my hair and outfit. I decide to leave a little earlier than asked so I can be introduced on my own. I have a suspicion that my father would want me by his side the entire festival if I don’t make a move first. I’m as quiet as possible as I step passed the door to his apartment, thankfully hearing isn’t as sharp as Artemis. Down the stairs, I follow the sound of voices, and swallow as I open the door to the dining hall. Three gorgeous women stare back at me—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. I lower my head down quickly as a sign of deference. “Oh—uh hello,” I say awkwardly as I make my way inside, “My name is—” “Kore,” Zeus says interrupting me. She has hair that looks like it was woven by lightning itself, her intense gaze looks at me, she smirks, “So lovely you could finally arrive.” Poseidon seems the least interested in me, she shrugs and goes towards a table of seafood and piles the crustaceans on her plate. Zeus approaches me, and Hades follows. They are both taller than me, and it only feels appropriate given their position. I didn’t expect to meet the three most powerful goddesses at once. I can hear my father’s voice screaming in my head—do not be alone with them. But, I’m not alone with them if all three of us are here, right? “Welcome, godling to your first party,” Zeus says, everything around her is so warm, and she looks at me with such familiar eyes…yet, I can’t help but to continue glancing at the dark woman beside her. Her hair is black and curly as midnight, her eyes an unusual shade of violet. She has such an unusual beauty about her that I cannot place. It’s effortless and measured at the same time. “Has something caught your eye, godling?” Zeus asks, snapping me out of my enchantment. I blush and shake my head, realizing that here I would be watched in a way that I’m not used to. “My apologies, Zeus,” I say and turn my attention back to her. Her eyebrows raise as she looks at me and then Hades. She grins, “Make yourself comfortable,” the others will arrive soon. And that they did. Out of all the other gods and goddesses, I didn’t realize that ‘making an entrance’ was part of the fun of this celebration. Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon arrived early in order to watch each god and goddess enter with their own flourish and style. Artemis arrives on his chariot pulled by deer that disappear into a flurry of butterflies. Aphrodite is carried in by some of the most beautiful Amazonian women I have ever seen, fit for a god of love and beauty. Ares enters in all of her warlord glory, one by one they all enter, and I’m stunned by how magnificent this parade of the gods all is. My father arrives next, and seems to be prepared for all of this pomp. He walks in, and the ground beneath his feet sprouts with life, his simple elegance is met by the others who welcome him his return warmly. I’m humbled that I get to be a part of this world. It’s more beautiful than anything I have ever imagined. Everyone here has known each other for eons, and I find myself shying away alone towards one of the appetizer tables. I fill a plate with a few unique looking pastries, and stand in a corner as I watch the festivities. The music swells, and I find myself getting swept up in the intricacies of the dynamics in this unfamiliar world. Zeus is a charmer with everyone, Poseidon seems to really enjoy eating, my father has found himself in conversation with Athena and Artemis. No matter where I look, my eyes can’t help but wander to Hades. She has a commanding presence about her that everyone acknowledges. Most everyone ignores her too. She stands there with a goblet in her hand. Her lips are blood red, her skin copper and warm. Can no one else see how beautiful she is? “You might want to stop drooling,” says Hermes, with a laugh. I’m so happy to see a familiar face here. We have been fast friends ever since I met her delivering messages to my father. “Everyone here is so beautiful,” I respond, trying to cover my tracks. She grins, her short red hair is adorned with a golden crown of wings. This is the most dressed up I have ever seen her. Usually she arrives in her winged shoes and athletic wear—as the best and fastest messenger in the universe, her attire has always been more about speed than fashion. “I mean you staring at her,” she adds. “Who?” “Hades, dummy,” she laughs and grabs a pastry from my plate, “You act like you’ve never seen a woman before, I’m offended,” I blush deeply, I can feel the heat on my face now, and it only encourages Hermes more, “I thought you had a crush on me for all these years,” she teased. I try to shrug it off, “I must have been lost in thought, that’s all,” I try to lie, but I know she sees right through me. It’s not like Hades would recognize someone like me anyway. As leader of the Underworld, she’s probably not interested in my silly tricks of growing flowers. I feel so insignificant compared to everyone here, not truly understanding my purpose among them. Everyone has such specific roles and I’m just…well me. “It’s time you stop acting like ivy wrapped around a column, let’s meet the others,” Hermes says brightly, she laces her arms in mine and leads me to a group of goddesses chatting with each other. My father does his best to keep his distance, but I can feel his eyes lingering on me as Hermes so eagerly takes my arm and parades me around, “There hasn’t been anyone new in a while, so obviously you’re the belle of this festival,” she whispers to me after an exhausting conversation with Apollo and her philosophy on the best time to catch the sunrise. It’s evening by the time the main course is served, and hardly any one actually sits down to eat. The hall is overflowing with chatter, and I find myself swept up in the pageantry of it all. Hermes leaves me on my own, and I take a moment to myself on the balcony. Outside is just as marvelous. I know all of this must be expected for our stations, but the beauty of it all is something I will surely never forget. The balcony is covered in greenery, I know instantly by the sights and smells that most of them are roses with a few hyacinths mixed in for texture. Lots and lots of ivy too. I feel my fingers tingling being around so much greenery. I walk over to the ledge, gazing down at the sea of clouds and sigh. “Is something wrong?” the voice is sharp and crisp, sending a shiver down my spine. I already know who it belongs to. She stands only a few paces away from me, this close I can see the intricate lace of her dress. It hugs her body as though it was a second layer of her skin, every part designed to emphasize her gorgeous form. I can’t help but be in awe— “Are you alright?” she asks again taking a step closer to me. “Just getting some fresh air,” I say a little to earnestly. She blinks and laughs lightly, I can feel a soft breeze radiating from her, an odd coolness that’s strangely comforting, “I don’t particularly like parties,” she says, and extends her hand, “Hades.” I reach out my hand and the instant we touch my breath is gone. Her eyes are a strange violet, endless and calm—a serene stillness, “Kore,” I don’t let go, I don’t want to—she doesn’t pull her hand away either and the two of us are suspended in time. I pull away first, embarrassed to have lost myself. She is a goddess of great renown, a member of The Triumvirate, “Why do you come then?” “What?” “To the festival, why come?” I ask, it’s the first question that pops into my mind. She gives me a curious look, “You know, no one has ever asked me that before,” she smiles, and it’s like the moonlight, “I don’t exactly have much of a choice. None of us do. You’re actually pretty lucky Demeter kept you away from Olympus for so long.” “That’s what he says too.” “You don’t believe him?” “I’d want to make my own opinions about Olympus rather than have them colored by my father.” She nods. We stand silently and watch the rolling clouds. It feels comfortable to share this kind of stillness with her. Moments pass when she finally speaks again, “You should go back inside. I’m sure you’re missed.” I shrug. We stand in silence. “You might be the first person to voluntarily spend time with me.” “I find that hard to believe.” She laughs, “You don’t really think before you speak, do you?” My face grows hot, and she continues, “It’s refreshing.” Before I can speak again, I hear the sound of a familiar voice, “Kore!” my father. My heart sinks in my chest, and I feel like a cornered rabbit with my ears tucked back in fear, “There you are,” he walks briskly towards me, and looks up at Hades. She’s taller than him too. My father’s arm wraps around mine and I feel him…shaking, “I’m sorry if he bothered you, Hades.” Hades looks at me, and my gaze matches hers. I feel my father hold onto me tighter, as if afraid I would be gobbled up by her in an instant, “He is no bother,” she says, her voice colder than it was before. She looks back out at the rolling clouds, and my father takes it as his moment to leave. He pulls us back into the warmth of the ballroom, and brings us far away from the others. By now, many of the gods are already drunk, each one trying to outdo the other in displays of power and skill. Demeter pulls me away to a private corridor and stands me in front of him. Frantically he checks my body, “F-father? What’s wrong?” I ask confused, he checks my face. “Did she do anything to you?” “What? No. Why would she?” my brow furrows and he sighs in relief, “Is everything okay?” “I don’t want you alone with her,” he says, his deep green eyes serious, “Kore. Do you hear me?” I brush his hands off of my face, “Father, you said so yourself, I will get to be independent.” “And you are. But you must stay away from Hades,” he warns, there’s a strange fear in his eyes. Something I have never seen before, “She couldn’t be the more opposite from us. We create life, she takes it.” “She doesn’t take life. I would argue it is Ares and Zeus that—”