Elysian Fields

CHAPTER 29

"So my body is struggling to reconcile that I am a human and a goddess?"

"Yes," Hades confirmed, raising a forkful of eggs to his mouth.

"But I'm not supposed to be alarmed by this?!"

Demo pushed a slice of buttered toast and a mug of tea closer to her daughter, "Right."

Persephone stared at the people around her table, grimacing in confusion, "I had literal HORNS—"

"Antlers."

She glared at Apollo's interjection, "Whatever! They grew out of my head and I bled out on my bed and I'm just supposed to pretend that everything is normal?!"

Her eyes darted between Demi, Hades, and Apollo expectantly. "Well?!"

"It's not about pretending everything is normal. It's about...accepting your new reality and adjusting," Demi hesitated before adding quietly, "Persephone."

The new name on her mother's lips made Persephone's hands go clammy, heart racing as she swallowed thickly. She lifted the mug of tea and took a sip, hoping to burn the discomfort away.

"And what is my new reality?"

Demi and Apollo both looked to Hades, the former biting her lower lip nervously.

Hades put down his fork, taking Persephone's hand in his own, "We are going to have to get your Divinity out of your mortal cage. I could be as simple as accepting your place among the Divine and finding release, or—" He stopped short, swallowing thickly and taking a breath. His eyes held Persephone's gaze and he seemed to be choosing his words very carefully.

"Or...?"

"Death," Apollo piped in, sorrow lacing each syllable. "A death of the mortal body to release the Divine soul. Though neither are guaranteed to work. For all we know, we'd be killing both halves of you."

"I die either way," Persephone breathed, sitting back as the realization settled in. "The human side of me — Kore — she's going to be gone forever, and Aydon — Hades — will never have her again." Something about that broke her heart and tears fell silently as she stood from the table with a muttered, "Excuse me."

The trio watched after her, silence falling on them. Demi sat back in her chair and looked to Apollo who clapped a hand on Hades' back.

"What do I do?" Hades stood up, his chair flying back. "I'm a gods-damned god and I don't know what to do here!"

"Well, you're the God of Death," Demi pointed out. "Can't you stop it? Can't you just...not let her die?"

There was a hopefulness in her voice that grated on Hades' nerves and he ran a hand over his face, gripping his mouth for a moment. He looked over at Demi, the woman who had essentially helped raise him for the past fifteen-odd years. Disappointing her would break a part of him that would never recover.

"I'm the God of Death, yes, but taking souls is not my jurisdiction. That falls to Thanatos and he doesn't bargain well." He turned, looking at Demi and Apollo. "I love her...but I don't think I can save her. I can never save anyone. It's the price I pay for being the King of the Underworld.

Apollo rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath about Hades being so dramatic, tucking back into his breakfast. Demi stood and approached Hades, reaching out to him before pausing, "May I?"

Hades nodded and Demi stepped close, her hands reaching up to cup his face. She looked into his eyes and saw pain and exhaustion, a tiredness that held him in a vice. She held that face, looking into those deep cerulean eyes and tears sprung to her own.