- Kore -
I didn't hear from Hades for days after that visit.
The first day, I didn't mind. I had things that I needed to do, and I saw firsthand how busy Hades was.
The third day was a little odd that he didn't even send a quick note, but I pushed it to the back of my mind.
By the fifth day, I was certain that I had done something to make him upset.
The worst part about it was that there truly wasn't anyone else on this blasted island. Nobody I could vent to, nobody I could talk with. Just me, alone with my thoughts.
It was mind-numbing, and I felt myself starting to slip.
The seventh day came. Resigned to the fact that I would probably not hear from Hades again, I had gotten up before Apollo brought sunrise and stared at the ocean. The sound of the waves was calming, and the feel of the ocean breeze on my face reminded me that, yes, I was still a person, even if I was stuck in this weird reality.
The sky was lit with beautiful pinks and yellows as the sun started its ascent. I smiled to myself- I had never met Apollo, but what he did certainly was beautiful.
"Lady Kore?"
A voice startled me from my thoughts. I twisted around, more than a bit startled after seven days of virtual silence
It was a shade. You could tell by the grayish aura they held. I stood, brushing the sand from my dress. "Yes?" I responded, giving the shade a curious look.
"I've been instructed to bring you to the Underworld to meet with your father," The shade informed me. "He has come to check on your well-being and to bring you news of the contest."
I sighed, brushing my hair from my face as I looked back over the ocean. Suddenly, the silence seemed preferable...and I couldn't ignore the fact that it was my father summoning me, not Hades.
"Very well," I responded, turning and giving the blank-faced shade a smile. Without another word, the shade turned..but rather than going to the cave behind the waterfall, he started to walk down the beach.
"Ah...isn't the Underworld that way?" I asked slowly, pointing back towards the cave as I tried to keep up to his quick pace.
No response.
A feeling of uncertainty washed over me as I reluctantly followed the now silent shade. After a few moments, we came to an unfamiliar cave. During high tide, it would be completely submerged, but the waves had retreated enough to allow us entrance.
The shade disappeared into the cave, but I stopped at the mouth. A blast of cool air hit me as it traveled up from wherever the cave ended. I shivered, my brain telling me to turn and leave. I paused, glancing back at the water.
"Your father won't want to be kept waiting," I heard the sharp reprimand of the shade from the darkness. He stepped forward again, grabbing my hand and tugging me along.
"Hey!" I protested- but to no avail. His grip was like iron, and the further he dragged me, the more confused and disoriented I became.
I don't know how long I followed the shade. It felt like hours. Finally, we appeared in front of a large river. The water had an odd silver hue to it, the light from the torches lit up and down the tunnel's walls reflecting in it.
"Why, if it isn't Lady Kore?"
I turned, my eyes meeting a woman, leaning against the rock wall as she studied me carefully. She was tall, and her hair was a brilliant shade of silver. Her eyes were black, and the lower part of her face and her body seemed to shine like diamonds.
My heart thudded. "Clarey," I greeted back, my brain screaming "DANGER!"
She chuckled, sauntering slowly towards me as her red dress flowed around her. "Silly little girl, running off to play? Don't you know this game is out of your league?" She simpered.
My eyes hardened. "Clarey, I am going to meet with Father. I don't know why you're here, but I won't have this conversation with you."
"Ooh," She laughed, not taking me a bit serious. I gritted my teeth. "Demeter's little flower finally grew a backbone, did she?"
Suddenly, the woman held my jaw in her hands, her black eyes staring into mine. I felt fear send a shock to my toes. "You foolish little girl," She snapped, turning my head sharply. "Don't play with somebody else's things. Hades is mine- he has been mine for a millenium now, and I won't have your innocent act take him away."
"Let go of me," I tried to yank my face from her hands, but she gripped harder, her nails digging into my skin. "Let go of me now, Clarey!"
She laughed, the sound bitter and cold. "Daddy wanted me to just come talk to Hades, but I know better. His focus needs to be back on me..and while Daddy wants you for the competition.."
Her smile hardened. "I have always hated having you for competition. Daddy's favorite, Olympus's little angel.." She turned, spitting in disgust on my feet. I lurched, my hands grabbing hers as I tried to yank her off. "I've had enough of it."
Her eyes flickered to the fast flowing river behind us, and her eyes lit up. "Have a nice swim, Kore," she smiled before releasing me. I had a second to lurch back before her hands flashed out, giving me a hard shove.
Time seemed to drag on for an eternity before I hit the water. Then, it was hell.
Why was the river silver? Because it was made of spirits who were too full of anger or regret to go to be processed.
My head burst above the water as I flailed in panic. "Clarey!" I called out in desperation as I felt the spirits gather around me. "Help me, please!!"
A god's power to somebody trapped for eternity is tempting bait.
Clarey sent me a little wave before I felt hands all over my body, tugging down on my legs, my dress, my shoulders. With a scream, I was dragged back down in the water.
I thrashed about, trying to keep the spirits away as they clawed at me, their angry screams ringing in my ears as if we were on dry land. I could feel my power slipping, the power of the river overtaking me as I desperately tried to break the surface again.
"Hades!" I thought desperately as my tears mixed with the river. I stretched my hand out, trying my hardest to find the break as I was pulled deeper and deeper down.
Suddenly, a light seemed to form. "Kore.."
I thrashed, trying to find the source.
"You are a goddess, Kore. Find your strength.."
The voice seemed to surround me, and while it was warm and gentle, it was unfamiliar.
I closed my eyes shut tightly as I thought. Powers..I am a goddess, but of Spring Growth..
What can I possibly do?
For a moment, it seemed easier to stop fighting, to let the spirits drag me to the bottom. At least eternity would be quiet.
"Kore!"
My eyes snapped open as I heard another voice- this time, a familiar one.
Hades?"
"Kore, where are you??"
My heart seemed to start beating again. Hades was looking for me. Despite his silence, I still loved him, didn't I?
"You are so close to freedom, to getting your own life," I told myself as hope started to build inside me. "You can't fail now."
I reached my hand forth, calling on my powers. I didn't know what to expect- a vine, perhaps, or a tree that would lift me up.
I didn't expect the ground to start shaking.
The spirits suddenly released me, all running away as screams of fear echoed around them. I didn't realize why until I looked at my hands.
I was surrounded by hellfire. It was blue, licking calmly at my body, but burning anything that came close.
Desperately, I started to claw towards the surface. As my vision started to go black, I caught view of the lantern's reflection. The water was blue around me, illuminated by the strange fire that I didn't care enough at the moment to explain. Finally, finally- I broke the surface with my hand, another hand meeting mine.
Everything went black.