|| This chapter has been edited. ||
I always knew I would never know love. Sure, my father loved me, in his own weird way, and Mother's love was suffocating. I know that I love nature, and it loves me back- that's why I can do what I do. And, yeah, I don't have a lot of friends, but the ones I do have love me
But that's not the kind of love I wanted
I wanted the kind of love that curls your toes and keeps you up at night. I had seen it on Olympus and among the mortals.
Romantic love. Intimate, passionate love. The kind of love that made you reach for someone when they weren't there and that made your world seem okay as long as that someone was in it.
But I wasn't a normal girl. My name was Kore, Goddess of Spring...and daughter of Demeter. My mom had big plans for me, and they all involved me staying a virgin, and staying near her.
So, my dear friend, let me tell you my story about the girl named Kore, and how she became something more than anyone ever imagined..
"Kore! Darling, come down from there quickly. We have company!"
I sighed, setting my book on the wide branch beside me before holding my hand out in front of me. A vine descended from the top of the tree where I sat, and after grasping tightly, I let it grow until it was long enough for me to slide to the ground. "What is it?"
My mother rushed over, tidying my hair and dress. As Goddess of the Harvest, my mother was often busy and stressed with more work to do than seemed possible. All gods and goddesses had a choice in their appearance, and while most preferred to appear young forever, my mother had been among a select few of Olympus that opted for a more mature look. Her hair was a jet black, and she had allowed a few wrinkles- not many, but enough to give her that air of being more experienced and wise. She had explained to me once that it reflected more of how she felt, and it helped give her an air that demanded respect.
She was beautiful, and while I was grateful for her fussing and wisdom, I was getting sick of the coddling. "It's fine, Mother," I huffed as I took a step away from her hands that were busy at work rearranging my hair.
She pursed her lips, raising an eyebrow at my rude behavior, but chose to let it slide for the moment. "Your father is here," She grumbled. "Apparently he was urgent news for both of us. He refuses to leave until you come and hear him out."
Zeus and my mother never had gotten along, despite my good relationship with each of them. I brushed Mom's hands away from my long wavy hair. "I'll go meet him then," I responded with a grin. "You can stay here if you want!"
My father, Zeus, was the King of Olympus, and the God of Thunder. He didn't have the greatest reputation in the world, but at the end of the day, I loved him anyways. However Zeus was in other aspects of his life, he was pretty great to me. Not exactly a careful parent, or an overly responsible one, but he was fun.
"Flower!" He greeted with his loud, boisterous voice as I slipped into the room. My face broke into a wide grin as I ran into his outstretched arms. He was significantly taller than me, and had opted for a more mature look like my mother. He had strong, defining features that showcased his strong jawline and deep green eyes, with a salt-and-pepper beard to complete the 'old and wise' look he went after. He had somehow managed to be handsome, but still demand respect with just his appearance.
He chuckled before pressing a quick kiss to the top of my head. "As beautiful as always, little Kore!" He greeted me cheerfully. He pulled me away, studying me for a second. "I've come with some news for you, little Kore. About a potential match."
The smile on my face froze in place. "A match?" I asked, my voice dropping into a whisper as my mother's footsteps echoed down the hall. "But- but I have my vows, Father! I can't make a match!"
It would be a dark day if Mother overheard him trying to make me a marriage match. Even mentioning men in front of Mother was something I learned long ago not to do...but Zeus was about to commit the biggest sin in Demeter's eyes.
A mischievous twinkle appeared in Zeus' eyes- which I immediately knew meant trouble. "I wouldn't worry about those vows for long," he whispered with a grin as Mother entered the room, ignoring my suddenly concerned look.
Demeter folded her arms, giving Zeus a hard stare. "Must you bring chaos wherever you go?" She asked wearily, eyeing the half-empty bottle of ambrosia next to the God that he had brought along.
He grinned, standing up from his seat. "I bring great news. Demeter, Kore has is one of our most powerful and well hidden goddesses."
She stared at him for a long moment, folding her arms as she raised her eyebrow. "And?" She quipped sarcastically. "Don't tell me you've come all this way to give that piece of obvious news."
Zeus ignored the interruption. "And with her age has come great beauty." He grinned at me, and I smiled back hesitantly. Oh dear..here it comes!
"So," Zeus continued. "I have decided that it is time for Little Kore to grow up- but I have too many suitors wanting her hand to just pick one! So," He continued grandly as he puffed out his chest with pride, "I have come up with an ingenious idea. In one month, a grand competition will be held to see who shall win her hand!" He grinned, obviously proud of this wild idea he had concocted. He was so proud, in fact, that he didn't notice as I slunk away against the wall- Mount Demeter was about to blow!
My mother stared at Zeus for a moment, completely dumbstruck before her hands began to shake and her face turned red. "You mean," she started, her voice soft and dangerous as she stared daggers into the man, "That you intend to pass my beloved daughter- OUR beloved daughter off as a trophy? A prize to be won?!"
Zeus faltered for a minute as he rapidly realized his news was going over well. "Well.." He started hesitantly as he took a nervous step back. "I mean, be reasonable Dem- she's my daughter too!"
I cringed, watching from my safe spot in the corner as my mother erupted. That was definitely the wrong answer.
Demeter's eyes lit with a wild fire as she turned and grabbed the nearby vase and sent it sailing Zeus dodged it, ducking down as the porcelain smashing against the marble pillar behind him.
"The fact that she is your daughter makes this ridiculous plan even worse!" Demeter shrieked as she stalked towards the man. "Kore is no pawn, or prize, or trophy!"
Her hand flashed out as quick as Zeus's lightning, grabbing him by his tunic before literally dragging him to the door- he, to his credit, didn't fight back much.
"Kore," Demeter continued furiously as a servant scuttled over to open the marble door, "Will never be a bride. Do you understand me??" She questioned angrily, shaking his tunic as he stumbled to his feet. "She has taken a vow of Eternal Chastity- although, with your track record, I'm sure you've forgotten what that word even means!"
With that, she turned, throwing him out the door and down the stairway.
I expected Dad to be just as angry and fight back...but he just stood, brushing his tunic off with a chuckle. "All right Dem," he replied with a twinkle in his eye. "You win this round."
He paused, glancing towards me for a moment before his eyes flickered back to Demeter, the corner of his lips turning up. "But mark my words, Demeter- there will still be a contest in a month's time, so I suggest you get prepared."
His deep green eyes once again met mine. "Be thinking of who you want to win, little flower. Who knows how your fate will be?"
Before Mother could get another word out, Zeus was gone with the strike of a thunderbolt.
The next few days were..bad. When Mother heard that Zeus was still holding the competition, she was enraged, and Greece's crops suddenly took a nosedive and failed. But Zeus was as stubborn as she was, so for now, the competition for my husband was still going forward.
I laid in bed, my thoughts replaying what my dad had asked me a week prior. Who did I want to win the competition?
I rolled over, sighing in frustration. I hated that Mother kept me in such a tight bubble, especially about men. How was I supposed to pick someone to be my husband when I had barely talked to anyone? It was like taking a hatchling and immediately throwing them into the air and expecting them to fly- it was impossible!
I groaned, sitting up and sighing in frustration. No matter what I try, I just couldn't sleep...but I couldn't figure out how to fix this whole mess either. On one hand, my life with my mother wasn't all bad. Sure, she treated me like I was significantly younger than I was, but we were also good friends, and loved to spend time together.
I pursed my lips as I adjusted my pillow. On the other hand...thoughts of wanting to break out of Demeter's bubble had been tumbling in my head for a long time now, and Dad had just potentially given me a way out.
Granted, I thought to myself bitterly, I could be leaving one cage to be locked up in another. What would be worse? Staying a child all my life, or being married to a monster?
I huffed in frustration, throwing my blanket off of me as I sat up. "This is impossible!" I grumbled to myself as I went to my windowsill to think. I got myself tucked into the seat before leaning against the window, watching the stars above.
"I want to wear beautiful dresses that show me off," I said softly, talking to myself and the stars.. "I want to drink ambrosia and go to parties and make friends. I want to make my own choices and not have to ask for permission anytime I go anywhere, and if I happen to get it, have to go with a whole host of holy attendants."
I paused, trying to look at things from a mature standpoint, and grimaced. "But I also want to always have a good relationship with Mother," I started softly, glancing down at my hands. "I want her to teach me more about my powers, and I want her and I to always be close."
I sat that way for a long while, going back and forth between the conflicting sides of my heart before reluctantly standing and crashing back onto the bed, letting out a groan into my pillow as I fell face-first.
"Why can't I just be normal?" I grumbled, my voice muffled by the pillow. "Why I can't a normal goddess who makes stupid decisions, falls in love with people she shouldn't, and then move on? This is the worst!"
It was well into the night and almost morning when I made my decision.
I loved Mother, but I couldn't grow and progress in such a stifling and dependent relationship. It was time to grow up.
At the same time, I had to be smart about this. I was walking into a potential land mine, and with the very limited experience I had with people, I wasn't foolish enough to think I had the maturity and knowledge to avoid disaster. I had no say in who would be my husband, after all, and I would have to step carefully to ensure I didn't end up in a bad situation.
My mind circled back to Zeus's comment, and my arms tightened around the pillow I held as I calmed back down. "Be thinking of who you want to win, little flower. Who knows how your fate will be?"