- Hades -
Regret is a powerful poison.
I stared at the obsidian crown in my hands, the racking feeling of guilt and shame drowning me. It had taken only minutes for me to realize my mistake, and Clarey found herself boots out quickly.
My knuckles whitened as Kore's tear-stained face came to mind. Clarey admitted what had really happened, how Zeus had petitioned her. My fury at my brother was fighting for dominance, but my gloom was, as always, the stronger monster.
Kore. My beautiful flower, my avenging angel. My head dropped as I took a deep breath. I had messed up badly this time. Pushing her away was the biggest mistake of my existence. Clarey hasn't succeeded in bedding me- I had come to my sense before that- but rumors grew here, and I'm sure the worst would be imagined and talked about. Kore would be devastated she heard..
I glanced up to see Hecate watching from the doorway, her face pinched with anger. The entire kingdom was suffering with Kore's undeserved dismissal, and the nymphs and shades were noticeably upset and unhelpful- my next in command was no different.
She rolled her eyes. "Suck it up, Hades," she reprimanded harshly. I grimaced- I was in for it.
"You made a huge mistake this time," she continued. "But you and I both know that this competition is more than your pettiness. If you care about Kore, you'll apologize immediately, and you'll win this ridiculous game, for her sake and safety."
I pursed my lips, my eyes flickering down to the crown in my hands- the crown Kore was meant to wear. She didn't have a choice- her husband would be decided in a few days time. All I had to do was win, and then I could smooth things over.
My grip tightened as the image of Apollo came to my mind. I had to win, to at least give Kore the offer of protection. I would never force her to stay here, but I'll be damned to Tartus before I let her be swallowed up by one of the monsters masquerading as gods.
I looked up, my eyes steely. "Prepare my things. I intend to have every resource ready to win. And-" I paused for a moment, "Bring me a sapphire. I have a message to send to Kore."
**
Olympus feeds on gossip- so the news of Clarey's return to the Underworld spread like wildfire. Nobody know of the entrance between Hagneia and the Underworld, so I was quite left out of the rumors.
But hearing the details of what happened after I left were too much. If a first love is a powerful magic, then a first heartbreak is completely devastating.
I stared out blankly from my perch in Demeter's tree. The competition began tomorrow, but I had no interest in it anymore. My heart felt shattered, and it seemed that a happy future wasn't in my cards.
"Stupid," I muttered to myself. "You're such an idiot for ever wanting to leave here."
Nightmares had plagued me for two days now since my dip in the River. Hades' anger, Clarey's sick smile, and the feeling of being pulled to the river bottom made my dreams a living hell. My mother had noticed, but was choosing not to say anything as she tried to brush my newfound problems and maturity under the rug.
I hated this. I hated that I still loved Hades. I hated that, once again, being a silly child had left room for someone mature to take my place. I hated that I felt powerless again, that I was being sold off like cattle, that I missed the Underworld but no longer had a place there.
But I no longer had a place here, either.
I sighed, adjusting my black dress as I leaned against the trunk of the tree. I had refused the pastel colors of my old wardrobe- Motber had wanted to fight, I could tell, but left it for now. Tomorrow I would be dolled up like a pig for the slaughter, so it hardly mattered what I wore now.
**
Apollo sat high above in the clouds, his green eyes fixed on Kore's figure down below. He had grimaced at the drab apparel- she looked like a human widow in mourning- but had set it aside as thoughts of tomorrow swirled in his head. He smiled softly as the memory of the golden rose crossed his mind again- finally, the time had come for them to be together.
He slipped out of his hiding place, and perched himself on Kore's branch. "Hello, Lady Kore," he greeted with a grin. "Would it be alright if we talk?"
**
I startled as the Sun God appeared before me. My dark eyes widened, and I straightened quickly. Something was..off about Apollo. A shiver went up my spine .
"What are you doing here?" I asked quietly, trying to recall the confidence I had with Hades. "You know Mother doesn't allow me to have male visitors."
I turned to leave, but Apollo's hand caught my wrist like lightning. "Wait, please!" He pleaded. I paused, my eyes meeting his desperate ones. I paused for a moment before reluctantly turning back and gently taking my hand back. "Yes, Lord Apollo?" I asked.
Apollo's cheeks turned red as he took a deep breath. "I- I don't know if you remember the first time we met, Lady Kore."
I watched him in confusion for a moment as he fumbled in his satchel before he pulled out a golden rose, still as fresh as the day I created it. Like lightning, the memory suddenly came to the forefront of my mind. My eyes widened in surprise as I reached out, my finger gently brushing the delicate petal.
"I had forgotten," I admitted softly as I took in the flower. "Y-You've kept this all these years?" I questioned, my eyes looking up to meet his. "Why?"
Apollo's blush seemed to deepen, but he must have gathered his courage as he gently took my hand that was reaching out to the flower. "Lady Kore- no, Kore," he started, switching to a more casual form of my name. I raised an eyebrow and tried to take my hand back, but he held strong. His eyes met mine- so full of hope.
"Kore, I love you. I have ever since that moment. Your beauty and kindness swept me away, and your delicate nature has drawn me to you like a moth to flame. I have to have you beside me, Kore," he pleaded, his grip on my hand tightening to where it was starting to sting.
Alarm bells started to go off in my head, but his grip was strong.
"Please say you love me," He begged, pulling me a step closer to him. "Please, Kore. We could run away tonight, and not even worry about this silly competition."
I gaped at him. I didn't even know this man, and he expected me to just elope with him.
"I-I'm sorry, Lord Apollo," I started nervously as I tried to tug my hand away. "But my mother really won't like this. You need to go, alright?"
Apollo smiled, shaking his head. "Call me Apollo, silly girl- we're going to be married, after all. Your mother is fully supporting me in this- didn't she tell you?"
My mind began to race as fast as my heart. Yes, she had told me. And like an idiot, I had gone out alone.
"Lord Apollo," I started, my voice becoming more panicked. "I appreciate your kindness, but I really can't be involved with you, I-"
"Apollo," he interrupted, his smile seeming a little more forced now. "Please, call me Apollo."
"Apollo," I amended hastily as I finally tugged my hand away and took a step back. "Thank you for telling me how you feel. But I can't return your feelings, and I can't run off with you!"
His brow furrowed in confusion before light dawned in his eyes- and then his expression turned more angry. "Kore. Please tell me you don't have feelings for that wretched man."
My heart skipped a beat. Apollo may not have been as strong or big as Ares, but he was certainly stronger than I was. "What wretched man?" I asked weakly.
He studied me for a long moment as his eyes hardened. "I see," He replied dryly. "The viper has already gotten to you, has he?"
He paused for a moment before he nodded. "Then I'll just have to remind you of our connection."
I had barely registered his words when Apollo's lips crashed down on mine as he cut me off, his hand going from my wrist to the back of my head to hold me in place.
Terror filled my heart as the shock wore off, and I started to try and push him away and thrash against the kiss. But between the arm around my waist and his hand at my head, I could barely move.
A tear slipped down my face as I recalled how differently Hades had kissed me. This is wrong, I thought bitterly.
A minute of useless fighting went by, and as my heart pined for Hades, my courage disappeared. I slowly stopped until I was standing as still as a statute, blank and unresponsive as Apollo kept kissing me.
It seemed like years passed before he finally stopped, a soft smile on his face as he caressed my cheek. Apparently, he took my unresponsiveness as consent. He gently pressed a kiss to my forehead- another silent sob ripping through me as I pictured a similar kiss in Hagenai.