|| Thank you all for your love and support. The last few chapters were hard to write a and go through, but one doesn't go from the spring goddess to the Destroyer without experiencing pain. I hope you will all continue reading as Kore continues her ascension. ||
- Kore -
I soon found myself up in the upper box over an expansive and elaborate arena. Both my parents sat with me, one on each side as the event drew closer.
I rolled my eyes as I examined the race track. I was trying not to feel like a simple laurel wreath to be won- the first event to decide who'd I'd marry was a chariot race?
Only Zeus.
But, at the end of the day, I did like chariot races, and I did enjoy getting to spend time with both my parents when they weren't threatening to kill each other. So, despite how off I still felt, and despite the niggling voice in the back of my head, I started to relax and almost feel excited for the event to start.
Zeus grinned as he took a swig of his ambrosia. He had been like a child all morning, and couldn't stand the wait. As the riders pulled up to the starting line, I couldn't help my eyes being drawn to one specific chariot.
It was a beautiful black color that glistened in the sun, drawn by a pair of magnificent black stallions. The corner of my lip turned up just slightly- it was no hard guess as to who's chariot it was. Hades had a certain aesthetic, after all.
I watched in curiousity as several nymphs wove through the riders, handing each of them a goblet. Hades took it without hesitation, but I saw quite a few gagging faces as they downed whatever was in the cup.
The pit in my stomach seemed to grow when Hades looked up towards the box. My eyes met his for a long moment before my face twisted in shame, and I quickly broke away. I was confused- why was Hades still doing this if he and Clarey were back together?
The sunlight glared off another chariot, blinding me for a moment. My anxiety grew as I realized who's chariot was directly next to Hades'..
Apollo sat in his golden sun chariot, wearing a white tunic. He and Hades couldn't have appeared more alike- although, I noted with chagrin, that this was the classic examples of appearances not meaning anything. As Apollo's eyes turned towards me, I quickly started up a conversation with my mother about the harvest time, which was only a few weeks away now.
Soon, Zeus stood, clapping my shoulder as he did so. Using his powers, his voice boomed over the arena so all in attendance could here.
"Time is running short, and my ambrosia supply won't keep all day," He joked. The audience laughed along- whether it was funny or not, laughing at Zeus's jibes was just something you did. "Without further delay, we shall begin the event. Our competitors today will compete for the hand of the Lady Kore-Â Goddess of Spring, and my beloved daughter. To ensure the best man wins," Zeus continued with an arrogant swagger, "Each hero has drank a mortality potion. While they shall keep their godly strength, their individual powers will be gone until the sun sets tonight- that will be the ending point of our competition."
He paused, letting the crowd's chatter die down. Mortality potions certainly changed the game- gods relied on their powers more than anything, and taking that away would raise the stakes significantly. It was suddenly anyone's game.
"Riders, take your mark!" Zeus bellowed as he raised his hand in the air. A thunderclap would signal the beginning of the race, as usual.
A tense few seconds paused before the thunderclap came, and everyone took off. Chariot races were notoriously brutal, and anything was fair game. From the get-go, Hades and Apollo seemed to be in the lead, with Hermes close behind. I blinked in shock at the site of my uncle. "Hermes is competing?" I asked in curiosity.
Demeter nodded, her eyes following the race. "He told your father that while he'd always see you as a niece, that he'd be damned before he let some of the other competitors win your hand."
My heart warmed a bit at that. Hermes had always looked out for me, and it made me glad that that had continued. My attention went back to the race as I anxiously watched to see who would start the competition out in the lead.
- Hades -
Kore's eyes were empty.
I had noticed it in the hall when she so quickly tried to get away, and I noticed it now as I watched her from her box. My jaw clenched for a moment as I studied her, noticing the small difference that nobody else seemed to care about.
She was trying to make herself small, like she was trying to just blend into the background. It was so different from the Kore I had known on the island, and it worried me. Kore had always been happy- what had changed?
My eyes shifted to Apollo as he readied his ridiculous sun chariot next to me. My eyes narrowed as I studied the god.
I wasn't an idiot. I knew Apollo had significant interest in Kore. Even if he hadn't barged into my realm that day to declare his intentions, it would've been obvious to the blind. The way he watched her was enough to set me on edge. He looked at her like a hungry dog looked at a piece of meat, or like a buyer looked at new property.
I hated it. I hated that anyone would dare treat Kore that way, or that anyone would really try to take her away from me. But there was something about Apollo in particular that was setting me on edge. I watched as he looked up to Kore, that arrogant smile on his face..and I watched as her face paled, and she quickly looked away.
Like a scared animal.
My hands tightened around my reins. Something had happened to make Kore shut herself away, and I had an awful feeling that Apollo was directly involved.
I had to find out the truth. I had to help Kore. We were at a bad point right now- I'd be the first to admit that- but Kore and I had something special, and I loved her deeply. Of course, I had never really told her that explicitly, something I planned to remedy after this event.
I was so deep in thought that I missed the first part of Zeus's speech. Luckily, I came to right before the thunderbolt crashed- and with a whip of my reins, my faithful horse bolted.
I loved to race. When we had been children, my brothers and I spent days on end racing. I loved the thrill that came with competition, and while I hardly ever put myself into games like this, I was fiercely competitive.
So today, with something so important on the line, I was bound and determined to win.
As we rounded the first curve, I noticed that Apollo's prancing white horses were keeping up well with mine- it seemed the pampered life of raising the sun had not hurt their speed. As we came neck-to-neck, Apollo leered at me, shouting over the thudding hooves.
"C'mon, old man!" He jeered at me. "This is a young man's game- go back to your hole!"
With that, he jerked his reins, his chariot crashing into mine.
I gritted my teeth, quickly correcting my horses to fight against the pressure. "Do you really think that would work?" I called back, keeping my voice calm. "I have been racing since before you were even a thought, boy."
Apollo's face soured, clearly disappointed I hadn't crashed. He backed away for a split second before ramming the chariot again, doing his best to get me off the track.
"You've already lost this competition, you bag of bones," he bellowed, his voice strained. "Kore is as good as mine- and she wouldn't want an old crypt keeper like you anyways!"
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. I couldn't let myself get carried away- I had to be calm, and wise, and mature.
But he just had to throw Kore's name out there, didn't he?
My eyes narrowed into an icy glare as I took the initiative, ramming his chariot with mine this time. "Show some respect, pup," I growled. "That's Lady Kore to you!"
With that, I snapped my reins, urging my horses forward. I wasn't able to give my energy to them, so I could only hope they had the strength to push forward.
Somehow, they did. As if feeling my desperation, the stallions sped up their pace, and after a moment, we pulled in front of the now battered sun chariot. I heard Apollo yelling at his own horses, and grinned to myself as the distance between us grew.
I crossed the finish line like we were flying, and the crowd went wild. It was rare for them to see me at all, much less at something like this. I guess everyone likes the underdog to win.
I looked up to see Zeus stand, his face amused. He didn't want me to win overall, but I could tell seeing Apollo put in his place was nice. Apollo pulled next to me as he yanked off his helmet, obviously seething as Zeus declared me the winner of event one.
The corners of my lips turned up as I removed my own helmet. Second place was a good place for Apollo- and I had ever attempt to keep him there.
- Apollo -
It had been a long time since I had lost anything.
I watched in disgust as Hermes and Ares crowded around with other minor gods and goddesses to congratulate Hades. I couldn't believe I had lost to that decrepit man.
I turned, storming off in a huff. My mind was spinning wildly- could I actually lose Kore?
Roses danced through my mind as my anxiety peaked at the thought. No. No, I couldn't lose Kore. She needed me to win her hand. We were in love, even if she was being shy right now.
I gritted my teeth. But how am I supposed to win? I hadn't counted on Hades really being this serious.
I paced back and forth, trying to come up with a solution. I had to get an inside help somehow, turn the tide in my favor..
Zeus's booming laughter echoed through the halls, suddenly pulling me out of my thoughts with a start. I whirled on a dime, looking in the direction it had come from as a thought bloomed into a plan.
My lips spread into a smile as I ducked down the hall, headed for Circa's small courtyard. I needed a witch's help, and I needed it now.
|| Please note that the chapter Clarey's Persuasion (XVI.) has been heavily edited as of August 24th, 2019. If you have read this chapter prior to this date, please go back and review the changes to best make sense of the change in plot. This notice will be removed on September 27th, 2019. ||
|| Next Update: August 26th, 2019 @10:00 pm US Mountain Time ||