Chapter 1- Zeus’ Revenge

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Earlier That Day

High on Olympus, nestled by an inlet, sat Demeter’s temple. It was cloaked in ivy, and the grounds on which the sanctuary lay was fertile with fig trees and flowers that perfumed its fields. It was a beautiful shrine, concealed from the other Gods, and that suited Demeter’s needs perfectly. Ever since her daughter had come of age, Demeter had hidden her deep in the forest, away from the view of men. The Gods were fighting for her daughter’s hand like dogs over a bit of meat, and Persephone was a Goddess, not some spare scrap to wrestle over. Hermes and Apollo had been the most recent rivals to attempt a claim at her daughter’s hand, but Demeter was not ready for her child to be wed. And certainly not to any of the boorish brutes who had sought her. As of yet, there was no contender that was worthy of Persephone, and she needed to protect her from the game-playing Gods. It was no secret how manipulative the Olympians could be. Gods loved to play tricks, to woo and deceive, to coerce and destroy the innocent. Be it man or God, no one’s life was safe from their game of chess, and the more twisted the game, the better. Her daughter was different from them. Persephone had a gentle heart and a pure spirit. She thought no evil of others. Demeter, however, was not so naive. She knew all too well how cruel the Gods could be.

Years ago, Demeter had loved a mortal man named Iasion. He was a Prince of Crete and Persephone was the result of the love between them. Her daughter had inherited her goodness and sweetness of temper from her father.  The Gods knew she certainly did not get it from her mother, she thought with a wry smile. It was his gentle disposition that had drawn Demeter to him and now Persephone was all she had left of their love.  She was not going to give her daughter up easily. Demeter closed her eyes, remembering Iasion. No one compared to his beauty, from his spirit to his perfect face and lithe young body, he had been all she had ever desired in a mate. And for a brief, very small moment in time, she had been desperately and blissfully happy. Until the King of the Gods had found them together one day, and in a jealous rage, Zeus struck down her lover with a thunderbolt, leaving his soul to roam the Earth for eternity. In just a flash he had destroyed her entire world on a jealous whim. Even now she felt her lips curl back as the bitter memories surfaced.  It would have broken Demeter, but knowing her daughter grew inside of her gave her the will to go on. To deliver the final shattering blow, Zeus boasted to all the Gods that “he” was the father of her child and everyone had believed that the proud Demeter had spread her legs for that swine. He thought he would crush her with his lie, but she did not allow his treacherous words to touch her. She remained strong for her daughter and did not even attempt to correct the falsehood he spoke. To speak against Zeus would only bring pain and a long drawn out battle. It was a fight she was willing to forgo. She had her daughter - and that was enough. Only Demeter, Zeus, and Persephone knew the tragic truth.

Her eyes grew misty as she looked out at her daughter.  Persephone lay on her back in the grass by the temple, playing idly with the flowers as they blew gently in the breeze. The sun flickered through the trees, making her dark hair glitter as it lay around her head like a halo. She was a beautiful forest goddess and it was no wonder the reprobate Gods sought her. She had the elegance of a deer, her limbs and neck were long and pale and when she moved it was with an unconscious grace that even the most sensual Goddesses could not emulate. Persephone’s eyes reflected the green of the forest, and sometimes when Demeter looked at her daughter, she imagined she could see the eternal beauty of nature staring out through her wide and innocent gaze. Her lips were bee stung pink, and in repose may have had a slight pouting look, but Persephone’s face was rarely relaxed and usually a smile curved the corners. All in all, her daughter possessed the kind of beauty that endangered her. This world was not kind to beautiful women, Goddesses or otherwise. Demeter watched as Persephone gave a delighted laugh as a group of butterflies passed her and fanned their wings happily against her toes, and an irrational fear twisted in her stomach.

She knew that though her daughter had the face of a sensual Goddess, she was a pure spirit of the forest and she could be broken as easily as a flower in the wrong hands --  too innocent, too trusting. When it came time for her to choose a husband, it would be a good and strong man who would stand at her daughter's side, Zeus be damned. Her beloved Persephone would be protected from the Gods at any cost. They would

not be allowed to destroy her.  Demeter swore an oath to herself. “At whatever cost,” she whispered.

Her mother’s voice drifted down from above. “Persephone my love, do not leave the grounds today. I do not think we should venture from the temple. I fear that your suitors may seek you out.”

Persephone looked up at her mother, a gentle smile on her lips and gave a swift nod of her head as she bit back a sigh of frustration. How much longer would she have to stay confined to their temple? She felt like a prisoner hiding from the outside world. Life had not always been like this, but ever since she had come of age she had been forced to hide behind the walls of the temple and she missed the freedom she had possessed as a child. She had been as wild as the wind then, and now her life was as stagnant as a shallow pond. Suddenly she felt restless and she sprang up from the ground and walked to the edge of the temple. She could feel her mother’s eyes on her back and she tried to relax her stiff posture. She did not blame her mother for her worry, but she only wished that she could just be allowed a small amount of freedom. Surely there were not men always watching her?  With a gentle wave of her wrist, she covered the trees in lush pink roses and the Earth in soft, green moss. She breathed in the stillness of the foliage, the soft perfume of the flowers and tried to calm the rising discontent in her soul. She longed to be free, to roam, to simply be. It was becoming more difficult every day to tolerate the confines of the temple.  She took a stick and sketched a constellation into the dirt then looked up at the sky.

“Under the stars,” she muttered aloud. Her freedom seemed as far way as the constellations above and she felt tears well in her eyes even as she shook them away impatiently. “No more daydreams today,  Persephone,” she said sternly to herself. She felt a gentle tug on her gown and looked down to see a fox cub nipping at her with its pearly white teeth. “And what do we have here, little one?” She picked up the fox, its fur rubbing softly against her skin, and she buried her face in his softness to wipe away the last of her tears.

“Well my friend, what do you think of all the Gods who want to marry me?” She waited for the fox’s reply but it merely cocked its head and watched her with clever black eyes. She laughed. "Well, can you keep a secret?” A white toothed yawn was her answer and she smiled. “I know one should not speak ill of the Gods, but I think they are mad! And if I may be honest, I do not want any of them. None of them can tempt me with their empty gifts. Hermes’ caduceus does not tempt me, and neither does Apollo's Lyre. They watch me with hungry eyes and empty hearts."

She leaned closer to whisper in the ear of her friend the fox, “Do you know what I wish? That I could be like Athena and have never to wed.” She brushed her hand over the fox’s baby soft, tawny fur, then leaned back watching the sun dance through the leaves. “But sometimes, every now and then when I am alone, I am consumed with a wish that someone could love me fiercely, and the poets would sing about our devotion. That he would love me just as I am, and I would take him just as he is.” She gave a small laugh, surprised at the bitter taste in her mouth. How ridiculous she sounded. When had she ever seen such a union between Gods? When had she ever seen anything other than hatred and deception and unfaithfulness. “I do not want a marriage like Zeus and Hera, or Aphrodite and Hephaestus. I want true, honest love.” She felt her heart tug. “If it exists.”

Her little forest friend was anxious to play though, and he gave her a long lick on her nose as if to express his sympathy at her dilemma, and then down he jumped making his way to the forest. He looked back at her and gave a little huff and a shake of his tail as if to say, “Don’t you want to join me?” She hesitated, glancing back at the temple, but her mother had returned inside. A little extra time in the forest would do no harm, she thought. She gave the fox a mischievous smile, and then she lifted her skirts, and darted through the trees to give chase to the cub, running as fast as her feet would take her. She felt laughter bubbling up in her throat and thought she heard her mother’s voice calling her in the wind, but for a moment, oh just for a blissful moment, she felt free chasing this little happy creature. Together, they tore through the forest, the fox’s little paws making more noise than she did, as the sunlight danced through the trees. Suddenly the fox stopped and Persephone approached him as he made a whimper of fear, cowering against a nearby tree. “What is wrong, little friend?” she whispered, kneeling down to give a gentle rub to the cub.  Persephone glanced around the darkened forest. The sun had disappeared behind a cloud and shadows obscured the interior. Something was amiss, she thought with a chill, the forest had gone quiet; no birdsong, or chattering of the animals.

She stood up filled with anger. Someone was trying to scare her. Someone who dared to trespass at her mother’s sacred temple. She shivered in the shadowed forest then straightened her shoulders. Who dared to scare these precious creatures of her domain? Drawing herself to her full height, she cried “Who is there? Reveal yourself!” For a moment there was only silence, but then in the distance, a golden light flickered through the trees, dancing hypnotizingly in the wind. She watched, feeling the small hairs on her neck rise up. “What magic is this?” she whispered. She gave a cry of fear as the light began to race towards her and she ducked as a giant bronze eagle burst from the trees, made blinding in the light.

She gasped, “A Stymphalian! Mother, mother help me!”

Persephone ran as fast as she could back towards the temple. The Stymphalian birds were the evil minions of Ares. They were man-eaters and dangerous, their talons able to rip the flesh from a person in seconds. The bird darted down in frenzied fury and she gave a cry of pain as it grabbed her arm with metal talons and lifted her high into the air. She could feel the metallic feathers slicing the wind as it cut her arm, causing blood to spray her face as her tissues tore from the sharp claws grasping her. Persephone screamed again for her mother. Persephone watched as Demeter raced from the temple crying out in rage, blasting the bird with a powerful cold wind. For a moment, Persephone felt a thrill of hope as the bird released her from it’s talons, but suddenly a second bird flew upon them and caught Persephone. Another icy wind blasted the second bird down and Demeter stood tall and furious, her arms raised above her head.

“You will not have my daughter, Ares!” she shrieked.

Persephone fell from the sky on a gentle breeze and strong hands grabbed her before her feet could reach the ground. Demeter kept her daughter grasped firmly by the arm and they fled towards her temple.

“Hurry daughter, hurry, we must get in the temple. They cannot touch us there!”            

The wind assisted them in their flight and they reached the doors in seconds, the strong gusts blasting the doors closed behind them. The birds clawed at the temple’s gates, ripping the roses climbing up and around the columns, and cried out their rage. Persephone watched through a small window, horrified as they destroyed the beautiful plants, and she covered her ears as they shrieked in frustration at their inability to find her. When she looked again, a third bird had joined them, and unlike the others, it stood still on the ground and looked up at her in the window -- watching her. For a moment their eyes locked, the bird’s eyes promising that this was far from over.  A scroll fell from its clawed talons and the bird let out a savage shriek that resounded throughout the forest. The other two birds joined it and flew off towards the mountains, leaving an uneasysilence in their wake.

Demeter had been watching over her shoulder and let out a curse. “That was a message,” she whispered. She turned Persephone around and shook her shoulders none too gently, her beautiful face creased in angry lines. “Persephone, you must attack when you see a Stymphalian. They could have abducted you! I told you not  to wander too far from this temple. Dear Gods, we are lucky you were not taken. Why do you not listen to me?”

Persephone felt  her eyes began to sting. “I know mother, I am so sorry. I … I just … was afraid. All I could think of was to run. Forgive me mother, you are right. I should not have gone so far from you.

Demeter grabbed Persephone’s wounded arm and immediately a healing warmth stole through her bleeding, damaged tissue. “My daughter, I do not try to scold you but what will happen if I am not at the temple to protect you someday?”

“I do not know mother, I know I must train more, but it is against my nature to hurt anything, even a Stymphalian.” Persephone took her arm gently back. “I can only say I am sorry.” She averted her eyes from her mother’s piercing gaze. “Please forgive me.”

Demeter sighed. “You are too soft daughter. Have you not learned of the evil in this world by now?” She flung open the temple doors and Demeter bent and picked up the scroll the bird had left. Opening the note, she looked at her daughter. “It is from Zeus. He has given his consent for Ares to marry you.”

Persephone gasped and fell to her knees, “No! Please mother, you must stop this, the same way you stopped Hermes and Apollo. Ares is worse than a beast and I would never consent to his will! He stands against all the things I value. I would rather die!” She buried her face in her mother’s skirts. “Please help me,” she whispered.

She touched her daughter’s hair gently and Demeter replied, "I will,” She took hold of her daughter’s hand, pulling her to her feet. “Persephone,” she said quietly, “I will not let him marry you. I will not let any of them marry you. Let us go back into the temple and think this through.”

They went to the courtyard, the heavy scent of roses clung in the air as they sat under the Cypress tree. With a wave of Demeter’s hand, a tray overladen with delicacies appeared. Demeter poured her goat's milk and laid out several honey cakes knowing they were a favorite of her daughter’s. Persephone gave a contented sigh as Demeter turned the conversation to other matters, but Demeter’s heart felt heavy, for she knew that eventually Zeus would grow weary of their rejections and choose a God for Persephone to wed. He was not a God to take rejection lightly, as she knew too well. But Ares was an unacceptable and abhorrent suitor for her daughter, and she would never allow such an unholy union.

The hours passed as they sat lazily in the sunshine, watching the leaves dance in the breeze. Suddenly, Demeter said in a low, intense voice, “You know you will eventually have to choose a suitor, Persephone. Zeus will not let this go. When that time comes, what is it you want in a husband?”

Persephone was shocked at her mother’s question, and panic flooded her mind at the thought of leaving her beloved forest and animals. A husband would control her, demand things of her she was not willing to give. Things she would never want to give. “Why must I leave our Temple, mother?  What I want in a husband does not exist. I want someone I love. Someone who respects me and whom I respect, who will love me,” her voice broke, “who is understanding, that I am far from...perfect.”

Demeter grabbed her daughter and hugged her tightly, “You are perfect, my precious daughter. The Gods are cruel. You are too good for any of them. I will go and seek out Zeus immediately. We will delay this as long as we can.” She stood and clapped her hands and a nymph raced forward holding out a velvet, emerald green cloak.

Persephone watched her mother and said hesitantly, “Mother are you sure I cannot come with you? Maybe I could help make Zeus understand. We could explain together--”

“No!” Demeter said with more force than she intended. “No daughter,” she repeated again more gently, “it is best if I go alone. You stay here, within these walls, where I know you are safe.” She stepped closer to her daughter and her gaze was fierce. “Hear me this time,  Persephone. Stay inside! Do not leave the house in case Ares sends the birds back or something worse. The temple will protect you, but outside these walls you have no protection. Do you understand this?”

Persephone nodded her head vigorously, locks of her dark hair whipping around her face. "Mother, tell Zeus I need more time before I marry and that I would like to choose my own husband."

For a moment Demeter looked at her daughter and there was a flicker of something in her eyes, and then she smiled. “Of course, daughter. I will tell him.” As she turned to leave, she glanced back.“Persephone, do not go outside.”

Demeter raced as fast as the wind would take her, high up Olympus to Zeus’s temple. Pray the Gods it was not too late.

It was a magnificent palace built of white marble and gold and it rose from the clouds like a beacon at the highest cliff of the mountain. What beauty without and what evil within, she thought. She had not known the evil that lurked around every corner, but she did now.  She and Persephone had once attended lavish parties here until her daughter became the desire of every God on the mountain. As she looked around, she remembered the grand feasts. The memories of preparing for the opulent occasion filled her mind. Persephone had been so excited, picking olives of every shape and size, gathering honey from her bees, fresh honeysuckle, raspberries, freshly baked bread from her finest barley crops. What fools they had been! She landed on the front steps of the palace and straightened her back. She must show no weakness here. She held her head high as several Gods passed by giving her curious glances and she walked boldly into the throne room. She knew the way, too well. The room was enormous with massive chaises lining the walls, and the floors were covered in soft pillows.  On one of the chaises, Aphrodite lay sprawled against Hermes’ lap, her gown slipping further and further to her navel and baring more of her perfect bosom with every titling laugh that left her lovely pink mouth. Demeter rolled her eyes as Hermes spilled ambrosia across her round breasts, and glancing around, she saw Zeus on his throne speaking to Athena in low tones.

As Demeter approached the throne she was able to make out the words. “Athena, there have not been enough sacrifices. Perhaps a war would bring my subjects around? Nothing makes them cling to me more than a war,” Zeus finished with a laugh.

He was vile, Demeter thought in disgust. Of course he wanted more blood spilt, afterall, humans were so easily dis

carded. For a moment, rage blinded her vision but she pushed it carefully back down. Now was not the time. Someday she could avenge herself on him. Someday, but not now. Demeter crossed the room quickly to stand next to the Goddess, and Athena turned to Demeter with a brief but genuine smile.

“Greetings, Demeter. We have not seen you or your daughter at my temple recently. We miss her and I miss your sensible head at my table.”

Demeter laughed and gave a careless shrug of her slender shoulders, “It has been difficult since she has come of age. I am training her to use her abilities, so she can take on more responsibilities in the forest. She is essential at my temple.”

Athena smiled, “Let your daughter know that the temple is not half as radiant without her there. You both would be welcome at any time.” With a nod of her head, Athena turned and left the room, likely guessing why the Goddess wanted to speak with Zeus.

Zeus merely stared at her from his high throne and she wondered if he would acknowledge her presence when he finally spoke. “And to what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Demeter?”

Demeter bowed down and then lifted her head, looking over at Hermes and Aphrodite. Hermes was lifting one perfect breast to his mouth, his toga unfastened, and if she was not mistaken, Aphrodite was now stroking a particularly erect portion of his anatomy. Demeter quickly averted her face. She should never have let Persephone come here, she thought with disgust. Turning back to Zeus she said firmly,” I would like to speak with you -- alone."

Zeus glanced over at the lovers, taking time to eye Aphrodite’s exposed breasts. “Much as I enjoy your display, continue your lasciviousness elsewhere, Hermes. We do not want to offend the virginal sensibilities of our guest. Do be sure to pay special attention to her nipples, I know how she enjoys that.” With a small grin, Hermes ushered Aphrodite out of the room, neither making any effort to cover themselves, and Demeter stood alone at Zeus’s feet.

She took a moment to gather her courage and then said, “Cancel this engagement to Ares.”

Zeus played with the goblet in his hand, "No, not this time Demeter, it is time she married. She is of age. I have already withdrawn my consent from Hermes and Apollo, as you demanded. They would have made perfectly suitable husbands for a girl as illustrious as our Persephone.” He looked at her with a sly look on his face. Oh how he enjoyed making her angry.

Demeter ground her fingernails into her palm, drawing blood. She must not give into her temper, she needed to keep a cool head right now. This was not about past wrongs, this was about her beloved daughter. She would keep calm for her sake. With a deep breath, she continued. “She does not want a husband at this time, she should not have to wed. You have not forced Athena to wed. She does not want Hermes, she does not want Apollo, she does not want Ares. I need her at my Temple, she has obligations to fulfill as my daughter.”

The smile left Zeus’s face and lightening twisted around his fingers as he dropped his goblet. It fell with a clang to her feet, spilling in a pool of red that flowed like blood, and she swallowed down bile as it soaked into her sandals. He leaned forward, his voice like ice, “Troublesome bitch. Who is good enough for your daughter?” He glared down at her from his throne and said with a sneer, “Perhaps she prefers the cocks of mortals, like her whore mother.”

Demeter felt rage infuse her, “How dare you, you coward,” her voice quivering with rage. Lifting her arms with a burst of wind, “My daughter will not marry your son.”

He leaned back as if pleased by her anger and a smile spread across his mouth. “Beg.”

She lowered her arms and drew back to stare up at him incredulously. “What?”

He snapped his fingers and a naked nymph appeared, placing a full goblet in his hands. “Get on your knees and beg me to grant you this request.”

She stared at him and then dropped to her knees. “Oh, mighty Zeus, please grant me this desire. Please release my daughter, Persephone, from this engagement to your son.” She bowed her head. After several moments of silence, she looked up to see Zeus fondling the breasts of the nymph while he was smiling down at her.

“How nice to see the mighty Demeter on her knees. I have waited a long time for this, though I must admit I imagined my cock in your mouth. This is almost equally as satisfying. But, I think not.” He finished with a smile and Demeter leaped up in rage. “Our daughter will marry my son. Unless,” he paused, “you can find another God who will consent to marry her before sunset. Which I think unlikely, since I can think of no God willing to cross the ire of my son,” he said. “He is coming for her with, or without, your approval. And he is a man who does not like to share. I imagine you will not see her again.”

“She will not marry any of them!” Demeter shrieked in rage.  As she did so, a great clap of thunder burst forth and lightning clashed.  The wind ripped at her clothes and her hair, painfully whipping it around her body, but Demeter was too incensed to be afraid. She shouted again, “Ares will not touch her!” Her screams echoed through the temple for all to hear and Zeus began laughing as she ran from the throne room.

His voice shouted, “Before sunset, Demeter, remember, before sunset.” The words echoed in Demeter’s ears as she raced through the halls like Hades himself was at her heels.