Chapter 17 - Formidable Queen

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Persephone fled from the room and she wiped impatiently at the tears on her face that would not stop flowing. The madness was closing in on him, the curse was drawing to it’s inevitable conclusion and she could not bear it. His mind was growing darker and his body weaker and soon there would be nothing left of the strong King who had once ruled this Underworld. Dear Gods, she had played her part in destroying him, and now he would not let her help him. He would lock himself in Tartarus, living out whatever remained of his eternal life with those wretched evil souls that he had sentenced there.

“He cannot be around Cronos in this condition,” she  whispered to herself. “He cannot be around the monsters he has punished. I will help him if he will not do it himself.” The words were a vow on her lips as she made her way to the throne room.

The room was full as she pushed open the doors and all eyes turned to her. She almost stepped back, hating being the center of attention, but then she remembered his words. Be a formidable Queen.

She would, she would do it for him. She would do it for the innocent souls who resided in this Kingdom. She raised her head, taking her time to walk across the marbled floor before she took a seat on the ebony throne. Her heart contracted at the sight of Hades’ empty chair, but she  kept her face expressionless. One of the judges approached her and she looked up recognizing that it was Aeacus. He was frowning.

He knelt to the ground. “My Queen, here is the schedule for today.” He handed her the scroll, and she pulled it open, her brow furrowing.

“This list holds only one name, Aeacus. Where are the other names?”

Aeacus looked up to her, his ancient eyes looking into her own. “Your husband came in early and judged all the souls. However, he felt that this last soul required your expertise and he left his judgement to you.”

Persephone leaned back against the cold stone of her throne and breathed deeply, trying to calm her racing heart. Hades trusted her to decide eternity for this soul. She would not disappoint him. “Let him in.”

The guards brought in a man and threw him to the ground. Persephone looked down at him, taking in his disheveled blond hair and sweet blue eyes.

“Tell me your name.”

The man bowed his head, avoiding her gaze, “Goddess, my name is Theo.”

“And what is your crime, Theo?”

The judges interrupted, “My queen, this man’s crime…”

Lifting a hand, she interjected, “I would like to hear what Theo has to say.”

Theo looked up at her then, his eyes clear and true.  “My queen, I died fighting a man who attacked my wife. My crime is that I snuck to Hypnos’ cave in the Underworld – to steal poppies and make a draught to put you and your husband to sleep so I could return to my body above.”

The judges once again interrupted, “He tried to cheat death, your highness! Hades will not tolerate such behavior. It is a certain sentence to Tartarus.”

Persephone sat higher on her throne and turned to glance down upon the judges. “But I am not my husband and he is not here.”

Theo had piqued her interest about the sleeping draught. This could be what she needed to help Hades. She stepped down from her throne and stood by the young man bowed at her feet. Her intuition told her he was an honest man, a husband who loved his wife. A man who had only tried to avenge her. She bent to Theo, pressing her fingers to his temples as Hades did and as she moved forward, she whispered in his ear,

“Where does Hypnos reside?”

He looked up at her in surprise, but kept his voice very low as he replied, “He lives in a cave by the River Lethe. A cavern surrounded by poppies.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. Persephone stood and moved back towards her throne, “Tell me, why you would risk your soul’s eternal fate to cheat death?” she asked in a loud voice.

Theo calm eyes filled with despair, “My queen, a man forced himself on my wife, I came home catching him in the act. We scuffled and we both died in the fight. Now my wife is alone in the world. There is no one to comfort her after that bastard’s assault on her.”

“I see.” Persephone calmly looked back towards the judges. “Where is this man now?”

The judges convened for a moment and then Minos, or maybe it was Rhadamanthus, pointed at their list, “Rastus is to be judged tomorrow, my Queen.”

She looked back down at Theo, seeing the streaks of sorrow on his face. “Bring him in now.”

“But your majesty--” the judges exclaimed

“Now,” she said in a cool voice.

After several moments Rastus was dragged into the throne room. The tall doors slammed behind him and Persephone observed the young man. He was tall and muscular, rather attractive actually, but his eyes were mean and sly. Persephone stood by the throne, the light glittering off her diamond toga.

“Is it true you forced yourself on this man’s wife?”

Rastus looked at her with a grin, “No, your majesty. Does it look like I would have to force anyone? She begged me for it.”

Theo’s scream of rage echoed from across the room. “Liar! I saw it with my own eyes.”

Persephone put her hand up to silence Theo, then she stepped closer to Rastus. “I will ask you again. Did you rape his wife?”

Rastus looked her up and down, his gaze lingering on her breasts and his voice sneered in distaste. “I’m not afraid of Hades's pathetic flower queen. Let the King judge me, I answer to no bitch.” With that, he spat at her feet.

She looked down at the young man and moved slowly towards him. “Oh but you should be afraid Rastus. I am the Queen of the Underworld and I deal in death.” She weaved her hands and heavy black vines chained him down to the floor, wrapping tightly around his limbs, and twisting around his neck until he began to make gurgling noises, his eyes bulging in fear as he clawed desperately at the vines. A small vine grew and slithered up his face. It went into his ear and pushed its way deep into his brain and Rastus screamed in agony.

The Queen knelt down to him as an ebony flower blossomed from one of the vines and as it opened a drop of ruby blood dripped from it’s center. She whispered to the blossom, “Did you rape her?”

The plant probed his mind, contracting and constricting until the vines around his neck made him choke out the truth, “Yes,” he screamed.

She looked at the Judges, standing calmly. “Castrate him. Send him to Tartarus. Take Theo back to earth and put his soul back into his body.”

The Judges looked at one another, shock on their faces. “But my lady---”

“You have questioned me for a second time, you will not get a third time.” She knew they did not approve, that they did not accept her, and she did not give a damn. She looked back at them, her hair falling over her face. “I have made my decision. I did not ask for your opinion.  Now follow your orders.” They straightened hastily and Persephone almost laughed as they stumbled over each other, shouting orders to remove Rastus from the throne room.

She paused for the briefest moment, and her heart skipped a beat as she felt a presence, a soft touch against her soul. She had felt it before, she realized with wonder, when she had touched the golden flower in the meadow and again in the Cave of Souls. It was achingly familiar, sweet and perfect as it moved against her.

“Hades,” she whispered softly. It was as if her husband had been watching her from afar, wrapping her in his arms, offering her the comfort she desperately sought but could never ask for. The minute she sensed it and tried to grasp it, the feeling vanished and she was left alone once again. She blinked, brining the dark throne room into focus.

Persephone moved towards Theo, bending down to take his hands, bringing him to his feet, “I hope you live a long happy life with your wife. We will meet again one day. Until that time, enjoy every blissful second above ground.”

“My queen,” he breathed, “how can I ever repay you?”

“You already have,” she whispered. “Live well, Theo.”