Hope Springs Eternal [13/19]

[omega_tau_pi_verse]

Hope Springs Eternal
Chapter 13: Mouth-To-Mouth Resurrection

In which the Underworld undergoes massive renovations, Hades proposes, and Persephone gives a gift that truly does keep on giving (and it's not what you think).

 

 

Πνευμα Θεραπεια Θεων

Persephone's fifth, sixth, and seventh days in the Underworld were filled with excitement, wonder, and true joy. She was so happy, so fulfilled, and so at peace with her life. Being in love was working miracles for both her and her lover. And she experienced such freedom, in so many ways. Wanting to charm her, Hades lavished her with trinkets made of jewels and precious metals mined from his kingdom beneath the earth. Although they both knew such things were of no real importance she playfully draped herself in them, naked but for shining gems and long hair, and dazzled him with her beauty. What truly charmed her was how unhesitatingly he offered full access to anything, anywhere in his kingdom, anytime. But the freedom she gained through loving him, body, mind and soul, was greater than all else. She came to see herself through her lover's eyes and realized she was strong and smart and adult, and able to accomplish anything she desired.

And Hades was transformed too, seeing things in himself that he'd never dreamed of seeing again. Compassion, gentleness, desirability... things that had died with Leuke. Upon their resurrection from his inner graveyard, he put them to good use and everyone received the benefits. He smiled nearly all the time, laughed with genuine humor, and even began socializing with the mortal souls, trying to understand them better. He truly wanted to change his entire world inside as well as out. However anytime Persephone crossed his path, all other activity stopped long enough for him to grab her and engage in a passionate extended kiss. At the very least.

Panic still didn't truly approve of the goddess and wasn't sure he liked this new-and-improved Hades. It kind of creeped him out. But the imp was always so edgy that he never liked anything to change unless he had full input. And you can imagine how often that occurred.

Pain, who approved just fine of the goddess and in fact had a bit of a crush on her, shrugged and went on about his business. Frankly the magenta imp thought it was great how relaxed the Boss was, and wondered if getting his vexatious green partner good and laid might not help his temper, as well.

Aiakos and Rhadamanthys were greatly cheered by finding Minos within the watery depths of Acheron. Once he was brought up to speed on matters, he willingly joined their company. The judging of souls began in earnest as they set up shop in an unused room on a lower level of the palace. Hades provided tables, chairs, and endless amounts of scrolls and ink for them to record various details they considered important. It would be slow going at first but they were determined to succeed.

Hades and Persephone together then set about making the rest of the Underworld more comfortable for the souls who were displaced from Styx, Acheron, and the Elysian Fields. Until it was decided fairly who deserved to be where, no one was allowed into paradise nor condemned into hell, and now the souls were all restlessly milling about, unsure where to go. So Hades took up his dikranon, the two-pronged fork of power which symbolized his office, and set about creating a new area of the Underworld, a common place for souls to stay. He blasted away large portions of the rock walls, and carefully transformed the holes into caverns and shelters within the stone. Persephone then grew carpets of grass inside these spaces and flowers and trees outside. Though only a modest beginning at helping the mortals feel more at home, the souls were appreciative and came to call this area the Asphodel Meadows.

Nyx and Erebos joined in the business, entertaining the souls with stories of the outside world drawn from their nightly excursions. They found enjoyment interacting with humans more personally. Having been around for so long with so little to do, it was for them almost like coming out of retirement. In a way, they too felt reborn by the proceedings. Also they were the first to notice that whenever Persephone used her Springtime powers to engender life, the specific area came to glow with a soft golden light of its own. The Underworld was becoming an appealingly eclectic blend of light and darkness, life and death, Spring and Winter. Both dead and immortal residents liked the change. It seemed right somehow.

The first few lamiae arrived – frighteningly beautiful demonesses, an exotic plethora of pale flesh and brightly-colored hair, leathered or feathered wings, straight or curving horns, and long sleek legs and tails. Both Pain and Panic swooned, and Panic even momentarily forgot how cranky he was. The imps catered excessively to the lovely demon lasses, finding them rooms to stay in, explaining the changes in the working order of the Underworld, offering whatever the girls desired – wink-wink – to make their jobs more enjoyable. Several of the lamiae joined the kings in the judging chamber and became paper-pushing assistants. None of them however said yes to a date with the imps. Many had been all but sex slaves to their former masters so they wanted to abstain from such activities, at least for now. Panic returned to endless sulking. And Pain considered just killing him.

Hades lay long hours in Persephone's arms telling her truthfully, regretfully, of everything in his long and sordid past, every nasty thing he'd plotted and accomplished or failed at. She listened patiently as he unburdened himself, and when she didn't judge him but instead tried to ease his mind he realized that he had been holding onto his evil deeds as much as he'd held onto Leuke's death. And now he felt freer than ever before. Persephone was his confessor and his absolution, and he loved her completely. He told her as well the hilarious story of Hecate's attempt at his throne, finding it quite ironic now considering the timing and the things the witch had said. He also related every detail of the Fates' prediction for their meeting and relationship, and his interpretation of each part. So far it seemed to have come completely true, and hopefully none of it had been a lie this time.

He then introduced his young lover to his dead wife and the two got on famously, as expected. The dryad hugged her gleefully, truly glad to meet anyone who loved Hades. Persephone offered to spruce up the alcove of Mnemosyne since Leuke had decided to stay there a while and it was a bit dreary. Before the first visit was over they had designed a lovely garden scene and Springtime seemed a permanent fixture. This made the nymph giggle with lusty thoughts, and she proceeded to tell the goddess a few choice details about Hades. Wide-eyed, Persephone smiled and listened eagerly. After a couple hours visiting, the goddess learned a few secrets about human souls as well, leading her to devise a method for helping mortals toward rebirth.

Pyriphlegethon was emptied and the Furies had resigned themselves to being unemployed, regardless of what Hades claimed (though they sure didn't complain when he sent them off shopping). The myriad souls from the Vortex were gathered into a group and Persephone spent half a day talking to as many of them as possible. Since they had suffered long and terrible tortures in the fiery water, she thought they were most in need of release and relief and therefore should all be allowed to leave the Underworld, sans judgment. Regardless of what sort of life they'd led, they had already been more than suitably punished. Hades agreed with her decision and told her to try what she could to free their souls.

She took them to Lethe, a long line of them. And one by one she touched them upon their hearts, searching out the divine spark within. It was present in each, though weak from centuries of pain and suffering. Reaching out with her powers of growth and birth, she re-kindled the fire inside them, brought it back to life just like the seeds they represented. Gladdened that she’d been right about such an important thing, she then directed the first group to walk into Lethe. They were baptized in the Pool of Oblivion, purified of pain and cleansed of negativity. And one by one they smiled gratefully, shimmered into brightness, and vanished. The remaining souls who approached her for release bowed before her, worshipful of her kindness and beauty. Even partaking of Lethe water, they vowed to remember her in their next lives. The process of reincarnation had begun on a good note.

 

Demeter passed the fifth, sixth, and seventh days in the rich household, happily working magic over the small boy whose family was unaware. But when they discovered her performing a certain dangerous ritual, they freaked out and screamed bloody murder. So once again, the earth goddess was filled with anger and a small measure of guilt.

However, she had calmed down considerably after spending days with a sweet baby in her arms so she merely demanded a new temple be built in her honor. The surrounding area was called Eleusis, the place of arrival, which she found appropriate. She felt at home here, more so than on Olympus now. But until the temple was finished she must continue to search for her daughter. And so she left the bewildered and fearful mortals scurrying busily to fulfill her wishes, as she once again traveled the countryside on her quest.

 

Hecate passed the fifth, sixth, and seventh days impatiently. Nothing new for her. The spell she was working was the most complex thing she'd ever undertaken. But then again, she'd never attempted to attack a god. The spell required a great deal of willpower and mental strain as well as a waiting period of nine days, a cosmically important number, to build to full potency. The wait was nearly over. And she was champing at the bit, crankier than ever from lack of sleep.

While waiting, she had also managed to arrange a very incriminating view of what was happening in the Underworld. She would take this tainted twisted vision to Demeter personally once the spell was ready. And every day she still watched events in Hades' kingdom with acrimonious stares. From the snippets she caught and all the strange people she saw passing through the throne chamber... things were getting downright bizarre, even for the Underworld.

 

On the eighth day since arriving in the Underworld, Persephone decided to try a little trick she'd learned from Leuke. She went looking for Hades and found him in the throne chamber, seemingly unaware of her entrance, so she snuck up behind him.

He hovered before the new map he'd constructed on the great table, shoulders hunched slightly, arms spread wide and hands propped on the edge. The map had been converted from a view of the world above to the one below, every part of the Underworld being represented in detail. There was a replica of the palace and figurines of Cerberus, Charon in his boat, the imps, the Furies and the new demonesses, the three judges, and himself and Persephone. It was kind of cute having those last two holding hands.

Now he stood pondering where next to develop. He knew that there would be bad souls to punish. And while some would be sent to Pyriphlegethon into the care of the Furies, he also believed there were bound to be a few crimes that deserved extra stringent castigation. Perhaps a special place should be built for the worst offenders, a kind of high-security Tartarus...

He became aware of Persephone's presence when she moved to stand behind him. He smiled warmly as she placed her gentle hands on top of his then slid them slowly up the length of his arms. She wrapped her own arms loosely around his torso and relaxed her weight against his tilted back, nearly lying atop him as he leaned over the table. Resting her head between his shoulder blades, she hummed a contented sigh.

"Comfortable?" he chuckled with a raised brow.

"Very. You feel wonderful. So warm..." She turned her head toward his spine and her breath penetrated his clothes, making a hot spot on his skin. Then she lifted her chin and, lips only inches from his flaming hair, whispered against it, "I want you, Hades..." The exhalation of air fluttered his fire, literally giving him chills.

The reaction upon him was powerful. She had found his greatest erogenous zone and the most intense thing that could be done to it was to blow on his flame, teasing it as though blowing on a candle flame, causing it to shudder violently but not to extinguish. Leuke must have told her about it. He groaned long and slow, deep in his throat.

She smiled wryly. Then she blew, very slowly, right up the back of his neck and straight into the fire. His hair rustled, crackled, parted before the breeze, and rushed back again. The tip of the fire was becoming almost white-hot now.

"Ooohhh," he gasped, then growled playfully over his shoulder at her. "Seph, you are gonna be in such trouble if you don't stop."

"Really? What will you do?"

"Get off of me and you'll find out pretty quick."

She released him and stood back, then when he turned around to grab her she giggled and ran to the other side of the map table. “I'm only in trouble if I get caught!"

Grinning demoniacally, Hades pushed off with his hands, sprang into the air and levitated high over the table in a rush of smoke. He flipped over and thumped onto the floor behind her, trapping her against the edge of the table with his arms firmly placed around her. Lips only a fraction from hers, eyes piercing, he purred, "You're in trouble."

"I didn't know you could fly," she said, genuinely amazed.

"I can do many things… some of which I'd like to demonstrate now, if I may." Whereupon he proceeded to grope, fondle, smooch and grind against her most enthusiastically, chuckling wickedly all the while.

She reciprocated with glee, delighted the trick had worked so well. But after a few minutes more she was writhing and panting desperately. "Hades... oh gods, please, take me. Now... right here..."

He hesitated, a bit flustered. Privacy for such things was always foremost to him. "Anybody could walk in here, you know, anytime."

She grabbed him in a most sensitive area and massaged in a way that he couldn't hope to ignore. "Then you'd better be quick about it, hmm?"

Propping her hips on the table, fumbling clothing aside in strategic areas, he drove into her and she clutched fiercely to him and they made short delectably explosive love, scattering figurines carelessly to the floor in their haste to be joined.

 

Hecate nearly bit her tongue off at the sight.

And damn it all, the gods were so obviously mutually enjoying themselves that she might not even be able to use the scene for blackmail. Persephone had actually instigated the whole thing, the little tart. Some virgin goddess she was. The witch could hardly wait to rat them out.

Her hellhounds had been keeping an eye on Demeter the last few days, flying back to report her whereabouts. The goddess had settled in one place for a while but then moved on. It would be harder to find her now but Hecate was determined to deliver a message posthaste.

It was now the eighth day. Her spell would be ready tomorrow. It was time to begin putting the plans in motion. She was sick of waiting. Sick of watching such perverted sappiness. Sick of not having what she felt she so rightly deserved. Pinning her dark gray chlanidion at her shoulders, which shuddered for reasons she wouldn't acknowledge, she grabbed the prepped mystic torch and stalked from the grotto.

Unfortunately she missed out on the most important details of the scene. Which, if she'd witnessed it, might have caused her to abandon her plans and take up a new career.

 

Persephone sighed and stretched contentedly, and adjusted her chitonion to cover her thighs a bit more as Hades collapsed onto his knees before her. He panted softly, a tired smile on his face. "Damn, babe, you really make me do crazy things, you know that?"

She caressed his cheek. "If you don't like it, I'll stop."

"Oh, don't you dare stop!" Leaning forward, he pulled her close, face nestled between her perfect breasts with a soft sigh. He was so happy, so fulfilled, so at peace with his life. He could promise her damn near the universe and mean it.

And as long as he was down on his knees, might as well go the full nine...

He cleared his throat and put a little distance between them, gazing up into her face. "Seph, honey... Since you're staying anyway, and since you already rule half my kingdom... don't you think it makes sense to just marry me and be the true Queen of the Underworld? Take your time deciding, no rush--"

His words were cut off by her lips on his own. "Oh, Hades," she whispered against his mouth as tears began to prick her eyes, "I love you... I will make the Underworld into a paradise for you... and I will make you the king you deserve to be..."

"Is that a yes?"

"Oh, gods, yes!"

He clutched her tightly, letting her tender passion rain kisses on his face and neck. Eyes closed, head swimming with the immensity of his devotion, he murmured in wonder, "I would do anything for you, my love. Give anything. Absolutely anything..."

 

The Fates were determined that he wouldn't have to put that to the test just yet. Although they could influence many things, they couldn't handle everything. They would never admit it but they had no sway at all over certain beings, such as nymphs and demons. Only gods and mortals, and some monsters, could the Fates manipulate successfully due to the intrinsic connectedness of divine fire they shared, the bloodline of Chaos and the Titans. And sometimes even that could go badly awry.

This time there were too many players involved and they were all so damned strong-willed it was impossible to manipulate each of them quickly enough. There was one last detail Persephone needed to attend to before all hell broke loose.

Atropos directed Clotho's threads, because this time the future couldn't wait...

 

-

Persephone was helping Hades gather up the figurines they had jostled, placing them back on the table. She smiled dreamily, warm and soft inside with the thought of marrying him, bonding herself to him body and soul forever, bearing his children. He was incredible... so impassioned and dominant, yet so vulnerable, so vibrantly intelligent, and so damned utterly male it made her knees weak. Had she ever conceived of the idea, she supposed he was just the sort of god she would've looked for all along. Certainly nothing like Apollo. But until she'd met Hades, her desire for a man had been shut off, buried somewhere down deep inside her mind, un-looked at, un-thought of. But once awakened, that part had bloomed into verdant life.

And the things she'd learned about him would have scared anyone else away, but she saw him for what he could be, what he wanted to be. What he was. He was dark and mysterious and always would be, but also capable of greatness. And he deserved the chance to prove it. Somehow, she vowed, she'd help him achieve that goal. He no longer desired world conquest but she knew deep down he still wanted something more than what he'd been allotted. It was changing the hearts and minds of the world that really mattered, having them see his true colors... the light of his soul...

And now suddenly from nowhere (yeah, right), an interesting idea struck her. Her eyes lit up brightly. "Oh," she said softly in surprise. "I wonder if I could..."

Hades saw her expression of surprise and excitement. "If you could what?" he asked. Whatever it was, he was ready to give it to her in abundance and that feeling made him smile.

"Well... I wonder if your aura can be restored," she said, still looking faraway. "The Fates' poem said 'only at the edge of his world will he feel the pain of his suffering begin to heal', right? You determined that the edge of the world was a place of life, Nysa, because your power is death. And that I was here to help the Underworld stop suffering..."

She turned now to face him, her eyes intensely focused. "But what if it's me they meant, that I'm the 'edge of the world'? I already fit the part of 'in brightness grows a dark flower, filled with never-before-seen power'. When I entered the Elysian Fields I became that even more so. What if the line about 'in death is renewal' doesn't just represent what I have done for the Underworld? What if I'm meant to heal your aura, to heal your suffering? What if I'm meant to bring renewal to you, to Death Itself?"

The intensity in her eyes made his heart leap, but he shook his head. "I wish, honey, I wish. But this isn't just a boo-boo. I can't tell you where it hurts and have it kissed better." Then he grinned archly, grabbing her bottom and pulling her against his pelvis, nuzzling her neck with smiling lips. "But you can still kiss anything you want, I sure won't complain."

Smirking, she stepped away from him and crossed her arms. "I've found that I can re-ignite the fire in mortal souls, and I've come to believe it's similar to our own auras. After all, human souls came from the gods so we're supposed to be related. Maybe I can do this. Maybe you underestimate my powers." She tried to sound imperious but it was hard when he was leering so playfully at her, and reaching out for the most distracting areas of her body. She tried to swat his hands away, smiling. "I mean we don't know the full extent of what I can do yet."

"I'm trying to find out, here." He grinned wider, and stroked a long finger across the bare top curve of one breast.

"Cut that out," she laughed, twisting to get out of arm's reach, "I'm seriously trying to help you!"

"Help me by staying still," he snickered, grasping her hands to pull her toward him again.

But he was surprised when they connected. Her hands were giving off a white radiance almost too hot to touch, and he dropped them in surprise. Her powers were manifesting in another new way. He could cast fire from his hands and now he wondered if she could as well.

"Please, Hades," she said softly. "All I want is to heal you. I love you, and I want you to be whole again, in every way. You deserve it, my beloved..."

He met her gaze, so sweet and angelic. Really looking at her now, he saw how much she had changed. Her skin was pale candleflame gold, her ember hair was dancing firelight, her eyes were blue gasfires of pure love. She had all but become a living flame and her nearly star-white aura was filling the room, too bright for his eyes. He almost fell to his knees again to worship her, her power awed him so. At that moment he truly believed she could do anything she desired. So he nodded, mutely.

She pushed him to sit on the edge of the table then closed her eyes and concentrated. Her hair swirled lightly, flowing in the eddy of power, as she cupped her hands together before her. A ball of light grew between her palms, pooling energy, a glittering white-gold, and gradually took the shape of a flaming flower. The flower pulsed with life, slowly unfolding its blazing petals, and its heart was the purest white ever expressed.

Standing before him, she carefully placed her palms over his heart and solar plexus and her power rushed into him... cool and fresh as a Spring breeze... warm and sweet as honey... pure as true love... It was the very essence of who and what she was.

He felt it deep inside, stirring new life in his tired old soul just as she had renewed his heart. It flowed... a powerful typhoon... a gentle whisper... through every molecule of his being... explored everything inside him, yet never judged...

Then it found a tiny fragment of his aura that had lain dormant all along... attached itself to this small seed of his power... nudged it... warmed it... caressed it... encouraged it... And he felt it respond slowly, waking from its slumber... filling with life and light... tingling with love... stretching... growing... bursting free of its confinement... at last...

He could feel it. His skin began to pulse with the return of his full power. Disbelieving, he opened his eyes. Her aura had dimmed to normal, becoming more golden than white, but there was still radiant light in the room. A tint of palest blue.

She was smiling at him, joy and tears mixing on her beautiful face. She now knew all his secrets, knew him better than anyone else, had knowledge that almost broke her trembling heart. There was a part of him which could never be healed, never returned, something Kronos had killed so long ago it was truly irreversible. Something even she could never hope to revive. He would never be as complete as either of them might wish. But she still smiled. For him. For her love.

"Your aura was just like a human soul,” Persephone said, “The seed was only sleeping "

He stared at his hands, seeing the now-unfamiliar blue-white glow emanating from his skin. What he thought he'd never see again. The divine fire had been reborn. Springtime had brought Winter a fresh new life.

"It was gone forever... dead..."

"Apparently not. Just dampened down by the effects of Kokytus. You never drank enough water to totally kill it. Besides... 'If there's even a tiny spark of life left, I can find it and revive it'. That's Nature Goddess Rule #42."

Hades laughed, his heart ready to explode with love for this extraordinary goddess. Eyes slightly misty but warm on her beautiful face, he brushed away her tears and said, "As far as I'm concerned you're a damned miracle worker."

And he did grab her then, no excuses accepted, pulling her into a joyous kiss which quickly became urgent. The feeling of potent life coursing through his body had aroused more than just his aura. This time as he laid her across the table and made sweet love to her, he wouldn't have cared if Demeter herself walked into the room.


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