Hope Springs Eternal [14/19]

[omega_tau_pi_verse]

Hope Springs Eternal
Chapter 14: Truth Takes a Holiday

 In which Hecate unleashes a buttload of lies-disguised-as-truth to Demeter, who promptly decides to kill the whole world. [contains singing]

 

 

Μεγαλος Λιπος Ψευδοκηρυξ

Demeter had stopped wandering briefly, far from civilization this time, and was holed up in a small cave on Mount Elaeus when Iris found her. Zeus had sent the young goddess out to try and retrieve the elder one. Fat chance she could manage it alone, Iris figured. All of Olympus by now had heard about the peculiar things Demeter was doing during her search and frankly they were worried about her state of mind. So one by one, the gods had sought her out, tried to persuade her to return home and calm down, tried to convince her that Persephone would turn up soon enough. All had failed. So Iris didn't expect her results to be different.

And indeed the earth goddess rebuked the colorful messenger, sending her away with only one thing to report. That she would not return to Olympus nor would she ever stop searching until Persephone was found, period, end of discussion. Iris sighed and lifted her rainbow wings, departing from the cave.

On her way across the countryside, she saw the setting sun and zipped over to catch up with the fiery gold chariot. "Hey, Apollo! Can you do me a little favor, sunshine?"

The brawny god smiled at the slender young goddess, admiring her soft sky-blue skin and short cloud-white hair. No god yet had managed to pin her down long enough to enjoy her company. The girl was faster than Hermes. But perhaps she would hold still for five minutes, if he helped her out. "Sure thing, fleet-foot. What can I do for you?"

"Well, um, you and Demeter have always been on pretty good terms, right? So okay, like, I was kinda hoping you might go talk to her, see if she'll listen to reason. We're all really worried about her, y'know, with the things she's done lately…? It's getting kinda creepy and stuff."

Apollo nodded. He had taken it upon himself to scout for Persephone personally over the last week. If he'd found her before her mother did, he had planned to give her a ride back to her mother's island, with a personal touch or two. And of course Demeter, having her daughter back at last, would have been so grateful she wouldn't have complained too much if he'd taken advantage of the situation – just a little bit, mind you – along the way home. Now however was not a good time to test her patience. Apparently no one had seen Persephone. At all. And it really was a bit disconcerting to think a goddess could disappear so completely.

"Sure, Iris, I'll go talk to her. Maybe I can help."

"Thanks, sugar!" She smiled perkily, zipping closer just long enough to brush a feather-light peck of a kiss against his surprised cheek. "You're a peach! Seeya later!" Winking one sunny golden eye, she vanished in a kaleidoscopic blur just before he had time to reach out and pull her to him.

Sighing, realizing he'd probably just gotten farther with her than any god had, and maybe that meant he stood a reasonable chance later... he let it go for now. After getting back to Olympus, parking and unhitching the sun, he hopped back in the chariot and drove Helios' fiery horses off to the cave where the earth goddess sat alone.

 

It took Hecate until the late evening of the ninth day to locate Demeter. The goddess had wandered erratically in her search, and following her trail was a bit frustrating since Demeter tended to manifest place to place in a giant flower instead of traveling by more conventional methods. But at last Hecate had found her, hiding in a cave of all places. How amusingly ironic considering where her daughter was.

However, the goddess was not alone at the moment. Hecate stole softly up to the cave entrance and eavesdropped shamelessly.

Apollo had been surprised by the elder goddess' appearance. She was looking much the worse for wear, having not touched nectar or ambrosia in days. In the chariot was a small basket where he kept snacks for his long daily journey and he retrieved the items, insisting she eat and drink at least a little. Then he tried to cajole her into returning to Olympus, assuring her that he would help in any way possible to locate Persephone, saying that he hoped when the girl was found, he might yet complete the date they'd arranged.

The witch smiled to herself darkly upon hearing this. How delightful. There was not only a worried mother to dupe, but a potentially jealous rival for old Hades to face as well. This deal just got sweeter and sweeter.

Demeter was still carrying the ragged piece of pink cloth that had been Persephone's headdress, and was telling Apollo for the thousandth time about the burned shrub in the dark grove. "I don't understand it. Where could she have gone? Why did she leave? And why would there be such a mess left behind in her grove? I'm sure there's more to this than what Zeus claims. I know my daughter, and she wouldn't just run off without telling someone. And I know she wouldn't simply disobey me..." The goddess sighed. Doubts were plaguing her mind but she refused to address them. "I just wish I had some clue."

"Perhaps I can help you..."

The mink-fur voice echoed softly in the cavern, and the two gods raised their heads in surprise. They hadn't even been aware of anyone's presence, which was unusual. Seeing who it was however, they understood why. The witch was good at masking her presence.

Sneering slightly, they acknowledged her. "Hecate, Queen of the Night," Apollo droned disapprovingly.

Hecate entered the cave and made obeisance fluidly in their direction. "Greetings, far-shining Apollo, lord of the lyre! And noble Demeter, mistress of the fields! I am here only to be of aid to you in your quest."

Demeter looked down her nose. Few gods agreed with how the witch was spending her immortality, but she definitely had the I-am-but-a-humble-servant-to-the-divine routine down pat. "What do you know of my quest?"

"I know much, bright-crowned Demeter. Too much. I have been witness to such as even I can hardly bear to see..." Hecate trembled slightly, leaning heavily on her torch staff and closing her eyes. "I have searched for you, for days that seemed almost endless, to bring this news. And at last I have found you after traversing the whole of Greece, though footsore and weary I be..."

The two gods glanced at each other with dry expressions. Sheesh, who wrote this woman's material?

"What is it?" Demeter demanded, growing tired of the show.

"Oh bounteous goddess," the witch said, turning her head slightly away with tragic implication, "I bring you news of your daughter Persephone..."

This got their attention all right. Demeter leaped up, her tired face alight now with gladness. "Thank the gods! Where is she? What is she doing?"

"...I bring you dreadful news of your daughter Persephone," Hecate emphasized, changing the goddess' tune in mid-lilt.

The earth goddess cringed, holding her breath. She knew suddenly she would never be prepared enough for whatever she was about to hear. “What are you saying? What's happened to her?"

Hecate milked the dramatic moment like she worked on a dairy farm. Giving herself mental instructions, she kept on. (slant eyes away as if remembering the horror – turn back with eyes shimmering as if on the verge of tears) "The most awful thing imaginable. She's been abducted..." (pause for a bolstering breath) "...by Hades!"

For half a moment, Demeter frowned in disbelief. Then her mind brought forth the image of her daughter's torn and mangled clothes, a burnt and blackened spot in her grove... and she gasped, staggering. She couldn't, wouldn't believe it. And yet... Persephone was nowhere to be seen on the earth or above it, and no one could see below the earth. It couldn't be possible that he had... that he would... No... NO...

Apollo comprehended the thoughts racing like wild horses through the goddess' mind, and he gripped her wide shoulders in comfort and support. He addressed the witch sternly, but more calmly than the goddess was capable of just then. "How do you know this, Hecate?"

Well aware the tastiest lies were served up with a liberal peppering of truth, she told them. "I have been in the Underworld before and while there I used my magic flame, which allows me then to sometimes look back to that location. These last few days I've seen very... disturbing images...” (shudder meaningfully – turn sorrowful eyes upon the goddess) "...I have seen your daughter held there, the sweet and lovely Persephone...” (pinch face in revulsion) “...clutched tight in the very arms of Hades himself."

The goddess trembled, her trembling breath almost a wheeze of panic. Apollo spoke for her again, though hesitantly. "Tell us... what happened."

Hecate raised her torch and let it float free. "I'll show you… but you won't like what you see..."

The mystic fire danced, forming the images she had so carefully selected from actual scenes. Taken out of context as they were they could fit any hideous scenario she envisioned. And what she showed them was beyond hideous. Then she made it worse, punctuated by a song of darkness and fear...

Alone she sat, without a care
summer flowers in her hair
so innocent, so unaware
thus beauty passed her day
Never knowing how he watched her
that beastly old debaucher
who determined he would rock her
world, the hardest way

First Persephone's image showed, all flowered-tresses and doe-eyes. This view was enhanced with some special effects since no one looked that ridiculous. It was followed by Hades' image, the scene of his eyes perking up with interest at Hecate herself (though unseen) upon first entering the throne chamber.

The fire soon showed the image of his chariot sweeping away from Nysa with the girl inside, though seen from afar. It was followed by a close-up of Hades, covered in red flame and screaming in outrage (directed at the unseen Fates).

From beneath the cold hard ground
came a fearful rumbling sound
and sweet innocence soon found
herself at fate's dark whim
Her clothing, he left tattered
her tender mind was shattered
but her pleas, they never mattered
to one so cruel as him

Now the most damaging sight – a pale and shaken Persephone sitting on his throne with her chitonion ripped up to the thigh (caused by the shard of rock inside Kokytus). Hades knelt before her, caressing her face with a look of what must be assumed false concern.

From brightness above
trapped in darkness below
He may think that it's love
but it's just a sick show

Here they were shone standing again in the throne room (with Nyx and Erebos unseen) until Persephone fainted into Hades' arms, after which he carried her off, no doubt to have his evil way with her.

He saw her, desired her
he snatched her away
Corruption... seduction...
the devil's spent his pay
He holds her, controls her
she fights, and yet she must
Unwilling... fulfilling...
his fiendish awful lust

The images came faster and choppier. Subliminally, fragments of the last scene Hecate witnessed was included, that of the two gods passionately embraced on the map table. Although not viewed coherently, they would burn into Demeter's fevered subconscious. Hecate let the images continue on a repeating loop, as she continued singing.

Now she's weeping bitter tears
but she'll recover, don't you fear
though she'll need therapy for years
this crime can be atoned
If she endures his viper's sting
she can live through anything
there's hope yet you can bring
her safely back home

For this child, so frail and weak
once so blessed, pure and meek
hell-bent vengeance you should seek
let him reap what he's sown
If the gods act en masse
they'll head him off at the pass
and kick Old Smokie's ass
Gonna blow his house down

Approaching the gods, making the images more vivid in the fire – Persephone more frightened and childlike, Hades more vile, depraved and flaming – the witch looked the weeping goddess straight in the eyes and sang in a forceful manner.

Descend on the darkness
lay waste to the beast
Rescue the damsel
before beauty is deceased

For life, for liberty
for purity lost
Defilement... revilement...
it's the ultimate cost
For truth, for justice
and the Olympian way
Eliminate... obliterate...
the devil... must... pay!

The cave echoed with heavy silence. Demeter was going into shock, tears streaming down her rounded cheeks, eyes glassy with grief and hysteria. Her precious child hadn't run away, she'd been kidnapped. Dragged off to the Underworld. Tortured. Raped. And if not for Hecate finally locating her, no one would ever have known...

Apollo shook with dismay. Poor sweet Persephone, debased, degraded, deflowered... By another, before he could manage it himself. (He had a fleeting thought – which, to his credit, he at least tried to squelch – that he didn't mind damaged goods but it appalled him to imagine being sloppy seconds to the wretched Lord of the Dead.) Nevertheless, it was still a great shock. "Well, this just blows me away! I mean, Hades is by no means a shining example of morality but this... It's way beyond anything I'd have thought even he was capable of trying. Simply outrageous."

Hecate nodded with a frown then dropped her other ammunition into the fray, quite casually. "Yes, I agree, it's absolutely horrible. But thankfully he hasn't done to her what he did to poor Hercules. At least not yet..."

The two gods paused in venting their feelings to stare at the witch in confusion. Apollo asked hesitantly, "Hercules? What do you mean?"

Hecate answered with apparently sincere guilelessness. "You know, the thing about how he kidnapped the child and turned him mortal? But... oh, I thought everyone knew that?" (gasp slightly then cover mouth – manage to look shocked at being the only one privy to such a stunningly huge secret – then look guilty for burdening them with more anxiety though of course they deserved to know)

The deities stood stock-still for a mere fraction of a second, as this information processed itself. Demeter personally went through all the stages: Shock/Denial (It simply isn't possible that one of our own has such a power, nor would they do such a terrible thing to an innocent child). Anger/Depression (Then again if anyone did it would be Hades, and he certainly doesn't give a damn who he hurts along the way to getting what he wants). Understanding/Acceptance (Well, it's too late to change the past but Hades will definitely be punished soon enough). And right back around to Shock/Denial again (Oh dear gods! He's got my daughter and he has the power to kill her!)

Then Demeter howled, a dreadful hollow wail of agony that chilled even Hecate's heart a little. The goddess' leafy headdress expressed her emotion, wilting, fading to yellow-and-brown, dry and lifeless. And what the goddess of the seasons and growing things felt, the earth felt as well. The sky grew cloudy and dark even though dawn had just arrived to spread light on this, the tenth day. A frigid wind blew into the cave entrance, nearly extinguishing the witch's torch. Trees across the valley outside the cave began to shake, their colors bleeding away, their leaves shedding like confetti.

Apollo clenched his fists in fury. "He's gone completely insane!" Turning to the earth goddess, he said firmly, "Never fear, dear Demeter. Once Olympus hears of Hades' transgressions, I am sure we will exact revenge. For you and for your lovely daughter." And he led her, sobbing and moaning about her sweet helpless innocent child, out to his chariot and away.

As they flew higher, the first snowflakes fell from the black August skies.

Hecate stood in the cave, ignored and left behind. But she was deeply satisfied with how things had gone. Her performance should have netted her a Mnemmy Award. She smiled darkly and muttered, "What fools these gods be..."

Her plan was unfolding perfectly and she now had several angles from which to work. Demeter's reaction affecting the entire world would force the gods to demand Persephone's return. Whether Hades released her willingly or war was waged on the Underworld, she didn't care because to the victor (her) would go the spoils either way. Poor stupid lovesick Hades, deprived of his sweetheart, would either pine away for her and become even weaker than he already was, or would foolishly try to go after her. And if he did that he was fucking barbecue. And Hecate planned be the first one to tie on her bib and tuck in to the feast.

 

Rhodope was frightened. She had come back from a five-day visit with friends in the Mediterranean Sea and found that Winter was setting in. A ridiculously cold and snowy one at that. It rarely snowed in Greece. Maybe she'd taken a wrong turn near Sicily...? Shaking her head, absolutely positive it hadn't been that darned long since she left for the trip, she hurried to Nysa to see what was happening. After all she was friends with the goddess of at least one season, so it stood to reason said goddess would know what the hell was going on with the other seasons.

When she swam onto the island, she found her usual stream covered with thick ice. This made her quite nervous. She dug up a sharp rock from the bottom of the stream bed and cracked a hole big enough to peep her head through. And became terrified. There were piling snowdrifts against the trees, which were being whipped by winds just short of a full-blown blizzard. It was nearly impossible to see the entire grove but the snow was easily two feet deep already. She pulled herself onto the ice, sliding on her knees until she reached the snowy bank.

Huddled against the wind, she stumbled out of the grove and eventually found many of the oceanides and nereides, all panicking and hysterical inside a small cave. One of them, a krenaiad, had crawled into her a fountain, now frozen solid, and was refusing to come out until things calmed down. After questioning a few others Rhodope learned the rumors and was even more shocked by their words than by the insane weather.

Everyone thought Persephone had been abducted and brutally violated by Hades, but she knew that simply couldn't be true. She was an eyewitness to the leave-taking. Plus she knew Hades wasn't so evil as to do that! Rhodope had distant family that included dryads, and those nymphs had known Leuke herself, so they also knew of the deep and abiding love he had for his long-dead wife. He simply wasn't the heartless monster he was now pictured to be.

Rhodope had promised to keep the young goddess' liaison a secret... but now the secret was out for everyone to see. Only problem was, they saw it completely askew and because of that the world would suffer at Demeter's hand. She shivered, not as much from the cold but from the thought she had.

Nysa might be protected from death, but the world was in terrible danger.

Knowing she had no choice and hoping Persephone would see the truth of that, she raised her freezing arms and desperately beseeched Hermes for his aid.


<   chapter 13  |  chapter 15  >