Darkness Becomes Her

Chapter XXI

November 3, 2009 marks the 75th anniversary of the release of Disney's animated short (Silly Symphony) 'Goddess of Spring'. It was a rather abbreviated retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone, with Hades (Pluto) as Satan. This short was done as practice for human figure animation for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. While the animation and story are cheesy for today's standards, back then it was good. Remember, in 1934, animated features were still very new and animators did not have many of the tools that people today take for granted. Be sure to check it out – you can easily Google/Youtube it.

Thank you for all the feedback and praise I have received for this and my other myth-fics. yDon't hesitate to suggest ideas. Sometimes I get a nifty review that sparks a new idea in my head. When I started DBH, I didn't have as many ideas that I do now. Often I will be inspired by a review, a movie, a book I am reading, or such. I don't copy other people, but sometimes something I see or hear gets the gears in my brain rolling. I didn't know how I should envision Hekate until I saw a episode of Grey's Anatomy by pure chance and saw Callie Torres. Bree van de Kamp from Desperate Housewives inspired my depiction of Hera in 'Worthy of Love'. Persephone playing with Hades' hair was inspired by a comment from one of my fans. If there's something you'd like to see or suggest or are just wondering about, don't hesitate to contact me. Some questions my reviewers have asked will be answered in future chapters as the plot goes along.

As always, please enjoy the latest installment of DBH, and don't forget to leave a review!

o0o0o

When Persephone woke up, Hades was already out of bed, sitting in front of the fire, apparently deep in thought as he leaned back against the divan, clad in a deep blue robe that was tied loosely, revealing his smooth and pale chest.

“It feels strange waking up alone. Already I have grown used to waking up beside you.” Persephone said as she glanced at him. He looked up at her with a faint smirk before he rose from his seat, stalked over to the bed with several long, smooth strides, and blanketed himself over her form. His long hair framed his face and fell on her bare shoulders in silky black rivulets.

“Then I shall wake you up every day, would that please you?” he asked as he looked down at her. She smiled faintly before he leaned his head down to kiss her cheek. She let out a quiet coo of delight as he nuzzled her, burying his face against the side of her head and her thick, rumpled locks. She arched against him, feeling the hard and warm planes of his body through the thick blanket. He groaned softly and pressed back, his need making itself known. She delighted in being able to arouse him so easily. She alone had this power over this sexy, handsome Lord of the Dead. Death itself was mysterious, faceless. It decided when a soul would be cut off from his or her living flesh. The Greeks had a word for it, thanatos, but that was all they could do. Assigning it a name gave them a concrete concept to talk about, to identify. And Hades was inevitably linked with this thanatos, making him an especially fearsome God.

Yet all she felt was comfort and security in his arms. She let him hug her tightly, one of his hands trailing along her face.

“Aidoneus...” she murmured as his thumb trailed along her lips.

“Yes.” Hades sealed her lips with a gentle kiss.

“There's something I would like to do now. Or at least, after we're dressed and ready.”

“You have but to name it.”

“I want to see Tartarus.”

Hades stared at her for several moments. Persephone gazed back at him calmly. After her encounter with the Fates and with Hekate the day before, she decided to be more serious about her explorations of the Underworld. She had kept herself to the safety of the library and gardens after what had happened to her in the Styx. There had been plenty of things to do – she was never bored – but she knew she couldn't just stay in Hades' Palace forever.

“You're certain that's what you want?” he asked. There was slight concern in his tone, but he wasn't at all patronizing or condescending.

“I am mindful of your warning. That's why I asked you to take me.” She could have gone by herself while Hades was off performing his godly duties, but after her encounter with Styx, she was more cautious. She didn't want to be overwhelmed and unable to respond to her surroundings. She trusted Hades to keep her safe, and to also be honest with her.

“All right then. After breakfast, we will go.” Persephone sighed softly, not wishing to sit through another tantalizing meal, but Hades gazed down at her steadily.

“I will permit you to remain in your room and amuse yourself while I eat.” Hades said in a surprise concession, and the young Goddess had to hold back a sigh of relief, not wanting to make it too obvious.

“Thank you.”

He nodded.

o0o0o

Persephone was surprised but pleased to discover that she had grown another inch since yesterday. Her chest and rear end were definitely a little bigger, and she was excited to finally having a body that matched her true age. She had stopped being a child a long time ago, and if there was one reason to stay with Hades, it was that he saw and treated her as a woman, and the fact that her body was finally changing was a much-welcome bonus.

After she had chosen an outfit, the young Goddess examined some of her treasures until Cloe nudged her, signaling that Hades was done with his meal and it was time to leave.

With her destination in mind, Persephone chose a black chiton over a deep red silk tunic. On the surface world, undergarments were barely considered. Children generally wore none, and even many adults didn't wear them. But now Persephone had silk and fine linen underwear – sheaths, tunics, and finely-made undergarments that barely resembled the plain linen loincloths she had been familiar with. The rich variety of garments gave Persephone plenty of room to experiment, and she found pleasure in mixing colors sometimes. The deep red of the calf-length tunic peeked out from her chiton, which was held up by gold pins and cinched by a matching plain golden girdle. The black garment ended at her elbows, tastefully displaying her lower arms, which were free of adornment. Her hair was pinned up in a bun, swept up off her neck gracefully in an elegant coil held up by black ribbons.

“Is Tartarus hot? Or do I need a wrap?” Persephone asked. Cloe was unable to make words, but the servant understood her commands, and found ways to answer her requests. The wispy head shook 'no', and she briefly nodded. Her chiton was of a thicker material, and also modest. She was already comfortable in it.

As if he had read her mind, Hades was also clad in black and deep red. He was dressed regally, with a golden crown atop his dark hair, and his clothing was trimmed with gold.

She showed no apprehension when the Lord of the Dead led her to the chariot, and climbed into it before he could offer her his hand. He smiled faintly and got in behind her, wrapping one arm around her and feeling her lean back into him. She held the chariot railing with calm confidence, her head lolling back against his chest in a relaxed and trusting manner. He lowered his head to nuzzle the top of her own, and felt one of her hands leave the railing to lay atop the hand that was resting over her stomach.

The clear gray sky turned crimson as the chariot sped along the road. The trees reached out with clawed branches, seeming almost alive. They passed several souls being led by shades, all of them struggling against the faceless specters of Dis. Persephone smiled faintly to herself, she had yet to see a judging.

They crossed the bridge, heat radiating from the river to envelop them in its radiance. The thick brass doors rose before them like a monolith, its burnished face hard and cold. The design of the doors were deceptively simple, with no indication as to what horrors waited within, but a sudden, terrified wail from beyond the walls caused her to shudder. Do I really want to see what's in there?

The chariot had stopped, but Hades made no move to get out. The condemned souls they had passed now approached the bridge, dragged along by the silent and efficient shades. They screamed and pleaded with Hades, and even made appeals to her. Even without solid flesh, she saw the fear and desperation in their eyes. She felt Hades' hand on her arm before she felt his warm breath at her ear.

“Do not be swayed by their pleas. Their crimes in life were heinous, and the justice they escaped in their lives await them here. Even now they do not wish to admit their guilt.”

She silently nodded, watching as the heavy gates opened. There had been several blackbirds perched atop the gate, their eyes glowing balefully as the souls approached. When the gates started to open, they flew off their perch and dove at the souls, undeterred by their terrified shrieks. The screaming of the birds melded with the shrieks to create an harrowing symphony that caused her to shudder. As the souls were admitted, Hades flicked his reins, and the horses pulled them into Tartarus.

Persephone let her eyes move around, seeing pits of flame here and there, and more gateways leading in different directions, lacking doors. She didn't see anyone being tortured in this open space, and the souls that had just been admitted were flung into a firepit. She wondered what the purpose was, but was quickly answered when solid forms climbed out of the flames, making various sounds of terror and pain as they sought to escape the heat.

“These firepits create fleshy shells for the condemned souls, so that their punishment can be administered in a more... effective manner.”

“I see.” she murmured. Shades were at hand to collect the newly 'born' prisoners, and she noticed that the shades assigned to Tartarus had a reddish tint to their wispy forms, and some of them even looked solid, with well-defined boundaries to their bodies. And she realized why.

The more solid of Dis' servants had various features that were menacing, like clawed hands, barbed tails, or jagged maws lined with sharp and ragged teeth. Some of them even bore objects such as pitchforks, spears, whips, or other instruments of pain. The newly-fleshed souls were poked and prodded by these, and ushered off through different gates.

“What do the different gates lead to?” Persephone asked.

“It depends on their sin. Some have let greed take over their lives. Others betrayed their family and friends. Some were so consumed with vainglory that they did evil deeds, thinking they could escape justice. All punishments are determined by the nature of the sin. Kampe and the Furies determine these punishments and the shades of Tartarus mete them out as ordered.”

“I'm sure that if mortals could actually see Tartarus, it'd be a good deterrent to evil behavior.” Persephone commented, already impressed, even though she knew that she had barely begun to see Hell.

“Some of them would continue their wicked ways.” Hades shrugged as he stepped down from the chariot. A couple of shades came forward to attend to the horses as Persephone let Hades help her out. She was perfectly capable of doing it herself, but she had to admit, she enjoyed the dark, handsome god's chivalry.

Suddenly, she heard a slithering sound and through one of the gates she saw a large and serpentine form emerge, its scales reflecting the flickering light from the firepits. The creature was massive, standing at nearly twice Hades' height, and that didn't include the length of tail slithering along the stony floor. As she got a better view of this creature, she realized that it was actually a she. Though the female traits weren't very obvious, Persephone noted the difference between chest and waist, one she had only ever seen on women. The chest was covered in what appeared to be a brass breastplate, and armbands adorned the she-creature's arms, which were just as flexible as her tail and ended in clawed hands.

The face was lacking in delicate feminine features, but there was still something about the set of lips and the shape of the face that marked this creature as a woman, though barely. Her hair was made up of a writhing mass of scaled coils, much like a Gorgon, though these coils did not terminate in snake-heads. Nonetheless they coiled and whipped around as if alive, and Persephone felt a shiver pass through her body as this creature cast her slitted amber eyes at her.

“Welcome, Lord Aidoneus.” the creature said in a voice that was an odd mixture between a rumble and a hiss, giving her words a sibilance that Persephone had never heard before.

“Greetings, Kampe.” Hades said as he looked up at the impressive demoness. Persephone did not miss the mutual respect that the two underworld deities held for one another, their gazes relaxed and polite.

“This must be your bride.” Kampe stated, her gaze moving to the new Queen of the Dead.

“Indeed. This is Persephone. Persephone, this is Kampe, keeper of the keys to Tartarus and warden to all condemned souls.”

Kampe's gaze was penetrating, and the red-haired goddess lifted her chin, gazing back, trying to not make it too obvious that she was studying the serpentine deityj, having never seen such a creature like this. She had imagined Kampe to have human form. Hekate had never said anything about this! The two held one another in silent regard as Hades smiled faintly with amusement. Finally, the serpentine goddess gave out a grunt before she nodded.

“One who can look upon me without flinching is worthy.”

Persephone didn't want to admit that she had been intimidated. She just wasn't showing it, because she didn't want to seem weak.

“I am not a condemned soul. I shouldn't be afraid of you, right?” she asked. She saw the barest of smiles tug at the demoness' lips. Kampe caught herself and gave out an nonchalant grunt, and Persephone recalled Hekate's words about the guardian of Tartarus being rough around the edges. That was something she could deal with. Not everyone was going to be as friendly and open as Hekate, right?

“That doesn't mean I don't respect you.” Persephone added, knowing she had an important role as Queen of the Dead. Even if it was a role she didn't want, she was determined to do her best. She would not sulk or throw tantrums or be rude to others, and it was much more interesting to go out and explore, anyway.

“A fine bride you have chosen.” Kampe hissed to Hades. He smiled faintly, pleased with her approval. As the demoness turned away to lead them deeper into Tartarus, Persephone felt him squeeze her hand.

“Kampe doesn't take to many people.” Hades whispered. She smiled.

“I figured. I suppose spending all day around screaming and tortured souls does that.”

Hades chuckled softly and shook his head.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Tartarus is a big place. It'd be impossible to see all of it within a day. But we could show you a few things, and Kampe can answer your questions.”

The three gates leading off the firepit area looked the same, and Kampe chose the center one to lead them through. Persephone let her eyes wander along Kampe's tail as it slithered along the ground. Even with the redness of the sky and the light from fires, Persephone could tell that Kampe's scales were of varying shades of copper, which reflected the fires of Hell beautifully, adding to her appearance. She could easily imagine the impression that the guardian of Tartarus made on her prisoners.

o0o0o

Because of the sights in Tartarus, Hades had been reluctant to take her here, but she seemed so calm as she asked Kampe questions or was shown several condemned souls being subjected to various punishments. Her eyes might widen, and she would wrinkle her nose a bit at the gore that several of the punishments caused, but she did not flinch or turn away. She listened attentively as Kampe explained what they had done in their mortal lives, and why they were punished that way. Persephone didn't seem at all put off by Kampe's brusque manner of speaking.

“So far I've seen mortals being punished for their wicked deeds. But...” She frowned thoughtfully, “I thought that the Titans who went against Zeus were also held here.”

“Indeed.” Kampe replied, “But for practical reasons, they are kept apart from mortal souls.”

“What about Prometheus?” the younger Goddess asked. “I heard that he was punished for bringing fire to humans.”

“That's another example of where the myth differs from fact.” Hades said with a small smile, “It wasn't Zeus who punished him. This was the time before the Olympians. Over a thousand years ago, Kronos and several other Titans held power over the mortals of Hellas. They were not like the Olympians. These Titans were tyrants who enjoyed exercising their power over the mortals, simply because they could. Zeus is by no means a perfect man, but he genuinely cares for the mortals and does not punish any one man or woman for his amusement. Back then, the Titans guarded the secret of fire. If the mortals wanted fire, they had to petition Kronos and his brethren and give them many offerings.”

“...and Prometheus showed the mortals how to make fire on their own, which meant no more obeisance to Kronos?” Persephone deduced. Fire was precious. It was difficult to start, but with enough efforts and the right ingredients, just about anybody could spark a fire. The general practice in Enna at nights was to bank the fire to ensure that there would be embers in the morning to refresh the fire or create new ones. Nonetheless, Iasion had taught her how to spark a fire on her own, saying that such knowledge was valuable.

“Indeed. They chained him to an open spot on Olympus so that the eagles could feed from him day after day. Since he was a Titan, he could not die, and so his flesh regenerated every night.”

Persephone swallowed thickly as she imagined herself in that position. That poor Titan!

“He is not among those down here.” Kampe hissed with what appeared to be a small smile on her reptilian face.

“I'd hope not.” Persephone quipped.

“Zeus broke his chains and freed him. But he is not one of those who wishes to be recognized. He lives somewhere among the mortals, and has been lost to us for many centuries. But his legacy remains, though the tales that the mortals tell of him are now mangled.” Hades shook his head.

Persephone nodded in rapt interest, absorbing everything that Hades or Kampe told her.

“If some of these tales are wrong, then why not set them right? Why not tell them what really happened to Prometheus? The mortals think he is still being punished for teaching them the secret of fire.” If Mother knew the truth of these tales, why didn't she share them with her daughter?

“It is the nature of humans to embellish the myths to make them more interesting. Just you wait.” Kampe said, wagging her finger in the manner that a stern grandmother might, “In a thousand years, the tales you know today, and the tales that will be created will change again. Humans have the tendency to change history to suit their own purposes.”

“Isn't that... deceitful?”

“Sometimes, yes. There are those who deliberately change the stories, especially to benefit themselves. But at other times, such as with old stories, they change in subtle ways, without any deliberate twisting around.”

Persephone nodded before glancing at Hades. “Thank goodness for your library, then!”

“Indeed.” He grinned down at her, and Kampe noted the glint of affection and appreciation in his eyes. This young Goddess was indeed special if she could draw out such a reaction from the taciturn Lord of the Dead.

“Who's that?” Persephone asked as she pointed just past Kampe's arm, seeing a steep and jagged hill in the distance surrounded by a moat of fire-water. The silhouette of a man was illuminated against the red-orange sky, and she could make out his struggle against a large boulder that was nearly at the top of the hill.

“That is Sisyphus, now a prisoner of his own avarice and prideful cleverness.” Kampe replied.

“Will you tell me about him?”

“Certainly. In life he was a proud king who founded the city that mortals now know as Cornith. He was the son of a king of Thessaly, but was so prideful that he wanted a kingdom of his own. He was a clever man and managed to accomplish it, but he was so arrogant as to consider himself above the law of mortals. The fool did not bother to consider that even he was subject to the laws of Death.” Her hiss was one of clear disdain. “He lured travelers and visitors deep within his Palace and killed them.”

Persephone gasped softly. “Why?”

“Pride. He thought himself above the laws of hospitality. He cleverly hid the bodies and even fed their meat to his guests. He wove a web of lies, and tried to deceive even the gods themselves. But his own cleverness was his undoing. And even in death he refused to face the truth.”

“And the punishment?”

“He accomplished much in life. Despite his faults, he was a intelligent man.” Kampe's lips twisted into a fanged smile, “Down here, his skilled mind serves no purpose. See that boulder? His task is to push the boulder up the hill. If he stops, the shades are there to poke and whip him along. And when it nears the top of the hill, it rolls down. And he must start all over, for eternity.”

Persephone smiled faintly. She could easily imagine how menial and mind-numbing such a task was, especially to an intelligent person. To have to repeat it over and over and over, with no results or success...

“Did you think of that punishment?” the young goddess asked. Kampe nodded.

“How fitting that Sisyphus had his punishment decided by someone more clever than he.” She wasn't trying to flatter Kampe – it was clear that the guardian of Tartarus cared little for honeyed words – but she could see that her comment pleased the serpentine deity immensely.

“Are there any other prisoners you'd like to show me?” Persephone asked, making it clear that she trusted Kampe's decision.

“Yes. Follow me.” As she slithered off, Hades shot another grin at his young bride. She smiled back and took his proffered hand.

“You look like you're enjoying yourself.” he whispered.

“Yes. Immensely so.”

“Tartarus is not a place for enjoyment.” he shot back lightly.

“I don't enjoy this in the same way that... I enjoy the gardens. It's just... I find this place interesting and educational. Kind of like your library.”

“I was afraid that this place would be too frightening for you.” he admitted.

“Yes. I didn't like seeing the gore. But I appreciate you being honest with me and not hiding anything from me.”

Hades was tempted to remind her of the fact that she still refused to eat his food, but didn't want to spoil a pleasant moment.

They came to a pond, its waters dark and clear. At the edge stood a large tree, bearing several varieties of fruit, most of its branches hanging over the pond. Several shades hovered around the edge of the pond, and it became apparent why – there was a naked man in the water, the pond level with his waist. Near the pond, the air felt rather hot and oppressive, even worse than the hottest summer day on the surface world.

“This man was once a great King. Zeus sometimes invites kings to Olympus to council with them, to impress them and learn from them.” Kampe said, gesturing towards the man.

“He must have angered Zeus...”

“The fact that he had been invited to Olympus filled him with arrogance. He stole ambrosia, using it to extend his own lifespan. That in itself might have been forgiven in due time. But when Zeus invited him back, he had already become so arrogant, falling to the same faults as Sisyphus. He murdered his own little son and brought the meat to the table of the gods, disguising it as animal meat, having his cooks prepare it with spices. He had other animals for the rest of the gods, but presented the remains of his son to Zeus.”

Persephone knew that mortals could be capable of wicked deeds. Murder, thievery, rape, but she had never imagined this kind of depravity!

“The meat was cleverly prepared, but Zeus still saw it for what it was. He was so disgusted and outraged that he threw a thunderbolt at Tantalus and killed him on the spot.”

“And what is this punishment?”

“He was a King who enjoyed the fine things in life, and demanded every comfort, however trivial, at the cost of others. Here the air is always hot and the water icy, and he longs for the most basic comforts. He is always hot, hungry, thirsty, cold, bored, and lonely. He cannot leave the pond, but he may lay down in the shallows. But the rocks are hard and sharp, so whether standing, sitting, or lying down, he is uncomfortable.”

As Kampe spoke, Persephone saw Tantalus reach for the fruit above him, jumping out of the water to do so. But the branches lifted the tantalizing food out of his reach. The sand surrounding the pond was soft and fine, which would be welcome to sleep on even if one hadn't been spending centuries on sharp rocks. The dark-haired man lowered himself in the water until it ended at his underarms. However, when he tried to lower his arms – whether to cup his hands or simply splash the water – the level receded, staying out of reach of his hands. He could not splash his face, much less try to drink from the water! And the shades were there to make sure he did not leave the pond, and since they did not speak, Tantalus had nobody to talk to, but she was certain he screamed and pleaded with them. How clever.

At one side of the pond was a thick forest of black trees, and at the other side of the forest was a large brass tub with a decently-sized pile of brass urns near it. However, there was nobody in sight, and Persephone tilted her head, stopping. She wanted to know about this before she went on. At the other side of the clearing was a large well, more like a fountain than the well she and her family had drawn from in Enna.

“Wait, Kampe. I would like you to tell me about this.” She waved her hand at the tub and pile of urns.

“The prisoners here are one of few who ever leave Tartarus.” Kampe replied as she turned around.

“Excuse me, but I thought that Tartarus is... permanent.”

“Most of the time, it is. But not every crime is committed with malice in the heart. The ones here committed their crime out of fear and obedience, and they were further provoked by the ones they had been told to murder.”

“I want to hear the story.” she replied firmly. Kampe nodded.

“There was a king named Danaus. He had fifty daughters by a nymph, and they were all of great beauty, and renown through the land. Their father guarded their virginity closely, for he had ambitions to take his twin brother's kingdom for his own. This brother, Aegyptus, had fifty sons of his own. So Danaus offered him his fifty daughters as brides for the fifty princes. But before they were sent to their grooms, he gave them each a dagger and told them to kill the princes. That way, Aegyptus would have no heirs, and Danaus intended to murder him right after the wedding banquet.

Forty-nine of the girls killed their grooms as their father had ordered, for he was a powerful King who did not hesitate to punish or execute his subjects whenever he saw fit. The fiftieth spared her husband because he had honored her wish to not give up her virginity to a man she did not know. Because murder is a severe crime, they had to come here to Tartarus. However, they had no malice in their hearts, and were fearful of their father. So their punishment was to draw water from the well and fill up the tub so they could bathe in it and wash away their sins.”

Doesn't sound too bad, Persephone thought to herself. The large well looked placid, and she didn't see any instruments of torture. But she knew better than to voice that assumption.

“There's more to it, isn't there?” Persephone asked as her eyes moved to the pile of urns, noticing tiny perforations around their rounded shapes.

“By the time they got to the tub, most of the water had leaked out. It took them several decades to complete the task.”

It was a strange punishment and didn't seem to fit the crime as well as the others, but at least these maidens had been able to redeem themselves. Having a cruel father and a groom you had never met taking you by force, Persephone could see how a woman would be reduced to such measures. Had she had a sword or dagger when Ares tried to force himself on her, she wouldn't have hesitated to stab him.

She felt appreciation to Hades for honoring her wishes, and as if Hades was aware of her feelings, felt him squeeze her shoulder gently as the trio continued down the path.

o0o0o

Persephone's stomach had been bothering her for most of the day. It was something other than hunger pains, and it had been located below her stomach. Having a scrumptious-looking feast in front of her as Hades had his supper only increased her discomfort. She curled up on the divan, her back to the table as she tried to ignore the tantalizing scent of the dishes. She heard him coax her to come and eat, but she covered her eats with her hands. Damn Hades!

Finally, the door to her room swung open. She retreated into it without so much a glance over her shoulder, closing the door behind herself. How dare Hades try to coax and tempt her with the food when he saw her discomfort! In her anger, she slipped off her sandals and flung them against the wall. Cloe appeared in a moment to pick up the shoes and put them away, which only irritated her all the more.

Tartarus had been a wonderful distraction, but she had also felt moody this morning, wishing to see something darker than the library or one of the gardens. She couldn't explain why she had felt so impatient and frustrated.

With an angry mutter, she pulled the pins out of her chiton, letting the soft black material fall to the floor before pulling her tunic over her head. She leaned down to tug down her loincloth, and gasped softly when she saw a bright pink-tinged red stain on the white silk. With slightly trembling hands, she lowered it further and stepped out of it before lifting her left thigh, gingerly touching the area between her legs. Her fingers came away wet, and Persephone stared down at the crimson slickness on her fingertips.