When I was a little girl, I would always dream about leaving my cottage and go exploring on my own. Discover things I never knew, meet people, maybe even fall in love. I would write stories about these adventures, with make-believe characters and events.
My mother called my imagination foolish, she told me the real world was nothing like I portrayed in my head, in my writings. She would tell me stories of hideous men, creatures, and love so bad it killed people. She told me I was best with her.
Always with her, and only with her. I was a lonely child.
I think I was so lonely that my only source of happiness was my characters and my make-believe world.
Being trapped in the underworld was not the adventure or dream I had hoped of as a little girl, but it would suffice.
I don't know about my mother though. She was still in the corner pouting, she didn't even step in to help clean the mess after I vomited for the second time.
I almost vomited a third time after Hades explained my fate to me.
I was trapped in the underworld and I couldn't leave.
Sure it sounds bad at first, but after a while, I realized this could be my adventure of a lifetime.
Literally. A lifetime.
Yeah, I was stuck down here until we gods could figure out a way to get me out.
Which means it's going to be a while. Together with all 12 major gods only have 2 collective brain cells, Athena owns one and half of those two brain cells.
It was safe to say I didn't expect much to come soon, and apparently, my mother didn't either. She was in her corner sulking.
I'm not saying it's bad to be sulking, I couldn't imagine the pain she was going through right now. She was going to lose her only child, a pain no one wants.
I was dead, but it probably felt like it.
The moment I needed her most, she ignores me and grumbles alone in the corner instead of comforting me. I understand she's probably hurting too, but what about me? It's not only going to be hard living without any sunlight, but it's also going to be exhausting.
On earth, the sunlight is something I cherish and enjoy every minute of my life. Whether it be sun tanning, letting the sunlight in through the windows, or watching the sunlight nourish the plants I have always loved the sun.
It brings things to life and without it, we'd all be dead.
"Kore, I know it's going to be hard adjusting to life here but I promise I'll try my best to make it okay," Hades said as he opened the hospital room door.
I just nodded, too numb to form words.
A young man, who was undeniably attractive stepped through the door. A golden band was placed atop his hair, a pair of white angel wings protruding from either side. His loosely curled hair reminded me of the golden-brown color of honey, while his eyes were the softest pair of eyes I have ever seen. They were a warm brown color that made me think of the times my mom would give me warm chocolate chips and milk to help me go to sleep when I was a little girl.
The young man was in a white toga, with a light purple cape draped across his back and one shoulder. A horn with a red poppy sat rested against his chest. He carried a cup of something that was glowing.
I found myself yawning and wanting to go to sleep. My eyes were growing heavy and I tried to get comfortable in the hospital bed to go to sleep. I could feel my pain slipping away along with the world.
"Ah, not yet." The man said before snapping his fingers, the sleeping spell that was gathering in my body disappeared and was replaced with the pain I was feeling earlier.
"What is he doing here? You said it would be Hecate, not this demon." Zeus said angrily.
"Does Hecate have a sleeping touch, brother?" Hades said with a raised brow. "No, I didn't think so."
The man smirked devilishly at Zeus before walking over to my side and placing the goblet of glowing stuff down on my bedside table. He winked at my mother before saying, "I prefer handsome god, but demon works too Zeususy-poo." He plopped down on the end of my bed, nearly squashing my feet. "Are you still butt hurt over what happened centuries ago?"
The two of them began bickering, Hera joining in occasionally. The old man whose name I still haven't gotten just rolled his eyes and pushed past them.
"Hello my dear, I am Aeacus. Tell me do you know much about the underworld?" Aeacus asked.
I shook my head. My mom refrained from telling me anything about the underworld. All she simply told me was that it was a place of nightmares, death, and darkness. A place where your sins come to bite you in the ass. Her words, not mine.
"Hmm, we shall fix that while you are with us. I'm assuming you don't know who this man is?" Aeacus made a gesture towards the handsome guy who was currently waving his hand around .dangerously at Zeus who was glaring at him but turning paler by the second.
A god that made Zeus tremble was unheard of. Whoever this is must be powerful and scary enough to scare Zeus.
"Hypnos, the god of sleep. Twin brother to Thanatos, the god of-"
"Death," I said in awe. I have only heard stories about the twins, they always fascinated me. Born from the goddess of all things nightmarish. Now I understood why Zeus looked about 20 seconds from disappearing.
One-touch, one word from Hypnos and bam your sleeping it could be for an eternally or for 2 seconds he decides. That would explain the sleeping spell I felt earlier.
I didn't feel so safe anymore.
"You do know of them? I see your mother taught you well." Aeacus mused.
Not really, it was more of sneaking into the human world when she was away to raid their libraries on books about the underworld.
I simply smiled and gestured toward the cup. "What's in it?"
This time instead of Aeacus speaking up, Hades did. "It's a small drink of the river Phlegethon that runs through the underworld."
Fire.
It was the river of fire. I may be a goddess but that doesn't mean I can drink fire!
"And you want me to what? Drink it?" I asked, looking at them incredulously.
"Yes. It's going to hurt like hell, which is why Hypnos here. As soon as you drink it he will put you to sleep and wake you up when it's over."
"When what's over? My death?" I said trying to get up, but Hypnos was straddling my legs preventing me from leaping from the bed.
"The drink will prevent anything from entering your body. The Phlegethon will burn throughout your bloodstream, essentially becoming a part of it. Your pure, your mind is innocent things in the underworld will tear you to pieces. If anything dark tries to touch you, they will burn with the fire of hell." Hades said grasping the cup in his fingers.
Their insane, this is insane.
"You guys are insane I am not drinking that!" I looked to my mom for aid, "Mom help me out here, tell them no."
My mom hung her head, her eyes not meeting mine. No.
"No, you do not get to give on me now! Please tell them no!" I pleaded.
"I'm going to do it," Hypnos said, standing to move forward but Zeus held an arm out preventing him from getting to my face.
"Wait," Hades said. "Kore, I know you don't want to drink fire and that it seems crazy-"
"Insane." I interrupted, eyeing Hypnos and the goblet.
"Insane, but it will protect you when I can not. When Hypnos and Aeacus can not." Hades said, his eyes boring into mine.
I almost said yes and agreed to drink the liquid fire, but then I started to remember all the tricks and nightmares my mother implanted into my head as a young child. Of the men that use illusions and mask to defile women.
"No. I refuse to drink it." I said squirming away from the group of men. I moved towards my mom who was standing now.
But its the one's closet to you that betray you.
"My sweet Kore, this is for your own protection." My mother said her voice like sweet candy.
"Mom? MOM NO- PLEASE DON'T-" I cried out as I was cut off. Arms grabbed my arms holding me down. Someone was straddling my legs and I screamed. "NO! PLEASE!"
I thrashed, wiggling an arm free. I struck whoever was nearest and kicked another.
"I WILL NOT! NO!" I screamed. I arched off the bed as a demon being exorcised.
"Lord for someone small you sure do have a lot of bites." Hypnos hissed as he rubbed his face. A red welt was forming on his cheek no doubt from when I elbowed him in the face.
I got sharp elbows.
I was struggling to catch my breath as I stared at the group of gods. "Leave me the hell alone."
"Kore stop being stubborn." My mother warned. I whipped my head to face her and bared my teeth.
I was too busy staring at my mother I didn't see the others grabbing straps to tie me down. I only felt the silk ropes tightening around my ankles and legs.
By then it was too late.
"What the- HEY! You BASTARDS!" I snarled.
I tugged at the ropes and once I realized I was trapped I began to panic. I thrashed wildly, "LET ME GO!"
The fight or flight feeling inside me dimmed down and I was left with nothing but fear.
Paralyzing fear. It ran throughout my veins, freezing me in place.
I always heard things about fear leaving you so scared you become paralyzed, I never realized it would happen to me.
Tears dripped out of my eyes and Hades took this opportunity to bring the cup to my tightly locked lips. Someone, I don't know who pried my mouth open and Hades poured the drink down my throat.
At first, I felt nothing. Then I felt the blistering pain, it felt like someone was dumping gasoline covered coals down my throat then lighting them on fire. The drink its self tasted like gasoline and burnt toast. But it felt like a betrayal, gasoline lit coals, and pain...so much pain.
I couldn't cry, I couldn't even scream as it felt like my vocal cords were burning to ashes. A cold hand was placed atop my forehead and I heard words get uttered.
My eyes grew heavy and the darkroom grew darker.
"O' heavens above let this child sleep. Let her sleep and be in eternal peace and dreams." A voice coaxed softly, almost like a lullaby.
My eyes fell and I fell into a deep slumber.