Persephone Dialectical Journal

Prologue It was now only two weeks time until the return of Spring and Persephone seemed eager to return the world of man. Hades didn’t want to admit it, but there was an undeniable distance between him and his wife that made his stomach churn with unease. He moved his throne, so he was sitting in front of her, even now she seemed like she was in a place far from here. He knew he wasn’t the best husband, but they were still close when she was home. He looked at her closely, the freckles that dotted her nose were usually hidden underneath her sun-kissed skin, yet they were now visible against pale skin. Her amber eyes vibrant against her blue-black hair, she seemed like she might be ill, yet still gorgeous in his eyes. “Persephone,” concern
“Yes…” she paused for what seemed like forever before continuing. “Well, kind of. Mother fell ill before I came back, and I’ve not heard a word from her.” Worry and sadness hidden in her words. A goddess getting sick was a result of losing another follower. Sometimes they would recover, but other times they disappear into nothingness. Christianity had become a scourge for Olympian followers causing them to flee for fear of being called witches, and the leaders of this baby of a religion would dispose of them in an elaborate
His mind filled with question, his stomach churning with doubts, and his heart on the edge of shattering. “PYTHIA!” He yelled while he walked quickly through the darkened hallway that was filled with cobwebs. “ORACLE!” His voice echoed through empty halls. It seemed life had not set foot in Apollo’s domain since the birth of Christians. He growled in frustration and leaned against a column. The one time he sought out the return of a favor, it couldn’t be returned. He rubbed at the aching sensation that was sitting above his eyes, oblivious to the python that was climbing its way down the pillar toward him. The python could have easily tightened around his neck and acted like a noose, but instead, it tickled his ear like it was kissing him. “There you are dear, you had me worried that you had disappeared with the rest of them.” The snake had moved to the floor so a woman could stand in its place. “Hades, I would not disappear on you, I’ve still got debts to pay, and I always pay my debts.” The way she said it sounded like music…seductive music to a man’s