Soul Of A Greek God

"MOTHER!" Persephone called out to her mother, Demeter.

"What is it, my child?" her mother turned to her, as they were currently harvesting flowers, fruits, and vegetables in their garden.

"I just have something to ask," she was truly nervous.

"I will answer anything," her mother smiled at her.

"Why don't you want me to get married?" she saw a change in her mother's expression at her question.

"I want to be with you forever, men only bring trouble into our lives, my child. You should stay by my side," she smiled.

"Mother, I'm of the right age and-" she didn't finish her sentence.

"That's enough!" her mother shouted.

"You stay here until the end of the world!" she added, Persephone just bowed her head and nodded.

"Eros!" she saw Eros flying towards them, but her mother suddenly blocked his way.

"What do you need, Eros?" she asked, Eros just smiled.

"I just wanted to ask for some food. I've been flying for a while now, and I've had encounters with various creatures..." her mother gave him an apple and a few grapes.

"You may leave now," her mother dismissed him. Eros bit into the apple, chewed, and smiled.

"The fruits here are truly delicious. Thank you very much," she saw him fly away while she waved goodbye. After that, she turned back and continued harvesting, not noticing that her mother had walked away.

Demeter followed where Eros flew and saw him sitting on top of a tree, aiming at someone. As she traced where his arrow was pointed, she realized it was directed towards Persephone, who was unaware with her back turned.

Just as Eros released the arrow, Demeter threw an apple, causing the arrow to veer off course and miss Persephone. Eros looked at her, gave her a mischievous smile, and descended from the tree.

"How many times do I have to tell you to use your arrows on everyone on Earth but my daughter Persephone?" Demeter scolded.

"And how many times do I have to tell you that she is destined to fall in love? Your confinement of her here in the garden won't change that. Persephone is of the right age now," Eros replied.

"I don't want to! Persephone is mine alone. She is my daughter, and I am destined to be with her forever."

"You know that's not true, Demeter. Persephone is meant to love, marry, and be happy. Her destiny does not involve staying here forever. She has the right to choose."

"And what? Ruin herself? Look at me, Eros. I have loved, I got pregnant, but where is Persephone's supposedly great father? Nowhere, isn't he? Persephone is all I have, and I can't bear to lose her."

"With what you're doing, do you think she won't leave you? Think about it, Demeter. Persephone is different, and so are you. Can't you just trust her fate and believe that what happened to you won't happen to her."

"I refuse. You can leave now, Eros, and don't you dare try to shoot Persephone again. I will be your adversary, and you'll never taste the fruits of my garden again."

"It's up to you if you don't want to listen. The inevitable will still happen," he smiled mischievously before flying away.

Demeter looked around and became anxious.

Persephone was gone!

"AHH, it feels so good to bathe in the stream," Persephone said to herself as she soaked in the water.

Earlier, she hadn't seen her mother, so she decided to escape from their garden. It wasn't the first time she had done that; she just wanted to experience some freedom. Suddenly, three water nymphs appeared before her.

"How have you been, Persephone?" one of the nymphs asked.

"I've been well," she smiled at them.

"We haven't seen you here in a while," another one said.

"I had to escape from my mother..."

"Persephone!!!" she turned quickly at the sound of the voice.

"Mother!" she hurriedly dressed and ran towards her mother, bowing her head as she faced her.

"Mother, forgive me..." her mother embraced her.

"Where did you come from, my child? Do you know how worried you made me?"

"Mother, it won't happen again. I just wanted to see the outside of our garden." Her mother held her cheeks and kissed her forehead, smiling.

"Alright, my child. From now on, you can go outside the garden and take a stroll. But you must come home before it gets dark," she smiled at what she said.

"Really, Mother?" she nodded, so Persephone hugged her tightly.

"Yes, my child, but remember, suitors are not allowed, especially engaging in relationships without my knowledge. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Mother. Finally, I can visit my friends and siblings. So that it's not always them visiting me," she smiled again, hugging her mother. She handed her the most beautiful blue rose she picked earlier, the first thing that came to her mind was her mother.

"Thank you, my child." They both returned to their home.

Weeks passed, and Persephone's life returned to normal. She could now visit her nymph friends and siblings. One day, Persephone and Artemis, her sister who is the goddess of hunting, had a conversation, and Artemis told her a lot of things about her adventures, about nature, she learned a lot from her, she mentioned that she wanted to take Persephone on one of her hunting quests. At first, Persephone was hesitant about whether her mother would allow it, so she told Artemis that she needed to ask for permission first.

"Mother, Artemis invited me to go hunting. She said she would teach me later," she said hesitantly, trying to see if her mother's expression would change, she was used to her saying no, and it scares her that even if her mother is in an ebullient disposition, it can change anytime when she hears something she doesn't like.

She looked at her as if weighing her decision until she sighed and said. "Alright, my child, you have my consent, just make sure to come home. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Mother," was her only response, accompanied by a smile and a hug.