The Taking of Persephone Series: Demeter by Ambrosia R. Harris

Author:Ambrosia R. Harris [Harris, Ambrosia R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-14T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter XV

A Weeping Doso

The sound of morning birds filled Demeter’s ears, signaling the start of another tepid day. Mornings and evenings seemed to blur together, with no indication of separation in time. She had not seen Hermes since his last confession and Ares was still in search of Kore. Hestia and Artemis had not sought her out with their concerns.

She was alone, free to wander and weep in peace.

As long as Kore is happy. She repeated to herself, leaning against a thin tree trunk for rest. Having roamed the fields of Greece mindlessly, she now found herself in an overgrown forest. A babbling stream raced nearby, hidden under the brush and trees. A peaceful place to rest and ponder what to do next. She knew she could not wallow in her self-pity for much longer.

It pained her to admit that she was as much at fault for Kore’s reason to flee as Ares. Had she only embraced Kore’s duality, perhaps the child would have been more open to whom she met in the meadow, about her growing interest in the unseen one, and his visits with her.

Instead, Demeter deprived her of it and in doing so, fed the curiosity she wished to avoid.

Stamping down the building pain, she pushed off from the tree to follow the sound of the flowing river, trailing the pillow moss that lined the tree trunks and stones. Flickering light caught her eye, pulling her attention to the clear flowing stream had reached. The burbling water became an instant soother to her senses as she melted down into the ferns and overgrowth. Closing her eyes for a moment to regain the clarity she had lost. A peace that was just as soon interrupted as it was found.

Chatter and giggles rang through the thin trees around her. She peered through the slight gaps, taking notice of a small group of young women weaving between the trunks of the forest. They held bronze hydria, ready for gathering water at the stream Demeter rested nearby.

Smoke twisted at her feet, ready to cast a cloaking magic about her when their words gave her pause.

“I cannot believe she would just abandon him like that. A sweet babe!” one of the women sighed as they drew closer. Demeter tucked herself behind the boulder to keep from view as she continued to listen.

“Where do you think she ran off to?” Another giggled.

“Anywhere is better than the palace. I think she is well to have escaped it,” another said in a harsh tone.

“Demo! Our life is not so bad,” A fourth voice interjected.

“Yes, but now Father has the son he has always wanted. What of us?” The one called Demo said again, “All these nursemaids, and none of them wish to stay. Why is that?”

Demeter could hear the women fill up the hydria and gather behind the boulder she hid by. Something in her chest ignited, a need she hoped would mend the tearing of her heart.

“I do not know, Demo,” one of the women said dryly.

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