11. Goodmorning

I don’t know how long I cried for, but there was a knock on my door. I pulled myself from my bed answering it. Lola stood there. Her face looked sad. “What is wrong Persephone, you have been crying for hours.” “How do you know that?” I asked. “When you ran, I followed you. I stood outside your door and waited until you stopped. I figured you wanted to be alone for a while. Don’t worry, none of the other nymphs know that you were crying or even gone. I told them you have been missing Demeter and have wanted to be alone today.” “Thankyou.” I loved Lola.

“Come in.” I said and she came into my room. “Want to tell me what is wrong? Did the God of the Dead do something? You have been gone for a while.” I shook my head. “He did nothing wrong. I just don’t know; I can’t explain the feelings I feel toward him. And it is not only that. I feel like mother has been keeping me so far away from everything that I am now completely ignorant of everything. I know she has lied about the world, underworld, and about Hades. She never even told me about these feelings and what to do with them. If she lies about all of this what else has she lied about?” Lola pulled me into a hug. “It will all be okay.” She tried to assure me.

We sat there in silence for a while. “I met the titan Hecate.” Her eyes grew wide. “She is really nice; she is going to be here tomorrow.” Lola spoke “Okay tell me everything, I have been dying to know how it all went.” I was glad she wanted to change the subject instead of talking about my doubts about my mother. I told her. She made comments about every god I met. When I confessed about the kissing she flipped. I continued but I knew once I was done, she would get back to that topic. “So, you had a lot of stuff happen.” I nodded agreeing with my best friend. “Okay so back to all the kissing.” I chuckled. I had been right she would want to focus on that.

I laughed “Do you know about any of this.” She nodded. “Of course I do I am nymph. We are inherently sexual beings. Water nymphs especially.” I had heard the word sex from Hecate. She said to talk to a nymph about it. “Sex, what is that? Mother never even spoke of it. What is it?” She smiled. “Well, I have never done it. Demeter has rules you know. None of us on the estate are allowed to engage in sexual behaviors. But some on the estate talk about their lives before we came here, and many have done it. All who came gave that part of themselves up, and why wouldn’t they? Serving a god or goddess is the highest honor for us nymphs. So, I have heard about it all from those who didn’t come here as children like I did.” “So, what is it?”

Lola explained it to me, and I was shocked. “What are you thinking?” Lola asked. “I don’t know.” “Well, I can tell you from what you told me, Hades wants that with you. So, the question is do you want that?” again I said “I don’t know, he makes me all hot. My body ignites with him. And like I told you he really is not bad. I mean he helps mortals, occasionally.” “Yeah, that is kind of strange. For what I understand most Gods rarely do that.” I agreed with her. My mother, I knew, had done it for some of her worshippers but it was not often. “Well, I say if you want to, you should. Not out of defiance or anything, but like you said yesterday morning you are a goddess, and you do what you want. It is your right after all. Demeter has said as much numerous times. Though personally she didn’t tell you about any of this so I don’t think the thought would have even occurred to you. Nor would any situation present itself since you were never supposed to leave the estate.” Lola was right and I knew that. She did make a point that had not occurred to me. My mother told me I should do whatever I wanted. I was a goddess after all.

Maybe not a powerful one like her. Hecate said otherwise but I didn’t buy that. I had never done more than grow flowers. Lola smiled in her usual way. Changing the subject again. “So how was the real world. I know you told me, but I want to hear about it again.” I laughed and told her all about the people, their technology, the tall buildings and what driving in a car was like. Like me Lola had lived most of her life on the estate. Lola stayed in my room all night wanting me to repeat everything over and over again and the two of us eventually fell asleep on top of my bed.

“Well, Goodmorning.” I opened my eyes and Hecate was there. “Hecate.” I spoke. “The one and only.” I cracked a smile. Lola stirred and she too sat up. Her eyes found the goddess and she became frozen looking at her. “Who is your friend?” Hecate asked. “This is Lola she is my companion.” I said, giving Lola a big smile but she was still focused on the titan standing in my room. “Well come on get up sleepy head, I want to show you what I brought you, and I want to see your magic, also I want to go shopping.” That was a lot to do in one day. She looked at Lola. “Is your friend joining us too.” “Do you want to Lola?” Lola smiled the biggest smile in her life. “Can I really?” “Of course.” She jumped from the bed. Doing a little jig in excitement. I laughed but Hecate looked at her like she was crazy.

“Why don’t you get ready for the day Persephone, and I can meet you back here in a little bit. If we are going out, I am not wearing this.” I looked at her dress. It looked fine to me, but then again, she had slept in it. “When I get back, I will bring you some of those pastries you love.” “Make sure you bring enough for three. And tell Solria that she need not worry we are going to be spending the day together, and that I wish to not be disturbed while we are hanging out.” Lola practically ran from the room. Hecate raised her eyebrows. “That nymph is a little wild.”

I laughed Lola could be at times. “Well get dressed, unless you want to continue to wear Hade's shirt.” I looked down at the dress I had fashioned from Hades' closet. I hurried to my closet, finding some shorts and a t-shirt and came back to my room. Hecate eyed me. “So, Hades was all wrong with what you usually wear.” “Huh?” “The wardrobe he got for you. I helped him, since he doesn’t really know women's clothes. But I had no clue what you liked so I just got what I liked. But we can remedy that today. Now here is the smart phone I told you I would get you.” I took it from her and examined the rectangular device. Hecate explained everything to me. Showed me about the internet and how to find the news and various things. As well as showing me how to text and I already had several names programed in the phone.” I was excited.

There was a knock, and I knew that to be Lola. She came pushing a cart with a mountain of Cherry pastries. And several sparking Juices. “Daria said to just leave the cart in the hallway when we are done” “Thankyou Lola. Hecate you got to try these things they are the best. The cherries used, grow on the estate.” All three of us dug into the pile of food and drank the sparkling juice. Once finished the cart was pushed to the hallway. “Now I want to see this gift you have before we leave to shop.” I nodded and the three of us were transported to a Feild. I knew instantly we were not on my mother's estate. Which was good I suppose considering one of the nymphs would see Hecate and mother would have found out. “Go, Let’s see what you got.” Hecate said.

I looked at the grass in the field and struck my hands out. One flower sprung then another and soon the whole field was wildflowers. I turned and smiled happy with my work. Hecate examined me and the massive field of flowers. “As I predicted you can do more. We can work on it. I will teach you to do things that you never thought possible. You are very powerful.” I still didn’t believe her, but if she wanted to try then I could at least attempt it. “Now to the shopping.” We transported again.