Broken Goddess Copyright 2013

Prologue

The laughter of nymphs filled the sunlit sky as Zeus stared out from his temple to look on the golden fields spread out beneath him. He smiled as he saw Demeter walking peacefully through the garden, hand in hand with their child, the beautiful Persephone. She was but five years old and cherished by all the gods and goddesses. Even Zeus's wife, Hera, admitted that the child was an angel, even though she was angry with her husband for his affair with the beautiful goddess of the earth. Hera's love for family and longing for a child like Persephone kept her from punishing the child for her parent's mistakes.

Zeus watched as Persephone bent down and stretched out her hand. A small purple flower opened its petals as she did so and she giggled as more vines and flowers turned to face her. They swayed in the breeze and she began to sway with them, humming herself a little tune. Demeter bent down and began braiding flowers into the girl's hair, both of them smiling and laughing and singing as nymphs came out to join in their song.

It was a beautiful sight and Zeus felt his chest swell with pride as he looked on his daughter.

"I do hope you are not considering anything foolish, husband," Hera said, stepping out of the shadows of the temple with a stern look on her face. "If Demeter carries another bastard child, I do not think I shall be as forgiving as I have been with Persephone."

"I am merely watching as my daughter grows up. I cannot have a large hand in her life, as you will not permit it," Zeus said, not looking at Hera but continually gazing out at the two goddesses in the field.

"You've never longed for a close relationship with any of your children before," Hera said. "Is there a fatherly nature in you yet?"

"Its odd how something you can't have often seems more desirable then what you already have," Zeus stated bluntly.

Hera's face contorted for a moment and she glared at her husband. She looked out over the fields, her gaze lingering on Persephone with envy for a moment, before she turned abruptly and walked away. Zeus sighed. As though sensing his distress, Demeter turned in time to see Hera disappear. She quickly picked up Persephone and joined Zeus in the shade of the temple.

"Hera?" Demeter asked, her eyes searching Zeus's face.

Zeus nodded as he reached out and took Persephone from her arms.

"She hasn't decided to punish us, has she?" Demeter asked, her eyes widening fearfully as she clung to one hand of her daughter. "You promised she will not take my child away."

"As I did," Zeus said, "And I still promise that. Persephone will always be safe. I will see to it that she is. And I will never let her be taken from you. It's the least I can do for what I've put you through."

Demeter smiled and reached her hand to touch Zeus's. "I would never go back, my Lord. Persephone is the reminder to me of those few glorious hours when I had you. I wouldn't trade that for anything, even if Hera despises me now."

Zeus frowned. "It is a dangerous thing to be on the wrong side of Hera."

Demeter gently placed her hand on Zeus's face. "And it is a dangerous thing to love the god of the sky, but yet I do so. How could I help myself when there is so much beauty and wonder before me when I look into your eyes? How could I not fall for a man so powerful and yet so mysterious? You had my heart long ago, my Lord. I only wish you'd seen that before you took Hera. I have loved you long and I shall always hold a place for you in my heart. How could I not?"

"How could you not, indeed," Zeus smiled, leaning slightly closer to Demeter. He fell into a trance as he stared into her eyes, the color of amber fields. A heat began to rise within him and he took a step closer to the goddess. She stepped closer as well, until her leg brushed against his.

At the moment when the both could have easily lost control, Persephone's hand entangled in Zeus's beard and she pulled, jerking Zeus's head forward as he emitted a soft yelp, which turned into a hearty laugh.

"Ah, Persephone!" He laughed, swinging her into the air. She giggled and squealed as she landed back in his arms, only to be tossed up again. "You are your parents treasure and savior, my little goddess."

Persephone squirmed with laughter as the nymphs in the field gestured at her to play with them. She wiggled out of Zeus's arms and he set her down gently. She turned and kissed him on the cheek, before running into the fields with the nymphs.

The lingering heat between Demeter and Zeus seemed to crackle through the air like his own lightning. They both stared after their daughter, not daring to look at each other. Hera could be watching and she could choose to punish them by striking their daughter. Reluctantly, Demeter mumbled something about checking on some trees before turning to go away.

"Demeter," Zeus said.

She paused and looked at him. "Yes, my lord?"

"I promise to always look after her. She will be taken care of forever."

Demeter smiled and nodded. "I believe you."

They gazed at each other a moment longer, both knowing that with those words he had silently said I love you, before Demeter turned away and disappeared.

"I can see why you took her for yourself," a voice came from the shadows. "Can you deny me when I say I am envious?"

"Brother," Zeus turned to see Hades, god of the underworld, walk out from within the shadows. "This seems like a day when people like to sneak up on me."

"It is easy when you are so preoccupied with other things."

"What brings you above?" Zeus asked, not wanting to discuss anything with Hades at the moment.

"The same thing that keeps you staring after our sister, Demeter, I presume. We each have a longing for what isn't ours, for what we can't have, as you eloquently expressed," Hades replied.

Zeus grunted. "You have been listening long, then."

Hades nodded as he stood beside his brother. Though brothers, they did not look very similar. They stood at about the same height and both were robust and strong, but other than that, they looked nothing alike. While Zeus wore a white toga, draped with golden materials and sky blue designs, Hades wore a robe of all black, with swirling clouds of smoke draped about it. Zeus's blue eyes sparkled from a firm face and his hair hung loosely about his face. Hade's looked on the world through dark eyes, not quite black, but almost so. His dark hair hung to his shoulders and was pulled back at the nape of his neck. His face was chiseled, but yet seemed to have a hollow look to it. His eyes lacked the sparkle that came from the above world and the glory of Olympus.

Zeus glanced sideways at his brother. "You see much. Too much, brother. Your reign is below."

Hades laughed darkly. "Don't tell me we are about to have that debate again. I know my lot. I know my place. But so do you, yet often times you step outside those set rules and set boundaries." Hades gestured toward Persephone. "The child is proof of that."

Zeus turned to Hades angrily. "You would excuse yourself due to my actions?"

Hades smiled. "Of course, as you would do me. Family ties have never meant much in this family. But take peace, brother. I have not come to argue or to debate the way of our realms. I have simply come to enjoy the beauty and peace of above. At times, I like to escape the pressures of my own kingdom by visiting the realms of my brothers. I believe you can relate to an extent. We all long for an escape from the rules and pressures of life occasionally. Someone as stubborn and foolhardy as you understands this."

Zeus recognized the teasing tone in his brother's voice and smiled. "I believe it is time for a family reunion. You, me, and Poseidon, all together. The three of us haven't meet up for a long time."

"The god of the sky, the god of the sea, and the god of the earth all together? You must be desperate for entertainment , Lord Zeus. You know a meeting of the three of us almost certainly ends in war. Or a nice game of chess. But usually war."

"Even the mortals are restless," Zeus said. "We have done well at maintaining peace and order. But I have grown weary. I wouldn't mind taking a day off to be with my brothers."

"You do know that one day off could result in a hundred years of war," Hades stated.

Zeus nodded. "But that's a price I'm willing to make."

Hades didn't look at Zeus, but stared into the field after Persephone. "I often wonder what you would be like if you had drawn my lot. To the world from beneath was very different then your perspective from above. My realm is full of the dark despairs of the mortals, much of which is brought on by us. It is interesting to think that we would throw so much of their happiness away from our own amusement."

"I am a god," Zeus replied coolly, "I can do whatever I please."

Hades smiled softly. "Yes, you are a god, brother. But you only see so much of this world. If we were truly good, we would sacrifice more of our own joys and comforts for the well-being of the earth. But we are immortal, bored, and selfish beings. I cannot expect you to change that about yourself when I know that I will not do the same. We like our own comforts too much." Hades continued to stare out at Persephone, a look of discontent on his face.

"The underworld has given you an odd wisdom, brother," Zeus said. "Perhaps I will postpone our meeting for fifty years or so. That would give the mortals a little more peace. I may just take a nap. It is about time for you to return to your realm, Lord Hades, is it not?"

"Indeed it is," Hades said. "I shall soon depart. But I want to enjoy the flowers for a moment longer."

"Enjoy them as much as you like. They will not soon disappear, not while Persephone is out there. She grows about a hundred or more each day. I must go to Olympus."

Hades frowned at Zeus. "You would leave your daughter out here?"

"She is not alone," Zeus said, pointing to the nymphs. "The nymphs adore her. And Artemis said she would come by to be with her later."

"Oh, Artemis. Let us hope she doesn't teach the girl to hate all man," Hades sighed. "She is too beautiful to be a virgin all her immortal life."

Zeus nodded, but felt an odd sense of alarm at the idea of Persephone losing her virginity. "She is but a child yet."

"Ah, yes, a child with great promise," Hades replied.

Zeus nodded again, before turning and disappearing as he hurried home to Olympus.

Hades looked out toward the girl dancing through the fields. He stood there watching her for a moment, before escaping into the shadows.

Persephone felt a slight chill go up her spine, as if a shadow had passed over her. The child looked upward, but there were no clouds. She looked toward the temple of her father and thought she saw an unfamiliar form gazing at her, but before she could get a second look, the figure disappeared. Fear trickled through her and she began to cry. The nymphs immediately swarmed about her, cooing and singing softly, handing her flowers and playing with her hair to calm her down. Gradually, her fear disappeared and she became engrossed in the song the nymphs broke out into, clapping her hands and swaying with them. But that shadow would never leave her.