Chapter Text
The Prince of the Underworld melted the snow with every step until he walked through the vine-covered archway leading to the lush garden. You picked the lemons from the small tree and gently placed them into the woven basket. The sound of burning grass caught your attention, and you looked at the mysterious, muscular man in a red and black toga.
“W—Who are you?” You asked, wary. “Why are you here? What do you want?”
He sensed your fear and put his hands up to show he was not here to do any harm. Your gaze fell to his burning feet, and then you met his red and green eyes with your own.
“My name is Zagreus,” he said calmly, a hint of nervousness in his voice. “I… I’m looking for my mother… Persephone. You’re not her by any chance… are you? You look a little young to be my mother…”
“Persephone, is your mother?” You asked with disbelief. “I never knew she had a son…”
“Wait— You know my mother?”
You turned away from the lemon tree to face Zagreus and put your loosely closed fist over your heart. He gave you his undivided attention as you recalled the bittersweet memory of meeting Persephone.
“This endless winter took many lives, and it almost took mine,” you revealed. “I was weak and sick; my body collapsed in the snow. I could only lay and wait for death to take me. When I awoke, I was in bed, Lady Persephone putting a wet rag on my forehead, telling me to rest. She cared for me as if I were her own. Once I was well, I vowed to repay her kindness by helping her tend to the land.”
“My mother… saved your life?”
“Yes, she is very kind,” you responded with a nod and lowered your arm. “I was fortunate to be found by her.”
Zagreus thought on your grim tale and was filled with mixed emotions. He was happy his mother cared for you, but he couldn’t help but feel abandoned or replaced.
“So, she never mentioned me? …Not even once?”
“No. Lady Persephone always told me I was like the child she wished she had.”
“I… I don’t understand…”
Zagreus lowered his head with disappointment and confusion, his spiky dark hair covering his sad eyes. You reached out and placed your hand on his bare bicep to offer some comfort. He was warm to the touch, more so than any mortal you’ve ever known, as if an inferno ran through his whole body. He looked up at you, his eyes widened, and you gave him a soft, gentle smile. It was at that moment he realized how beautiful you truly were. You then pulled your hand away and turned your head when the door of your shared home opened.
“Y/N, who is it?” Persephone asked, standing in the doorway. “What does he want?”
“His name is Zagreus, my lady,” you responded. “He says he’s your son.”
“My— Come into the house, now,” Persephone demanded. “Get away from him.”
Looking back at Zagreus, you saw the hurt in his eyes and then returned your gaze to Persephone. You believed him when he said he was her son and even saw some of the similarities between them.
“He means us no harm, my lady.”
“Now, Y/N!”
You had never heard such a stern tone from Persephone and felt compelled to obey. Zagreus watched you walk toward the house, and Persephone came forward to take your place. You cracked open the door just enough to see and hear what was happening between the mother and son.
“You— How dare…! Get out of here! Get out, or I shall make you!! Out with you!”
“No!! So then you are her. I, I don’t care if you hate me, but I’m not leaving until I get some answers! I never even knew you existed. Why did you leave me?”
“You died! You, you died…! Those burning feet, they… sputtered out, when you were born. But… now you’re standing here before me. How…?”
“I died? I died… what, you mean permanently died, but, I’m alive! Oh, gods… you never even knew I existed, either.”
“Alive! Zagreus, he… even kept your name! You live, how can this be, you live? You live…! Oh, the cruel Fates! My son!”
“Mother…!”
The two embraced, and Zagreus locked eyes with you once more. You gave him another soft smile before shutting the door. Going into the kitchen, you prepared a tray of Grecian delights along with two cups of wine. When you left the home, Persephone was standing alone.
“I thought to bring some wine for you and your son, my lady,” you said softly. “Has he left already?”
“Zagreus… Cannot stay with us… Not for long…”
“Why?”
Persephone silently sat down at the table surrounded by baskets of fruit. You had shared many meals at that table underneath the sun with the gentle breeze blowing your hair.
“Come, dear child,” Persephone beckoned. “There is much about me you do not know— I’ve kept so many secrets from you…”
You approached the table, set the tray down, and then took the empty chair. Persephone grabbed one of the cups of wine and took a sip.
“There was a time I lived my life beneath the surface,” Persephone explained. “with my husband, Hades.”
“You— You mean the god of the Underworld…? And that makes Zagreus—”
“Yes. He is our son.”
All the peculiarities about the young man made sense now that you knew he was the prince of the Underworld. You grabbed the second cup of wine meant for him and took a sip.
“Do you think we will ever see him again, my lady?” You asked, unsure.
“He will return, I’m sure of it.”
“I hope so… I would love to speak to him again.”
“As would I.”
“If you don’t mind me saying so, my lady… Your son is quite handsome… And strong…”
“Yes, I couldn’t be prouder of the man he has become.”
Persephone smiled while recalling the image of her grown-up boy and longed to see him again. You recalled the image of Zagreus and felt a flutter in your chest as you took another sip of wine. While the two of you remained at the outdoor table, Zagreus emerged from the Pool of Styx, the blood dripping off of him as he walked down the hallway to confront his father. The Lord Master would not acknowledge Zagreus’ meeting with his mother. Zagreus then approached Nyx and asked why she encouraged him to go to the surface if she knew he couldn’t stay long. Nyx told him she didn’t know that would happen and asked if he would still try to reach his mother. Zagreus said he would, determined to see his mother again, no matter how brief their encounter may be.
“Um… Nyx, there is one other thing I meant to ask you about,” Zagreus said, a little embarrassed about the subject.
“What is it, child?”
“There was a mortal woman with my mother… I think her name was Y/N… She was beautiful… And kind… She said she almost died, but my mother saved her life. Do you know anything about her?”
“I do not. I only know that it is in your mother’s nature to care for others.”
“I need to know more about her— I need to see her again.”
“All the more reason to journey to the surface, child.”
“As if I needed any more motivation.”
Zagreus recalled the way the sun made your hair glow and how your eyes glimmered as they looked into his. He remembered your delicate hand on his arm, longing to feel your touch again.