Thousands of years in the past
Atlantis
Meanwhile, the old man led Katherine and Jake to Hades’ mansion. He rang the bell, which chimed a melancholy tune. She thought it fit with the mood of this world. There was no happiness here.
The door seemed to open on its own. It took her a second glance to realize a petite woman had answered the door. She wore a long black dress and limped as she went to summon her master.
Katherine’s first impression of Hades was that he was an intimidating figure in his black clothes and cape. He was tall. His black hair matched his dark eyes. He would have fit in perfectly here if it weren’t for the fact that he was extremely handsome, even when he scowled.
“I did not wish to be interrupted,” Hades growled at the old man. “I am trying to talk Persephone into having something to eat. As soon as Hermes tells Demeter where her daughter is, I have little chance at getting Persephone to marry me.”
“I am sorry for bothering you, leader,” the old man began. “I thought you might be interested in meeting this woman and her friend. She is the only person, besides Persephone, that I have found Cerebus taking an immediate liking to.”
Hades raised an eyebrow in interest. “Really?”
The man nodded.
For the first time, Hades addressed the two. “You are not residents of Atlantis. I would have recognized you if you were.”
“We are visitors,” Jake replied.
“Then you have no business being here. It’s not the ideal vacation spot. If I were you, I’d leave this place and check out another city on Earth. There are more understanding and compassionate societies than this one.”
“My sister has to be here,” Katherine informed him. “I was told I had to accompany her. However, in order to stay up there, I’d have to hide my face behind a veil.”
Hades rolled his eyes. “Unbelievable. There’s nothing wrong with the way you look. The other leaders are getting more and more ridiculous in their standards of perfection. If it was up to me, you’d be allowed to remain up there without a veil. Unfortunately, my vote doesn’t count for much up there.”
She appreciated his words. Certainly, there was a note of compassion in this place despite the dreariness around them.
“So Cerebus likes you,” Hades said, his voice thoughtful. “He knows something the rest of us don’t. Cerebus is very picky about who he’ll accept. You and your friend must stay in this mansion while your sister performs her business. I will have my servants set up the rooms for you.” He motioned for the thin woman to escort them to their rooms. “Unfortunately, I have other matters to tend to at the moment, so I cannot be a gracious host.”
Katherine hesitated to say something, but then she figured she might as well. After all, she had nothing to lose. “If I may speak, please let me do so.”
Hades granted her request.
“I have heard much about Persephone from where I live,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “May I speak with her?”
He sighed. “You might as well. I have done all I could. If she won’t marry me by now, it will never happen.”
She knew he would end up marrying her, but she had often wondered if it was something Persephone wanted or if she was forced into it.
The servant led them to Persephone’s room. Her door was closed so the servant knocked on it. “She is very nice,” the servant said. “But she is sad.”
Katherine nodded, expecting that to be the case.
The door opened. Persephone’s long, curly light-brown hair was pulled back through an onyx and diamond crown that Hades had given her. She wore a black dress with diamonds embedded into it. Katherine was surprised Persephone wore this attire. She had expected Persephone to be wearing clothes suited for her position above ground.
“Please, tell Hades I cannot accept any more of his gifts,” Persephone said. “My mother will be here to get me soon. I cannot be with him. She will not allow it.”
“He didn’t come bearing more gifts,” the servant replied. “A young lady and gentleman have asked to speak with you.” She gestured to Katherine and Jake. “Cerebus likes the lady.”
Persephone didn’t hide her surprise. “I thought that dog didn’t like anyone.”
“Not except for you and this lady.” The servant motioned to Katherine, who smiled.
“In that case, they may enter,” Persephone invited.
As Katherine and Jake walked in, Katherine noted the elaborate way the room was adorned. Despite the black satin bed sheets and furniture, it was a very comfortable environment. Jewels, elegant dresses and black flowers filled her room. These were the tokens of love Hades had bestowed on her in hopes of winning her over. But they hadn’t been enough. Persephone required more.
Katherine’s heart pounded loudly as she debated how to begin. She couldn’t just come out and tell Persephone she was from the future.
“I wish I could be happy to see you,” Persephone told them as she sat on the edge of her neatly made bed. She motioned for them to sit in the chairs across from her, which they did. “My heart is heavy. I don’t know what to do.”
Sensing Persephone’s desire to confide in someone not related to the problem, Katherine spoke, “I have heard of your dilemma from the place I live. Do you wish to be here?”
“Yes and no.” Persephone smoothed out her dress. “It is true Hades brought me down here against my will, but in the time I’ve been here, I have gotten to know him, and he’s not the ogre others make him out to be. He’s actually quite sweet.”
“So you care for him?”
“That is my dilemma. I not only care for him. I love him.”
“Why is that a problem?”
“Two reasons. One, my mother already hates him. She will never approve of my marrying him. That will create a lot of tension for everyone involved. Two, it is depressing down here. I miss the joy of Atlantis.”
“There is little you can do about your mother. However, you can do something about this place.”
Persephone tilted her head in interest. “Go on.”
“You wish to be with Hades, but this place is holding you back from marrying him, correct?”
She nodded.
“Can you do anything to change the environment down here?” Katherine asked.
“I believe Hades will let me do anything I want. He is very generous.”
“What would you like to see this place become?”
Persephone stared at the wall thoughtfully. For a long moment, no one spoke. Finally, she gave her answer. “I know that this place cannot exist above ground, so it is foolish to wish for sunshine. I can live without that anyway. What I most want to hear is laughter. I want people to enjoy themselves. I accept that the condition they are in is difficult to bear. I also understand how awful they feel, but can’t they find a sense of joy and contentment despite their situation, or am I expecting too much?”
As Katherine listened to Persephone, it occurred to her that what the goddess was saying applied to her as well. It didn’t matter where she lived or what the circumstances were in her life. The key was to be content with who she was rather than relying on others to make things ideal for her.
The insight gave her a new perspective on how her own life actually was and how she was making it worse by her negative thoughts. It wasn’t Amanda’s fault she wasn’t as popular or as pretty as Amanda was. Most of all, it wasn’t Amanda’s fault Raz chose her to be its queen. It was time Katherine stopped letting bitterness take root in her life.
“No,” Jake said, interrupting Katherine’s thoughts. “People can be happy in any given situation. It’s a matter of letting the past go. The way their life was above ground was probably a good one, but they can rise above the past and create a better future.”
Katherine wondered if he was also speaking for himself. Perhaps he had to overcome some obstacle in his life like she had.
“How can these people be happy?” Persephone asked then her face lit up. “I know! I could plant flowers down here. Flowers are my specialty. I can create some flowers that grow without the sunlight.”
“One thing I noticed on my way here,” Katherine began, “is that people don’t talk to each other. They keep to themselves. One boy in a wheelchair was having trouble reaching for an orange on the tree, and when I went to help him, he said no one had talked to him in a long time.”
“It is hard to get people together down here. Some people are happy by themselves, but you are right. Some people are lonely.”
“Give people an opportunity to meet each other,” Jake suggested. “Social functions, like dinners or birthday parties, are great for giving people a place to gather and meet.”
“What if you had them eat their meals at the same place?” Katherine added. “If someone would rather eat alone, then give them that choice, of course. I think people are much happier if they feel they have a choice over their activities.”
“That is true,” Persephone acknowledged. “I have noticed there are babies who come through here who, although they are taken care of by the servants, don’t have the benefit of a mother, and some women are down here without their children. It would be nice to pair them up together.”
“Do people marry here?” Jake asked.
“No. They just come here to bide their time until they die. Then they are burned in the fires of the great incinerator. There isn’t room for a cemetery down here.”
Katherine shivered. “No wonder this is a sad place.”
“They should be able to marry down here though,” Persephone stated, a newfound determination in her voice. “Babies should have parents who will love them.”
“This world would be a happier place if that were to happen,” Jake agreed. “Children need parents who care for them.”
“I must speak with Hades at once. I know we can create a better place. It may not be as ideal as what it is above ground, but we can come close to it.” She looked at them with hope in her eyes. “You will help establish this place, won’t you?”
Katherine glanced at Jake who nodded his willingness to help. “It would be a good use of our time,” she said. “Let’s do what we can!”