Persephone: True Love, Orpheus the Poet and The Third Seed
“Tell them that you weren't hungry, tell them you followed the pomegranates seeds because they tasted like blood, like love.”
― Pauline Albanese, The Closed Doors
Persephone sat on her throne, listening to Des give judgment. She stared at her pale hands, clasped together, resting on her midnight silk dress. The crown on her head weighed heavily as she thought of her mother.
A commotion outside the door snapped her attention upward.
A man. Human. Alive. A man pushed through the souls. The chamber fell silent as all attention turned to the interloper.
Persephone looked at Des as he stood dressed in form fitting black, tailored to him. His footsteps echoed on the stone stairs as he descended. “Who are you, intruder?” Des pulled a blade he kept on his waist. She often wondered why he kept a weapon, as only the dead inhabited here. Ceremonial she determined, but now he seemed ready to strike. No, defend her.
“Orpheus of Thrace.” The man, dressed as frilly as a king, dropped to one knee. “Son of Apollo, sir.” He bowed his head to punctuate the deferent title.
Des stared down at him. Persephone’s heart thudded against her ribs, reminding her she was one of three living beings in the Underworld. The man was a not a human in their midst; he was a half-God. Still, none entered Des’s realm without permission. Would Des cut down the intruder, cast him out, or entertain him?
“How did you get in here?” Des played with the handle of the blade.
“I have a gift with words and music, my Lord God.” Did Orpheus wink at her? “I did not realize you had a Queen consort, my Lord. Her beauty is dazzling. Youth graced by luscious elegance and sensuous divinity.”
A giggle escaped Persephone, and she flushed, turning her gaze to Des. Her husband’s eyes met hers with fire. “Careful, nephew. Zeus may favor Apollo, but you are in my realm where everyone is dead.” Des returned to his wife’s side, taking her hand.
“Of course, Lord Hades. My sincere apologies for offence. I was merely appreciating your desire for enticing jewels.” Orpheus winked again.
Persephone bit her bottom lip, squeezing Des’s hand.
“Why are you here?” Des snapped, creating a wave of fear and awe of her. Her God was impressive. She pressed her clasped hands to her heart. “Speak!”
“My wife. My True Love. We were newly married and…” a rise of sorrow choked his words.
“Her name,” Persephone asked.
“Eurydice, my… Lady.” Orpheus rose two steps toward them. King and Queen.
“She was bitten on our wedding day. By a viper. Lost to me. My father thought I could appeal to you. Perhaps you understand Love and Desire, my Lord. My Lady.” He bowed to them.
Persephone leaned on her husband as a wave hit her. Memories of meeting Des in the meadow. Their first kiss, the flutters she felt when his dark gaze raked over her. The ecstasy of their lovemaking.
But what the meadow reminded her of was Mother. The gentle nights of being rocked and comforted. Mother’s soft voice singing timeless humans. Sweet mother’s milk when she was a babe. Nurturing not only her sweet daughter, but the world. All The world.
Des kissed Persephone’s head, drawing her to the present. “Let her go, Des,” she whispered.
His eyes softened, starting into his wife. Love, not only desire, but he loved her. As much as this poet, Orpheus, loved his wife. “He loves her as we love each other.” Her voice was steady, sure of her convictions. Later, when they were alone, she could discuss mother.
Des stood, lifting Persephone with him. Pulling her to his side, he looked at Orpheus. “My wife wishes I grant your request. But I want you to prove your devotion to me. She may follow you to the light, but if you look back before she is out of the Underworld, you will lose her.”
Persephone hugged Des around the hiding her smile against his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“Thank you wife, for ending my loneliness. I love you.” He cupped her chin and kissed her so deep. Aphrodite would blush to witness it.
Persephone accompanied Des on his errand to retrieve Eurydice and deliver to her Orpheus.
Des reminded them again of his promise and the conditions. They agreed, and Persephone held onto her husband while they left.
As they disappeared into the shadows that led out of Des’s domain, he pulled her close. “I desired you as the innocent girl in the meadow. I worship you as the Dark Goddess who has given herself to the Lord of Darkness.”
“I love you, my god, my husband, my Des.”
His hand slid down her back, pushing her back, pushing her body closer as his mouth licked hers open. “Mine, you are mine.”
She stretched to meet his kisses. Love the possession of her mouth by his lips. They traveled down her throat, skillful fingers pulled her dress down from her shoulders, kissing the skin as it was exposed.
The cold underworld air caressed her, followed by his warm hands. The heat of his mouth closed on the tip of her breast, suckling the warmth from deep in her.
Des kissed down her belly, dropping to his knees before her. He tugged the dress free of her hips, baring her soft center. His hand splayed on her belly, thumb teasing the soft lips. “My sweet pearl” He circled her clit, stroking the inner fire.
Persephone’s hips rolled in a slow wave. He pressed a kiss to her belly, then his tongue lashed between her thighs, setting her into a frenzy of need. Lapping the tight pearl, he moaned against her.
She shuddered, gripping his hair, pulling him tighter. Des licked slower, drawing out her delicious torment.
He drew the bud tighter, hotter. The fire in her body raged out of control as she collapsed in a perfect orgasm. A scream echoed down the hall as she trembled in Des’s embrace.
“What was that?” she asked.
“He looked back,” he whispered, lifting her from the ground. Des carried her, leaving her shredded dress on the floor. He entered their chamber. “He lost her forever. I will not lose you, my sweet Queen. I will not give you up. Even by Zeus’s word.”
Des lowered her to the bed, following her down with a possessive kiss. The meaning of his words sunk in.
Orpheus had lost trust and looked back to his beloved, losing her to the Underworld forever. Teas pricked Persephone’s eyes as she imagined missing out on loving Des. And the carnal connection they shared.
She kissed him back with the deep fierceness of her love. While she tugged his clothes from his body, fueled by need. She wrapped herself around him.
He obliged, pushing her into his softness. Groaning in her ear, she accepted his full length.
“I’m yours, Des. Always yours.”
He grabbed her ass, squeezing. “You are mine, Persephone. All mine.”
They moved together. Bodies and minds in sync — making love, then fucking as they reached a peak at the same moment.
Des paused, meeting her gaze. “Tell me again.”
“I love you.” Her hips jerked. “I’m yours. All yours. Please.”
She quaked first, squeezing the pleasure from him. He held her, kissing her neck and shoulders. “My princess and my Queen.”
Later, when their bodies cooled, her mind returned to her Mother. “I need to let my mother know what I’ve done. I won’t be returning.”
“We’ll send her a message.”
'‘Can I see her?”
“Whenever you wish, my Love. You are both Goddesses.”
Persephone laid her head down. Time here always left her exhausted, but never hungry.
Except, the red pulp of a pomegranate caught her eye. She stuck her tongue in and swirled, grasping a seed between her thumb and finger. Sucking the sweet juice and one seed, she closed her eyes, thinking of how she might explain her transformation to her mother.