“You robbed me of my wife,” Darce boomed. “The woman I loved, the woman to whom I was faithful. You took her immortality and let her die, over and over again.”
“She’s not your wife,” my mother insisted harshly, as if offended by the very idea that I could be married to such a person—ever. Her disdain for him was nauseating.
Darce glared at her. “Perhaps Summer is not bound to me in the same means one is bound in her world. But her soul. . .my soul…” He paused. “Ceremony or not, I have been faithful, and shall always remain as such. Not everyone can say the same.”
Zeus stood stock-still. His jaw twitched; a silent pulse of fury.
“I wonder, brother, if you ever recognize your ‘mercy’ for what it is?” Darce asked. Flames as white as the sun’s light licked at Darce’s feet. “Sadistic cruelty. If not for Hera at your side—”
Hera perked at the sound of her name. I hadn’t paid her much attention since Darce and Zeus had begun to argue. She seemed more attentive to Zeus now; her hand was resting on his shoulder. Zeus, who had not moved since Darce started, cast a warning look at his brother.
“Darce, please…” I tried to jump in, but he went on despite me. Darce was wading deeper into more dangerous waters than before.
“I remember a time not so long ago when you chained your precious wife to the clouds for killing one of your many bastards. You have dishonored her and your marriage more times than any of us could count,” Darce’s voice rose with his anger, deeper and harder with every breath, “And here you are, taking Demeter’s side over a promise made centuries ago. I lived by the vow I made to the woman I loved. I was honorable. And the salaciousness and greed both you and Demeter harbored for me tore it apart!”
Zeus opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself.
I was so afraid.
I was afraid he would hurt Darce again—but worse. Darce didn’t seem to care. Instead, he just pushed on as though nothing else in the world mattered. As if…he had nothing else to lose by confronting the two people who had betrayed him and Persephone so many centuries ago. I felt my heart ache as my body grew heavy with the shared sorrow I had contained in the memories of my past lives.
“And I’m certain I know why you went along with it.”
Zeus raised a brow. “Oh? Enlighten me.”
“You did it because you were envious,” Darce breathed. “You wanted what I had. The only reason why you can’t, is because you can’t keep your damned cock in your pants. And if you cannot be happy—no one can be happy.”
“That’s certainly not true,” Zeus said with a smirk. “Poseidon—”
“And what’s worse,” Darce continued on shaking his head, “your wife is the Goddess of Marriage!”
Behind me, Eros coughed; seemingly choking on the sip of tea he had poured himself. Everyone’s eyes drifted to Eros, who pointedly avoided making eye contact with anyone.
“The tea is hot,” he explained, cheeks turning pink.
Darce didn’t miss a beat.
“You should have hung yourself from the sky instead of your wife,” he added. “So that everyone who looked upon you, could look at you with shame.”
He turned and grabbed my hand and began moving towards the door.
“We have to find Morpheus,” I whispered urgently.
“He knows where his home is,” Darce retorted.
“Hades,” Zeus called from behind. Darce didn’t listen and I did my best to keep my focus on the knowledge that in a few short minutes, we’d be leaving. Somehow. The doors opened, revealing the open deck. Dionysus was awake now, standing beside Aphrodite near the door. Both wore matching expressions; they had been caught listening in on the whole ordeal.
“Hades!” Zeus called out again.
“Come on, Summer,” Darce murmured to me. His God-like presence had not faded back into his mortal one, and though he was intimidating, I could hardly keep my eyes off of him. “We’re going home. Dismissed or not.”
“My Lord,” Hermes called, reaching out for us as we passed by him. He had been seated on a chair—waiting. “Let’s find reason—”
Darce shoved around him, unstoppable. As I peered over my shoulder, I saw Zeus following us. The rage in his eyes came to life, licking like wild flames. Reaching one arm up, he pulled from thin air another bright bolt of sizzling lightning. It crackled in hand, small sparks flying out at his feet and onto the deck floors. The noose he had produced from his fingertips paled in comparison and my stomach turned.
There was no doubt in my mind that it was intended for Darce.
“Darce,” I warned, pushing my hand to his back. We needed to leave now.
“Hades!” Zeus called again, “you will listen to me.”
A flash of light erupted, engulfing nearly the entire deck. I screamed as I realized the bolt of lightning had seared into the wooden floor. It was far too close for comfort. He was throwing them at us!
“He’s insane!” I said breathlessly.
Another flashed near us, this time on Darce’s side. I screamed again, jerking both of us into the railing. Just below, the clear, blue sea awaited us. Freedom. As I peered over my shoulder, I noticed how quickly the other Gods and Goddesses were gathering. All coming to watch the scene unfold. Beside Zeus, stood my mother and Minthe. Though my mother appeared stern, it was Minthe’s satisfied grin that irked me most. She wanted this to happen. She was absolutely relishing in the drama.
Darce tugged us towards the stairwell when Ares appeared on the top landing. His hands on either side of the descending rails. We were cornered. Darce moved in front of me then, keeping me shielded from the others.
I didn’t know what to do, but every part of me wanted to pull Darce back. Only, Zeus’ flame would have seared me, and I felt frozen to the spot. Even in my fear, I couldn’t help the uncontrollable swelling of pride taking up any sensible decision my mind could have made for me. Watching him fight back, and push at his brother’s buttons, was scintillating. I wanted to stand beside him with the same confidence that was rolling off of him in waves.
Was it…that part of me that was Persephone?
Did she…did I feel vindicated through his words and his actions?
“Do you feel more powerful now?” Darce asked, smirking. “To have me cornered like this? It’s just like old times.”
Zeus didn’t reply, instead he snapped his fingers again; the echo of it remaining in my ears as a long, golden chain wrap itself around Darce with ease. Like earlier, they held firm and seared into him. I watched in horror as the weight of the chains pushed Darce to his knees, down to the floor.
I screamed his name and reached for him, but a pair of hands held me back. I snapped my head toward my captor, unsurprised to find my mother; her firm grip holding my shoulders.
“Let me go,” I hissed as I struggled against her. This couldn’t be happening. This had to be a nightmare. Any moment now, Darce would pull me from this dream, pull me back into our warm, comfortable reality. It seemed no matter how much I wished for it to be true, nothing seemed to wake me.
“No,” she replied sharply near my ear. “He must suffer these consequences alone. He is the one to blame.”
“Let me go!” I shouted again.
Tears began to roll down my cheek as my heart sank into my gut. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from watching Darce struggle against the chains wrapped around his arms and chest. Like an animal in the wild, he had been sapped of his strength and now there was only the raw fight left in the beast.
“You’ve been very foolish lately, brother,” Zeus crooned. “You not only stole Demeter’s daughter again, but you’ve now insulted me despite all the kindness I’ve shown you. Your King. I invited you—”
“You’re not my king,” Darce’s voice cracked. “I never stole her!”
Zeus dismissed him with a wave. “I invited you to come here. To speak your side to us. To explain yourself,” Zeus replied. “But you’ve done nothing but disrespect me, my guests,
and yourself.”
“You didn’t invite us. You summoned Summer. You left us no choice in the matter. Even had your messenger come for us.”
“Hermes understands the true meaning of loyalty.”
“Ironic, considering you don’t,” Darce spat.
The chains around Darce tightened, and he groaned.
“Stop!” I shouted, tugging at my mother’s grasp.
“Please.” I darted my gaze to all of those watching us—searching for someone, anyone to help us. My eyes drifted from Athena, Apollo, Heaton and Tyche, but they all looked away. They couldn’t even look me in the eye.
Cowards.
I turned my gaze desperately to Eros, who stared at us in horror. He didn’t move when our gazes met.
“Brother,” Darce gasped, struggling against the chains that held him down. “The deal that was struck between us, the rules. . .have long since been broken. Please. . .”
“Broken?” My mother asked. “Broken?”
“Yes,” Darce quipped, grunting frustratedly. “I won’t repeat myself, Demeter.”
“Broken how?” She asked innocently. I could almost hear the sweet smile growing on her lips. I hated her. The rage in my stomach tightened, and I felt myself snap. Without another moment’s hesitation, I pushed my elbow against her ribs, and slammed my shoulder into hers. Startled, she released her grip on me, and I took the opportunity to lower myself to my knees beside Darce.
“Please,” I begged softly, turning my gaze to Zeus. I didn’t know what else to do. I had seen plenty of period-movies to know a King could at least appreciate a subject bending their knee for something they wanted.
“Please,” I continued. “Release Darce. He didn’t break the bargain. . .I did.”
Zeus began to chuckle, tilting his chin curiously. “Please don’t beg, Summer. It’s not becoming.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks, as I realized just how powerless I was in all of this. I was nothing more than a mortal. I had no powers to use in saving Darce.
“You broke the bargain by your own hand,” Darce continued after a moment, peering up at my mother. “It was you who did not allow her to return to the Underworld after the spring and summer months had passed. She was to return as the fall harvest was to take place. And she never did.”
“Perhaps it was Persephone’s wish not to return to your cavern of darkness—”
“Don’t redirect the blame, Demeter. You killed your daughter. Turned her mortal. You even went as far as cursing any pomegranate seed that came close to her. Each life your daughter lived, you took from her.”
“It was not I who killed her, Hades.” She said his name as though it were a curse.
“You took her immortality. You stole every opportunity for her happiness,” Darce urged. “That is death.”
“I gave her a second chance at life,” Demeter explained, as a strange, long smile grew on her lips. “I wanted her to find happiness beyond the grizzly depths of your kingdom of death.”
“By killing her. Time and time again. She has lived many lifetimes—all of which have met grisly ends. By your hand,” he said through gritted teeth. Slowly, he turned his dark eyes to find mine. “She was first Persephone. Then Lorena, Celena, and Winnie. I knew them all—saw them all. Even loved them all. Now, you wish to destroy her. . .the last. Summer.”
The last. The words echoed in my ears. I had nearly forgotten. I would be the last mortal life Persephone would ever live.
“I would never wish to destroy my daughter,” my mother argued, but her voice shook, and I heard the lie.
“She is the last. You know that, don’t you? You know after this. . .her life line can never be drawn again. When the Fates cut her mortal thread, she will be lost to you and I forever. She will become nothing. . .nothing but a memory.”
My mother stood silently, watching him carefully. Her eyes narrowed. It was evident her patience was growing thin.
“Admit that you stole her, Hades. Admit that you came for her and had fully intended to keep her.”
Darce grunted as the chains gripped him tighter. I turned my attention to Zeus for only a moment, watching as he lifted his hand. I knew at that moment, Darce and I would never leave this boat together. We had never had a chance. Another small tear rolled down my cheek as I began to realize I’d be forced to say goodbye—again. Why hadn’t I seen that before? Why hadn’t I known? It was a game we had lost long before we had even begun to play.
“I want the truth,” my mother continued. “You wanted her all for yourself. You wanted to punish me. So you stole Summer—”
“I only came for her in the hospital. After what you caused.”
“You lie,” she replied, pushing her hands to her waist. “I did no such thing.”
Why was she denying it? Her hand in the accident? How could she? The death of my dad—he had been real. He hadn’t deserved the lies my mother had fed him for so many years. Her denial twisted in my gut as I released a soft cry.
Darce’s eyes fell to mine again; wide with understanding. He knew. . .knew that pain I carried. Knew how much I missed my dad.
“Rise,” a soft voice said beside my ear.
“No,” I sobbed, leaning into Darce. I couldn’t bear to leave him. Not like this.
“Summer,” Darce said softly, gritting against the pain of the chains. “Look at me.”
It was all I could do to move my gaze back to his, exposing my tear-stained cheeks. We said nothing as we stared at each other for a moment. The moment seemed to last forever, and yet, was over in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, a pair of hands were on my arms, and pulling me to my feet.
“No! Please! No!” I cried, struggling against the grip. I was sure when this was over, I’d find bruises on my arms.
“Summer,” the voice said, causing me to peer over my shoulder. I found Morpheus staring down at me. His dark eyes were calm but concerned. His arm snaked around me, holding me against his chest.
Darce gave him a small, slight nod before drawing his attention back to my mother, back to Zeus.
“You see,” Demeter said with a soft laugh, “It is best for Summer to stay with me. She belongs with me. She should stay here, with her kind.”
“Her kind?” Darce retorted. “She’s mortal!”
“Such trivialities matter not to a mother,” she purred. “She belongs with the Gods and Goddesses that loved her from the times before. We will always love her—no matter what form she takes.”
“I love her,” he rasped, his voice catching. Was Darce about to cry? I had never seen him shed a single tear, and yet, he was so sad. “I love her. I have always loved her. No matter what face she wore. No matter how she might have been different from each life. I loved her and sought her each time I discovered her existence.”
His attention drifted back to Zeus, who was watching them closely.
“Brother…”
Zeus lifted a goblet of wine up to his lips and took a long sip.
“You see, Darce,” Zeus said with amusement. “You throw a fit and demand equality, and yet, don’t want to take on the responsibilities of that. You want me to coddle you. Give you what you think you’re entitled to.”
He turned his wrist as his fingers curled.
“Summer is still a child,” he continued. “She is still in the stage of her life when one needs their mother. Not a lover.”
I shook my head, pushing against Morpheus’ chest. I felt his hold on me tighten. “Hush,” he whispered, keeping me still.
“I’m afraid that. . .I cannot give you what you ask,” Zeus said with a shrug. “No matter how you feel about her. You broke the bargain that we had put into place all those years ago, and for that. . .”
“She broke it! Can’t you see? I broke nothing!” Darce roared angrily.
“He didn’t—” I began, but Morpheus slid a finger to my lips.
Zeus darted his gaze to Demeter, and then slowly back to Darce, who struggled to his feet. I could see the
weight of the chains were heavy on his shoulders and arms. He winced as he regained his posture.
“You will find that I am quite a merciful God. And that I can be a loving brother…” Zeus murmured. “But I’m afraid you must return to where you belong, brother.”
I began to struggle against Morpheus again at Zeus’ sentence for Darce. He couldn’t send him back to the Underworld. Not without me. Not without Morpheus.
“Who am I to separate a mother from her child?” Zeus cooed before lifting his fingers towards the crew. With a snap of his thumb and forefinger, they began to march towards Darce.
“Don’t do this!” I begged, ignoring Morpheus’ silent command to remain still. “Please! You can’t!”
My mother’s gaze and Zeus’ fell on me. It was as though they were truly seeing me for the first time. My mother’s eyes grew wide with an unbridled rage. Zeus released an exasperated sigh. Hera slowly emerged from the crowd, touching his shoulder before leaning in towards his ear. As she pulled away, I could see Hera’s blue eyes searching my face from across the deck. She only stared at me before lifting her chin upwards.
“You may say your goodbyes,” Zeus said, unwilling to cast a look in my direction again.
Goodbye.
Goodbye?
I was to say my. . .goodbyes?
My knees suddenly felt wobbly, and my feet, unstable, as Morpheus finally let me go. I stood frozen in place before I heard Morpheus murmur behind me, “go, Summer. Go while you can.”
Say goodbye? Did I even know how to do that?
My eyes moved around the room before meeting Darce’s sad, solemn ones. He watched me carefully as I approached him. I knew everyone was watching us; watching and waiting to see what else would come from this display of insanity. Tears trickled down my cheeks uncontrollably as I reached for him, brushing a finger over the cold, golden chains.
“Darce—” I gasped.
“Listen to me, Summer,” he whispered, doing whatever he could to keep his gaze locked to mine. “Stay close to Morpheus. Don’t be alone with any of them. Don’t listen to a word they say. Trust no one. No one but him,” he murmured, breathless. More tears flooded my eyes as I quickly shook my head.
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