Chapter 7: Poppies, Hyacinth, and Lilies
Josephine and Persephone made it to the front of the mountains by
midafternoon. At the bottom it was rocky, but as they looked up, the snow began
to form on the higher parts of each peak. These were the mountains that
Josephine longed to experience in the city, but now she was starting to regret
it. The wind howled past the crevices and slabs of limestone.
“Over here,” Persephone moved to face an opening in the stone; it was small
enough for a child to get through but not big enough for someone their size,
“We’re going to go in this way, and come out on the other side of the mountain,
right in front of the Valencia Desert.”
Josephine rubbed her eyes in attempt to see clearer. There was no way
she was going to fit through that hole, in one piece anyways. It looked like it
was made for a specific creature. One not as big as them, but strong enough to
push the stones to the side to enter the mountain.
“Don’t worry, I’m going first,” Persephone said. She held herself diagonally
on the stones; the muscles in her arms flexed as she pushed herself through the
opening legs first. She slipped in, just barely.
With Josephine’s dress, there was absolutely no way she was going to fit
in there without taking it off. She started stripping, starting with the corset
that was tightly bound around her waist, and huffed a loud sigh as she allowed
her stomach to expand. She was finally able to breathe for the first
time in hours. She removed the rest of the undergarments, which left her with
nothing on except for a puffy blouse and tight, white pants. She felt more than
naked.
“What are you waiting for, princess?” Persephone yelled through the
crevices, but she was nowhere to be seen. It was so dark inside the opening,
and her friend’s voice echoed as if the tunnel was wide and empty.
Josephine entered the same way as Persephone did but struggled to get
her hips through. She started to hyperventilate as she tried to wiggle her way in.
When she made it, she fell onto the other side with a thump.
Persephone lit a match. The whole tunnel lit up. Josephine scrambled to
her feet and glanced around. The trickle of water from the top of the tunnels
sounded in the distance. The image of blood red flowers bloomed from the walls,
surrounded by hyacinths and mint. The smell hit Josephine in the face; the
inside of the cave looked like a garden.
Persephone was standing by the big bloom of red flowers, caressing them
with her hand. As she did, more sprouted around it, slowly, with the movement
of her wrist, “These are called Anemones, or Poppies. My mother had these all
around her garden when I lived with her. They were created by Aphrodite in her
grief upon finding the body of her human lover, Adonis. Adonis had been killed
by a ravaging boar, and while Aphrodite wept over his body, his blood on the
grass transformed into these flowers; hence the blood-red color.”
Josephine walked towards her, watching with awe. She longed to be able
to wield power like that. She wanted to feel the electricity on her fingers and
the energy that left her body and traveled into the universe.
“That’s…amazing,” She said, “How did you do that?”
Persephone glanced away from the flower to look at her new friend, “What?
Make them bloom?”
Josephine nodded. Persephone flashed a quick smile, “I just imagined it.
I imagined this tunnel, and the Anemones growing everywhere. Once you get the
hang of it, it’s pretty much second nature. You’ll learn how to wield your own
power, soon enough, princess. Let’s get going.”
Josephine followed Persephone through the tunnels. It smelled of mold
and sulfur from the volcano above. But, as they walked, the lush landscapes of
moss and flowers grew larger in width. Eventually they came to the middle of
the mountain, where a pool of lava sat. The tunnels were no longer narrow, and
Josephine allowed her eyes to take in the large cavern. Steam and smoke rose
from the element; black cracks covering each and every layer of the lava.
Flowers still bloomed on the walls, and instead of walking on mud, they were
now standing on grass.
How could any flora thrive in these tunnels when this is what’s at the
center? This must be the heart of Forbidden Slopes.
“Is this the heart of Forbidden Slopes?” Josephine asked.
Persephone began to walk around the pool of lava and concentrated on the
lilies growing on the walls, “Yes and no. This is the heart of Olympus. We’re
halfway through; although, I have a feeling the other side of this mountain
won’t be so beautiful.”
“Why?”
“These lilies are dying. I don’t know why. The mountain is the powerhouse for
Olympus, and without it, Olympus may fall. If this volcano erupts, it
could destroy the island completely. There should be plenty of light for this
flora to grow, yet…they’re dying.”
How could Olympus fall when it’s reigned by Zeus? Josephine thought as
long as Zeus had the master lightning bolt, Olympus was safe. How could a
mountain have anything to do with the fall of the Gods? If it erupted, couldn’t
they just have relocated?
“What do you mean?” She asked, “I don’t understand.”
“Energy is stored here. From each god. Why do you think there are
Anemones growing in a cave? I’m sure this is Aphrodite’s work. The light
gleaming in through the peak is Apollo… these olives,” Persephone stroked a olive
that was growing onto a branch, through the walls, “are Athena. Don’t you see
it now? No wonder they need a Champion. This place is going to erupt, and all
the magic along with it.”
“How do you know all of this?” Josephine asked. She studied Persephone
with puzzled eyes.
“I can feel it. The flowers dying—I mean. But I also learned about this
volcano from my husband.”
“Hades?”
“Yes, Hades. This is a sacred place, very similar to the Grande Hall. I
dreamt of this place. This my first time being here, just like you.”
“How did you know where the entrance was then?” Josephine questioned.
Persephone looked at her with worried eyes, “Are you questioning my
sanity, Josephine? Or, are you now starting to think I lied to you?”
“No, I’m not saying that. Just simply asking a question.”
Josephine truly didn’t think Persephone would lie to her. She just
wanted to know why she was never taught of all these places. She hadn’t even
known about this place, except for the fact that their was a mountain and a
forest in front of it—and behind it was the Valencia Desert.
“I knew that was the entrance to the tunnels because I dreamt of it last
night,” Persephone admitted, “I have these dreams. Some good, some bad. But
last night I dreamt of how this would go for us—and this volcano was in it. I
dreamt of your encounter with that guard and all. From when we went to the stylist,
to stepping foot in this cave—it was all in my dream.”
“You can foretell the future?” Josephine asked.
“No, not quite. I just get feelings that things are going to happen. I’m…
intuitive. Remember back at Zeus’ Tavern, you asked me if I was a mind reader.
I said I just liked reading people. I can feel when things are going to happen
to people, in my bones. I can sometimes see it in dreams, like I did last
night. Like with this place.”
“And you just now decide to tell me this?” Josephine asked with a
shocked expression on her face, “How did you even acquire this?”
“Hades thinks it’s because I’ve spent so much time in the Underworld,” Persephone
left Josephine’s side and walked to the other side of the cave, towards the exit
of the mountain.
Josephine just watched her. She could only imagine what Persephone had
truly been through, but she didn’t dare ask. Maybe after this adventure she
would ask Persephone more about her experiences in the Underworld and her
mother, Demeter. She followed behind her friend, as they ventured into the dark
tunnel that awaited them—their only way out of this place.
The first few minutes they stayed quiet, studying their surroundings. The
creak of metal sounded in the distance, and they stopped to look at each other
with pure fear in their eyes.
“Cyclops. Stay quiet. Do. Not. Move,” Persephone whispered as she pulled
Josephine behind a boulder.
Josephine’s skill crawled. She could smell the rotted teeth on the
monster. It seemed as if his breath radiated for yards.
The tunnel went quiet, and the ground rumbled as the Cyclops groaned. He
smelled them.
“Where… Are… Youuuu?” He slammed his metal axe into the boulder a couple
yards in front of them. He was getting closer. They needed to run. But where?
Persephone looked behind them, and then peeked over to get a glance of how
much room they really had to escape. The Cyclops was huge, and the only way was
in between his legs. It was a suicidal quest. The Cyclops was stronger, but not
smarter. They needed to distract him.
Josephine thought about the stories her father told her regarding the
Cyclops he defeated.
Blind him and cut off his nose. Cyclops’ are no good when they cannot see
or smell, little flower.
“I smellll youuu!” He groaned again as he stepped closer and closer to
the rock they were hiding behind. He could easily pick it up and smash them
with it. Then, they wouldn’t have a chance to win the competition or kidnap
Hermes. Josephine would never make her father proud.
“Persephone!” Josephine whispered, “I have an idea.”
I'm so happy you enjoyed! In the next few chapters, you'll see that stuff
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