{Aboveworld, dusk}

“Take it off.”

Persephone shakes her head, trying her best not to cower beneath her mother’s raging glare. 

The spring goddess has been freed from the gloomy estates of the Underworld, and brought back by Hermes into Demeter’s welcoming arms.  Mother and daughter rejoice with much weeping and an embrace to conclude the celebrations, but the happy atmosphere abruptly comes to an end when Demeter notices the innocent necklace lying against the creamy skin of her bosom.

“I repeat Kore, take it off.”  The harvest goddess grits, her angered breaths spewing from her nostrils as she dares her daughter to defy her again. 

Persephone merely puts a protective hand over and says calmly, “Mother, my name is Persephone.  Please do not call me Kore, for that is not my birth title.”

“What nonsense have you been thinking, child?”  Demeter shouts, now stomping forward.  “Kore is your rightful name, and has always been since the day you were born!  I am your mother, how could I not know my own children?  Listen to me, Kore.  That man has brainwashed you.  You must take that vile thing off—”

“This ‘thing’ is not vile, it is a gift—”

“A useless piece of junk!”

“From Lord Hades and he certainly did not brainwash me—”

“He is an evil and disgusting manipulator!”

"Mother, how could you?”  Persephone whispers, her eyes filling up with tears once again.  “H-How could you insult him like that?  Lord Hades is not evil and a cruel man, he is kind and gentle a-and…”

She suddenly remembers the last words he said to her.

“This necklace has a magical enchantment,” Hades said. 

“As long as you wear it on your neck, the seeds will never ripen nor rot.  However, the moment you part with it, the seeds will evaporate into thin air and die.  This is my last gift to you, Lady Persephone.  Goodbye and have a safe journey.”

Then he kissed her.

Despite all that has happened, Persephone brings a finger to her slightly swollen lips.  This movement, unfortunately, did not escape Demeter’s sharp eyes, and she staggers back. 

“No!  Dear Kore, please tell me he didn’t!”

His eyes, so dark yet so alluring.  His secretive smile, an