Kore

I still searched the palace in quest for Aides but after a few minutes, I started to grow weary.

Oh! It was no use. He had probably gone to his room or disappeared to the darkest depths of the hidden forest.
This realm was vast and uncharted; one wrong turn and you could be in the garden of souls.

I paused to rest, leaning my back against the corridor wall. "Hmmm" I hummed to myself, what is another place I could go to escape from Zeus?
The place that always gave me hope, the sanctuary where I always felt at ease.

Thé garden of Gethsem.

———

I wonder and smile, coming into the garden, looking up at the tree. I tiptoe to pluck a fruit from its stem, eager to find the pomegranate that once bound me to the underworld. Maybe if I looked into its properties, I could find a seed or potion that could aid me to stay.

I pluck the juiciest from the top and make my way over the swing set Aides had built for me. He had still left it up so it was decorated with bright white roses. I swung back and forth, breaking open the fruit and looking into its core.

"What is that?" I hear Aides' voice and a spirit of relief washed over me. Even his voice lulled me into a stupor of tranquility.

"Nothing" I smiled pulling the fruit in front of my torso. He came behind me on the swing and looked at the tree before turning his head to me... I mean me as Hera.

He held the side of each rope, halting my movement.
"You sure it's nothing?" He whispered into my ear
His voice sent shivers down my spine

"Well, it may be nothing to you. To me it's something." I answer flirtatiously. He leans a warm palm down my arm, pulling it from my stomach and bringing it above my head.

"Now why would thé goddess of marriage and family be hiding a pomegranate behind her back?" He takes it from my hand and tosses it up into the air.

"I don't know? Maybe to make a new potion to make my husband a better man." He breaks it open and gives half to me. I run a finger against the seeds, popping a few into my mouth. "I also heard pomegranates help stimulate other things too."

He smirked, understanding my vulgarity but appreciating my bluntness. He took the fruit from my hand and led me to stand. I walked a little, pushing my back against the tree and staring up at him.
"Are you mad I took it from your tree?"

"I'm not one for pomegranates" He looks down at the fruit, picking a seed from its core.

"Oh?"

"No, I prefer roses."

"Do you" I smirked. He knew Kore was pricked by a black rose. Was he being blunt or fictitious?

Our innocent innuendos went on like this for a couple more minutes until I went back to the swing and started again.
This time he came behind me and grabbed my
neck, forcing my eyes to face his.

"I need to know" he muttered, staring down at my lips. He was impatient to kiss them.

"Know what" I whispered, trying to calm my heartbeat. He knew I was playing dumb. I knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Turn around," he said. I smirked refusing to heed his command. I knew my defiance drove him crazy.
He didn't give me a chance to understand his next actions. He bent low, biting my neck and kissing it with his tongue.

I held his jaw, pulling him deeper into my mouth. We kissed violently, smacking with fervent intensity. The warmth of his hands tingled down my spine, endlessly searching for the knot to untie my robe.

I didn't mind his contact but I knew what he was searching for. He continued untying each string, slowly and carefully, until my skin was exposed. I could feel his pulsing heartbeat.

Aides

Doubt.
Uncertainty. Fear.
Those were all the emotions running through my mind.
I was never this forward, untying Hera's robes while Zeus was only a few meters away.

It was the only way I could prove this was Kore in some way.
It had to be her.
The lengthy glances.
The happiness in her smile. Hera never expressed such pleasantries before.
Then I thought of the mark! Kore had a mark! A Line of ravens on her back when she ate the fruit that bound her to the underworld. Little did she know that no matter what spell or potion she drank to disguise herself it would still show.

If I could just prove it was her...
Then what? What would I do? Ban her once more?
Hide her in the darkest of rooms in the underworld so she could never escape?

Kore

We continued kissing before he parted and trickled kisses down my shoulders. Heavier and heavier my breaths grew as he continued untying my dress. The cold air of the forest caressed my back.
I knew what he was looking for. It was the very reason why I went to see the three Fates.

I let out another heavy breath praying he realized my truth once it was not there.

Finally, he came to my spine and cursed, creating a healthy distance between us. He stepped back, resting against the tree, embarrassed he had been so abrasive.

"Hera.. I'm ..
I thought you were..." he stumbled over his words.

Say it ... say it Aides

He looked into my eyes, trying to assess my emotions.
Before I could even speak, he stormed away, too ashamed to face me.

"Aides!"! I grabbed his wrist, halting his departure.
"When you kiss me ... do I remind you of her?"

"Hera" he breaks free from my grip, making sure to avoid my gaze.

"You kissed me for a reason Aides" i whispered pressing my head against his chest. Gently he pushed me away, leaving me alone in the little circle of thé garden.

"...Aides wait!" I try to run after him but he was already gone.

I punch the trunk of the tree, saddened by his predictability.
I knew Aides had caught wind of my aura. I knew he would try to search for my markings to see if it was truly me. Good thing I told the witches to hide it until the coronation of Eris.

If he would have known I was Kore my plan would have been ruined. I would transform into Kore without a chance to defeat Eris if that did happen.
It did not want him to say my name....not yet.

But I wasn't all too sad.
The very fact that he searched my back for the markings meant he knew I was Kore and that was a victory in itself.

But why couldn't he say my name ——?

Aides

I needed to take a shower to clear my name. I was hunched in my shower, letting the warm water run down my spine.

Even when I tried my hardest to forget about her...I refused.
Her lips
Her eyes.
I wanted her to myself yet... she was Hera.
Why did I kiss her like it was the last time I would see her? As if it was the last time I would ever be able to catch a glimpse?

Her face said Hera but her lips tasted like Kore.
My beautiful innocent wildflower.
My Kore.

——-

Author Note:
So Aides did know! But Kore asked the witches to make her markings disappear (Remember at the beginning of the book she had that line of ravens?"

Also! I started a new book! Called Queens Play!

It's only at 25 reads for the first chapter so I would love it to get it to 50! You know it's an uncouthwriter original so you know it will be a mess!