Persephone gobbled down more food than she ever ate in her life. She was starving ever since she woke up and she didn't understand what could've brought this change in her.

"I don't know why I'm so hungry," she told Hades as she took drank away the freshly squeezed orange juice.

"You were asleep for days," he leisurely watched her eat away the buffet.

Persephone told him that she was absolutely restored back to health now and her body wasn't disoriented anymore, but he still didn't leave her side all morning which she didn't argue against because she knew how much he was worried about her.

Persephone leaned back in the chair and noticed the warmth coursing through her blood, she didn't know how long she'd have to wait in order to feel her true power again, but damn had she missed the sensation of purity. Persephone didn't show Hades, but the remnants of Kore's power was still imbedded in her blood and the veins around her inner wrist proved it. The bluish green veins had turned horridly black, and the thin veins climbed up her wrist like dead rose vines.

"Are you ready to go?" asked Hades.

"Yes," she answered and grabbed his extended hand to go to Mono for some answers concerning these new powers of hers. "I'm a bit nervous though," she muttered.

"Don't be," reassured Hades.

"I can't help but think that Mono will say something unsettling," revealed Persephone.

Hades glanced at her. "Why are you so worried about these new powers?"

"You didn't see what I saw," said Persephone. "There was emptiness in Kore's eyes that showed me that her heart was cold and bitter."

Hades grew quiet and so did she.

They strode together beyond the fires of Tartarus towards a small hut she had visited before. She still remembered the dusty windows that had cobwebs instead of curtains. The wood was creaky and old whilst the short chimney always had smoke exiting the chambers.

Hades knocked.

"What do you want!" A voice snarled.

Persephone chuckled. It was good to know that Mono was still the same old sage and that he changed for no one.

"Mono," Hades called out. "It's Hades."

"Like I said," repeated Mono. "What do you want?"

Persephone stepped forward. "Mono!" Persephone called out to the stubborn sage who preferred his own company over others. "It's Persephone, I need your help."

A breeze of silence drifted around them.

"It's no use," grumbled Hades.

"Hold on," she whispered.

Abruptly, the door squeaked open and Mono's cloaked figure was revealed under the dim light.

"Hello, Mono," she greeted politely, and for a second, she felt a deep sense of reassurance upon setting her eyes on this sage.

"It's good to see you back on your feet," said Mono as he moved to the side and opened his door wider to let her inside his cozy yet creepy home.

"So," Hades walked up to Mono. "You open the door for her but not your only friend."

Mono rolled his eyes. "Would you like some tea, Persephone?"

"I would love some," she answered and ushered Hades to quit his brooding at the entrance of the door. Hades closed the door behind him but his sullied mood continued until he sat down.

"I'm sure you already know why we're here, Mono," said Persephone.

Mono appeared from the kitchen with three cups floating around him. In his pale bony hands held a stem of lively blue hyacinth flowers.

"You're here to ask about your other form," said Mono as he took his seat.

"Can you tell us anything about her transformation?" asked Hades.

Mono chanted a few words in a language she didn't understand. The spell was casted upon the cups which allowed them to fill up with steaming hot water perfect for tea. Mono's nimble fingers separated the petals of the flowers and he dropped them in each cup.

"I see that you took care of the flowers I gifted," said Persephone as the fresh spring flavour of blue tea poured down her parched throat.

"They weren't so tough," said Mono. "All I did was pour some water ever now and again."

"And that was all they needed to make such impeccable tea," said Persephone.

Everyone in the room knew that she was diverting their attention with polite conversation in order to avoid anything about Kore. But she knew she couldn't dodge it forever, so she silenced and let Mono explain what he found in his books.

"After you fell asleep I knew that your transformation wasn't normal," said Mono. "I searched through a few books and found just one thing that explained your condition."

Persephone gazed into those beady blue eyes. "What is it?" she asked.

"I believe that when you were in danger and stuck in that garden, you reacted in a way no ordinary person or immortal would have. There was so much anger, fear and resentment in your body that it manifested into a form in order to protect you."

"She called herself Kore," revealed Persephone.

Mono's beady blue eyes lifted. "Interesting," he said. "You talked to that form?"

"While I was asleep," answered Persephone.

Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted them.

"Now what?" grumbled Mono.

"Milord Hades," a guard called out. "You have a message from your brother, Zeus."

Hades glanced at Persephone sorely.

"You can go," said Persephone. "I'll be fine with Mono. Besides, this might take time."

Hades shifted his gaze to Mono. "Take care of her while I'm gone," he said and rose from his seat after he laid a gentle kiss on Persephone's head. "I'll see you soon," he whispered to her and disappeared behind the front door with the guard.

"Let me show you something," said Mono.

They rose from their seats and he took her to a single room at the back. There was no light but just a single lamp flickered like a candle in the corner near the large desk. Massive shelves were lined around the room and they were filled with old books and papers. Mono went behind a cluttered desk that made it hard for her to even see the colour of the wood.

"What is all this?" she mumbled as her eyes scanned over the scattered papers and open books. All she could see were wild images of heinous monsters, beasts that eat mankind, and creatures of the darkness that are said to be only legend and myths.

"In my travels, I've collected many books that were thought to be lost or just folklores and songs," said Mono as he wrestled through the pages on his desk. "Where is it?" he muttered to himself.

"What are you looking for?" she asked.

"What happened to you has also happened to another goddess," said Mono. "Oh, here it is." Mono presented a large book that had a majestic image of a ferocious woman whose skin was as black as night and had long dark hair. Persephone gaped at the portrait of a woman who had a garland of severed human heads hung around her neck as adornment, and a skirt of severed arms, the woman's eyes were filled with anger as pure as fire and it warned any enemy that she would merciless. Her arms held a severed head and a bowl filled with blood. This goddess had a flaming red tongue that matched the markings on her body and face. Persephone was taken-aback by the resemblance this goddess had to Kore who also carried a trident and a sword.

"Who is this goddess?" Persephone barely found her voice.

"This is a goddess that hails from India and her transformation was similar to yours," said Mono. "She is Kali. The dark one."

"Her black skin and fiery eyes remind me a lot of Kore," said Persephone.

"This goddess is known for the paradox of death and protector. She is the ultimate mother that protects anyone that prays to her," informed Mono and the glow in his eyes brightened like he was excited.

"How can one be both a destroyer and a saviour?" asked Persephone.

"Kali is known to be merciless to the ones that are evil," said Mono. "But the ones she protects find her shrine the safest of all places. She is the mother of her devotees."

"So, you think Kore might be similar to this goddess?" asked Persephone.

"That is for you to figure out," advised Mono. "Kali was able to accept her powers and guide it to be an example of the balance between mercy and judgment."

"What if I can't do that?" asked Persephone doubtfully.

Mono thought for a while. "You cannot be afraid, Persephone," he said. "Do not forget that Kore is a form of you, she only embodies everything you already believe in. She may be dangerous but she will also protect just like you do for the things you love."

"How would I contact Kore if I needed to?" asked Persephone.

Mono fumbled through a few more pages of another book. "Nothing you already don't know how to do," said Mono. "You'll have to pray to her."

Persephone's brows shot up. "Pray to Kore?"

"Yes," said Mono. "Pray to her and she might answer you."

Persephone left Mono's hut even more confused than when she first arrived. But she knew what she must do now to understand this part of her that had emerged from anger and fear. Although, an urgent matter first called her attention and that was to confront her mother about her crimes against the Underworld and her daughter. 

A/N: I did my best to research about Kali as much as I could. I'm sorry If I got anything wrong! You can also research more if you're curious about Kali/Parvati or you could ask me in the comments I will help you as much as I can.