Spring & Death

Spring & Death

Ariel Eyre · Ongoing · 46.7k Words

731
Hot
731
Views
137
Added
Add to Shelf
Start Reading
Share:facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

Introduction

Persephone grew up with only her mother, Demeter, and the nymphs on her mother's estate. She was taught certain things about the world, but only from a jaded Demeter's viewpoint. She was taught that all the Gods, especially Hades, are the worst in the world, despite the fact that she is one of the 12 Olympians who run the world.
When Zeus calls Hades to meet at Demeter's, it is discussed as a rebellion against the Gods. A plot to perhaps release their father from Tartarus has Zues stressed and demanding that his brother makes sure their father is tightly locked away in Tartarus.
With the arrival of two other Olympians on Demeter's estate, she shuffles her daughter away. She doesn't want her to be around any of the other Gods. She wants to keep her daughter intact in her own image, as Persephone is all she has. Unfortunately for Demeter, Hades caught a glimpse of Persephone, and one glance was all it took. He wants her. With tensions between the rebels and the Gods and Demeters' temper, it does not seem a good time to be falling in love.
This is a modern take on the tale of Hades and Persephone.

Chapter 1

Gods are the only constant among the heavens. Many of our stories have been told by humans and the gods themselves, but mine seems to be a carefully fabricated lie to gain sympathy. My mother Demeter has told the world that I was stolen away by the being that the world fears, the god of the underworld, Hades. He is not what people perceive him to be. My mother’s lies about my history and what happened in the War on Humanity are completely inaccurate. So, this is a story of what happened just years ago. A true firsthand account of the war and how the god of the dead did not kidnap me but, how he saved me, in a way no one else could.

My story begins on my mother's estate. It was the only life I had ever known. My mother had kept me close to her, when she had to visit Olympus, I had nymphs to keep me company. From a young age, my mother taught me about just how horrible the world was. Humanity was far from perfect. However, we needed them. They were there to worship us and in turn we would give them what they needed to survive.

But humanity was not the only thing that was corrupted, the Gods themselves were arrogant, vengeful, and above all dangerous. The worst of them being Hades. I had been told that he was evil incarnate. He relished in death, that is why he had been named the God of the Dead and given the position of king of the underworld. According to my mother, Zues gave him the position just to make sure he didn’t spew his poison onto the other Olympians. He had his own dominion to wreak havoc on.

My mother had made me feel safe on her estate. I was far from the gods, and their heathenistic attributes. I was kept from the mortals who constantly wanted more than they should have. Mortals who had no morality, I was valued and loved. I had nymphs that were my friends, my best one not being a nymph but my mother. I loved Demeter more than any human ever would. She was my everything, and I was Her's. So, when she told me to hurry off and stay away from our home for a few hours I did it without question.

I took to the rose gardens that were just behind our house grabbing some of my art supplies. I had been determined to sketch the beautiful flowers my mother and I planted. I wanted to capture some of the enormous fountains that littered the large floral garden. The sun was shining, and I deemed it the perfect day to spend in one of my favorite places on the estate. I could have chosen one of the ponds on the property where I liked to swim with the nymphs, but I was drawn to the lush roses and how their smell stroked my being and made me feel my magic come alive. I wondered if I could somehow capture that I felt myself in those flowers.

I got lost in my small world. Focusing on lightly putting lines down on the paper. Outlying the forms of the flowers and a fountain closest to me. I knew I would spend many hours out there trying to capture the environment. But I didn’t mind, my mother had asked me to go find something to do outside of the house. I didn’t know how long I had been working when the sky began to fall very grey. Then a flash of lightning struck, and I shook at the force of it. I looked to the sky to see the dark clouds suddenly evaporating and I was left once again to sketch.

Once again something sounded drawing my attention from my art. I watched as my mother was storming out of the house. Her dark red hair was tied in a neat loose bun at the nape of her neck. She was spewing curses as she stormed from our home. Her hands fisted at her sides as she walked at a fast pace until she was out of view. My face pinched together. I didn’t often see my mother frustrated.

I wanted to know what had caused my mother so much affliction. I knew my mother could handle herself, she required no protection from me. Though I was a goddess in my own right, my mother was one of the twelve. The most powerful of the gods and she didn’t require me to fight her battles. But something in me felt drawn to investigate what had driven my mother from our home. I stood and set down my supplies and began to creep toward the house, curiosity driving me.

I snuck through one of the French doors near the back of the house. I found no one inside. That was unusual seeing as my home was always filled with nymphs running about doing one thing or another. I continued deeper inside, keeping my body close to the walls. If whatever had sent my mother into that fit was still in there, I didn’t want to face it. I just wanted to see it. I finally heard voices coming from the library. They were loud and much deeper than any I had ever heard. The wooden door was closed.

I had a deep rush of insecurity about what would happen if I just opened the door and walked inside. Whomever was in there must have been horrible to send my mother off like she had. But I wanted to know, so I opened the door slowly just a little. Just enough to see, I thought. There I saw them. One had their back to me. He was larger than anyone I had ever encountered. I assumed it had to be a man. I had only seen a few of them in my lifetime and had never spoken to any of them, so I couldn’t be sure.

I looked at the closest figure. His white curly hair draped down his large back. I looked past him wanting to get a look at the other figure in the room. As I looked, I knew he was of the male form, his arms reminded me of tree trunks. His figure was intimidating. His body was colossal, and the definition of his muscular frame was apparent as his clothes hung close to him. Not to the point of defining everything on his body but enough to tell me this was someone who could crush me if they chose. I found he too had long hair. But it fell to his shoulders rather than down his back, and it was as black as coal. I then looked at his face; he had a beard. The same color as his wavy black locks, but it was trimmed and neat.

When I got to his eyes, I noticed they were staring right back at me. Fixed on me instead of the person in front of him. A chill ran up my spine as I felt I couldn’t pull my eyes from him. His dark gaze felt like they were burrowing into the deepest part of my being. I tried to look away, but his fixation was powerful and kept me in place. Suddenly, his eyes broke contact after what felt like an eternity as he looked at the other massive figure. I saw a slight lifting of the corner of his mouth.

I was about to leave when I heard the word “Kronos.” I knew that name. He was the father of the 12. Mother had said that he had tried to kill all his children including her and wanted to rule everyone and everything. I had been scared he would come for my mother when I was little, my mother assured me it would never happen, and I had come to believe her. But here these men were openly using a name I had only heard a few times. I didn’t want to know anymore I had seen who was in my mother’s house and that was good enough for me. I quietly shut the door and crept back to the garden.

I tried to pick back up the drawing I was working on, but my mind kept wandering back to those dark eyes staring at me. I flipped to a new page in my notebook and began to try and recreate those eyes. Suddenly my heart began to pound. My skin peppered with goosebumps. I looked up to find the man from the library looming over me. It felt like I was no longer breathing. A smirk fell across the man’s marbled face and then he spoke to me in a deep voice that radiated power. “You, know curiosity is never a bad thing, but listening in on a private conversation between two gods is probably not the wisest. But then again if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have known that Demeter was keeping such a rare flower all to herself.”

Last Chapters

You Might Like 😍

The Lycan Prince’s Puppy

The Lycan Prince’s Puppy

1.2m Views · Ongoing · chavontheauthor
“You’re mine, little puppy,” Kylan growled against my neck.
“Soon enough, you’ll be begging for me. And when you do—I’ll use you as I see fit, and then I’ll reject you.”


When Violet Hastings begins her freshman year at Starlight Shifters Academy, she only wants two things—honor her mother’s legacy by becoming a skilled healer for her pack and get through the academy without anyone calling her a freak for her strange eye condition.

Things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that Kylan, the arrogant heir to the Lycan throne who has made her life miserable from the moment they met, is her mate.

Kylan, known for his cold personality and cruel ways, is far from thrilled. He refuses to accept Violet as his mate, yet he doesn’t want to reject her either. Instead, he sees her as his puppy, and is determined to make her life even more of a living hell.

As if dealing with Kylan’s torment isn’t enough, Violet begins to uncover secrets about her past that change everything she thought she knew. Where does she truly come from? What is the secret behind her eyes? And has her whole life been a lie?
Surrendering to Destiny

Surrendering to Destiny

234.7k Views · Completed · Allison Franklin
Catherine is not only a rogue half-breed, she is also the result of mate-bond infidelity, was abandoned as a baby and, to top it off, she can only shift during the full moon. When Catherine left the only pack she'd ever known in order to escape the new alpha, the last thing she expected was to find her mate... let alone for him to be the mouth-watering, heavily tattooed, lead warrior of the most feared lycan pack on the continent.

Graham MacTavish wasn't prepared to find his mate in the small town of Sterling that borders the Blackmoore Packlands. He certainly didn't expect her to be a rogue, half-breed who smelled of Alpha blood. With her multi-colored eyes, there was no stopping him from falling hard the moment their mate bond snapped into place. He would do anything to claim her, protect her and cherish her no matter the cost.

From vengeful ex-lovers, pack politics, species prejudice, hidden plots, magic, kidnapping, poisoning, rogue attacks, and a mountain of secrets including Catherine's true parentage there is no shortage of things trying to tear the two apart.

Despite the hardships, a burning desire and willingness to trust will help forge a strong bond between the two... but no bond is unbreakable. When the secrets kept close to heart are slowly revealed, will the two be able to weather the storm? Or will the gift bestowed upon Catherine by the moon goddess be too insurmountable to overcome?
My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate

My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate

396.4k Views · Completed · Veejay
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
Violent Little Thing.

Violent Little Thing.

297.2k Views · Completed · sheridan.hartin
Fuck off? I lent over to her side of the car, grabbed her hips and ripped her over to straddle my lap. This girl was something else, I knew it from the start. Now I needed her to know just who I am and what I am capable of. I held one hand firmly on her waist and the other to her throat. It wasn’t tight enough to hurt her, but it would keep her in place for now.
“Angel, you have a filthy fucking mouth”, I whispered low into her ear.
“Luciano…” Finally, an expression on her face. A real one she wasn’t hiding from me. It wasn’t fear though. It was lust. My girl likes this. I pulled her down further so she could feel just how much I was liking it too and the most enchanting gasp came from her mouth while her eyes rolled back for a moment.
————————————————
Do you enjoy a damsel in distress and a knight in shining armour? If so, then this book is not for you. This five foot nothing, FMC, Ariana Salvatore is a ruthless assassin, trained and tortured to be the most deadly weapon. She's got a heart of gold, a filthy mouth and a will to survive. She's on the run from her father's heavy hand and deadly demands. What happens when not one but three powerful mafia men pine for her? Will they be able to share? Will her past catch up to her? And what about her ex fiance? The ruthless, beast of a man her father had arranged for her to marry? This book is a whirlwind of events, violent, spicy and not for the faint hearted.
Omega Bound

Omega Bound

209.5k Views · Ongoing · Veronica White
Ayla Frost is a beautiful, rare omega. Kidnapped, tortured, and trafficked to rogue clans and corrupt alphas to do with as they pleased.  Kept alive in her cage, broken and abandoned by her wolf, she becomes mute and has given up on hope for a better life until one explosion changes everything. 

Thane Knight is the alpha of the Midnight Pack of the La Plata Mountain Range, the largest wolf shifter pack in the world. He is an alpha by day and hunts the shifter trafficking ring with his group of mercenaries by night. His hunt for vengeance leads to one raid that changes his life. 

Tropes:
Touch her and die/Slow burn romance/Fated Mates/Found family twist/Close circle betrayal/Cinnamon roll for only her/Traumatized heroine/Rare wolf/Hidden powers/Knotting/Nesting/Heats/Luna/Attempted assassination
The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King

The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King

273.9k Views · Completed · Amelia Rivers
Don't stop," I begged, my hips bucking against his touch, every nerve screaming for more. "Fuck, Jace, please…"

"Eyes on me," he growled, voice thick with lust, practically vibrating through me. "I wanna watch you lose it when I make you come."

My climax slammed into me, wild and unstoppable, as he rasped, "That's it, baby."

The next morning, my heart shattered into pieces. There was Scarlett—throwing herself into Jace's arms, her body pressed intimately against his chest, her hands possessively claiming what I thought was mine just hours ago.


Raised by werewolves, human Aria Silverbrook has always lived as an outsider. When her adoptive father flees with her to escape a dangerous Alpha's advances, they find sanctuary with the powerful Moon Shadow Pack. But Aria never expected the overwhelming connection she feels to the pack's mysterious Alpha, Jace Carter—or how his young daughter Aurora instantly claims a piece of her heart.

Jace's royal Primal bloodline makes him exceptional among Alphas, his wolf Phantom towering over others. When Aria enters his territory, something stirs within him. As the Blood Moon approaches, he debates revealing the truth: she is his destined mate who will unlock his full potential.

Near her eighteenth birthday, Aria notices disturbing changes. Her wounds heal unnaturally fast after saving Aurora from a rogue wolf. A strange voice whispers warnings of transformation, while her lifelong wolf-paw birthmark takes on new significance.

Is Aria truly human? What secrets will the Blood Moon reveal? And as she falls deeper for Jace despite jealous pack members threatening their bond, can she embrace a destiny beyond anything she imagined—becoming Luna to a Wolf King?
The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

1.4m Views · Ongoing · Jaylee
Soft hot lips find the shell of my ear and he whispers, "You think I don't want you?" He pushes his hips forward, grinding into the back of my ass and I groan. "Really?" He chuckles.

"Let me go," I whimper, my body trembling with need. "I don't want you touching me."

I fall forward onto the bed then turn around to stare at him. The dark tattoos of Domonic's chiseled shoulders, quiver and and expand with the heave of his chest. His deep dimpled smile is full of arrogance as he reaches behind himself to lock the door.

Biting his lip, he stalks toward me, his hand going to the seam of his pants and the thickening bulge there.

"Are you sure you don't want me to touch you?" He whispers, untying the knot and slipping a hand inside. "Because I swear to God, that is all I have been wanting to do. Every single day from the moment you stepped in our bar and I smelled your perfect flavor from across the room."


New to the world of shifters, Draven is human on the run. A beautiful girl who no one could protect. Domonic is the cold Alpha of the Red Wolf Pack. A brotherhood of twelve wolves that live by twelve rules. Rules which they vowed could NEVER be broken.

Especially - Rule Number One - No Mates

When Draven meets Domonic, he knows that she is his mate, but Draven has no idea what a mate is, only that she has fallen in love with a shifter. An Alpha that will break her heart to make her leave. Promising herself, she will never forgive him, she disappears.

But she doesn’t know about the child she’s carrying or that the moment she left, Domonic decided rules were made to be broken - and now will he ever find her again? Will she forgive him?
My Husband Wants An Open Marriage

My Husband Wants An Open Marriage

196k Views · Completed · Elysian Sparrow
It’s true what they say about marriage: one partner’s always happier than the other.

Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage.

The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie’s long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back.

Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan.

Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha

Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha

256.3k Views · Ongoing · Alice Tumusiime
Warning 18+ ⚠️MATURE READERS ONLY⚠
"You want me to fuck you, I know it"
"As much as you don't like me, you're my mate and you can't deny it."
He stood up behind me, one hand holding my hip, and leaned down, his breath ragged against my neck, his voice was husky,
"You'll listen to your body... what it wants... and my body... what it needs. Only the pleasure that a small bite can bring."

At the age of 15, I was shocked to hear the ruthless Alpha claim that I was his mate.
To make matters worse, he killed my father, who was trying to protect me. At that time, I successfully ran away from him.
However, when I turned 18, I fell into his trap again.
I hated him and wanted revenge, but the moon goddess had a different plan for me.
I was his mate, and we were fated to be together. No matter the circumstances, my body couldn't resist him.
The Luna's Vampire Prince

The Luna's Vampire Prince

144k Views · Completed · Bella Moondragon
Prince Rafe leans over me, holding himself up on one elbow as he gazes at my face. I feel his eyes wandering over every surface from my brow to my eyes, down my nose, to my lips and chin, and then returning to hold my gaze for a second. The small smile at the corner of his mouth makes me think he likes what he sees.
His hand is cool when it brushes a loose curl from my cheek, but I don’t jerk away from him. I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t understand why I’m here. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. It seems like a lot of powerful people want me—dead or alive. And yet, all I can think about right now is how badly I want this vampire’s hands on my body.


I live in a desolate village on the edge of the Vampire King’s lands. This used to be wolf shifter territory, but now, we are just trying to survive.
When I mess up and find myself in a culling, I know I’m dead. No wolf shifters ever survive these events.
And after the stunt I pulled in the middle of the village, Prince Rafe probably wants me dead.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing when a vampire looks at you like you’re a snack?
Something tells me, once I reach the castle, I’ll be missing my miserable existence in the village.
But then—it turns out I have no freaking idea who I even am, and when the royals start referring to me as Princess Ainslee, I realize my life is about to take a turn—for better or worse.
Letting Go

Letting Go

192.7k Views · Completed · Becky j
Molly's life was perfect. She was married to her high school sweetheart, surrounded by her friends and family and she was looking forward to the future. But that all ends one tragic night when her whole world is turned upside down.
That fateful night leads to Molly and her best friend Tom holding a secret close to their hearts but keeping this secret could also mean destroying any chance of a new future for Molly.
When Tom's oldest brother Christian meets Molly his dislike for her is instant and he puts little effort into hiding it. The problem is he's attracted to her just as much as he dislikes her and staying away from her starts to become a battle, a battle that he's not sure he can win.
When Molly's secret is revealed and she’s forced to face the pain from her past can she find the strength to stay and work through the pain or will she run away from everything she knows including the one man who gives her hope for a happy future? Hope that she never thought she would feel again.