Kore

Chapter 1: Ancient Nymphs

"Kore, what have I told you about staying hidden when other Gods and Goddesses are here." Demeter scolded her young daughter.

"But mama, why? They are like me!" Kore cried back. It had been this way since she could remember. Her mother was super protective. She was was six her mother filled her head with lies about the other Gods. Said that they would take her away from her mom and use her for their own priorities. Now that Kore was 12 she didn't believe such silly rumors anymore.

"Kore! We've had this conversation time and time again and I will NOT repeat myself every time! DO you understand me!" Her mother boomed seething with anger. Kore flinched and nodded her head sadly to let her mother know she understood.

"Good, don't let it happen again!" Her mother huffed and headed back to the party she had left. Tears pooled Kore's eyes "why are you crying" came a tiny voice. Kore looked up but seen no one, "who's there?" she said as she stood up on defense.

"promise you won't hurt me?" the tiny voice came again. "I promise cross my heart." Kore promised the small voice. A little flower nymph came from where the little voice had illuminated. Kore was shocked, she had always heard of flower nymphs, but one hadn't been seen in years. They were considered extinct but there was one right in front of her. She cocked her head to the side out of curiousity.

"Your a flower nymph?" Kore questioned to the nymph to confirm her suspicion. The small nymph nodded, "Your tears created me." the flower nymph said. Shock spread across Kore's face, her tears she thought, was that even possible. "What's your name?" Kore asked. The nymph looked confused "Name? I don't have a name?" the nymph answered with wide eyes. Kore though about it for a second, and since she made the nymph she should name her. "How about Eteri for your name?" Kore asked her.

The nymph giggled and agreed to the name Kore gave her. "Would you like to sleep with me tonight?" Kore asked. The nymph nodded in agreement and took Kore's little hand that hoisted her into the bed. Eteri cuddled into Kore's arms and soon the room was filled with their cute little snores.

Next Morning

"KORE!" Demeter screamed as she yanked her young daughter from her bed away from the strange thing in her bed. The odd creature was super confused and sat up. She was no bigger than Kore was. Demeter's eyes widened in realization as she took in the creature before her. The pink and purple tinted creature was a flower nymph. She was in awe since it had been years since she had seen one. They were hunted by mortals for their beauty. They were raped and it destroyed them, Demeter remembered that time like it was yesterday. The terrors were engrained in her mind and she would never forget them.

Demeter kneels down to be face to face with the nymph. "What's your name love?" she questioned the nymph. "E-eteri" the nymph answered. "How did you come to be?" she questioned. "Kore's tears made me" she answered. Demeter's eyes widened in shock. No way she thought this can't be true, that would mean that Kore is not only the Goddess of Spring but a fertility Goddess. The realization shook her to her core, this can't be. At this moment, Demeter realized that she'd have to protect Kore from the other Gods and Goddesses.

Chapter 2: Impending Doom

The next couple years nymphs became more and more abundant as the fights between Demeter and her daughter Kore continued. Kore was a curious girl and would find herself in areas her mother had banned her from. However, she was no longer alone since she had the nymphs she had made from her sorrows.

The world of the Gods was modernizing faster than the realm of mortals her mother chose to live in. Demeter thought that the other Gods and Goddesses were rash and unpredictable. She didn't want her daughter anywhere near them so she could keep her pure and innocent. She honestly couldn't stand Zeus most of all, she called him a tyrant. He was unfair, had favorites and was a rake through and through. She pitied Hera most of all, she was rather wrathful compared to her compassionate self she was in her younger days. They had each others backs at one time, then the three brother's split the kingdom's and somehow Zeus managed to claim the ruler of the Gods position.

Hades took the underworld and Poseidon took the seas. The king of the underworld Hades had much resentment towards his brother. Fights would break out constantly between the two but no one was quiet sure the reasoning. Some say it was because Hades was in love with Hera, others thought it was because he felt cheated out of the top dog spot. But those were just rumors and gossip that Demeter didn't bother herself with.

Demeter was making her rounds through her estate when she heard male laughter. She felt immediate rage since she was strict about men on her property without permission. She rounded the corner to go off on the man trespassing. To her surprise there was Kore with Hermes laughing and joking. They immediately stopped when they seen Demeter. Demeter's face was filled with rage while Hermes and Kore's faces had drained of color.

"Mama, it's not what you think." Kore said kindly as she hopped down and held he arms out in a calming manner, almost like she was talking to a lion.

Demeter crossed her arms unconvinced "KORE, WHAT have I told you about men on the property!" She yelled.

"Ummm Demeter, it was my fault, Hecate sent a letter to her....and she seemed lonely " Hermes spoke up calmly. He knew Demeter couldn't harm her since he was a messenger God. Demeter was taken aback. "Lonely? Kore is this true, what about your friends?" she asked.

"Yes Mama, while I love the Nymph's with my whole soul, they can't understand me as a Goddess and how I feel my power growing. It's nice to talk to someone who understands who isn't you." Kore responded timidly.

Shock covered Demeter but she recover quickly. "Hermes may I talk with you? Alone?" She asked. Hermes nodded in agreement and followed Demeter out of earshot of Kore.

Kore watched from a distance as they talked back and forth tensely before Demeter stomped off. Hermes returned to Kore's side with a wide smile on his face.

"What did she say?" Kore asked Hermes in wonder.

'That we could be friends as long as we stay in the open and I don't try anything funny." He smirked knowing damn well he would never do the young Goddess like that."Really!" She exclaimed jumping into his arms with a huge hug after he nodded to confirm.

Hermes and Kore's friendship flourished over the next few years. He adored her like a little sister. The day she turned 18 he would be devastated at the horrendous acts he would witness.

Chapter 3: Acts of Wrath

The spring fields were coming along nicely, even though Kore was still learning her powers. She sighed as her powers were still eratic and overwhelming. Without her doing anything flowers would pop up where they weren't supposed to be.

Eteri came running yelling Kore's name "Kore, Kore...Kore."

Kore turned full of concern "What's going on?" she asked. "A...m.man.." Eteri huffed out "I think..he'ss a God.." she breathed in to catch her breath. This caught Kore off guard since a lot of men didn't come on the property. Both mortal and God males were aware of Demeter's wrath for those who intruded on her land uninvited.

"Alright, Eteri, I'll go check it out? Don't say anything to my mom, I can do it myself, I'm a strong Goddess as well." Kore stated with as much strength as she could muster. She headed into the more dense part of the forest on the property. She seen a man with gold blood dripping down his face as he sat at the base of a weeping willow tree. The willow tree was considered sacred and off limits to all except the nymphs, Kore and her mother Demeter. Kore crept closer to a better look see of who it was. she silently gasped when she realized it was the unseen one.

She was dazzled by his beauty, he wasn't scary like she was made to believe. She felt her heart skip beats and her cheeks grow pink. She thought to herself, get yourself together so you can face him. She took a few deep breaths and gained her composure. She stepped through the thrush hold into the God of deaths view. He was taken aback at the young Goddess before him. He had never seen someone so beautiful before. Who is she he wondered to himself.

"Excuse me." Kore said weakly, why was he making her so nervous she thought. He studied her face as she shifted back and forth on her feet. "You can't be here." She stated plainly. His eyes widened as he realized where he was. "I apologize Goddess," He bowed to Kore and dissipated leaving behind a thin layer of eerie black smoke.

Kore found herself disappointed and returned to where her nymphs were. They were enjoying the waters edge when the unthinkable happened. Men by the dozens swarmed in and possessed the nymphs for their own. Kore begged them to stop, she had heard of the past history where mortal men lusted after the flower Nymphs. They basically destroyed the Nymphs population. I created these lovely flower nymphs and this can't be happening she thought.

She watched as the friends she had created were torn from her. Her heart felt like it was being ripped from her body. The anger and hurt grew and grew until it no longer could be contained. Her eyes began to glow and she was surrounded but vines that rose her into the air. She sent the vines forth toward the assailants. The vines ripped and and tore at the men. As soon as it started it had ended. Kore's eyes returned to their innocence and widened at the bloody scene before her. Some of the men had acted before the vines got to them and killed off the nymphs. Kore let out a cry of devastation as she crawled over the to the cold bodies of her beloved friends. Guilt of what she had done racked her body as she cried hysterically.