The Sweet Fruit of Demeter's Love (9)
Achilles' group patrolled the outskirts of the sacred grove every night. If everything went smoothly, they returned to Demeter's dwelling for rest. Sometimes they even stayed there. Their schedule wasn't always like that, of course. They took turns keeping watch like sentries, and Perseus had transformed into an owl to scour the nearby polis for signs of Mestra, leaving him utterly exhausted.
Palak, palak, palak, palak—!!!
The thick night shroud hung low, just as the first hints of dawn crept in. Back in his human form, Perseus collapsed onto the bed, his tiredness and rising lust making him drift off almost instantly.
“Ah…?”
He rubbed his weary eyes and scanned the surroundings. A sharp gaze seemed to watch him from somewhere, yet no one was visible. Eventually he gave in and prepared to sleep, only for a surprisingly soft sensation to brush his cheek.
Smack—♡
“Ugh?!”
He jolted upright, but the area was empty. This was the sacred grove guarded by the Spartoi, Demeter's temple and residence. The only things inside were a few simple household utensils and the trees Demeter cherished most. Especially the ones with roots that reached deep inside, branches even extending into the bedroom itself.
“Could it be fallen leaves?”
Perseus stared up at the branches reaching over his head and assumed the soft touch had come from them. He lay back down, still on guard against another kiss, but nothing happened. Soon he started drifting off again—only for the same sensation to return.
Smack—♡
“What the?!”
A second vivid kiss. That was how Perseus's nightmare began.
Whenever he let his guard down and fell asleep, it would happen. The next day too. The day after that too. Even when he deliberately waited, the visitor never showed itself. Smack, smack, smack—♡
Sometimes it happened multiple times, and the precise, silent way it appeared and vanished left him stressed. What exactly was trying to kiss him? It didn't feel like an attack…
While Perseus focused on watching Mestra and resting in the sacred grove, the distance between the grove and the polis made everything already difficult. Each nightly kiss only piled on his exhaustion. At first he didn't show it, but after two weeks by modern standards, it was finally showing on his face.
Kiss, kiss, kiss—every single night.
Who on earth was doing this? His mood was thoroughly ruined.
“Perseus…?”
“Y-yes!”
“You look half-asleep… Did I wake you?”
“Apologies. It seems I really was dreaming. Hrmph~! Anyway, Mestra had decided to quit. She transformed into a mouse and hid in her house. I overheard them, and when people suddenly started dying, she looked worried it might be her father all over again—dying horribly.”
“If we just give up now, that tragedy will never happen again…”
“I'll leave a warning note tomorrow morning, offering one last choice. Since you served your father like a dutiful daughter for his entire life, we'll understand and forgive you. If you accept, you can return to Poseidon and spend the rest of your life with his help. Demeter wouldn't want to pressure you either, so I think this is for the best. What do you think, god?”
“Your reasoning is correct. Erysichthon was a troublesome man, but she was simply blinded by filial piety. It would be good to give her a fresh start. If I were a different god, I would have cut her head off at once and ended it, but considering my ties to Poseidon, this is the right call.”
“Then I'll arrange it that way… Once Mestra's matter is resolved, I'll speak to—”
“Ah… that part…”
“Hmm. Don't worry. I can see you're uncomfortable, so I'll handle it. Mestra isn't injured, and I'll steer the conversation to return her to Poseidon's embrace as much as possible. Demeter has nothing to fear.”
“Such consideration…”
“Of course.”
Perseus yawned, rubbing his tired eyes. Only when he looked down did he realize he was lying in bed, fully dressed, talking to Demeter. He hadn't slept much lately and hadn't been intimate with Achilles, so lust had built up, turning his form into this naturally. Thankfully, Demeter didn't know about his transformation conditions and had already sensed the presence of a divine blessing. She wouldn't find it strange if he suddenly became an adult. He let out a sigh of relief—though, at least, he thought that.
'I know because Hera told me.'
He didn't know about Demeter's wicked smile.
“Shh… Sorry… My eyes are so tired…”
Perseus stopped rubbing his eyes, and Demeter responded with her usual gentle smile. The fox-like grin he had glimpsed was never seen by anyone. If anyone had spoken of it, Demeter's rage would have erupted, so the nymphs quietly watched their movements.
“Tired?”
“As I mentioned earlier, every night something disturbs me… Even if I tried using my powers to question the dead, this is within Demeter's domain, so I can't get any help. It's so frustrating… All the ones I killed before have already been buried, so there are no ghosts left…”
'So even that ability existed.'
Relieved that this was his own domain, Perseus admired his power. He nearly got caught, his heart racing, but he smiled outwardly and sat in the flower field, giving his thighs two firm thumps.
“Demeter?”
“Oh, what are you doing, dear?”
“I should be asking you that. Why the sudden change?”
“You look tired, so I'm showing some care.”
“…………?”
Perseus rubbed his eyes again, doubting his own sight. But the reality remained unchanged. Logically he wanted to refuse, yet Hermes—hidden as a snake—slid right in and aimed straight for his back.
'Hey! Older brother! Do you know why I'm called Hermes? Hahaha!'
A perfectly timed kick, accompanied by laughter no one could hear!
“Wah?!”
“Oh my~!”
Though Demeter's agility was high and she didn't directly collide, the way he tucked his head right in front of her thigh showed perfect angle calculation.
'Hermes!'
'Hehe, this is nothing!'
Hermes flashed a wink, shifted back into snake form, and vanished through the flower field as if nothing had happened. Perseus turned in confusion, but nothing was there. Demeter, however, didn't miss the opening Hermes had created.
“You suddenly look so exhausted you almost fell. I pushed you too hard. Once this matter is over, I'll hold a festival—come then and I'll treat you to a proper feast.”
“Even so, this is…”
She grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down forcibly, forcing him to lie back. The nymphs watching this helped too; the branches covering the flower field parted, letting sunlight in. They had a perfect spot for a nap.
“Ah, a-ah, suddenly head…”
The nymphs' mischief didn't stop there. Cloris, the goddess of flowers, moved through the flower field, releasing sweet scents that encouraged Perseus's sleepiness. With his nose buried in Demeter's thigh, he tried to lift his upper body, but exhaustion and the floral aroma overwhelmed him. His expression grew dazed, and soon his strength drained away.
'Oh dear, they're all like mischievous children.'
Following Hermes, the nymphs had joined in. Demeter couldn't let the chance slip. She flipped Perseus's body so she could look up at him.
“Fufu. Perseus, even your sleeping face looks so kind. You're not as rough or rugged as other heroes, and your words, your breathing—everything is gentle. It's nice to be cared for by someone like you.”
Thinking she could do everything she hadn't yet, Demeter's snow-white hands stroked the tip of his jaw, then moved lower to caress his chest. The muscles were not overly developed, but beautifully sculpted—closer to a modern ideal than Greek ones. She enjoyed touching them, then reached for his black hair, stroking it with delight.
“I'm worried this might attract someone's attention, but I can't hold back my desires anymore. You wanted to cultivate me like a flower, but in truth I'm just a shameless woman. Just don't hate me if you notice these feelings one day.”
Demeter's happy confession made the world darken. The observant nymphs covered Demeter and Perseus with branches, creating a perfect circular dome. No one could intrude. Aside from the faint light illuminating only the two of them, even the gods in the sky couldn't peek inside—this was their private world.
“I hope a cute child is born.”
Swoosh, swoosh.
Perseus still looked peaceful in his sleep. He had no idea what was happening, yet Demeter found even that adorable.
“Everyone, cover your eyes and ears.”
Disappear.
Under a thin, thick stream of sunlight, she shed her chiton and revealed her naked body. It was beautifully tended skin, prepared especially for today. The nymphs knew what was coming, so on Demeter's orders they covered their eyes and ears. They would never make the mistake of leaving them open, knowing what would follow.
“My beloved Perseus. Become mine in this moment.”
The tender greenery stretching toward the sun hid this secret place.
Under that single beam of light.
The two of them joined deeply, even if only for a little while.