KORE
Riley Rowland
Riley Rowland
I was the goddess of springtime. I was Kore. Golden stalks, illuminated by the sunlight, parted for me, flowers sprung up in my wake, and crimson roses followed the train of my dress. The royal halls of Olympus shone like a star in the distant night. I could feel my mother’s power even here, compelling the harvest to flourish in a state of eternal warmth. I was alone with the stars and yet I was not. I felt my father in the sky, my mother in the ground, the spirit of my uncle flowed in the river, and my half sister was in the moon that illuminated my path. It was comforting and infuriating, never alone and yet always lonely. My dress dusted the ground as I walked.
Past the edge of my mother’s fields lay a small clearing. I had discovered it only recently, drawn to it by a power I couldn’t even begin to explain. My roses grew thicker there, blanketing the ground in a crimson carpet. Here I felt myself in the air, I felt myself in the ground, and most compellingly, I felt myself in the abyss-like cave that bordered the clearing. Even in broad daylight, not an inch of it was illuminated and my lanterns extinguished instantly when I approached. It was as if it obliterated any light it touched. I was wary of the cave at first, and mother condemned curiosity. Wonder and imagination, she said, had ways of ruining even the most innocent of pleasures. But the cave called to me, its intensity compelling me beyond all reason.
A rush of euphoria overcame my senses the instant I touched that blessed darkness. It was as if I had transcended the material world into a realm of unlimited power and freedom. My white dress had turned crimson, my flower crown was replaced by one of translucent crystals. I looked regal. I didn’t think to wonder where I was, rather I wondered where I had been before. Nothing had ever felt so much a part of me. I strode through the new obsidian plains as if a queen, spirits bowed to me, and yet I felt all the more drawn into this immortal darkness.
I came to a path, gilded with glimmering pomegranate trees, leading to a castle which seemed to fill the chasm of darkness. It expanded exponentially into the darkness, growing larger than my eyes could comprehend. The trees bowed low before me and the doors swung open as if compelled to do so the instant I approached them. A room, seemingly larger than the plethora of fields at my mother’s command lie empty except for two towering crystal thrones. I felt that this was the epicenter of my power, the anchor to which my life was tied. A man stood from the throne on the right. His complexion was like mine, sleek black hair framing a pale face. His eyes were dark and knowing. I had never met him but nevertheless, I knew him instantly. I nodded knowingly and strode to the empty throne, feeling more alive than ever in this kingdom of death.
As I sat, a new title etched itself into the shining crystal, “Persephone, Queen of the Underworld”.
Past the edge of my mother’s fields lay a small clearing. I had discovered it only recently, drawn to it by a power I couldn’t even begin to explain. My roses grew thicker there, blanketing the ground in a crimson carpet. Here I felt myself in the air, I felt myself in the ground, and most compellingly, I felt myself in the abyss-like cave that bordered the clearing. Even in broad daylight, not an inch of it was illuminated and my lanterns extinguished instantly when I approached. It was as if it obliterated any light it touched. I was wary of the cave at first, and mother condemned curiosity. Wonder and imagination, she said, had ways of ruining even the most innocent of pleasures. But the cave called to me, its intensity compelling me beyond all reason.
A rush of euphoria overcame my senses the instant I touched that blessed darkness. It was as if I had transcended the material world into a realm of unlimited power and freedom. My white dress had turned crimson, my flower crown was replaced by one of translucent crystals. I looked regal. I didn’t think to wonder where I was, rather I wondered where I had been before. Nothing had ever felt so much a part of me. I strode through the new obsidian plains as if a queen, spirits bowed to me, and yet I felt all the more drawn into this immortal darkness.
I came to a path, gilded with glimmering pomegranate trees, leading to a castle which seemed to fill the chasm of darkness. It expanded exponentially into the darkness, growing larger than my eyes could comprehend. The trees bowed low before me and the doors swung open as if compelled to do so the instant I approached them. A room, seemingly larger than the plethora of fields at my mother’s command lie empty except for two towering crystal thrones. I felt that this was the epicenter of my power, the anchor to which my life was tied. A man stood from the throne on the right. His complexion was like mine, sleek black hair framing a pale face. His eyes were dark and knowing. I had never met him but nevertheless, I knew him instantly. I nodded knowingly and strode to the empty throne, feeling more alive than ever in this kingdom of death.
As I sat, a new title etched itself into the shining crystal, “Persephone, Queen of the Underworld”.
//
Riley Rowland is a non-binary, autistic, lesbian in their senior year of high school. They have published articles regarding climate change, history, and current events in The H Magazine and Lumos literary journal. They love spending time with their pet ducks, reading, and watching the sun rise. They spend their free time perfecting recipes for coffee and muffins, listening to music, and making art.
Riley Rowland is a non-binary, autistic, lesbian in their senior year of high school. They have published articles regarding climate change, history, and current events in The H Magazine and Lumos literary journal. They love spending time with their pet ducks, reading, and watching the sun rise. They spend their free time perfecting recipes for coffee and muffins, listening to music, and making art.