Underworld Intern

Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, her palms were sweating, her breathing was heavy, and her anxiety was at its peak. She sat quietly as her mother read the acceptance letter that had come in the mail, an acceptance letter to study at the most prestigious university in all the realms, Olympus University, or OU for short.

Her mother had promised her a few months ago that if she worked really hard in her tasks, she would allow Persephone to attend any college of her choice. Persephone had worked her butt off perfecting her skills, so much so that she had spearheaded the task of bringing spring to the mortal realm the previous year all by herself.

"Good job sweetheart," her mother had said, "it's still a little chaotic, but it's your best work yet."

And now the time had come, Persephone had held up her end of the deal, and now it was her mother's turn.

"Olympus university?" Demeter muttered as she read through the acceptance letter.

Persephone didn't like that tone of voice, every time her mother responded to a request she made with that tone of voice, it was usually followed by the answer, 'maybe another time sweetie.'

"It's so far from home sweetie, are you sure this is where you want to go? I may not be able to see you often, and you'll be away from home for long periods of time."

Exactly, that's the point, Persephone thought to herself. "I know it's a little far mom, but it's the top university in all the three realms, and I got in. You promised that you would let me go to any collage I want."

"I know I did Persephone but-"

"They have an excellent botany and ecology program that would make me amazing at what I do," Persephone explained in a desperate attempt to persuade her mother, "I will learn so much there and take 'Sunny Springs' to a whole new level."

Demeter looked at the letter in her hand one last time before sighing in defeat, "alright fine."

"Yes!" Persephone jumped out of her seat and sent a hundred pink petals flying into the air.

Demeter glared at her overly excited daughter suspiciously, making her settle back down in her chair.

"I'll let you go to this university under certain conditions," Demeter explained.

"Of course." Persephone couldn't complain, it was an absolute miracle that her mother agreed to letting her go to begin with, a few conditions here and there wouldn't be much of a hassle.

"Firstly you have to make sure you get good grades in all your classes missy," Demeter instructed her daughter, "if I notice your grades slipping I'm bringing you right back home."

"Yes ma'am."

"And secondly, you have to live in the dormitories."

"No problem."

"Thirdly, you have to call me every Friday so I know you're alright."

Persephone nodded in agreement. Little did she know that these three conditions where only the beginning of a long list of things she couldn't do. She sat through about half an hour of her mother giving her rules on what not to do. Don't drink, no parties, no smoking , dress decently, eat healthy, and so on and so on.

"And last but not the least…"

Persephone had to purse her lips to stop herself from sighing in exhaustion.

Demeter held her daughter firmly by the shoulders and looked directly into her big blue eyes. "Absolutely no relationships with boys. Got that?"

"Yes mom."

"I'm serious sweetheart, boys will only waste your time and make you lose focus on what's important," Demeter emphasized, "so promise me that no matter what, you won't get into any relationship with a boy."

Persephone gulped, the seriousness in her mother's voice actually made her uneasy. The topic of boys had never been an issue before because Persephone grew up in a home with only women. The flower nymphs that helped her mother with the daily tasks were her family, so she had never had an issuer with her mother over relationships. Although, sometimes Persephone would listen to stories from the nymphs about their relationships, their stories intrigued her and she would always wonder how it would feel to fall in love. Her sisters made it sound so interesting.

"Persephone are you listening to me?"

"Yes mom. Good grades, call you, eat healthy, live in the dormitories, no alcohol, no smoking, and absolutely no boys."

Demeter pulled her daughter into her arms and embraced her in a hug. "I'm so happy for you sweetie, I know you're going to do great."

*

Finally after a month of packing and unpacking her suitcase, Persephone was standing in front of the door of her new room in the dormitories of Olympus university.

She had waited so long for this moment, the moment when she would be free of her mother's watchful eyes and free to make her own decisions as an adult.

The blue eyed girl drew in a deep breath before reaching for the door handle and walking into her new room. When her eyes adjusted to the view, the huge smile on her face melted away relatively quickly, this wasn't the room she imagined at all, this was nothing like the brochure.

Where were the soft feathery beds, the big windows that displayed the beautiful campus? Where were the shiny wooden floors and the little desk intricately designed with a built in lamp and cup holder?

Persephone walked into the small plain room that had two tiny wooden beds on each side, a small window with old beige curtains, and a small white desk below it riddled with graffiti.

"Hey.."

Persephone yelped and jumped to the side at the unexpected greeting. She had been so engrossed in her disappointment that she didn't notice the girl who was already occupying the other half of the room.

"You must be.." the girl brought a piece of paper to her face and mouthed Persephone's name before uttering it completely wrong, "Presephanie right?"

"Ummh close," Persephone chuckled sheepishly, "it's actually Persephone." The blue eyed girl dug into her pocket and produced a similar piece of paper she had been given at the reception, that had the name of her new roommate. "And you must me Eris."

"That's me," the girl responded with a lazy smile.

Eris was the exact opposite of Persephone, she had long dark hair that was shaved on the sides, multiple piercings, and she wore dark makeup and dark colored clothing.

"Make yourself at home roomie," Eris muttered as she made her way to her side of the room, "I would suggest you beat the mattress out on the balcony over there." She pointed at the rickety glass door that led to a small balcony. "We may have roaches."

Persephone gasped as she looked at the old mattress on her bed. 'It's alright, it's okay' she told herself, 'as long as you're out in the world on your own. This is your room, and that is your roach infested mattress, you've waited for this your whole life, there is no point in chickening out now.'

A big cockroach suddenly crawled from underneath the bed and ran straight for the blue eyed girl. Persephone leapt from the floor and rushed up a vine that she had grown from the ceiling board.

Eris pulled off her headphones and stared at the dangling girl in amazement, "wow.." she walked towards the vine and circled it a few times before smiling up at Persephone. "I have a feeling you and I are going to get along swell Persie."