Pluton & Pomegranates solo

Okay, let’s be honest, how would you feel if your grandmother sat you down in the drawing room to lecture you for a thousand hours in the name of “giving a life lesson”? A very annoying feeling, right? Then imagine, Marcella di Angelo, the only heir to an ancient Italian pureblood family, sat down in her manor’s drawing room because she was to be lectured by her grandmother Vallerina about a very important and valuable lesson, when she could be seated comfortable below the elder tree in their manor, with her head bent towards her sketchbook as her eyes follow every line her hand draws. Imagine the feeling the six-year-old child would be feeling when she had been plausibly banned from such fancies. She groaned and sighed and turned the watch on her wrist, and yet time seemed to drag on.

“I know that it is taking a lot from you to be seated here patiently. But I assure you, this is a lesson you’ll regard forever.” Said Vallerina di Angelo, the wisest. Or so they all say. Marcella loved her grandmother every other time except for when she’d sit her down and lecture her. Lecturing is only a good form of entertainment when you desperately need to sleep.

“What are we here for?” she asked whilst stifling a yawn. And the drowsiness has begun. In about half an hour, give or take, you’ll find Marcella sleeping with her eyes open. Her grandmother huffed, “Come, let’s take a walk, sleepy”

Marcella, astonished at the change of pattern, followed her grandmother around the di Angelo Manor. “Do you know when our family came to be known?” Marcy nodded. Her Grandfather Letum would read to her about almost everything when she was to go to sleep. And that everything also involved family history and many other topics akin to that.

“Us di Angelo, attained fame when your many times great grandfather, Thanatos, the first di Angelo, built a shrine for Hades and his devotees in Greece many centuries ago. And ever since, our family has been praying to our Lord Hades. We have built many shrines, temples and statues around the globe with love and all for our deity.”

The two had stopped in front of the big statue of Hades in the courtyard. “We regard him as our guardian deity. We must always pray and respect and honour him.”

“What has he done for us, Grandma?”

“He had allowed our lineage to live with pride and prosperity. He had blessed us with love from the depths of the Styx,” she said.

Marcella thought back to the many times she had heard stories about Hades, also known by his Roman form, Pluto. “Grandmother! Do we also pray to the planet Pluto since we pray to Lord Hades?” Marcella asked curiously. Her grandmother nodded, with a smile on her face, “I told you, you’d enjoy this lesson. Always remember, mia cara, vincere aut mori.” Remember, darling, conquer or die.