Persephone woke the next morning with sticky eyes and a headache. Her sleep had been fitful, the events of the day ebbed and flowed, hitting her hard, evoking a burst of sadness and raw emotion, then receding into a kind of numb stupor.
As she sat up, there was a knock at her door, and Hecate poked her head in.
“Good morning, my sweet,” she said. “I’ve brought you some breakfast.”
Something thick had settled at the back of her throat and she thought she might vomit. There was no way she could eat right now, not with the way her stomach churned.
“No thank you, Hecate. I’m not hungry.”
The goddess frowned. “Sit with me for a little while, then. Perhaps you will change your mind.”
“I’m sorry, Hecate. I can’t,” Persephone said, already on her feet. “I need to get to the hospital.”
She checked her phone, but there were no texts from Lexa’s mother or Jaison. She hoped that was a good sign. She hurried into the adjoining bathroom and scrubbed her face. The cold water felt good against her flushed skin.
“You really should eat something,” Hecate said. “It would please Hades.”
It might please Hades, but Persephone was sure she would be sick if she ate.
“Where is Hades?” she asked, exiting the bathroom. He’d been beside her through most of the night, waking up each time she rose from bed to blow her nose or wash her face.
The goddess shrugged. “I do not know. He summoned me early this morning. He did not wish to disturb you.”
She wasn’t sure why, but not knowing where Hades was at this moment made her uneasy. She couldn’t help where her mind wandered—was he sorting things out with Leuce? She had asked him to give her a place to live and her job back, but she had not seen the nymph. She supposed she could ask today as she was scheduled to meet Leuce later. It was part of the deal she’d made to mentor the nymph.
“I am sorry about Lexa, Persephone,” Hecate said at last.
The sentiment made Persephone shiver, and her eyes watered.
“It shouldn’t have been her.”
Hecate said nothing, and Persephone cleared her throat. After she was dressed, she grabbed her phone and her purse.
“I’ll take coffee if you have it,” she told Hecate as she prepared to head out.
“That is not sustenance.”
“Yes, it is—it’s caffeine.”
Hecate frowned, but obliged, summoning a steaming cup of coffee.
“Thank you, Hecate,” Persephone said. “When you see Hades, tell him I had breakfast.”
“That would be a lie,” she argued.
“No, it’s not. He knows what breakfast means for me.”
Hecate shook her head, grimacing, but didn’t argue.
Persephone left Nevernight on foot. It was already hot and it wasn’t even noon. The heat coiled around her skin as she walked, dampening her clothes and causing her hair to stick to her neck and face. She probably should have taken the bus, or asked Hecate to arrange for a ride, but she really wanted to be alone.
“Persephone!” she glanced up. Someone on the other side of the street had called her name. She didn’t recognize them, but they were now looking up and down the road in an attempt to cross. She quickened her pace.
“Persephone!”
She glanced behind her again. The person had made it across the street, and they were now running toward her.
“Persephone Rosi, wait!”
She cringed, hearing her name called so loud, drawing stares from curious onlookers.
“Persephone?” Another voice joined in. “Hey, it’s Persephone Rosi! Hades’ lover!”
A man stepped in front of her and asked, “Can I get a picture?”
He was already holding up his phone.
“Sorry, no. I’m in a hurry,” Persephone sidestepped the man, and continued down the sidewalk.
“What’s Hades like?” someone called.
“Was he angry about the article you wrote?”
“How did you meet?”
The words crowded her like the people outside the Acropolis. She kept her arms close to her body, and her head down so they couldn’t get pictures of her face. Did they think less space would force answers out of her? Maybe they thought fear would do the trick.
“Stop following me!” she finally yelled, feeling claustrophobic and a little terrified.
Persephone broke into a run, trying to escape the crowd that had formed around her. They yelled her name and questions and horrible things. She cut across the street and slipped down an alleyway. Just as she exited, she was caught by the shoulder and hauled around. She twisted and punched her assailant in the face.
Her knuckles met the hard-as-stone face of Hermes.
“Fuck!” She cursed. Shacking her fingers out. “Hermes!”
His brows rose to meet his hairline. “I have to say, women are more agreeably engaged with me when those two words come out of their mouth.”
“She went this way!” someone yelled.
Persephone met Hermes’ gaze and snapped, “Get me out of here!”
He grinned. “As you wish, Goddess of Profanity.”
Hermes teleported, and once they arrived safely on the rooftop garden of the hospital, she gave a frustrated cry.
“I can’t go anywhere! How are you a god, Hermes?”
The god shrugged, a smirk on his face. “It isn’t so bad. We are revered and worshipped.”
“And hated,” Persephone finished.
“Speak for yourself,” Hermes replied.
Persephone glared at him, and then sighed, running her fingers through her hair. She had to admit, she was a little shaken by what had happened on the street.
“Sephy, if you don’t mind me saying…at some point, you’re going to have to accept that your life has changed.”
She looked at the god, confused. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you probably can’t just walk down the street like you want. I’m saying you’re going to have to start acting like a goddess…or at least a god’s lover.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, Hermes!” She didn’t mean to sound so frustrated, but this was not the time to have this discussion.
“Okay, okay,” he said, holding up his hands. “Just trying to be helpful.”
“Well, you’re not.”
He offered her a dull look, not seeming at all frustrated by how much of a brat she was being. “Was that really necessary?”
She sighed. “No…I’m sorry, Hermes. Things are just really…awful right now.”
“It’s okay, Sephy. Let me know if you need a lift.”
He winked and left her alone on the roof.
Before she went into the hospital, Persephone called into work. With each ring, anxiety pooled in her stomach. She’d gone from enjoying Demetri’s company to dreading the sight of him.
“Persephone,” Demetri answered. “How is your friend.”
“She’s…not good,” Persephone said. “I won’t be in today.”
“Of course,” he said. “Take all the time you need.”
The sympathy in his voice made her grind her teeth. This man gave her whiplash. He could be considerate when he wanted to, and vengeful when he had to.
“I’m going to need an extension on the exclusive,” she said. She held her breath as she waited for him to speak. Finally, he said, “I’ll see what I can do, but Persephone…I can’t make any promises.”
That wasn’t the response she was looking for, and there was an unsettling twist in her stomach.
“If you want me as your employee, Demetri, then you won’t push me on this.”
He sighed, and she imagined him rubbing his fingers between his brows as if he had a headache. She’d seen him do it on multiple occasions, especially when he’d been looking at his computer screen too long.
“I’ll deal with it,” he said. “Just…take care of your friend…and yourself.”
She hung up without saying thank you.
When she arrived on the second floor of the hospital, she learned from Lexa’s mother that the doctor had visited this morning. He said Lexa’s vital signs were improving. Persephone felt her chest swell with hope.
“That’s good news, right?”
“It’s positive,” she responded, “Their real worry is her brain.”
Eliska went on to explain that Lexa had brain contusions and that the extent of her injuries was unknown, but it could range from minor to severe.
Persephone didn’t like those odds.
The hope she’d felt a moment ago, shattered.
There wasn’t much to do at the hospital, so Persephone perched in a window and pulled out her laptop. She intended to catch up on the news, but her mind got tangled up in Hermes words.
You’re going to have to start acting like a goddess.
What does that even mean? She mumbled to herself. Was he trying to tell her she needed to be like Aphrodite or Hera? Persephone wasn’t interested in giving up the things that tied her to the mortal world. They were what she’d formed her identity around when she’d come to New Athens and now it seemed like all of that was being taken away.
Everyone wanted her to be someone she wasn’t.
Persephone distracted herself by reading up on Apollo.
As it turned out, others were now coming forward with stories like the ones Persephone had published in New Athens News—instances where Apollo had threatened to dismantle the careers of his lovers if they left him.
She wondered if that was why she had yet to hear from Apollo.
“These new allegations emerged just days after Hades’ lover, Persephone Rosi, published a scathing article about the god.”
Still, the article refused to lay blame on the God of Music, stating, “The allegations have yet to be confirmed. Divine Entertainment has reached out to Apollo’s representatives, though they have declined to issue a statement at this time.”
Probably because Apollo needs a new oracle, she thought.
Persephone noticed something green in her peripheral and turned to find vines sprouting from the windowsill and climbing up the glass. Fueled by her anger, they were growing fast. She slammed her hand against them, as if she were smashing an insect and tore them down.
Gods she was a disaster.
“You okay?” Persephone jumped and turned to find Jaison.
He looked awful.
“Have you slept?” she asked.
He offered a weary smile. “Here and there.”
“You should rest,” she encouraged. “You can go to our apartment. It’s closer than yours.”
“I don’t…what if something happens while I’m gone? Or asleep? What if I miss…”
Persephone knew what he was going to say—what if he missed saying goodbye? She had no response to that because she wondered the same thing.
“The doctors said her vitals were better today.”
Jaison just nodded. Something else was on his mind. He toed the ground, hands in his pockets and then sat down on the already-cramped windowsill. Persephone shifted, watching him intently.
“Did Hades say he could help?” he spoke fast, like he wanted to get the words out so this conversation could be over.
Persephone didn’t think that question would hurt so much, but it stole her breath. She pressed her lips tight, her eyes watered.
“He said…we haven’t lost her yet.”
Jaison nodded. “I figured.”
Persephone’s brows drew together. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged, choosing not to look at her. “He’s the God of the Dead, not the God of the Living. Why would he save a life when he can gain another resident?”
“Hades isn’t like that,” Persephone said. “There’s more to it than you think. The Fates—”
“So he says,” Jaison replied. “But…how do you really know that’s true?”
“Jaison.” Her voice shook as she spoke. She believed Hades because she’d seen the threads on his skin, one for each life he’d bargained.
“You defend him, but what does it say about him? That he will not even help you when you need him most?”
Because I don’t need him the most right now. Lexa does, she thought.
“That’s not fair, Jaison.”
“Maybe you’re right,” the mortal replied. “Sorry, Seph.”
She didn’t tell him it was okay because it wasn’t. Jaison’s words were unkind, and worse, they burrowed under her skin.
Did Hades’ refusal to help her mean he did not love her as much as she thought?
That’s ridiculous, she scolded herself.
And yet, she wondered, how could he watch her suffer like this?
With no changes in Lexa’s health, Persephone decided to keep her appointment with Leuce. She was going to meet the nymph at The Pearl, a boutique owned by Aphrodite located in the Fashion District of New Athens.
Ilias had managed to schedule a private shopping event for her and the nymph. He also arranged for Antoni to give her a ride, something she was thankful for after this morning’s disastrous walk to the hospital.
Persephone entered the shop as soon as she arrived. The boutique smelled like roses and was exactly what she expected from the Goddess of Love. The carpeting at her feet was furry and white, the chairs were plush and jeweled, and every accent shimmered.
Persephone wandered throughout the store, fingers brushing soft fabric and inspecting fine gems.
“Lexa would love this place,” she said aloud.
“I’m sure she would,” a voice replied.
Persephone spun. Aphrodite lounged on a chaise in her own boutique. She was dressed in something that resembled lingerie—a pink bodysuit and a sheer, pink robe. The outfit showed off her soft curves. Her bright blond locks splayed around her head. Persephone wondered if she’d just fallen on the chair like that or if she’d posed herself.
She wouldn’t put the posing past Aphrodite.
“Aphrodite,” Persephone said, surprised to see the goddess.
“Persephone.”
“I didn’t know you would be here.”
“Oh, I just came to check up on you,” she said. “Saw the news.”
“You and everyone else,” Persephone mumbled. “I am fine, as you can see.”
The blonde goddess raised a brow.
“I see your sex life is vibrant.”
Persephone stiffened and then narrowed her eyes. “How do you know that?”
“I can smell it,” she said. “Hades is all over you. Must have been a wild night. Makeup sex?”
“That’s a horrific power,” Persephone said, and Aphrodite shrugged.
“And you?” Persephone asked. “How are you?”
The goddess seemed surprised by her question, as if no one had ever asked.
She frowned, and her pretty pale brows drew together over her sharp eyes. Persephone noted the change in her expression—she seemed confused, as if she was unsure why the question had elicited emotion. Finally, the goddess answered.
“I don’t know.”
It was the most honest Aphrodite had ever been, and Persephone would have liked to explore the pain she sensed beneath those words, but the door chimed and Leuce entered the store.
Aphrodite cleared her throat, smiling up at Persephone.
“Well, it’s time for me to go.”
“Wait. Aphrodite,” Persephone stopped her. “I’m…sorry. If you never need to talk—”
“I don’t,” the goddess said quickly, and then she offered a lopsided smile. “I mean…thanks, Persephone.”
With that, she was gone.
“Persephone?” Leuce asked. The pale nymph looked washed out beneath Aphrodite’s sparkling lights. She relaxed when she found Persephone in the adjoining room. “Oh, good. You’re here.”
“Did you not expect me to be here?”
The nymph shrugged awkwardly, and then admitted, “I wouldn’t blame you if you decided you didn’t want to do this.”
Persephone’s gaze hardened a little. “I keep my word, Leuce.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m just…used to disappointment is all. I’m sorry.”
Persephone frowned, feeling sympathy for the nymph.
Two attendants appeared and took Persephone and Leuce’s coats and purses and gave them a glass of champagne.
“The store is yours,” one of the attendant’s said. “We are here to serve.”
It took both of them time to warm up to shopping, but soon Leuce was handing over armfuls of clothing to the attendants.
“Are you planning to replace your wardrobe?” Persephone asked.
“No…but I figure why not try on everything? It’s not likely we’ll have another chance like this.”
Persephone smiled a little. She sounded like Lexa.
“Aren’t you going to try anything on?” Leuce asked.
“I don’t think so. I don’t need anything.”
“It’s not about needing,” Leuce said. “It’s for fun.”
“You go ahead,” she encouraged. “I am content to sit here and drink.”
Leuce frowned a little but disappeared into the changing room.
Persephone really wished Lexa were here. This was her thing. When they’d first met in college, Lexa had taken her to this very boutique. They’d laughed and tried on dresses and drank sparkling grape juice. It was the first time she’d been told her ‘colors’ were red, gold and green, the first time someone other than her mother had told she was beautiful, the first time she felt that someone meant it.
It had been a blissful day.
Persephone’s memories were interrupted by her phone ringing. It was Jaison.
She answered, her heart racing in her chest.
“Is everything okay?” She didn’t even say hello.
“Yes, Persephone. I wanted to let you know that Lexa just came out of surgery.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“Because everything’s fine.”
How could everything be fine when Lexa had to go into surgery? Persephone couldn’t help thinking Jaison had done this on purposes because of her inability to convince Hades to help.
“What if everything hadn’t been fine?”
“This is why I didn’t tell you earlier.” His frustration was evident in his tone. “You freak out and it makes everything worse.”
Okay, those words hurt.
“She had some internal bleeding. They caught it in time and now she’s stable and back in the ICU.”
“I freak out? Excuse me for being concerned for my best friend, Jaison.”
“Yeah, well, she’s my girlfriend.”
The line went dead, and Persephone pulled her phone away from her ear to find that Jaison had hung up on her.
What the actual fuck was happening?
Suddenly, she couldn’t breath and her heart felt like it was beating in her head, irregular and quick. She looked around, vision blurred, and the only thing she could think was that she was dying.
She rushed from the store.
She heard her name being called as she left.
“Lady Persephone!”
She ran down the sidewalk and stopped in an alleyway. She pressed herself against the brick and leaned over, taking deep breaths.
“Lady Persephone? Are you okay?”
Leuce had followed her as she’d fled. It took Persephone a moment, but she finally straightened. Her chest rising and falling. “Is it okay if we don’t shop?”
Leuce’s eyes were large—strangely innocent, and she nodded. “Of course. Whatever you want.”
“Coffee,” Persephone said.
“Sure.”
They went to The Coffee House. It was the one place Persephone felt she could still go and not be bothered. She ordered two vanilla lattes—one for her and one for Leuce, who had never had coffee before.
They sat across from each other. Persephone kept her hands cupped around her drink, watching as the foam leaf atop melted into nothing.
“How do they make this picture?” Leuce asked, inspecting the foam like a rare specimen.
“Very carefully,” Persephone responded.
The nymph took a tentative sip.
“Hmm,” she hummed, and took a bigger gulp. Persephone recalled the first time she’d had coffee. She hadn’t actually liked it all that much, but Lexa had claimed that was because she’d had black coffee.
She’d been right—add a little cream, and it was her favorite drink.
“Just wait until you try hot chocolate,” Persephone commented.
Leuce’s eyes went wide.
Silence stretched between them. Persephone kept her gaze on her drink. She wasn’t sure what to say to Leuce, and her body felt off. Her earlier panic making her insides feel shaky.
“Do you want to talk about earlier?” Leuce asked.
Persephone met the woman’s gaze and shook her head. “I’d rather not.”
The nymph nodded.
“I’m sorry your friend is sick.”
“She’s not sick,” Persephone didn’t mean to snap, but the words just spilled out of her mouth. Plus, she was still a little freaked out about earlier. “She’s hurt. She was hurt.”
“I’m sorry,” Leuce’s voice was a whisper.
Persephone’s shoulders fell. “Thank you. I’m sorry. It’s…hard.”
Leuce nodded. “I know.”
Persephone met her gaze and the nymph explained.
“I woke up a few days ago and everything I knew had changed. Most of my friends are dead,” the nymph paused. “I was angry at first. I think I still am.”
Persephone wasn’t sure what to say, but she was sincere. Now that she had distance from the situation, now that her anger toward Hades’ had lessened, she could think from Leuce’s point of view.
“I’m sorry, Leuce.”
She shrugged. “At least I am free.”
It was strange to sit across from this woman and realize how similar they really were.
“Were you…conscious while you were imprisoned?”
“No,” she said. “I think that might have been worse. Perhaps it was a mercy.”
Persephone bit her lip. They were talking about Hades, but indirectly.
“I don’t…blame him for his anger,” she said. “I antagonized him. It was not a good relationship. It wasn’t what you have.”
“How do you know what I have?” Persephone asked.
“You have love,” she answered. “He loves you.”
Persephone looked away. She didn’t really want to talk about Hades with his ex-lover. Leuce seemed to sense this and change the subject.
“Your friend, is she recovering well?”
Persephone wasn’t sure how to answer that—she was really just staying the same. She shook her head. “I just wish I could heal her.”
Leuce was quiet for a moment, and then she answered, “I think I can help.”
Persephone met the nymph’s gaze and she leaned forward to whisper. “Have you heard of the Magi?”
She had. They were mortal practitioners of dark magic. She didn’t know much about them, aside from the fact that Hecate often had to clean up after their spells.
Leuce offered a small smile. “I can tell you have. What have you heard?”
“Nothing good,” she answered.
“They aren’t,” Leuce said. “That is something that hasn’t changed since ancient times, but some—the ones that are good at their job—can craft some powerful spells.”
“What kind?”
“Any kind—love spells, death spells, healing spells.”
“That is illegal magic.”
It was illegal because it went against the gods. Love spells were Aphrodite’s territory, death, Hades, and healing, Apollo’s.
“Illegal yes, but many would prefer owing a mortal than a god. I’m not saying you have to accept a contract with a Magi, but…I can get you into the same club as them. If you draw their attention, you get an audience with them.”
“And how do they know I want an audience?”
“Because no one goes there unless they want something. Here,” Leuce said, pulling a card from her pocket and handing it to her. It was black. A name was embossed on the surface.
She read it aloud.
“Iniquity?”
“The club is true to its name. It’s a den of wickedness and sin. It isn’t a place for you.”
Persephone’s offered a small, humorless smile.
“You don’t know me very well if you believe that.”
“Maybe not, but I do know Hades would turn me back into a tree if he knew I was telling you about it, but…it might be the only way to save your friend unless you want to make a deal with Apollo.”
That was a huge no.
“How soon can you get me in?”
“Tomorrow, if you like.”
Persephone tapped the card against her palm.
“Hades will be angry if he finds out.”
Leuce smirked. “He always finds out.”
“I will protect you,” she answered.
“I’m not worried about me,” Leuce said. “Who will protect you?”
“From Hades?” She was surprised by the question but knew the answer. There was no protecting herself from her lover. The air between them was raw. Even if she had wanted to, there was nothing she could do against the God of the Dead.
“I no longer have protection against Hades.”
