Persephone

  “Okay.” Hypnos clapped his hands. He looked at Hades and then around the library with an eyebrow raised in question.

  Hades shrugged, turning his head toward me. “You did it.”

  “I did!” I grinned. “Now what can I do?”

  “Nothing,” Hades and Hypnos said simultaneously. I frowned at them.

  “I can continue to work with you if you like…” Hypnos sounded less than thrilled at the prospect. “But I have to be honest, you have absolutely no natural talent for dreamwalking. It’s not your fault; it’s just not in your bloodline.”

  “Oh.” My ego deflated. I’d never been bad at anything before. I always picked up whatever sport or skill I’d been trying to learn like it was second nature. But those were human skills. Divine stuff was different. Even learning to use my own powers was difficult, and dreamwalking was Hypnos’ specialty. I nixed my half-formed plan to leave my mind unguarded and ambush Boreas in a dream. He’d had much more practice at this than I had.

  “Thank you, Hypnos,” Hades said.

  “My pleasure. You two should be waking in a few minutes. I’ll see you later.”

  He vanished and I looked at Hades. “He left! What if I get stuck or something?”

  “Getting out is easier than getting in. I think Hypnos needed a break.” Hades snickered, picking up a book. “I’ve never seen him stressed. You’re really terrible at this.”

  I sat down on the brown blur of a chair. “Yeah, you told me.” I picked up a simple wooden picture frame that I knew didn’t exist in the library.

  “You’ve learned enough to protect yourself and to communicate with other gods. That’s all you should ever need.” His eyes widened when he saw me with the picture frame. “Hey, put that down!”

  I stared at the photo in shock. It was me, and yet it wasn’t. I was in the clearing, surrounded by ice and snow. I looked radiant and defiant. The image was so vivid and clear that it took me right back to that terrifying moment when I’d first seen Hades.

  “Is this how you see me?” I put the picture frame down. The girl in that photo wasn’t just pretty, she looked ethereal and confident and completely out of sync with the mental image I had of myself.

  “I guess.” Hades shrugged at my confused expression. “I don’t know what’s on that frame. Dreams are weird. Remember, this isn’t my mind, it’s a neutral space. My mind just decorated it. That picture could have just as easily come from you.”

  “I doubt that.”

  Hades turned bright red and snatched the frame. His shoulders relaxed when he saw the picture. I tilted my head to the side. What had he thought was on that frame?

  “Rule of etiquette,” he explained, setting the frame down. “Never look too closely at anything in the dreamscape if you’re using this as a means of communication. It’s rude.”

  My cheeks heated. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. This actually brings up a good point. There’s more to protecting yourself than just creating a neutral space and locking your mind. If you do choose to meet with another god in your dreams, be on guard. You don’t want to reveal too much about yourself.” In a flash the picture frame was gone. “Did Hypnos show you how to create a dreamscape?” When I nodded, Hades asked, “Could you show me?”

  I closed my eyes, and the room shifted to a simple meadow filled with wildflowers. The blades of yellow grass were an indistinct blur with splashes of white, yellow, pink, and green dabbed at random. I didn’t have the power to fuel details.

  “Good. No personal details to glean here, but not so impersonal it feels like an insult. It makes sense you’d choose a meadow.”

  “So why choose the library?” I asked, surprised. The room was his sanctuary. I couldn’t think of a place more personal to him in the entire Underworld.

  “That’s not my usual meeting place. I just figured you’d be more comfortable there.”

  “I think it may be one of my favorite places.” In truth it wasn’t the library I enjoyed, but my lessons with Hades. They were always the perfect end to a hectic day of breakfast with Cassandra, gardening, dream lessons with Hypnos, history lessons with Hestia, self-defense from Charon, running, and dinner with the group.

  Hades and I would banter back and forth for a while, and then he would show me what I was capable of. The worship from the souls gave me just enough of a boost that I could practice. I was still learning the finer aspects of charm, and Hades was showing me things I could only do in the Underworld, like teleporting.

  “My library is your favorite place in the Underworld? Not the gardens?”

  Hades had given me free rein over the gardens to practice my ability to make the delicate blossoms bloom. I had a blank slate to create living arrangements in any place I wanted.

  Working with the soil reminded me of my mother. I could imagine her sitting on the ground, covered in dirt, tending to some precious sapling. It made me feel connected to her.

  I wondered what she would think of all the time I was spending with Hades. I was spending just as much time with Cassandra and Helen, and Thanatos had become my constant companion. But it was different with Hades.

  He was watching me, waiting for me to respond, and suddenly I wasn’t sure what to say. It wasn’t the library or the lessons that made this my favorite place. It was him.

  I felt my body waking and the dream faded around me. I sat up. Across the room Hades did the same. I smiled at his disheveled hair. “Nice look.”

  “Yeah, you too.”

  My hand went to my hair and my mind flashed to the picture. I couldn’t help but wonder how he saw me at this moment. There was an awkward silence as we made our way out of the room. I found Thanatos and headed to the garden.

  I dug into the soil, feeling the energy that pulsed through the packed earth. I focused on bringing new life to this small patch of land and smiled when a dandelion bloomed.

  “You’re going to be late.” Thanatos yawned.

  I started in surprise. I hadn’t meant to stay in the garden this long. I stood and brushed myself off.

  Thanatos laughed. “Here.” He reached toward my face and brushed dirt off my cheek. “Can’t have you looking like that in court.”

  “How beautiful!” a voice called out, followed by sounds of agreement.

  Thanatos shifted in front of me, and I looked past him to a group of middle-aged women in jogging gear.

  “Would you look at these flowers?” A woman in a purple jogging suit let out a low whistle.

  The group noticed me and Thanatos, and I heard gasped whispers mentioning the queen.

  “Oh, no,” I said, approaching them. “Call me Persephone.” I held out my hand and a woman wearing pink sneakers shook it.

  “Well, hello, Persephone. I’m Gloria.”

  “We’re going to be late,” Thanatos reminded me.

  “I just love these flowers,” the woman said, motioning to the group of dandelions forming a sun design, bordered by bluebells. “I’d just love to have some of these decorating my house, you know, one of those window boxes, but I just can’t seem to keep anything alive. Even here!”

  The women behind her laughed.

  “I could make one for you, if you like.”

  “Court…” Thanatos sounded impatient.

  “Later,” I amended. “I’ll set up a shop in the suburbs.”

  “Oh, that would be wonderful, dear.”

  I grinned at her, managing a hurried wave as Thanatos rushed me to the palace.

  “I don’t know why I even go to court,” I admitted, touching my face to check for any dirt.

  “You’re clear,” he assured me. “Why not?”

  I fell into step beside him. “I don’t really do anything. I just sit there. I’m no help at all to the souls.”

  “You’re a goddess. You can help them as much as Hades could. Maybe more. What do they ask for?”

  “To go home.”

  Thanatos mulled that over. “Anything else?”

  I thou
ght for a moment. “They want to make sure their loved ones are safe.”

  “Well…why not help with that? You have people on the surface, right?”

  I hadn’t thought of that. I’d blindly followed Hades’ lead all month, assuming if he wasn’t acting, I shouldn’t either. That was stupid. He may have more experience, but Thanatos was right. I had far more ties to the outside world than Hades.

  And if their people aren’t safe? Should I ask Mom to intervene? I considered that. That would be asking my mother to take on a colossal amount of work, and this seemed like the sort of thing that could quickly get out of hand.

  We’re goddesses. Isn’t this our responsibility?

  Yes, I decided. As long as I remained in the Underworld, I would do what I could to help the souls. If my mother didn’t like it, well, after lying to me for sixteen years, she could get over it.

  Chapter XV

  “Next,” Hades called.

  I shifted under the gaze of the man who came forward. He was staring at me. I should be used to this by now. The souls stared at Hades and me as if we were…well, gods, but I wasn’t comfortable with the attention.

  “Kora?”

  I looked at the man again and did a double take. “Orpheus?” I exclaimed in disbelief. “Wha—how did you die?”

  “You two know each other?” Hades glanced between the two of us.

  “You don’t?” Cassandra leaned forward in her seat. “That’s only the most famous singer topside right now. You know…”—she sang a line from “Mortus Dei”—“…that guy.”

  “Um, thank you,” Orpheus said with a modest nod to Cassandra before turning back to me. “What are you doing down here?”

  “I can’t believe you remember me.” I beamed. Hades and Cassandra exchanged glances, and I elbowed Hades. “I met him and his wife backstage at a concert.”

  “How exciting,” Hades replied dryly. “Kora?”

  “My middle name.” I turned to Orpheus. “You can call me Persephone down here. How can we help you?”

  “Your middle name is Kora?”

  I gave Hades a look. “And that’s somehow stranger than Persephone?”

  “More generic, for sure. It’s Greek for girl.”

  I blinked. Mom had named me girl? That was pretty generic. No wonder she didn’t like me going by my middle name.

  Orpheus spoke up. “Last time I saw you, you didn’t even know you were a goddess. How did you end up down here? You don’t look like you belong with the chthonic group. No offense,” he said to Hades.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but her parents are Olympian,” Hades replied.

  “Chthonic? Olympian? What are you guys talking about?”

  “Chthonic deities are gods associated with the Underworld. We tend to have darker features.” Hades motioned to his black hair. “Olympians were associated with Olympus, and were various shades of blonde. The primordials tended to represent their element to the extreme, and the Titans were…well, titanic in size.”

  I blinked. Gods were classified by appearance? I supposed it wasn’t relevant anymore with so few of us left, but the whole system seemed strange to me. None of that mattered, though, because Orpheus remembered the last time he saw me! I was sure my face was bright red. Hades sighed, no doubt bored by the whole conversation.

  “How I got down here is a long story,” I replied. He wants to know my life story!

  “What can we do for you?” Hades repeated impatiently.

  “Well, you see, I haven’t died yet.”

  That news caused stirring amongst the judges. They muttered, glancing at each other. Hades shot a look at Cassandra.

  “Then how did you come to be here?” she asked.

  “My mother is the muse Calliope—”

  “I should have known you were a demigod!” I interrupted. “I didn’t know about the eyes thing when I met you, but it was so obvious. I mean, well, if anyone was a demigod it would be you.”

  “Well—” Orpheus shifted uncomfortably “—I’m human for all practical purposes. I’m just gifted with music.”

  I sighed. “You sure are.” Oh my God! Did I just say that out loud? How humiliating.

  “Calliope herself is a fairly minor deity,” Hades explained, ignoring my faux pas. “Well, sub-deity. She’s a singer of some renown herself. You may know her as…” He paused. “What does she go by now, Cassandra?”

  Cassandra supplied the name, and my jaw dropped. “She’s your mother?”

  Orpheus shrugged. “Yes, but we don’t advertise that fact. The lack of age difference would be difficult to explain.”

  “I was under the impression there weren’t many deities left. Is there like a club or something? I’d love to talk to someone a bit closer to my own age…” I trailed off when I realized everyone was looking at me.

  “You’ll be on the surface again then?” Orpheus asked. “You’re a psychopomp?”

  “A psycho what?”

  “A god that can travel between realms,” Hades replied. “It’s her privilege as my wife. It is not extended to any other mortals, gods, or—” He gave Orpheus a significant look “—demigods.”

  “My mother showed me an entrance in Italy, in a crater west of Naples, that leads here.” He looked at Hades. “I was able to get through. You may want to get that taken care of.”

  “How were you able to get through Tartarus?” I asked Orpheus, amazed.

  “My mother told me only innocents could cross through the river of fire,” Orpheus said, shrugging. “Guess I’m innocent enough.”

  I guess the fail-safe does work if you’re alive. Good to know. Cassandra and I exchanged looks. I had a feeling a girls’ night was in the works.

  “What is so important to you that it is worth traveling through the fires of Hell?” Hades asked.

  “My wife, Eurydice. We were hiking, and a snake bit her. I couldn’t get help in time. She died.” He looked up at us, his eyes glassy with emotion. “I have to get her back.”

  Hades nodded. “I’m afraid you’ve come a long way for nothing.”

  I glanced at Hades. “There has to be something—”

  “That’s enough, Persephone.”

  “If you would allow me to present my case in song?”

  Hades sighed heavily, but at my excited look, nodded at Orpheus. Orpheus waited a beat, and then opened his mouth to sing a heart-wrenching song begging for his wife back. Coming from anyone else it would have seemed cheesy, but as his voice filled the room, I could feel my own heart breaking for him.

  Tears stung my eyes when he’d finished his song. “We have to do something.”

  “Persephone—” Hades sighed.

  I turned to Moirae. “Is it possible?”

  She looked startled. “Yes, my queen.”

  I blinked at the title. For the past month, when Moirae wasn’t glaring at me like she’d like to witness my crucifixion, she pretended I didn’t exist. I mostly returned the favor.

  I smiled at Hades flirtatiously and laid a hand on his. I felt a little silly, but I might as well put that charm to a good cause.

  “It would mean a lot to me,” I whispered, looking at him through heavy lashes. I was startled to see his face change. He looked completely unguarded. That never happened during goddess lessons.

  “Uh…” Hades shook his head. “Does anyone know she’s dead yet?”

  “Just my mother,” Orpheus replied, pretending not to notice the scene that had just taken place. “I summoned her when…obviously she couldn’t help Eurydice. She stayed with her…body, just in case I was able to return with her soul.”

  “Call the soul in question forward,” Hades instructed Moirae. “Orpheus, turn away.”

  Eurydice materialized before us.

  “Is this woman judged to be of great good or great evil?” Hades asked.

  “Neither, my lord,” Moirae responded.

  “Very well, then. Orpheus, you must leave the way you entered. There is no other way you can
return to the world of the living.”

  “Is she here?” Orpheus asked. He started to turn.

  “Do not look at her!” Hades’ voice rang with a frightening authority that froze Orpheus in place. “You two may leave, but you cannot look upon her until she is returned to the realm of the living. Her soul will reunite with her body once you reach the surface, but if you see her in this form she will not be able to return.”

  She looked the same as she had when I’d seen her alive. I looked at Cassandra.

  “There’s a difference to humans,” Cassandra whispered to me. “Hades isn’t trying to make it hard for them; it’s just the way it works. If anyone learns of her death before they return, it won’t work either. Acknowledgement makes the death final.”

  “But Orpheus knows.”

  “The rules are gray when it comes to demigods.”

  “Thank you!” Orpheus exclaimed. “I will make this up to you, I promise.” He closed his eyes and turned toward us, giving an awkward bow.

  “Good luck,” I called.

  “Cassandra, would you please guide them as far as Tartarus? I will arrange for someone to take them from there.” Hades motioned for Moirae and the judges to leave the room.

  “Of course.” She positioned Eurydice behind Orpheus. “Let’s go.”

  Hades waited until Cassandra led the couple out of the throne room before turning to me. “We’re alone.”

  “We are,” I agreed, standing nervously.

  Hades stood and moved closer to me, pressing me against the wall. I drew in a shuddering breath as Hades leaned closer, his lips almost brushing mine.

  He’s going to kiss me, I realized. My heart thudded; I wasn’t prepared for this. I hadn’t thought the whole goddess-charm thing through so well.

  “Uh…Hades,” I squeaked, my lips touching his as I spoke. I swallowed hard. Damn, Hades was hot. My heart was beating a hundred miles a minute and sped up as Hades grinned at me.

  “There’s something you need to know, little goddess,” he whispered, turning his face so his breath tickled my ear. It felt really good. He smiled, and my heart froze. It wasn’t a nice smile. “I am much stronger than you. You cannot use your little tricks on me. I am immune, you stupid child. I’ll forgive this one transgression, but if you ever try to manipulate my affections again, I will not be so accommodating. Do you understand?”