He twisted away and wandered off in a daze.
“That was rude,” Persephone said.
“Well you are anything but a blushing bride today,” he argued. “I doubt you wanted to pose for a picture with some weirdo.”
Then his expression softened.
“Besides, you look sad.”
Persephone frowned, which didn’t help her case. “I’m just…distracted,” she mumbled.
Hermes surprised her by reaching out and placing his hand atop her own. “It’s okay to be sad, Sephy.”
She hadn’t really thought much about what she was feeling, instead, she’d focused on staying busy, creating new habits to replace the old ones that reminded her that Lexa was not here anymore.
“We better get back,” she said, once again choosing action over feeling.
***
Hermes left them outside Ambrosia & Nectar, giving each of them a peck on the cheek, even Zofie, who was too shocked to react at first, then she tried to shank him. Persephone took hold of her wrist, but instead of scolding Zofie, she glared at Hermes.
“Ask next time you decide to kiss someone,” she said.
For a moment, his eyes widened, and then he looked genuinely remorseful. “I’m sorry, Zofie.”
The Amazon sulked, arms crossed over her chest.
“Well, I’m off,” he said. “I have a date with a goat man. Let’s go out soon.”
Once he vanished, Persephone, Sybil, and Zofie exchanged a look.
“Goat man?” they all asked in unison.
Persephone and Sybil returned to work, leaving Zofie to patrol. Each time Persephone arrived or returned from an outing, the Amazon made rounds outside and inside Alexandria Tower. What she did after, she was not aware. Though, she had to admit, she was glad that Hades had assigned her to work with Ilias. It gave Zofie the chance to do more task-based work and socialize.
Gods knew the Amazon needed that.
Ivy greeted them as they entered the building, heading to the elevator.
“Hermes is right,” Sybil said. “We should go out soon.”
Persephone knew what Sybil was thinking—we haven’t been anywhere since Lexa died. She frowned at the thought.
“Yeah,” she said, distracted. “We should.”
“You can say no,” Sybil said, and Persephone met her gaze. “If you’re not up for it yet. We all would understand, you know?”
Persephone swallowed thickly.
“Thank you, Sybil,” she whispered.
They embraced, and Persephone rested her head on Sybil’s shoulder until they came to her floor, but as they stepped off the elevator, they found Leuce and Helen standing beside each other staring out the windowed walls at a jumble of flashing red and blue lights in the distance. Despite the heavy fog and wintery mix, Persephone knew that the highway was in the distance and that something horrible had happened.
“Oh, my gods,” Persephone whispered, coming to stand beside Leuce and Sybil.
The television blared suddenly and the three turned to find that Sybil had turned on the news. A banner ran across the bottom of the screen, announcing the horror they could see in the distance:
Multiple Wrecks Reported on the A2 Motorway
“...the accidents are believed to be caused by slick roadways and heavy snow. No word on the number of fatalities, however it has been reported that several are injured.”
Images and video of the crash moved in the background. Persephone watched in shock as car after car came upon the wreck, unaware due to the heavy mist, and with no ability to brake in time, or gain traction on the slick road, plowed into vehicle after vehicle.
“How horrible,” Helen said just as they witnessed a large tractor trailer slide into the back a car, sending it flying into the air. “How could that person survive?”
They couldn’t—and there was no safe way to escape the wreck. Leaving the car meant the possibility of slipping on ice or being hit by another vehicle in the lineup, staying meant hoping that the next person didn’t hit too hard.
Persephone stared, a lump forming in her throat. This is what she dreaded—that Demeter would take her anger out on humanity not only because she couldn’t get her way, but because she knew it was the best way to get to Persephone.
Why parade as a mortal? You are a goddess.
I am more like them than you.
You are not and once they discover who you really are, they will shun you for pretending you were one of them.
“Your mother is insane,” Leuce said under her breath.
Persephone did not need to be told—she knew well enough.
She turned from the television and walked blindly toward her office. Once inside, she picked up the phone and dialed Ilias.
“Lady Persephone,” he answered.
“Where is Hades?” she asked.
He must have sensed the distress in his voice because he did not hesitate to tell her.
“He is at Iniquity, my lady.”
“Thank you.”
Her hands were shaking so badly, she barely managed to hang up the phone before vanishing, appearing in Hades’ office. From here, he spied on those who used his club while they sat in the bar below, drinking and smoking, and playing cards. Today, however, she found he was not alone. A man she did not know stood opposite Hades’ desk in a navy-blue suit despite the fact that there were two empty chairs waiting. If Persephone had to guess, the man had not been invited to sit.
As soon as she arrived, their voices halted, and Hades hot gaze turned to her.
“Darling,” Hades said with a nod of his head. There was no hint of surprise in his voice, and yet she knew by his expression he worried at her sudden appearance.
Then the man turned to look at her. He was handsome and most definitely a demi-god—those bright aqua eyes gave his parentage away immediately, a son of Poseidon. He had brown skin and short dark hair and stubble covering his jaw. She had never seen him before.
“So you are the lovely Lady Persephone,” he said, his eyes dipped, appraising, and she felt disgust immediately.
“Theseus, I think you should leave,” Hades said, and the demi-god’s gaze left hers, almost reluctant. Persephone shuddered noticeably, disturbed by his presence.
“Of course,” he said. “I am late for a meeting anyway.”
He nodded toward Hades and turned to exit, pausing in front of Persephone.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, my lady,” he said and held out his hand. She glanced at it and then met his gaze—in truth, she did not wish to take his hand, so she said nothing at all, but instead of being offended, the man grinned, and let his hand fall.
“You are probably right to not shake my hand. Have a good day, my lady.”
He brushed past her and she watched until he had left the office, not really trusting to give him her back. Once he was gone, Hades spoke.
“Are you well?”
She turned to find that Hades had moved silently across the room toward her.
“Do you know that man?” Persephone asked.
“As well as I know any enemy,” Hades replied.
“Enemy?”
He nodded toward the closed door where the demi-god had disappeared.
“That man is the leader of Triad,” he replied.
She had questions—so many of them, but when Hades’ hand touched her chin, tears came to her eyes.