After last night, that somehow seemed like more of a possibility.
“Good morning, Persephone!” Helen said as she stepped off the elevator. Her cheery expression faded quickly. “Is everything alright?”
Her question made Persephone feel strangely violent.
“No,” she snapped. Her stomach immediately filled with guilt as she headed to her desk. She would have to apologize to Helen later, but right now, she needed to calm down.
She barely got settled before Demetri stepped out of his office.
“Persephone, have a moment?”
Her anger rushed to the surface again, unbidden and senseless. She should say no, ask if she could have more time to get settled, but she found herself following her boss into his office.
“I have good news,” Demetri said, taking a seat behind his desk.
Persephone knew what he was going to tell her, but she waited, staring at him with more indifference than she had ever felt in her life. It was the first time since he’d given her the ultimatum that she realized how much this had affected her.
“Kal has decided against forcing the exclusive.”
When she didn’t react, Demetri frowned. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.”
“You thought wrong,” she said. “The damage is already done.”
“Persephone.”
She hated the way her boss said her name, like he thought she was being unreasonable. “Don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what? Call you out on your bullshit?”
“If it was bullshit, you would have quit when I had to give you the ultimatum. As much as you want to pretend you don’t need this job, I know you do. It’s the only way you can distinguish yourself from Hades.”
She flinched. Those words stung.
Demetri sighed; his frustration palpable.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why not?” she laughed bitterly. “It’s the truth.”
“Just because it is the truth right now, doesn’t mean it will be the truth forever. If anyone can make a name for themselves in this business, it’s you, Persephone.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, Demetri.”
He laughed humorlessly. “Will I ever earn your forgiveness?”
“Forgiveness, yes. Trust, no.”
“I suppose I deserve that.”
Demetri’s eyes fell to his hands as he twined his fingers together nervously.
“You know I did it because I had no choice.”
“I’m sure you had a choice like I had a choice.”
He nodded his head, but his eyes were distant, as if he were recalling something that happened long ago. After a moment, he began to speak. “Kal is no Hades but he is powerful. I…” he paused to clear his throat. “I sought his help.”
A realization settled upon her—Demetri knew Kal was a Magi.
“In what way?”
“A love potion.”
Persephone frowned. “I...don’t understand.”
Demetri raised his brows, and then met Persephone’s gaze. “In college, I met a man named Luca. He became my best friend and I was so in love with him. One night, I decided to tell him how I felt. My feelings weren’t reciprocated...but...I couldn’t imagine a life without him.”
“So you gave him a love potion?”
She was appalled that Demetri would resort to such measures. A love potion was serious business. There was a reason their creation and distribution was illegal. It took away an individual’s choice.
“It wasn’t my proudest moment,” Demetri admitted. “If I had to do it all over again, I would have let him go.”
“You have to undo it,” Persephone said. Demetri’s eyes went wide. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting her to say that.
“Undo it?”
“Or tell him what you did,” Persephone urged. “Demetri...you were wrong.”
“I didn’t tell you this so you would tell me how I should fix it,” he said, his face growing red. “I’m telling you this so you understand why I pushed you.”
“I realize that, but Demetri...if you really loved—”
“Don’t,” Demetri snapped, and Persephone clamped her mouth shut. He took a deep breath. “This conversation is over.”
“Demetri—”
“If I hear a whisper of what I have told you anywhere, Persephone, I will fire you. That’s a promise.”
Persephone pinched her lips together and stood, feeling dazed. She paused before leaving the office.
“You’re no better than Apollo.”
Demetri laughed, and it was cold and humorless. “I think that’s the first time anyone’s ever compared me to a god.”
“It’s not a compliment,” Persephone replied. She knew it wasn’t necessary to point it out. Demetri was well-aware of the gravity of her comparison. Apollo and Demetri had essentially made the same decisions when it came to the people they supposedly loved, and the results were devastating for the mortals who remained.
She left Demetri’s office and gathered her things.
“Oh...uh, Persephone?” Helen called as she walked past the desk to the elevator.
She didn’t stop.
“Persephone?”
Helen came up beside her.
“What, Helen?” she snapped.
“Are you—”
“Please don’t ask me if I’m okay.”
Helen’s lips thinned, and she hesitated, stumbling over her words. “Um, this came for you.”
She handed Persephone a white envelope.
“Who—?”
She started to ask when Helen turned on her heels and returned to her desk.
Persephone sighed. She didn’t blame the girl for practically running from her. Now she had two reasons to apologize to her, but she’d have to do that later because she really wanted to leave.
She stepped inside the elevator and opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Dearest Persephone,
I see you did not like the rose. Perhaps you will find future gifts more acceptable.
-Your admirer
It was the first time she’d thought about the rose since it had arrived on her desk a few days ago. It was still there, wilted and forgotten after Lexa’s accident. While she had assumed Hades had given it to her, she now realized it wasn’t from him but another person. She was going to have to tell Helen to stop accepting unmarked gifts and envelopes.
Suddenly uneasy, Persephone crushed the letter between her hands, and as she stepped out of the elevator, threw it away.
She called a taxi and headed to the hospital to visit Lexa.
She would never get used to this place, just approaching made her anxious—a feeling that grew once she reached the second floor, making her way down the hall to Lexa’s room. Suddenly, she halted, spotting Eliska and Adam speaking to the doctor.
“At this point, it is something to consider,” the doctor was saying.
Lexa’s parents looked distraught.
Persephone ducked behind a computer stand, listening.
“How long does she have? Once the ventilator is removed?” she heard Adam ask.
“That’s really up to her. She could pass within seconds or days.”