Interlude 2
Persephone
“You need to rest.”
I turn to face my husband, the love of my life, the best man I’ve ever known. “You first.”
Hades grimaces. “We still haven’t found Circe’s people in the lower city. And there’s the woman herself to deal with once that’s done. I’ll rest when the lower city is safe.”
“Exactly.”
He huffs out a breath. “I’m not pregnant with twins.”
I press my hands to my stomach instinctively.
I’m not far enough along to feel the babies move.
They aren’t even really babies yet, but the love I already feel for them goes beyond measure.
It has my chest trying to close, my throat burning, a sensation as deep and uncomfortable as fury.
This entire experience would be fraught enough to navigate with my husband’s overreactions to anything resembling a threat to me and the pregnancy without there being a very real and present threat to both.
Hades presses himself to my back and wraps his arms around me, his hands resting gently over mine. “Promise me you’ll stay in the house while I’m out today.”
I hate this. I hate even more that I don’t have a good reason to deny him. My husband isn’t the one putting me in a cage currently—Circe is. “Being in the house didn’t stop her from sending pictures from her snipers to Callisto. It didn’t stop her people from attacking the club.”
“I know.” He rests his cheek against my temple. “But short of sending you out of the city…”
I turn in his arms. It’s already more awkward than it was a couple weeks ago.
If I manage to reach full term, we’ll barely be able to touch each other over the size of my stomach.
Gods, I hope we make it to that point. Seeing my fear reflected on Hades’s face has me speaking something I never thought I would. “What if they’re right?”
His gaze shutters. “Be more specific.”
Okay, so he’s going to be difficult. I give him the look that statement deserves, but I still obey the light command.
“I don’t mean the murder, and I certainly don’t mean all the other things Circe and the others have done in pursuit of this goal, but…
” I swallow hard. Why is this so difficult?
“I know being the protector of the lower city has been your entire identity since you were a child too young to shoulder it. What would our life be like if there was a different form of government here in Olympus? If we didn’t have enemies sending threatening photos to our family members? ”
He leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead. “I don’t know, little siren. But abandoning the city to Circe won’t create some kind of utopia. It will be trading thirteen tyrants for one. I won’t damn our people to save myself.”
“I know.” And I do. I could point out that I wasn’t suggesting bolting to save our own skins, but he knows that, too. We’ve done some variation of circling this topic half a dozen times over the last week. There are no good answers, only bad ones. “I’ll stay in the house today.”
“Thank you.” He gives me a proper, if brief, kiss and steps back. “I have to go.”
“Come home to me.”
“I’ll do my best.” It’s as close to a promise as he’s willing to make.
I watch him walk away just like I always do these days: with my heart in my throat, determined to memorize every moment as if it’s enough to preserve the short time of happiness we’ve had together. It’s not enough. It’s never enough. Maybe that makes me greedy, but I don’t care.
I find Eurydice and Callisto down in the library.
Seeing them together is confirmation of Hades putting Eurydice on unofficial guard duty for Callisto while she’s in the lower city.
My husband offered sanctuary to my sister and brother-in-law, but he doesn’t trust either of them.
I don’t exactly blame him considering the events that led us to this place.
Even so, Callisto is family and she’s made more sacrifices than any of us. I sink down next to her on the couch and lean my head on her shoulder. “This is a mess.”
“We passed mess a month ago and are well into disaster.” She slumps against me. “I’m sorry I got you shot.”
“I share equal blame in that.”
Eurydice crosses her arms over her chest and gives us a long look. “You both had what amounted to scrapes, and Orpheus needed surgery because he threw himself on top of you.” She nods at Callisto. “I’m sure that means you’ll stop giving him grief over events I’ve long since forgiven him for.”
Callisto groans. “I suppose I’ll let it go—providing he doesn’t do the same goofy shit again.”
“If he does, that’s my business. Not yours.” Eurydice doesn’t flinch when our elder sister glares at her. She’s come such a long way in such a short time; my sweet, innocent baby sister has become a member of our staff who can hold her own.
My phone rings before this conversation can devolve into a fight. I awkwardly twist, cursing when it takes two tries to angle my body enough to pull the phone from my back pocket. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to function for five more months like this.”
“Worse than this,” Callisto says miserably.
I flick my fingers at her stomach, still flat except for a nearly imperceptible curve. “We are not experiencing the same level of discomfort.” My smile falls away when I see the name across the screen of my phone. “It’s Mother.”
Eurydice drops down on my other side. “Well, answer it. Let’s see what she has to say.”
“About siding with a murderous witch who wants to kill us all? I’m sure this will be great,” Callisto mutters.
I hold my breath as I swipe to answer. Mother and I have faced each other down over quite a few topics since I fled the arranged marriage with the last Zeus. It never becomes any easier to navigate, but at least I’ve learned to hold my ground better.
Our mother’s face appears on the screen, her appearance as pristine as ever. She smiles a little when she sees all three of us crammed together on the couch. “Hello, darlings.”
I instantly recognize the cabinet behind her. “You’re in the country house?”
“It seemed the wisest course of action, but I’ll be returning to the city shortly.” She takes a deep breath. “I know you don’t always agree with the choices I make, but please know that if I value ambition and power, I value my girls more.”
“Since when?” Callisto mutters, just loud enough to hear.
“Since always.” Mother shifts a little. “Regardless, there’s something you need to know and it can’t wait.” Before any of us can say a word, she flips the screen of her phone to show Psyche…and Eros.
Eurydice gasps. “But he’s dead.”
Eros gives a faint smile. He looks terrible, drawn and paler than normal, his usually lush, curly hair straw-like. “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” He coughs and winces. “Well, maybe not greatly exaggerated.”
Psyche places a careful hand on his bandaged chest. “Mother’s quick thinking got us out of there.
Now Circe thinks he’s dead, so she won’t look for him—or us, since she’s counted me out because of grief.
” Her voice is thick. Eros might have lived, but it clearly wasn’t an easy thing.
I saw the video. We thought he was dead, and with good reason. His injury is clearly serious.
“If it’s safe to travel, you need to come to the lower city. We can protect you.” I’ll make sure of it.
“You can’t, actually.” Psyche grimaces. “And we would never make it without being taken by Circe again.” She glances past the camera, no doubt meeting Mother’s gaze. “We’re leaving Olympus. Tonight.”
“What?” Callisto snaps. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Yes.” Some of the tension fades from her face. “The arrangements have already been made.” She sucks in a breath. “I want to stay and fight with you, but—”
“No,” Eurydice cuts in, sounding harder than I’ve ever heard her. “Don’t you dare stay for us. Get out of here. You’ve already sacrificed too much for this fucking city.”
The camera flips around, and Mother gives a disapproving look. “Eurydice, language.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mother.” Callisto flops back on the couch and glares. “We’re well past language. And Eurydice is right: Psyche and Eros should get out of here.” She narrows her eyes. “Frankly, we all should.”
Mother shakes her head. “Not all of us.” She suddenly looks every inch of her fifty-three years.
“I will admit to misstepping with Circe. I didn’t realize the depth of her rage, and even if I had, I don’t know what other choice there was to make.
Hiding in the lower city is a bandage and not even a good one.
That barrier will fall, the same way the external one did.
We were ill prepared for any of this, and at least a portion of that responsibility rests with me as Demeter. ”
I lean forward as well as I can. “What are you saying?”
“There’s no going back, darlings. I don’t know what the future of Olympus looks like, only that it won’t have the Thirteen in it. I don’t like the methods of anyone involved, but the people have spoken.”
“Not all the people,” I cut in. “The lower city is perfectly happy with how things are currently.”
“Are they?” Mother raises her brows. “Or are they just like your husband, making the best of the situation they were born into? I almost…” She shakes her head sharply.
“I almost cut off the food to an entire community. I won’t pretend I wouldn’t have done it—or that I’m not capable of doing it in the future if one of you were threatened—but it shouldn’t be so simple to starve so many people.
That decision shouldn’t be in the hands of a single person. ”
“You aren’t giving up power,” Callisto says flatly. “Don’t pretend you are. You’re a cat; you always land on your feet.”
Mother smiles tightly. “Yes, well, time will tell if that is true.”
She has a plan. She always has a plan. The difference is that, for once, she’s tipping her hand to us before she acts. Worry worms through me, cold and curling. “Circe won’t take kindly to a double cross. You should leave with Psyche tonight.”
“No, darling.” Her smile softens, her eyes warming.
My mother is a monster. She would have starved countless people.
She’s certainly killed before, though she’s thorough enough that I only have suspicions and no evidence to support that belief.
She would have bargained every one of us away in marriage to further the family’s seat of power. She did bargain away Callisto.
But she’s still my mother. I love her. She loves us. I may doubt so many things, but I’ll never doubt that. “Please be careful.”
“I’ll do what needs to be done.” She straightens her shoulders, visibly drawing her Demeter persona around her.
“I simply wanted to speak with my girls, all together. I love you. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused over the years.
I won’t pretend I always made the right decisions, but I love you all more than life itself.
” Her eyes shine. “You’re the best things I’ve ever done. ”
My worry accelerates to pure alarm. “Mother—”
On either side of me, Eurydice and Callisto protest loudly, and I can hear Psyche doing the same on the other end of the call.
“Fuck no.” Callisto slices a hand through the air. “That sounds like a goodbye. What are you planning?”
“I love you girls. Stay away from the bridges. They aren’t safe to cross any longer.” She smiles warmly and cuts the call.
I stare at the blank screen for a beat. “What is she doing?” I dial her back, but she sends it directly to voicemail. “Mother, what are you doing?” I turn to Callisto and then Eurydice. “What is she doing?”
Eurydice is glaring at her phone. “Psyche isn’t picking up, either. I think she has her phone turned off.”
“She’s leaving it behind so Circe can’t track her.
Or anyone else.” Callisto shoves to her feet and digs her hands into her long dark-brown hair.
“We’re panicking over nothing. Mother has never met a circumstance she hasn’t come out on top of.
This will be no different.” She sounds like she’s trying to convince herself more than us.
“Mother didn’t plan on Eros getting shot,” I snap. “She didn’t plan on Circe.”
“She never moves without a plan, and a good one at that.” Callisto spins on her heel and nearly topples over. “Damn it, pregnancy is making me feel half-human. I can’t think.”
“We need to do something.” Eurydice stands, too. “If we—”
“No.” I hate that I have to cut this off at the knees, but I can’t let them run off and put themselves—and Mother—in danger.
“We don’t know what she’s planning, and she’s right about the bridges.
There are large crowds on the upper city side of both of them.
They can’t cross because of the barriers, but we can’t cross, either.
They’re attacking anyone who tries to get to the lower city. It’s not safe.”
“I don’t give a fuck about safe, Persephone,” Callisto snaps.
“They’ll kill you.” Now I’m standing, too, surging to my feet in a dizzying rush.
“Which means they’ll kill your baby. What do you think your husband will do then?
” I rush on before she can respond. “He’ll try to play the hero and get murdered, too.
And it won’t change a single damned thing.
Mother will still enact her plan, except you’ll be dead. ”
“But—”
I spin on Eurydice. “The same goes for you. I was careless crossing the River Styx, and Orpheus paid the price. Charon is still recovering from the injuries he sustained during Circe’s last attack. Will you be responsible for their deaths?”
Eurydice flinches. “That’s not fair.”
“I’m not trying to be fair. I’m trying to keep the people I love alive.
” I’m not proud of the way my voice breaks on the last word.
I hold up a hand. “I will speak with Ares and Athena and see what can be done, but I want you both to promise me that you won’t leave the house.
” It’s not lost on me that this is the same promise I chafed at giving Hades.
Eurydice looks like she wants to scream but finally says, “I promise.”
We both look at Callisto. Her fists are clenched at her sides, her expression thunderous.
“This fucking city. It takes and it takes and it takes, and the moment someone comes along with a pretty face and a rousing cry, they’re ready to kill every single one of us.
It makes me sick.” She turns and stalks out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
“That wasn’t a promise.” Eurydice laughs a little, the sound fractured.
“No, it wasn’t.” I sigh. “But I think it’s as good as we’re going to get.”