Chapter 11
PERSEPHONE
Iwas trying to keep my head above water, committed to the belief I would find a way out of this fuck-upery, but with each passing day, I drowned a little bit more.
I was well and truly trapped in the Underworld.
My favourite place became the library, and Simmy was one of my favourite people. Over the following week or so, I spent time with Simos and books, learning more about Greek mythology and the gods, particularly about Hades and Persephone. I was eager to ask Tee a million questions.
Tee was brilliant with magic, as you'd expect the goddess of magic to be, but even though she somehow knew about my dark magic, I couldn't summon it in training. I was too frightened. Nevertheless, she didn’t push me; she gave me breathing space, and we focused on combat training instead, often with Thanatos and Charon.
I hadn’t seen Hades, which I kept telling myself was a good thing, but the pull in my chest was getting stronger; the urge to see him infuriated me.
I hadn’t dreamed of the garden either, which made me angsty.
I was missing my ethereal oasis, and even though it was just a dream, the respite of being in that otherworldly place sated me.
I still had precisely eighty-two days before I could leave unless Hades freed me beforehand, which was unlikely. I didn’t like how my heart clenched when I thought of leaving Hades, but I dismissed it as a stupid crush on the insanely beautiful hunk of arrogance.
I showered and dressed in a leather bustier, leather pants, and lightweight boots. I was enjoying a breakfast of French toast and crispy bacon when Tee appeared.
‘Hey, I’ve got a bazillion questions for you,’ I said, taking a bite of bacon.
‘We need to talk first, Sephy.’ She appeared agitated, prompting me to stop eating and lower my fork.
‘What’s up? I thought we were training?’ Unease skittered through me, settling over me like a prickly blanket.
‘We are. But I need to speak to you first.’ Tee poured two coffees and handed me one.
‘There’s a problem,’ she began.
‘What? Something other than me being kidnapped and held here against my will by the high and mighty Lord of Shadows?’ I gave her a pointed look, which caused her expression to drop.
‘No. Worse. Much worse.’
My heart hammered violently against my chest. ‘Worse?’ I croaked.
She nodded. ‘You know I mentioned what a pain in the ass Zeus is?’ I gave a slow nod.
‘Well, he also loves meddling, and’—she hesitated, taking a deep breath—‘he’s decided that Hades isn’t the only one entitled to woo you and claim you as a wife.’
‘You freaking what? What does that even mean?’
‘They…’ she whispered.
‘They what?’ I stood and placed my hands on my hips.
‘He and several other gods have always been jealous of Hades’ love for you and your relationship with him.
The love you shared was boundless; you were like two halves of the same circle.
You brought balance to him and the Underworld, and often kicked his grumpy ass, but he would’ve burned the world for you.
’ I narrowed my eyes at her words. Was that true?
‘You were revered, Sephy… Beautiful, fiery, passionate, and immensely powerful. This time, they want a chance to win you as their wife.’
I stood speechless, staring at her, running a hand over my face as I began to pace the room, knots of tension balling in my stomach.
‘So I’m like a prize in their sick little game?
An object of their sexual desire and ego?
That’s not right, Tee!’ My tone rose until I ended up screeching. ‘They can’t be serious?’
Tee exhaled raggedly. ‘Oh, they’re dead serious, Sephy.’
‘No, no, no, no.’ I buried my head in my hands. ‘This can’t be happening. How do I get out of it? Out of here?’
‘Zeus knows Hades has you for three months. You must choose a husband before the ninetieth day.’ I was caught between disbelief and a mess of a hundred other emotions. My stomach rolled, and a violent shudder ran through me.
‘I don’t want a husband. I especially don’t want a god as a husband. I need to go home, Tee. Please take me home.’ Tears filled my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. ‘I’m trapped in a living nightmare. And it’s all Hades’ fault for bringing me here!’
Fury surged through my veins and poured into my chest, causing the dark magic to sizzle.
The more I seethed, the closer the darkness came to boiling point.
‘I’m going to destroy them all,’ I gritted through clenched teeth.
My rage was ready to erupt, dark magic pressing against my skin—a power I still couldn’t control.
For the briefest moment, I wanted to level the castle.
I swallowed hard. ‘They’ve made me a prize to be claimed.
Let them learn what it means to worship a queen forged of fire and thorns. ’ I growled, shaking with anger.
Tee placed her hands on either side of my face, bringing me under control. I felt her power dominating mine, and I closed my eyes, panting hard.
‘Calm down, babe. We’ll sort something out before Zeus’s deadline.
I promise. But it’s better Hades found you before Zeus.
’ My eyes snapped open. ‘It’s true, Sephy.
Hades is a fair god. He likes structure and has a pole up his ass, but he’s honourable.
Just go with it for now… Play their silly little game.
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, remember?
Use it to your advantage.’ Her overwhelming magic calmed me—my heart rate eased, and my breaths slowed.
I nodded my head and wiped a hand across my face.
Tee handed me a glass of nectar, which I sipped silently—it restored my badly jangled nerves.
Once I calmed down, I lost myself in my musings.
One: I was stuck here for the next three months.
Two: apparently, I was a long-lost goddess, once married to the ludicrously attractive, arrogant god of the Underworld, who wanted me back.
Three: some of his fellow gods also fancied me as their wife…
As if being trapped in a marriage would be bearable if the man had good cheekbones.
Four: if this happened, it would mean having sex with one of them.
I wondered if I could find an active volcano to fling myself into.
But I couldn’t lose my cool again. Having a meltdown would work me into an anxious mess, and let’s be real—no one needed that, least of all my mental health.
I had to keep my head, trust Tee, and figure something out.
Reflecting on my earlier conversation with Tee, could I make a difference?
Could I help nullify the banishment of witchcraft in the mortal world.
Play it smart and behave myself to save the exiled covens?
I could do it. Yes… No… Yes… Yes, I could tolerate these divine idiots for three months, couldn’t I?
Fuck. I must be certifiably insane.
Tee’s voice shook me from my thoughts. ‘The first “event” is in a week. Aphrodite is throwing a welcoming party in your honour.’
‘Aphrodite? I’m definitely not into women,’ I gasped, and Tee laughed.
‘Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, Sephy. But no.’ Tee flashed me a cheeky smile. ‘It’s a welcome party, that’s all. Oh, and you’re allowed to bring an escort of your choice.’
I exhaled in relief. Tee might be right. Could I indulge in their silly little game and get something from it? I’d give it my best shot and enjoy being the object of the gods’ affections without cringing too much—for a time, at least.
But marry one of them? Not a chance in hell.
‘Great,’ I muttered, wringing my hands together.
‘Hades wants you to have an early dinner with him,’ Tee said, observing me. At the thought of seeing him again, my stomach made an idiotic dipping motion, and edgy nervousness washed over me. Knots of apprehension tangled with shame over the dream twisted in my gut. I gave her a curt nod.
‘Let’s go and burn off some of that rage. Come on. Let’s go training and kick Charon and Thanatos’s butts.’
Exhausted, I sipped a glass of nectar to ease my sore muscles while Tee prepared omelettes.
‘So, tell me about gods having fangs.’
Tee’s head turned, her surprise evident. ‘He showed you his fangs?’ Her brows knitted together, and I nodded. ‘Hmm,’ she mused. ‘Their fangs are retractable.’
I squinted at her, wondering why he’d not concealed them. ‘He said you were behind the whole blood-drinking scheme. Is that true?’
Tee released a throaty chuckle. ‘Yeah, I was a bit of a dick in the old days.’ I let out a surprised laugh, and she shrugged.
‘It’s true.’ She placed the omelettes on the table and I dove in immediately.
‘The custom of consuming blood has always held a magical and mysterious significance. It serves as a symbolic connection to life and death. I drank blood during my feasts—’
‘Yuck.’ My mouth twisted in disgust, and she laughed.
‘I came up with the idea that the gods retain their powers, even without worship, after Titanomachy.’
‘The great war between the Titans and the gods,’ I mused, and she inclined her chin.
‘Zeus despised the concept, but the prospect of possibly losing the cosmos one day was enough for him to agree. After all, no one is infallible. Even the gods.’
‘But they’re immortal?’
‘Nothing that can be killed is truly immortal, Sephy.’
‘I suppose.’ My hand moved to my divine blade, and a thrum of energy skittered across my palm.
‘So they all drank my potion and gained an alternative source of lifeforce. That’s part of the reason they lost interest in the humans and the chaos they were causing in the mortal realm.
Many humans are driven by arrogance and greed.
’ She exhaled in frustration. ‘And it’s a significant reason why Zeus respects me, even though he hates my guts. ’
‘He’s a douche-canoe.’ At my words, Tee released a peal of laughter.
‘I could brew the potion for you. Do you fancy having fangs?’ Tee gave me a sly grin.