Chapter twenty
Aedonaeus
The sun was up, and the place was still quiet when I finally found sleep. The brutes never get up early, and with the amount that Josie has been sleeping you would think she hasn’t been unconscious in years. She probably hasn’t.
I finally wake, cracking my eyes open to see that the sun is already creeping toward the horizon. Josie is absent from the space beside me, and the sheets are cold. She’s been gone for a while. I can’t help but panic. I jump up and throw open the bedroom door to be met by a delicious smell and the sounds of female voices. I round the corner to catch a glimpse of Vivian and Bella sitting at the counter while Josie stands over the stove cooking. I recall Vivian saying that she used to cook but had stopped a long time ago.
“This place is amazing. Even better than David’s,” Vivian says with wide eyes.
“Not sure how long he’ll have it. He and Hermes broke up,” Josie tells her.
“How would you know?”
“Because I was hanging out with Hermes last night.” Josie shrugs and returns to stirring. I glance over at the spare bedroom doors, and both are open. The brutes must have gotten up hours ago and left, but they’ll be back.
“I guess you’re upgrading. Leaving us behind,” Vivian teases.
Josie rolls her eyes, grabbing a piece of pear from a plate on the counter and popping it into her mouth. “Give me a break.”
I haven’t sent anyone to the market, which means she either went herself, or the brutes did.
“I mean look at you. Aedonaeus has you acting like a housewife. The master of torture is cutting vegetables instead of people,” Bella chimes in.
Josie throws a spare carrot at her, and they all laugh. “I’m not a housewife. I’ll still carve you to pieces.”
I love seeing her joy. This must be how it was between them at some point. A glimpse into the life she led before it was smashed to pieces.
“I’ve missed your cooking,” Vivian groans, coming to stand behind Josie. She reaches around and tries to dip a spoon into one of the pans, and Josie swats her away.
The three of them look comfortable. Josie wears tight shorts and a long-sleeved shirt I don’t recognize hangs loose on her shoulders. When she showed up, she didn’t bring anything with her. I haven’t shown her, but I had clothes purchased and brought here, even if I wasn’t sure I would see her again.
Her hair is up in a bun with messy strands hanging around her face. Vivian’s hair is in a clip on the back of her head. She wears a hoodie and a pair of leggings. Bella is in a pair of sweats and a shirt, her cropped hair in a messy mop on her head. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this. Their comfortability makes this that much sweeter.
Something catches my eyes and in the center of the living room are two pairs of shoes. Both sisters are like this. Intrusive and messy. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Someday I’ll trip over the goddamn shoes, and even if I break my nose, I’ll be grateful for it. I didn’t realize how lifeless this place was.
Bella stands. “Where’s the bathroom?” Josie points at a door off the kitchen, and Bella ambles away leaving the sisters alone.
“I recognize the shirt,” Vivian says, reaching for more fruit.
Josie leans against the counter crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at her sister. “Just say what you want to say, Viv.”
“You didn’t get rid of his stuff.”
“It’s just a shirt.” Josie shrugs, but I can tell there is more to it. Whose fucking shirt is she wearing that isn’t mine?
“You said you were going to burn it.”
“I say a lot of things.”
“You actually don’t,” Vivian snorts. “You seem happy, like you’re finally okay with moving on. Why keep that?”
Josie bites her lip in thought. She opens her mouth to speak but doesn’t, turning back to the stove. Finally, she says, “It’s not like it was really his.”
That is some other man’s shirt, and I can assume they are discussing the boy who loved her. Jealousy filters into my vision, turning it red, but I don’t move from my spot in the hallway.
“I remember when he put it on you,” Vivian smirks.
“He was so annoying.”
“You barely had any clothes on,” Vivian argues lovingly.
“As was my right as a young woman hitting a bar!” Josie exclaims.
“You did it to piss him off, and you know it.”
“You couldn’t see my scars.” Josie tugs at the neck out of habit. “That was the rule.”
“He went around shirtless for the entire night because of it,” Vivian giggles at the memory.
“Not my fault he was a crazy person. You should have seen him the night he came all the way to Staff’s and dragged me back.”
“I can imagine. I saw him before he left.”
Josie whips around, suddenly interested. “You did?”
“Yup. He paced around for like two hours before storming out. Woke me up with the way those floors creaked. Did he find you with Aedonaeus?”
Now I’m doubly interested. The boy who loved her came and dragged her away that night? I must have just missed him. I remember the guy she calls Stafford giving her the note. It must have been about the dead mystery boy.
“No,” Josie sours. “He didn’t know about that. Probably wouldn’t have told me he loved me if he did.”
“He would have ended up telling you. Love doesn’t work like that. Who would've thought you would be cooking in the penthouse of the guy whose fingers changed your life,” Vivian cackles.
Josie’s face turns red. “Fuck off.”
“So, what are we doing here anyways?” Vivian looks around again. Josie sags against the counter indecisively. She hasn’t told them yet.
Bella returns, seating herself at the counter. “What did I miss?”
“You didn’t have to go to the bathroom to smoke flower, Bella,” Josie tells her.
“I didn’t want to be rude,” Bella says defensively, holding her hands up in the air.
Josie leans over the counter expectantly. “Got any left?”
Bella reaches into the pocket of her sweatpants and pulls out a case. She plucks out a rolled stick and hands it over with a lighter.
“Won’t he be mad?” Vivian asks her warily.
“Don’t care.” Josie lights it, taking a deep hit.
“You’re bold.”
“She doesn’t care because she moved in,” Bella snickers. Josie shrugs and Vivian smacks the counter as her mouth drops open.
“I knew the apartment would be lonely, but I didn’t know things were that serious between you two,” Vivian says.
“I’ll do you one better.” Josie smirks, exhaling smoke through her nostrils like a dragon.
Vivian buries her face in her hands. “You’re going to give me a heart attack.”
“I married him.”
The room stills and the atmosphere is devoid of oxygen, waiting on her sister’s reaction. Josie said she would be happy, but the hesitation is still there.
“Is this a joke?” Bella asks Vivian with wild eyes.
“Josie would never…” Vivian trails off with uncertainty. “Would you?”
“There’s more,” Josie says indifferently.
Vivian squeals. “Spit it the fuck out Josie!”
She takes her time taking a few more puffs and checking on the food before she returns. Vivian is bouncing in her seat with anticipation.
“He’s the prince of the Underworld.”
“I fucking knew it!” Bella exclaims.
I can’t see Vivian’s face from this angle, but with the way her body goes rigid and Josie smirks, I can tell she got whatever reaction she was hoping for.
“You’re a fucking princess?” Vivian whispers. “You? You of all people are a princess? The future queen of the Underworld? You married the prince? You knew and didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t know before I married him, and don’t call me that.” Josie ashes into the sink. Her bright silver eyes are a little glassy.
“You’ll make a fantastic queen,” Bella says.
“Ugh.” Josie scrunches her face up. “I hate politics.”
“That’s why.” Bella points at her. “You don’t want it.”
“My sister is the mother fucking princess,” Vivian says incredulously, still harping on that fact.
“Do I have to curtsy or something?” I can hear the smile in Bella’s voice.
“If you curtsy, I will cut your legs off and make it permanent,” Josie threatens.
I figure it’s time for me to stop eavesdropping. I stride out of the hallway toward Josie.
“Speaking of the devil,” Bella addresses me.
“Good evening, ladies,” I greet them, wrapping my arms around Josie. She leans into me.
Vivian clutches her chest. “I can’t take it, Bella. Look at them. They’re, like, the most beautiful couple I have ever seen.”
“I’m surprised he’s still alive,” Bella snorts.
“As am I.” I pour us all a drink. “What are you cooking, love?”
She looks at me with a devilish grin. “Your first Rem meal."
The elevator dings, and I can hear Hermes and Minos in some sort of argument like they always are.
“Smells delicious.” Hermes rounds the corner. “Hey there, Vivian. Bella.”
“Hey,” they both greet him with varying degrees of politeness.
“Ladies.” Minos trails behind him. He heads straight for Josie, standing several heads taller than her as he looks over her shoulder into what she’s cooking. I move out of the way. He grabs the spoon Vivian left behind and tries to dip it into the pot. Josie smacks it out of his hand, and it clatters across the floor. He raises his hands in defense and backs away while Vivian snickers.
Hades and Persephone were never ones to align themselves with people. Every meal with guests was prepared, and everyone was an associate. They didn’t try to be removed, but something about it was always a bit cold. Everything was the formulation of some strategy. Seeing all these people that I, admittedly, care for, fills a space in my soul that has been craving a family. Something I once found an unnecessary pain.
Watching the four of them laugh together while Josie leans into my arms feels like home. I don’t feel out of place, or like I want to crawl out of my skin from the propriety of it all. I catch sight of Minos studying the scene and remember he had said Vivian and Bella were packing when they stopped by.
I’ve lost track of the conversation by the time I pull myself from my silent worry. Would Vivian leaving make Josie leave, too? I would go with her. There’s no doubt that I could ever let her go somewhere without me, even if it meant abandoning my own duties. Hades would just have to live with it.
“No one’s stew can compare to hers,” Vivian says as Josie leaves my arms to pull out bowls from the cabinet. “And her Shepherd’s pie.” Her eyes roll back in her head.
“You’re being generous.” Josie smirks.
“She’s not,” Bella chuckles. “I can smell it just thinking about it.”
Josie leans over and opens the oven, pulling out the most delicious looking bread I have ever seen. It’s crisped to golden perfection.
“Even Kate would beg you to cook,” Vivian points out. Josie freezes at the mention of Kate, but only for a fraction of a second. “And you already know K-”
“Foods ready,” Josie announces loudly, cutting Vivian off.
Vivian looks down at her hands in her lap. “Right. Good. I’m starving.”
Josie doles out the food, and we all stand around the counter casually eating. Minos is done in moments, helping himself to another bowl. I never thought anything could be so savory and delicious. Vivian, Bella, and Josie slurp from the sides of their bowls not bothering with the spoons. Another Remnant habit, I’m sure.
“Do they…?” Vivian begins. “Know about McFadden?”
Josie shrugs and turns to Hermes and Minos. Bella looks uneasy. “We’re Rem. We had a traitor.”
Hermes face is devoid of shock. Minos must have filled him in. Bella’s shoulders lower a fraction.
“Sounds serious.” Hermes says between his bites.
“Everyone’s going home you know,” Vivian says nonchalantly.
Josie tears off a piece of bread and soaks up the remainder of the broth in her bowl. “I know.”
“Even Stafford.”
“Surprised he’s going without me.”
“Reluctantly,” Vivian snorts.
“It won’t be the last you see of him,” Josie says carelessly. I catch the subtle thing she said. You. She doesn’t have plans to see him anytime soon. Thank the fucking Universe. Another thing I can deal with later.
“He just cares about our safety,” Vivian argues.
“I’ve been handling my own safety pretty well,” Josie bites back. “A few weeks ago, you seemed to question his motivations.”
Somehow, we’ve ended up in a confrontation. Bella watches them both and sighs. Minos and Hermes exchange glances. They’re used to using their fists to argue, not this sort of verbal confrontation that’s unfolding in front of us.
“Business or not, he’s the reason we’re alive.” Vivian sets the bowl back onto the counter forcefully.
“Do you really believe that?” Josie smirks.
“Josie,” she admonishes her. “He has overextended himself plenty to at least deserve that respect.”
“No one asked him to.”
“No, but he did it anyways.”
“Let me guess. He came and asked you to talk sense into me?”
“I think you should consider it.” Vivian rolls her eyes.
“I respect your opinion, Viv. I really do, but I don’t want any part of that world anymore.” The silence that surrounds us is filled with some unspoken surprise.
Vivian gasps. “How can you say that?”
“The book.” Josie glares at her. Vivian seems to deflate at that comment. “My answer is no. I have other responsibilities now.” She glances at me quickly before returning to their standoff.
“I understand, Jo. I have a hard time doing it, but I do.” Vivian shares a look with Bella.
Bella has been silent for the entire back and forth. I’ve still never gotten a solid read on her. The only thing I've been able to determine are that she’s meticulous and careful. She takes a step back and studies the world around her. I’m not sure how she ended up with Vivian, but with how fiercely protective Josie is, it couldn’t have been easy. I can tell Bella cares for them both. I don’t think you can love one sister without the other.
“How’s the clinic?” Josie changes the subject. All seems forgotten at the mention of the clinic. Vivian speaks rapidly, telling stories from the last week at work.
Hermes clears his throat. “How’s David?”
That earns him his own glare from Vivian. “He might leave the clinic.”
“Why?” Hermes brows furrow.
“Because his rich boyfriend broke up with him, and we don’t exactly make a lot of money.”
He seems to make a mental note of it. “I see.”
Their conversation continues until Hermes and Minos begin telling their own versions of that night at the pub and the day we got married. Bella extracts herself from the conversation quietly and settles against the wall next to me.
“I’ve never seen Josie like this. Vivian hasn’t in a very long time,” Bella says, watching Josie with adoration. It's one of the few times she has openly shown her feelings.
“Like what?” I sip from my glass.
She doesn't look at me. “Happy.”
“There is no one like her,” I muse.
“That’s certainly true.”
“Minos said you all were packing when he stopped by.”
Bella hesitates. “Vivian doesn’t know how to tell her.”
“You’re really going back?”
“Vivian always wanted to, but she knew Josie wouldn’t.”
“Why not?”
Bella chews on the inside of her cheek. “I’m not sure I should speak on it.”
“Seems to be everyone’s sentiment when it comes to my wife.”
“Look,” she sighs. “Josie deserves the respect of telling her own story. They watched their family get murdered.” She waits for my reaction.
“I knew that,” I ease her burden.
“Josie didn’t take it well. Vivian has never told me specifics and neither has Josie. I’m sure you’ve figured out she likes to bury things.” I nod confirmation. “She's a target. It’s too dangerous for my fiancée to stay here. Whatever happened that night has stopped Josie from going back or even really speaking on the subject.”
“Vivian mentioned that Josie never had much of a choice there,” I sympathize.
“No, she didn’t. Every movement was controlled. Choices were stolen from her, even if it was well intentioned.”
“Does Vivian think Josie should go back?”
“Why? Are you not the prince of the Underworld? Don’t you have a responsibility to protect the people?” she scoffs.
“I've also had my own choices stolen from me.”
Bella nods slowly with understanding. “The Remnant don’t like outsiders.”
“They’re allowing you into their territory.” I look at her over my glass.
“I’ve worked for Stafford ever since I became a healer. I’ve earned that right. The Remnant would never accept you, even if they didn’t know who you are. Josie is…coveted by Stafford. You would be scrutinized. The moment anyone found out you were even a sympathizer of Hades, they would tear you apart and paint Josie as a traitor.”
“Even if she's spent years being used by them to do their dirty work? Doesn’t seem right.”
“I won’t disagree. Stafford put more on her than he should have. I often question his motivations, but that isn’t my call to make. It seems Josie has come to the same conclusion.” She studies Josie, who has her arms wrapped around Vivian’s waist. They embrace each other, the two sisters who have witnessed unspeakable horrors. “She will do a lot of good for the Remnant people here, even if they hate her for it.”
I never thought about the fact that Josie may be able to ease tensions between the crown and the Republic. As difficult as our union is going to be, she can give them a voice.
“I’ve known Josie for several years. She can make her own decisions. She will, and she won’t be quiet about it.” There’s warning in her voice. “Are you truly ready for that?”
“I have no intention of ignoring what she has to say. The kingdom will have no choice but to listen,” I agree.
Bella’s gaze lingers on me for a moment before she seems to accept the answer. “Good.”
“What about this boy who loved her?” I take a chance with the question. Might as well get it over with.
“Ah, him,” she sighs. “They say he saved her from the Lethe. Found her when she was drowning. Their relationship was complicated according to Vivian.”
“Complicated?” I try to sound like it doesn’t matter, but it does.
She tosses me a sideways glance. “The night they died was the night he told her he loved her and asked her to run away. Then everything went to shit.”
After mere moments of this boy declaring his love, Josie watched him die? That’s enough to send any sane person straight over the edge. Persephone was right. Josie has been alone all this time. As much as she probably tried, Vivian wouldn’t have been able to understand that type of mental torture. I’m unbelievably jealous of a dead man, but that’s just it. He’s dead, and she married me.
If he wasn’t dead, would I have ever met Josie again? I believe so. We've always been doomed to be together.
“When will you be leaving Asphodel?” I ask.
“In a few days. The full moon.”
The night of the gala. A plan forms in my mind. “Does Vivian have as much of an aversion to parties as her sister?"
A tricky smile spreads across Bella’s face. I’ll take that as a no.