16. Eurydice

16

EURYDICE

There’s no good way to get Ariadne to safety without exposing what I’ve been doing with her up to this point. Maybe if Eris was answering her phone, things would be different, but after the third time I get sent to voicemail, I know it’s a lost cause. I almost call my mother, but the only people my mother looks out for are herself and her daughters. She might extend an offer of sanctuary, but she’s not above going back on her word if it suits her end goals. I promised Ariadne that she would be safe. That means there’s only one person I can call.

I’m about to be in so much trouble.

The woman standing next to me hardly seems to have the same bubbly personality that I’ve interacted with previously. I don’t know what happened, but she’s scared out of her mind. She keeps flinching every time Orpheus moves. I don’t think it’s him personally that’s causing the reaction. It’s more that he’s fidgeting, and the movement repeatedly startles her. Either way, it has my nerves fried. “Orpheus,” I snap. “Go stand watch by the door.”

For a second, he looks like he wants to argue, but he finally gives a short nod and moves toward the door. We’re not so deep into the greenhouse that he’s soon out of sight though, and even though he’s not trained the same way that Charon is, I find his presence comforting.

I turn back to Ariadne. “I need to know what I’m dealing with. I promised to help you, and I will, but I need all the details in order to make sure I keep my word to the best of my ability.”

She wraps her arms around herself tightly, as if afraid that she’ll shatter into a million pieces. When she speaks, it’s so soft that I have to strain to understand her. “I’m pregnant. I need an abortion. As soon as feasibly possible.”

I stare. Who…? But then, it doesn’t matter, does it? I’m doubly glad I chose not to call my mother now, because I can’t guarantee what she would do with this information. The pregnancy has to be caused by someone in Minos’s household, and I highly doubt it’s Theseus. Of the other three men left living with her, two of them are related to Ariadne. While I can’t rule anything out, I don’t think Minos is guilty of that. And Icarus certainly isn’t.

Which leaves the Minotaur.

My mother wouldn’t hesitate to use a pregnancy as leverage to attempt to bring the Minotaur over to our side. Even at the expense of Ariadne. I won’t let her do it. I take Ariadne’s hands and squeeze until she meets my gaze. “I have to call someone for help. I know this is scary, but we’ll go to a clinic right now. I will stay with you the whole time.”

The relief on her face makes me feel a little weak. I’m nearly certain Hades won’t make the same call my mother would, but if I have to fight him and the rest of the Thirteen, then so be it. “After that, we’ll set you up somewhere safe and talk about the future.”

“Okay.” She slowly pulls her hands from mine and nods. “Okay,” she repeats.

I pull up my phone. It’s tempting to take the cowardly route and call my sister instead, but in this I can’t trust Persephone any more that I can trust my mother. I don’t think she would force me to go back on my word, but I can’t be certain. All the women in my family can be remarkably ruthless when those they care about are on the line. If Persephone thought that handing over Ariadne would protect her husband, her family, her unborn children? She’d feel guilty for doing it, but she’d make that call.

I take a deep breath and dial Hades.

He picks up on the second ring. “Eurydice? Is everything okay? Did something happen to Persephone?”

Guilt threatens to rise, but I muscle it down. “Persephone is fine. She’s with Medusa and the rest of the security team.”

He’s silent for a beat, and when he speaks again, he sounds much more like himself. Calm and cold and perfectly collected. “In that case, what can I help you with?”

Here it is. The point of no return. Once I ask for his help, I have to live with the consequences, and so does Ariadne. I take a deep breath. “I need your help. I don’t really have the time to explain everything right now, but I need sanctuary for someone, and that person needs an abortion. Today.”

Again, he’s silent for several moments. My heart beats faster as I have to face the very real possibility that he might tell me no. And if Hades denies me, then I can’t ask Charon for help either. It wouldn’t be fair to put him in that position—and I don’t think I’d recover from reaching out for help and having him turn away in response. Better to not put either of us in that position to begin with.

“Are you the friend who needs these things?”

A surprised laugh bursts free, though it has an edge of hysteria. “If it was, I wouldn’t have come to you for help. No offense, but my sisters and mother have my back before anyone else. Even you.”

“Fair enough.” Amusement filters in his tone but quickly fades. “You understand that I had to ask.”

“I understand.” If he went behind Persephone’s back to help me, it would piss her off something fierce. Worse in so many ways, it would upset her. Right now, no one wants to upset Persephone.

Something I should’ve thought about before I ditched her at the Dryad.

“I’ll arrange everything, including transport. Your friend will be well taken care of.”

Relief threatens to make me lightheaded, but we’re not out of the woods yet. “Sanctuary and the procedure. Today. Your word that both will happen.”

“You have my word, Eurydice. I promise.”

It has to be good enough. Once he’s given his word, he won’t break it. Not for anyone…even his wife. I take a shuddering breath. The next part won’t be any easier, because I know exactly who he’ll send as transport. That’s a battle to fight later. First, I have to see to Ariadne. “We’re at the university in the upper city. In the greenhouse.”

“I see. Stay there until Charon texts you that he’s arrived. Be safe, Eurydice.”

“I will.” I slip my phone back into my purse and turn to Ariadne. “You know that there will be a cost for the help.”

“I’m aware.” She tucks her hair behind her ears with shaking hands. “I know better than to expect anyone to help me out of the kindness of their hearts. I have the information you’re looking for, for all the good it will do you.”

There’s nothing to say to that. It’s not my job to decide whether or not her information is worth the cost of getting her away from Minos. Truth be told, I would do it for free, but that’s not how Olympus works. Especially now when the price of failure is so high. “Is there anything else I need to know that can’t wait until you’re settled?”

“Only that my father will be looking for me.” She presses her lips together. “Not just my father.”

The Minotaur. I should leave it alone, but I can’t help taking her hand. “Did he force you?” I don’t have the power to command his death, but that won’t stop me from calling in whatever favors I can come up with if he hurt her.

“What? No. It was nothing like that.” She shakes her head sharply. “But if he knows I’m pregnant, then he’s going to get the wrong idea. I can’t let that happen.”

He’s going to get the wrong idea. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to make of that statement, so I set it aside. At this point I have to take her at her word. I don’t know what would inspire a woman like Ariadne to climb into bed with a man like the Minotaur, but then I didn’t think I would be commanding Orpheus to scrub Charon’s kitchen either. People contain multitudes.

I try to keep her engaged and distracted, but after three attempts at conversation, I give up and settle down to wait. It’s hard not to run scenarios about what happens when I have to face Hades and my sister…and Charon. None of them are going to be happy with me.

My phone pings. I dig it out of my purse to find the Charon has texted me. My stomach twists a little at the two blunt words. I’m here. He’s fucking furious with me, and I can’t even claim the high ground this time. I essentially lied to him. “Let’s go.”

Ariadne presses herself to my side as we head for the door. Orpheus has a strange look on his face, but he keeps his silence. He merely holds the door open for us and falls into step behind. There’s no reason for us to be in active danger right now, not when Ariadne has proven herself adept at slipping her father’s leash for short times during the last couple weeks, but I can’t help but search the paths around us, trying to see through the bushes to ensure no one is following.

Charon waits for us by the curb, standing next to a nondescript black sedan. The tension in his shoulders reflects what I’m feeling. “Get in.” He holds open the back door. I usher Ariadne in ahead of me. Charon grabs my wrist in a gentle yet unbreakable clasp before I can follow her. “We will be discussing this later.”

“I know.” I don’t have it in me to dredge up any self-righteousness this time. The end might justify the means for most people in Olympus, but that’s not how Charon functions. He would never allow me to put myself in danger to serve this city. The fact that I chose to put myself in danger, at least in his eyes, has to be driving him up the wall.

He turns that harsh look on Orpheus. “You didn’t do a damn thing to keep her out of trouble, did you?”

Orpheus shrugs. “I figured it was better that one of us accompanied her. If I started arguing, she would’ve made me stay in the car.”

“A good dog protects.” He doesn’t give either of us a chance to respond to that before he pushes me into the back seat and slams the door. Apparently Orpheus gets the front seat. Lucky him.

“I don’t think he likes me very much.” Ariadne huddles in her seat, her fear saturating the air in the enclosed space.

I put aside all thoughts of later. Charon and I will have it out, and apparently Orpheus too, but none of that matters right now. I take her hand and try not to wince when she tightens her grip to painful levels. “You’re safe. Hades gave his word, and he never breaks it.” And Charon serves Hades. His isn’t an unquestioning obedience—Hades would never expect that—but he has no reason to question this order. We’re helping Ariadne…and serving the lower city in the process.

“How novel.” She gives herself a shake. When she speaks again, she’s managed to dampen some of the brittleness that has me so worried. “I’m sorry to drag you into this. I really did plan on helping you even without asking for anything but a safe place to stay, but when the test came back positive, I didn’t know who else to call.”

Her family has only lived in Olympus for a couple months at this point, and I wouldn’t say that they’ve made actual friends. Allies? Possibly. But even then, it doesn’t apply to the entire family. Minos is the one charming people and making connections. Aside from his house party, he hasn’t brought his daughter—or his son, for that matter—out.

Still…

“Why didn’t you reach out to Theseus?” He might have had one of the shortest runs for the Hephaestus title in our history, and I still might not trust him all that much despite the fact that he’s apparently on our side, but he is her foster brother.

She’s already shaking her head. “He doesn’t like me, and he wouldn’t hesitate to throw me to the wolves if he thought it would help him and Pandora. The only person I would trust with this is Icarus, but he doesn’t know where to go in order to make this happen without it being broadcast across MuseWatch.”

It’s a fair concern. Nothing is sacred when it comes to the gossip sites. And Minos’s only daughter being seen entering a facility known for this kind of procedure? They would be sharks scenting blood in the water. “The paparazzi don’t find the lower city as welcoming. You won’t be photographed. I promise.” I’ve made more promises today than I have in the last six months. I really hope that I’m not about to break them.

Hades gave his word. I have to trust that.

Charon and Orpheus climb into the car, and then there’s no more time for talking. I hold Ariadne’s hand as we drive through the upper city to the Cypress Bridge. I wish I could breathe a sigh of relief as we cross over to the lower city, but although it’s painful to cross the River Styx without an invitation, it’s not impossible. Orpheus is proof of that.

Somehow, I don’t think even horrendous pain will be enough to dissuade the Minotaur if he decides to come hunting.