Chapter 8

Persephone left Hades’s home as fast as she could, wiping at the tears in her eyes.

Don’t act like a child, Persephone reprimanded herself harshly. You need to figure out where to go from here. Going back to the mortal world is out of the question. The last thing I will do is run home to Demeter with my tail between my legs.

There was only one other place in the Underworld Persephone knew of, so it was the only place she thought of to go to. It also happened to be the best place in all the realms for a woman with a confused and broken heart.

I’ll go to Hecate’s. Persephone made her mind up. To her relief, the path in front of Hades’s house twisted and began rearranging in a different direction as soon as she decided. If Hades was right about anything, her powers were somehow connected to the Underworld, and it was altering itself to her whims.

Persephone put on a happy, smiling face and attempted to compose herself as she walked. She had only known Hades for a few days. There was no logical reason for her to be so already attached to him and to feel betrayed by the fact he’d never sought her out.

“Fucking Fates,” Persephone muttered as Hecate’s house came into view. “I’m sure they’re somehow to blame in all of this.” Smoke came out of the small chimney, and Persephone freshened her appearance with a small glamour. She already knew she should always expect Hecate’s house to have guests.

She stepped into the courtyard and cautiously walked forward, waiting to see if she triggered any wards or magical protections. When no strange forces knocked her off the property, Persephone shrugged and quietly knocked on the door. She could hear some voices inside.

Fuck it. Persephone gently pushed the door open and made her way to the kitchen. Two goddesses were sitting at the kitchen table—Hecate and a white-haired goddess Persephone had never seen before.

“Am I interrupting something?” she asked politely, preparing to leave if her presence was unwelcome immediately. Hecate brightened upon seeing Persephone, offering her an all-knowing smile. Hecate motioned to a seat at the table, clearly already anticipating her arrival.

I don’t know how she does it. Well, witchcraft is the answer to everything with Hecate, isn’t it?

“Come on in,” Hecate smiled. “I have a feeling that this conversation could use your input too.”

Persephone had no idea what they were discussing that could require her input. She noticed the young goddess beside Hecate stiffened at the thought.

“I don’t mean to pry,” Persephone offered up humbly, sitting across from the pair and offering a wink towards the unknown goddess to create some familiarity between them.

“Yes, you do,” Hecate ribbed playfully. “You’re Hades’s eyes and ears all over the Underworld.”

Persephone was surprised she didn’t fall right off the bench. It was a stretch to say she was Hades’s eyes and ears in the Underworld. They’d spent a few days hooking up together and were destined to be consorts. Persephone realized Hecate, of all people, was well aware of the Fates’ prophecy and was likely referring to it.

I am not beholden to Hades. Persephone’s stomach churned in rebellion. Even if the ancients foretold them to be together, Persephone didn’t see a path forward for her and Hades. She didn’t even understand what her path forward looked like.

“Ha! Don’t confuse me with Minthe. I am a free agent.” Persephone scoffed.

In a bit of a petty rebellion, she snapped her fingers and put food on the table in a show fitting of Demeter’s daughter. An amphora of wine and three cups appeared on the table, and a plate overflowing with pears, cheeses, cured meats, and pomegranates.

“Pomegranates,” Hecate rolled her eyes as she grabbed a few seeds and raised a brow. “How cute.”

Persephone paled for a brief second before regaining her composure.

I don’t know how she even heard about that so quickly. I suppose a goddess of witchcraft has many methods of foresight.

“What?” Persephone acted indifferent and popped some into her mouth, smirking. She turned towards the other young goddess at the table. “We haven’t met.” She widened her smile and passed her a cup. “I’m Persephone.”

“Persephone!” Makaria squeaked. Her brow furrowed, and Persephone realized she was likely surprised to see her in the Underworld. “As in Persephone, Demeter’s daughter? In the…Underworld?”

“Or Persephone, goddess of spring.” Persephone pursed her lips and slathered a piece of honey on a slice of bread, not even attempting to disguise her disdain for her mother. She hated being referred to as ‘Demeter’s daughter’ almost as much as she hated being called ‘Kore.’ “Yes, in the Underworld—”

“She’s here to drive Hades insane,” Hecate quipped, wagging her eyebrows in Persephone’s direction.

Persephone laughed and toasted her cup in Hecate’s direction. That was a directive she could get on board with.

“He’ll be fine,” Persephone sing-songed, sipping the nectar and wine. “His subjects are already dead. What’s he going to do? Kill someone?”

That was precisely what Demeter always feared Hades would do—come up from the ground one day and smite all the Olympians, but even after her limited time with him, Persephone knew it was unlikely.

“You’re awful,” Hecate grinned approvingly. “But not why we’re here. Makaria, darling, what’s stewing in that head of yours?”

Persephone watched Makaria take a deep breath, her eyes downcast as she looked slightly uncomfortable.

I know how you feel. Persephone thought. She was barely hanging onto her wits, not knowing where she belonged. Persephone wasn’t even attempting to process the news about the Fates’s prophecy. How could she? How did you handle the news that you’d been betrothed to Hades since birth? She should have wed him centuries ago… Now it was hitting them both upside the heads. If Persephone knew anything about prophecies, it was this: they always came true. The longer they were delayed, the heavier the blow.

It would explain why there’s such chemistry between us and so quickly… Persephone had partially tuned out Makaria and Hecate. The Fates designed us for each other, and now the prophecy has only been building strength since it didn’t come to pass when it should’ve.

Makaria wiped some tears from her cheek, and Persephone immediately bottled up her feelings again. She refocused on the young goddess and listened to her story as she recounted the story of her new divinity. Hecate helped fill in the parts about Makaria’s mortal life for Persephone. She reached across the table and gave Makaria’s hands a welcoming squeeze.

“Goddesses of the Underworld have to stick together, no?” She smiled, referring to herself for the first time as a goddess of the Underworld. She’d always be one if her powers partially belonged to this realm. Hecate let out a playful shriek.

“I’m assuming you’ve told Hades you’ve accepted his proposal then?”

“Absolutely not!” Persephone grinned wildly, standing up on the bench and pouring fresh cups of wine for the table. If there was ever a time to get drunk, it was now. “Listen to me, Makaria. Always make them sweat it out!”

The women broke off into laughter. Hecate gently steered the conversation back to Makaria, for which Persephone was grateful.

“I don’t even understand how I got here,” Makaria moaned, leaning her head on the table. “I mean… I know how. That was Nyx. It just seems so…misplaced.”

“You have to be careful with new powers,” Hecate sighed, rubbing Makaria’s back gently. Persephone watched as Hecate doled out maternal affection towards Makaria and itched for some herself. “It’s overwhelming, to say the least, and you’re going to need to find some sort of an…outlet…for a while.”

“Is Thanatos going to be the one teaching her?” Persephone turned towards Hecate with a quizzical look on her face. She’d only heard rumors about Thanatos, but she knew he wasn’t one to be trifled with—and he didn’t have the reputation of a teacher.

Hecate hissed, and Persephone’s face contorted, realizing she might be spooking Makaria. Hecate answered begrudgingly. “He will be. There’s not a better fit, and you know it, Seph, so don’t give me that face. Don’t scare her off.”

“I’m not!” Persephone’s heart sang in her chest at the familiarity of Hecate calling her ‘Seph.’

“Scare me off of what?” Makaria perked up, her eyes dancing between the two goddesses.

“Thanatos is… Well, he’s not the most welcoming…” Hecate chewed on her words and licked a bit of honey off her finger, mulling over her response. “He’s been through a lot.” Persephone kept a neutral expression as Hecate defended Thanatos. Even though she was hardly an expert, Persephone jumped in to try and ease some of the damage.

“Thanatos and Hades are close,” Persephone offered up. “Even then, there are things that Thanatos won’t tell Hades. He’s not known to…open up.”

“Eternity is a long time to think that people hate you. To feel like you don’t belong,” Hecate murmured, waving her fingers over the table and refilling their cups again.

“What?” Makaria looked at both of the goddesses with a stunned expression.

Persephone knew it was premature for her to act like an expert. Still, as someone also thrown into the world of the gods below, she wanted to offer up whatever wisdom she could—and she knew a lot about the gods of Olympus and their prejudices. With one look at Hecate, she saw Hecate nod gently and encourage her to go on.

“Cumulatively, I’ve spent more time in Olympus than in the Underworld. It’s not my fate, but that’s…a work in progress.” Persephone waved her hand. “The gods on Olympus, Makaria, they despise Thanatos. In some ways, more than they hate Nyx or Hades. He’s the one thing that every pompous immortal fears.”

“Death,” Makaria whispered, the ichor draining from her face.

“Don’t be fooled.” Persephone’s smile turned a little wicked. “All gods fear death. Even more than the mortals.”

“I thought he didn’t kill anyone?” Makaria interjected, her voice sounding fierce.

“He doesn’t.” Persephone shrugged.

“Then why do they have so much resentment for him?”

“They need to blame someone.” Hecate gave her a grim smile. “The Fates make the decision who lives and who dies, but the gods won’t openly despise the Fates. Then they’d really be asking for it.”

“So… Thanatos becomes their scapegoat.” Makaria sighed.

“He doesn’t care terribly about the Olympians’ opinion. None of the Underworld gods do.” Hecate shrugged. “Even down here, there are some people who bar their doors or look the other way when Thanatos passes. He’s the god of death, the sword of Hades…”

“The destroyer of souls.” Persephone made a tsk sound. She didn’t appreciate that moniker.

“I didn’t think that he…killed, though?” Makaria muttered confusedly.

“He doesn’t destroy mortal souls, Makaria,” Hecate murmured. “When it comes time for a god to die, however, that’s when…” she stuttered.

“If I don’t prove my worthiness then…then it’s Thanatos who…” Makaria trailed off, and neither Persephone nor Hecate said a word in response. “I’m supposed to work with the man who could be my own executioner?”

Persephone gave her a soft smile, her heart aching with empathy for the young goddess. “He won’t be. You’ll be able to prove yourself. I can tell.”

“I have to be honest with you.” Makaria’s voice sharpened a little. “All I’ve heard for the past day is several goddesses telling me ‘not to worry about it’ without offering me anything tangible. It’s a little anxiety-inducing.” Makaria tossed back another sip of her wine.

“It’s not our place to tell you everything,” Hecate reminded Makaria gently, “especially when it comes to the matters of the dead. It will be Thanatos who does that when the time comes.”

“Well, when is that?”

“Soon,” Persephone chided. “You were just saying that you’re overwhelmed with everything that’s happened. You really want to go to work right now?”

Makaria scoffed angrily, even though her words had no heat. “Well…no.” When she spoke again, her voice was quiet. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

She swallowed more wine and avoided eye contact with the other two goddesses. Persephone reached across the table and grabbed her hand; she didn’t appear as confused as Makaria because of centuries of dealing with Olympians. She felt as torn up inside about her position in the Underworld as Makaria did.

“Listen here.” Persephone was firm. “Don’t think for a second that you’re doing this alone, okay? I know there is a lot of information coming at you, but we’ll help you figure it out piece by piece.”

Makaria smiled as Persephone told her everything she wished someone would say to her.

Hecate continued.

“When you do meet with Thanatos, just remember, he’s probably just as nervous as you are.”

Makaria rolled her eyes. “Is this like when you’re afraid of spiders and your parents say, ‘They’re more afraid of you than you are of them?’”

“Oh no,” Hecate said calmly. “Everyone should be more afraid of Thanatos.”

Makaria’s eyes widened, and she sputtered for something to say.

“Or,” Persephone’s face lit up with a devilish expression, “you can spend a year ruining his life—”

“Not helping, Seph,” Hecate chided with a groan, running her hand through her hair. “Don’t listen to her. She’s been stringing Hades along ever since she ran away from her mother and escaped down here.”

Persephone raised an eyebrow. I’m not sure how three days of hooking up means that I’m stringing him along, but yes, we’re technically engaged, and I walked out on him. Does that make you feel better, Makaria? The men of the Underworld are emotional children.

“I am not stringing him along.” Persephone turned up her nose playfully and struggled to find the right words. “I am simply making sure that Hades realizes how mad he is for me before I acquiesce.” Persephone’s eyes widened as she surprised herself with her sentiment. Her words almost didn’t feel like her own.

Damn prophecy. Fates’s magic.

“Oh, he’s mad at you all right,” Hecate scoffed, but Persephone was unbothered. If she’d learned anything living with Demeter, it was how to stage mind games like an Olympian. She could command a room and manipulate emotions like Apollo or Artemis.

“Listen to me, Makaria,” Persephone popped another pomegranate seed into her mouth. “The secret to the men of the Underworld is this…” She paused, commanding the kitchen table like it was a stage. “Shades of mortals and immortals alike find their final haven here. It’s the ultimate repose for every soul. Hades, Erebus, Charon… They’re all looking for their safe place too.”

Silence settled over the kitchen.

“Even Thanatos?” she asked quietly, sounding timid.

Persephone nodded slowly as an idea occurred to her.

“Especially Thanatos. Now, what do you say we head topside? It’s almost the Feast of Dionysus after all, and it sounds like you could use a good party.”