Page 109 of Raising Hell
“You wish for more gardens?” Hades asked, sounding intrigued as he made a counter move.
“It’s not about what I want but what they want. If they want to grow things outside, they should. If someone wants to go fishing in the lake and make dinner for everyone, great. If not, that’s okay too. I know you can do everything with your magic, but that robs them of the opportunity to do something that feels productive and useful.”
“Is that why you created this room? To feel productive and useful?”
I shrugged slightly and made my next move.
“I guess so. I wasn’t really thinking that when I suggested it, though.”
“What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that everyone here seems just as bored as I’d been when I’d been trapped in my house, and I felt bad.”
He looked around the room again, and I did the same, noting that we had the attention of a few. I nodded and smiled. The smile still disturbed a few of them, but they didn’t all react in panic like they used to.
“Do you have other suggestions?” Hades asked, drawing my attention back to him, the board, and the move he’d made.
“Hobbies are tricky,” I said, thinking of everything I’d attempted to keep from going crazy. It wasn’t like Hell had television or video games. And, like me back home, they couldn’t exactly travel. But there were still a few options.
“Not everyone will enjoy everything. But there are artistic things like carving and sculpting. Kind of like what Zotera was doing in the throne room. Painting is another option. Art on canvas that could be hung like the tapestries you made or murals that take up a whole wall. The castle’s pretty barren and could use anything to help it feel homier.”
“You wish it to feel more like a home?”
“Well, it is a home, isn’t it? You all live here. It should feel cozy.” I frowned as a thought occurred to me. “Or not. I guess it depends on what everyone likes. If you like it filled with empty rooms and stone, then that’s what it should be. My point is that creating things for this place is something else they can do to pass time.”
I made my move, knowing he would take my piece. When he did, I took his.
“If they’re allowed to use the viewing pool, learning things could be another hobby. The world has changed a lot in the last few centuries, and they could get some ideas by watching what humans do.”
He nodded, seemingly more focused on the game than my suggestions, and I grinned. Hades had a competitive streak for sure. I’d witnessed it when we’d played games of chance with Zotera.
My stomach growled loudly, distracting him. He looked up at me with a frown.
“Do you wish to eat?”
“I’m okay for now. Let’s finish this game.”
However, my stomach kept making noises, throwing him off enough that I managed to win the game within a few minutes. While I crowed over his defeat, he stood smoothly and offered me his hand.
“Come.”
I let him pull me to my feet and lead me to the door. Zotera stood near the opening, speaking to another woman. When she saw us, she excused herself.
“Are you leaving already?” she asked, looking worried.
“We’ll come back,” I said. “I’m just hungry.”
“May I join you?”
“Absolutely.” Having company would ensure that Hades stayed focused on feeding me and not distracting me with kisses.
The three of us walked down the hall to the now-vacant throne room. Food already waited on the marble table when we neared. Cheesecake for Zotera and the steak meal for Hades. My plate was still empty.
“Tell me what you desire, and I will provide,” he said, leaning close to brush his lips against my ear.
“Let’s go with another ham and cheese sandwich.”
It appeared, and my mouth watered. Hades chuckled when I started walking faster. The second I was seated, I had that sandwich in my hands and took a bite.
