Page 49 of Love and Death
It's almost enough to make me forget why I am here, until my eyes catch on a strange shape in the middle of the room, nearly hidden by the fog. Though hard to make out, there’s no doubt in my mind as to what it is.
Lying in the very midst of Persephone’s moor is … a body.
My heart skips a beat, and I lurch forward in an effort to get a closer look.
“No. Hazel, wait,” Cerberus says, grabbing my arm to stop me.
“Is that him,” I ask, whirling around to face him. “Is that my father?”
The hellhound ignores my questions and turns to Persephone instead. “Is he safe?”
“As safe as one can be in such a state,” the goddess answers.
“Will one of you please tell me what is going on,” I say, glancing between them and their wary expressions.
“Hazel,” Persephone starts uneasily, “there is something you need to understand. I am not sure how to put this, but your father … he is not who he once was.”
“So, that is him, then?”
“Yes, but—”
That’s all I need to know. The words have barely left her mouth before I’ve twisted out of Cerberus’ grasp, surprising us both in the process.
Realizing my good fortune, I dart across the room toward the figure before the hellhound has a chance to react ... Completely forgetting that the space doesn’t justlooklike a moor in my haste.
I stumble, the water and peat sloshing up in great, splattering squelches beneath my quickly sinking feet. My hands shoot out to catch me as I drop forward to land on all fours, muddying the front of my dress and altogether ruining Florence’s hard work.
“Stop!” Cerberus shouts, but I choose to ignore him as I scramble to get back to my feet and press on.
The going is tough; the moor clings to me, suctioning each and every step I take, and I don’t dare look back for fear that I’m mere seconds away from being caught and dragged back to solid ground.
It isn’t long before I find myself forced into a desperate, sloshing crawl forward in order to make any progress at all ... But soon, even this is too much work.
Exhausted, I stop to rest a moment only to realize just how quiet the room is, aside from my own heavy breathing. Daring a glance back at Cerberus and Persephone,my heart sinks in dismay as I realize that, not only have neither of them moved from the door to give chase, but I’ve barely made it more than a few feet from where I first began.
The queen is watching me with what looks to be a sad smile, though maybe it’s merely that Cerberus stands in such stark contrast next to her, obviously fighting back a laugh, that she appears so gentle.
Of course, I was a fool not to realize he’d be protected by some kind of magic.
These are her chambers, after all.
“Are you done?” Cerberus says.
“Would you like some help?” asks Persephone in nearly the same breath.
The last thing I want is to admit defeat, but I’ve embarrassed myself enough as it is.
Besides, there is no denying it, I need help.
Swallowing what little pride I have left, I nod.
With a simple wave of her hand, a soft shimmer ripples over the moor to reveal a dry, narrow path winding its way through the soft heather … barely an arm’s length from me.
Persephone steps onto the path beside me and leans down to offer her hand. Reluctantly, and with great difficulty, I accept. My cheeks burn as I struggle to free myself from the mud before slipping my filthy hand into hers.
Vines burst forth, snaking down the goddess’ arm to twist around me and slowly draw me forward until my whole body is pulled free of the mud. Safe on dry ground once more, the vines wither and disappear in a puff ofdust as Persephone helps me to my feet and brushes me off.
“See, good as new,” she says, gesturing to my clothes.
