Page 12 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
Tee blew out a frustrated breath. ‘Okay. His problem is you, Sephy.’
‘Huh?’
‘You are his Persephone. And he wants you back.’
Hysteria bubbled up, spilling into manic laughter that bordered on unhinged. I bent over, hands braced on my knees, then straightened, swiping at my tear-streaked cheeks. Tee glared at me and my laughter died abruptly.
‘You’re not serious?’ I whispered.
‘Yes. You’re a goddess. You were married to Hades and… he wants you back.’ Tee exhaled hard. ‘I know you think this is ludicrous, but trust me, it’s the truth.’
I dropped back onto the couch, my mind spinning, fatigue pulling at my brain and body. ‘I was married to Hades. How? I’m twenty-two years old, and I’ve never been married.’ I dragged in a shaky breath, but panic stopped my lungs from inflating. ‘My brain is in turmoil, Tee. Please take me home.’
‘I can’t, I’m sorry.’ A worried look crossed her beautiful face, and then she let out an enormous sigh, closing her eyes. ‘You’ve eaten three pomegranate seeds from the Underworld orchard. You’re tied to Hades for three months, or until he lets you go.’
‘The drink you gave me?’ Tee nodded and wrung her hands together. I jumped up and paced the bedroom. ‘You bitch! A friend wouldn’t do that.’ I was going to murder her. I was going to be arrested for best-friend-icide.
Tee let out a resigned sigh and collapsed onto the sofa. ‘I am your friend, Sephy. But I also answer to Hades. He’s my friend too.’
‘Hades is your friend. Seriously?’ She gave a resigned nod. How couldmybest friend be associated with the god of the Underworld? ‘You did trick me. You pretended to be my friend… for him?’
‘No. I am your friend. That part is true, babe. Honestly.’
‘Don’t call me babe,’ I snapped, and she flinched. ‘Tell me why the fuck anyone would think I’mthePersephone? It’s absolutely ridiculous.’
‘I can’t explain that to you. It’s Hades’ story to tell.’
A flash of anger bubbled through my exhaustion as I paced the room. I spun on my heel and jabbed a finger at Tee, my voice climbing higher and sharper. ‘I’ve been kidnapped—ripped from my life! Told I’m the goddess Persephone, married to the god of the dead? And now I’m stuck with him for three months?’
At my words, Tee flinched again. ‘What happened to Persephone, Tee? Tell me!’ My breath hitched, and I sniffed. ‘If she’s gone, why isn’t the world up top aware? I just don’t understand.’
A flicker of pity flashed across Tee’s face. ‘Alright.’ Her gaze locked onto mine. ‘The gods are clever, Sephy. You’ve been missing for over twenty years, but the mortal world has no idea. The gods can morph into anyone they wish, and for a time Aphrodite covered for you—smiling for the reporters. But it became too painful for Hades. Eventually, he started appearing alone. And you… you were never one for publicity. Elusive. Distant. People stopped asking questions.’ She shook her head, her voice softening. ‘The rest… that’s for Hades to tell you.’
Anxiety fluttered through me, sharp and frantic, threatening a full-blown panic attack. I couldn’t be here for that long—being in a place with no outside space was my idea of actual hell. Ineed gardens, flowers, greenery, space, and sunlight on my skin. I inhaled deeply and thought of my gran. A twinge of pain surged through me—I missed her so much. But how would she advise me to handle this mind-boggling situation? She’d tell me to be cute. Be clever. And to bow to no one.
Fatigue and uncertainty overtook me. ‘This is real, isn’t it? I’m in the Underworld.’ I slumped next to Tee, who nodded and took my hand. ‘Fuck.’Once he finds out I’m a witch, I’m as good as dead.I tried for humour. ‘I think I might need to develop a drug habit to get through this.’
Tee chuckled softly. ‘It’s going to be okay. Honestly.’
‘Will it?’ I whispered.
But I had no choice, did I? Freaking out and rocking in a corner would get me nowhere—I just needed to go along with it. Then get back home to my life, away from Hades and the Underworld.He’d realise I wasn’t his Persephone and let me go. Hopefully before discovering what I really was.
Or maybe… just maybe… Iwasin a coma, and, eventually, I’d wake up from this nightmare.
CHAPTER 4
HADES
‘Highness.’ Thanatos strode into my office. ‘Zeus has summoned you. He wishes to see you.’
I emitted a low growl and rose to my feet. ‘I will not be gone long, Thanatos.’
‘And, boss…’ Thanatos hesitated. ‘How is Persephone?’ His gaze fell to the floor. Persephone had long been a sore subject around me; it had been for over twenty years. But touching her again in my club, if only for a brief few minutes, had elicited a myriad of emotions. I missed her so much. Ineededher back.
‘I don’t know, Thanatos. She is with Hecate at present. I have yet to see her. Tell Hecate I’ve gone to Olympus and to meet me in my office before lunch.’ My shadows engulfed me, and I shadow-walked out of the room.
As I appeared, Zeus was in his throne room, seated upon a silver and white throne sculpted from thunderbolts and clouds. He was dressed in a sharp business suit, while I preferred a moreinformal look—black jeans and a black shirt rolled up to my elbows.
