Page 4 of Dark Gods
"I'm more of a shortest point from A to B person," I admitted.
"Well, you're Hades' fiancee, so no one will pick on you."
I grimaced. I couldn't see why that would be a plus to him, but the idea that my reputation here was already decided by being Hades' future property didn’t sit well with me. If anyone was going to ruin my reputation, it wasme.
"Sorry. I know arranged marriages can be a bit of a sensitive topic," he said apologetically.
"Don't be. It's whatever." I said, shaking off the gloom that seemed to settle in easily in this glorified mausoleum. "I've got four years to enjoy myself, so until then, it's 'Hades, who?'"
He gave me a doubtful look. "Whatever you say. But you'd probably be the only girl in school whoisn'tdreaming about becoming Queen of the Underworld. He's kind of a big deal."
"I'm sure he thinks he is," I snorted, hanging up my favorite leather jacket. It was dyed purple, a shade darker than my hair, and originally, I'd bought it because Mom hated it, but it had grown on me in its own right. The disapproving grimaces every time I headed out the door wearing it were just a bonus.
"That's a lot of clothes for such a small bag," Dionysus said, blinking at my mostly empty satchel.
"You like?" I picked it up, dangling it by the strap. "It's enchanted. I could fit a baby elephant in there if I wanted."
"Where did you come by a thing like that?" he asked, studying it curiously when I tossed it to him.
"My Aunt Athena makes them," I answered, laughing at the starstruck look on his face.
"TheAthena?"
"I'll have you know I'm the black sheep of averyprestigious family," I told him, flopping down on the edge of my bed.
"You and me both," he said with a heavy sigh, offering the bag to me.
"Keep it."
His eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"I've got another back home. Besides, since I'm Hades' fiancee, I can probably just get some hunky man servants to follow me around carrying my books," I said dryly.
"You're joking, but I'm sure there's a form in the administrative building for that."
I groaned. "Just call me Kory and not 'Hades' Fiancee’ and we're even. I'd like to have at least one friend at this school who doesn't see me as the death god's property."
Dionysus gave me a smile that made the callous stone feel a bit warmer. "Now that, I can do."
2
Early Monday morning, I put on my freshly pressed uniform and checked the mirror to make sure I hadn't hemmed my skirt to the point where I was going to get scolded before I stepped foot inside the classroom. Human Politics was the first class of the day, and while the subject was less than rousing, I had looked over the course description and didn't feel like I'd missed much from the first semester.
Living among humans had to count for more than reading about them in a book, anyway.
With my books in hand, I left my room and found myself face-to-face with a tall red-haired girl in a bath towel. I guess we were comfy like that.
"Oh," she said, blinking at me. "You're new."
"And you're naked."
She looked down at her towel and laughed. "Daphne," she said, reaching to shake my hand. "You must be Persephone."
I grimaced. "I go by Kore, but yep, that's me."
"Well, I'd stay and chat but I've got to finish getting ready for class," she said, walking to stand in front of the door next to me. "We're neighbors, so let me know if you need a tour later."
"Thanks, I might take you up on that," I said, watching her disappear into the room. So far, the only two people I'd met had been friendly enough, so how bad could this place really be?
