A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone #1)(55)

“I think that is why Hades’ challenged me to create life, because he knew it was impossible.”

Hecate did not look so certain. “Hades does not challenge people with the impossible. He challenges them to embrace their potential.”

“And what is my potential?” She asked.

“To be the Goddess of Spring,” Hecate answered. The polecat hopped off her lap as she got to her feet, brushing off her skirts. She expected the goddess to continue asking questions about her magic, but instead she said thoughtfully, “Gardening is not the only way to create life.”

Persephone looked at the Goddess. “How else should I create life?”

She could tell by the amused look on her face that she wasn’t going to like what Hecate had to say.

“You could have a baby.”

“What?”

“Of course, to fulfill the contract, Hades would have to be the father,” she continued as if she hadn’t heard Persephone. “He would be furious if it were anyone else.”

She decided she was going to ignore that comment. “I’m not having Hades’ child, Hecate.”

“You asked for suggestions. I was merely trying to be a good friend.”

“And you are—but I am not ready for children and Hades is not a god I would want as a father to my children.”

She felt a bit guilty for saying that last part out loud.

“What am I going to do? Ugh, this is impossible!”

“It is not as impossible as it seems, my dear. You are in the Underworld, after all.”

“You do realize the Underworld is the realm of the dead, don’t you Hecate?”

“It is also a place for new beginnings,” she said. “Sometimes, the existence a soul leads here is the best life they’ve ever had. I’m sure you, of all the gods, understand that best.”

The realization settled heavy upon Persephone’s shoulders. She did understand that.

“Living here is no different than living up there. You challenged Hades to help mortals lead a better existence. He has merely charged you with the same here in the Underworld.”





CHAPTER XV - OFFER




Another busy week passed, full of reading articles, writing papers, and taking tests. Persephone had thought that by now, the hype over her article would die down, but it hadn’t. She still got stopped on her way to the Acropolis and the university. Strangers asked her when the next article about Hades was coming out, and what would she write about?

She was a little tired of the questions, and a little tired of repeating herself—the article is out in a few weeks, and you’ll have to buy the paper. She started putting her headphones in on her walks just so she could claim she couldn’t hear people when they called her name.

“Persephone?”

Too bad she couldn’t do that at work right about now.

Demetri poked his head out of his office. He was wearing a denim shirt and a polka dot bowtie, and Persephone thought that somehow, he looked younger and older at the same time in that outfit. Maybe because the blue brought out the grey in his hair, and the bowtie was fun.

“Yes?” She asked.

“Have a moment?”

“Sure,” she said. She saved what she was working on and then closed her laptop. She followed Demetri into his office and took a seat. Her boss leaned against his desk.

“How’s that article coming along?” He asked.

“Fine. It’s…fine.” If he was looking for a summary of what she planned to write, she didn’t have one. She had thought about writing about the mother who had come to Hades to ask for her daughter’s life, and though she didn’t understand why Hades wished to keep that a secret, she wanted to honor the request he made of the woman.

Since the morning after La Rose, when Hades had confused her with his passion and anger, she’d just focused on avoiding him. She knew that wasn’t best, especially if she was going to get this article submitted in a few weeks, but she still had the weekend, and with her and Hades’ track record, he was bound to do something to piss her off, which meant ideal writing material.

“God of the Game was our most popular story to date. Millions of views, thousands of comments and papers sold.”

“You were right,” she said. “People are curious about Hades.”

“Which is why I called you in,” he said. Persephone straightened. Her thoughts went in all sorts of directions. She’d been waiting for Demetri to request more from her. So far, he’d let her have creative control over how she covered Hades, and she didn’t want to lose that. “I’ve got an assignment for you.”

“An assignment?” she echoed.

“I’ve been holding onto these.” He reached for an envelope on his desk and handed it to her. “I hadn’t decided who to send, but I had no doubt after the success of your article.”

“What is it?” She was too nervous to open the envelope, but her boss just smiled.

“Why don’t you open it?”

Persephone did as he asked, and found two tickets to the Olympian Gala on Saturday. They were beautiful invitations—black with gold leaf lettering—and looked just as expensive as the gala itself.

Persephone’s eyes went wide. The Olympian Gala was the biggest event of the year. It was a huge fashion show, party, and charity event. Every year, a theme was chosen, inspired by a god or goddess, and that god or goddess got to choose what charity project was funded with the money raised at the gala.