A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone #1)(59)

“Sorry, Lady Persephone. Will you play with us?”





“Lady Persephone is not dressed to play, Isaac,” Yuri said, and the boy frowned. It was true that Persephone hadn’t been prepared to play in the meadow. She still wore her work attire—a form-fitting white dress.





“It’s perfectly alright, Yuri,” she said, and reached to lift Isaac into her arms. He was the youngest of the group, she guessed only about four. It pained her to think of why this child was here in Asphodel. What had befallen him in the Upperworld? How long had he been here? Were any of these souls his family?





She shut down those thoughts as quickly as they came. She could spend hours thinking about all the reasons any of these people were here and it did no good. The dead were the dead and she was learning their existence here really wasn’t so bad.





“Of course I’ll play,” she said.





A chorus of cheers erupted as she walked with the children to a clear part of the meadow out of the way of the souls preparing for Hades’ celebration.





Persephone played catch with the dogs and tag and a million other games the children made up. The meadow was wet and Persephone slid a lot. By the time she walked away from the field, she was covered in mud but happily exhausted.





It had grown dark in the Underworld, and musicians began to play sweet notes on their instruments. Souls filled the streets to chat and laugh. The smell of meat cooking and sweets baking filled the air. It wasn’t long before Persephone found Hecate in the crowd, and the goddess smiled, amused by Persephone’s appearance.





“My dear, you are a mess.”





The Goddess of Spring smiled. “It was an intense game of tag.”





“I hope you won.”





“I was a complete failure,” she said. “The children are far more adept.”





The two laughed, and another soul approached. Persephone recognized the man as Ian. He was a blacksmith and kept his forge hot, working metal into beautiful blades and shields. She’d asked him once why he seemed to be preparing for battle, and the man had replied, “Habit.”





Persephone didn’t think too long on that just as she tried not to think too long on Isaac.





“My lady,” Ian said. “Asphodel has a gift for you.”





Persephone waited, curious, as the soul dropped to his knee and drew a beautiful gold crown from behind his back. This wasn’t just any crown, though. It was a series of carefully crafted flowers made into a circlet. Among the bouquet, she spied roses and lilies and narcissus. Tiny gems of various colors sparkled at the center of each flower.





“Will you wear our crown, Lady Persephone?”





The soul wasn’t looking at her, and she wondered if he feared her rejection. She glanced up, and noted that the whole place had gone quiet. The souls waited, expectant. She thought of Yuri’s comments earlier. These people had come to think of her as a queen, and accepting this crown would only encourage that, but not accepting would hurt them.





Against her better judgment, she placed a hand on Ian’s shoulder and knelt to him. She looked into his eyes and answered, “I will gladly wear your crown, Ian.”





She allowed the soul to place the crown upon her head and everyone broke into cheers. Ian grinned, offering his hand, he led her into a dance at the center of the dirt walkway, beneath the lights the souls had strung overhead.





Persephone felt ridiculous in her stained dress and gold crown, but the dead didn’t seem to notice or care. She danced until she could scarcely breathe and her feet hurt. When she moved toward Hecate for respite, the Goddess of Witchcraft said, “I think you could use some rest. And a bath.”





Persephone laughed. “I think you are right.”





“They will celebrate all night long,” she said. “But you have made their night. Hades has never visited to celebrate with them.”





Persephone’s heart fell. “Why not?”





Hecate shrugged. “I cannot speak for him, but it is a question you may ask.”





The two returned to the palace. On their way to the baths, Persephone explained that she had received two tickets to the Olympian Gala, and asked if Hecate had any spells that might help go unseen by her mother. The goddess considered her question, and then asked, “Do you have a mask?”





Persephone frowned. “I planned to pick one up tomorrow.”





“Leave it to me,” Hecate said.





The bathes were located at the back of the fortress and accessed through an archway. When Persephone stepped inside, she was greeted by the smell of fresh linen and lavender. A warm mist coated her skin and sank into her bones. She flushed with the warmth of the air, and it was welcomed after her evening spent in the muddy meadow.