A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(106)

“Fine, but I get to pick the place.”

Persephone swore she saw a moment of hesitation in Apollo’s eyes—a gut reaction to disagree and demand control, but then his eyes softened.

“Fine. See you then.”

And he was gone.





CHAPTER XXVI - A TOUCH OF SERENITY


Two weeks later, Lexa was released from the hospital. Their apartment felt smaller with six people inside, all fawning over Lexa. Eliska and Adam bought groceries and stocked their pantry to overflowing, Jaison had moved more of his things into Lexa’s bedroom and took immediate responsibility for her medicines. Sybil, Persephone, and Zofie hung back, watching everything unfold, unsure of what to do.

Persephone wasn’t sure what the worst part was—the fact that that Lexa seemed to be completely detached from the situation or that her parents and Jaison were ignoring how different she was. She spent long stretches of time sleeping and when she wasn’t asleep, she stared at the wall. When asked direct questions, she just gaped at the person speaking until they repeated themselves, and sometimes, even then she didn’t answer.

“She’s not the same,” Persephone had said one night after she’d asked Lexa if she wanted to join them in the living room to watch Titans After Dark. It wasn’t Persephone’s favorite, but she remembered how her best friend would light up when discussing the gritty details of the Primordial drama.

She hadn’t looked at Persephone when she’d answered with a quiet, “No.”

When she’d spoken in the kitchen, she’d mostly been talking to herself. It was her own attempt to process grief. Lexa might not have died, but they’d lost her either way.

“She was hit by a freaking car,” Jaison snapped. “She’s not going to bounce back.”

Persephone blinked, shocked by his anger.

“I know. I didn’t mean—”

“Maybe if you weren’t so wrapped up in your own problems, you’d see that.”

He stomped back to Lexa’s room without another word.

“He’s just upset,” Sybil said. “He knows she isn’t the same.”

“This mortal has distressed you,” Zofie said. “Do you want me to kill him?”

“What? No, Zofie. You can’t just kill people who upset you.”

The Aegis shrugged. “You can where I’m from.”

“Remind me to hide all your weapons,” Persephone said.

The tension remained throughout the next week. Persephone was glad to have an escape in the Underworld but made sure to check in with Lexa everyday—it became a new routine, a new normal. Wake up, check on Lexa, work, check on Lexa, Underworld.

She went on like that for weeks until one morning after returning from the Underworld, Persephone wandered into the kitchen and halted in her tracks.

Lexa was making coffee.

She stood in her pajamas, hair in a messy bun, and when she looked up at Persephone, she smiled. She looked...normal.

“Good morning,” she chimed.

“G-good morning,” Persephone said, a little suspicious.

“I thought you might like some coffee.”

“Yes,” Persephone said, and gave a breathy laugh. “I love coffee.”

Lexa laughed, filling a mug and pushing it toward her. “I know.”

Persephone cupped the drink between her hands. For a moment, she couldn’t move. She just stood there, staring awkwardly at Lexa.

She cleared her throat. “I...better get ready for work,” she said, reluctant to leave, afraid that if she did, she’d realize this was all just a dream.

Lexa offered a small smile again. “Lucky,” she said. “I would like to work again.”

“You will soon.”

Persephone made her way back to her room. As she did, she sipped the coffee Lexa had made and promptly spit it back into the cup. It was strong and bitter and thick.

Not like the coffee Lexa had made before the accident.

She’s trying, Persephone thought. That’s all that matters.

She’d drink a million cups of this coffee if it meant Lexa was healing.

Persephone got ready for work. She hated how her perception of her job had changed. She used to look forward to days spent at New Athens News, now they filled her with dread, and it had nothing to do with the crowd that hung out to see her every day—it was her boss. Demetri had continuously given her busy work, keeping her from working on stories. She decided if he did it again today, she would challenge him.

“Hi, Persephone!” Helen said as she exited the elevator.

“Hello, Helen,” Persephone said, smiling at the young woman. She was about the only thing she enjoyed about her job anymore.

She crossed the workroom floor and before she made it to her desk, Demetri popped out of his office, handing her a stack of papers.

“Obituaries,” he said.

When Persephone didn’t take them, he dropped them on her desk.

“You have to be kidding me, Demetri. I’m an investigative journalist.”

“And today you are editing obituaries,” he said.

He turned and went back into his office. She followed.

“You’ve given me menial tasks since Kal called off the exclusive.” Since I found out about your fucked-up love potion, she wanted to say. “Was this the trade off?”