A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(47)

Persephone’s eyes glazed with tears as her mother spoke.

“Oh yes, my love. Enjoy what Fate has offered you because they have woven your destiny and you are a disgrace.”

Persephone kicked the candle, spilling wax and extinguishing the flame. Her mother’s form vanished, yet her scent lingered, choking her. She fell to her knees, breathing hard, when her door opened. Lexa, Sybil, and Leuce were gathered there.

“Persephone, are you okay?” Lexa rushed to her side. Sybil picked up the candle, looking perplexed. Leuce was the only one who seemed to know what was going on.

“Summoning spell?” she asked.

Persephone met the woman’s gaze and through her tears she said, “We need to talk.”

Lexa helped Persephone to her feet, and Sybil cleaned the wax up from the floor. Once they were finished, Persephone closed the door to her room. Leuce sat on the edge of her bed, eyes wide, twisting her fingers together in her lap. She probably thought Persephone was going to kick her out.

“I’ve asked Hades to give you an apartment and your job back,” she said.

Leuce’s breath caught in her throat. “Th-thank you, Persephone.”

“I’ve also agreed to help you learn this world,” she said. “There is one more thing you should know—my mother is Demeter, Goddess of Harvest.”

Persephone didn’t think Leuce’s eyes could get any bigger.

“You—You’re a goddess?”

Persephone nodded once. “It’s important you keep my secret, Leuce. Do you understand?”

“Of course...but....why tell me?”

“Because I need you to be honest with me. Who freed you from the poplar tree?”

“I swear I don’t know,” Leuce said, her pale brows were drawn together over her pretty ice-blue eyes. “I just remember waking up alone.”

She shivered, rubbing her arms, as if the memory scared her. Persephone studied the nymph for a moment, and then sighed.

“I believe you,” Still, that didn’t mean Demeter wasn’t responsible. “Will you tell me if my mother contacts you?”

Leuce nodded and then swallowed. When she spoke, her voice trembled. “Persephone...what if she was the one to free me? Will she come for me? What if she turns me back into a tree?”

Persephone hadn’t thought of that, but her answer was immediate. “If she does, I’ll find you.”

“She could burn me to a crisp,” Leuce said, and then offered a humorless laugh. “It’s strange, the things you fear when you’re a tree.”

Persephone frowned. The sad part was, she knew her mother was capable of that kind of malice. The goddess placed a hand on the nymph’s arm. “I’ll do my best to protect you, Leuce. I promise.”

The woman smiled. “You’re really not like the rest of them, Persephone.”

***

Upon returning to work, Persephone was more prepared for the crowd outside the Acropolis than she had ever been. She’d decided rather than entering the building with her head down, she would face them head on, maybe even answer a few of the questions. It wasn’t exactly her idea of freedom, but it was a way to take control over the situation and it was better than feeling trapped.

“Thank you, Antoni,” Persephone said when he opened her door. “See you after work?”

“Yes, my lady.”

She smiled at him and started down the aisle.

“Good morning,” she chimed as she passed the gathering.

“Persephone! Persephone! Can I get an autograph?”

She stopped, meeting the gaze of a mortal man. He held out a marker and a booklet. She took it and signed her name, his eyes lighting up.

“Th-thank you,” he stuttered out.

“Persephone, how long have you and Hades been together?” another person asked.

“Not long,” she replied.

“What made you fall in love with him?” someone yelled.

“Well, he is charming,” she said with a small laugh.

The walk continued like that—answering questions, signing articles and pictures, and taking photos with fans. She was almost to the doors when something shattered on the ground behind her. She turned to see a bottle in pieces at her feet. Security rushed the crowd, while another officer took her by the arm and ushered her inside.

“Are you alright, Miss Rosi?” The officer, an older man with a buzz cut and mustache, asked.

Persephone blinked up at him. She hadn’t had time to process what had just happened. Someone tried to hurt her, she realized. She took a deep breath and let it out slow, then nodded.

“Yes.”

The officer didn’t look so certain, frowning down at her.

Persephone’s eyes fell to his gold nameplate and she smiled. “Thank you, Officer Woods.”

The guard smirked; his face reddened. “It...it was nothing.”

She broke free of the officer and headed for the elevators in a daze. Her thoughts turned to Hades’ words: It is only a matter of time before someone with a vendetta against me tries to harm you. How would the god react once he found out about this incident?

When she made it to her floor, Helen was waiting, a concerned look on her face.

“Oh, my gods, Persephone! Are you okay? I heard what happened.”