My Life From Hell (The Blooming Goddess #3)

Why Did It Have To Be Giants? (Part 4)

Now Festos looked outright shocked. He turned to the Pyrosim and snapped, "Go find someone to bring in the chandelier or I'll personally hand Hades the fire extinguisher to put you out."

The minions floated off.

Festos grabbed my arm and dragged me off to stand beside a twenty-foot-tall statue of my father prissily soaking his feet. Complete with giant, bunions sculpted in loving detail.

Gross. I averted my eyes.

Festos' gaze drifted over the route Kai had taken out of the room, as if he expected to see him standing there, and feeding me info.

"Kai didn't say a word."

"Kai?!"

"Kyrillos. I said Kyrillos."

Festos stared at me, obviously suspicious, and leaning heavily on his cane. "Who are you? You're not Persephone, so don't even bother pushing that lie." He ran the tip of the cane in a sweeping motion up my body. "You got the outside right. But the rest? Way off base."

I thrilled at the fact that he'd had realized even that much, except it made me wonder whether his hatred for Persephone was so strong that he noted any little deviation in her personality. Which made me wonder about him and me, which led me to shutting down that train of thought.

"Yeah," I said, "I'm vastly improved. Which is why in reality you and I are friends, I'm not stuck in this stupid body, and you're dating Prometheus."

"Doubtful," he muttered.

"You are so friends with me."

He planted his hands on his hips. "How do you know that's what I was referring to?"

I just stared at him.

"Whatever. Besides, there is no reality in which I'm dating Prometheus."

"Okay, that's true."

He looked crestfallen.

I relented, resting my arm along the statue's knee. "His name is Theo. He's lost his Titan self. He loves you. This?" I waved a hand around the room, "Is all just an enchantment. Long story."

"Summarize." His tone brooked no argument.

I summarized.

He opened his mouth, then shut it again. Then spoke. "I have no idea what part of that I believe the least."

I tapped a finger against the statue, impatiently. I needed Fee on the same page here. "Just believe that I love that stupid Titan, too. I have a way to break him out but for this enchantment to end, everyone needs to see the truth of the situation. Which is where you come in. Have you been invited to the ball?"

His lips thinned. "As help in case my party favor malfunctions. As if it would."

"Boo hoo. Get over it. Can the help bring a helper? Like Aletheia, the Spirit of Truth?"

"Truth is not really welcome in the Underworld."

"But you could smuggle her in?" I smiled sweetly at him. "I know how clever you are."

He smiled back with twice the sugar factor. "Yes, I am." Then he dropped it. "So stuff the kiss up."

I made a "get on with it" gesture with one hand. "And?"

"Theoretically. Yes. I could smuggle her in. If so inclined. Which I am not yet."

"Please." I brought my hands together in time honored begging formation. "The fate of humanity depends on Aletheia revealing the enchantment."

"Eh." He shrugged, indifferent.

"The fate of you ever getting to have hot kisses with the guy you love does, too."

His eyes narrowed. "While that second part is all fine and good, you got Prometheus thrown into Tartarus."

My face fell.

He smirked. "Yeah. Didn't realize I knew that part, did you? Tell me why would I take any of what you're saying on faith alone?"

My shoulders slumped. I didn't have proof. That was the problem. I rubbed nervously at my neck, and my fingers felt the cool silver of my chain. The ring!

I pulled it out from under my shirt and showed it to him. "You made me this."

Festos peered at it, then held out his hand. I hesitated, reluctant to part with it. "Hurry up," Festos hissed, at the sound of stomping on the far side of the room.

I yanked the chain over my head. Placed it and the ring in his open palm. Then I turned to check out the commotion.

Some other smaller giant—not one of the three busy guarding Prometheus, but a thirty footer nonetheless—clomped slowly across the room, holding a massive wrought-iron chandelier. The thing must have weighed a ton, with its dozens of metal scrolls, hundreds of candle cups, and thousands of glittering crystal teardrops.

But that wasn't what was slowing him down. The chandelier blocked his view and he was trying not to squash the now-scattering creatures in the hall. Each painful step was a teetering accomplishment.

Four minions floated behind him, with another flying by his head. Presumably to guide the giant to where the chandelier belonged.

I turned back to Festos who was busy examining the ring.

He tested its weight. He held it up close to his eye. He licked it. Then, he returned it to me. "It's my work. But I don't understand how."

"Doesn't matter. Just do me the one favor. No, two."

"Don't push it."

"Get Aletheia here in time for the ball. If I'm wrong, well, you can do your worst."

He thought it over, keeping one eye on the quickly approaching work force. Luckily, the throne room was as big as a football field, so even the giant took a bit of time crossing it. "I'll do my best. What's the second thing?"

"How do I break Prometheus out of the chain you made, and is it supposed to be on fire?"

"Fire?" he screeched.

"Shh!" I glanced nervously around. The giant was making so much noise with the chandelier that no one paid Festos any attention.

"Kyrillos is dead," he muttered.

"He did that?" Kai and I would be having words when this was over.

"It's overkill," Festos snarled. "The chain is strong, and painful enough without adding fire. That was just to hurt Prometheus." Fee's eyes glazed red.

"Forget Kyrillos," I said hurriedly, not wanting Festos to erupt. "Focus on Prometheus. What do I do?"

"Nothing." I started to protest but Festos shook his head at me. "I do it." His expression softened, and he stared into the distance. "I can whip up what I need, but barely on this timeline, and not until I finish up with that." He threw an annoyed look toward the chandelier before returning his attention to me. "Meet me under the throne room at 2AM Thursday morning."

"Thank you," I sighed. I turned to leave, but froze as he gripped my arm, his fingers digging into my skin.

"But if you're wrong and you've made me hope for the impossible?" He leaned close to my ear. "Not even the gods will be able to help you."

I shivered at the malice in his voice.

Then, he released me and strode off toward the giant, hollering directions.

I rubbed my stinging arm, and took a deep breath. Then let it out hard as I realized what I'd agreed to. Meeting Festos under the throne room in the early hours before the equinox. Site and rough time frame of Persephone's murder.

Way to go, clever girl.