Lady of Life and Death: A Persephone Novel (On Hold)

iv. (part a)

I whirled around.

Behind me stood a man, his sculpted arms crossed as he leaned against one of the small trees surrounding the area. His skin was a light tan. His head was a mass of golden curls. His honey eyes sparkled with mischief. His face and body were so perfect, Michelangelo could have used him as a model for his masterpiece David.

Maybe he had posed for the artist. Hermes had been rather active during the Renaissance.

I cocked my head at the god, "Promise not to tell?"

He lifted his hand and extended his fifth finger. "Your secret is safe with me. Pinky promise."

I snorted. My secret was not safe with him. Hermes was the messenger of the gods; his job was to spread the news among us. It was no secret that Hermes was the biggest gossip in Olympus—and the Underworld. In addition to serving as the transporter of all messages in and out of the Underworld, Hermes was also the shepherd of the dead, guiding them down to their final resting place. It meant that he was the only surface god to give me company around here.

I crossed my arms back at him. "I think Hades'll be even more pissed when he finds out that I gave them money from his own hoard."

Hermes smirked, "And he'll actually lose money because Charon gets a percentage of the cut. Ingenious."

"Exactly."

He straightened, then gestured to the thistle at my feet. I had put it down so I could better give out coins. "What's that?" he asked. "Or better yet, who's that? Another one of Hades's lovers?"

I picked up the prickly plant. "No, Hades hasn't taken anyone to his bed in centuries—at least if he has, he has been incredibly discreet about it."

"Then who is it?"

I smiled. "One of my lovers. Or at least he was. I caught him with another woman—and poof! Now he'll live out the rest of his life aware of everything that goes on around him, but unable to do anything."

Hermes looked a little pale. "Interesting."

The grin on my face was a little too tight, a little too forced. It was a necessity for us goddesses to show our ruthlessness to the gods, we needed them to fear what would happen if they wronged us. I had been the victim of a lustful god, and I did not intend to gain another.

I switched the subject, "Why are you here, Hermes? Come to spy on me?"

"I thought you would have been told. I'm here to escort you to the Mortal Realm."

"I know that. I was asking why you are here, at the dock, than at the river crossing, where we were supposed to meet." Maybe I had given a little too much attitude with that last statement. I didn't really care, I was far too strung-out from my encounter with Hades, the souls of the River Styx, and now my interruption by Hermes.

"I noticed you were running late. Demeter would have a fit if we were even an hour late."

That was true. One time, I had returned to her domain with a bruised shoulder from slipping on the smooth marble stairs in Hades's palace and Mother was so offended that she was half-ready to declare war on the Underworld. The only reason why I didn't encourage her was because I knew she would lose. As well as having all the world's greatest warriors, Hades also would definitely have Zeus's backing if anyone sought out violence with his realm. I couldn't let my mother face the king of the gods' wrath. "My mother will have a fit over anything to do with Hades," I said.

"I agree. Let's not keep her waiting, shall we?" Hermes stuck out his arm, and I took it.

The silent, peaceful walk to the merging of two rivers I had hoped for did not happen. Instead, Hermes gossiped like old ladies during tea. He dumped onto me all the news I had missed while isolated underground.

I tuned most of it out. It was that same thing that always happened.

Ares and Aphrodite had made up from the lover's quarrel that had split them apart "for good" last summer. Of course, this would have been more impressive if they had actually stayed together. However, they had left each other again when Ares caught Aphrodite making out with some mortal woman during the Feast of Poseidon.

Hephaestus had made another attempt to seduce Athena. Or, more realistically, he had made another attempt to trap Athena. The goddess of wisdom, I gathered, was fine. She always found a way out of tricky situations. Ah, the joy of being the favorite child.

Zeus had begun another affair with a mortal woman. Even when he was plotting the end of humanity, the King of the Gods could not control his nether regions.

Hera had found out, of course. Now there was a former mortal woman walking around as a cow.

It was the same as it had been for the past millennia and the same it would be for all the more to come.

As we approached the riverbank, I saw the line of horses and wagons that were to lead me out of the Underworld. It held a bit more than some spare gems Hades wanted to get rid of; it was a whole gods damn procession.

The line must have been a mile long. Wagons and wagons heaped with glittering gems, shiny silver, and many metals. There were slabs of obsidian, marble, and granite piled on open wagons pulled by oxen. Minor underworld beings were atop horses or on foot. It was a grand, elaborate thing, and in the middle of it was an ornate carriage, embossed with gold.

And covered with pomegranates.

Hermes sketched a deep bow. "Your noble steed awaits, madam."

I scowled at him but took his hand as he helped me into the coach. Once I was inside he shut the door and shouted something to the driver. The interior jerked and I was on my way.

I settled into my seat and my eyes drifted to another pomegranate. I groaned internally. Fates, how I hated that fruit.

NOTICE:

This chapter is incomplete. I was swamped with work this week and didn't get to write as much as I'd hoped to. 

I will publish the rest of the chapter as soon as possible. 

- A. M.