It’s not just me saying that – or Styx or Hades. According to the nymphs who flit about without shadow or breath collecting the rumours and secrets of the court, the general consensus among the gods of the Underworld is that I’m doing a wonderful job. I can see it too: the list of issues to address grows shorter, there are smiles on everyone’s faces, laughter echoes through the halls. Even more persistent problems, like the backlog of trials or the influx of souls, seem manageable.
One morning, Hades reclines in his chair, scroll perched in front of him as I gather my things to head to court.
‘Have fun, if such a thing is possible in that place,’ he says with a teasing smile. He’s been so much happier since we divvied up our tasks.
‘About that …’
‘No.’
‘I just need you to cover for a day or two,’ I say. ‘I need to go check on the humans. The afterlife might need tweaking.’
‘I see.’
‘Hades.’
He glances up from his scroll with an amused smile that makes my heart stutter. ‘Oh, I’ll do it. I was just hoping you might offer something in return.’
‘Have I not offered you enough?’
‘More than enough. That’s why I was so hopeful,’ he says. ‘Last time you took the accursed court off me. What could you possibly offer for me to take it back?’
‘My gratitude?’
He grins and Fates, that smile could be the death of me. ‘And for that, Persephone, I’d do whatever you ask.’
I roll my eyes. ‘Stop posturing and get to court.’
But I’m suppressing a smile too and I wonder how he’s always able to draw those from me – no matter how busy or how tired I am, around him there’s always happiness to be found.
When I visit Hades in his art room that evening, I find Styx with him. They both stop talking the moment I enter.
She’s looking too casual, too careful, and I recognize it as her peculiar form of magic that binds secrets to her and her to them.
‘Hey,’ she greets me. ‘Sorry, I can’t stay. I have a date.’
‘Pallas or Tartarus?’
‘Menoetes,’ she says. ‘Solely to make them jealous, though.’
‘Which one?’
‘Whichever one hasn’t asked me out after kissing me.’
‘You’re a mess, Styx.’
‘Yes, but it’s fine. I’m hot so I can get away with it.’ She squeezes past me and out the door like she can’t run from the room fast enough.
I turn to Hades. ‘Thank you for taking my place in court today. It was so wonderful to visit paradise again. I could have done without the “we haven’t seen you in so long” berating from my friends but I did get to start working on a more refined climate cycle.’
‘I can attend court permanently if you need more time with them,’ he says, putting his paint brushes down.
‘No, that’s okay, but thank you,’ I say. ‘Actually, I have something else I’ve been working on that I want to show you too.’
‘Another thing? Where do you get the time?’
‘Says the man with a thousand hobbies.’
‘Court is considerably more time-consuming than the things I do.’
