Tempest doesn’t only glower, her whole being turns a darker shade of grey. ‘A year in this place feels like an eternity. It can take centuries to cycle through to a gale again. I agreed to enter his service when I could stand it no longer.’
‘And Hades is so kind that he allows you the honour of serving him in exchange for shortening that pain?’
‘It’s not like that,’ she protests. ‘His magic is an exchange. It needs a sacrifice on my behalf to work.’
‘Whoever told you that could have been lying,’ I say. ‘Was it him?’
Tempest’s lips part but she says nothing, as though the thought had never occurred to her.
‘It was, actually,’ Hades says, appearing at the door frame. He seems impossibly at ease, eyebrow quirked and challenging. I run my eyes over him looking for signs of Mother’s rare, icy kind of anger. I prepare for whatever hell he might have planned for someone who says treacherous things about him in his own halls. How long has he been there? How much has he heard?
‘I thought I’d come see what was taking so long,’ he continues, tendrils of dark smoke clawing along his shoulders and rippling down his arms. ‘And I find you interrogating my servants. Tell me, have you discovered anything interesting?’
He doesn’t seem angry, but he does sound pleased to catchme out, ready to wheedle apologies out of me not because he’s offended but because it amuses him to do so.
‘I was simply curious about the existence of aurai in the Underworld,’ I say, trying not to show my unease. ‘I meant no offence.’
‘Really? So what was it you were trying to ask?’
‘Can I leave?’ Tempest interrupts, glancing between us.
Hades nods. ‘Of course.’ His voice softens as he speaks to her, the edge that always seems present when he talks to me vanishing.
She disappears, fading into the very air, and Hades turns back to me. ‘You’re quite right – if I were lying, it would be a brilliant fabrication. But it’s the truth. You cannot create something from nothing.’
I think of every single flower I have popped into creation. Of course you can create something from nothing. I’d argue it’s the main hallmark of the gods.
But he seems to be enjoying himself, correcting my assumptions, or perhaps he thinks he has me convinced that he is not manipulating the nymphs with his lies.
‘Of course, Hades.’ I nod in what I hope is a respectful fashion. ‘My apologies for the misunderstanding.’
‘I see. I suppose forgiving misunderstandings falls under xenia, though I wonder what the bond of hospitality has to say about accusing your host of something so uncouth,’ he challenges.
‘I’m sure xenia was designed precisely because of such accusations,’ I say. ‘I can think of no one more in need of protection than a host hearing cruel barbs.’
For a moment he seems lost for words and I rise before hecan find them. ‘Did Tempest say dinner was ready? I’ll just go wash up and join you there.’
Hades hesitates before stepping aside to let me pass. ‘Yes, well, do hurry. It’s bad enough being forced to dine with you. I’d hate to make it worse by letting the food grow cold.’
‘Of course,’ I say, allowing myself to grimace now that he’s safely behind me. ‘What greater struggle could one face than lukewarm vegetables?’
If I didn’t know better, I’d say his huff of annoyance sounds almost like laughter.
HADES IS ALREADY SITTING ATthe table when I finally arrive. I half expect him to start up our earlier argument but he barely glances up as I enter. He’s once again focused on a sheaf of paper and his plate is already depleted.
If I’d started eating before Mother sat down she would have been furious.I can’t believe you, Kore. How gluttinous, how greedy. A good woman always makes sure everyone is fed before herself. You’ll understand when you’re a mother – then you’ll put everyone else first. Just like I do for you.
My hand tightens on the door frame. There are multiple places set and I don’t know where to sit. For so much of my life it has been just Mother and me. It makes sense that I think of her so often. But every time I do it jars because I know how angry she will be when she finds out I’m gone. My throat constricts.I can’t believe I did this.
‘Don’t eat the bread. The wheat was grown here,’ Hades drawls. He sounds distant, his voice echoing in the background of my deafening thoughts.
I have no idea how she will react. Not knowing is almost worse. I have never, ever done something like this before.
Gods, I can’t believe I did this.
I think I’m more afraid of Mother finding out than Father. He’ll punish me but he would have done that anyway, for far lesser infringements. Mother, on the other hand, might never forgive me. She’s lived her whole life for me and I’ve betrayed her. I’m the worst sort of daughter, the worst sort of person, and I’ll never be able to make this up to her, to earn her forgiveness and her love –
‘Are you quite all right?’ Hades asks, watching me carefully but less with concern and more with judgement.
