‘The humans aren’t the only thing you have to worry about.’
I think of the winged creature I saw earlier. ‘I know.’
Hades picks at his food and I realize I’ve never really seen him eat, just pick distractedly in the same way he talks to me.
‘You do not need to know where they are.’
‘Are you forbidding me? Is that it?’ I ask assertively but not so aggressively that he will get angry in return.
‘I’d say I’m not your mother and have no interest nor right to forbid you to do anything, but that wouldn’t really hold much weight, given you’re disobeying her right now.’
My face is blank but my muscles are tense.
He continues, ‘Unless, of course, you’re here for something else entirely.’
‘What are you talking about?’
He gives me a long look, then shrugs. ‘Perhaps it doesn’t matter. You’re here now.’
‘I’m here because I don’t want to get married.’ I’m unable to keep my anger from my voice, unable to rein myself in. ‘I thought I made that perfectly clear the first hundred times I said it.’
‘Of course.’ It’s obvious he doesn’t believe me at all. ‘But it’s no matter. Seeing your flowers made me realize how bored you must be without your mother to entertain you.’ My breath hitches. ‘You have no need to visit the dead for entertainment. I believe entertaining guests falls within xenia.’
What?
‘That’s not necessary,’ I rush.
‘Nonsense, of course it is. Are you done with your food? I shall give you a tour of the halls.’
I am nowhere near done with my food and I have my own map of the halls. But something about my twisting stomach makes saying no impossible.
‘Very well.’ I stand.
Hades stands too, and I am reminded of how tall he is. Height isn’t something I’ve ever considered before. I have no idea if he is tall or short in relation to other gods. The nymphs all hover around five feet, and Mother and I are seven inches taller than that. Hades is a head taller than me but, oddly, it doesn’t make me feel intimidated. His venom has never been threatening, just irritating …
Although that could change in a second.
The way his chiton and himation drape round him hints at muscles like those I remember of the statues on Olympus; finely chiselled shadows that are almost more revealing thannakedness would be. I’d have to be quick with a weapon if he chose to attack. Hestia would have to be quicker still with xenia’s curse.
Our footsteps echo in the enormous empty palace and my mouth feels dry. I find myself thinking about what Tempest said, about where Hades’ interests lie. I suppose I can recognize his objective appeal, and not just because he’s the ruler of a kingdom. I eye his tunic again and the artful draping of the cloak on top. Whenever the nymphs mentioned men’s clothing, it was to explain how to strip it off and now I find myself blushing. I never dared fantasize along with the nymphs – but I reluctantly admit I can see what they would like about Hades. They were always going on about muscles and strong jawlines and everything else he has in spades.
If my parents hadn’t wanted to keep me a part of the Olympian court, Hades might have been part of the line-up for my hand in marriage. He’s my age, he’s a king … he’s a far more appropriate choice than most of the Olympians, though just as unpleasant a thought.
‘Did you know my mother well?’ I ask, without thinking, or rather having thought too much.
‘Outside of sharing the same stomach, you mean?’ Hades replies.
‘I …’ I have no idea how to respond to that. Being a deity, I’m used to a lot of weird things but a power-hungry Titan eating babies he’s scared will grow up to destroy him has always been a tale I’ve struggled to come to terms with. Especially the way it was presented:Oh yes, Kore, I’m such a monster for making you work on your embroidery. Real monsters eat babies. I would kill for the life you have.When your low point is beingswallowed, it’s pretty easy to make anyone grateful for almost anything.
Hades smiles. ‘I joke. It is not as though any of us can remember that.’
Hades is joking now? I glance at him warily, trying not to be too obvious about it. What’s he up to? Where is he leading me?
‘Demeter was a woman grown long before the hold time had on me faded, and she was already on your little island with you before I was old enough to form memories. She’d visit sometimes, though – come to the training camps to lecture us about the war. All the gods who fought would. They’d tell us of the glories of battle, the importance of it all.’
‘Father said the war ended years ago, when we were still children.’
‘Zeus says a lot of things.’
