‘I do,’ I say.
Hades’ chin tilts up, away from the weapon, and he raises his palms in surrender, the flower he snatched from my ear clutched in one hand. I suppose it should be a relief to know he was reaching for that, not me, buthow dare he?He must have known what I would think he was doing. After everything that has happened today my anger comes crashing down into a rage that goes beyond rashness to the kind of prolonged fury that requires plotting and revenge and war.
He glares down at me like he’s perfectly in control. He crushes the flower in his hand and drops it before returning to his mocking surrender, yellow pollen streaked across his palm. He arches back so he can see the edge of the weapon still pointed at him.
‘You’re quick with that thing.’
‘I can be quicker.’
‘Is that a threat?’ he asks.
I open my mouth to make my threat far more explicit, when my breath catches in my throat.
Because we are bound by xenia. Whichever one of us breaks it will be cursed. And Hestia may not have handed out a rule book, but threatening the life of your host definitely seems like it would break the pledge of hospitality.
‘No,’ I say, my anger finally breaking as I slide the sickle through my fingers and let it clatter to the floor.
Something flashes in Hades’ face and I realize what’s been missing all this time: real anger. Everything until now was an act. And now he is incensed, indignant and truly furious.
I step back as it all slots into place.
‘But you want it to be, don’t you?’ I say. My eyebrows knit together and I stare from my fallen weapon and crumpled flower to his irritated sneer as his arms fall to his sides. ‘That’s all you’ve wanted. You want me to break xenia.’
Hades snorts. ‘I was hoping the poetry might push you to the brink.’
‘Why?’ I ask and I hate how emotional my voice sounds, how hurt.
He gestures vaguely. ‘All this, I suppose. All of your supposed meekness over the last few days, from when you first appeared in my halls with demands and sly propositions. You had me half convinced I’d imagined it. Tell me, are you sure you’re the child of Zeus and not Dionysus? You’re quite the accomplished theatrical performer.’
‘Why?’ I ask again and this time my voice is harder, my emotions throttled.
‘I thought I just explained why?’ Hades tilts his head.
‘I haven’t done anything. I’ve avoided you, tried not to be intrusive, suppressed everything I’ve wanted to say, tried to be invisible.’
‘An invisible intruder is still an intruder.’
‘Worthy of the curse of breaking xenia? Why would you do that to me?’ I can’t stop looking at him, this stranger who I know even less than I thought I did.
Hades looks at me with narrowed eyes. ‘Kore, why are you really here?’
‘Do I need to bloody spell it out for you? I don’t want to get married!’
‘No one comes here,’ he says. ‘Ever. And the first person who does is the daughter of Zeus? Tell me that’s not suspicious.’
‘Maybe no one comes here because you treat guests like this.’
‘Are you a guest though? Or are you your father’s spy?’
It’s so ridiculous I burst into hysterical laughter. ‘I’m sorry, have you met my father? You think he’d trust me with something like that? I’ve thought you are a lot of horrible things, Hades, but this is the first time I’ve thought you stupid.’
‘It seems a viable offer for a girl who’s made it clear just how desperate she is not to be married – spy on a rival king and stay unwed.’
‘You’re right. I just sent my report about your overcooked lentils and haunting decor.’ I shake my head. ‘This is the most foolish thing I’ve ever heard.’
‘I never thought for sure that you were; I simply acknowledge the possibility,’ Hades snaps, clearly annoyed at me dismissing his grand conspiracy theories with ridicule. ‘I wanted you gone for the simple fact of your unwelcome presence in my home.You had no right to insist I harbour you – to take my choice in the matter away.’
‘You have no idea what it’s like, do you? That’s why you so readily believe I am lying about why I am here. You can’t even entertain the possibility that I might be telling the truth. Then you would have to confront how bad it is for the rest of us.’
