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Persephone passed Poseidon's pool, and a towering statue of a very naked Ares with his helm atop his head and shield in hand. It wasn’t the only statue of a naked god in the garden. Normally she gave it little thought, but today her gaze was drawn to the large horns atop Ares’ head. Her own felt heavy under the glamour she wore. She’d heard a rumor when she moved to New Athens that horns were the source of the Divine’s power. Persephone wished that were true. It wasn’t even about having power now. It was about freedom.
“It’s just that the Fates have chosen a different path for you, my flower.” Demeter had said when Persephone’s magic never manifested.
“What path?” Persephone asked. “There is no path, only the walls of your glass prison! Do you keep me hidden away because you are ashamed?”
“I keep you safe because you have no power, my flower. There is a difference.”
Persephone still wasn’t sure what sort of path the Fates had decided for her, but she knew she could be safe without being imprisoned, and she guessed at some point, Demeter had agreed, because she’d let Persephone go—albeit, on a long leash.
“Mother,” she said.
Demeter appeared beside her daughter. She wore a human glamour. It was not something she often did. It wasn’t that Demeter disliked mortals—she was incredibly protective of her followers—she merely knew her status as a goddess. Demeter’s mortal mask was not so different from her Divine appearance. She kept the same smooth hair, the same bright green eyes, the same luminous skin, but her antlers were veiled. She chose a fitted emerald dress and gold heels. To onlookers, she had all the appearances of a sharp businesswoman.
“What are you doing here?” Persephone asked.
“Where were you yesterday?” Demeter’s voice was curt.
“It sounds like you already think you know the answer,” she replied. “So why don’t you tell me?”
“Do not treat this with sarcasm, my dear. This is very serious—why were you at Nevernight?”
Persephone tried to keep her heart from racing.
“How do you know I was at Nevernight?”
Did a nymph see her?
“Never mind how I knew. I asked you a question.”
“I went for work, mother. I must return today, too.”
“Absolutely not,” she said. “Need I remind you a condition of your time here was that you stay away from the gods? Especially Hades.”
She said his name like a curse and Persephone flinched.
“Mother, I have to do this. It’s my job.”
“Then you will quit.”
“No.”
Demeter looked stunned, and Persephone was sure that in all her twenty-four years she’d never told her mother no.
“What did you say?”
“I like my life, mother. I’ve worked hard to get where I am.”
“Persephone, you do not need to live this mortal life. It is...changing you.”
“Good. That’s what I want. I want to be me, whatever that is, and you are going to have to accept that.”
Demeter’s face was stone cold, and Persephone knew what she was thinking—I do not have to accept anything but what I want.
“I have heeded your warnings about the gods, especially Hades. What are you afraid of? That I will allow him to seduce me? Have more faith in me.”
Demeter paled and hissed, “This is serious, Persephone.”
“I am being serious, mother.” She checked her watch. “I have to go. I will be late for class.”
