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She answered, “Hello?”
“Adonis told me the good news! A series on Hades! Congrats! When do you interview him next and can I come?” Lexa laughed.
“Th-thanks, Lex,” Persephone managed. After stealing her article, it didn’t surprise her that Adonis had also taken the opportunity to text her friend about her new work assignment before she even got a chance to tell her.
“We should celebrate! La Rose this weekend?” Lexa asked.
Persephone groaned. La Rose was an upscale nightclub owned by Aphrodite. She had never been inside, but she’d seen pictures. Everything was cream and pink and, like Hades’ Nevernight, there was an impossible waitlist.
“How are we supposed to get into La Rose?” Persephone asked.
“I have my ways,” Lexa replied, mischievously. Persephone wondered if those ways included Adonis, and she was about to say that when she caught a flash in the corner of her eye. Whatever Lexa was saying on the other line was lost as her attention moved to her mother who now stood a few feet in front of her.
“Hey, Lex. I’ll call you back,” she said and hung up. She stared at Demeter and acknowledged her with a curt, “Mother. What are you doing here?”
“I had to ensure you were safe after that ridiculous article you wrote. What were you thinking?”
Persephone was shocked. “I thought—I thought you'd be proud. You hate Hades.”
“Proud? You thought I’d be proud?” she scoffed. “You wrote a critical article on a god—but not just any god, Hades! You deliberately broke my rule—not once but multiple times.” When she looked surprised, her mother said, “Oh, yes. I know you have returned to Nevernight on multiple occasions.”
Persephone glared at her mother for a moment, and then asked, “How?”
Demeter’s eyes fell to the phone in her hand. “I tracked you.”
“You tracked my phone?” She knew her mother wasn’t above violating her privacy to keep tabs on her. She’d proven that by having her nymphs spy on her. Still, Demeter hadn’t bought her phone, nor did she pay the bill. She had no right to use it as a GPS. “Are you serious?”
“I had to do something,” Demeter said. “You weren’t talking to me.”
“Since when?” she demanded. “I saw you Monday!”
“And you cancelled our lunch.” The goddess sniffed. “We hardly spend time together anymore.”
“And you think stalking me will encourage me to spend more time with you?” Persephone demanded.
Demeter laughed. “Oh, my flower, I cannot stalk you. I am your mother.”
Persephone glared. “I don’t have time for this.” She tried to sidestep her mother and leave, but she found she couldn’t move—her feet were welded to the ground. Hysteria rose inside, and Persephone met her mother’s dark gaze. It was in that moment she saw her mother as the vengeful goddess she was—the one who lashed nymphs and killed kings.
“I have not dismissed you,” her mother said. “Remember Persephone, you are only here by the grace of my magic.”
Persephone wanted to scream at her mother. Keep reminding me I’m powerless. But she knew challenging her was the wrong move. It was what Demeter wanted so she could dole out her punishment, so instead, she inhaled a shaky breath and whispered her apology.
“I’m sorry, mother.” There was a tense moment as Persephone waited to see if Demeter would release her or abduct her. Then she felt her mother’s hold loosen, and her legs shook.
“If you return to Nevernight again, see Hades ever again, I will take you from this world,” she threatened.
Persephone wasn’t sure where she gathered her courage, but she managed to look her mother in the eyes and said, “Don’t think for a second that I will ever forgive you if you send me back to that prison.”
Demeter was amused. “My flower, I don’t require forgiveness.”
Then she vanished.
Persephone knew Demeter meant her warning. The problem was, there was no way to get around going back to Nevernight. She had a contract to fulfill and articles to write.
Persephone’s phone vibrated in her hand and she looked down to see a message from Lexa.
“Yes to La Rose??”
