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As quick as the anger appeared, a look of utter defeat wiped it away as he turned away from her. That was so much worse than the anger. She knew the depression that had been a cloud over him as a human was trying to claw its way back in. She knew she had to be patient. He was going to need time to accept this new reality.
He had a life before he was plunged into all of this, she reminded herself. It would take Devon time to adjust, and she would make sure she was beside him every step of the way.
“I’ll never escape it,” Devon whispered more to himself than her. “All of eternity will be me watching people die.”
She could visualize the disheartened look on his face as he looked towards the wall, taking in the sconces as they flickered with blue fire. He was trying to rebuild his wall of nonchalance, but it turned into a losing battle.
“Let me go back to the mortal world and live my life.” He said, turning to face her. “I promise to be peaceful and not raise a hand to another person. I will not kill. I will do something better with my life. I will help people, I swear,” he implored, his voice choking a bit on the last word. His green eyes full of an emotional upheaval that was far too much for one person to endure.
Persephone closed her eyes, truly feeling for this man. She could only imagine how overwhelming this must be for him. Opening her eyes, she looked at him and surprised them both by placing her hand on his cheek as she whispered, “I can’t. I am so sorry, Devon.”
She watched as he finally won the fight to rebuild the wall between them. His face went back to the cold indifference he wore so well, though his hands shook a bit as he folded his arms across his chest. Devon’s mask was how she would forever think of the look he now wore.
He stared for a moment at her before stepping out of her reach.
“Don’t be sorry.” Taking a deep breath, he continued, “My choices are obviously the sole reason I am here, and I need to own that.” he clenched his jaw, his Adam’s apple moving as he swallowed before starting again, “So, tell me what I need to do. Might as well get started.”
Persephone glanced at Thanatos.
“You’ll train. With me. We’ll hone your immortal powers for the work of reaping.”
“But, first,” Persephone interjected. “We’ll acclimate you to life here in the palace.”
Devon glanced around the parlor.
“I’m going to live here, then?” he asked.
Her castle was large, which in truth was ridiculous since it was just her, Cerberus, and the shadows. Thanatos and Hecate had their own places to retire to at the end of the day.
She was curious how he saw her home. Hecate mentioned on more than one occasion that wandering souls could mistake the halls for dungeons, that they may look around for heads on pikes in such a place.
Which was a silly thing to say since anything like that happened in the Fields of Punishment and she knew it.
Although the castle was made of stone, Persephone had made it comfortable over the centuries with relaxing furniture, unobstructed windows, and a library full of books written by mortals over the course of history.
“I am assuming since you are bound to the Underworld as I am, that you would spend a large majority of your time here,” she explained, watching his face take on a look she couldn’t quite decipher.
“What about my old apartment?”
“Perhaps with time, we can find a way to allow you to inhabit your mortal domicile again.”
He raised his eyebrows at her.
“What did I say?” she asked, confused at the look he was giving her.
“Nothing, just the way you speak.” He chuckled dryly. “Sorry, it’s not anything I’m used to. ‘Inhabit your mortal domicile’. I’m not sure why I find that so funny right now.” He huffed out one last laugh as he looked around some more, putting his hands back into his pockets—a nervous gesture much like when he ran his hands through his hair.
She stayed quiet. This was something she did too when she was nervous, forgetting the current slang of the times. Hecate would pester her about it before meetings, that if she broke into her formal tongue, people wouldn’t be able to focus on her overall point.
“So,” he sighed, rocking back on his heels. “This is it? This is my life now? Forever?”
Persephone was almost afraid to speak, to lock him into a fate with her words. But that was
silly. That was the Moirai’s job, not hers. “Yes,” she told him.
“Being a Reaper is not so dull,” Thanatos told him. “You will have power. You will help deliver
justice where needed, relief where deserved.”
