AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Then, the Horn of Tartarus sounded, and he and Hecate turned in its direction.
“I am being summoned,” Hecate said.
“Summoned?” Persephone asked.
“The judges are in need of my advice.”
The Judges, Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus, often summoned Hecate to sentence certain souls to eternal punishment, mostly those who had committed crimes against women.
“My dear,” Hecate said to Persephone,“call the next time you are in the Underworld. We’ll return to Asphodel.”
“I would love that,” Persephone said with a smile, and it made Hades’ heart beat harder.
She enjoyed her time with the souls. Good.
When they were alone, Persephone turned to Hades.“Why would the judges need Hecate’s advice?”
He cocked his head to the side, curious at her demanding tone, and answered,“Hecate is the Lady of Tartarus and particularly good at deciding punishments for the wicked.”
“Where is Tartarus?”
“I would tell you if I thought you would use the knowledge to avoid it.”
But given her history, he did not trust her.
“You think I want to visit your torture chamber?”
“I think you are curious and eager to prove I am as the world assumes—a deity to be feared.”
All things that would probably be confirmed if she found her way to his eternal torture chamber.
She gave him a challenging stare.“You’re afraid I’ll write about what I see.”
That made him laugh.“Fearis not the word, darling.”
He feared for her safety. Hedreadedher assumptions.
She rolled her eyes.“Of course you fear nothing.”
Oh darling, youknownothing, he thought as he reached to pluck a flower from her hair. He twirled the stem between his fingers and asked,“Did you enjoy Asphodel?”
She smiled, and the honesty of it left him breathless.“I did. Your souls… They seem so happy.”
“You are surprised?”
“Well, you aren’t exactly known for your kindness.”
Hades lips flattened.“I’m not known for my kindness to mortals. There is a difference.”
“Is that why you play games with their lives?”
He studied her, frustrated by her question and the way she asked it—like she forgot that mortals came to him to bargain, not the other way around.
“I seem to recall advising that I would answer no more of your questions.”
Persephone’s inviting lips parted.“You can’t be serious.”
“As the dead.”
