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Persephone's heart ached. "I'm glad some of it survived. Maybe a time will come when humanity needs it once more."
"That is my hope." Isis slid her arm around Persephone's as they walked through the stacks. "Now, do you have questions for me about the babies?"
Persephone had been thinking about it all night. "How long do you think the pregnancy will last?"
"From what I have seen in other goddesses, about three months. Divine children grow fast. It can be catastrophic if they are not guided as much as possible during this time."
Persephone didn't like the sound of 'catastrophic.' "How do you mean?"
"Imagine a teenager having a tantrum, and they have the power over water. They don't get their way, and suddenly, the Nile has flooded and killed thousands," Isis explained. "Guidance, Persephone. They must be in control of their abilities. My advice is to keep them in Elysium until they have that discipline. The humans are doing enough damage to the Earth without the help of a god."
"When you say they will grow fast, how fast?"
Isis shrugged. "At least three times faster than a human. The Court will be able to tell you their individual experiences with it. They can differ."
"Perseus and I are half-human and developed at a normal speed. I mean, I got breasts when I was about eleven, but I wasn't suddenly in a fully adult body," Persephone argued.
"These children of yours will only have a small amount of humanity in them. Your power has only grown since Hades made you his consort. Your abilities are dualistic and extraordinary. I doubt there will be a single 'normal' thing about the children you create. They will be utterly unique."
Persephone rubbed her tummy. "Utterly unique. Do you hear that, babies? Being unique doesn't mean fifty heads like the Hekatonkeires."
Isis laughed softly. "I don't see a chance of that. I'm glad that you have decided to keep them."
"I'm scared shitless, but I know people will help me. I'm not alone. They won't grow up broken and unloved like so many in the Court did," Persephone said. She had stayed up late the previous evening, watching the moon on the water and thinking through all the pros and cons. "The only thing left to do is talk to Hades about it."
"He misses you," Isis said, and seeing her confused expression, she explained. "He was at Agilka last night with Hermes and Thoth."
"Oh no. Were they polite? Hermes didn't try to undo your wards or anything, did he?"
Isis smiled and shook her head. "No. From what I gathered, they were there for emotional support."
Persephone swallowed the hard lump in her throat. "How mad is Hades?"
"He didn't seem mad at all. Just worried and miserable without you." Isis touched the silver blue lotus flower pendant on her necklace. "I can't remember what it felt like to be loved like that."
Persephone didn't know what to say to make her feel better about that. She knew what she had to do though. "Will you take me to him?"
Isis nodded. "Of course I will."
Time didn't work the same way on the island. Persephone had said goodbye to Laverna, Ashirah, and Magdalena in the sun, then she got onto Isis's reed boat and sailed into the dusk light.
Agilka Island looked abandoned as they came near it. Persephone spotted one lone figure leaning against a stone pillar with his arms crossed. Her heart double-timed as Hades walked to the water's edge and held a hand out to her. Persephone took it, and he helped her from the boat before assisting Isis.
"I promised to bring her back safe and sound," Isis said, breaking the awkward silence.
"Thank you, Iset em Renu Nebu," Hades replied and bowed to her formally.
Isis turned to Persephone. "Is there anything else you wish to ask me?"
Persephone quickly leaned in and whispered in her ear. Isis tilted her head back and laughed so loudly that Persephone blushed. "Oh, that's perfectly safe to do."
Still chuckling, Isis took off her silver necklace and held it to Persephone. "Take this with you. If you have problems when your time is upon you, snap the pendant, and I will come to you. Good luck to you both. Treat your wife well, Hades. Otherwise, next time, I might keep her."
"My wife will be lucky if I ever let her out of my sight again," Hades replied, his voice like gravel. Isis grinned, kissed Persephone's cheek, and returned to her boat.
"What did she mean aboutyour time?" Hades asked, finally turning to look at her.
Persephone swallowed and shifted her feet. Hades lifted her chin with his finger until she had nowhere to look but his eyes. Her own started filling.
