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Bright sunlight through the gauzy white curtains finally brought her out of her deep sleep.
The first thing Persephone noticed was the quietness. She heard waves and a few birds chirping but no cars, boats, people, or planes. It was a true and eerie silence. She had only experienced something similar when she went to Elysium with Hades. Her stomach growled hungrily.
"Yeah, yeah, baby, I hear you. We need to get clean first," she grumbled back and then felt like an idiot. She found a dark fuchsia maxi dress left for her over a chair, with a belt and a pair of sandals. The dress was made of the softest cotton that would battle against the warm Egyptian heat.
Were they still in Egypt? Persephone wasn't so sure. She felt cut off from Hades and everyone else. She cringed at how angry he was going to be at her. She had been so scared and shocked the day before, she knew she hadn't been thinking clearly.
Persephone found a bathroom and had a long shower. The soaps smelled of blue lotuses and roses, and the sweet scent relaxed her.
She had found Isis, or Isis had found her. Tahirah, Anubis's consort, had said that Isis was missing and hadn't been seen in Egypt for centuries.
How had Isis remained hidden on her island all this time? She tried to remember what she knew of the goddess.
Persephone knew the story of how Isis had been the one to put Osiris back together and resurrect him. She was the mother of Horus and had raised Anubis. She was the goddess of magic, as well as many other things.
Persephone had felt the power radiating from her the previous night. Only Thoth and Set felt similar in strength. It was so deep and ancient that it made Persephone nervous and a little awe-struck at the same time.
Once she was clean and dressed, Persephone felt steadier. She tried not to touch her stomach again. Apart from the nausea and tiredness, she didn't feel any different. Maybe Isis could advise her because she was a mother and had done a fine job with Anubis.
For the first time, Persephone wanted to talk to her mother. That feeling lasted long enough for her to remember how Demeter always used to tell her that having Persephone had ruined her body during and after pregnancy. She stopped her shoulders from curling inwards as the memory sliced into her.
Persephone had known from the cradle she wasn't the daughter Demeter had wanted. She could never figure out why she had her to begin with.
It's okay. Demeter's dead and can't hurt you anymore, she told herself. She missed Hades. He would always hug her when she felt her mother's shade kicking her ass. Tentatively, she reached out for him and found a psychic wall in the way. The wards around the island kept the world out. She was on her own.
Persephone took a deep breath. "Okay. Breakfast first, then find Isis."
Persephone walked through the stone halls of the complex and marveled at everything she saw. It looked like one of the ancient stone temples had been fully restored or had never fallen into disrepair.
The tall pillars were carved with scenes of animal life along the Nile. On the walls were carved and painted stories in murals and hieroglyphs she couldn't understand. There seemed to be no end to corridors and rooms.
It was the smell of hot baking bread that Persephone caught onto and ended up following. She could easily get lost in the temple for hours, but her stomach was missing Hades's cooking.
Persephone hoped he would understand when she finally talked to him. She had been scared after the clinic, and the fear was creeping up on her again.
Feminine voices joined the smell of cooking food, and Persephone stepped into a large kitchen area. Two women were sitting on wooden benches next to a long table. A third was pulling bread rolls from a wood-fired oven. She wore a shift dress, the color of ox blood, and had a leather belt around her waist. Dark hair hung in a braid over her shoulder, and warm brown eyes lit up at the sight of Persephone.
"Ah, here is our newcomer. Isis said one of the Greeks had joined us," the woman greeted.
"Hades is going to be shitting himself," a tall blonde woman said from her place at the table.
Persephone raised a brow. "You know my husband?"
"We have met. I'm Bellona," she replied before pointing to the lean brunette on the opposite side of the table. "This is Laverna, and that's Ashirah. Sit down, princess."
Persephone did, and then the name started to ring an alarm in her head. "Wait, you are Bellona, Set's friend? The Roman war goddess."
Bellona laughed, a husky sound that would bring a man to his knees. "I am her, but I'm not Roman. I'm more Sabine than Roman. Laverna is pure Roman."
"And proud of it. Goddess of thieves, cheats, with a dash of the Underworld just for fun," Laverna said with a mock bow.
"It's nice to meet you both," Persephone replied with a smile. "Wait, what about Minerva? Wasn't she a war goddess?"
Bellona's eyes narrowed. "Minerva was a goddess of wisdom. The Romans slapped the war title onto her when they tried to synchronize us with the Greek gods, and she got landed with Athena."
"Poor Minerva," Laverna said and clicked her tongue. "The war title never sat well with her because if one is wise, there isno need to start a war."
Bellona waved her hand dismissively. "I took care of the war side for her. Enough of the past. I want to know what lies Set has been telling about me," she said and refilled her coffee.
