Chapter 22

Persephone

Lunch by The River of Fire was too exciting to pass up. When I’d returned and bemoaned the fact that Hades hadn’t agreed to stop for lunch, Beatrice had immediately arranged for us to go out with Lucy. I still had trouble believing I was friends with Lucifer’s daughter. After Beatrice left to tell Lucifer about our plans, and likely argue about the number of guards we should bring with us, I headed to my mom’s room. I wanted to shower first, but my mom would be worried.

She yanked open the door after the first knock, and I almost hit her when I went to knock a second time.

“Have you been waiting by the door for me to get back, Mom?”

She shrugged and flashed me a sheepish smile. “I was worried. You traveled through Hell with Hades and then went to Olympus where people may be out to get you.”

I laughed at her description. “Out to get me? You make this sound like some gangster movie.”

“Angels are much worse than gangsters,” came her dire warning.

“The angels on Olympus are all too confused to be anything like gangsters.” I was hoping my assurance would ease her worries. My mom had been paranoid about angels for a long time. After hearing the full story, I had a much better understanding of why. I’d probably be the same way with my own daughter. “Do you think I’ll have a daughter with Hades? That is, if I have children.”

My mom blinked at my question. “You’re already planning to have children with Hades?” Before I could answer, she laughed at her own question. “Don’t say it. I already know I need to calm down. This is still a big adjustment for me. I wish I could have told you about all of this long ago.”

“We’ve already been through this.” I wasn’t certain why I needed to remind her. “I really am glad you couldn’t tell me before.”

My mom gave me a fond smile. “You are an amazing woman, Persephone.”

“I had good role models,” I pointed out. “Even when you were at your most paranoid, you were nice to the people around us. I hear about witches looking down on humans and trying to avoid them all the time. That kind of behavior doesn’t make any sense to me because you taught me to be loving and accepting.”

“I specifically told you to avoid angels and demons,” my mom reminded me. “Not once did I say anything positive about either.”

“But it was hard to follow that advice when you wanted me to be tolerant of everyone else.” What I’d said was the truth, but there was more to it. “I’m also naturally curious. I think I was supposed to find Hades.”

My mom said nothing, not that I was surprised.

“Would you like to go out to lunch with us? I’m going with Beatrice and Lucy.” I decided my mom might feel better about fallen angels if she spent more time around Lucy. I could see how Lucifer and Hades might not make the best impressions, but Lucy was one of the sweetest people I’d ever met.

“Where are you going?”

Since she hadn’t said no yet, I took it as a good sign. “We’re going to a café overlooking the River of Fire. Beatrice says it’s really good.”

My mom’s reaction proved we were related. She looked truly fascinated. “River of Fire? I’ve only seen it in artwork. That sounds exciting.”

“Don’t forget the part about having lunch with Lucifer’s daughter,” I reminded her. “She’s a lot of fun.”

Whatever my mom was about to say was interrupted by a knock on her bedroom door.

Hades didn’t wait for a response before calling out to my mom through the door. “I’m looking for Persephone. Is she in there with you?”

“Yes,” was my mom’s curt reply.

I decided it would be best if I opened the door for Hades before he lost his patience.

“You can’t go home.” Those were the first words out of Hades’s mouth, and they caused my mom to suck in a sharp breath.

“Have you finally decided to kidnap me?” Joking about Hades abducting me was likely a bad idea, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Do I need to kidnap you?” He was clearly biting back a smile when he asked that question.

“It might be fun, under other circumstances,” I replied thoughtfully. “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m not going to take orders from you.”

Hades nodded and cleared his throat. “I’m worried about you. While it appears there’s no threat to you, we didn’t see everyone on Olympus, and I don’t trust them. I’d feel better if you stayed here a couple more weeks, just to make sure there isn’t a real threat to you.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” my mom said with a nod.

She’d succeeded in shocking the heck out of me. “You want me to stay in the demon realm longer?”

“I’m also surprised,” she admitted. “There are more guards here. While your witch building is warded, it’s not nearly as secure as Lucifer’s home. I can’t believe I’m encouraging you to stay here. Your dad nearly had a heart attack when he heard I was staying here with you.”

“Dad’s a warlock, so he can’t have a heart attack.” My reminder was met with an exasperated huff.

Hades didn’t seem in the mood to discuss human sayings or the good health of witches. “I’ve also heard you’re having lunch with Lucy.”

“Yes,” I chirped excitedly. “We’re going to the River of Fire. My mom is coming with us. Wait! You aren’t about to tell me I can’t go there because it might be dangerous, are you?”

He shook his head. “I’m glad you’ll be away from the house. Azrael is coming by.”

My mother gasped.

“I guess it is a good thing we’re leaving,” was my reply. “Azrael is very unpleasant.”

“We also aren’t sure how he’ll react if he realizes you’re his great-granddaughter,” Hades explained.

“It is really strange that my great-grandfather is the angel of death.” Part of me wanted to tell everyone I saw, just to see their reactions. The other part didn’t want to tell anyone because I wasn’t certain I wanted Azrael to know about our connection. “Are you going to tell him about me?”

Hades opened his mouth to respond before closing it and blowing out a frustrated breath. He ran both hands through his hair. “I don’t know. Lucifer may decide to tell him.”

“Why?” I asked at the same time as my mom said, “Have you lost your mind?”

Hades laughed and responded to my mom’s question first. “Most will tell you I’ve definitely lost my mind, but I’m not the one considering telling him.” His attention then turned to me. “I just heard about Azrael’s visit and haven’t had time to discuss it with Lucifer yet. He may feel that having angelic protection could be useful. There are many who would think twice about even sneezing in your direction if they know about your relationship to Azrael.”

I shook my head. “That’s only the case if he actually wants to have any sort of relationship with me.”

With my mom’s distrust of angels, she seemed even less fond of the idea. “We prefer to keep our angelic heritage hidden.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about any of this yet,” I argued. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do where Azrael was concerned. There hadn’t been time for it to settle in yet.

“I’ll tell Lucifer you don’t want Azrael to know just yet,” Hades replied. “That said, you both realize this may not have any effect on whether he tells Azrael, right? I can suggest he not tell Azrael, but short of a bloody battle with Lucifer, there’s nothing else I can do to stop him if he decides Azrael should know.”

We both nodded our understanding. Hades looked like he was considering the bloody battle with Lucifer, so I decided I should say more. “Don’t fight Lucifer, please.”

He nodded and asked, “So, you’ll stay a couple more weeks?”

I responded with a question of my own. “Are you going to try to avoid me if I stay?”

Hades blew out another frustrated breath. He did that far too often. “Why can’t you see that it would be best if I stay away from you?”

“Why do you keep asking me these ridiculous questions?” Rather than giving him a chance to respond, I moved on to a safer topic. “I need to shower and get ready for lunch. I’ll stay for two weeks, but only if you agree to spend time with me while I’m here.”

I was certain he’d agree to anything to keep me in Lucifer’s home, meaning, I had Hades exactly where I wanted him. Well, not exactly where I wanted him, but I expected to have him there soon.