Chapter 57

Hades

After getting Lucifer to remove the spell from the elevator, I’d decided to surprise Persephone by taking her out to lunch. As it turned out, I was the one surprised when I arrived at Bliss only to discover she’d already left for lunch—with Azrael. After his brief meeting with Persephone and Demira, I’d expected him to keep his distance.

I heard the murmurings as soon as I entered the witch deli where I’d been told Persephone was having lunch with Azrael. Most witches in the deli likely didn’t recognize Azrael since he looked different than in the photos of him. The angel of death was either shown wearing a black hood that completely hid his features, or in his more natural angelic state. I was easily recognizable to anyone who’d taken a class on fallen angels or the demon realm in witch school. There had also been several photos taken of me during my recent visit to the Council of Witches’ offices.

“Hades,” Azrael greeted me in a bored tone.

Since Persephone had her back to me, she hadn’t seen me enter, and she’d been too engrossed in her conversation with Azrael to notice. Turning toward me, she smiled. “What are you doing here?”

The question might have sounded rude if she didn’t look so happy to see me. “I wanted to surprise you by taking you to lunch. It seems I should have asked if you had plans first.”

“Azrael stopped by the office,” Persephone explained. “I guess he wanted to surprise me, too. Why don’t you grab a sandwich and join us? Or you could eat the last half of mine. I couldn’t resist getting a cup of clam chowder with my sandwich today.”

I sat at the table and took the half-sandwich she’d offered. There was something very intimate about sharing food. I liked it. What I didn’t like was Azrael’s presence. “I thought you were going to let Persephone decide if she wanted to see you again.”

Persephone pinched my thigh under the table.

Azrael shrugged. “That was my plan.” He offered no further explanation before focusing on Persephone. “So, your mother owns a store catering to humans?”

This was news to me, and I suddenly felt bad for not asking more about her life among humans.

Persephone nodded. “I’ve heard that some witches move away from the witch community and rarely use their magic again, but my parents both use their magic often. My dad was mostly responsible for my training growing up, but he also helps my mom with the spells at her store.”

“Isn’t it against witch rules to sell spells to humans?” I asked.

“It is,” she replied. “Those rules only apply to witches who are members of a council. Once my parents broke with the council, they had more wiggle room, but they could still get in trouble for selling dangerous spells or spells that would reveal who we are. My mom’s store sells products to aid in natural healing. She also helps new mothers with childbirth when there are complications. The local midwives realize she’s more than human, but they don’t admit it out loud. She’s actually considered a midwife in the community, even though she’s never taken any classes.”

“That’s an interesting career choice for a witch,” Azrael remarked.

“It makes sense,” I added. “You were all living among humans and became a part of their community. Your family cares about them and wants to help in any way they can. How long do you think your parents will continue living in that human community?”

“Not much longer,” Persephone replied. “They’re already getting comments about how they never age. In the beginning, they were only staying there to hide me, but it’s become their home.”

“Where do they plan to go next?” I asked. “Are they going to rejoin the witch community?”

“What a horrid thought,” Azrael muttered.

“Why do you dislike witches so much?” Persephone asked him.

Azrael looked taken aback by her question. “I don’t dislike witches,” he insisted.

“Every time I bring up anything related to the witch council, you cringe,” Persephone pointed out.

“I’m not sure that means Azrael has anything against witches,” I argued. “I cringe when I think of your council.”

“Usually, when I’m tasked with guiding the soul of a witch to their final resting place, they end up pissing me off,” Azrael explained. “I’ve lost count of the number of times in the last year I’ve had a high-ranking witch argue with me about inane details or insist they receive special treatment. I’ve even had witches insist I change clothes. The lazy fucks should follow the light like most do. Then, I wouldn’t have to deal with them. Witches are a pain in the ass.”

Persephone giggled.

“It’s not funny,” Azrael insisted.

“It is from where we’re sitting,” I told him. “Not all witches are a pain in the ass. You never meet the easy witches because they probably just go into the light.”

“He’s right,” Persephone agreed. “Of the witches I’ve met so far, I’ll bet I can guess the ones who’ll need your assistance, and I’d lose my patience if I had to deal with them.”

“She called one of them a bitch,” I added with a grin.

Persephone’s cheeks heated. “Don’t tell him about that!”

Azrael’s laugh startled me. It’s not that I’d never heard him laugh, so much as his laugh was usually dry and humorless. “I wish I’d been there to see that.”

“It was impressive,” I said with a laugh of my own.