A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone 2)

“The way they portray the gods is totally inaccurate.”

“We know,” Lexa said. “They don’t do Hades justice, but if he has a problem with it, tell him it’s his own fault. He’s the one who’s refused to be photographed ...well, until recently.”

They started the movie, and it opened by introducing the feuding families, locked in a war for territory. Pyramus and Thisbe were young and eager for fun. They met at a club, and under those fierce and hypnotic lights, they fell in love, later learning they were sworn enemies. They were in the middle of a tense scene between the families, the one where Thisbe’s brother dies, shot and killed by Pyramus, when the doorbell rang, surprising Persephone and Lexa. They exchanged a look.

“It’s probably the pizza guy,” Lexa said.

“I’ll get it,” Persephone was already throwing off the blanket. “Pause the movie!”

“You’ve seen this a hundred times!”

“Pause it!” then she threatened playfully. “Or I’ll turn you into basil.”

Lexa cackled but paused the movie. “That actually might be cool.”

Persephone opened the door.

"Sybil!" She smiled wide, but excitement quickly gave way to suspicion.

Something was wrong.

Even dressed in pajamas and sporting a top knot, the blonde was a beauty. She stood under the pallid porch light, looking exhausted and like she'd been crying, mascara streaked down her face.

“Can I come in?” It sounded like she had something stuck in her throat.

“Yeah, of course.”

"Is it the pizza?" Lexa called, walking into view. “Sybil!”

That was when the girl burst into tears.

Lexa and Persephone exchanged a look and quickly wrapped their arms around her as she sobbed.

“It’s okay,” Persephone whispered, attempting to soothe her.

She thought she could sense Sybil’s pain and confusion, something she had never perceived in another person before. The emotions were like shadows grazing her skin, flutters of sadness, strikes of jealousy, and an endless cold.

Strange, Persephone thought. She pushed the feelings down, quashing them to focus on Sybil.

The three stood like that for a while, embracing one another in a tight circle until Sybil began to collect herself. Lexa was the first to break form and poured Sybil a glass of wine while Persephone directed her to the living room and gave her a box of tissues.

“I'm so sorry,” she finally managed to say, accepting the wine with shaking hands. “I had no other place to go.”

“You’re always welcome,” Persephone said.

“What happened?” Lexa asked.

Her mouth quivered, and it took her a few moments to speak. “I’m...I’m not an oracle anymore.”

“What?” Lexa asked. “How can you not be an oracle anymore?”

Sybil had been born with certain prophetic gifts, including divination and prophecy. Persephone also knew that Sybil could see the Threads of Fate, which she had referred to as ‘colors’ when she’d told Persephone she and Hades were meant to be together.

Sybil cleared her throat and took a deep breath, but even as she spoke, her voice broke. “I told myself I wouldn’t cry over this anymore.”

“Sybil,” Persephone reached for her hand.

“Apollo fired me and took my gift of prophecy away,” she explained. She laughed humorlessly, wiping her eyes as more tears slide down her cheeks. “Turns out you can’t continue to reject a god without consequences.”