A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone 1)

She started to deny it, but decided it was silly to even try. She was jealous, and so she admitted, “I am.”

“Hades isn’t interested in Minthe.”

“It sure doesn’t look that way,” she muttered.

“Trust me. Hades cares for her, but if he was interested, he would have made her his queen a long time ago.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Hermes shrugged. “That if he loved her, he would have married her.”

Persephone scoffed. “That does not sound like Hades. He doesn’t believe in love.”

“Well, who am I to say? I have only known Hades for centuries, and you—a few months.”

Persephone frowned.

It had been hard for her to see Hades in any other light than the one her mother had cast upon him—and it was ugly and unflattering. She had to admit, the more time she spent in the Underworld and with him, the more she was starting to question just how much truth there was to what her mother had said, and the rumors spread by mortals.

Hermes nudged her with his shoulder. “Don’t worry, love. When you’re jealous, just make a point to remind Hades of what he’s missing.”

She looked at him and he kissed her cheek. The move surprised her, and Hermes laughed calling as he flounced away, his white wings dragging the ground like a regal cape, “Save a dance for me!”

When Lexa returned, she looked bewildered. “Um, did Hermes just kiss you on the cheek?”

Persephone cleared her throat. “Yeah.”

“Do you know him?”

“I met him at Nevernight,” she said.

“And you didn’t tell me?”

Persephone frowned. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t think about it.”

Lexa’s eyes softened. “It’s okay. I know things have been insane recently.”

There was a reason Lexa was her best friend, and it was moments like this when she felt the most thankful for her.

They cut through the crowd and returned to their table. After a few quick announcements, dinner began. They were served a combination of ancient and modern foods. Their appetizers consisted of olives, grapes, figs, wheat bread, and cheese. Their entrée was fish, vegetables, and rice. Dessert was rich chocolate cake. Despite the beautiful spread, Persephone found she wasn’t all that hungry.

Conversation around the table wasn’t lacking. The group talked about various topics including the Pentathlon and Titans After Dark. Their conversation was interrupted when clapping began, and Minthe strolled across stage and took to the podium.

“Lord Hades is honored to reveal this year’s charity—The Halcyon Project,”

The lights in the room dimmed, and a screen lowered to play a short video about Halcyon, a new rehabilitation center specializing in free care for mortals. The video detailed statistics about the large number of accidental deaths due to overdoses, suicide rates, and other challenges mortals faced post-Great War era and how the Olympians had a duty to help. They were words Persephone had spoken, repackaged for his audience. What is this? Persephone wondered. Was this Hades’ way of making fun of her? Her thoughts fueled her anger.

Then the video ended, and the lights came up. Persephone was surprised to see Hades standing on the stage—his presence elicited cheers from the audience.

“Days ago, an article was published in New Athens News. It was a scathing critique of my performance as a god. Among those angry words were suggestions on how I could be better. I don’t imagine the woman who wrote it expected me to take those ideas to heart, but in spending time with her, I started to see how I could be better.” He paused to chuckle under his breath, as if recalling something they’d

shared, and Persephone shivered. “I’ve never met anyone who was so passionate about how I was wrong, so I took her advice and initiated The Halcyon Project. As you move though the exhibit, it is my hope that Halcyon will serve as a flame in the dark for the lost.”

The crowd erupted in applause, standing to honor the god. Even a few of the Divine followed, including Hermes. It took Persephone a moment to rise to her feet. She was shocked by Hades’ charity, but also wary. Was he only doing this to reverse the damage she’d done to his reputation? Was he trying to prove her wrong?

Lexa gave Persephone a quizzical look.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Persephone said.