A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone 1)

“I don’t understand. Hades doesn’t even go to the gala.”

She’d watched live coverage of the event with Lexa and had never seen him enter with the other gods, and no one had ever snapped a photo of him.

“Lord Hades doesn’t allow himself to be photographed, but he always attends,” Demetri answered.

“I can’t go,” she said after a long silence.

Her boss leveled his gaze with hers. “Persephone, what are you so afraid of?”

“I’m not...afraid.” Though she kind of was. The last time she’d seen her mother, she’d threatened to send her back to the greenhouse if she went to Nevernight or saw Hades again. It didn’t matter where. Plus, she wasn’t even supposed to be around the gods, and it wasn’t like she could hide the fact that she was there from her mother because Demeter would be there, too.

But that was all too complicated to say to Demetri.

“Consider it an opportunity for research and observation,” he said. “We always write about the Olympian Gala, you’ll just put the spotlight on Hades.”

“You don’t understand—” she started.

“Take the tickets, Persephone. Think it over—but don’t take too much time. You don’t have long to decide.”

She didn’t feel comfortable taking the tickets because she was certain she wasn’t going to the gala. Still, Demetri sent her back to her desk with them. She sat down in a daze, staring at the envelope. After a moment, she pulled the tickets out.

They read:

Join us for An Evening in the Underworld

She had no idea this year’s theme was the Underworld. Her curiosity heightened—how would the organizers of this event interpret the Underworld? She bet they’d never guess there was so much life below. She also wondered what charity Hades would choose to donate to.

Gods, she really wanted to go.

But there were so many cons—her mother, for one. It was also a few days away and she didn’t have a ball gown just lying around.

Her gaze dropped to the tickets again where the dress code was printed further down the page and indicated the gala was a masquerade.

It wasn’t likely she could hide from her mother in a mask, but now she wondered if Hecate had any spells up her sleeve that would help. She made a mental note to ask when she visited the Underworld this evening.

Her desk phone rang, and she picked up.

“This is Persephone.”

“Hades...assistant is here to see you?” Valerie said.

It took Persephone a moment to respond—surely not, she thought.

“Minthe?”

What could Minthe possibly have to say to her?

“Oh, Adonis is bringing her back,” she heard Valerie say. Persephone looked up to see the nymph heading for her. She was dressed in black, and her hair and green eyes were like fire. Adonis walked beside her like an escort, smitten, and suddenly Persephone’s dislike for him deepened.

“Hey, Persephone,” Adonis said, oblivious to her frustration. “You remember Minthe?”

“How could I forget?” Persephone asked, matter-of-factly.

The nymph smiled.

“I came to speak with you regarding the article you published about my employer.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have time to meet with you today. Perhaps another day.”