A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone 2)

“What? Being a bad person?”

“No, it is the freedom to do whatever you want. You cannot tell me if given the opportunity, you would defy the Fates in favor of saving your friend.”

“Those decisions have consequences, mother.”

“Since when? Tell me the impact your articles have had on the gods, Persephone. You wrote about Hades and he ended up with a lover. You wrote about Apollo and he is still beloved,” she paused to laugh. “Consequences for gods? No, daughter, there are none.”

“You’re wrong. Gods always require a favor—favors mean consequences.”

“Lucky you are a god. Fight fire with fire, Persephone and quit sniveling over this mortal.”

Her mother was gone, but the smell of her magic remained and it made her feel sick.

Or maybe she felt sick at the thought of going to Apollo for help.

She couldn’t do it. How could she ask the god she’d criticized and proclaimed to hate for help? It would be betraying Hades and Sybil; it would be betraying herself.

When Eliska returned, Persephone prepared to leave, pressing a kiss to Lexa’s forehead. When she turned back to Lexa’s mother, she blurted, “don’t take her of the vent yet.”

Eliska’s eyes watered, already rimmed with red. Persephone was certain her walk was more of an excuse to go off and cry.

“Persephone,” Eliska said, her mouth quivered. “We can’t...keep letting her suffer.”

She isn't even in there, she wanted to say. She is in limbo.

“I know this is hard. Adam and I haven’t decided on a course of action yet, but as soon as we do, I’ll let you know.”

Persephone left the ICU in a daze. She felt like she had the day she found out Lexa was in the accident. She was a ghost, frozen in time, watching the world continue. Ungrounded, she made her way to the elevator. She was so lost in her own thoughts; she almost didn’t notice Thanatos leaning against a wall in the waiting room. Beneath the fluorescent lights, his blond hair looked colorless, and his black wings were very much out of place amid the sterile walls and stiff chairs.

Persephone knew he hadn’t expected to see her here because when he caught her gaze, his striking blue ones widened in surprise.

She tried to control the beating of her heart. There are any number of reasons he might be at the hospital. Lexa’s not the only one in the ICU, she told herself. He might be here for someone else.

She approached him and managed a smile.

“Thanatos, what are you doing here?”

“Lady Persephone,” he said, and bowed. “I am...working.”

Persephone tried not to cringe. Thanatos couldn’t help that he was the God of Death, but somehow, it was different talking to him in the Underworld. There, she hadn’t really thought too long on his purpose. Here, in the Upperworld, with her friend on life support, it was crystal clear. He severed the connection between the souls and their bodies. He left families devastated. He would leave her devastated.

“You mean you are reaping?”

“Not just yet,” he said, his half smile was charming, and it made her want to vomit. “You look—”

“Tired?” she offered. It wouldn’t be the first she’d heard it today.

“I was going to say well.”

She could feel Thanatos’ magic on the edges of her skin, coaxing her to calmness. Normally, she would take that as a sign of his caring nature, but not today. Today it felt like a distraction.

“I don’t want your magic, Thanatos.” Her words were harsh. She was frustrated, she was scared, and his presence was making her uncomfortable.

She didn’t think the god could look any paler, but even more color drained from his face. It took her a moment to realize that the sparkle in his eyes was gone. She had hurt his feelings. She pushed past the guilt and asked, “What are really doing here, Thanatos?”

“I told you—”