A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone 2)

“Why am I here?” Lexa repeated.

Eliska went to her and sat on the edge of her bed, taking her hand.

“You were in an accident, baby,” she answered. “You were hurt really bad.”

Lexa looked at her mom, but it was like she didn’t recognize her, either.

“No, why am I here?” Lexa’s questioning was more aggressive, and her eyes became unfocused. “I’m not supposed to be here!”

Persephone could feel the color drain from her face. She knew what Lexa was saying. She wasn’t asking why she was in the hospital; she was asking why she was in the Upperworld.

Eliska looked at Persephone and saw the desperation in her eyes. It was one thing to have Lexa back, another to handle the aftermath and impact of her trauma.

“I’ll get the nurse,” Eliska said. “That will give you some time alone with her.”

“I’m not supposed to be here,” Lexa repeated as her mother left the room.

Persephone sat on the end of her bed.

“Lexa,” the goddess called her name. It took her a moment, but she finally lifted her head and met Persephone’s gaze.

“You don’t remember.”

Lexa’s eyes glistened with tears.

“I was happy,” she said.

“Yes, you were happy,” she said, hope ballooned in her chest. Maybe she was remembering. “The happiest person I knew, and you were in love.”

That gave Lexa pause and her brows knitted together. “No,” she shook her head. “I was happy in the Underworld.”

Persephone was stunned. That was the last thing she expected her to say.

“Why am I here?” Lexa asked again and again. “Why am I here? Why am I here? Why am I here?”

Her voice grew louder, and she started to rock, shaking the bed.

“Lexa, calm down.”

“Why am I here?” she screamed.

Persephone stood. “Lexa—”

The door to her room burst open and Eliska and two nurses hurried to subdue her. Lexa was screaming now—it was a sound she’d never heard her best friend make. She backed away from the scene until she reached the door, then fled.

Lexa’s cries followed Persephone until she entered the elevator.

She waited until the doors were closed to burst into tears.

“Are you happy with the results?”

Persephone whirled to face

Apollo.

He was dressed in a grey suit and white button up shirt. His dark hair a perfect mess of curls. He looked beautiful and cold all at the same time.

“You!” Persephone advanced on him. Apollo lifted a sharp brow and didn’t move. She hated that he seemed so unafraid of her. “You said you’d heal her!”