A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone Book 2)

by Scarlett St. Clair

  She barely got settled before Demetri stepped out of his office.

  “Persephone, have a moment?”

  Her anger rushed to the surface again, unbidden and senseless. She should say no, ask if she could have more time to get settled, but she found herself following her boss into his office.

  “I have good news,” Demetri said, taking a seat behind his desk.

  Persephone knew what he was going to tell her, but she waited, staring at him with more indifference than she had ever felt in her life. It was the first time since he’d given her the ultimatum that she realized how much this had affected her.

  “Kal has decided against forcing the exclusive.”

  When she didn’t react, Demetri frowned. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.”

  “You thought wrong,” she said. “The damage is already done.”

  “Persephone.”

  She hated the way her boss said her name, like he thought she was being unreasonable. “Don’t do this.”

  “Don’t do what? Call you out on your bullshit?”

  “If it was bullshit, you would have quit when I had to give you the ultimatum. As much as you want to pretend you don’t need this job, I know you do. It’s the only way you can distinguish yourself from Hades.”

  She flinched. Those words stung.

  Demetri sighed; his frustration palpable.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Why not?” she laughed bitterly. “It’s the truth.”

  “Just because it is the truth right now, doesn’t mean it will be the truth forever. If anyone can make a name for themselves in this business, it’s you, Persephone.”

  “Flattery will get you nowhere, Demetri.”

  He laughed humorlessly. “Will I ever earn your forgiveness?”

  “Forgiveness, yes. Trust, no.”

  “I suppose I deserve that.”

  Demetri’s eyes fell to his hands as he twined his fingers together nervously.

  “You know I did it because I had no choice.”

  “I’m sure you had a choice like I had a choice.”

  He nodded his head, but his eyes were distant, as if he were recalling something that happened long ago. After a moment, he began to speak. “Kal is no Hades but he is powerful. I…” he paused to clear his throat. “I sought his help.”

  A realization settled upon her—Demetri knew Kal was a Magi.

  “In what way?”

  “A love potion.”

  Persephone frowned. “I...don’t understand.”

  Demetri raised his brows, and then met Persephone’s gaze. “In college, I met a man named Luca. He became my best friend and I was so in love with him. One night, I decided to tell him how I felt. My feelings weren’t reciprocated...but...I couldn’t imagine a life without him.”

  “So you gave him a love potion?”

  She was appalled that Demetri would resort to such measures. A love potion was serious business. There was a reason their creation and distribution was illegal. It took away an individual’s choice.

  “It wasn’t my proudest moment,” Demetri admitted. “If I had to do it all over again, I would have let him go.”

  “You have to undo it,” Persephone said. Demetri’s eyes went wide. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting her to say that.

  “Undo it?”

  “Or tell him what you did,” Persephone urged. “Demetri...you were wrong.”

  “I didn’t tell you this so you would tell me how I should fix it,” he said, his face growing red. “I’m telling you this so you understand why I pushed you.”

  “I realize that, but Demetri...if you really loved—”

  “Don’t,” Demetri snapped, and Persephone clamped her mouth shut. He took a deep breath. “This conversation is over.”

  “Demetri—”

  “If I hear a whisper of what I have told you anywhere, Persephone, I will fire you. That’s a promise.”

  Persephone pinched her lips together and stood, feeling dazed. She paused before leaving the office.

  “You’re no better than Apollo.”

  Demetri laughed, and it was cold and humorless. “I think that’s the first time anyone’s ever compared me to a god.”

  “It’s not a compliment,” Persephone replied. She knew it wasn’t necessary to point it out. Demetri was well-aware of the gravity of her comparison. Apollo and Demetri had essentially made the same decisions when it came to the people they supposedly loved, and the results were devastating for the mortals who remained.

  She left Demetri’s office and gathered her things.

  “Oh...uh, Persephone?” Helen called as she walked past the desk to the elevator.

  She didn’t stop.

  “Persephone?”

  Helen came up beside her.

  “What, Helen?” she snapped.

  “Are you—”

  “Please don’t ask me if I’m okay.”

  Helen’s lips thinned, and she hesitated, stumbling over her words. “Um, this came for you.”

  She handed Persephone a white envelope.

  “Who—?”

  She started to ask when Helen turned on her heels and returned to her desk.

  Persephone sighed. She didn’t blame the girl for practically running from her. Now she had two reasons to apologize to her, but she’d have to do that later because she really wanted to leave.

  She stepped inside the elevator and opened the envelope.

  Inside was a handwritten letter.

  Dearest Persephone,

  I see you did not like the rose. Perhaps you will find future gifts more acceptable.

  -Your admirer

  It was the first time she’d thought about the rose since it had arrived on her desk a few days ago. It was still there, wilted and forgotten after Lexa’s accident. While she had assumed Hades had given it to her, she now realized it wasn’t from him but another person. She was going to have to tell Helen to stop accepting unmarked gifts and envelopes.

  Suddenly uneasy, Persephone crushed the letter between her hands, and as she stepped out of the elevator, threw it away.

  She called a taxi and headed to the hospital to visit Lexa.

  She would never get used to this place, just approaching made her anxious—a feeling that grew once she reached the second floor, making her way down the hall to Lexa’s room. Suddenly, she halted, spotting Eliska and Adam speaking to the doctor.

  “At this point, it is something to consider,” the doctor was saying.

  Lexa’s parents looked distraught.

  Persephone ducked behind a computer stand, listening.

  “How long does she have? Once the ventilator is removed?” she heard Adam ask.

  “That’s really up to her. She could pass within seconds or days.”

  Persephone felt sick to her stomach.

  “Of course, it is your decision,” the doctor said. “I’ll give you some time to think on it. If you have any questions, please, let me know.”

  Persephone turned and ran down the hallway to the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before vomiting, and when nothing else came out, she heaved.

  It took her far longer to compose herself than she imagined and by the time she made it to Lexa’s room, Eliska was alone. She looked up when Persephone entered and smiled.

  “Hi, Persephone,” she said.

  “Hi, Mrs. Sideris. I hope I’m not bother you. I should have told you I was coming.”

  “It’s fine, dear.” Eliska stretched. “If you’re going to be here for a bit, I think I’ll take a walk…”

  Persephone managed a nod and a small smile. When Eliska left, she sat on Lexa’s bed and carefully took her hand in her own. Her skin was bruised from the IV and discolored from the tape they used to secure all the tubes going into her body.

  Guilt settled heavily on her shoulders. She had failed to find a cure for Lexa’s injuries. The ventilator breathed for her, kept her body going, and Lexa’s pare
nts wanted to take her off.

  It was Persephone’s worst fear realized.

  What would be so terrible about seeing her enter the Underworld?

  It was a question that should have a simple answer, but it was more complicated than that, and on the heels of Hades’ proposal, the truth of her agonizing thoughts were exposed. What if she and Hades weren’t meant to be together forever? What if she lost access to the Underworld and the souls? That would mean she would lose contact with Lexa, too.

  She recognized that even when she and Hades had broken up, the God of the Dead had allowed her to retain his favor. She could have gone to the Underworld at any point and visited the souls, but she hadn’t. The thought of going had been too painful and filled her with anxiety—that wouldn’t change if they split again.

  “I don’t know if you can hear me,” Persephone said. “But I have so much to tell you.”

  As she held Lexa’s hand, she launched into a summary of everything that had happened to her.

  She talked about Kal’s ultimatum.

  “I should have told you the moment it happened,” she paused and laughed a little. “I’m sure you would have told me to quit—go off and start my own newspaper or something.”

  She told her about Hades’ deal with Apollo and how she foiled his plan to meet without her. She talked about Iniquity and all the things she’d learned about Hades.

  Her eyes watered as she spoke, “And then he asked me to marry him and I said no. I can hear you asking me what I was I thinking, and the truth is, I don’t know,” she paused and shook her head. “I just know that no matter how much I love him, I can’t marry him right now.”

  The only answer was the sound of Lexa’s ventilator.

  She had never felt more alone.

  “Lexa,” Persephone’s mouth quivered, and giant tears blurred her vision. She pressed a kiss to her best friend’s hand, whispering, “I need you.”

  Suddenly, the smell of wildflowers permeated the air, bitter citrus and mint. Persephone went rigid and collected herself as quickly as she could.

  “Mother.”

  She cringed when she spoke. It was obvious she’d been crying. She didn’t turn to look at Demeter. “What are you doing?”

  “I heard about Lexa,” she said. “I came to see if you were okay.”

  She’d been in the hospital going on two weeks. If Demeter was really concerned, she would have showed up sooner.

  “I’m fine.”

  She felt her mother move closer.

  “Hades would not help her?”

  Again, Persephone tensed. She hated this question, hated it because so many people assumed Hades would help, hated it because she’d let herself believe she might become an exception to his rule, hated it because he was the reason she had to say no.

  “He said it was not possible,” she whispered.

  She released Lexa’s hand and turned to look at her mother. The goddess had appeared in her mortal form and wore a tailored yellow dress. Her golden hair was sculpted into a tight ponytail that curled at the end.

  “Why are you really here?” Persephone asked.

  “Is it so hard to believe I am concerned for you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have only ever had your best interest in mind, even if you refuse to see it.”

  Persephone rolled her eyes. “We are not having this conversation, mother. I made my choice.”

  “How will you live your life beside the god who let your best friend die?”

  Persephone flinched. She thought about the threads he hid on his skin, and the lives he had exchanged to get them. She would be lying if she didn’t admit that she had wondered why he wouldn’t choose to trade Lexa’s soul for another.

  Persephone narrowed her eyes, suddenly suspicious. “If I find out you had anything to do with this—”

  “You’ll what?” Demeter goaded. “Go on.”

  “I will never forgive you.”

  Demeter smiled coldly. “Daughter, for that threat to work, I would need to want forgiveness.”

  Persephone ignored the pain of Demeter’s words.

  “I did not hurt Lexa. Given the circumstances, I think you should consider—can a daughter of spring truly be death’s bride? Can you stand beside the god who let your friend die?”

  The truth was Persephone did not know and that made her feel guilty and angry. She clenched her fists.

  “Shut up,” she gritted out.

  “You should channel your anger against the Fates,” Demeter said. “They’re the ones who have taken your friend.”

  Persephone offered a sarcastic laugh. “Like you did? How did that turn out for you?”

  Demeter narrowed her eyes. “That remains to be seen.”

  Persephone turned from her mother and looked at Lexa again. Seeing her like this was the hardest thing she’d ever experienced, and it was getting worse every time she stepped through the hospital door.

  “Hades isn’t the only god who could help you. Apollo is the God of Healing.”

  Persephone’s body seized.

  “Of course, you may have ruined any chance you might have had at securing his aid after that atrocious article you released.”

  “If you came to defend him, I won’t hear it. Apollo hurt my friend and so many others.”

  “You think any god is innocent?” She paused to laugh, and the sound was chilling. “Daughter, even you cannot escape our corruption. It is what comes with power.”

  “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?”<
br />
  “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—”

  “You’re working. I want to know who you’re here to take.” Her voice shook as she asked the question.

  The god pressed his lips together, a mark of defiance and answered, “I can’t tell you that.”

  There was silence, and then Persephone said the words she knew Thanatos would be compelled to obey because Hades had ordered it. “I command you.”

  Thanatos eyes glistened, as if this whole thing caused him physical pain. His brows drew together over desperate eyes, and he whispered her name, voice cracking as he spoke.

  “Persephone.”

  “I won’t let you take her.”

  “If there were another way—”

  “There is another way and it involves you leaving.” She pushed him a little. “Get out.”

  She spoke quietly at first, not wanting to draw attention, but when he didn’t move, she said it again—firm this time, the words slipping through her teeth.

  “I said get out!”

  She pushed him harder and he held up his hands, backing away.