Where was she?
“Where am I?”
“Oh, um.” The woman glanced at her feet and then looked back up at Keirah. “Purgatory.”
A smile broke out across Keirah’s face. “Are you serious?” she asked. She couldn’t have kept the glee out of her voice if she tried. “Purgatory? I made it?”
“Um, yes.” The girl cocked her head to the side so she could study Keirah better. “I’m sorry, I’ve never seen a reaction like yours before. Are you insinuating that you’re happy to be in Purgatory?”
Keirah turned back to regard the girl seriously for the first time since waking up. She was a few inches shorter than Keirah was, with wheat-blond hair pulled into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were a cauliflower blue, but they were hidden behind thick-rimmed glasses. She had red lipstick on–the only makeup Keirah noticed–which went surprisingly well with her pale skin. Clearly people who lived in Purgatory weren’t around the sun very often, if at all. The girl was dressed in a magenta collared shirt buttoned up at the elbows tucked into a grey pencil skirt. She looked… professional.
“Yes, yes I’m happy to be here,” Keirah told her. Maybe this girl–however awkward she was acting–could help her find Noir. Or at least give her some kind of idea on where to start. “I’m looking for someone.”
“Oh.” The girl pressed her lips together and nodded her head. “Oh. That makes sense. Normally, we don’t get breathers here of their own volition.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Excuse me.” The girl had the decency to flush. “I meant no offense. Breathers are what we call people from earth who haven’t actually died. In fact, only one other breather has come down here. He came to get the love of his life back, couldn’t actually follow the guidelines so she was condemned to remain here.” She shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. “Men. Am I right? They can’t trust that we’re following them when clearly we are. They have to look.”
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but who are you?” Keirah asked. She kept a hold of her patience because she knew that this girl could have the potential to help her. This girl might even be able to take her straight to Noir himself.
“Oh.”
Keirah smiled and shrugged her shoulders as the girl flushed at her rudeness.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I tend to ramble. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing it. Haye says it’s because I get nervous, but I just think it’s because I have so much to say and realize–” she cut herself off. “I’m doing it again. Sorry.” She cleared her throat and clasped her hands behind her back, trying to stand up straight. Her shoulders stuck up a bit, however. “I’m Persephone, but you can call me Seph. If you want, of course. Everyone here calls me Seph.”
“You’re Persephone?” Keirah asked in total disbelief. She didn’t mean for it to come out rude, but it was hard to believe that this awkward woman–who looked to be no more than twenty-one years old, who stammered and rambled and who dressed like a thirty year old New York businesswoman–was the goddess of the Underworld, Persephone. The dark Queen, the only woman with the ability to capture Hades’ heart. His left-hand man, technically woman. This blonde wisp of a thing was Persephone?
In all fairness, Keirah had to admit that she was pretty. In a nerdy kind of way. She had a nice body, good breasts–bigger than Keirah’s, but that wasn’t exactly saying much–nicely shaped legs - not too skinny, not too thick. Her face was oval-shaped, and maybe her eyes were a bit close together, but she knew that once Persephone removed her glasses, the color alone would strike anyone into speechlessness.
It was hard for Keirah to wrap her head around the fact that she was talking to a real goddess. Royalty. And yet, Keirah felt as though she were intimidating the girl–woman–who was supposed to be queen. It didn’t make any sense.
“Um, yeah.” She looked down at herself as though to double check. “That’s me.”
Keirah shook her head, withholding the rest of her judgment. She needed to get her bearings and figure out her next step.
“I thought I was in Purgatory,” she said. Her eyes glanced at the luxurious room once again, taking everything in. This didn’t seem like Purgatory or the Underworld.
“You are,” Persephone–Seph–affirmed.
“But you’re Persephone,” Keirah said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the Underworld, ruling next to Hades?”
Keirah thought she might have imagined it, but Seph’s blush only deepened. As if she was in middle school. As if she really was the most awkward person Keirah had ever met. Even more awkward than Noir.
“Purgatory and the Underworld are interrelated,” Seph explained. Now that she could focus on something, a fact, she seemed more confident. In fact, she was able to look Keirah in the eye without a problem. “They mean the same thing. Purgatory is where souls go before they’re ferried off to their final resting place. It’s like the gateway between Heaven and Hell. The Underworld is the same thing; it just has a different name. Does that make sense?”
Keirah nodded. “But Hades still rules the Underworld?” she asked. “And Purgatory?”
“Well, technically, he rules one world, referred by either of those names,” Seph went on, sliding her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “But yes, Hades exists and he is in charge.”
Keirah furrowed her brow. “Wait a second,” she said. “What is he in charge of? If this place is a stop rather than a destination, then why is he needed? What’s his job, exactly?”
“Well, not all souls immediately go to Heaven or Hell. Some do, but some have to remain here for a certain period of time. Until they’re forgiven or until they’re redeemed. Some are sent back to earth in order to complete a task, others remain here. Some live their life as though nothing happened here, while some are punished. That’s where Hades comes in. He regulates the souls, decides which souls are ready to leave, which souls aren’t. And then Henry ferries them to their final resting place.”
“Wait, do you mean Henry?” Keirah asked, her brown eyes wide. “He’s really Charon?”
“Um, yes.”
“Then what’s he doing on earth?” she asked, more to herself than to Seph. “If he has a job, why frolic around on earth?”
“Well, in his defense, earth is way more lively than here,” she said, and then chuckled. “No pun intended, but that was pretty good.” At Keirah’s look, her smile dropped and she cleared her throat. “Right. Well, there’s really nothing for him to do if souls aren’t ready to leave. When Haye calls Henry, he comes. Henry is always on time and always does his job. I think that’s why Haye doesn’t mind it when Henry chooses to spend the majority of his time on earth rather than down here. I mean, I definitely would.”
“You can’t just leave?” Keirah asked.
“Considering the fact that it’s nearly summer, no, I can start to leave if I want,” Seph responded. “I stay during the winter , leave during the summer. Like the myth says. Except I can choose to stay here longer if I want.”
Something else struck Keirah as strange. “So Hades has more power than Henry?” she asked, perking her brow.
“Duh.” Now Seph was looking at Keirah with an odd look on her face. “This is Haye’s domain, and Henry respects that. He’s good at his job. But Henry also knows his place. He doesn’t question Haye, doesn’t overstep his boundary, doesn’t argue. Henry respect Haye, and Haye really respects Henry.” Seph furrowed her brow, crossing her arms over her chest. “Which begs the question–well, I’m not sure if this particular matter begs the question, but I just realized something now–how’d you get here, anyways?”
“What do you mean?” Keirah asked.
“You’re a breather – no offense,” Seph said quickly. “Like I said, we don’t get breathers down here, like, at all. Somehow, you were able to get here whilst alive. How?”
When Seph was on the interrogation side of things, she had confidence. That was what made her loo
k beautiful. Almost intimidating. Unstoppable. Keirah couldn’t help but stare at her.
“Henry told me.” Might as well be honest about it. There was no need to lie. She just wouldn’t go out of her way to explain if she didn’t have to.
Seph quirked a brow. “What did you give up in exchange for getting here?” she asked.
“We worked something out.” Keirah almost told her he asked for her soul. She wasn’t going to tell Seph she refused, but Henry’s actual request sounded more believable than what she stated. However, in keeping up with the honesty policy, she decided on something vague but plausible.
Seph didn’t look like she believed her, but didn’t question it. Instead, she shifted her weight and looked to the side. Keirah wondered if Seph’s own room resembled this one, or if it was much grander. Or if she shared one with Hades – Haye. Were they married yet? Or was she just trapped down here for six months?
“Why?”
The question through Keirah off guard, and she blinked once. “Excuse me?” she asked, focusing back on Seph.
“Why would you work something out with Henry in order to get down here?” Seph asked. “Just because we’re not familiar with the everyday going-ons on earth, we are aware of Henry and what he represents. We know how powerful he is, and we know how intimidating breathers are when they cross his path. People are either very foolish or very arrogant if they choose to strike a deal with him. Knowing all of this, why would you choose to be in debt to a man more powerful than your president. Of the United States. What I’m trying to say is–”
“I think I got the gist of it,” Keirah said, holding up her hand. “I did it for love.”
“Love?” Seph asked, her eyes wide. “You’re in love?” Keirah furrowed her brow, causing Seph to start stammering. “I don’t mean to insult you, of course. I mean, obviously you’re in love – have the capacity to love. And love makes you do crazy, great things. Including sacrificing whatever it is you chose to sacrifice for Henry. Well, not for Henry. To Henry. For information or transportation on how to get here. Or something. I really have no idea how these things work, especially when it comes to Henry. Seriously. That guy is so–”
“Have you ever been in love, Seph?” Keirah asked, cutting her off.
“Me?” Seph looked bewildered at such a question. “In love? Um. Well, define love. Is it familial or platonic? Or romantic? Because, you see, I’m not sure. I guess everyone has their own definition of love, but I’m not sure if my definition is the right one. You know what I mean?”
“It doesn’t matter how you choose to define love,” Keirah told her. “All that matters is you get to define love for yourself.”
“I–” She paused, letting Keirah’s words sink in. “That’s actually…” She shook her head, her blonde hair following the movement in its ponytail. “Wise.” She smiled and looked back up at Keirah. “That’s actually very wise. I take it the knowledge comes from personal experience?”
Keirah shrugged a shoulder. “Something like that,” she said with a nod of her head.
“So, the guy–or girl; we don’t judge down here–you’re in love with died, and you’re trying to bring him back to life?” Seph guessed.
“I’m not sure,” Keirah replied. “I’m told that the guy I’m in love with isn’t human. So I’m not sure if something that was never alive can really die…”
“What do you mean?” Was it Keirah’s imagination, or did Seph pale?
“I think Burr referred to him as an Excom?” Keirah said, trying to remember her conversation with the lawyer. “Like, he’s so bad that both Heaven and Hell excommunicated him.”
“Oh. Oh yes. Yes, I know who you’re referring to.” Seph fiddled with her glasses once again. “Um, you say you’re in love with him?”
“I am.” Keirah didn’t try to deny it, nor would she feel shame because of it. Just because certain people didn’t share her point of view didn’t mean she was wrong in thinking and feeling the way she did. She didn’t need to explain herself to anyone. “Is he here? Do you think I could see him? You have no idea how much I’ve missed him.”
“Um, well.” Seph looked away again, and this time it was obvious that she was trying to figure out the right words to say to Keirah without being rude about it.
“Please. I need to see him. You have no idea what I’ve been through to get here, to get him back.”
“Wait, you want to bring him back with you?” Seph asked, even more confused than before. “Why?”
“Because I love him.” Keirah took a step back, keeping a level fix on Seph. “I need to see him, Seph. I need to at least know that he’s here. That I’m in the right place and that I didn’t sacrifice–as you put it–everything for nothing. Please, Seph. Please.”
Seph adjusted her glasses and let a sigh slip out of her lips. “Fine,” she said. “Fine. Come with me.”
A huge smile broke out onto Keirah’s face. It was finally happening. In mere moments, she would be reunited with Noir.
19
“So tell me how this beach-pool party thing is going,” Andie said, glancing back over at Jack who was currently slipping off his business attire to change into pajamas. She paused for a moment, waiting to brush her hair as she watched him change. God, he had such a beautiful body. Her lips curled up as a bunch of naughty thoughts raced through her mind. This would ultimately be the death of her – having a sexy husband that she couldn’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Jack threw her a glance as he pulled on one of his many white wife beaters before running his fingers over his cropped hair. Andie frowned at the action, noticing the tiredness that touched his jade green eyes, and quickly finished her brushing so she could be closer to him.
“Well, after agreeing to do it at the University of Onyx, Vanessa changed her mind and reserved the Ritz hotel anyways,” Jack all but growled. Andie’s frowned deepened, realizing Jack still seemed upset by the fact, and her dislike of Vanessa increased even more substantially. “When I confronted her about it, she said that it wouldn’t be good PR to invite all those celebrities to a university. I don’t think they’ll actually care, but she was adamant about it. We finally came down to a compromise when she agreed to hire some kids from the university to help out as hosts, hostesses, waiters, waitresses, and the like.”
“Jack,” Andie said, taking a seat at the edge of the bed before furrowing her brow as she regarded him, “you shouldn’t have to compromise when it comes to your business. I know that she wants to invest in my shelter, and she’s trying to do this cutesy thing where our companies are working together without it being obvious that you’re investing in the shelter because you’re my boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean she’s the boss.”
“Yeah,” Jack murmured through a sigh. “I know.”
“I just don’t like to see you so…” Andie let her voice trail off, trying to think of the right word to say. Jack looked down at her, arching an inquiring brow and trying to keep the amused smirk from slipping onto his face. “…stressed.”
“I’m always stressed,” he told her before deciding to take a seat on the bed next to her.
“Yeah, but not always always,” Andie pointed out. “And there’s a good kind of stressed and a bad kind of stressed, and no offense, but it appears to me that what you’re experiencing is the bad kind.”
“Oh?” Jack asked, turning his head to read Andie’s profile. This time, the smile sprawled itself over Jack’s lips without any hesitancy. “And you know this how, Dr. Shepherd?”
“I’m a doctor,” Andie told him, returning the smile. “I know everything there is to know.” She paused, and then cocked her head to the side as she regarded him with a steady gaze. “But seriously. What should I expect at the party? When is it, anyways?”
“It’s a week from Saturday,” Jack informed her before rubbing his palms down his face. “And the dress code is bathing suit, with some sort of cover-up only. No business or birthday suits. There will be food and dancing and pi
ctures being taken and press and-”
“Everything you pretty much hate,” Andie commented, giving Jack a doubtful look. Was he sure he wanted to spend time and money on something he wasn’t even excited about?
“Pretty much,” Jack agreed, nodding. “But…” His smile turned teasing as he slipped his arm around Andie’s waist and pulled her tightly against the side of his body. “I’ll have the hottest date there.
“I also managed to check out the whole secret admirer thing,” Jack continued. His tone became more serious as his eyes descended until they rested on the golden crown of her head. “Apparently, Bill had been released from jail a couple of months ago, but is under heavy parole. Currently, he’s residing with dear old Daddy, but is mandated to keep at least one hundred feet from you. I don’t know how, but he’s also managed to keep that job of his. Anyway, I followed him for the past couple of nights, and he didn’t seem to call you, send flowers, nothing. In fact, if you think about it, the person sending you the flowers has to have a lot of money. Trust me; those bouquets don’t come cheap. And I don’t think Bill has access to his father’s funds yet.” He paused, feeling his grip on her tightening. While it was good to know that it wasn’t Bill who was tormenting Andie, his conclusion also meant they had no idea who it was, exactly. “Have you received anything else, anymore flowers?”
“Hmm,” Andie murmured into his strong chest, admiring the natural warmth it gave off, “just a couple of phone calls, really. The ones where they don’t do anything except breathe a couple of times, and then hang up.”
“I checked Bill’s phone records,” Jack told her. “He hasn’t made any calls to you. What worries me is that whoever has been making these phone calls knows your personal cell phone number, our house number, and your work number.”
Sacrifice: Book 3 of The Dark Paradise Trilogy Page 14