by RM Virtues
She brushes her hand over his cheek. “You don’t need it. You have mine.”
He leans into her touch, offering a tight smile. She knows that turmoil lies behind those beautiful brown eyes, rife with questions he still poses for the world and for himself. What he plans to do is big, bigger than he’s ever dared plan, and he’ll be the face of it. No more hiding in the shadows, no more disguising himself in darkness, no more being used as a vehicle for the conquest of others. His solitude will be compromised, his sanctuary under constant scrutiny. The world he shaped for his brother will be destroyed and built anew. It isn’t what he wants, and that is exactly why it is the only viable option. It’s the only way for Khaos Falls to know peace. And for him to as well.
“Tomorrow, after I speak with my mama, we’re going to celebrate,” she says, her fingers tracing along his eyebrow.
“Oh yeah? What are we celebrating?”
She offers a wry smile. “You.”
“Didn’t we just do that?”
“Mm, you’re right.” She hums in faux contemplation, eyes climbing to the ceiling before she looks back at him. “Then us. And the future.”
His lips twitch. “I think I can get on board with that.”
“Oh, sorry, did I forget to mention it’s not a choice?”
She wraps her arms around his neck as his body shakes with laughter. Fates, she loves this man.
“I promise that even when others think I’m in charge, I will never forget who truly is,” he mumbles into her neck as he buries his head there.
“I appreciate it. But don’t worry. I have no problem setting the record straight.”
“I have no doubt about that.”
She doesn’t tell him anywhere near enough how he inspires her, to be stronger, to be better, to be kinder. She doubts he would believe her if she did. Hecate and Aphrodite both have said much of the same thing countless times — they’re good for each other. Persephone never thought anyone would be good for her. Seeing her mother thrive after her father’s departure and Aphrodite rule all on her own absent her father’s influence had led her to this conclusion that she would only be hindered by personal attachment. At the very least, she knew that was what she was supposed to believe. Adonis had only enhanced that, always expecting her to fit into this box he himself had constructed, the doting wife who picked him up and carried him through to his own power and place in the world. When it wasn’t her, he had turned to Aphrodite to both be that for him and convince Persephone to do it too. He had been greedy and naive, and both Seph and Aphrodite had departed from Demeter’s house with the intention of it being just the two of them, staking their claims and chasing their dreams without the convoluted connections of people who would demand they come to heel. People like Adonis, like their fathers, like Demeter, like Zeus. How was Persephone ever to know she would find the very antithesis of them all hiding in the depths of the notorious Underworld, wrapped in a riddle and shielded by legend? What a pleasant surprise. She is determined to protect it too, at all costs.
“We’re partners in this,” he utters against her lips. “Equals. Regardless of how involved you decide to be, I make no decisions without coming to you first.”
“I trust you to make those decisions,” she states, eyes fluttering open. “You have to trust yourself too, Hades. I’m not saying I won’t help you, but this is your move, your path, and you can do this. People believe in you. That is why Tartarus agreed, why Aphrodite did, and why your nephews will too.”
“And your mother?”
She chuckles. “She may not see everything I see, but by the time I’m done, she’ll see what matters right now, which is that you’re a good leader.”
His expression shifts into something akin to confusion. “And what do you see?”
“That you’re a good man.”
“And do you think a good man can do this?”
“I think you can do this, Hades.” She presses her lips to his forehead. “Only you.”
* * *
Persephone takes her newfound determination with her to her mother’s house the next morning. As breakfast is served, Demeter talks about mundane happenings and generic gossip as if Persephone had never left home in the first place, but Persephone knows she’s stalling. Maybe she thinks she can eat up whatever time Persephone has without having to commit to anything, but Demeter fails to understand what is occurring here. Persephone has no issue clarifying for her. She has all the time in the world right now.
“Mama,” she urges before Demeter can go off on another tangent about Apollo’s planned renovations for the local sports arena. “You’ve been at it for an hour. Let’s talk business now.”
Demeter levels her with a stare that once would have sent Persephone scurrying from the room. Her eyes narrow atop her high cheekbones, the dark skin that brackets them crinkling visibly. Persephone does not flinch. She does not squirm. Demeter’s silence has always been a more devastating weapon than anything that could come out of her mouth. That has not changed. What has changed is Persephone. Demeter has power, but she does too, and she no longer comes to see her mother without it.
“Hades gave you fair terms, I would say,” she goes on when Demeter doesn’t speak.
“Yes, it would seem so,” Demeter says slowly, her long fingers tapping against her glass.
“But…”
Demeter rolls her eyes. “Persephone, you ask me this knowing my history with Hades.”
“No, I don’t. In fact, I don’t think you have a history with Hades. I think you have a history with those who preceded Hades, and you’re holding it against him because he’s the only one left to hold it against.”
“History repeats itself, Darling.”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be perpetually upset with me.”
The elder scoffs. “Now that is not fair.”
“Neither is your treatment of him, but this isn’t about fair, Mama. We’ve given you this deal for two reasons and two reasons alone. I love you, and Hades respects you. We are trying to make it so that history stops repeating itself. We will do that with or without you.”
“Oh, is that what this is?” She snorts, and Persephone’s blood boils. “Because what it looks like is two brothers fighting over a toy, and this city is not a toy, Persephone.”
“And you would rather have Zeus playing Fate—”
“I would rather have neither of them!” Demeter slaps her hands against the table. “If he trusts you so much, why not elevate our district, let a grown woman handle things, and when I die, you can do the same?”
“Because you have a grudge against everyone in this city, unfounded or otherwise.”
“And yet they remain fed. They remain supplied. I can separate business from personal life just fine, and—”
“Mama.” The tone of Persephone’s voice stops her mother cold. “You cannot defend yourself to me. You are a great mother and a great leader, but you have biases, ones that cannot be rectified right now.”
“I may have less biases if I didn’t have to worry about idiots undermining me all of the time.”
“And that’s a fair point, which is why we are offering you—”
“You are not offering me anything I could not take for myself!”
“Yet you haven’t—”
“You are children, all of you! I have been around longer than each and every one of you! All three of those brothers, you, Aphrodite. You two learned from ME. I have watched the crown change many hands, and I have watched it corrupt each and every one of them! Hades is no different!”
“So why would you be?”
Whatever Demeter sees in her daughter’s face now must wipe the answer she’s readied on her tongue clean off, and Persephone is overwhelmed with gratitude. Even if she refuses to let it show.
She will not deny the fact that Demeter makes good points, but she also knows her mother. She has never done anything without ulterior motive. She needs control. Too much of it can spoil her, and
Persephone has seen it, not only with herself but with her aunt. She looks over at Hestia, who sits beside her sister with head bowed and lips pursed. They had discussed it the night before, predicting every possible objection Demeter would have. They both know the truth. She can lead her district. She cannot lead a city, lest it be brought to its knees before her to do her bidding first and foremost. This limitation on her power has been the only thing to keep Demeter in check. If she had the numbers and the resources to go to war with the sons of Rhea, she would have done so years ago. She may not be Zeus. She would certainly make a better leader than him, but every other leader in Khaos Falls would too. The fact of the matter is that trusting Demeter is as difficult as trusting their current leader. It just looks different. It looks like safety, and that’s far more dangerous.
“If it weren’t for Hades,” Demeter hisses, eyes flashing. “we would not be in this situation to begin with.”
“This isn’t up for debate, Mother,” Persephone goes on, calm even as her mother seethes with rage. She takes a page from Hades’ book now, keeping her composure, clinging to it. “As I said, we are going forth with or without you. This is a courtesy. It is an assurance that I have your best interest in mind.”
“That does not mean Hades does,” Demeter growls, but Persephone can see she is beginning to wane.
“But he has my best interest in mind, and so it coincides.”
She tilts her head. “Do you honestly believe that man cares for you, Persephone? Do you think that—”
“I do because he does. He and I will do this together, as equals, and—”
Demeter cuts her off with a barking laugh. “Persephone, darling, please, you cannot—”
“This isn’t up for debate, Mother.”
The dining hall feels smaller than it ever has, the tension suffocating. Persephone knows she must keep her feet though. She cannot let her mother run away with this conversation. She may never be able to crawl back out. That is what Demeter does. That is what Demeter is capable of. Persephone must now show her —and herself— what she is capable of.
“You expect me to sit here and submit to this - this promise that when I die, Hades will inherit my district!”
“No, I will.”
“He will lord over the entire city!”
“He will see that it has peace. My birthright is mine. That is also not up for debate.”
“You don’t want it!”
“No, I don’t, but I am your daughter. I’ll fulfill my duties in whatever way I have to. I’m just not leaving the stage to do it.”
“Then how can you be sure! How can I!”
“What other option do you think you have?” They stare at each other for ages before Persephone sighs. “I am not asking you to trust him, Mama. I am asking you to trust me.”
She knows Demeter may not think it fair, but it is all there is left to do. The elder continues to stare her down, but still, Persephone doesn’t yield. She waits, her patience impeccable and her resolve impenetrable. She is not backing down, not today, not ever again.
Demeter reclines in her seat.
“Expansion all the way to Chimera Street,” she states, repeating the first line of Hades’ offered terms of her alliance.
“Yes,” Persephone confirms. “That includes Terpsichore’s school.”
“But you want to give Terpsichore full control of the board and finances.”
“Yes. Zeus has been shortchanging her ever since it opened. It’s her school. She’ll pay your property tax at your rate, but nothing more.”
“And - who gets Olympus once this little - feud is over.”
Persephone fights the urge to roll her eyes. “Let us worry about that, Mama. You will get all the details the moment they happen, I’m sure.” She smiles. Her mother does not. “Can you agree to that?”
“On one condition.”
Of course. “What is that?”
“If, at any time, I do decide I have a concern, I want to be able to speak to you about it.”
“That’s not a problem, but again, I want you to remember that when it is business, I am not your daughter. You aren’t going to strong arm me into agreeing to anything, and I won’t promise you anything without Hades’ agreement.”
“Is that what it comes down to? You’re going to let a man—”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Mama.” At last, Persephone stands up, pressing her fingers into the tablecloth as she meets her mother’s gaze head on. “You and I have had our share of horrible men. I know why you’re worried. I heed your warnings, but I am going to say this once and only once. Hades is not my father, and I am not that scared little girl I used to be. Some decisions we make together. Some decisions we make on our own. Where the city is concerned, he has the final say, and I stand by that because I trust him to make those decisions now. He knows he’s made mistakes, and he’s trying to fix them, but he doesn’t need me or anyone else spoon feeding him the right thing to do. But we do communicate, and we do compromise, and how things work between us doesn’t have to make sense to you, but you will respect it. You will respect me. And I will not speak to you if all you are going to do is tear him down. Or tear me down for that matter. Is that understood?”
It has to end now. They both know it. Demeter has run out of excuses, and Persephone won’t take another anyway. Moving down the table, she kisses both her aunt and her mother on their cheeks. Then she bids them good day and leaves, aware of their glances. It’s only once she reaches the front hall that she hears footsteps behind her. She knows it isn’t Adonis this time, so she fully expects her mother to come charging into a whole new argument right there inside the door. She comes to a halt and turns around, only to be swept into her aunt’s arms.
“I’m proud of you,” Hestia whispers into her hair. “I’ve always been proud of you, and I always will be, but - damn.”
They both laugh as they pull apart, Hestia’s eyes welling with tears.
“I wouldn’t be here without you,” Persephone assures her, her own eyes pricking. “You’re as brave as they come, Auntie.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, but - you make me wanna be. Just - don’t be a stranger, alright? And don’t ever think you can’t come home. I don’t mean if things go wrong. I just mean - to know it’s still here.”
Persephone nods. “And - you’re welcome across the Styx anytime, you know.”
Hestia laughs now, looking down at the floor. She seems to be considering something. When she looks up again, the tears have begun to fall, and Persephone wipes them away with her hand before Hestia swats it away playfully.
“I was at the first show,” Hestia whispers under her breath.
“What?” Persephone’s eyes widen. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve gotten you tickets. You could’ve sat with ‘Dite.”
“First of all, I’m capable of buyin’ my own damn tickets.” They chuckle again, and Hestia shakes her head. “And second, I just wanted to witness it all, to make sure it was everything you wanted it to be. Everyone loved you. And by the end of it, I knew you were safe. You were where you belonged, and - that’s all I wanted for you, all I ever wanted for you and for Aphrodite. I wanted you to be able to walk through this world and never question that you had a place in it.”
“I don’t - anymore. I don’t question it, and I don't think I ever will again.”
“Well if you do, you call your auntie right away. Got it?”
Persephone grins. “I got it.”
As she leaves the house of Demeter, Persephone finds herself giddy with excitement. She hasn’t just proved her worth to her mother. She’s proven it to herself. Without the stage, without the silks, she still has her wings. And as her aunt had said, she still belongs. That doesn’t mean that she can’t fly. It just means she has a place to land.
29
Hades
The office is quiet. It isn’t Hades’ main office hovering above the casino floor but rather the one beneath the casino whe
re Hades’ most exclusive meetings are held, those not for show of force or diplomacy. It is for the utmost privacy.
Hades’ family sits quietly around the large conference table, Poseidon and Amphitrite at one end and Hades at the other. Between them on either side sit Dionysos, Hermes, Hephaestus, Athena, and Ares. Hades is relieved that the latter two had shown up at all.
“I gathered you all here because I love you all,” Hades says after a long time of contemplating. “I also respect you. While I would rather you keep what we discuss here today quiet for the time being, I will not force you to. I will be clear that this is going to take place no matter what.”
He lets that sink in for a moment, but no one speaks, each of them watching their uncle in patient anticipation.
“I am removing Zeus from power,” he proceeds. No one reacts outright, but Athena squirms in her seat, and Poseidon’s eyes widen. “Of course, this means many things are going to change. I will take control of Khaos Falls as a whole, but decisions will not be made without taking every leader’s opinion into consideration. First though, I would have to appoint a new leader of Olympus. I know Zeus has made many promises to several of you, and I want to honor your expectations as much as ensure the safety of your district. So I ask first and foremost, Hephaestus.” He makes eye contact with the man. “You being the eldest, do you want control of Olympus?”
Hephaestus stares at his uncle for a long time. Ares’ eyes are firm on the desk with his brows knit, and Athena stares straight ahead at the wall over his shoulder. Hades allows him to consider it for as long as he needs, and at last, Hephaestus shakes his head.
“That’s never been for me,” he concludes. “I’ve made peace with living outside of a district leadership position, and I’ve grown to like it a whole lot, so no, Uncle. You appoint the leader you see fit, and I’ll help them as I help you.”
“Well then, I have something else I’d like to speak to you about when we have more time. You can think of it as a promotion from your current dealings, for the good of the city.”