A Touch of Chaos (16 page)

“Yeah,” Ariadne said, though Persephone could tell something was wrong. She sounded weak and breathless.

“Just a little farther, Ari,” she said, trying to be encouraging, but then a strange sound echoed within the narrow passage, vibrating the air.

It made Persephone's blood run cold.

“What was that?” she whispered, peering into the darkness.

Galanthis hissed.

The growl came again, deep and closer this time. It was followed by a succession of squeals and the pounding of hooves, and then there was the distinct sound of splintering wood.

All Persephone could see was a flash of white in the distance—perhaps teeth?

“Oh, fuck,” Ariadne said. “It's a boar. Run!”

But running was impossible trapped within the vines. All Persephone could do was move faster and keep a hold on the thread.

At first, she tried to continue carefully, but the closer the boar drew, the less she cared about the poisonous thorns. She would take a scratch over being mauled to death by a boar, but as the thorns scraped along her arms and dug into her back, she realized how unprepared she'd been for the pain. It was sharp and biting. It made her mouth water and her stomach sour.

She wanted to vomit, but she forced the nausea down and kept going, her hands shaking as she unraveled the thread, her heart racing as the boar's cries grew louder, nearly unbearable in their terrible pitch as the creature effortlessly tore through the thicket she and Ariadne had spent so long navigating.

She cried out as she slid beneath a branch, a thorn cutting along her back, but she did not care because as she stumbled, she found that she was free—surrounded only by cold air and darkness.

“I'm out, Ari!” she cried. “I'm out—”

She turned to find Ariadne still struggling as the boar drew closer. Persephone could see it better now—a huge creature with shaggy hair and large tusks that it used to tear at the thorns.

“Go!” Ariadne yelled.

But Persephone couldn't leave her. She looked down at Galanthis, who meowed, and set the spool of thread at her feet.

“Watch this,” she said and drew the knife Ian had forged and entered the tangle again.

“What are you doing?” Ariadne demanded. “I said go!”

“Just keep moving!” Persephone commanded. diving beneath and climbing over barbed branches as fast she could. All the while, Ariadne continued toward freedom.

As Persephone neared the boar, its hot breath washed over her like a furnace, smelling of rot and decay, roiling her stomach. Its large tusks tore through the wall of thorns with a strength that made them seem like glass.

She steeled herself as the swipe of its tusk came within a few inches of her and swung forward with all her might, shoving her blade into the tender flesh of the creature's nose. The boar roared and swung its head, scooping Persephone up with its tusks and tossing her through the air.

She screamed, feeling branches break across her back as she soared through the air, landing on the solid ground with the blood-soaked blade still clutched in her hand. Pain lashed through her, stealing her breath, but she knew there was no time to linger. She sat up, her head spinning.

“Persephone!” Ariadne cried, racing toward her.

Behind her, the boar roared, breaking free of the final layer of thorns.

Persephone rose, unsteady on her feet, still aching from the impact of her fall.

“Run!” Ariadne yelled.

They raced along the dim corridor with the boar on their heels. Ariadne yanked her arm, pulling her through a break in the stone wall. Persephone hoped the sudden move would put distance between them and the boar, but then there was a terrible explosion, and rocks rained down on them as the creature crashed through the labyrinth wall.

They covered their heads and continued to run, their path now scattered with debris. Persephone's foot caught on a stone.

“Persephone!” Ariadne screamed her name as she hit the ground.

The impact was jarring, the pain almost unbearable. As much as Persephone wanted to scramble to her feet, she didn't think she could manage it.

Clutching her knife, she rolled onto her back as something large and black leaped over her and crashed into the boar.

A mix of deep growls and roars erupted, booming in Persephone's ears. For a moment, she couldn't take her eyes off the large creature engaged in battle with the boar.

“Persephone, let's go!” Ariadne said, pulling her to her feet, but as they started to race away, the boar's deep growls turned into something that sounded like a high-pitched oink, and then it was suddenly silent.

Persephone slowed, and so did Ariadne as they looked
back only to find Galanthis sitting in front of the still form of the boar, licking her paw. After a moment, she looked up, her green eyes like pale lights in the distance.

“Meow,” she said as if greeting them.

Then she rose and disappeared into the darkness.

Persephone took a step forward, calling after the cat…or
creature
…whatever it was. “Galanthis!”

But she soon returned with Persephone's spool clutched between her teeth, thread unwinding as she walked.

“In case there are mice, huh?” Ariadne asked.

Persephone exchanged a look with the mortal and shrugged. Then her eyes fell to Ariadne's arms, which were covered in bleeding gashes. Dark spots stained her shirt too.

“Are you all right?” Persephone asked, frowning.

Ariadne nodded, but there was a distant look in her eyes before they rolled into the back of her head. She swayed, and Persephone lunged to catch her. She managed to lower her to the ground before she started to feel
wrong
too.

Fuck.

“Ari?” Persephone said her name, though her tongue felt swollen in her mouth. It was like all the moisture in her body had been used up.

“Don't let it keep you,” Ariadne said, her voice sounding far away.

“What do you mean?” Persephone asked, confused, but there was no answer.

Her head spun, and before long, she found she was lying on the ground amid the broken stones and sandy earth.

Something furry touched her leg, followed by a muted meow.

Persephone opened her bleary eyes to see a flash of bright green.

“Galanthis,” she said, her voice a low slur before everything went dark.

“Lady Persephone.”

She woke to the call of her name, but it was a distant echo, and she did not want to open her eyes.

“Lady Persephone?” the voice said again, closer now but muted.

She frowned, her brows lowered.

Just go away
, she thought.

She wanted to linger in the shadows for as long as possible. It was safe here.

“
Lady Persephone
!”

Suddenly, it was like she had been pulled from the River Styx, surfacing from darkness. She took a deep breath as she opened her eyes and found that she was seated behind her desk in her office at Alexandria Tower. Her hands were on her keyboard, her head turned to the door, looking at a man with delicate features and a swath of brown curls. He had a youthful appearance and dreamy eyes, and she had no idea who he was.

“Late night celebrating?” he asked with a raised brow.

Celebrating?

Persephone hesitated and then frowned.

“Can I…help you?”

“Just making sure you prepare for your meeting tomorrow,” he said, stepping fully into her office now.

He was dressed in a fitted button-down shirt and tight slacks, complete with a bow tie. She found herself wondering what Hermes would think of his outfit.

“Meeting?” she asked, confused.

She didn't know anything about a meeting.

The man lowered his chin, staring pointedly at her. “You have an interview with the
News
. They're doing a whole spread on how you overtook Epik Communications.”

“Excuse me?”

Those were familiar things—the
News
was one of the largest national news outlets, while Epik Communications was a media conglomerate owned by Kal Stavros, a man desperate to gain a foothold in the world of the Divine. Except he'd gone about it the wrong way, and Hades had punished him severely, but that had not changed Kal's control over the media.

The man sighed. “Don't tell me you forgot.”

“No one told me!” Persephone said, defensive.

She tried to think back on the last few days but recalled nothing.

“Excuse you! I sent you questions three weeks ago!”

He came around her desk and took control of her mouse, clicking around until he brought up an email that included a document detailing the structure of the interview and a list of questions. It was signed with the
name Amphion. Beneath that was his title: Assistant to Lady Persephone, CEO of Key Media Company.

Key Media Company?
Persephone whispered.

“See,” he said smugly.

Persephone stared at the email for a moment and then looked up at the man she now suspected was Amphion.

“Could you…give me a minute?” she asked, suddenly unable to really focus. She couldn't remember anything that had happened before she'd become aware of being in her office, but it seemed like a whole host of events had come to pass, and none of it felt exactly right.

Amphion frowned. “Are you sure you're all right?”

“I'm fine. I just need a moment.”

“Okay,” he said, though he did not sound convinced. “Let me know if I can help.” He crossed the room toward the door.

“Amphion,” Persephone said. He paused to face her. “Where is Ivy?”

“Are you serious?” he asked.

“
Amphion
,” she said, frustrated.

“She's at Halcyon,” he said. “She's been at Halcyon since
you hired her
as the office manager.”

“Right,” she said, pressing her fingers to her temple. “Thanks.”

Once she was alone, she turned to her computer and searched her name. One of the top headlines read:

CEO of Key Media Company Celebrates Successful Grand Opening.

The first line followed:

Persephone Rosi, owner of the largest media company in New Greece, celebrated the grand opening of Halcyon. The rehabilitation center will provide a variety of free care to mortals.

There were a lot of things about the article that stunned her. For one, it did not mention her relationship to Hades. Instead, it focused on her career and accomplishments. When she and Hades had first made their relationship public, she'd been dismayed about how the media identified her, which was usually as
Hades's lover
despite having a name and a whole identity outside that.

Except part of what surprised her
was
her title. How had she gone from
The Advocate
, a small online blog
,
to this? But as she started her search for answers, she came to understand—she had purchased Epik Communications. Amid articles about the merger were also articles about Kal's fall from grace, which included accusations of sexual misconduct and fraud. A picture of the man was included, his angry expression deepening the scars on his face—scars Hades had left.

Consumed in her research, she barely heard the knock at her door.

“Come in,” she said, distracted.

When the door opened, she glanced to her left quickly and then back to her computer.

“Can I…?” she started but looked again, meeting a familiar pair of bright blue eyes.

“Ready for lunch?” Lexa asked.

Persephone could only describe how she felt as
something akin to shock. It erupted all over her body, as if all her nerve endings were on fire.

Her mouth slowly fell open.

“Lexa,” Persephone whispered. She rose from her chair and approached her, drawing her into a tight hug.

She felt solid and real, but when she pulled away, Lexa looked puzzled. “Is everything okay?”

Persephone frowned. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she had thought she'd never see her again. Now she could not remember why.

“Yeah,” Persephone said. “I just thought you were gone.”

“You saw me this morning,” Lexa said.

“Did I?” Persephone asked. “I'm sorry, Lex. I don't know what's wrong with me.”

Lexa laughed. “It's okay. You've had a lot on your plate, and I doubt you slept much.”

She raised a knowing brow, and while Persephone knew what she was insinuating, she also felt like she was being left out of some sort of inside joke.

She couldn't remember last night or the previous days, but she didn't care, because Lexa was here.

“So, lunch?” Lexa said after an awkward pause.

“Right. Yes,” Persephone said and turned toward her desk. She was going to grab her bag when she felt Hermes's familiar magic.

“Let's eat!” he exclaimed as he appeared, blocking the doorway. “I am famished!”

“What are you wearing?” Lexa asked.

Hermes looked down at himself. “It's holographic leather.”

“That sounds so hot,” Persephone said.

Hermes grinned. “Thank you.”

Persephone gave him a dull look. “That's not what I meant.”

Lexa shook her head. “Why?”

“What do you mean why? Why not?” he asked, then he narrowed his eyes. “
I'm
fashion, Lexa!”

Persephone looked at Lexa, and they rolled their eyes together, then laughed.

Hermes glared, unamused. His shirt squeaked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“You sound like a rubber ducky,” said Lexa, still laughing.

Hermes frowned. “What's a rubber ducky?” He paused for a moment, and then his face brightened. “Is it kinky?”

“Yes,” Lexa said.

Persephone raised a brow, and Lexa turned to look at her.

“What?” she asked innocently.

“Nothing,” Persephone said as she bent to retrieve her purse.

“You better not be lying to me,” said Hermes, suspicious.

“I would never!” Lexa said.

“Are we going to lunch?” Amphion asked, popping into the office.

Hermes looked down at him and planted his hand against the doorframe by his head. “I have something you can eat for lunch.”

Lexa made a choking sound. Persephone groaned.

“Hermes, you can't say those things to my employees.”

“He likes it!” Hermes said, defensive, and looked at him. “Don't you?”

Amphion's face was bright red.

“You don't have to answer, Amphion,” said Persephone.

“Yes, you do,” said Hermes.

“
Hermes
!” Persephone snapped.

“All right, fine,” Hermes grumbled.

Persephone squeezed between the god and Amphion, leaving her office. As she did, she heard Amphion speak.

“Lunch is covered, but if you are offering dinner, I'm free.”

“Oh my
gods
,” Lexa whined as they piled into the elevator.

“You're just jealous because Thanatos isn't putting out,” said Hermes.

“
Shut up
,” Lexa hissed, elbowing Hermes in the ribs.

“Ouch!”

Persephone laughed as she watched them from her place in the corner.

This is how things should have been
, she thought and then frowned. Those words felt strange, and she could not figure out why they'd come to her in this moment when everything felt real and right.

This is how things are
, she whispered as the doors opened on the first floor.

She was the last to step off the lift, but as she turned to follow the others out the door, her heart fell into her stomach.

“Zofie.”

The Amazon stood near the front desk dressed in black. Her long braid swung as she turned her head toward Persephone and then her whole body.

“Lady Persephone,” she said, bowing her head. “Ready to eat?”

Persephone took a quivering breath as a memory surfaced in her mind—one of Zofie lying on a pyre, skin white like marble, dead.

“You're…alive,” she said.

“Seph,” Lexa said, almost breathless. “Why would you say that?”

Persephone opened her mouth and then frowned. She shook her head. “I don't know. I…”

“Perhaps you've been having a bad dream,” Zofie suggested, and her smile was so sweet, Persephone had to agree.

“Yeah,” she said. “Maybe so.”

They left Alexandria Tower, choosing a restaurant a few blocks over called House of Greek. Persephone noticed how her friends surrounded her as they walked—Hermes was in front, Lexa and Amphion on either side, and Zofie followed behind.

It was a formation they maintained when they arrived and made their way to their table, though it did little to obscure her from curious onlookers, even after they were seated.

Lexa twisted in her chair. “Hey! Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to stare!”

“Lex!” Persephone whispered.

“Well,” Lexa said, turning to face Persephone. “People are…”

“Rude?” Zofie supplied.

“Yes!” Lexa said, picking up a fork and holding it in her fist.

“Whoa there,” said Hermes. “It's not that serious.”

She glared at him.

“They're just curious,” Persephone said and then added with a bit of scorn, “
They want to see Hades's wife
.”

“Oh, they're not interested in Hades,” said Amphion. “Their interest is in
you
.”

“Whatever,” Persephone said with a dismissive laugh.

They were always interested in Hades because they wanted what he offered.

“It's true,” said Amphion. “What you did, exposing Kal Stavros…it was a big deal.”

Persephone didn't know what to say, but Amphion's words made her chest feel tight. She wasn't sure why it was hard to imagine, but it just seemed that the world did not value women standing up to men.

“What are everyone's plans this weekend?” Persephone asked, wishing to change the subject.

“I hope we're all still getting hammered at Hades's surprise birthday party,” said Hermes, and suddenly Persephone remembered. She'd wanted to do something to celebrate Hades given the terror of his birth. Since there had been no system to organize days at the time he was born, she decided to choose his birth date for him, November first.

“You don't think he knows, do you?” asked Lexa.

“If he did, he would never tell me,” said Persephone.

He would let her have her fun, even if he dreaded its coming.

She wondered how he would react when he walked into Nevernight to find their friends had gathered to celebrate him or what he would do later when they made their descent to the Underworld where the souls waited to do the very same.

She could not imagine that he would look surprised, but she knew he would be grateful even if being the center of attention made him uncomfortable.

“Hades should challenge someone to a duel,” said Zofie. “It is how we would celebrate birthdays in Terme.”

Lexa looked at Persephone and then at Zofie. “I don't think…”

“It was a joke. Did you get it?” Zofie asked, and she smiled, hopeful.

“Ohh,” everyone said and exchanged a look, dissolving into an awkward laughter that soon turned genuine, and by the time they left, Persephone's heart had never been so full.