“Oh no,” she said with genuine sympathy. My mom shared my love of reading and had experienced her own bathtub mishaps with books.
Setting my book on the side of the tub, I climbed out and dried off, thankful I’d brought a robe into the bathroom.
Never would I have expected my mother to show up in Hell. I paused to let that fully settle in. My mom was in Hell. I had no clue how she’d even found Lucifer’s home. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to find Lucifer’s home on my own.
When I opened the door, I saw my mom pacing the bedroom. There was plenty of space for her to walk back and forth. Honestly, the bedroom was nearly as big as my apartment. Shaking my head, I reminded myself that it wasn’t the time to think about the size of the bedroom. I needed to focus on easing my mom’s concerns.
She looked a lot like me, with red hair and green eyes. We’d been told countless times we could pass for sisters. Her hair was more of a dark auburn than an actual red, but I’d heard that, in her younger years, it had looked browner. While we both had green eyes, hers changed colors based on her mood. As she paced my room, I noticed that her eyes were almost blue. They were always blue when she was sad or worried. The color would last for days. My mom was also nearly six feet tall. At five-foot-seven, I was short for a witch.
“Hi, Mom,” I began with a bright smile, hoping that if I showed my mom how safe and happy I was, she’d stop freaking out.
It didn’t work.
“Why are you in Hell?” she demanded before adding, “Again. You came back to Hell. I was very reasonable the first time, and then you came back a second time.”
It seemed like a bad time to point out that she hadn’t been very reasonable. It also wasn’t the time to admit that I came to Hell on a regular basis to visit Beatrice. That might be enough to send my mom into a true panic. No, she wasn’t in a true panic at that point, as hard as that might be for most to believe.
“Hades was worried about me,” I began, but my mom didn’t let me continue.
“Hades?” she nearly screeched. “You’ve spoken to Hades?”
“Didn’t I tell you about that? I must have told you about that.” I’m a terrible liar, and I always sound like I’ve sucked on a helium tank when I lie.
My mom inhaled deeply before taking a seat on the edge of my bed. “Why are you keeping so much from me?” she finally asked.
“I told you I’d be staying in the demon realm for a little while,” I reminded her.
“Something tells me you come here more often than you’ve admitted to,” she accused. “You’ve also never mentioned spending time with Hades or even meeting him. This is why I was so afraid of your coming here. This place is dangerous for you. Hades is dangerous.”
“Hades is the reason you were worried about me coming to Hell.” I giggled. When my mom glared at me, I continued. “Sorry. It’s just that there are definitely reasons to worry about me being in Hell, especially this close to the detention areas. Yet, Hades is what you’re most afraid of. Is it because of the curse?”
“You know?” she asked before letting out a humorless bark of laughter. “What am I saying? Of course, you know. Even if you hadn’t met Hades, someone would have mentioned it to you the first time you were in the demon realm.”
“Yes, everyone warned me about the curse.” Everyone except my parents.
“I’d hoped you would never run into him,” she told me. “From what I’ve heard, he no longer leaves the demon realm and never associates with other species. Are you angry that I didn’t tell you?”
“Not really,” I replied. “I am a little confused. You should have told me, but I’m glad you didn’t. When I first learned about the curse, it was right before I met Hades. I didn’t have time to worry about what he’s like or assume the worst about him.”
“He’s a monster,” my mom whispered.
I opened my mouth to argue that he was a very nice man, but he wasn’t. Instead, I decided to just tell her the truth. “I like Hades. He’s been very nice to me, and he tries hard to be on his best behavior around me.”
“He hasn’t tried to abduct you?” she asked.
I shook my head. “He’s had plenty of opportunities, but he hasn’t tried kidnapping me. I told him it would upset me if he made me miss work and that I don’t find kidnapping romantic. In the beginning, he’d promised Lucifer he wouldn’t abduct me, and I think he tries to listen to Lucifer. I’m not sure of all his reasons. Hades is a very complex man. He’s sweet, in a strange way.” My smile turned wistful.
“You really do like him,” my mom remarked in wonder. “He must realize you aren’t the one to end his curse. It’s good that he recognized that before kidnapping you.”
“I’m the one.” It was the first time I’d spoken the words with certainty. At first, I’d said I might be the one because that’s all I’d been certain of. The longer I knew Hades, the more I believed I was the woman he would fall in love with. We were meant to be together.
“How do you know that?” my mom asked. “You don’t deserve this. You’re too good for this curse.”
“It’s not a curse for me,” I assured her. “Hades isn’t the monster you believe he is.”
“This isn’t what I wanted for you,” my mom said, gesturing around us. As her eyes scanned the room, she laughed. “That came out sounding like I don’t want you to live in a huge mansion.”
“I know what you meant,” I assured her. “You don’t want me to live in Hell. As a fallen angel, Hades has to live here. If I stay with him, this will be my home. It’s not what I envisioned for myself either. There are times when I wonder if I can do this.”
“Hades won’t give you a choice,” she told me.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I argued. “Hades is trying to take the choice away from me, but not in the way you think. He’s avoiding me. We still message each other, but he hardly ever sees me in person, and when he does, it’s because I’ve caught him off-guard. He is doing his best to stay away from me, even though I can tell he wants to be with me.”
“This is strange,” my mom mused. “It’s good though. If you come home with me now, you’ll be free of him.”
I shook my head. “No, I can’t leave him. I’d miss him. He’d always be in my thoughts, so I’d never truly be free of him. Part of the reason I’m here is that I may be in danger, but the biggest reason is Hades. I want to be with him, and I need to find a way to make that happen.”
“I want to kidnap you and hide you from him forever,” my mom confessed. “But you’d never forgive me.”
With a grin, I sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I love you, Mom. I’m so lucky to have you.”
“I still don’t trust him,” she admitted. “Tell me about your relationship with Hades.”
Chapter 10
Hades
“I know you’re in there!” Lucy shouted from outside my front door.
It was my day for unwanted visitors. First, Rainer at the detention area, and then Lucy shortly after I returned home. Lucifer’s daughter was nice, unlike her bitch of a mother, but I still didn’t want to see her. Even before I opened the front door, I knew Lucy’s visit had something to do with Persephone.
“Hades!” she shouted. “Don’t make me break down the door.”
With a growl of frustration, I yanked open the door and glared at Lucy. Her long black hair was up in a high ponytail, and she was dressed in a modest black dress. Lucifer’s daughter was always modestly attired. She wasn’t alone. Beside her stood Rainer’s brother, Xavier. The brothers didn’t look much alike. Xavier had pale blond hair and vivid blue eyes. He wasn’t much taller than Lucy, who stood just shy of six feet.
“What do you want?” I demanded.
“You’re in a mood,” Xavier remarked as he pushed his way around me and into my home. I’d have pointed out that I hadn’t asked him to come in if I thought it would do any good.
“Does Lucifer know you’re spending so much time
with his daughter?” I asked Xavier.
“I’m standing right here,” Lucy said with a huff. “And don’t try changing the subject.”
“Change what subject?” I asked. “Unless you want to spend more time discussing me opening the door for you, there is no subject to change. I’m also not the one who changed the subject. I asked why you’re here, and Xavier took that to mean I was asking for a critique of my current mood.”
“Persephone is at my dad’s home,” Lucy announced.
“I know,” I replied as I walked through the cold, empty hall. My home was nothing like Lucifer’s, though it was nearly as large. At one time, I’d hosted huge gatherings. The front door opened into my great hall where I’d once had statues of myself. Yes, I’d been as big-headed as the rest of my pantheon. One had to possess an excess of vanity to believe they deserved to be worshipped as a god.
I walked into the living room with Xavier and Lucy trailing behind me. Unlike most of the crumbling mausoleum I called home, my living room was comfortable. I collapsed onto my leather recliner and put my feet up before grabbing the remote to turn off the television.
Lucy and Xavier took a seat on the sofa, not waiting for an invitation. They knew me well enough to realize I wasn’t planning to offer them a seat. Besides, why should they wait for me to offer them a seat when they hadn’t even waited for me to invite them into my home?
“Are you planning to visit her while she’s there?” Lucy asked.
“Yes,” was my curt response.
“Are you planning to abduct her?” Xavier asked.
I considered my answer carefully before responding. “Probably not.” I definitely wasn’t planning to kidnap Persephone, but I couldn’t promise it wouldn’t happen.
Xavier laughed. “But you might?”
I shrugged.
“Her mother’s also there,” Lucy told me.
“Did you come here to tell me everyone who’s visiting Lucifer?” I asked. “Or was there another reason you demanded entrance into my home?”
“I’m worried about you,” Lucy admitted. “We’re family.”
“And Persephone is your friend,” I added. That friendship was likely the reason for her visit. Lucy wanted to protect Persephone.
“She is,” Lucy agreed. “You should visit her.”
“If you truly care about Persephone, you should encourage me to stay away from her.” I turned the television back on, hoping they’d take the hint and leave.
They didn’t.
Xavier snatched the remote off the end table when I set it down and turned off the television. My eyes narrowed. “Are you looking for a fight?” I asked. “If so, I’ll be happy to accommodate you.”
“Would it kill you to try having a conversation where you don’t alienate everyone in the room?” Xavier asked. “I can see why you’re an asshole. Hell, I’m an asshole, and I haven’t had to deal with nearly as much as you have. I still can’t believe you’re incapable of having a civil conversation.”
He had to be joking. I’d never been known for my conversation skills, even before my curse. “Did Lucifer tell you what’s going on?” I asked.
“He mentioned a small group of fallen angels from Olympus have some new scheme,” Xavier replied. “This one involves Zeus, so it’s more likely they’ll quickly forget about it.”
“Zeus couldn’t plan anything,” Lucy added. “He’s the craziest of my uncles.”
“I thought that title went to me,” I said with a grin.
Lucy shook her head. “Not even close. You’re not crazy, just an ass.”
I chuckled. “I’m going to take that as a compliment, considering I was on the verge of losing my mind until recently. As you may have already heard, I was approached about helping out with the latest plot.”
Xavier nodded, looking thoughtful. “That is unusual.”
“Was my mother with them?” Lucy asked hesitantly. “Was she one of the fallen angels who threatened Persephone?”
I shook my head. “She wasn’t there. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her down this way. She wouldn’t dare come to me for help.”
Lucy’s mother was a subject we rarely discussed. Aphrodite’s seduction of Lucifer had created a lot of tension. I’d felt betrayed by Lucifer, who’d been one of my only friends for a very long time. Aphrodite was responsible for my curse, so I had good reason to hate her. Lucifer had argued that the bitch had changed since she’d cursed me, but I knew the truth. Aphrodite was childish and spiteful. It had come as no surprise to me when she’d quickly grown bored with motherhood. Three days. That’s how long she’d stuck around after Lucy’s birth. I’d still lost the bet, having guessed she’d run back to Olympus within a day of Lucy’s birth.
Lucy’s phone buzzed with an incoming message before she could say more. “Damn,” she muttered as she stood.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, immediately on alert. Since Xavier hadn’t received a message, it likely wasn’t anything too urgent. Lucy wouldn’t be contacted about issues in the detention areas.
“Ares is at my father’s home,” Lucy explained.
And Lucifer was meeting with his attorney in the human realm. Not waiting for Lucy or Xavier to react to the news, I raced out of the room. I’d kill that bastard if he got anywhere near Persephone.
Chapter 11
Persephone
“Now, do you believe that I’ll be fine?” I asked my mom. We’d been talking in my room for more than an hour, and she seemed to have come to terms with my feelings for Hades. I wouldn’t say she was happy about them, but she’d accepted that I wanted to be with him.
My mom hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “You obviously care a great deal about Hades, but I still don’t trust his intentions. Before you start arguing with me, keep in mind that my faith in you is the reason I’m trying to see this from your perspective. Your dad is handling things at the store so I can stay with you.”
“Here? You’re going to stay in Hell? Wait! How did you even get to Hell?” I’d forgotten to ask her about that.
“It’s not hard getting to the demon realm,” she pointed out.
“Getting to the tourist areas isn’t hard,” was my response. “Lucifer’s home isn’t a tourist area.”
“I stopped by Bliss first. When I explained why I was so worried, the werewolf working security called Lucifer,” she explained. “Lucifer sent a fallen angel to escort me to his home. It was surprisingly nice of him.”
“Lucifer is a sweetie,” I insisted.
My mom laughed at my claim. “No, he’s not,” she argued. “Still, it was nice that he helped me get to you. He also invited me to stay in his home.”
“And you agreed?” I asked.
“No,” she replied. “I told him you’d be coming home with me. Since that’s not happening, it seems I’ll be staying here.”
With a shake of my head, I said, “I can’t believe you’re going to stay in Hell.”
“I’d go anywhere for you,” she assured me.
“I’m lucky to have you.” When I looked at the time, I was surprised. “It’s late. We should have dinner.”
“We should go back to the human realm for dinner,” my mom suggested.
“I’m only leaving the demon realm for work until Lucifer is sure I’m not in danger.”
She frowned. My response obviously didn’t make her happy. “Fine. We can find something to eat in Hell. I’ve heard they stock a lot of human food here. I suppose that’s mostly for the tourists. Hopefully, we don’t have to eat roasted demon parts.”
My nose wrinkled at the thought. “While I’m sure that happens, I’ve never been around anyone who eats roasted demon parts, or demon parts of any kind. The demon realm food I’ve tried is good. Bea won’t eat any of it, so almost all the food in Lucifer’s home is delivered from a witch market. He always stocks zellafruit when I stay here. It’s divine. Hades knows how much I love it, so he drops some off at my apartment a couple times a week. Once you m
eet him, you’ll see why I like him.”
“There’s something I need to tell you about Hades.” My mom sounded nervous.
The commotion downstairs interrupted us. All four Hellhounds raced past me on my way down the stairs. Most wouldn’t recognize them as Lucifer’s Hellhounds. They were all small, fluffy white dogs. When they were angry, their eyes turned red. The Hellhounds also had razor sharp teeth and could be vicious. They immediately pounced on the fallen angel Beatrice was confronting.
“You can’t barge into Lucifer’s home!” Beatrice shouted.
“Get them off me!” the fallen angel growled as he fought the Hellhounds.
“Ares,” my mother hissed.
Ares screamed as one of the Hellhounds tore at the muscle on his calf.
“Let him go,” Beatrice told the Hellhounds.
Not surprisingly, all four of them turned to growl at Beatrice. Their eyes were glowing red, and there was blood staining their white fur.
“You can continue tearing him apart after I talk to him.” Beatrice’s promise seemed to appease them.
“They can have what’s left when I’m done with him,” Hades growled.
I swear, I nearly swooned like one of those women in old romance novels when I saw Hades. His eyes were like molten gold, and his hair was falling around his angular face. He hadn’t shaved that day, so there was dark stubble on his chin. Dressed in only a pair of well-worn jeans, Hades was gorgeous. I needed to look away from him before I embarrassed myself in front of my mother.
“I came here to talk,” Ares snapped, stepping away from the Hellhounds. I studied the fallen angel who’d once been worshipped as the god of war. Like Hades, Ares was tall and broad with black hair and golden eyes. He had a neatly trimmed beard. His wings faded as he turned to face me. He looked as if he was going to speak to me until his eyes landed on my mom. Ares and Hades both seemed shocked by her presence.
“It’s you,” Hades uttered.
“Yes,” my mom replied.
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