RAFAEL
We unanimously agree that our next stop will be the compound.
It’s time to visit Ares and demand answers.
I’m not as…attached to the God of War as my brethren are. Then again, I don’t truly care for anyone except for my brothers and Thea.
Zaid may think of Ares as a father figure, but I know the truth.
He’s nothing but our owner, and it’s about time we fought back.
I wonder how easy it would be to torture a god. Would he scream if I cut off each of his fingers, or would they grow back right away? What is his tolerance for pain? I know ordinary measures won’t kill him, but if I discover he’s behind what happened to my little bird, I’ll find a way. I’ll scour every book I can get my hands on, speak to every contact I possess, try every method I have at my disposal. Something will stick. I’ll make sure of it.
“Are you sure you guys can’t stay one more day?” Persephone asks, staring up at us with wide, creepy-ass eyes.
“No, sorry.” Thea winces, her features creasing with sympathy as she regards the Goddess of…Spring, maybe?
Fuck if I know.
Persephone’s face falls. “Oh.”
“But maybe we can come visit in the future,” Thea tacks on tentatively.
I turn to stare at my girl, incredulous.
Willingly visit the Underworld? Fuck no.
But when Persephone’s face lights up, and Thea gifts her a smile in return, I understand.
Thea sees herself in Persephone. Someone who’s trapped and alone. Who knows what the fuck Hades does to Persephone when no one’s around to stop him?
“I packed you some sandwiches for the road,” Persephone says, thrusting a basket into Thea’s hands.
“Oh, thank you.” Thea puts aside the picnic basket, a frown drawing her brows together.
“Please. Let us know if you need anything. Hades and I will both help you. He may seem like a grumpy bastard, but he’s a big teddy bear underneath it all,” Persephone continues earnestly.
“A teddy bear from a horror movie, maybe,” Krystian murmurs from beside me.
I snort in agreement.
Thea still seems hesitant, but she promises to get in touch if we run into any issues. I don’t know how the fuck she expects to do that, but then again, I don’t care. Not my problem.
“Be safe!” Persephone chirps, pulling my little bird into a tight hug.
I growl and take a threatening step forward, seconds away from cutting the goddess’s arms from her body, but Thea is already untangling herself, her smile tight.
“It was nice meeting you, Persephone.”
Tears cascade down the goddess’s cheeks as she sniffles. “Please return.”
Conversation ceases as we step up to the portal that should take us to the mortal realm.
Persephone begins to goddamn wail as we step through one at a time. I always suspected the goddess had a few screws loose, but this confirms it.
Like recognizes like, after all.
I step through last, feeling the air shift and distort around me. The Underworld fades away, and in its place is a familiar building—the compound.
