Hazel
Morning finds me sleep-deprived as I sit on the bed, knees pulled to my chest, staring out the single window of my room.
The second that the dark sky outside begins to lighten, I rise and cross over to the window. Pushing it open, I lean out to peer down at the still-slumbering realm below.
I’m given no hint as to whether the blonde was successful or not. Though, I’m not sure what I expected to find either way.
My heart beats steadily in my chest as I prepare for the worst.
Even now, I’m struggling to bring myself to accept that the Persephone I met before was nothing more than an illusion. Perhaps this … this cold, cruel version of the goddess is her truest form.
And I fear that the absence of the woman she sent to him will only confirm how terrible things really are. That I am nothing more than a foolish mortal trying to outplay the gods.
I shudder at the thought, yet again feeling Death’s absence
Closing the window, I turn to dress for the day, my mind racing with thoughts of what’s to come.
Throwing open the wardrobe with a sigh, I’m surprised to find a single dress hanging inside. Though it’s made of the same midnight silk, it’s simple and easy enough for me to slip on without help.
The bodice of the dress clings to my body, the silk draping in soft folds around my neckline, while the skirt flows softly to the floor, a thigh-high slit up one side.
I make my way into the bathroom to finish tidying up only to notice the stained gown I’d tossed in the corner the day before.
Hurrying over to it, a wave of relief washes over me as I feel a small bundle tucked within. Unwrapping the fabric, I pull out the brown package and clutch it tightly to my chest.
Almost in the same instant, I hear the sound of a key scraping in the lock. Slipping the package back into the folds of the fabric, I tuck it behind a small stool and emerge from the bathroom just as the door swings open.
He doesn’t say anything as he motions toward the door, and for once I’m relieved the guards have no interest in speaking to me. Until I realize he’s escorting me back to the dining hall.
My stomach twists with worry that this can only mean one thing, the woman was unsuccessful in her attempts to entice Hades.
Nervously, I step into the room. My eyes scan the somber faces already seated around the table, but just as I feared the woman from last night is nowhere to be seen. My shoulders sag in disappointment as I’m directed toward my seat.
Only, I’m not shown to the seat I had the night before, but the now empty one beside it. I try to protest, but the guard only roughly forces me down into the chair.
I feel the eyes of the other women on me, but they remain quiet as food is brought out to us. Glancing toward the head of the table, I cannot help but Hades’ seat is empty.
“You should eat,” Lilia whispers, drawing my gaze to her.
“You will not speak!”
She gives me a half-smile before returning to her meal, and I try to push myself to do the same. Lilia isn’t wrong either, I do need to eat, despite my stomach wishing otherwise.
Taking a small bite, I’m pleasantly surprised to find my appetite suddenly returned. The rest of breakfast is a silent affair, with only the sounds of silverware scraping against plates to fill the room. No one so much as dares to cough, let alone say anything about the empty seat beside me.
As I finish a bit of cheese, I can’t help the way my mind overflows with questions as I dare a glance about the table. Finally, the servants re-emerge from the shadows to clear our plates as the guards filter in behind our chairs.
Standing, I prepare myself for another long day spent alone in my tower as my escort signals for me to follow him. With a small sigh, I step into place behind him as the other women walk ahead of us.
I watch them as we walk, wondering how many more of them will be lost before I can find a way to fix this. If there even is a way to fix this.
It takes me longer than I’d like to admit to realize that I’m not being taken back to the tower as we follow the other women through a series of wider and wider halls and down a short flight of stairs.
They look just as lost as I do as several of them glance back at me, as if double checking to see if we’re all being brought to the same place. Silence follows us as I begin to fear we’re in for another lesson from Persephone.
But we’re not led to the jungle room we found ourselves in last night. Two of the guards in front push open a massive set of doors, steam wafting out in a heavy cloud to reveal a stunning bathhouse beyond. Pearly white tiles surround a pool of deep blue water that’s unlike anything I’ve yet seen in Hades’ palace.
I hesitate as I cross the threshold, my eyes widening in awe as I realize that this is more than just a simple bathhouse. This is a luxurious oasis in the midst of the iciness of the palace, complete with marble pillars and the sound of trickling water echoing off the walls.
